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France records lowest Covid-19 daily death toll in six weeks
3 May 18:10
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France records lowest Covid-19 daily death toll in six weeks
Sunday's daily tally of Covid-19 fatalities marked another drop after the 166 recorded a day earlier. Health Ministry officials said the number of people in intensive care units fell to 3,819 from 3,827 on Saturday, down for a 25th consecutive day. The number of people in hospital with coronavirus also fell again to 25,815 from 25,827, continuing an uninterrupted fall since more than two weeks. Health officials have previously warned that on Sundays the data reporting from nursing homes is often delayed, leading to a catch-up during the week. Care homes for the elderly have so far accounted for more than a third of all fatalities recorded in France since the start of the outbreak. The country is set for an easing of restrictions on May 11 following a strict nationwide lockdown, which was imposed on March 17. However, the government has decided to extend a "state of health emergency" imposed to fight the coronavirus pandemic for two months until July 24. Quarantine confusion A proposal to be put to parliament on Monday says plans this month to lift the public health emergency, which began on March 24, would "be premature" and "could see a risk of the outbreak" intensifying. "We are going to have to live with the virus for a while," Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said after a cabinet meeting on Saturday. The bill also lays out the quarantine conditions for people coming to France from abroad, though there has been considerable confusion as to which travellers the restrictions will apply to. France's health minister initially said all travellers to France, including French citizens returning home, would face a compulsory two-week quarantine and possible isolation upon arrival. However, the French presidency on Sunday said the quarantine rules would not apply to visitors coming from EU and Schengen countries, "regardless of their nationality". The presidency added that rules for other travellers would be clarified by the French foreign ministry "in the coming days". (FRANCE 24 with REUTERS)
3 May 18:10 • France 24 • https://www.france24.com/en/20200503-france-records-lowest-covid-19-daily-death-toll-in-six-weeksRating: 2.48
The latest developments on COVID-19 in Canada
The latest news on the COVID-19 global pandemic (all times Eastern): 2:55 p.m. Newfoundland and Labrador's number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 remains at 259, with 232 people having recovered. There were no new cases reported over the weekend. The majority of the cases are in the St. John's area, as Eastern Health is reporting 241 of the total positive tests. Four people are in hospital due to the virus. Of these patients, two are in intensive care. --- 2:45 p.m. New Brunswick is entering its third week with no new COVID-19 cases. The number of confirmed cases in New Brunswick remains at 118, but all have recovered. Dr. Jennifer Russell, chief medical officer of health, says it's good to be outside in warmer weather. But she's cautioning that one family should consistently restrict their interactions to one other chosen family, a process known as "bubbling." --- 2:35 p.m. Nova Scotia is reporting six more COVID-19 deaths at the Northwood long-term care home in Halifax, the site of the majority of the province's active cases. The death toll in the province is now at 37, with 31 of those at the non-profit facility. As of Sunday, Nova Scotia has 347 active cases of COVID-19, with 220 involving residents of Northwood. The managers of the facility announced the deaths Sunday, saying it is an "incredibly heartbreaking time." --- 1:45 p.m. A justice advocacy group says it wants prisoners at a federal institution in British Columbia ravaged by a COVID-19 outbreak to know there are people in the community fighting for their safety. Meenakshi Mannoe of the Vancouver Prison Justice Day Committee says members will rally outside Mission Institution today and make noise from within their cars or at a safe physical distance. The committee is calling for the urgent care of all prisoners across Canada and the immediate release of detainees to ensure adequate physical distancing and quarantine measures. The B.C. government said yesterday that 133 inmates and staff have tested positive for COVID-19 at the prison. --- 1:25 p.m. Quebec is reporting 892 new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours, as well as 1,317 additional cases from April that were not previously included in the provincial tally. The province says those previous cases originated mostly from the Montreal, Laval and Monteregie areas, and were not counted due to a technical problem. The province now has 31,865 cases and 2,205 deaths, the latter an increase of 69 over yesterday. Quebec says 7,258 people have recovered from the illness. --- 1 p.m. Quebec's education minister is telling the province's English-language school boards that they don't have the right to refuse to reopen their elementary schools amid concern over COVID-19. Jean-Francois Roberge's office says in an email that the government has the exclusive legal jurisdiction when it comes to deciding when the school year resumes after a pause brought on by the global pandemic. Last week, the province's English-language school boards association signalled to the minister that they would reopen "if and when" they believed the situation to be safe, regardless of the government's schedule. While high schools are closed for the remainder of the school year, most elementary schools and daycares are scheduled to reopen May 11, with those in hard-hit Montreal set to follow a week later. --- 11:40 a.m. The federal government is investing millions to boost online access to health services and to support a Vancouver biological company's research into treatment and prevention of COVID-19. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau announced the new funding during his daily news conference in Ottawa this morning as provinces across the country prepare to start re-opening on Monday. The government is spending $240 million to boost access to online health services, including mental-health support and virtual access to doctors for primary care. Ottawa is also providing $175 million to AbCellera Biologics Inc., which Trudeau says has shown promising signs of progress in identifying antibodies that could be used create a vaccine or treatment for COVID-19. 11:15 a.m. A rapid test developed for COVID-19 has experienced a setback. Ottawa's Spartan Bioscience says it is voluntarily recalling its COVID-19 product and performing additional studies after Health Canada expressed some concerns Friday. Spartan says Health Canada was concerned about the "efficacy of the proprietary swab" for the testing product. The company says Health Canada had no concerns about the accuracy and analytical performance of the product. Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. 10:50 a.m. Ontario is reporting 434 new cases of COVID-19 and another 40 deaths related to the virus. The death toll now stands at 1,216 and the COVID-19 case count has hit 17,553. Of those cases, 12,005 have been marked as resolved. The Canadian Press
3 May 18:55 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/the-latest-developments-on-covid-19-in-canada-2320578Rating: 0.30
Confirmed COVID-19 cases in Quebec near 32,000 after missing April data found
MONTREAL -- MONDAY UPDATE: Quebec reports 75 new COVID-19 deaths. Read the full story here. ----- Quebec public health officials announced Sunday that a computer error resulted in 1,317 missing positive COVID-19 cases between April 2-30. The province also announced a daily increase of 892 new COVID-19 from Saturday, bringing the total number of infections in Quebec to 31,865. Sixty-nine people have died of the virus in the last 24 hours, which brings the total number of deaths to 2,205. Health officials said the 1,317 missed cases in April were mainly from Montreal, Laval and the Monteregie regions. However, offiicials announced just 16 more people in the hospital than the 1,738 reported Saturday, and four less people were in intensive care than there were Saturday for a total of 218. The new numbers come as Quebec gets ready to reopen retail stores in regions outside of Montreal, and take down checkpoints in some regions. Premier Francois Legault has set May 11 as reopening day for schools and daycares outside greater Montreal. The city is to follow suit on May 19, but attendance won't be mandatory. High schools, junior colleges and universities are to stay closed until September. Quebec aims to open retail stores outside Montreal by May 4 while those in the greater Montreal region are to reopen May 11. Lottery terminals are to begin reopening on May 4 after being shut down on March 20 with sales moving to online only. The construction industry is set to completely start up May 11, while manufacturing companies are to resume operations the same day with initial limits on the total number of employees who can work per shift. COVID-19 CASES IN QUEBECInfogram With reporting from The Canadian Press.
3 May 17:09 • Montreal • https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/confirmed-covid-19-cases-in-quebec-near-32-000-after-missing-april-data-found-1.4922826Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus infections drop in Italy as lockdown draws to a close
ROME: As a national lockdown to fight the coronavirus pandemic is drawing to a close, Italy on Saturday posted a decrease in new infections, according to the latest numbers released by the Civil Protection Department. The number of new infections were 1,900 in the last 24 hours, a drop from Friday's figure, bringing the total number of infections, fatalities, and recoveries to 209,328. There were 1,665 additional recoveries, raising that total to 79,914. The death toll registered on Saturday was 474, bringing the total to 28,710 since the pandemic first broke out in the northern Lombardy region on Feb. 21. Of those infected, 1,539 are in intensive care (down by 39 patients compared to Friday) and 17,357 are hospitalized with symptoms (down by 212 patients). The rest, or 81 percent of those who tested positive, are in isolation at home. The national lockdown, which went into effect on March 10, will end on May 3. Phase two Speaking at a nationally televised press conference earlier in the day, Extraordinary Commissioner for the Coronavirus Emergency Domenico Arcuri explained what lies ahead after the lockdown, in what the government has dubbed Phase Two. "We must all be aware that on May 4, an even tougher challenge begins," said Arcuri. He compared Phase Two to "the second half of a football match, and as we all understand by now, nobody knows how long it will last or how it will end." "The relative freedom we are each about to gain must be ruled in the service of protecting the health of all," Arcuri said. "We have distributed 26.7 million masks over the past week to regional authorities across Italy, with a total of 165.5 million masks distributed since the beginning of emergency," said the commissioner. Arcuri added that in May there will be a distribution of 12 million masks a day, and that this number will rise to 18 million a day in June, 25 million in July-August, and 30 million by the time schools open in September. He also showed prototypes of children's masks decorated with superheroes and cartoons. "We will put these on the market very soon." The commissioner said he has secured deals with retailers and distributors -- including supermarket chains, pharmacies and drug stores -- so that starting Monday, surgical masks will be available at a fixed price of 50 eurocents (55 U.S. cents) plus VAT per mask. They will be sold in 50,000 retailers across the country, or in one shop per every 1,200 inhabitants. By mid-May, the fixed-price masks will be available in 100,000 retailers, or one per 600 inhabitants, said the commissioner. "We have implemented this (deal) in the exclusive interests of the citizens," said Arcuri. "No one will lose money on this. Everyone will earn the right amount - no more and no less." "Health and individual protection have no price and must not be speculated on," he said in reference to cases of masks being sold at wildly overpriced rates before the government intervened. Arcuri also said that serological testing for coronavirus antibodies will begin on Monday on an initial sample of 150,000 volunteers and 5 million swabs will be distributed to Italy's 20 regions over the next two months. "Tests and swabs, prevention and knowledge, time and space - these are all the elements we need in order to embark on Phase Two in a more mindful way," said Arcuri. "Social distancing, maximum personal hygiene, and individual protection kits -- this is what the second half of the match will consist of," he said. "We must not lower our guard." Arcuri reminded everyone that "the virus only spreads through contagion, which in turn happens only if one person infects another person. So let's do everything possible to make sure that doesn't happen." "We have done all we could," Arcuri noted, adding "Starting Monday, it really will be up to you." Concerted efforts Also on Saturday, the European Commission, along with Italy, France, Germany and Norway, announced the launch of a global cooperation project against COVID-19. The initiative was announced in Italy on La Stampa newspaper, where Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte published an open letter which he signed jointly with French President Emmanuel Macron, German Chancellor Angela Merkel, Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, and European Council President Charles Michel. The goal is to raise initial funding of 7.5 billion euros (8 billion U.S. dollars) to finance what the leaders described as "unprecedented global cooperation (project) involving scientists, regulatory authorities, industry, governments, international organizations, foundations and health care operators." "Today the world is fighting a pervasive virus that has overwhelmed countries and continents...(and) brought chaos and suffering throughout the globe," the letter read. "In this highly interconnected world, the global health system is only as strong as its weakest link. To protect every one of us, we must protect each other," the letter noted. "Our goal is simple...to develop the diagnostic tools, treatments, and vaccines as rapidly as possible and to distribute them to as many people as possible, (in order) to help the world overcome the pandemic," the leaders wrote. "If we can develop a vaccine produced by the world for the world, this vaccine will be a global public good that is unique in the 21st century. Together with our partners, we commit to making it available and accessible to all," the letter continued. "This is the duty of our generation," said the leaders, adding that "high-quality, low-cost health care technologies are not a daydream. Over the past 20 years, we have seen that public-private partnerships have made several life-saving vaccines available to the poorest around the world." "By coming together to support science and solidarity today, we lay the foundations for more unity tomorrow... Inspired by the sustainable development goals, we can redefine the power of communities, societies, and global cooperation so that no one is left behind," the letter concluded.
3 May 16:23 • Times of Oman • https://timesofoman.com/article/3014480/world/europe/coronavirus-infections-drop-in-italy-as-lockdown-draws-to-a-closeRating: 1.06
Coronavirus: At 427 cases, Delhi records highest single-day spike
Delhi on Sunday added 427 more COVID-19 cases, the highest for a single day, taking the total number of cases to 4,549. No deaths were reported during the day while 106 people were discharged from hospitals following their recovery. The national capital recorded 1,034 cases in the first three days of May -- 223 on May 1 followed by 384 on Saturday and 427 on Sunday. Saturday's figure was the highest for a single day before Sunday's figure overtook it. Authorities are attributing the rise in numbers to aggressive testing even as the health bulletins issued by Delhi government's Health Department has not been giving statistics on testing since April 29. Follow the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak in India here. The total toll remained at 64 while the number of those who have discharged has risen to 1,362. The figures came on a day Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal announced that the national capital will have all relaxations provided by the Centre for red zones. Entire Delhi has been profiled as a red zone even as Kejriwal appealed to the Centre to classify the capital a green zone barring those localities declared as containment zones. Delhi had crossed the 1000-mark on April 11 when it registered 1,093 cases. It had taken eight days from April 19 (2,003 cases) to cross the 3,000 mark. It took just five days from April 27 (3,108 cases) to add another 1,000 cases to cross the 4,000 mark. Between April 19 and 25, an analysis of the figures provided in medical bulletins showed that there were 752 cases during the week. Between April 26 and May 2, there were 1314 cases reported. On April 26, Delhi had reported 111 cases while it rose to 190 and 206 in the next two days. On April 29, the number of cases came down to 125 and the next day, it further decreased to 76, before recording a jump on May 1 and May 2.
3 May 22:49 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/coronavirus-at-427-cases-delhi-records-highest-single-day-spike-833189.htmlRating: 2.25
Three coronavirus patients die in Lagos
Lagos State Government on Sunday confirmed the death of three coronavirus patients. The state health commissioner Akin Abayomi in a tweet said the number of death from coronavirus has risen to 28. “3 more #COVID19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total of such deaths in Lagos to 28,” Abayomi said. Lagos State on Saturday said it discharged 22 coronavirus patients who recovered from the disease. The discharged patients- eight females and 14 males, Abayomi said are all Nigerians. “This Brings the total number of #COVID19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247,” Abayomi said. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) late Saturday confirmed 62 new cases of coronavirus in Lagos State, bringing the total number of cases to 1,084.
3 May 17:10 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/three-coronavirus-patients-die-in-lagos/Rating: 0.30
Record jump in COVID-19 deaths, cases; toll rises to 1,306, total case tally 40,263
India registered a record jump of 83 deaths and 2,487 cases in 24 hours as the number of COVID-19 fatalities rose to 1,306 and total cases climbed to 40,263 on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 28,070, while 10,886 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. The total number of cases also include 111 foreign nationals. Of the 83 deaths were reported since Saturday evening, 36 were from Maharashtra, 26 from Gujarat, 11 from Madhya Pradesh, three each from Rajasthan and Delhi, two from Telangana and one each from Tamil Nadu and Bihar. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here With 521 fatalities, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum of the nationwide 1,306 deaths. Gujarat comes second with 262 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh 156, Rajasthan 65, Delhi 64, Uttar Pradesh 43, and West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh 33 each. The death toll reached 29 in Tamil Nadu, 28 in Telangana, while Karnataka has reported 25 fatalities due to the respiratory disease. Punjab has registered 20 COVID-19 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir eight, Kerala, Bihar and Haryana have reported four deaths each. Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. Follow DH Coronavirus page for all the latest updates Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. The health ministry's Saturday evening update had put the death toll at 1,223 and the number of cases at 37,776 in the country.
3 May 19:52 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/record-jump-in-covid-19-deaths-cases-toll-rises-to-1306-total-case-tally-40263-833109.htmlRating: 2.25
Delhi records new high of 427 Covid-19 cases in a day, tally now 4,549
Delhi recorded a new single-day highest of 427 new cases of Covid-19 in the last 24 hours to take the total number of infections in the national capital to 4,549, the city government’s Directorate General of Health Services said in a statement Sunday night. Sunday’s figure beats Saturday’s number of 384 cases which had been the highest so far. There has been no death in the last 24 hours and the number of casualties remained at 64. Click here for full Covid-19 coverage. There are currently 3,123 active cases while 1,362 have recovered. A total of 1,071 of the active cases are in the containment zones which were scaled down to 96 on Sunday. The statement said 330 people are under home isolation. According to the statement, 60,246 tests have been conducted so far. But it did not give the number of tests conducted on Sunday. Earlier in the day, Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said the Delhi government would implement all lockdown relaxations that have been prescribed by the Union home ministry, although the city remains in the red zone with a high number of Covid-19 cases. In a video conference, Kejriwal announced all Delhi government offices engaged in essential services will function with full strength and private offices will be allowed to function with 33 per cent strength.
3 May 17:19 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/delhi-records-new-high-of-427-covid-19-cases-in-a-day-tally-now-4-549/story-gjTuZ8unUof7oo9YiyMc3H.htmlRating: 0.30
Lagos records three COVID-19 deaths, 22 more recoveries
Dayo Ojerinde The Lagos State Government on Sunday announced three COVID-19 fatalities, while 22 others were discharged from the isolation centres in the state. The state Ministry of Health, via its Twitter handle, @LSMOH, said the state had now recorded a total of 28 COVID-19 deaths and discharged 247 patients who had recovered from the infection. It tweeted, “As of May 2, 2020, 62 new cases of COVID-19 Infection were confirmed in the state, making a total of 1,084 confirmed cases. 22 COVID-19 Lagos patients were discharged. Total discharged now 247. “Unfortunately, three COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 28.”
3 May 17:07 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/lagos-records-three-covid-19-deaths-22-more-recoveries/Rating: 0.30
Abayomi: Lagos has recorded three fresh covid-19 deaths
- Akin Abayomi says three more COVID-19 patients have died in the state - The commissioner said the number of fatalities in the state has increased to 28 - Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases in Nigeria with 1,084 cases - PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The Lagos state commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Sunday, May 3, announced another three COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 1,084. Abayomi, who disclosed this through his Twitter account, however, did not give additional information about age, nationality and medical history of the deceased. “Three more #COVID-19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total number of such deaths in Lagos to 28,” he said. The commissioner said as of May 2, the state recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,084. BREAKING: Nigeria records 17 deaths, 220 new COVID-19 cases, total jumps to 2,388 He said: “22 fully recovered #COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged. “This brings the total number of #COVID-19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were 791 active cases, two evacuated and 16 patients transferred to Ogun and Ondo states. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that there were 43, 060 cases, 1, 761 deaths and 14, 343 recoveries reported from 53 Africa countries. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that as the world continues to battle with the novel coronavirus it is necessary for Nigerians to get right and adequate information on steps to take if they get exposed to someone with laboratory-confirmed case. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read the best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Breaking: NCDC announces 238 new coronavirus cases, Kano has 92 With this, they can monitor their health and avoid spreading the disease to others if they get sick For you to know you have been exposed to the disease, you must have come in close contact with a sick person to get infected. Close contact includes: 1. Living in the same household as a sick person withCOVID-19, 2. Caring for a sick person with COVID-19 3. Being within 6 feet of a sick person with COVID-19 for about 10 minutes 4. Being in direct contact with secretions from a sick person with COVID-19 (e.g., being coughed on, kissing, sharing utensils, etc.) NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have updated to serve you better Covid19: Nigerians beg Buhari not to extend lockdown | Legit TV
3 May 17:35 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326401-abayomi-lagos-recorded-fresh-covid-19-deaths.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Three patients die, 22 recover in Lagos Saturday
Three more patients died from coronavirus infection in Lagos State on Saturday, the Commissioner for Health, Akin Abayomi, announced. While giving an update on COVID-19 on Sunday, Mr Abayomi said the state recorded 62 new cases on Friday and three more deaths on Saturday. Details of the deceased patients were not disclosed by the commissioner. Total deaths from COVID-19 in Lagos now stand at 28. The cheering news was that 22 more recoveries were recorded in the state on Saturday, bringing the discharged cases to 247. “62 new #COVID19 infection confirmed in Lagos on the 2nd of May, 2020. Total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases in Lagos is now 1084. “22 fully recovered #COVID19Lagos patients; 8 females & 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged. This Brings the total number of #COVID19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247 “3 more #COVID19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total of such deaths in Lagos to 28,” Mr Abayomi wrote on Twitter. Meanwhile, in the COVID-19 update given by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday, death toll increased from 68 on Friday to 85 on Saturday across Nigeria. This shows that 17 new deaths from COVID-19 were recorded in Nigeria within 24 hours. The Lagos health commissioner urged residents to continue to practise good personal hygiene, maintain safe social distance and use face masks in public places in order to prevent the spread of the virus.
3 May 16:48 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/coronavirus/391203-coronavirus-three-patients-die-22-recover-in-lagos-saturday.htmlRating: 0.30
Unconvincing explanations cloud dramatic coronavirus recovery figure in Bangladesh
Confusions have clouded new Health Directorate estimates updated in a matter of 24 hours that show more than 1,000 people have recovered from coronavirus. The figure for recovery on Saturday was 177 after three more won the battle against the deadly illness in the preceding 24 hours. In the Sunday brief, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana put the total number of recovered patients at 1,063, a whopping rise in the past 24 hours. The uplifting statistics, she said, was based on new calculations done following 'revised guidelines'. But the factors at play in this dramatic leap in the number of people surviving the deadly illness remains unclear. A total of 624 patients were discharged from hospitals in Dhaka while 272 others recovered outside the capital, according to Nasima. "There is a clinical management committee for cases of recovery and they have made a new guideline which sets a criteria for when we can say a patient has recovered, when they can leave hospitals. So, 1,063 patients have recovered under this criteria," she said. bdnews24.com called on DGHS officials for a better understanding of the development, but the explanations remained vague. According to previous guidelines, the sample of a person who tested positive for coronavirus would be tested again after 14 days. If it came back negative, another test would follow seven days later. If results again return negative, the patient would once again be tested within 72 hours and if the result is still negative, that individual would be put on the list of recoveries and advised to remain in three-week quarantine on discharge from hospital. "According to the new guidelines, if a patient has clinically recovered, meaning if they do not have fever, cough or respiratory problem for three consecutive days, they would be released and sent back home to remain in isolation for two weeks," virologist Prof Dr Nazrul Islam, who advises the national technical committee, told bdnews24.com. The tests which were conducted in hospitals previously would be carried out at home, he said. However, he was tight-lipped when asked how the information of a patient who recovers at home would be collated. Also, the question as to whether a person would be considered to have recovered if no symptoms show in two-three days went unanswered. But Md Habibur Rahman Khan, additional secretary to the health ministry, gave bdnews24.com a different explanation. "We have been providing information on the hospitals in Dhaka all these days. From today, details coming in from all over the country are being added up. This has caused the number of recoveries to surge," he said. "From today information on patients recovering from hospitals all over the country will be provided. This is what Health Directorate's Additional Director General Nasima Sultana told me," he said. bdnews24.com failed to reach Nasima Sultana for her comments on the issue. The DGHS has been subject to criticism in social media about its handling of the COVID-19 crisis. Bangladesh confirmed two more deaths from the coronavirus in a daily count, taking the total to 177 on Sunday. The tally of COVID-19 infections spiralled to 9,455 in the same period after another 665 people tested positive from 5,368 samples in the biggest single-day spike.
3 May 23:31 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/health/2020/05/04/unconvincing-explanations-cloud-dramatic-coronavirus-recovery-figure-in-bangladeshRating: 2.85
Lagos records another three COVID-19 related deaths
The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Sunday announced another three COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 1,084. Abayomi, who disclosed this through his Twitter account, however, did not give additional information about age, sex, nationality and medical history of the deceased. “Three more #COVID-19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total number of such deaths in Lagos to 28,” he said. The commissioner said as of May 2, the state recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,084. He said: “22 fully recovered #COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged. “This brings the total number of #COVID-19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were 791 active cases, two evacuated and 16 patients transferred to Ogun and Ondo States. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that there were 43, 060 cases, 1, 761 deaths and 14, 343 recoveries reported from 53 Africa countries. (NAN)
3 May 21:11 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/lagos-records-another-three-covid-19-related-deaths/Rating: 0.30
Abayomi: Lagos has recorded three fresh COVID-19 deaths
Akin Abayomi, Lagos commissioner of health, says three more COVID-19 patients have died in the state. Abayomi broke the news via Twitter on Sunday. Giving an update on the COVID-19 situation in the state, the commissioner said the number of fatalities in the state has increased to 28. Lagos has the highest number of confirmed cases in Nigeria with 1,084 cases. “62 new #COVID19 infections confirmed in Lagos on the 2nd of May, 2020. Total number of confirmed #COVID19 cases in Lagos is now 1084,” he said. “22 fully recovered #COVID19Lagos patients; 8 females & 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged. “This brings the total number of #COVID19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247Round pushpin3 more #COVID19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total of such deaths in Lagos to 28. “StaySafe and always #Maskup #ForAGreaterLagos.” The lockdown in the state will be relaxed on May 4. Government offices, as well as some businesses, will reopen. The government also announced new measures to be implemented in the state to reduce the risk of spreading the disease, including a dusk till dawn curfew between 8pm and 6am.
3 May 15:27 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/abayomi-lagos-has-recorded-three-fresh-covid-19-deathsRating: 0.30
Coronavirus Global Updates, 03 May: Australia eases distancing rules, Bangkok parks reopen as restrictions eased
As of May 3, the coronaviruspandemic has caused 243,808 fatalities and the confirmed cases top 3.42 million, while the number of recoveries stand at 1,093,137. United States, where the first confirmed coronavirus case emerged on January 21, continues to remain the worst affected country with 1,133,069 cases and over 66,000 deaths. As cases continue to rapidly rise in the US, many states are looking for ways to reopen businesses as the global economy plunged into its deepest slump since the 1930’s. Follow coronavirus LIVE UPDATES Meanwhile, Russia and Pakistan reported their highest one day spikes in COVID-19 infections in the last 24 hours. The number of infections in Russia crossed 124,000 and 19,000 in Pakistan Sunday. United Kingdom death toll crossed the 28,000 mark and inched closer to Italy’s to become the worst affected country in Europe in terms of coronavirus induced fatalities. In terms of infections, US is followed by Spain (216,582) , Italy (209,328), United Kingdom (183,500), France (168,518 ) Germany (164,967), Turkey (124,375 ) and Russia (124,054). Here are the latest Covid-19 developments from around the globe: The death toll from the novel coronavirus in UK hospitals, care homes and the wider community rose by 315 to hit 28,446 on Sunday, the latest government figures revealed. The latest figures indicate that the UK’s toll is now edging closer to that in Italy, one of the worst-hit countries in the pandemic where the figure stands at 28,710 this week. UK Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove announced the figures at the daily 10 Downing Street briefing as he also confirmed that Prime Minister Boris Johnson will be laying out a detailed plan next week to start easing the economy out of the current lockdown. Nepal on Sunday confirmed 10 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections to 69. Nepal is among the nations that has the least cases of coronavirus. As many as 16 COVID-19 patients have been recovered so far, a heath ministry spokesperson said. Of the 10 new coronavirus cases, one is reported from Parsa district and nine are from Banke district. The patients are aged between 7 and 58 years, the spokesperson said, adding that 13,414 coronavirus tests have been conducted so far in the country. Russia’s National Guard will deploy helicopters and drones in Moscow to monitor compliance with lockdown measures during holidays this week. There is concern that warm spring weather and a string of holidays could draw people in large numbers to leave home and gather in woodland parks. Monday and Tuesday are legal holidays and Saturday marks the 75th anniversary of the defeat of Nazi Germany, a day that usually sees huge outdoor gatherings. Bangladesh registered its highest single-day increase in the coronavirus cases with 665 new infections in the last 24 hours, taking the total number to 9,455. Bangladesh also recorded two more deaths from the novel coronavirus in the last 24 hours, taking the total death count to 177, PTI reported. One of the dead was a child, while the other was over 60 years. Residents of Thailand’s capital enjoyed the city’s parks, booked haircuts and stocked up on beer and other alcoholic drinks Sunday as they enjoyed their first day of eased restrictions that were imposed weeks ago to combat the spread of the coronavirus. The top perk in Bangkok, a city famous for its eateries, may have been the reopening of restaurants. But it was not clear how many were actually serving seated customers again, since strict guidelines will make it hard for many of them to turn a profit. Restaurants have to keep their customers at least 1.5 meters (5 feet) apart and practice a wide range of sanitary measures, beginning with taking the temperature of customers and staff, and circulating fresh air. Small restaurants that could fit 20 people before might be able to seat eight to 10 under the rules. Pope Francis on Sunday called for an international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19.Speaking from the Apostolic Palace library after delivering his blessing, Francis stressed the importance of guaranteeing universal access to the essential technologies that allow every infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary health care. China has reported 14 new COVID-19 cases, including 12 asymptomatic ones, taking the number of infections in the country to 82,877 while over 4,630 people have succumbed to the deadly virus, health officials said on Sunday. China’s National Health Commission (NHC) said the two new confirmed cases were reported on Saturday which included one imported and another locally transmitted. The death toll remained 4,633 as no fatalities due to the coronavirus were reported on Saturday while the total number cases increased to 82,877 with 531 still undergoing treatment, it said. Russia reported more than 10,000 new cases of coronavirus infections on Sunday, the first time the country’s daily tally reached five figures. More than half of the 10,633 new cases reported were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Russia has recorded more than 134,000 coronavirus infections overall and 1,420 deaths. Hundreds opposed US state Oregon’s stay at home order Saturday by coming out and protesting on the streets as health officials announced at least 12 new cases and 5 deaths in the state due to COVID-19. Most of the protesters did not wear face masks, but they waved American flags and Trump campaign signs in the rain. Other signs read “Reopen Oregon” and “Let me earn a living”. Public health officials say stay-at-home orders are essential for slowing the transmission of the novel coronavirus. But protest organizers told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they view the social distancing mandates issued by Gov. Kate Brown as government overreach. Since mid-March, Brown’s orders have closed many businesses, put some parks and campgrounds off limits, and required public schools to adopt distance learning programs. Read| Health official says US missed some chances to slow coronavirus Meanwhile China just confirmed two news coronavirus cases Saturday, continuing its downward trend since the government has been taking measures to cut foreign returnees. One new case was in the inland Shanxi province, west of Beijing, and the other was an imported one in Shanghai. China’s official confirmed case count stands at 82,877 with 4,633 deaths. Most of the patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. Travellers to France, including French nationals returning home, will face a mandatory 14-day quarantine and a possible isolation when they arrive in the country, French health minister said Saturday. This comes after the country decided to gradually lift down lockdown measures post 11 May. “This quarantine will be imposed on any person returning on French soil,” Health Minister Olivier Veran told a press briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting. Read| As coronavirus lockdown eases, Italians fear bleak future He said the duration and conditions of both quarantine for asymptomatic people and isolation for those showing symptoms of COVID-19 The new quarantine rules will be laid out in a bill that extends the state of emergency till 24 July, a move that allows the government to restrict freedom of movement. Spring season across the United States and Europe on Saturday drew people out after being indoors for weeks in order to soak the sun. In New York city, the epicentre of coronavirus in the US, police and park officials were spread out and sent over 1,000 officers to enforce social distancing on the warmest day since mid-March. But they were more likely to break up large groups, leaving the nuisances of social distancing and hanging out safely outside to New Yorkers themselves. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said people need to go outside and enjoy the warm weather. A New York City farmer’s market enforced the familiar 6 feet (2 meters) of space between people waiting to buy spring flowers. Read| Trump hopes COVID deaths will be below 100,000 Meanwhile, fighter jets from the US Navy Blue Angels and US Air Force Thunderbirds drew people outside as they flew over Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington in honor of health care workers. In some areas of the United States, reopening is being urged to ease the shutdown of businesses that plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930’s .Webcams showed dozens of people on the beach Saturday, but pools still closed. South Carolina also hasn’t reopened dine-in restaurants, unlike neighbouring Georgia. Families in a satellite city of Mexico’s capital with one of the country’s highest tallies of the coronavirus have staged protests to demand news of sick relatives and the return of the bodies of the dead after videos surfaced showing cadavers at a hospital. One video of the Las Americas general hospital in Ecatepec that was posted to social media showed several bagged bodies on stretchers, some in a small room and others outside lined against a courtyard wall. Read| UNSC President Estonia calls Security Council’s handling of COVID-19 “a shame” Back in session from Monday the US Senate risks a return of the virus but Congressional leaders are turning down President Donald Trump’s offer of the rapid coronavirus testing used at the White House. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators at the Capitol during a pandemic gives President Donald Trump the imagery he wants of America getting back to work despite health worries and a lack of testing. Senator gathering for the first time since March risks lawmakers, cooks, cleaners, police force and other workers working at the Capitol complex when the Washington region remains under stay at home orders. Although Trump himself offered Congress access to the instant virus test system used to screen visitors to the White House But in an extraordinary rebuff McConnell and House Speaker Nancy Pelosi said in a statement that they would respectfully decline the offer and instead direct resources to the front lines where they can do the most good. Senators face few new rules for operating in the pandemic beyond the recommendations that they wear masks, blue face coverings will be available for free, keep their distance and leave most staff at home Hand sanitizer is back in stock But public access will be limited including at public hearings The Capitol itself remains closed to visitors and tours. Australia’s state of Victoria saw its highest increase in new coronavirus cases in weeks on Sunday and New South Wales state struggled with a cluster of infections at an aged care facility, as parts of the country began easing distancing rules.Thirteen new cases were recorded in Victoria on Sunday, health officials said, with six of the cases related to an infections cluster at a meat processing facility in Melbourne. Australia and its neighbour New Zealand, which have closed borders and imposed lockdowns and tight social restrictions, have been hailed for containing COVID-19 outbreaks, but the measures are set to push both economies into recession. China’s most populous cities saw a spike in outbound travellers, tourists and day-trippers on May 1, the first day of a long holiday weekend, led by Wuhan, epicentre of the coronavirus epidemic that first struck the country late last year. The number of people travelling outside their home cities jumped nearly 50% at the start of the Labour Day weekend, compared with the first day of the Tomb Sweeping holiday on April 4, Reuters reported. The increase in outbound travel during the five-day holiday, one of China’s peak tourism periods each year, would help lift the travel and hospitality sectors that have been hit hard by disruption from the coronavirus pandemic.
3 May 16:58 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/world/coronavirus-global-updates-03-may-france-coronavirus-global-updates-may-2-spain-italy-us-china-pakistan/Rating: 0.30
Lagos records another 3 COVID-19 related deaths
Kindly Share This Story: The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof. Akin Abayomi, on Sunday announced another three COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state increased to 1,084. Abayomi, who disclosed this through his Twitter account, however, did not give additional information about age, sex, nationality and medical history of the deceased. “Three more #COVID-19 related deaths were recorded, bringing total number of such deaths in Lagos to 28,” he said. The commissioner said as of May 2, the state recorded 62 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,084. He said: “22 fully recovered #COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged. “This brings the total number of #COVID-19 discharged patients in Lagos to 247,” he said. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there were 791 active cases, two evacuated and 16 patients transferred to Ogun and Ondo States. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that there were 43, 060 cases, 1, 761 deaths and 14, 343 recoveries reported from 53 Africa countries Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 17:28 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/lagos-records-another-3-covid-19-related-deaths/Rating: 2.43
India registers record jump of 83 deaths and 2,487 Covid-19 cases in 24 hours
New Delhi: India registered a record jump of 83 deaths and 2,487 cases in 24 hours as the number of COVID-19 fatalities rose to 1,306 and total cases climbed to 40,263 on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 28,070, while 10,886 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. The total number of cases also include 111 foreign nationals. Of the 83 deaths reported since Saturday evening, 36 were from Maharashtra, 26 from Gujarat, 11 from Madhya Pradesh, three each from Rajasthan and Delhi, two from Telangana and one each from Tamil Nadu and Bihar. With 521 fatalities, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum of the nationwide 1,306 deaths. Gujarat comes second with 262 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh 156, Rajasthan 65, Delhi 64, Uttar Pradesh 43, and West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh 33 each. The death toll reached 29 in Tamil Nadu, 28 in Telangana, while Karnataka has reported 25 fatalities due to the respiratory disease. Punjab has registered 20 COVID-19 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir eight, Kerala, Bihar and Haryana have reported four deaths each. Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. The health ministry’s Saturday evening update had put the death toll at 1,223 and the number of cases at 37,776 in the country. According to the health ministry data updated on Sunday evening, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra at 12,296, followed by Gujarat at 5,055, Delhi 4,122, Madhya Pradesh 2,846, Rajasthan 2,772, Tamil Nadu 2,757 and Uttar Pradesh 2,626. The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,583 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,063 in Telangana. It has risen to 922 in West Bengal, 772 in Punjab, 666 in Jammu and Kashmir, 606 in Karnataka, 500 in Kerala and 482 in Bihar. Haryana has reported 394 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 160 cases. A total of 115 people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 94 in Chandigarh. Uttarakhand has reported 59 cases, Assam and Chhattisgarh have 43 cases each, while Himachal Pradesh and Ladakh have registered 40 cases so far. Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, Puducherry eight, while Goa has seven COVID-19 cases. Tripura has registered four cases, while Manipur has two cases. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each. The ministry said, “139 cases are being assigned to states for contact tracing.” “Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR,” it said on its website, adding state-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation. However, a PTI tally of figures reported by states directly showed at least 1,328 deaths across the country while the number of confirmed cases of infection had reached 40,440 as on Sunday evening. Of them, 10,661 have been cured and discharged. There has been a lag in the Union Health Ministry figures, compared to the aggregate of numbers announced by different states, which officials attribute to procedural delays in assigning the cases to individual states. ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
3 May 15:26 • ThePrint • https://theprint.in/health/india-registers-record-jump-of-83-deaths-and-2487-covid-19-cases-in-24-hours/413691/Rating: 1.95
One new case of COVID-19 in Manitoba announced Sunday
WINNIPEG -- The Manitoba government announced one new case of COVID-19 on Sunday. The case was announced in a news release as the regular COVID-19 press conference with Dr. Brent Roussin, chief provincial public health officer, and Lanette Siragusa, Shared Health’s chief nursing officer, was cancelled. Sunday’s case brings the total number of lab-confirmed positive and probable positive cases in Manitoba to 281. Right now, five individuals are currently hospitalized, with no individuals in intensive care. There are 38 active cases, with 237 individuals being listed as recovered from COVID-19. The number of deaths due to COVID-19 remains at six. The province issued 643 tests on Saturday, bringing the total number of tests performed since early February to 26,806. Any Manitoban showing symptoms of COVID-19 can get tested.
3 May 18:14 • Winnipeg • https://winnipeg.ctvnews.ca/one-new-case-of-covid-19-in-manitoba-announced-sunday-1.4922890Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: 447 new Covid-19 cases in a single day, as death toll rises to 131
The number of Covid-19 cases has risen by 447 to a total of 6 783. This is the first time the numbers have increased by more than 400 cases in a day. Health Minister Zwelini Mkhize announced the increase on Sunday night, adding that eight more people had died. Of these, two died in the Western Cape, four in the Eastern Cape, and two in Gauteng. "We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and salute the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients," Mkhize says. Mkhize added that, as of 30 April, 7 216 777citizens had been screened through the Community Screening Programme. Of these, 72 087had been referred for testing. The testing had increased from 230 686 cases to 245 747 on Sunday night.
3 May 20:25 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/coronavirus-447-new-covid-19-cases-in-a-single-day-as-death-toll-rises-to-131-20200503Rating: 2.83
Covid-19: 330 new cases 19 deaths confirmed in Ireland
A further 19 people have died from Covid-19 the Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HPSC) confirmed. There have now been a total of 1,303 deaths in Ireland from the coronavirus. 330 new cases were also confirmed today. In total there are 21,506 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Ireland. According to data provided by the HPSC: Earlier today, Dr Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of GPs, welcomed the fall in Covid-19 patients receiving treating in intensive care units (ICU). Dr Favier said: "If people spend time in intensive care, whether they have had a serious operation or something has happened to them, it's often only a couple of days, this (coronavirus) can be a couple of weeks. "So we'd expect there to be quite a substantial lag from the time people get the disease, to being admitted to hospital, to going into intensive care, to being discharged. The latest figure for patients in ICU is 98, only the second time it has been less than 100 in the last month. Meanwhile, the HSE is investigating after the family of a person who died from Covid-19 was given the wrong body by a hospital mortuary last weekend. The incident happened at Mullingar Regional Hospital on Friday, April 24. Victims of Covid-19 are put in sealed body bags by morticians due to the nature of the disease, with neither families or undertakers allowed to view the remains. Privacy of family at centre of Mullingar hospital incident must be respected: Sinn Féin TD
3 May 15:56 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/covid-19-330-new-cases-19-deaths-confirmed-in-ireland-997436.htmlRating: 0.69
Hospitals across Greater Manchester have recorded more coronavirus deaths in the last 24 hours
A further 15 people have died in Greater Manchester hospitals having contracted coronavirus. It means the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the county's hospitals now stands at 1,366. NHS trusts in Greater Manchester today (Sunday) confirmed 15 more people have died in their hospitals, a fall from 25 in the previous 24-hour period. This reflects a general downward trend with a fall in the number of deaths recorded in each of the last four days. However, experts and politicians say figures must be treated with caution as there are fewer NHS staff working at weekends and so fewer deaths tend to be recorded. The NHS now includes deaths where there has not been a positive coronavirus result, but where the virus was suspected, in its data. The figure only reflects deaths in hospitals and not in other settings, such as care homes. It is believed many more have died at care homes and in their own homes across the region. The Care Quality Commission said that between April 10 and 24, 277 people in Greater Manchester care homes had died having contracted the virus. On Wednesday, the government began including deaths at care home and private addresses in its own daily UK death tally. The local NHS mortality figures reveal that a further four patients died at Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust (bringing its total to 290) and a further four at Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust (a total of 170). There were three more at Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust (112) and two more at each of the following trusts: Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust (352); Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust (148). The remaining trusts recorded no new Covid-19 related deaths in the last 24 hours. The number of coronavirus-related deaths at Greater Manchester hospital trusts as at May 3: Bolton NHS Foundation Trust - 169 Greater Manchester Mental Health NHS Foundation Trust - 9 Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust - 290 Pennine Acute Hospitals NHS Trust - 352 Pennine Care NHS Foundation Trust - 3 Salford Royal NHS Foundation Trust - 148 Stockport NHS Foundation Trust - 105 Tameside and Glossop Integrated Care NHS Foundation Trust - 112 The Christie NHS Foundation Trust - 8 Wrightington, Wigan and Leigh NHS Foundation Trust - 170
3 May 14:27 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/hospitals-across-greater-manchester-recorded-18192203Rating: 1.15
COVID-19: India's tally crosses 40,000-mark; 10,887 recoveries so far
New Delhi, May 03: The number of coronavirus cases in India crossed the 40,000 mark on Sunday, as 2,487 new cases were detected in the last 24 hours. The death toll from COVID-19 has gone up to to 1,306 after 83 coronavirus-linked deaths were reported in 24 hours. Maharashtra remains the worst-hit state with a total of 12,296 cases. In the last 24 hours, the state has reported a total of 790 fresh cases with 36 deaths, taking its total tally to 521. Gujarat comes at second after recording 5,055 cases with 262 deaths, the capital records total 4122 cases with 64 deaths as per the latest data shared by the Helth Ministry. At least 4,122 cases have been declared in Delhi with 64 fatalities, while Madhya Pradesh has reported 156 deaths and 2,546 confirm cases of COVID-19. Rajasthan and Tamil Nadu have recorded over 2,700 cases each with 65 deaths and 29 fatalities. The state of Uttar Pradesh has also reported more than 26,000 cases, which includes 43 fatalities who succumbed to the deadly virus. More than 10,000 COVID-19 patients have been discharged till date. Those still admitted at hospitals are on the road to recovery. If in last 14 days doubling rate was 10.5 days, then today it's around 12 days. Also India's mortality rate of 3.2 per cent is the lowest in the world.
3 May 14:24 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/india/covid-19-india-s-tally-crosses-40-000-mark-10-887-recoveries-so-far-3082257.htmlRating: 0.30
UK death toll jumps to 28,446 as another 315 die from coronavirus
The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen to 28,446, minister Michael Gove has said. Speaking during today’s daily press conference, the Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster stated that there had been more than 1,206,405 coronavirus tests carried out in the UK as of 9am on Sunday May 3, including 76,496 in the previous 24 hours. He noted that 14,248 people are currently being treated in hospital, compared to 14,695 recorded on Saturday. The rise in death toll comes after 358 more people died in hospitals across the country. England recorded another 327 deaths in hospitals, Wales another 14, Scotland 12, and Northern Ireland another five. The number released by the National Health Service only includes deaths in hospitals after testing positive for the virus. The government then began including care home and community deaths in their figures this week, creating two separate death tolls numbers for the UK. Of those deaths in England, 56 occurred on May 2, 125 occurred on May 1, 43 occurred on April 30 and 95 took place between April 1 and April 29. The remaining eight deaths occurred in March, with the earliest on March 28. The UK now has the third highest number of recorded deaths with coronavirus in the world, after the US and Italy. Britain could soon become the worst-affected country in Europe, as the death toll nears Italy’s total of 28,710. The government has not yet set forward a plan for lifting lockdown restrictions, after they were first implemented on March 23 and extended on April 16. A review of the current clampdown will be be announced on Thursday by Boris Johnson with no significant changes expected to be made immediately. However, the Prime Minister has said he wants primary schools opened ‘as fast as we can’. He told The Sun on Sunday: ‘That’s where we want to go. It’s about working out a way to do it.’ Officials have said getting children back into classrooms is a ‘top priority’ in the timetable to ‘unlock’ the UK. Reports suggest primary schools could be given notice as soon as this week, if infection rates continue to drop. Members of the public could also soon be able to exercise several times day, head to the countryside for walks, and enjoy picnics when the first restrictions are lifted. Ministers said the first relaxed measures would still only be for members of the same households, with separate groups still required to remain at least two metres apart. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
3 May 16:33 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-28446-12648349/Rating: 2.18
Pennsylvania coronavirus update: State reports 962 additional cases, 26 deaths
The state Department of Health reported an additional 962 coronavirus cases in Pennsylvania and 26 deaths Sunday, bringing the statewide toll to 49,267 cases and 2,444 deaths. The Lehigh Valley had no new deaths to report and 60 additional cases, bringing the number of cases in Lehigh and Northampton counties to 5,138. Lehigh County reported 28 new cases for a total of 2,924 and Northampton County recorded 32 new cases for a total of 2,214. More than two-thirds of those who have died from COVID-19 were residents of nursing or personal care homes. The state said 9,122 residents of nursing and personal care homes and 1,194 employees have tested positive for COVID-19 at 492 facilities across the state. Most of the patients hospitalized and most deaths have been people 65 or older, the state said. Gov. Tom Wolf has rolled out a plan to gradually reopen portions of the state where per capita case counts are low, contact tracing and testing are possible, and populations aren’t too dense. This Friday, the state will loosen restrictions in 24 counties, allowing them to reopen businesses that have been shut down because of the pandemic. “As we see the number of new COVID-19 cases continuously change across the state that does not mean we can stop practicing social distancing,” Health Secretary Dr. Rachel Levine said in a news release. While Sunday’s lower numbers in the Lehigh Valley are positive, they still keep them well above the threshold to re-open. The Lehigh Valley is part of the northeast region, where the average rate of infection over a period of 14 days remains at 173 per 100,000 people. The only region with a higher infection rate is the southeast, which includes Philadelphia, at a rate of 226 per 100,000. A day after recording the highest number of daily tests, the state reported 5,265 tests Sunday with 18.3% coming back positive for COVID-19. The state said there have been 191,374 patients who have tested negative to date. On Saturday, Levine said the state is working with local hospitals to obtain more of the experimental drug remdesivir, which was approved by the Food and Drug Administration on Friday for emergency use and has shown promise in shortening the time it takes for patients to recover. “We’re looking forward to having more and more patients treated with this medication and looking forward to more hospitals obtaining that,” Levine said. “We are actually going to work on guidelines and help the hospitals obtain that from the federal government.” Morning Call reporter Manuel Gamiz Jr. can be reached at 610-820-6595 or at mgamiz@mcall.com. We rely on the support of our subscribers to fund our journalism as we continue to cover the coronavirus crisis. If you’re not already signed up, we hope you will consider subscribing. Already a print subscriber? If you haven’t already, please activate your digital access. ——— ©2020 The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) Visit The Morning Call (Allentown, Pa.) at www.mcall.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
3 May 19:21 • Msn • https://www.msn.com/en-us/health/medical/pennsylvania-coronavirus-update-state-reports-962-additional-cases-26-deaths/ar-BB13xYxu?ocid=hplocalnewsRating: 0.30
Eight more deaths linked to coronavirus across Liverpool hospitals
Hospitals in Liverpool have been hit by a further eight deaths linked to coronavirus. Figures announced on Sunday also revealed six more deaths have been recorded in NHS trusts that cover the rest of the Liverpool City Region. Liverpool University Hospitals Trust, which runs The Royal, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals, had the largest number of new coronavirus deaths across the region. Seven further deaths mean the Trust has now recorded a total of 325 tragedies linked to Covid-19. No new deaths were registered at the Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital, where there has been 16 to now. Alder Hey Children's Hospital also recorded no further deaths, with its total currently four - all adults who were being treated there. Mersey Care Mental Health Trust, which announced its first three virus deaths earlier this week, did not record any further deaths. But the Walton Centre recorded one more, meaning its total now stands at six. There was one new death registered at each of St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Warrington and Halton NHS Trust. Their totals rose to 153, 168 and 89 respectively. Three new deaths took the total at Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust to 118. The news came as a further 358 hospital deaths were announced across the UK on Sunday.
3 May 14:33 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/eight-further-deaths-linked-coronavirus-18192272Rating: 0.83
Sunday Update: 514 COVID-19 Cases
Source: Santa Barbara County Public Health DepartmentMay 3, 2020 Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) reports an additional six confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county today. The total number of confirmed cases is 514 and 401 have fully recovered. Although most cases of COVID-19 exhibit mild or moderate symptoms, PHD recommends additional measures to prevent exposure among vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions (such as diabetes, cancer, immunodeficiency, asthma, COPD and others). PHD recommends that residents, especially those who are vulnerable: Information for the 6 new confirmed cases can be found below. Ages of new confirmed cases reported: Locations of new cases reported: Fifty-one (51) people are recovering at home, Forty-two (42) are recovering in a hospital, seventeen (17) of whom are in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and twelve (12) are pending an update. Eight (8) deaths have been reported. Please visit Santa Barbara County’s coronavirus web page for other preparedness resources and updates at https://publichealthsbc.org/. For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Santa Barbara County Public Health, residents may call the 2-1-1 Call Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 2-1-1 if calling from within the county; or (800) 400-1572 if calling from outside the area. Source: Santa Barbara County Public Health DepartmentMay 2, 2020 Santa Barbara County Public Health Department (PHD) reports an additional four confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the county today. The total number of confirmed cases is 508 and 397 have fully recovered. Today’s total number of confirmed cases include an update as two cases reported previously were determined not to be cases. Although most cases of COVID-19 exhibit mild or moderate symptoms, PHD recommends additional measures to prevent exposure among vulnerable people, including the elderly and those with underlying health conditions (such as diabetes, cancer, immunodeficiency, asthma, COPD and others). PHD recommends that residents, especially those who are vulnerable: Information for the 4 new confirmed cases can be found below. Ages of new confirmed cases reported: *Age data for confirmed cases of persons who are incarcerated will only be shared in aggregate totals on PHD website. Locations of new cases reported: *One new case is a person who is incarcerated at the Federal Prison in Lompoc, CA and part of the identified outbreak. Sixty-five (65) people are recovering at home, Thirty-four (34) are recovering in a hospital, fourteen (14) of whom are in an Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and four (4) are pending an update. Eight (8) deaths have been reported. Please visit Santa Barbara County’s coronavirus web page for other preparedness resources and updates at https://publichealthsbc.org/. For general questions about COVID-19 and precautions currently recommended by Santa Barbara County Public Health, residents may call the 2-1-1 Call Center 24 hours a day, 7 days a week by dialing 2-1-1 if calling from within the county; or (800) 400-1572 if calling from outside the area.
3 May 17:37 • edhat santa barbara • https://www.edhat.com/news/sunday-update-514-covid-19-casesRating: 0.30
As lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks
While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections on Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. India, second in population only to China, reported more than 2,600 new infections. Meanwhile, Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown that has upended lives, cost millions of jobs and left millions hungry and desperate. The official death toll reached 1,323. And in Russia, new coronavirus cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. Russia's latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Russian epidemiologist Alexander Gintsburg told the Interfax news agency that the sharp increase in cases reflected increased testing, which has doubled over the past 10 days, and did not indicate a deepening pandemic. In all, Russia has reported 1,222 virus deaths among 124,000 infections, numbers that health experts widely believe undercount the true toll of its outbreak. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s outbreak, even though the UK population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported on Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically after lockdowns are eased. But pressure to reopen economies keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, has seen a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were relaxed ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30 per cent of capacity. Meanwhile, Italians counted down the hours until Monday’s reopening of parks and public gardens. With sunshine and warm temperatures across the country, many people went outdoors, walking down streets and chatting on sidewalks. Despite the easing, Italians will still have to stay a metre apart. Picnics are not allowed, and playgrounds will remain closed. In a sign that the disease still has a firm grip in some places, Rome’s infectious diseases hospital admitted 28 confirmed Covid-19 patients from a nursing home. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began on March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting on Monday on public transit. “There is highly probability that we will see new outbreaks,” said Spanish health expert Fernando Simon. “That is what we must be prepared for and keep in mind over the following months.” In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift the lockdown that began on March 23. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily — twice as many recently as Italy or Spain — it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for Covid-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the US, New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50pc limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. “46 days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, White House coronavirus coordinator Dr Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly mask-less crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. US President Donald Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen on Monday in Washington DC. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. US Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives President Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Pope Francis called on Sunday for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for Covid-19 and invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has seen more than 139,00 confirmed virus deaths, with more than 28,000 each in Italy and Britain and around 25,000 each in France and Spain. All the numbers are considered to be undercounts, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments.
3 May 22:53 • DAWN.COM • https://www.dawn.com/news/1554260Rating: 2.87
As Lockdowns Ease, Some Countries Report New Infection Peaks
ROME (AP) — While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were loosened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 COVID deaths in the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening — the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting Monday on public transit. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily — twice as many recently as Italy or Spain — it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,’’ he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario’’ if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. President Donald Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather … they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could come back in “small waves in various places around the country,” said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Nothing has changed in the underlying dynamics of this virus,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced that his state would join with six others to create a regional supply chain for masks, gowns, ventilators, testing supplies and other equipment for fighting the disease. “It will make us more competitive in the international marketplace, and I believe it will save taxpayers money,” Cuomo said. Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. Pope Francis called Sunday for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 and invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. All the numbers are considered to be undercounts, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments. —- Moritsugu reported from Beijing and Gorondi from Budapest, Hungary, and Kirka from London. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report.
3 May 21:46 • Talking Points Memo • https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/lockdowns-ease-countries-new-infection-peaksRating: 0.30
As COVID-19 lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
ROME >> While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections today, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed total death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 additional deaths reported Saturday. Health experts have warned of a potential second wave of infections unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the weekslong shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. At a virtual town hall tonight, President Donald Trump acknowledged that some Americans are worried about getting sick while others are concerned about losing jobs. Though the administration’s handling of the pandemic, particularly the ability to conduct widespread testing, has come under criticism, the president defended the response and said the nation was ready to begin reopening. “We have to get it back open safely but as quickly as possible,” Trump said. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were loosened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 COVID deaths in the 24-hour period ending this evening — the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily — twice as many recently as Italy or Spain — it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario” if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather … they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could come back in “small waves in various places around the country,” said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Nothing has changed in the underlying dynamics of this virus,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Elsewhere, Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. And in Mexico City, where authorities expect infections to peak next week, workers will turn the Hernandez Rodriguez Formula 1 racecourse into a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients. The paddocks and suites along the front straightaway will have eight hospital modules with 24 beds each. The pits will be used as offices for consultations. Government have reported the virus has infected 3.5 million people and killed more than 247,000 worldwide, including more than 67,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. All the numbers are considered to be undercounts, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments.
3 May 16:15 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/breaking-news/as-covid-19-lockdowns-ease-some-countries-report-new-infection-peaks/Rating: 0.30
As lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks
ROME (AP) — While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy the spring weather, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were loosened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 COVID deaths in the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening — the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting Monday on public transit. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily — twice as many recently as Italy or Spain — it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,’’ he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario’’ if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday,” White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. President Donald Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather … they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could come back in “small waves in various places around the country,” said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Nothing has changed in the underlying dynamics of this virus,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. Pope Francis called Sunday for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 and invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. All the numbers are considered to be undercounted, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments.
3 May 18:01 • WSVN 7News • https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/as-lockdowns-ease-some-countries-report-new-infection-peaks/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus claims five more lives in north
A further five people in Northern Ireland have died from Covid-19, according to new figures from the Department of Health. The latest deaths bring the total number of fatalities to 381. According to the latest statistics, three deaths happened within the last 24 hours. The other two deaths happened earlier but have only been reported. READ MORE: Socially-distanced queues in west Belfast as priest hears confessions NHS England has announced 327 new deaths of people who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 21,180. Of the 327 new deaths announced today: - 56 occurred on May 2 - 125 occurred on May 1 - 43 occurred on April 30 The figures also show 95 of the new deaths took place between April 1 and April 29 while the remaining eight deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 28. NHS England releases updated figures each day showing the dates of every coronavirus-related death in hospitals in England, often including previously uncounted deaths that took place several days or even weeks ago. This is because of the time it takes for deaths to be confirmed as testing positive for Covid-19, for post-mortem examinations to be processed and for data from the tests to be validated. The figures published today by NHS England show April 8 continues to have the highest number for the most hospital deaths occurring on a single day, with a current total of 867. A further 14 people have died after testing positive for coronavirus in Wales, taking the total number of deaths to 983, Public Health Wales has said. A total of 1,571 patients have died in Scotland after testing positive for coronavirus, an increase of 12 since Saturday.
3 May 14:11 • The Irish News • http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/05/03/news/coronavirus-claims-five-more-lives-in-north-1924924/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus Scotland: Small rise in Ayrshire cases as 12,000 are diagnosed with COVID-19 across country
Ayrshire has reported another small rise in positive coronavirus cases today. The region recorded a less than one per cent rise from yesterday (0.8 per cent). This means the NHS Ayrshire & Arran region has now reached 799 cases of the disease – an increase of six from yesterday. Scotland's COVID-19 death toll has now tragically reached 1,559 which is up 12 on yesterday's figure. The number of people in hospital with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, within the health board's region, at midnight was 115. Meanwhile, the number of patients in intensive care with suspected or confirmed coronavirus stood at eight at midnight. Across Scotland, a total of 60,295 tests have been carried out with 12,097 delivering a positive result for the coronavirus. The symptoms of coronavirus are: But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. If you think you may have the coronavirus, do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
3 May 13:34 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/coronavirus-scotland-small-rise-ayrshire-21966741Rating: 0.35
Further 358 hospital deaths linked to coronavirus as UK toll slows
The number of people who have died in hospitals in the England, Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland after contracting coronavirus has risen by 358. NHS England announced 327 further deaths in the authority's daily update, taking the total number of hospital deaths linked to the condition to 21,180. A further five were confirmed in Northern Ireland, taking its total to 381. Wales saw 14 new deaths, taking the total to 983. A further 12 deaths were announced in Scotland, where the total is now 1,571. This means the total UK hospital death toll is 24,115. A full update, including care home and other deaths, will be announced later today and will see the total approach 30,000. The new figures are the latest up to 5pm on May 2 and refer to deaths that were registered within the preceding 24 hours, rather than the number of people who died over that timeframe. They come after a senior Government minister said Britain will not return to "business as usual" this month. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out the "road map" for how the UK will come out of the coronavirus lockdown over the coming days. But Transport Secretary Grant Shapps today warned that some form of social restrictions are likely to be in place throughout May. He told Sky’s Sophy Ridge On Sunday: “I don’t think we should expect us to go from this situation that we have at the moment of social distancing back to where we were in February - that’s clearly not going to happen and I don’t think anyone imagines that for one moment. “The most important thing is that the absolute focus of what the Prime Minister will be announcing later in the week is that what we do do going forward doesn’t undo the brilliant work people have been doing to get that R number below 1 - the all-critical reproduction rate doesn’t come back up because that’s when we’d see a second spike. “So no I’m afraid it is definitely not going to be business as usual but we do want to make sure that people understand where the routemap lies.” It has previously been suggested that our lives could be radically different when lockdown ends according to plans said to be being considered by the Government. People travelling to work could be asked to check their temperature before leaving the house under the proposals reportedly under consideration. Honour our NHS heroes - from the surgeons to the porters, the nurses to the catering staff, the physios to the midwives, and the paramedics to the GPs - by helping to create a map of gratitude from every corner of Britain. We need our health workers now more than ever as they work superhuman hours and go above and beyond to protect us. Click HERE to drop a heart or a message on the map, and show you appreciate the efforts undertaken daily in the NHS. You can now also make a donation to NHS Heroes Help From Home, starting from £2.. As a thank you, everyone who donates will be entered into the weekly NHS Heroes Raffle. Click HERE to donate or to find out more - or click the link from within the Thanks a Million map. Thanks a million, NHS workers - we love you. The official advice - to stay at home, protect the NHS and save lives - remains in place. Merseyside Police re-inforced that message this weekend as the force thanked the public for complying with social distancing regulations despite a return to good weather on Saturday. Superintendent Mark Wiggins, said: "I would like to take this opportunity to thank everyone who has stayed at home across Merseyside, or only visited parks and open spaces for their daily exercise, and supported each other in trying to prevent the spread of coronavirus. "There were a few days in the last couple of weeks when there was a greater number of people who were coming visit parks and opens spaces and not adhering to the Government restrictions. "But I'm pleased to say that members of the public seem to have listened to the pleas of ourselves, the local authorities and other local organisations to stay home and save lives, and protect our dedicated NHS workers. "I would urge people to continue to heed the message - the more you stay at home, the less people will become infected with the virus, and the quicker we can return to normality and start to live our lives again." Any loosening of restrictions is likely to be made in gradual stages - as we are beginning to see in other European countries.
3 May 13:51 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/further-358-hospital-deaths-linked-18191804Rating: 0.83
India Covid-19 cases zoom past 40,000, 83 deaths recorded in a day
Covid cases in India continued on an upward trajectory zooming past 40,000 and recording 83 deaths in a day, taking the final toll to 1,306 on Sunday even as the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) headquarters were sealed after two positive cases were found on the campus. Cases in Maharashtra reached 12,296, adding 790 cases in a single day making up nearly 31 per cent of the total count of confirmed patients in the country. The state has the highest number of deaths with the toll at 521. Gujarat had the second highest number of cases at 5,054 and Delhi was a close third with 4,122 cases. The total number of cases stood at 40,263 in the country, including 111 foreign nationals. The number of active Covid-19 cases stood at 28,046, while 10,632 people recovered and one patient migrated, according to the health ministry. ALSO READ: Coronavirus lockdown 3.0: Orange zone rules, regulations; state-wise list A personal staff of a senior CRPF officer and a bus driver of the paramilitary tested positive for coronavirus, officials said. The force has been witnessing multiple cases of the virus, with at least 135 personnel of its 31st battalion based in Delhi being infected and a 55-year-old sub-inspector of the unit succumbing to the disease last week. “The headquarters are closed for sanitisation till the task is completed,” a CRPF spokesperson said. Contact tracing exercise has begun to quarantine all the personnel who came in contact with the two infected staffers. At least three other personnel from different units have been found to be coronavirus positive and a number of their colleagues have been quarantined. ALSO READ: Covid-19: As trains roll in, states scurry to cope with migrant influx With about 325,000 personnel in its ranks, the CRPF is the country's largest paramilitary force and is designated as the lead internal security force of the country. As on May 3, a total of 10,46,450 samples have been tested according to Indian Council of Medical Research. Government plans to increase testing capacity to 100,000 tests per day soon. ICMR has estimated a requirement of over 3.5 million last RT-PCR test kits which are considered the gold standard for Covid-19 testing over the next two months. It has placed the order for over 2.1 million test kits.
3 May 13:03 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/india-covid-19-cases-zoom-close-to-40-000-records-78-deaths-in-a-day-120050300716_1.htmlRating: 0.30
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports
The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours – its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economycontinueto take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: “CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons.” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country -said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. “Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn’t mean you proceed blindly,” Cuomo said. “Use the information to determine action – not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts,” he added.
3 May 13:05 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/us-records-highest-daily-death-toll-states-start-reopening-economy-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
In U.S., 2,909 people die of COVID-19 in 24 hours, highest daily death toll in the U.S. yet
Deadliest day comes as state officials reopen parts of economy and stay-at-home orders expire This seems like an extremely bad time for various U.S. states to be lifting restrictions aimed at slowing the spread of the deadly novel coronavirus, but what do I know? The U.S. saw 2,909 people die of Covid-19 in 24 hours, according to public health data collected as of 4AM ET on Friday. This is the single highest daily death toll in the U.S. yet. From CNBC: Read more: The US just reported its deadliest day for coronavirus patients as states reopen, according to WHO
3 May 12:42 • Boing Boing • https://boingboing.net/2020/05/03/in-u-s-2909-people-die-of-c.htmlRating: 1.31
As coronavirus lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks
While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy the outdoors, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed total death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicentre of Europe’s outbreak, even though the British population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 additional deaths reported Saturday. Health experts have warned of a potential second wave of infections unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the week-long shutdown of businesses plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. At a virtual town hall Sunday night, President Donald Trump acknowledged some Americans are worried about getting sick while others are concerned about losing jobs. Though the administration’s handling of the pandemic, particularly the ability to conduct widespread testing, has come under criticism, the president defended the response and said the nation was ready to begin reopening. “We have to get it back open safely but as quickly as possible,” Trump said. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to tourist spots newly reopened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 deaths in the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening – the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily, it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a `death of Stalin’-type scenario” if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital of Kabul, where a third of 500 people tested randomly were positive. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on Fox News Sunday, White House coronavirus co-ordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather … they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could come back in “small waves in various places around the country,” said Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. “Nothing has changed in the underlying dynamics of this virus,” he said on NBC’s Meet the Press. Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Elsewhere, Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the lockdown of its 1.3 billion people was extended two more weeks, but with some measures relaxed. The official death toll reached 1,323. And in Mexico City, where authorities expect infections to peak next week, workers will turn the Hernandez Rodriguez Formula 1 racecourse into a temporary hospital for COVID-19 patients. The paddocks and suites along the front straightaway will have eight hospital modules with 24 beds each. The pits will be used as offices for consultations. Governments have reported 3.5 million infections and more than 247,000 deaths, including more than 67,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Deliberately concealed outbreaks, low testing rates and the severe strain the disease has placed on health care systems mean the true scale of the pandemic is undoubtedly much greater. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 12:42 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-some-countries-emerge-from-lockdown-as-coronavirus-restrictions-begin/Rating: 2.18
Many lockdowns ease but Russia, India, UK still struggling
ROME (AP) -- From the United States to Europe to Asia, the easing of some coronavirus lockdowns brought millions out of their homes to enjoy the outdoors and warm spring temperatures. Yet the global pandemic is still slicing through the defenses of other nations, causing infections and deaths to march relentlessly higher.India on Sunday reported more than 2,600 infections, its biggest single-day jump, and new coronavirus cases in Russia exceed 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed virus death toll in Britain was creeping up near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe's outbreak, even though the UK population is younger than Italy's and Britain had more time than Italy to prepare before the pandemic hit.There was also worrying news from Afghanistan, where nearly a third tested positive in a random test of 500 people in Kabul, the capital city. China, which reported two only new cases, is seeing a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were relaxed ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday.Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai's main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity or less to keep some social distancing in place.Italians are counting down the hours until Monday, when parks and public gardens were re-opening nationwide for strolling, jogging or bike riding. But with sunshine and warm temperatures across the country, many were outside in force Sunday, walking down streets and chatting on sidewalks. Many had masks, but in Rome, some lowered them to talk with friends or neighbors.Despite the easing, Italians will still have to stay a meter apart, picnics are not allowed and playgrounds will remain closed. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has warned that if the rate of contagion starts rising again, such freedoms will be curtailed.In Spain, many ventured out this weekend for the first time since its lockdown began on March 14."I feel good, but tired. You sure notice that it has been a month and I am not in shape," runner Cristina Palomeque said in Barcelona. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will leave the lockdown that began March 23. The restrictions are due to last at least until through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily, it's unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. Britain over the last two days reported double the number of deaths that both Spain and Italy reported.While Johnson has said Britain is past the peak of its coronavirus outbreak, his Conservative government is facing sharp criticism as it becomes clear that Britain will have one of the highest number of confirmed COVID-19 deaths in the world. British medical workers have also denounced what they call is a shortage of protective equipment.Masks were worn widely around the world, from runners in Spain to beach-goers in the southern United States. In New York City's Central Park, joggers moved past each other and a steady stream of folks left tips for a trio working their way through a set of jazz standards. "It's great to have an audience after all these weeks,'' saxophonist Julia Banholzer said. "All my dates have been canceled through September, and I don't know if any will come back this year."Neighboring New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. "Forty-six days in the house was enough," she said.The divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress.The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington, DC, while the Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's decision to convene 100 senators gives President Donald Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite health worries and a lack of testing.In India, air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities Sunday to thank doctors, nurses and police who have been at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. US Navy and Air Force fighter jets flew over Atlanta, Baltimore and Washington on Saturday in honor of health care workers. The number of confirmed cases in India neared 40,000 as the country of 1.3 billion people marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown that has upended lives, cost millions of jobs and left millions of day laborers in a desperate search for food and shelter. The official death toll reached 1,323. Afghanistan's health ministry said Sunday that 156 people were confirmed positive out of 500 randomly tested in Kabul, the capital. Spokesman Wahid Mayar called the results concerning and said more cases would surely be found if the government was able to conduct more tests. Russia announced 10,633 new infections on Sunday, nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia's new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital's medical facilities will be overwhelmed. A Russian epidemiologist, however, said the sharp increase in coronavirus cases reflected increased testing. Alexander Gintsburg of the Gamaleya Research Center for Epidemiology and Microbiology was quoted by the Interfax news agency as saying the increasing number of infections does not indicate a deepening pandemic, noting that testing has doubled over the past 10 days.Russia has reported 1,222 virus deaths among 124,000 infections, numbers that health experts widely believe undercount the true toll of its outbreak. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including leaving more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has seen more than 139,00 confirmed virus deaths, with more than 28,000 each in Italy and Britain and around 25,000 each in France and Spain. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically. But there are enormous pressures to ease lockdowns, since the weeks-long shutdown of businesses around the world has plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and has wiped out millions of jobs. (AP)
3 May 12:55 • Koreaherald • http://www.koreaherald.com/view.php?ud=20200503000261Rating: 1.56
As lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks
ROME -- While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world's most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. India, second in population only to China, reported more than 2,600 new infections. And in Russia, new coronavirus cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe's outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy's and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically after lockdowns are eased. But pressure to reopen economies keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, has seen a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were relaxed ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai's main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. Meanwhile, Italians counted down the hours until Monday's reopening of parks and public gardens. With sunshine and warm temperatures across the country, many people went outdoors, walking down streets and chatting on sidewalks. Despite the easing, Italians will still have to stay a meter (3 feet) apart. Picnics are not allowed, and playgrounds will remain closed. In a sign that the disease still has a firm grip in some places, Rome's infectious diseases hospital admitted 28 confirmed COVID-19 patients from a nursing home. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country's lockdown began March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting Monday on public transit. "There is highly probability that we will see new outbreaks," said Spanish health expert Fernando Simon. "That is what we must be prepared for and keep in mind over the following months." In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift the lockdown that began March 23. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily -- twice as many recently as Italy or Spain -- it's unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he said. "They had a strategy to deal with a `death of Stalin'-type scenario" if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan's capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. "Forty-six days in the house was enough," she said. Speaking on "Fox News Sunday," White House coronavirus co-ordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. President Donald Trump has encouraged people to "liberate" their states. "It's devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather ... they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives," she said. "So we need to protect each other at the same time we're voicing our discontent." Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell's decision to convene 100 senators gives President Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Russia latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia's new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital's medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Russian epidemiologist Alexander Gintsburg told the Interfax news agency that the sharp increase in cases reflected increased testing, which has doubled over the past 10 days, and did not indicate a deepening pandemic. In all, Russia has reported 1,222 virus deaths among 124,000 infections, numbers that health experts widely believe undercount the true toll of its outbreak. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country's number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown that has upended lives, cost millions of jobs and left millions hungry and desperate. The official death toll reached 1,323. Pope Francis called Sunday for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 and invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. Europe has seen more than 139,00 confirmed virus deaths, with more than 28,000 each in Italy and Britain and around 25,000 each in France and Spain. All the numbers are considered to be undercounts, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments. --- Moritsugu reported from Beijing and Gorondi from Budapest, Hungary. AP journalists around the world contributed to this report.
3 May 12:10 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/as-lockdowns-ease-some-countries-report-new-infection-peaks-1.4922684Rating: 2.87
COVID-19: New daily cases jump to 122 in Malaysia on the eve of CMCO
Malaysia has recorded a jump to 122 new COVID-19 cases today, which brings the total number of cases to 6,298. This is the highest number of cases per day since 14th April. Unfortunately, there are 2 new deaths reported today and the current death toll is now 105. A total of 87 new recoveries were reported which brings the total number of recovered cases to 4,413. The current mortality rate is 1.67%, while the recovery rate is 70.07%. At the moment, there are 1,780 cases still receiving treatment. 27 are currently in ICU while 13 require respiratory support. Out of the 122 cases reported today, 52 are imported while 70 are transmitted locally. Out of the 70 cases, 24 are from EMCO areas. The Ministry of Health has also reported a new COVID-19 cluster which is now identified as the “construction cluster” in Kuala Lumpur. 28 workers were tested positive and all of them are foreign workers. The source of the infection is still under investigation. It added that there’s a possibility that it could be linked to the Kampung Baru or Pasar Borong cluster but there’s no evidence yet. Health director-general Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah has reminded all Malaysians that CMCO which would allow selected businesses to reopen starting 4th May is not an indication that the MCO is lifted. He said that CMCO is meant to ease COVID-19 restrictions but with strict enforcement of social distancing. Those that do not comply with the directives will be subjected to punishment. He said those who are not convinced that the SOP will be followed, must remain at home. The director-general explained that self-discipline will be crucial for the CMCO to succeed. He gave examples such as Sweden and South Korea in combating COVID-19 without imposing a lockdown. He stressed that the MCO is not over yet and the government is loosening some restrictions for selected businesses. Although selected businesses are allowed to reopen starting tomorrow, some have decided to remain close. Fast-food chain outlets such as McDonald’s and MyBurgerLab have announced that they will continue to close their stores for dine-in customers. Existing delivery and takeaway services are still available. Meanwhile, several state governments including Sarawak have decided not to reopen businesses on Monday. For those that are stuck at their hometowns may submit their request for interstate travel via the Gerak Malaysia app. The Royal Malaysia Police has provided a schedule and those that intend to travel back to the city with their families must follow the respective dates which are assigned according to location. More details here. [ SOURCE2, IMAGE SOURCE ]
3 May 11:44 • SoyaCincau.com • https://www.soyacincau.com/2020/05/03/covid-19-malaysia-122-new-cases-eve-cmco-xrs/Rating: 0.59
UAE reports 8 new deaths, 561 infections
By Tuqa KhalidDUBAI -- The United Arab Emirates reported on Saturday eight new deaths and 561 new cases of COVID-19 infection, raising the total tally up to 13,599 confirmed coronavirus cases and the death toll up to 119 fatalities.The UAE also reported the recovery of 121 patients, bringing the total number of recovered coronavirus patients up to 2,664.The authorities have been conducting an average of 29,000 coronavirus tests per day during the past two weeks, said Dr. Amna Al-Shamsi, the official spokesperson for the UAE Government.Answering a question on why some people are more susceptible to COVID-19 infection, Dr. Alawi Al-Sheikh, the spokesman for the advanced science sector, said: “The human body have receptors that act like gates allowing certain material to enter human body.At the respiratory system, these receptors are called ACE2 which allow the virus to enter. The virus that causes COVID-19 can latch onto the ACE2 receptor undetected. The adaptive immune system – the part that creates antibodies that help identify pathogens quickly – hasn’t had a chance to learn what SARS-CoV-2 looks like yet.”“This means the virus can use a molecular phishing scam to sneak into the cell. The immunity system then doubles efforts to fight the virus, which in turn increases the infection symptoms and prolong the disease period.”Coronavirus researchA team of researchers from the Research Institute of Medical & Health Sciences (RIMHS) at the University of Sharjah in collaboration with the medical team at the Mohammed Bin Rashid University Of Medicine and Health Sciences, are studying this issue."The study is focused on why COVID-19 spreads less among children comparatively with the elderly people and those suffering from chronic diseases. The study concluded that the children’s lung and nose cells have less receptors than those in the body of the elderly and that the limited number of these cells limit the spread of the disease among the minors who only exhibit mild symptoms if they happen to be infected," Al-Sheikh said.The number of these receptors increase among smokers and those with respiratory diseases, the study found out."Another study by researchers from the Mohammed Bin Rashid University Of Medicine and Health Sciences and Al Jalila Children's Speciality Hospital along with Sharjah University have found out that these cells are larger in number among those suffering obesity," he added.Khalifa University along with relevant authorities are working on a project to detect the existence of the virus in the sanitary water."The scheme is aimed at detecting the virus in an early stage in a way that supports the efforts made by research and development departments to assess the percentage and direction of the virus spread in the country," he explained. -- Al Arabiya English
3 May 11:40 • Saudi Gazette • https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/592616/World/Mena/UAE-reports-8-new-deaths-561-infectionsRating: 0.30
Coronavirus latest: at a glance
Key developments in the global coronavirus outbreak today include: The country’s coronavirus crisis response centre reported 10,633 new cases and 58 deaths, increasing the total number of deaths to 1,280. The country confirmed 235 new coronavirus cases in the last 24 hours, marking its biggest one-day rise of new infections, and 12 patients died overnight – bringing the total number of infections to 2,704 and death toll to 85. Parks and museums are among the facilities that could reopen soon, as long as strict preventive measures are adhered to. However, Japan’s state of emergency – which currently expires on Wednesday – is likely to be extended by another month. The health ministry announced a one-day rise of 164 deaths from coronavirus, meaning the country’s total is now 25,264. It is the smallest increase since 18 March. Meanwhile, confirmed cases of the virus in Spain rose to 217,466. The president, Hassan Rouhani, confirmed that centres of worship in around one-third of the country’s administrative divisions would be allowed to operate from Monday. He did, however, stress that “social distancing is more important than collective prayer”. Watchdogs in the US say Donald Trump’s links with donors and backers deserve scrutiny, as huge amounts of federal funds are distributed. There are concerns that, even during an unprecedented national crisis, Trump’s priorities and campaign machine often tilt towards giving donors and political allies favours, access and publicity.
3 May 11:08 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/coronavirus-latest-at-a-glance-Rating: 5.39
COVID-19: 564 new cases in the UAE, 7 deaths
Abu Dhabi: The UAE confirmed 564 new coronavirus cases on Sunday, while seven COVID-19 patients have died and 99 others have fully recovered. According to the Ministry of Health and Prevention (MOHAP), this brings the total number of COVID-19 infections in the country to 14,163, while there have been 126 deaths and 2,763 recoveries so far. The ministry said that the deceased, who are of various nationalities, suffered from pre-existing chronic illnesses coinciding with coronavirus, which resulted in complications leading to their deaths. The latest coronavirus patients, all of whom are in a stable condition and receiving necessary care, were identified after conducting more than 26,000 additional COVID-19 tests among UAE citizens and residents over the past few days, the ministry said. The ministry expressed its sincere condolences to the families of the deceased and wished all patients a speedy reovery. It called on the public to cooperate with health authorities and comply with all precautionary measures, particularly social distancing protocols, to ensure the safety and protection of the public. New cases: 564 Deaths: 7 Recoveries: 99
3 May 10:53 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/uae/covid-19-564-new-cases-in-the-uae-7-deaths-1.1588503580218Rating: 3.21
India covid death toll hits 1,301, cases touch 39,980
New Delhi: The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,301 and the number of cases climbed to 39,980 in the country on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 28,046, while 10,632 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, the ministry said. The total number of cases include 111 foreign nationals. A total of 78 deaths were reported since Saturday evening, of which 36 fatalities were reported from Maharashtra, 26 from Gujarat, six from Madhya Pradesh, three from Rajasthan, three from Delhi, two from Telangana and one each from Tamil Nadu and Bihar. Of the 1,301 deaths, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum with 521 fatalities, followed by Gujarat (262), Madhya Pradesh (151), Rajasthan (65), Delhi (64), Uttar Pradesh (43) and West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh at 33 each. The death toll reached 29 in Tamil Nadu, 28 in Telangana, while Karnataka has reported 25 fatalities due to the disease. Punjab has registered 20 COVID-19 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir eight, Kerala, Bihar and Haryana have reported four deaths each. Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 deaths. Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported a fatality each, according to the ministry data. According to the health ministry data updated in the morning, the highest number of confirmed cases in the country is from Maharashtra at 12,296, followed by Gujarat (5,054), Delhi (4,122), Madhya Pradesh (2,846), Rajasthan (2,770), Tamil Nadu (2,757) and Uttar Pradesh (2,487). The number of COVID-19 cases has gone up to 1,525 in Andhra Pradesh and 1,063 in Telangana. It has risen to 922 in West Bengal, 772 in Punjab, 666 in Jammu and Kashmir, 601 in Karnataka, 499 in Kerala and 481 in Bihar. Haryana has reported 360 coronavirus cases, while Odisha has 157 cases. A total of 115 people have been infected with the virus in Jharkhand and 88 in Chandigarh. Uttarakhand has reported 59 cases, Assam and Chhattisgarh have 43 cases each, while Himachal Pradesh has registered 40 cases so far. Thirty-three COVID-19 cases have been reported from the Andaman and Nicobar Islands, while Ladakh has recorded 22 cases of the infection. Meghalaya has reported 12 cases, Puducherry eight, while Goa has seven COVID-19 cases. Tripura has registered four cases, while Manipur has two cases. Mizoram and Arunachal Pradesh have reported a case each. "124 cases are being assigned to states for contact tracing," the ministry said. "Our figures are being reconciled with the ICMR," it said on its website. State-wise distribution is subject to further verification and reconciliation, it said.
3 May 10:40 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/030520/india-covid-death-toll-hits-1301-cases-touch-39980.htmlRating: 1.64
Death toll rises above 1,300, ICU cases below 100 for second day: Today's Covid-19 Main Points
THE NUMBER OF confirmed cases of Covid-19 in intensive care units has remained below 100 for the second day, as 98 people were confirmed as having the virus in ICUs around the country. According to the latest figures from the HSE, as of 8pm last night, there were 688 confirmed cases Covid-19 in the country’s hospitals, with 265 suspected cases. There were also 22 people suspected as having the virus in intensive care, while there were 131 critical care beds still available. The Department of Health this evening confirmed that a further 19 people had died from Covid-19 in Ireland, bringing the death toll here to 1,303. Internationally, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure from populations wearying of confinement. In Italy, people will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives from Monday. Restaurants can open for takeaway and wholesale stores can resume business also. Here are today’s main Covid-19 points: Here are today’s international main Covid-19 points: #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
3 May 10:26 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/covid-19-ireland-main-points-icu-5090701-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Coronavirus: India Records Biggest Single-Day Spike In Cases As 2,644 Test Positive On Saturday; Total Tally At 39,980
With 2,644 new cases and 83 fatalities in the past 24 hours, the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country climbed to 39,980 on Sunday morning (3 May), the Union Health Ministry said. Of the total cases, 28046 are active, 10632 people have recovered, and 1301 people have succumbed to the disease. At least 682 people have recovered from the highly contagious COVID-19 in 24 hours. Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with the total number of cases rising to 12296 with 521 deaths, though 2000 people have also recovered from the deadly virus. Gujarat reported 5054 cases so far followed by Delhi with 4122 cases, according to the Health Ministry data. The other states which have seen sharp rise in cases are Madhya Pradesh (2846), Rajasthan (2770), Tamil Nadu (2757) and Uttar Pradesh (2487). Maharashtra has the highest number of fatalities, among all the states, followed by Gujarat with 262 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 151, Rajasthan 65 and Delhi 64. Among other major states, Andhra Pradesh has reported 1525 cases and 33 deaths so far, Bihar 481 cases and 4 deaths, Haryana 360 and four deaths, Jammu and Kashmir 666 cases and 8 deaths, Karnataka 601 and 25 deaths and Kerala 499 cases and 4 deaths. States which have reported less than 10 cases are Tripura, Mizoram, Puducherry, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
3 May 10:25 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/coronavirus-india-records-biggest-single-day-spike-in-cases-as-2644-test-positive-on-saturday-total-tally-at-39980Rating: 1.22
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports
The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours — its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economy continue to take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: "CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country —said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. "Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn't mean you proceed blindly," Cuomo said. "Use the information to determine action — not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts," he added. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 10:28 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/us-records-highest-daily-death-toll-states-start-reopening-economy-2020-5Rating: 4.40
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports
The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organisation (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours – its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economy continue to take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: “CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons.” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country -said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. “Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn’t mean you proceed blindly,” Cuomo said. “Use the information to determine action – not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts,” he added.
3 May 10:28 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/us-records-highest-daily-death-toll-states-start-reopening-economy-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports
The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours – its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economycontinueto take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: “CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons.” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country -said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. “Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn’t mean you proceed blindly,” Cuomo said. “Use the information to determine action – not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts,” he added.
3 May 10:28 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/us-records-highest-daily-death-toll-states-start-reopening-economy-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports
John Nacion/NurPhoto via Getty Images The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours — its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economy continue to take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: "CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons." New York Governor Andrew Cuomo — whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country —said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. "Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn't mean you proceed blindly," Cuomo said. "Use the information to determine action — not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts," he added. Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 10:28 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/us-records-highest-daily-death-102816137.htmlRating: 0.30
The US records its highest daily death toll as almost 20 states ease lockdown restrictions, WHO reports, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The US suffered its biggest one-day death toll from the coronavirus to date on Friday, as several states are beginning to reopen parts of their economies and ease lockdown measures. According to data published by the World Health Organization (WHO) on May 1 at 4 a.m. ET, the country recorded 2,909 deaths in 24 hours – its worst number yet. The previous record was on April 23, when the country saw 2,471 deaths in one day, according to CNBC. At the time of writing, there have been more than 67,000 coronavirus-related deaths in the US. The new figure comes as around half of US states have already partially eased lockdown restrictions, according to the BBC. Other states, including Florida, have announced they will be partially lifting stay-at-home orders on Monday, Tampa Bay Times reported. States including Georgia and Texas have already started allowing non-essential businesses to reopen. Georgia reported over 1,000 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on May 1, the same day Gov. Brian Kemp lifted the shelter-in-place order. State officials have been under increasing amounts of pressure, as demonstrations to reopen the economycontinueto take place across the country. On Friday, protesters took to the streets in states including California, Colorado, Delaware, Florida, Illinois, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, Tennessee, and Washington. The data published by the WHO is different from that of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). It does not report historical daily coronavirus deaths, according to CNBC. On the same day of the WHO report, the agency reported 2,349 deaths from the virus. But a spokesperson told CNBC this data might not be complete because of delays in reporting, asymptomatic patients, and limited testing make it harder to track the deaths. CDC spokeswoman Kate Grusich told CNBC: “CDC does not know the exact number of COVID-19 illnesses, hospitalizations, and deaths for a variety of reasons.” New York Governor Andrew Cuomo – whose state is one of the worst-affected in the country -said on Saturday that he needs more information about the spread of the virus before loosening restrictions, Al Jazeera reported. “Even when you are in uncharted waters, it doesn’t mean you proceed blindly,” Cuomo said. “Use the information to determine action – not emotions, not politics, not what people think or feel, but what we know in terms of facts,” he added.
3 May 10:28 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/us-records-highest-daily-death-toll-states-start-reopening-economy-2020-5Rating: 0.30
COVID-19: Number of ICU patients remains below 100
There has been a further fall in the number of people being treated with COVID-19 in Intensive Care Units (ICU). The latest figure is 98 - only the second time it has been less than 100 in the last month. On Friday, that figure stood at 99. This is from a high of 160 back in April. Dublin's Mater, St James's and Tallaght Hospitals have the highest number of confirmed cases. It comes after there were 25 more coronavirus related deaths in Ireland on Saturday. There were also 343 new confirmed cases of the virus, bringing the total to 21,176. The figures showed there have been a total 1,286 COVID-19 related deaths here. Dublin has the highest number of cases at 10,277 (50% of all cases) - followed by Kildare with 1,226 cases (6%) and then Cork with 1,156 cases (6%). Of those for whom transmission status is known community transmission accounts for 63%, close contact is 34%, and travel abroad accounts for 3%. Data as of midnight on Thursday revealed: It comes after the Government set out itsplan for easing restrictions - starting with garden centres, repair shops and construction sites re-opening on May 18th. The fifth stage is set to begin on August 10th.
3 May 09:22 • Newstalk • https://www.newstalk.com/news/covid-19-number-icu-patients-remains-100-1009667Rating: 0.30
People venture outside as virus restrictions ease and temperatures rise
People in many parts of the world are emerging from their homes as coronavirus-related restrictions begin to ease and springtime temperatures climb. The global pandemic took a turn for the worse in other places, however, with India reporting more than 2,600 new cases on Sunday, its biggest single-day jump. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. while the US continues to have tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 Covid-19 deaths in the 24-hour period ending on Sunday evening – the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens are expected to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began March 14 but social distancing rules remained in place and masks will be mandatory on public transport. New Jersey in the US reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. Meanwhile, Pope Francis for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for Covid-19 and invited people of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
3 May 08:32 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/people-venture-outside-as-virus-restrictions-ease-and-temperatures-rise/Rating: 0.30
People venture outside as virus restrictions ease and temperatures rise
The coronavirus pandemic has taken a turn for the worse in some countries, with India and Russia recording grim milestones. People in many parts of the world are emerging from their homes as coronavirus-related restrictions begin to ease and springtime temperatures climb. The global pandemic took a turn for the worse in other places, however, with India reporting more than 2,600 new cases on Sunday, its biggest single-day jump. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. while the US continues to have tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 Covid-19 deaths in the 24-hour period ending on Sunday evening – the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens are expected to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began March 14 but social distancing rules remained in place and masks will be mandatory on public transport. New Jersey in the US reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Russia’s latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia’s new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country’s number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. Meanwhile, Pope Francis for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for Covid-19 and invited people of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.
3 May 08:31 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/people-venture-outside-as-virus-restrictions-ease-and-temperatures-rise/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: India records highest single-day spike as cases near 40,000-mark, death toll crosses 1,300
India recorded the highest single-day spike with over 2,600 cases on Saturday, showed the latest data by the Union Health Ministry on Sunday morning. According to the health ministry, the total number of novel coronavirus cases in the country rose to 39,980 and the death toll stood at 1,301. As of now, there are 28,046 active cases and 10,633 cured/discharged/migrated cases in the nation. Rajasthan reported 31 fresh novel coronavirus cases and Uttar Pradesh recorded 21 cases early Sunday. On Saturday, Delhi had reported 384 new cases of coronavirus in 24 hours, taking total tally in the national capital to 4,122, while Uttar Pradesh reported 159 cases, with total tally mounting to 2,487. According to news agency PTI, 790 people had tested positive and 36 deaths were reported in the worst-hit state of Maharashtra on Saturday, bringing total here to 12,296. In West Bengal, the total number of novel coronavirus cases reached 886 even as 15 more people died due to Covid-19 and 127 people tested positive in 48 hours on Saturday. Meanwhile, the country is all set to enter its third phase lockdown Monday onwards as several districts look forwards to ease on lockdown curbs -- in Green and Orange zones. In line with the latest guidelines issued by the Ministry of Home Affairs for 'Red zone', certain activities are being allowed but lockdown curbs will be strictly implemented in Covid-19 containment zones to check the cases of dreaded infection, they said, adding a notification to this effect is expected to be released on Sunday. IndiaToday.in has plenty of useful resources that can help you better understand the coronavirus pandemic and protect yourself. Read our comprehensive guide (with information on how the virus spreads, precautions and symptoms), watch an expert debunk myths, check out our data analysis of cases in India, and access our dedicated coronavirus page. Get the latest updates on our live blog.
3 May 05:49 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/coronavirus-pandemic-india-highest-single-day-spike-total-confirmed-cases-death-toll-maharshtra-delhi-1673858-2020-05-03?utm_source=rssRating: 0.30
The burden of coronavirus: How does Covid-19 mortality rate differ across countries
With over a million Covid-19 patients and more than 60,000 deaths, the United States continues to bear the brunt of the coronavirus outbreak. Europe is the worst-hit continent accounting for more than 1 million cases. An analysis of the Covid-19 mortality rate among European nations suggests that Germany has considerably low numbers Covid-19 fatalities as compared to other countries in the continent like France, Italy, the UK, and Spain. While the UK, Spain, Italy and France have reported more than 25,000 coronavirus fatalities, for Germany the figure rounds up at over 6000 deaths. According to the latest data, Spain has reported 216,582 Covid-19 cases, Italy is at 209,328, followed by the United Kingdom (183,500), France (168,518) and Germany with 164,967 coronavirus cases. Johns Hopkins University suggests Covid-19 countries across the globe have reported very different coronavirus “case fatality ratios”. It is the number of deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases. Also read: What is Remdesivir? How can it help in Covid-19 treatment The University states that the number of fatalities can differ across regions owing to the following factors: - Differences in the number of people tested: With more testing, more people with milder cases are identified. This lowers the case-fatality ratio. - Demographics: For example, mortality tends to be higher in older populations. - Characteristics of the healthcare system: For example, mortality may rise as hospitals become overwhelmed and have fewer resources, among other factors. Going by ‘case fatality ratios’, the university data suggest the US to have 5.9% Covid-19 fatality ratio (over 65,000 deaths on more than one million cases) while Germany stands at 4.1%. India is projected to have over 3% Covid-19 mortality ratio with more than 1300 deaths of total 39,980 Covid-19 cases. Johns Hopkins ‘case fatality ratios’ exhibits the ‘burden’ of Covid-19 across various countries. “Countries at the top of the figure have the most deaths proportionally to their Covid-19 cases or population, not necessarily the most deaths overall,” it says. According to the data, the list of countries with highest Covid-19 fatality ratios - most deaths proportionally to their Covid-19 cases or population - has Belgium on top with 15% Covid-19 death rate. The country has around 50,000 coronavirus patients and nearly 8,000 fatalities. The United Kingdom comes second with over 15% fatality ratio followed by France (14.7%), Italy (13.6%) and the Netherlands (12.3%) (Inputs from Johns Hopkins University)
3 May 05:26 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/the-burden-of-coronavirus-how-does-covid-19-mortality-differ-across-countries/story-sZc59kQyoFxf00ppg1KupO.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: NCDC fears spread may worsen as lockdown ends today
…says normalcy won’t return until 2021, cases hit 2,388 Our Reporters The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control has expressed fears that the number of coronavirus cases in the country will continue to rise for the next few months. This hint came as the lockdown imposed on the Federal Capital Territory, Lagos and Ogun states ends at 11:59pm today. The Director General, NCDC, Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, told SundayPUNCH in an interview that the number of cases was likely to increase given the increasing capacity to find and test more cases. There were 220 new cases on Saturday as the total rose to 2, 388. The number of discharged persons rose to 385 while the number of deaths increased to 85. The new cases were 62 in Lagos; 52 in FCT; 31 in Kaduna; 13 in Sokoto; 10 in Kebbi; 9 in Yobe; 6 in Borno; 5 in each of Edo and Bauchi; 4 in each of Gombe, Enugu, Oyo; 3 in Zamfara and 2 in each of Nasarawa, Osun, Ebonyi, Kwara, Kano and Plateau states. Earlier, as part of measures to contain the rising spread of the virus in the country, the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), on March 30 imposed a 14-day lockdown on the FCT, Lagos and Ogun states, followed by a two-week extension. He noted that the extension became necessary as the pandemic was no longer a joke and had become a matter of life and death. At the expiration of the extension on April 27, the President, in a nationwide broadcast on Monday, again extended the lockdown by one week, which terminates today. The President, however, said a nationwide curfew between 8pm and 6am would follow as a further measure to contain the spread of the virus. Many state governors also introduced similar restrictions in their states, even though some have begun easing the lockdown despite the rising number of cases across the country. Asked about his projection on when Nigeria would likely reach its peak and how prepared the nation was for it, the NCDC DG said, “There are various projections that have been developed based on various contexts. With the increasing capacity to find and test more cases, we will continue to see an increase in cases in the next few months. “Our strategy is to test quickly, detect confirmed cases, isolate and manage cases to recovery and follow up with contacts to reduce the risk of spread. “In the absence of a vaccine for this disease, we must continue to adhere strictly to directives from the Federal Government on non-pharmaceutical interventions such as closure of large gatherings and physical distancing. By doing these, we have a better chance of reducing the risk of spread of this disease quickly.” When reminded that despite setting up 15 COVID-19 testing laboratories, less than 20,000 tests had been carried out so far, Ihekweazu said people could access the situation report on the NCDC website. “On the 1st of May alone, we recorded over 2,000 cases and this will continue to increase,” he added. He added that in preparing for the increase in cases, the NCDC was working closely with state governments to rapidly scale up the capacity in treatment centres, even as he had hinted previously that the virus would eventually spread to all the states. Notably, there has been an astronomical increase in the number of cases in the past few days. Since February 27 when Nigeria recorded its first case, the nation didn’t hit the 1,000 mark until about two months after, April 24 specifically when the number of cases rose from 981 to 1,095. The number of deaths then was 32. But, barely one week after hitting the 1,000 mark, the number of cases reached the 2,000 mark on May 1, when the cases rose by 238 to hit 2,170. The number of deaths also more than doubled as the casualty figure rose to 85 within the period. The Lagos State Commissioner for Health, Prof Akin Abayomi, had recently warned that the state, which is the epicentre of the deadly virus, had yet to reach its COVID-19 peak. He had also warned on March 27 that the state might see up to 39,000 cases but that if everyone practised good social distancing, the figure would be limited to about 13,000. Prior to the President’s latest broadcast on Monday, the Nigerian Medical Association warned that lifting or easing the lockdown was premature, given the “exponential” rise in the number of cases on a daily basis. It also warned that with the rate at which the virus was spreading, the consequence of lifting the lockdown could be tragic. The World Health Organisation has also warned repeatedly that it would be hasty for countries to start lifting lockdowns. “No country is safe from potentially overwhelming outbreaks as long as the coronavirus is circulating,” it added. Despite the warnings not to lift the lockdown, the Federal Government however said it had put in place measures to contain the transmission of the disease. The Presidential Task Force on COVID-19 announced on Wednesday during its media briefing that the use of face masks had become mandatory, noting that despite the directive that government offices and banks could resume operations from Monday, maintaining physical distancing and personal hygiene remained necessary. “The restrictions on social and religious gatherings shall remain in place; state governments, corporate organisations and philanthropists are encouraged to support the production of cloth masks for citizens,” it added. The National Coordinator of the task force, Dr Aliyu Sani, noted that to reduce the congestion, banks could only open between 8am and 2pm while civil servants on specific grade levels would be allowed to resume in their offices at specific times. He stressed that all staff and bank customers must adhere to the personal hygiene and social distancing safety protocols, adding that all movements would be prohibited during the period except for essential services. He added that the ban on non-essential inter-state passenger travel remained until further notice. But in a statement on Friday night, the NMA President, Dr Francis Faduyile, stressed that the timing for lifting the lockdown was premature because the nation was still battling with inadequate Personal Protective Equipment for health workers, lack of enough bed spaces in states for infected people and rising infections across the country, amongst others. He added, “The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour, Ghana, where the same action produced 100 per cent increase in infection rate in just a week.” We won’t return to normalcy until 2021, says NCDC DG Meanwhile, the NCDC DG has said the country, like the rest of the world, will not return to life as it was before the coronavirus pandemic until 2021. Ihekweazu, who spoke on Saturday on ThePlatform, an annual event of Covenant Christian Centre, explained that though mass gatherings could be difficult to avoid, it would be for the best. According to him, it is a sacrifice “we will have to make as a people to get over this.” He highlighted that members of the public would have to rethink how they conducted businesses, social gatherings such as weddings and religious gatherings in the short term. The NCDC boss said, “We are faced with a difficult reality and we are not unique in this. Every country is, right now, looking at the same challenge and how to get us back to some level of normalcy. “But the reality is that we are going to live with COVID-19 for the next year, at the very least. So, we have to start thinking about how to live safely with COVID-19. “Some of the changes we will need to make are actually good things to have forever. With the emphasis on hand washing, (use of) sanitisers and respiratory hygiene, my goal as the leader of the NCDC is that we continue doing this forever.” He added that the habits would also prevent the spread of COVID-19, but also many other diseases. “I hope we don’t go back, like we did post-Ebola, to an era of not washing our hands. Who would want that? So, we really want some of these measures to go on,” Ihekweazu said. While fielding a question on the daily fight against COVID-19, the infectious diseases expert hinted that the worst had yet to come. “We really are at the beginning of this outbreak globally,” he said. Ihekweazu added, “The point where we will assess how many people died in Nigeria versus everywhere else — it may be a year or two when we look back to the evolution of this outbreak. You can see that the outbreak comes in waves. We are not sure where we are on our own trajectory at the moment. It’s early days to reach conclusions around mortality.” The NCDC DG noted that his team and many others across the country were working hard, adding that the state government and their care facilities were providing care for all those infected. FCT, Ogun vow to enforce ban on interstate travel, curfew Meanwhile, the Federal Capital Territory Administration has said it will enforce strictly the ban on interstate travel and other guidelines regulating the easing of the lockdown as part of measures to contain the spread of the virus in the nation’s capital. Also, Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun, said people in the state who work in Lagos State would not be permitted to go out or come into the state as the lockdown in his state would not end until May 10, 2020. The FCT Minister, Mallam Muhammad Bello, in the new guidelines on Saturday, directed security agents to enforce the overnight curfew from 8pm to 6am in order to prevent COVID-19 patients from coming into the FCT. The Chief Press Secretary to the minister, Mr Anthony Ogunleye, in a statement, said all workers residing outside the FCT had been directed to remain in their respective states of residence until the lifting of ban on inter-state travel. It noted, “Effective Monday, May 4, all civil servants in the FCT on Grade Level 14 and above are to report for work three times a week, on Mondays, Wednesdays and Fridays between the hours of 8am and 2pm. “All officers on essential duties are to carry on with their assigned responsibilities. All workers are to maintain safe distancing protocols of at least two metres and wear face masks at all times.” Similarly, the Ogun governor, in an announcement via Facebook on Saturday afternoon, said the lockdown in the state would end on May 10, as a result of the initial grace the state was granted. The governor said, “There is a total ban on interstate travel (outside Ogun). If you work in Lagos or any other state but live in Ogun State, you are not allowed to go to Lagos or any other state and return to Ogun. “All schools remain closed, while students will continue with their DigiClass. All essential service personnel will continue to work despite the lockdown. All public religious gatherings remain banned. All pubs, clubs, stadia, public pools, spas, gyms, salons, etc. “All assemblies of more than 15 people remain banned. Restaurants may open on the approved days for take-out meals only. Burials and naming ceremonies are allowed but there must not be more than 15 people including the officiating ministers.” Osun registers third casualty as Kaduna records first death, three new cases Osun State Government on Saturday announced the death of another COVID-19 patient, taking the number of deaths linked to the disease to three in the last one week. Also, three health workers who initially tested positive for the disease in the state have fully recovered. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, in a statement explained that the deceased, who was in her late 60s, died at the isolation centre at the General Hospital, Asubiaro, Osogbo. Isamotu also said the COVID-19 index case in the state had been discharged after spending 38 days in the isolation centre. He explained that the case arrived in Osun from the United Kingdom before being taken into the isolation centre, and subsequently to the care facility, where he received medical care for 38 days. He was said to have tested negative twice for the virus. “With the development, the total number of active cases in the state is now eight. “On a sad note, we lost a COVID-19 patient in her late 60s at our isolation centre in Osogbo. We pray to God to grant her eternal rest and give her family the fortitude to bear the loss,” he said. In a related development, the state has threatened to prosecute any private school owner who opens for learning. The government on Saturday said such a private school might lose its operational licence. A statement by Festus Olajide, Permanent Secretary, Ministry of Education, had accused some private schools in the state of using various guises to direct learners to resume learning in their schools. It however described such moves as inimical to the health of the children and public health in general. The statement further said, “Besides, such directive is a sabotage of the efforts of the state government at fighting the spread of the coronavirus pandemic in the state. “It should be noted for emphasis that the partial lockdown as explained by the governor does not cover reopening of schools. The ban on educational gatherings remains.” Kaduna State Government has recorded its first casualty to the disease, according to a News Agency of Nigeria report. The state Commissioner for Health, Dr Amina Mahammed Bolani, confirmed this on Saturday in Kaduna, adding that the first fatality was among three new COVID-19 cases confirmed in the state. According to the commissioner, the state now has 28 confirmed cases and awaits results of 350 samples it sent for tests. She said that the samples were especially from ‘almajiri’. “Testing of 167 almajiris who returned from Kano has now been completed, and the number of positive cases from this group may rise. “Cases in the state rose to 28 on Thursday. The three patients that increased the number from 25 include two males and the first female COVID-19 case in the state,” she said. She said that the female patient was a health worker not involved in the treatment of COVID-19 cases. Seven almajiris, three doctors, other health workers test positive in Bauchi No fewer than three doctors, a nurse and another health worker have tested positive for coronavirus in Bauchi State since March 24 when the index case was recorded in the state, Sunday PUNCH has learnt. Two doctors and the nurse are from the Federal Medical Centre, Azare in the Katagum Local Government Area of the state while the third doctor is a member of staff of the World Health Organisation in the state. The health worker works at an undisclosed private hospital in Bauchi, the state capital. The Executive Chairman, Bauchi State Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rilwan Mohammed, disclosed to our correspondent in a telephone interview on Friday. He said seven out of the 38 almajiris deported from Kano State and isolated at the General Hassan Katsina Unity College, Yelwa, Bauchi, also tested positive for the disease. Mohammed explained that the results of the tests carried out on the health workers and one almajiri were among nine results sent to him on Thursday from the National Research for Veterinary Institute, Vom, Plateau State. He added that 10 new cases were sent to him from NVRI on Friday. He said, “On Thursday, we recorded nine new confirmed cases of COVID-19 in Bauchi State. The results were sent to me from the National Research for Veterinary Institute, Vom, Plateau State. “The results included those of two medical doctors and a nurse at the Federal Medical Centre Azare, and a health worker at a private hospital in Bauchi. “One of the almajiri returnees from Kano was also confirmed to be positive. There is also the daughter of an infected patient who was also confirmed positive. “Also among them is one of those returnees from Enugu and Port Harcourt that we intercepted coming into the state last week. And then, there are three other people that were also positive.” Mohammed,who is also the chairman of the Surveillance Team of the Task Force on COVID-19 and Lassa Fever in Bauchi State, said he received results of 10 more people who tested positive, including six almajiris and four others. The new cases, he said, brought the number of confirmed cases in the state to 48 while active cases were 42. He said six patients who had tested negative twice had since been discharged. Lagos discharges 22 more patients as three test positive in Ekiti The Lagos State Government on Saturday announced the discharge of 22 persons who had recovered from the infection. The state Ministry of Health, via its official Twitter handle, @LSMOH, said 247 patients had not been discharged from the isolation centres in the state. It tweeted, “22 more COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians, were today discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba, @LUTHofficial and Lekki to reunite with the society. “The patients; 19 from @LUTHofficial, two from IDH, Yaba and one from our isolation centre at Lekki have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively for COVID-19. “With this, number of patients successfully managed and discharged in Lagos is now 247.” However, Ekiti State Commissioner for Health, Dr Mojisola Yaya-Kolade, said on Saturday that there were three new cases in the state who were primary contacts of a late patient. Yaya-Kolade said the three persons were already undergoing 14-day isolation before the results of their samples were returned positive from the NCDC. The commissioner said in a statement, “The new positive cases are all females with ages ranging from 26-50 years, who had been in self-isolation for 14 days now.” “Ekiti State Government can confirm that three of the samples sent to the NCDC accredited laboratory for testing have returned positive results of the COVID-19 virus infection. “The samples were from three of the primary contacts of our third case, the late 29-year-old mother who died of complications from childbirth on April 22, 2020,” she said. The third case, a pregnant health worker, who travelled to the state from Lagos despite the lockdown, was attended to over childbirth complications in three health facilities before she was tested for COVID-19. Yaya-Kolade said that the three new cases “bring the total number of confirmed cases in Ekiti State to 11, of which eight are active, two discharged and one death”. Taraba launches manhunt for isolation centre escapee The Taraba State Government has launched a manhunt for one of the positive COVID-19 patient who escaped from the state’s isolation centre. Chairman of the state COVID-19 technical committee and state Commissioner for Health, Dr Innocent Vakkai, disclosed this during the committee briefing in Jalingo. Vakkai, who gave the name of the patient as Talatu Idris, said aggressive efforts were ongoing to get the patient back to the isolation centre. He urged members of the public to be vigilant and cooperate with the committee and security agencies to get the patient. The commissioner added that five of the eight positive cases in the state were asymptomatic. Gombe positive cases hit 92 On Friday night, 16 fresh positive cases were announced by NCDC for Gombe State pushing the total number of cases in the state to 92. The state governor, Inuwa Yahaya, on Saturday, inaugurated a 38- man special committee on relief and palliatives to cushion the effect of the partial lockdown in the state. Lagos returnee confirmed as third case in Ebonyi In Ebonyi State, a 25-year-old returnee from Lagos State has tested positive for coronavirus. The case has brought the number of infected persons in the state to three. The state governor, David Umahi, on Saturday, announced the latest case during a statewide broadcast. Edo screens over 40,000 persons In a bid to curtail the spread of the virus, Edo State Government has screened over 40,000 persons in the state, leveraging a partnership with private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, to complement the ongoing screening exercise at designated government hospitals. The state governor, Mr Godwin Obaseki, who disclosed this to journalists in Benin City, said, “We have made tremendous progress, especially in the areas of screening, testing and improved awareness of our citizens. Working closely with private hospitals, clinics and pharmacies, we have been able to screen over 40,000 and tested over 350 persons.” Kano mobile courts convict 400 defaulters The mobile courts established by the Kano State Government to enforce compliance with lockdown and stay-at-home order of the government has convicted over 400 defaulters in three days in the state. Mr Baba Jibo, the Public Relations Officer, Kano State Judiciary, disclosed this to the News Agency of Nigeria on Saturday. Buhari had on April 27 ordered a 14-day total lockdown of the state, aimed at stemming the spread of the deadly virus. The state government has also started the process of converting some facilities into isolation centres as part of efforts to curtail the spread of COVID-19. The state deputy governor, Dr Yusuf Gawuna, who is also the Chairman of the State Task Force Committee on COVID-19, made the disclosure, when he inspected the facilities on Saturday. The facilities include the Abubakar Imam Urology, Murtala Mohammed Library complex, the Hospitality and Tourism Institute (formerly Daula Hotel), Sports Institute at Karfi and the Nigerian Air Force Hospital in Kano. The facilities will be added to the existing three isolation centres at Muhammadu Buhari Specialist Hospital, Kwana Dawaki Hospital and Sani Abacha Hospital, Gawuna. Meanwhile, officials of the NCDC have taken samples of a suspected case of COVID-19 at Aviation Quarters in Kano. In the meantime, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar, on Saturday described the high death rate in Kano State as a litmus test for dealing with the disease. In a statement by his media aide, Mr Paul Ibe, the former vice president called on the Federal Government and all government agencies involved in the fight against the pandemic to collaborate with the state government to curtail its spread. By Yusuff Moshood, Tunde Ajaja and Tobi Aworinde Additional reports by Adelani Adepeba, Success Nwogu, Chukwudi Akasike, Dayo Ojerinde, Bola Bamigbola, Armstrong Bakam, Abiodun Nejo, Chima Azubuike, Justin Tyopuusu, Ted Odogwu, and Edward Nnachi Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
3 May 04:47 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/coronavirus-ncdc-fears-spread-may-worsen-as-lockdown-ends-today/Rating: 0.30
West Bengal records 15 COVID-19 deaths in past 48 hours
West Bengal has recorded 15 deaths due to COVID-19 in the past 48 hours, noted official bulletin of the State Health department released late on Saturday evening. Two bulletins — one for May 1 and another for May 2 — was released by the Health Department. While seven persons had died between May 1 and May 2, eight deaths were recorded between April 30 and May 1. In the past two days, 127 new viral infections were recorded and 60 persons were discharged from the hospitals in the State. After a gap of 48 hours, the COVID -19 bulletin of State Health Department had a different format. Cumulative total 'number of persons expired due to COVID-19' and cumulative total 'Number of active COVID-19 cases' are two the inputs which were published till April 30 and has now been removed from the bulletin. Till April 30 the number of people who had died after getting infected was 105. The State government maintained that 33 of the patients died of COVID-19, and 72 others died of "co-morbidities" where COVID-19 was "incidental finding". With 15 more deaths, the number of people who died after getting infected by the virus in the State has increased to 120, with 72 "co-morbidities." The bulletin also added that there are 16 sample testing labs in the State and 2,410 samples were tested in the past 24 hours. The State has tested over 20,976 samples so far.
3 May 02:48 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/kolkata/west-bengal-records-15-covid-19-deaths-in-past-48-hours/article31493279.eceRating: 0.30
Sotiris Tsiodras: the next 15 days are crucial
Greece’s Health Ministry spokesperson and infectious diseases expert, Professor Sotiris Tsiodras described the next 15 days as critical for the control of the coronavirus pandemic. “It is important to remain vigilant and to diagnose new cases in time with increased laboratory testing and immediate intervention by tracking contacts from new cases. We still do not have all the answers, we will continue to monitor the picture of the disease every day and if we need to intervene, we will intervene to control the pandemic,” Tsiodras stressed. At the daily press briefing, he also announced 8 new confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Greece in the last 24 hours, and 3 new deaths. The total Covid-19 infections in Greece stands at 2,620. Of these, 591 were infected abroad, and 1,286 from cases traced in Greece. Deaths total 143 since the start of the outbreak, while 37 patients are being treated in Intensive Care Units. As of May 4, Greece will gradually start lifting lockdown measures. The responsibility continues to play a leading role in the new daily life that begins on Monday, “because this is the only way to take the next step, without jeopardising what we have achieved so far,” said Civil Protection Deputy Minister for Crisis Management Nikos Hardalias. He called on citizens to follow the instructions of experts, to follow the rules of personal hygiene and to be responsible. “It’s the only way to stay safe. We are not done with coronavirus and the situation remains critical and we remain vigilant.” Spread the love
3 May 02:44 • Greek City Times • https://greekcitytimes.com/2020/05/03/sotiris-tsiodras-the-next-15-days-are-crucial/Rating: 0.30
123 COVID-19 deaths, over 6,000 infections – SA marks new single-day jump record
JOHANNESBURG – With South Africa having had recorded its highest single day jump in coronavirus infections, the health department has reiterated its call for those with existing diseases to take extra precaution. Three-hundred-and-eighty-five new COVID-19 cases were reported in the past 24 hours, the highest daily surge since the country recorded its first case in early March. The newly added cases bring the total number of the infection to 6,336. The Western Cape remains the province with the greatest number of cases, now at 2,700; followed by Gauteng at almost 1, 600 infections; while KwaZulu-Natal has just over 1,000 cases. The number of deaths in the country is up by seven, bringing the toll to 123 fatalities. Health Minister Zweli Mkhize said most of the deceased also suffered from chronic diseases, such as hypertension, diabetes, and cardiac disease. He's urged elderly South Africans over 63 years of age and those with existing diseases to take extra precautions.
3 May 00:00 • ewn.co.za • https://ewn.co.za/2020/05/03/123-covid-19-deaths-over-6-000-infections-sa-marks-new-single-day-jump-recordRating: 1.68
As lockdowns ease, some countries report new infection peaks
ROME (AP) - While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world’s most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were loosened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai’s main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy’s first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 COVID deaths in the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening - the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country’s lockdown began March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting Monday on public transit. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily - twice as many recently as Italy or Spain - it’s unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/emerging-from-lockdown-46-days-in-the-house-was-en/Rating: 0.79
India sees record jump of 2,487 COVID-19 cases, 83 deaths in 24 hrs
India registered a record jump of 83 deaths and 2,487 cases in 24 hours as the number of COVID-19 fatalities rose to 1,306 and total cases climbed to 40,263 on Sunday, according to the Union health ministry. IMAGE: Medics prepare to collect samples for swab tests from a COVID-19 mobile testing van at Ramakrishna Mission area in New Delhi. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 28,070, while 10,886 people have recovered and one patient has migrated, it said. The total number of cases also include 111 foreign nationals. Of the 83 deaths were reported since Saturday evening, 36 were from Maharashtra, 26 from Gujarat, 11 from Madhya Pradesh, three each from Rajasthan and Delhi, two from Telangana and one each from Tamil Nadu and Bihar. With 521 fatalities, Maharashtra accounts for the maximum of the nationwide 1,306 deaths. Gujarat comes second with 262 deaths, followed by Madhya Pradesh 156, Rajasthan 65, Delhi 64, Uttar Pradesh 43, and West Bengal and Andhra Pradesh 33 each. IMAGE: A woman reacts as a doctor takes a swab from her nose to test for the coronavirus disease at a mobile testing center, during an extended nationwide lockdown to slow the spread of the coronavirus disease in New Delhi. Photograph: Adnan Abidi/Reuters The death toll reached 29 in Tamil Nadu, 28 in Telangana, while Karnataka has reported 25 fatalities due to the respiratory disease. Punjab has registered 20 COVID-19 deaths, Jammu and Kashmir eight, Kerala, Bihar and Haryana have reported four deaths each. Jharkhand has recorded three COVID-19 fatalities. IMAGE: Medical workers wear protective suit and screen the body temperature of a rickshaw puller during the COVID-19 lockdown in Kolkata. Photograph: ANI Photo Meghalaya, Himachal Pradesh, Odisha and Assam have reported one fatality each, according to the ministry data. The health ministry's Saturday evening update had put the death toll at 1,223 and the number of cases at 37,776 in the country.
3 May 00:00 • Rediff • https://www.rediff.com/news/report/india-covid-19-toll-rises-tally-updates/20200503.htmRating: 0.30
UK coronavirus death toll nears 28,000
LONDON, May 2 (MENA) - The UK's coronavirus death toll has risen to at least 27, 975 after 465 more people died in hospitals, Metro reported Saturday. The toll was updated after England recorded another 370 deaths in hospitals, Scotland another 40, Wales another 44 and Northern Ireland another 11. As of yesterday, the total number of people who have died of Covid-19 in all settings stood at 27,510. The new number will rise even further later today, when deaths in care homes and the wider community are announced. Previously, the Department of Health only included deaths in hospitals in their daily figures. That number now stands at at least 23,753. The government began including care home deaths in their figures earlier this week, amid concern it reflected a significant hidden death toll. The UK now has the third highest number of recorded deaths in the world, which critics have blamed on the government’s slow response to the outbreak, including its testing strategy.
3 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/1/85351/UK-coronavirus-death-toll-nears-28-000Rating: 0.67
Wisconsin reports 304 new COVID-19 cases, 5 new deaths
MILWAUKEE (AP) - Wisconsin health officials on Sunday confirmed another jump in new COVID-19 cases. The Wisconsin Department of Health Services reported 304 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus, raising the state’s total to 7,964 cases. Wisconsin recorded five new deaths from the disease, bringing the state’s total to 339. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel reports Milwaukee County’s coronavirus death toll rose to 187 as of Sunday morning after four new deaths were reported. Milwaukee County reports 3,249 cases, an increase of more than 100 since Saturday. Gov. Tony Evers on Sunday announced additional drive-through coronavirus test sites in northwestern Wisconsin. The testing sites are in areas with a lack of access to testing or where additional testing is needed because of high rates of COVID-19. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/wisconsin-reports-304-new-covid-19-cases-5-new-dea/Rating: 0.79
COVID-19 Update: Over 10,000 Patients Recover In India, Positive Cases Surge To 37,776
General News Written By Gloria Methri | Mumbai | Updated On: May 02, 2020 23:24 IST Over 10,000 patients have recovered from COVID-19 in India as of Saturday, indicating progress in the nation's fight against the pandemic. As per the latest data released by the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, 2,411 new cases were reported in the last 24 hours taking the tally to 37,776. Of the total number, 26,535 are active positive cases. As many as 10,018 patients have recovered from the disease, while 1,223 COVID-19 deaths have been reported to date. Of these, 71 deaths were reported in the last 24 hours. READ | Mumbai Sees 751 New Cases & 5 Deaths As India Enters Extended Lockdown Till May 15 Maharashtra has recorded the highest number of COVID-19 cases with 11,506 patients of which, 1,879 have been discharged while 485 people have succumbed to the virus. Gujarat has the second-highest number of positive cases in the country, standing at 4,721, which includes 735 recoveries and 236 deaths. Delhi's tally stands at 3,738 of which, 1,167 patients have recovered while 61 patients have died due to the virus. Madhya Pradesh has recorded a total of 2,719 positive cases, including 524 recoveries and 145 fatalities. READ | Post-May 3 Lockdown Guidelines: MHA Clarifies Buses Will Not Ply In Orange Zones The Ministry of Home Affairs on Friday issued a notification extending the nationwide lockdown by two weeks from May 4. The notification states the considerable relaxations in districts falling in green and orange zones allowed by MHA, will continue to remain in place. The Union Health Ministry has divided all districts across the nation as red (classified based on total active cases, doubling rate, the extent of testing and surveillance), orange (those neither in green or red zones), and green zones (Zero cases for past 21 days). READ | Lockdown Extended: Here's A List Of Activities Permitted & Prohibited Across Three Zones READ | DGCA Extends Suspension Of Domestic And International Flight Operations Till May 17
2 May 23:24 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/over-10000-patients-recover-in-india-tally-climbs-to-37776.htmlRating: 2.30
2,293 COVID-19 cases in largest single day spike; total at 37,336, death toll at 1,218
New Delhi, May 02: The total number of the novel coronavirus cases in the country has increased to 37,336 while the death toll has increased to 1,218, according to health ministry data. India has witnessed the rise of 2,293 cases as the biggest single-day jump while the number of deaths increased by 71 in the last 24 hours. The COVID-19 tally surged to 37,336 on Saturday after 2,293 cases were reported since Friday. Maharashtra and Gujarat continued to register maximum fresh cases on Friday, with the former registering 11,506 positive cases following 485 deaths. Meanwhile, the nationwide lockdown has been extended by two more weeks beyond May 4, the Ministry Home Affairs has said on Friday evening. A limited number of activities will remain prohibited across the country, irrespective of the zone, including travel by air, rail, metro and inter-state movement by road, running of schools and colleges and other educational and training and coaching institutions. The MHA said it issued new guidelines to regulate different activities in this period based on the risk profiling of the districts of the country into Red, Green and Orange Zones. The guidelines have permitted significant relaxations in the districts falling in the Green and Orange areas, the MHA said.
2 May 04:56 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/india/2293-covid-19-cases-in-largest-single-day-spike-total-at-37336-death-toll-at-1218-3081573.htmlRating: 0.30
26 new virus cases, 2 deaths
Another 26 people have been diagnosed with the COVID-19 virus in British Columbia in the past 24 hours, bringing the total cases in the province to 2,171. A single new case of the virus has been identified in the Interior Health region. Additionally, another two people have died from the virus in the province, in the Fraser Health and Vancouver Coastal Health regions, bringing the total deaths in B.C. to 114. A total of 1,376 people have since fully recovered from the virus, leaving 681 active cases in the province. Hospitalizations in the province are now at 72, down from a peak of 149 on April 6. Outbreaks remain declared at 21 long-term seniors care homes and three acute-care facilities, where 261 residents and 155 staff members have been diagnosed with the virus. There remains 120 inmates and 13 staff at the Mission Institution federal correctional facility with the COVID-19 virus. Fifty-two staff at Coquitlam's Superior Poultry and 35 at Vancouver's United Poultry have been diagnosed, and an official outbreak has been declared at Chilliwack's Fraser Valley Specialty poultry, where three cases have been identified. Dr. Henry also said the outbreak at the Northern Alberta Kearl Lake work camp continues to be challenging, after many infected workers returned to their homes in B.C. She reiterated the need for workers returning from this camp to self-isolate for 14 days.
2 May 12:20 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/298936/Dr-Bonnie-Henry-provides-an-update-on-B-C-s-COVID-19-situationRating: 1.34
6,336 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa as deaths jump to 123
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize said in a statement on Saturday evening (2 May) that there are now 6,336 positive Covid-19 cases in South Africa. This is up by 385 from the 5,951 Covid-19 cases announced on Friday. Dr Mkhize also announced that a further seven people have died from the virus, taking total deaths to 123. Recoveries now stand at 2,549, the minister said. He said that 230,686 tests have been conducted to date, of which 13,164 were completed over the past 24 hours. The Western Cape has 2,700 infections, followed by Gauteng, with 1,598 cases. Global coronavirus cases top 3.4 million, with more than 240,500 deaths, and close to 1.1 million recoveries. Out of nearly 1.1 million infected patients, 51,065 (2%) are considered serious or critical. The US Food and Drug Administration cleared Gilead Sciences Inc’s experimental antiviral drug, remdesivir, for emergency use and Japan began a special approval process for the treatment, Bloomberg reported. It’s the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the disease. Virus survivors falling sick again Bloomberg reports that many infected by the virus, having been cleared by health authorities, are testing positive for Covid-19 again. “This so-called false-dawn phenomenon is puzzling health experts as they try to come to grips with the mysterious pathogen that emerged only five months ago. “Solving the puzzle will inform a broad range of challenges, from the development of an effective vaccine to how soon governments may be able to safely end lockdowns and allow normal life to resume,” Bloomberg said. So far, there hasn’t been enough research to conclude why symptoms seem to re-emerge in some people, and whether they experience reinfection or if the virus persists for weeks, it said. Mounting hunger in SA Mounting hunger, hardship and economic decline underscore the necessity of South Africa’s lifting the current lockdown, says the Institute of Race Relations (IRR). “Catastrophic consequences still loom for millions of South Africans, who could yet lose their jobs and homes, exhaust their savings, and go bankrupt under mountains of debt. “With the formal economy still operating at a fraction of its normal capacity, tens of thousands of small and micro businesses could also collapse before long. Many would have little or no prospect of ever coming back,” said IRR head of policy research Dr Anthea Jeffery. The longer the lockdown remained in place, the more people will be pushed into poverty, Jeffery said. Jeffery noted that estimates of the economic cost of the current lockdown range from R13 billion to R20 billion a day. “The lockdown cannot and does not work in teeming townships and informal settlements, where homes cluster closely together, many structures house families of four or more, and scarce communal taps and toilets are shared among hundreds of residents,” Jeffery said. The IRR recommends scrapping the lockdown with immediate effect within the parameters of three basic principles:
2 May 00:00 • BusinessTech • https://businesstech.co.za/news/government/394624/6336-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-in-south-africa-as-deaths-jump-to-123/Rating: 1.45
BREAKING: England and Wales coronavirus hospital death toll rises by 414
The number of hospital deaths in England and Wales has risen by 414. The tragic number was revealed by health authorities this afternoon. England saw 370 deaths, while there were 44 in Wales. Sadly the real number of lives lost to Covid-19 will be higher, as this does not include those who died in care homes, hospices and private addresses. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK is past the Covid-19 peak - but England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned the country was "nowhere near the end of the pandemic". The latest figures come after 427 deaths were announced yesterday, with 482 on Thursday, 610 on Wednesday and 653 on Tuesday. For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, click here The government has said it will not consider lifting the lockdown until the death rate and daily infection rate drops dramatically. Ministers are anxious that a second peak could lead to restrictions being put back in place. Yesterday research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the rate of fatalities in poorer areas is double that of their more affluent counterparts. Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said: “People living in more deprived areas have experienced Covid-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. "General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but so far Covid-19 appears to be taking them higher still.” According to reports, the Prime Minister is considering allowing Brits to return to work at the end of the month. But it is likely that those who can work from home will still be required to do so, as the government seeks to avoid a spike in the number of infections. Germany has seen a rise in cases since lifting its social distancing measures, prompting concerns that strict rules could be reintroduced to bring the outbreak back under control. Figures released yesterday show that in London between the start of March and April 17, 85.7 deaths per 100,000 of the population were linked to Covid-19. Liverpool, Birmingham and Manchester, as well as Hertsmere, Salford, Watford, Middlesbrough, Luton, Sandwell and Slough had rates above 65 deaths per 100,000 people. In Wales there were 929 Covid-19 deaths during that period - 18% of all deaths.
2 May 13:07 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/breaking-england-wales-coronavirus-hospital-21962655Rating: 2.39
BREAKING: Kano records three more COVID-19 deaths as cases hit 311
Kayode Oyero Kano State has recorded three new coronavirus fatalities, The PUNCH reports. The state Health Ministry made this known via Twitter shortly after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control announced 92 new infections in the state, bringing the total confirmed cases to 311. “As at 11:25pm 1st May 2020, 92 new cases of COVID-19 cases confirmed. Total confirmed cases in Kano State are now 311. “3 additional COVID-19 deaths were recorded. Total COVID-19 deaths are now 8,” the state Health Ministry tweeted. Meanwhile, the Minister of Health, Dr Osagie Ehanire, said on Friday that a 14-man team comprising health experts in different areas of specialisation were leaving from Abuja to Kano on Saturday morning. “With regards to Kano, a multi-sectorial team of 14 specialists comprising of persons from NCDC, National Primary Health Care Development Agency, the Department of Hospital Services, the Department of Family Health, Infectious Disease Specialists, media and a special adviser will leave for Kano in the early morning (Saturday) to support that state in all areas of response. “The main focus of the intervention is on training and capacity building of state health care workforce along with their various specialties on a very massive scale,” the minister said. Also, the Chairman of the Presidential Task Force on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha said on Friday that the World Health Organisation had redeployed 3,000 of their personnel in Kano to respond to the pandemic. The state is presently on a 14-day lockdown ordered by the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), as part of measures to curb the spread of the virus.
2 May 05:30 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/breaking-kano-records-three-more-covid-19-deaths-as-cases-hit-311/Rating: 0.30
COVID-19: New cases jump to 105 today (May 2), highest since 16 April
Malaysia has recorded an increase in daily COVID-19 infections with 105 new cases reported today. Fortunately, there are zero new deaths reported today and Malaysia has also recorded an additional 116 new recoveries. At the moment, there are a total of 6,176 confirmed cases in the country and a total of 4,326 patients have discharged so far. The recovery rate is currently at 70.05% while the death toll remains at 103 (1.67%). The number of active cases has dipped slightly from 1,758 yesterday to 1,747. 31 are currently in ICU while 12 are requiring respiratory support. This is the first time Malaysia has recorded more than 100 cases after over two weeks of double-digit numbers. Despite the increase, there are more recoveries than new cases today. As shared by the Ministry of Health, Malaysia’s recovery and mortality rate is better than the global average. Globally, the recovery rate is 31.5% while the mortality rate is 7.13%. According to the ministry, they have detected a new cluster which is identified as Tahfiz Lanchang Cluster in Temerloh, Pahang. At the moment, 6 individuals were tested positive. Out of the 105 new cases, 60 are recorded from 3 EMCO areas. 36 new positive cases are from Pusat Bandar Utara and surrounding areas of KL wholesale market, followed by 20 new cases at Selayang Baru. There are also 4 new cases at Selangor Mansion. The ministry also added that 11 new cases are imported. While Malaysia’s economy is set to reopen on Monday, the health director-general, Dr. Noor Hisham Abdullah says the safest place at the moment is still at home. As announced by the Prime Minister, selected non-contact outdoor activities will be permitted and this includes jogging, badminton and running in a small group of not exceeding 10 people. For those that are stuck at their hometowns, interstate travel to the city will be permitted between 7 to 10 May 2020. According to Senior Minister Datuk Seri Ismail Sabri Yaakob, the police will provide further details including a travel schedule soon. [ SOURCE, IMAGE SOURCE ]
2 May 09:02 • SoyaCincau.com • https://www.soyacincau.com/2020/05/02/covid-19-malaysia-2-may-105-new-cases-xrs/Rating: 0.59
Coronavirus Scotland: Sharp increase in death toll as number of Ayrshire cases near 800
There has been a sharp increase in the number of people who have died from the coronavirus in Scotland. The Scottish Government has produced figures this afternoon as part of its daily update on how the virus is impacting the country. Scotland's COVID-19 death toll has now tragically reached 1,559 which is up 44 on yesterday's figure. Within the NHS Ayrshire & Arran region, there are 793 cases of the disease – an increase of 15 from yesterday. The number of people in hospital with confirmed or suspected coronavirus, within the health board's region, at midnight was 103. Meanwhile, the number of patients in intensive care with suspected or confirmed coronavirus stood at eight at midnight. Across Scotland, a total of 58,833 tests have been carried out with 11,927 delivering a positive result for the coronavirus. Ayrshire and Arran – 793 Borders – 283 Dumfries and Galloway – 250 Fife – 768 Forth Valley – 757 Grampian – 889 Greater Glasgow and Clyde – 2,939 Highland – 288 Lanarkshire – 1,436 Lothian – 2,065 Shetland – 54 Tayside – 1,392 Orkney – 7 Western Isles – 6 The symptoms of coronavirus are: But these symptoms do not necessarily mean you have the illness. The symptoms are similar to other illnesses that are much more common, such as cold and flu. If you think you may have the coronavirus, do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital. Call 111 if you need to speak to someone.
2 May 14:20 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/ayrshire/coronavirus-scotland-sharp-increase-death-21963061Rating: 0.35
Coronavirus death toll in UK increases by 621 bringing total to 28,131
A further people 621 have died after contracting coronavirus in the UK, Local Government Secretary Robert Jenrick has confirmed. The latest death toll announcement brings the total number of deaths in the UK to 28,131. This includes people who had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Friday. Another 370 patients have died in hospitals in England from coronavirus, according to the NHS. Of the 370 new deaths announced in England, 75 occurred on May 1, 149 occurred on April 30 and 52 occurred on April 29. The figures also show 85 of the new deaths took place between April 1 and April 28 while the remaining nine deaths occurred in March, with the earliest new death taking place on March 13. Of the 20,853 confirmed reported deaths so far in hospitals in England of people who tested positive for Covid-19, 10,901 (52%) have been people aged 80 and over while 8,119 (39%) were 60-79. A further 1,672 (8%) were aged 40-59, with 150 (1%) aged 20-39 and 11 (0.05%) aged 0-19, according to NHS England. Coronavirus cases in Wales passes 10,000 mark In Wales another 44 people have died in hospitals, bringing the total fatalities there to 969, according to Public Health Wales. It comes as the number of confirmed cases in Wales passes 10,000, health officials have announced. Dr Chris Williams, incident director for the Covid-19 outbreak response at Public Health Wales, said Wales appeared to have passed the peak of new cases, but repeated the warning that the public had to stay at home. Dr Williams said: "We seem to have passed the peak and flattened the curve of new cases of Covid-19 in Wales, which appears to be an indication of the effectiveness of lockdown measures. "We are currently working with the Welsh Government to determine the best approach for when the lockdown is eventually eased. "In the meantime, social distancing rules remain in effect. Public Health Wales fully supports Welsh Government's revised stay-at-home regulations. The message has not changed - anyone can get coronavirus, anyone can spread it. Stay home, protect the NHS, and save lives." 44 more deaths in Scotland as First Minister orders testing boost In Scotland another 44 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died, bringing the country's total deaths to 1,559. Figures from the Scottish Government released on Saturday evening show the number of people who have tested positive for the virus is at 11,927, a rise of 273 from the previous day. The latest figures come after First Minister Nicola Sturgeon announced an expansion to coronavirus testing north of the border. There will be expanded testing of care home staff and residents, with all over-65s who show symptoms of the virus also being tested. She set a target for testing capacity to increase to 10,500 by the end of next week, including both Scottish NHS laboratories and the UK Government's testing network. The latest figures comes as US regulators have approved the use of the first drug which appears to help coronavirus patients recover quicker. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) cleared the use of remdesivir, a drug previously used to treat ebola patients, after studies showed it shortened recovery time by 31 per cent, or around four days on average, for hospitalised Covid-19 patients. The drug is can now be administered to patients with severe conditions, such as those experiencing breathing problems requiring supplemental oxygen or ventilators. Coronavirus: Everything you need to know
2 May 15:06 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-02/coronavirus-death-toll-in-uk-increases/Rating: 0.88
Coronavirus deaths in the Netherlands approaching 5,000; Over 40,000 test positive
New statistics from publish health agency RIVM showed that at least 4,987 people who tested positive for coronavirus have died since the pandemic began, including 17 who died on Friday. The agency updated its database to reflect 94 more deaths than were previously reported, with those deaths taking place between March 24 and May 2. Like cases with a fatal result, the number of new hospitalizations has generally declined since the end of March. The agency said it new of 97 new hospital admissions from March 25 and May 2, with 31 occurring on Friday. Overall, some 10,951 people have required hospital treatment after testing positive for the virus, including those who were being treated for respiratory illness Covid-19. Across the Netherlands, 40,236 have tested positive for the infection, an increase of 445. As of Friday afternoon nearly 226 thousand people had been tested. The agency does not release data about the number of tests administered on weekend days and holidays. Overall, Dutch labs are capable of processing 17,500 nasal swab tests per day to determine if a patient has an active coronavirus infection. Currently, these tests are mainly given to healthcare workers, other care workers, and patients with compromised immune systems. This will be expanded to include educators and childcare providers as primary schools and daycare facilities reopen on May 11. The Ministry of Health confirmed to NL Times that it also wants to conduct more blood tests, testing for antibodies to see if someone has or previously had an active infection, but they are still investigating how to do so efficiently. A German lab offered to conduct an additional five thousand coronavirus swab tests per day for the Netherlands, but the Dutch authorities have not yet made use of this offer because the extra testing capacity is not needed at this stage, a spokesperson for ministry told NL Times.
2 May 11:57 • NL Times • https://nltimes.nl/2020/05/02/coronavirus-deaths-netherlands-approaching-5000-40000-test-positiveRating: 0.33
Coronavirus in Oklahoma: 3,851 confirmed cases, 238 deaths
Public safety content is provided for free as a service to our readers during the coronavirus outbreak. More in-depth coverage and enterprise reporting can be found by subscribing to our digital products at oklahoman.com/subscribe. We also offer daily and breaking email newsletters to stay informed. Oklahoma's number of positive COVID-19 cases now stands at 3,851. The number of coronavirus-related deaths in Oklahoma now stands at 238. The Oklahoma State Department of Health reported an additional eight deaths on Saturday -- four of which happened in the past 24 hours: The Health Department has also released a list of COVID-19 testing sites in Oklahoma. That list can be found here. Here is a look at the latest coronavirus numbers for Oklahoma: Cases in Oklahoma Cases by race Cases by age group Related Photos
2 May 15:46 • THE OKLAHOMAN • https://oklahoman.com/article/5661487/confirmed-covid-19-cases-up-to-3851-in-oklahomaRating: 0.30
Coronavirus | India records biggest rise in number of cases since January
India, on Saturday, recorded the biggest single-day jump of 2,411 COVID-19 cases, taking the total number to 37,776, according to data released by the Union Health Ministry. This is the largest rise in cases since January, when the infection was first detected in India. Interactive map of confirmed coronavirus cases in India | State-wise tracker for coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates With 71 more deaths, the death toll has gone up to 1,223. India currently has 26,535 active COVID-19 cases, and 10,017 patients have recovered. “In the last 24 hours, more than 1,061 patients were cured. This takes our total recovery rate to 26.65%,” added the Ministry. Data from the State Health Departments put the total number of cases at 39,435, of which 27,534 are active ones. The number of fatalities stood at 1,316. India coronavirus lockdown Day 38 updates| Helpline numbers With 790 new cases, the number of cases in Maharashtra reached 12,296. Mumbai accounted for 547 of the cases. The death toll in the State rose to 521, with 27 deaths in Mumbai and nine in other parts of the State. Gujarat reported 26 deaths, the highest number of fatalities in a single day so far, taking the over all toll to 262. With 333 new cases, most of them in Ahmedabad, the tally in the State rose to 5,054, an official said. India crossed the million-mark for conducting RT-PCR tests, with the Indian Council of Medical Research now having ramped up testing to more than 75,000 samples per day. “Currently, there are 419 labs testing for coronavirus in the country. There are currently 14 mentor institutions, including AIIMS, PGI Chandigarh, CMC Vellore, JIPMER Puducherry, and SGPIMS Lucknow, who are hand-holding several medical colleges/ labs/ hospitals in carrying out tests. There are 15 institutions spread in the country working as depots for supplying testing kits/ material to these labs,” a senior government source said. Coronavirus |Under which zone does your district lie? A senior ICMR officials added that they are following the United States decision to give permission for emergency use of Ebola drug Remdesivir for treating coronavirus. “It is a development which is being followed across the world and India is no exception,” he said. The Health Ministry, meanwhile, has now cautioned against the abuse of antibiotics stating that these do not work against viruses. “They only work on bacterial infections. COVID-19 is caused by a virus, so antibiotics do not work. Antibiotics should not be used as a means of prevention or treatment of COVID-19. They should only be used as directed by a physician to treat a bacterial infection,” the Ministry said. Additional guidelines on rationed use of Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) have also been issued by the Health Ministry, adding that prescribed standard precautions are to be followed at all times by health care professionals. “PPEs are not alternative to basic preventive public health measures such as hand hygiene, respiratory etiquettes which must be followed at all times. Also healthcare professional are to always follow the laid down protocol for disposing off PPEs as detailed in infection prevention and control guideline,” noted the release. It added that patients and their attendants are encouraged to put on face cover at all times. Download The Hindu’s multi-language e-book on essential COVID-19 information The Health Ministry has reiterated that India has many people with COVID-19 who are experiencing only mild symptoms and this is particularly true at the early stages of the disease. “It is, therefore, possible to catch COVID-19 from someone who has, for example, just a mild cough and does not feel ill. The main way the disease spreads is through respiratory droplets expelled by someone who is coughing. The risk of catching COVID-19 from someone with no symptoms at all are low but the possibility cannot be ruled out.” It added that the currently the most common known symptoms of COVID-19 are fever, tiredness, and dry cough. Watch | Who are most likely to get affected by COVID-19? “Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, runny nose, sore throat or diarrhoea. These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but don’t develop any symptoms and don't feel unwell,’’ noted the Ministry. It has said that in India most people (about 80%) recover from the disease without needing special treatment. Around 1 out of every 6 people who gets COVID-19 becomes seriously ill and develops difficulty breathing. Older people, and those with underlying medical problems like high blood pressure, heart problems or diabetes, are more likely to develop serious illness. People with fever, cough and difficulty breathing should seek medical attention.
2 May 18:53 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-india-records-biggest-rise-in-number-of-cases-since-january/article31492284.eceRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: 11 more deaths in the north and 25 in the south
There have been 11 further deaths in Northern Ireland of patients who tested positive for Covid-19, bringing the total fatalities in the region recorded so far by the Department of Health to 376. Six of the 11 deaths occurred in the last 24 hours, with five people's dealths outside of this period and only being recorded now. A further 66 people have test positive for the virus and 32 intensive care beds are currently occupied by patients with Covid-19. A total of 3,689 people have tested positive for coronavirus, with 24,429 tested overall. In the Republic, the number of deaths of people with Covid-19 has risen to 1,286 following an overnight rise of 25. Another 343 new confirmed cases were also reported. This brings the total number of cases to 21,176. There has been a tenfold increase in the number of people attending Northern Ireland’s Covid-19 testing centres, the regional manager has said. It follows the widening of those who can take the test by appointment at one of three centres across the region. They receive the result within 48 hours. A partnership involving Serco, Deloitte and the Public Health Agency has opened three centres in Belfast, Craigavon and Derry. According to the department, more than 5,000 samples had been taken at the three centres by May 1. However, overall there had been a total of 28,425 laboratory tests carried out by the same date, which could include tests carried out at other venues, including hospitals. Regional manager Chris Kelly said they have seen a significant uplift since testing was opened to all key workers. “Over the last week the numbers have increased tenfold from where we first started now that testing has been opened up to all key sectors and key workers who can go on to .gov site and register to get tested at one of the three sites in Northern Ireland,” he said. “It’s a self-testing site so everyone feels safe. What we have tried to do is understand that the people who are arriving there are probably a little bit nervous because they are going to get a self test, so we’ve tried to make sure the staff are able to reassure people and keep everyone nice and calm. “It supports people with businesses as well as key workers in getting back to work and making sure that when they get back to work they have their key staff in place, because they can come and get tested and get a result within 48 hours. Then they know whether they can go back to work or if they need to self isolate.” Mr Kelly is the manager of the Aurora Leisure Centre in Belfast, but volunteered his services to help in the pandemic. He manages the three testing centres in Northern Ireland, which also include the City of Derry Rugby Club and Craigavon MoT centre. Many of the staff volunteering have also come from Aurora. “All the staff at the Belfast centre have come from Aurora, they were staff that were to be furloughed and they then all volunteered to come over and work at the test centre because they thought they could contribute even in a small way in helping people,” he said. “It has been a significant change of pace and learning different processes but working with people whether it be in the SSE car park or whether it be in a leisure centre, it’s about making people feel at ease, and that’s what the staff have been really good at.” The number of deaths of patients who had tested positive for Covid-19 had risen to 376 on Saturday, an overnight increase of 11, recorded so far by the Department of Health.
2 May 19:47 • The Irish News • http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/05/02/news/coronavirus-36-more-deaths-across-ireland-1924398/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: 25 deaths and 343 new confirmed cases in Ireland
A FURTHER 25 people have died from Covid-19 in Ireland, the Department of Health confirmed this evening. In a statement, it said that a further 343 cases of coronavirus have also been confirmed here, bringing the total number of cases to 21,176. The death toll from Covid-19 in Ireland is 1,286. In the latest data this evening from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, as of Thursday night the median age of all cases 49 years. The number of people hospitalised in Ireland due to Covid-19 was 2,785 (13%). Of those hospitalised, 368 had been admitted to an intensive care unit. According to the latest figures, there were 99 people with Covid-19 in intensive care last night. Among healthcare workers, there were 5,973 confirmed cases. Dublin has the highest number of cases with 10,277, with half of all cases in the capital. Kildare has the second most with 1,226 cases (6%) and Cork was next with 1,156 cases (6%). The latest figures come a day after the Taoiseach extended the restrictions in place upon the public until Monday 18 May. Leo Varadkar also announced details of the government’s “roadmap” for Ireland to reopen on a five-phase basis yesterday. The roadmap will see schools closed until September or October. Restaurants and cafes are earmarked to open in phase three (29 June) while pubs, bars, nightclubs, and casinos are not to open until phase five (10 August). Earlier today, Health Minister Simon Harris said foreign travel for the Irish public is looking “highly unlikely this year”. The minister also confirmed that a working group has been set up by the Taoiseach to establish if it can be made mandatory for those returning to Ireland – Irish citizens or not – to self isolate for a period of two weeks. Minister for Housing Eoghan Murphy, meanwhile, said today it is expected that the rent freeze and eviction ban will be extended beyond June. #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
2 May 16:30 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/covid-19-saturday-figures-5090169-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Coronavirus: Lagos Records Four New Deaths, Death Toll Rises to 25
Four more patients died from coronavirus infection in Lagos State on Friday, the state Ministry of Health has announced. The ministry on its Twitter handle on Saturday said the state has recorded four deaths from COVID-19. The details of the deceased patients and accounts of how they died were not disclosed. Giving COVID-19 update in Lagos for May 1, the ministry said 30 new cases were confirmed, increasing confirmed cases to 1,022 in the state. “30 new cases of #COVID19 Infection confirmed, total confirmed cases in Lagos now 1,022. 26 #COVID19 Lagos patients were discharged. Total Discharged now 225. “Unfortunately, 4 #COVID19 deaths were recorded. This brings total number of #COVID19 related deaths in Lagos to 25,” the ministry wrote. The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in its May 1st update announced 2170 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, while 351 patients have recovered from the infection, 68 patients have died as a result. Lagos State is the state with the highest confirmed cases of coronavirus in Nigeria, followed by Kano state with 311 cases and Abuja with 214 confirmed cases. As of Saturday, Lagos has 1,022 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 754 active cases, 225 discharged cases, two evacuated cases, 16 transferred cases and 25 deaths. Lagos residents are urged to call the Ministry of Health through the toll-free line; 08000CORONA, for any COVID-19 issues.
2 May 16:24 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/391053-coronavirus-lagos-records-four-new-deaths-death-toll-rises-to-25.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Panic as Lagos COVID-19 pandemic cases exceed 1,000
- NCDC has reported that COVID-19 cases in Lagos state now 1006 - The federal agency on Friday, May 1, announced that the country has now recorded 2170 cases of COVID-19 - Kano state has the second-highest cases with 311 PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! A report obtained from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Friday, May 1, indicated that over 1,000 persons have been infected with the coronavirus disease in Lagos state. Legit.ng reports that this was made known after the NCDC announced that the state recorded 30 new cases on Friday, May 1. According to the report that over 71% of the coronavirus cases in Nigeria were recorded in Lagos, Abuja and Kano. Lagos has the highest cases of COVID-19 with 1,006 infections followed by Kano, which has 311 cases and Abuja with 214 cases. Coronavirus: Buhari's aide reacts as Kano records 92 new cases A breakdown of cases showed that Lagos has recorded 28 fatalities and discharged 225 COVID-19 patients, leaving the state with 753 active cases. “On the 1st of May 2020, 238 new confirmed cases and ten deaths were recorded in Nigeria. No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. Till date, 2170 cases have been confirmed, 351 cases have been discharged and 68 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. PAY ATTENTION:Download our mobile app to enjoy the latest news “The 238 new cases are reported from twenty-two states- Kano (92), FCT (36), Lagos (30), Gombe (16), Bauchi (10), Delta (8), Oyo (6), Zamfara (5), Sokoto (5), Ondo (4), Nasarawa (4), Kwara (3), Edo (3), Ekiti (3), Borno (3), Yobe (3), Adamawa (2), Niger (1), Imo (1), Ebonyi (1), Rivers (1), Enugu (1),” the NCDC reported. BREAKING: Nigeria records 7 new deaths, 196 fresh COVID-19 cases, total infections now 1,728 Meanwhile, Legit.ng had previously reported that the federal government said the gradual easing of restrictions on activities and movements should not be mistaken to mean life has returned to normal in the country. It was reported that the Secretary to the Government of the Federation (SGF) and chairman of the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on the coronavirus pandemic, Boss Mustapha, gave the warning on Thursday, April 30, during the daily press briefing by the task force in Abuja. He also informed that the PTF would soon publish a copy of the guidelines in the media so that all Nigerians, state governments, trade unions, and other segments of society would be acquainted with their various roles in the fight. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve you better Coronavirus: How I go sidon for house when I no get husband? - Market woman | - on Legit TV NCDC announces 194 Covid-19 cases, highest so far in single day
2 May 08:26 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326161-coronavirus-panic-lagos-covid-19-pandemic-cases-exceed-1000.html?utm_source=mailfire&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=8Rating: 0.30
Deaths rise by 7 as Covid-19 cases reach 6,336
Mkhize is also a veteran of South Africa's fight against AIDS. AFP/File/GUILLEM SARTORIO The total number of tests conducted to date is 230,686, of which 13,164 were done in the last 24 hours. This is the highest number of tests done in a 24-hour cycle to date. The increase represents 385 new infections and seven more deaths takes the fatalities tally to 123. The Provincial Breakdown is as follows: Reported Deaths, Recoveries and Comments: “Regrettably, we are saddened to report a further seven COVID-19 related deaths from the Western Cape and Free State. “We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and salute the healthcare workers who treated the deceased patients. Below is the Provincial Breakdown of Deaths and Recoveries They had also begun to study the deaths to begin to elucidate patterns and areas of high risk. They observed the following: Distribution of Deaths by Gender: Distribution of Deaths by Age: The median age of patients who died was 64. Co-morbidities “We have looked at the data for patients who have been hospitalised and found that, consistent with evidence emerging worldwide, hypertension, diabetes and cardiac disease are the three most common co-morbidities associated with serious illness from COVID-19. “Other co-morbidities that were seen among COVID-19-admitted patients were chronic pulmonary disease, asthma, chronic renal disease, malignancy, HIV, active and past tuberculosis. “I would therefore like to urge our millions of South Africans who are over 63 years of age and those who live with these conditions to take extra precaution as we ease the lockdown,” said Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. “I would also like to urge all South Africans to continue to stay at home as far as possible, only venturing out to perform essential tasks as we move through the stages of the gradual lifting of lockdown.”
2 May 18:16 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/news/covid-19/infection-updates/2277972/deaths-rise-by-7-as-covid-19-cases-reach-6336/Rating: 1.26
India records 2,293 new Covid-19 cases, 71 deaths in last 24 hours
With 2293 new cases of the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) and 71 deaths in the last 24 hours, India’s tally now stands at 37,336, according to the health ministry data on Saturday morning. According to the Union health ministry’s dashboard at 8am, India has 26167 active cases and 1218 deaths related to Covid-19. There are 9950 people who have been cured or discharged. Follow latest updates on coronavirus here India had seen its highest single-day spike in the number of coronavirus disease (Covid-19) cases on Friday. The countrywide spike in the number of Covid-19 cases was largely led by Maharashtra, which also saw its highest one-day jump. The government also extended the lockdown for another two weeks from May 4 but with relaxations, in varying degrees, across India’s red, orange and green zones and enhanced the scope of surveillance and treatment measures in containment zones. The Union ministry of home affairs issued guidelines for the range of activities which will be permitted and prohibited in different administrative jurisdictions. It said the ban on regular air and rail travel and interstate transport would continue and educational institutions would remain also closed. Hospitality services and public places such as cinema halls and malls will also remain shut. The Union health ministry had also released a list of 130 red zones across India—40 fewer than two weeks ago. The number of green zones, or districts with no new Covid-19 case, has also decreased from 356 to 319, suggesting the virus is spreading but with reduced intensity to previously unaffected areas despite a nationwide lockdown. The number of orange zones has increased from 207 to 284. According to the Covid-19 dashboard by Johns Hopkins University’s Center for Systems Science and Engineering (CSSE), 3,343,777 people have been infected by Sars-Cov-2, which causes the coronavirus disease, and 238,650 have died across the world.
2 May 03:42 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-records-2293-new-covid-19-cases-71-deaths-in-last-24-hours/story-g3vzlLoeyoykYAzjZF0dhO.htmlRating: 0.30
India’s coronavirus cases climb to 37,776; 1,223 deaths recorded
India’s coronavirus positive cases climbed to 37,776 on Saturday with the death toll rising to 1,223, data from the Union Health Ministry indicated. There are 26,535 active Covid-19 cases across the country while 10,017 have recovered from the deadly infection so far and have been discharged from hospitals. At least one person has migrated. Maharashtra, which has been the worst-hit by the Covid-19 pandemic reporting a large number of cases daily, breached the 10,000 mark earlier this week. On Friday, the state recorded 1,008 new Covid-19 cases, the state’s highest single-day spike so far, taking the coronavirus positive patients’ tally to 11,506, the state health department data said. On Friday, at least 26 people succumbed to the disease in Maharashtra taking the death toll to 485. To build on the gains garnered during the earlier duration of lockdown and to curb the spread of the infectious disease, the Centre on Friday extended the nationwide lockdown imposed in March for another two weeks. The earlier lockdown was set to end this Sunday on May 3. The MHA also issued certain new guidelines to regulate activities during the extended lockdown, based on Red (hotspot) Zones which have a high concentration of Covid-19 cases, Orange Zones which have fewer cases and Green Zones which have reported no coronavirus cases for 21 days. The guidelines have permitted considerable relaxations in the districts falling in the Green and Orange Zones. According to the new guidelines by the home ministry, released a day earlier, the movement of individuals for all non-essential activities shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am during the lockdown. Educational, training, coaching institutions and hospitality services including hotels and restaurants will also remain closed irrespective of zones till the extended lockdown is in place.
2 May 13:22 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/india-s-coronavirus-cases-climb-to-37-776-1223-people-dead-so-far/story-0EkaHAQuLg4Wsm702doGqN.htmlRating: 0.30
Indonesia reports 292 new coronavirus cases, 31 new deaths
Indonesia recorded 292 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 10,843, said health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto. JAKARTA: Indonesia recorded 292 new coronavirus cases on Saturday, taking the total number of infections to 10,843, said health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto. Yurianto also reported 31 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 831. The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, rose by 74 to 1,665, he said. The country has tested more than 79,800 people for the virus, he said. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
2 May 17:25 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-reports-292-new-coronavirus-cases--31-new-deaths-12696660Rating: 3.25
Lagos records another 4 COVID-19 related deaths
The Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Saturday, announced another four COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state jumped to 1,022. The ministry, however, did not give additional information about age, sex, nationality and medical history of the deceased. “Unfortunately, four #COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of #COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 25,” it said through its Twitter handle @LSMOH. The ministry added that as of May 1, it recorded 30 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,022. The ministry stated, “26 #COVID-19 Lagos patients were discharged. Total discharged patients stand at 225”. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there are 754 active cases, two evacuated and 16 patients transferred to Ogun and Ondo States. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that there were 40,746 cases, 1,689 deaths and 13, 383 recoveries reported from 53 Africa countries.
2 May 17:23 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-records-another-4-covid-19-related-deaths/Rating: 0.30
Lagos records another four COVID-19 related deaths
The Lagos State Ministry of Health, on Saturday announced another four COVID-19 related deaths, as the number of confirmed cases in the state jumped to 1,022. The ministry, however, did not give additional information about age, sex, nationality and medical history of the deceased. “Unfortunately, four #COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of #COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 25,” it said through its Twitter handle @LSMOH. The ministry added that as of May 1, it recorded 30 new cases of COVID-19 infection, increasing the number of confirmed cases in Lagos to 1,022. The ministry stated, “26 #COVID-19 Lagos patients were discharged. Total discharged patients stand at 225”. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that there are 754 active cases, two evacuated and 16 patients transferred to Ogun and Ondo States. Data from the Africa Centre for Disease Control and Prevention (Africa CDC) shows that there were 40,746 cases, 1,689 deaths and 13, 383 recoveries reported from 53 Africa countries. (NAN)
2 May 18:38 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/lagos-records-another-four-covid-19-related-deaths/Rating: 0.30
Lagos records four fresh COVID-19 deaths
The Lagos state government says four COVID-19 patients have died of complications from the disease in the state. The state’s ministry of health said the deaths were recorded on Friday. In a tweet on Saturday, the ministry said the number of deaths in the state has risen to 25. But it said 22 patients were discharged after they tested negative twice for the disease. “As at 1st May, 2020, 30 new cases of COVID-19 infection confirmed. Total confirmed cases in Lagos now 1,022,” it said. “Unfortunately, 4 COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings total number of COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 25. “22 more COVID-19 Lagos patients; 8 females and 14 males, all Nigerians were today discharged from our Isolation facilities at Yaba, @LUTHofficial & Lekki to reunite with the society. “The patients; 19 from @LUTHofficial, 2 from IDH, Yaba & 1 from our Isolation Centre at Lekki have fully recovered & tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19. “With this, number of patients successfully managed & discharged in Lagos is now 247.” Lagos has the highest number of COVID-19 infections in the country with 1,006 cases.
2 May 16:53 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/lagos-records-four-fresh-covid-19-deathsRating: 0.30
Lagos records four new coronavirus deaths
Kindly Share This Story: The Lagos State Ministry of Health on Saturday confirmed four more COVID-19 related deaths in the state. The ministry, which disclosed this on its Twitter handle, however, did not give additional information about the age, sex, nationality, and medical history of the deceased. It said: “Unfortunately, four #COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of #COVID-19 related deaths in Lagos to 25.” The ministry added that as of May 1, Lagos recorded 30 new cases of COVID-19, increasing the number of confirmed cases in the state to 1,022. The ministry added: “26 #COVID-19 Lagos patients were discharged. Total discharged patients stand at 225.” (NAN) Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 21:11 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/lagos-records-four-new-coronavirus-deaths/Rating: 2.43
Latest confirmed coronavirus cases and deaths in Bristol on Saturday, May 2
Bristol now has 618 confirmed cases of coronavirus after a rise of eight in one day. The figures come as the UK's Covid-19 death toll reached 28,131 - the third highest in the world. Across Bristol hospitals, 155 deaths have been recorded, with 81 at Southmead Hospital and 74 at the University Hospitals Bristol, which runs Bristol Royal Infirmary. As of 5.24pm today (May 2), Public Health England's figures show South Gloucestershire now has 349 positive tests following a rise of five. A further 12 people have contracted the deadly virus in North Somerset, bringing the district's total to 246. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the UK is past the Covid-19 peak - but England's Chief Medical Officer Chris Whitty warned the country was "nowhere near the end of the pandemic". You can follow our liveblog on coronavirus here.
2 May 19:10 • BristolLive • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/latest-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-deaths-4100165Rating: 0.30
Morning brief: Covid-19 update for May 2, 2020
- Advertisement - As of 9 am, May 2, 2020: There are now 3,303,296 confirmed cases of the Covid-19 worldwide. There have been 235,290 deaths worldwide. The United States has the highest number of cases, with 1,128,117 infections, followed by Spain (215,216) and Italy (207,428). The US also accounts for over one quarter of the total number of deaths worldwide (65,416), followed by Italy (28,236) and the United Kingdom (27,510). 1,039,588 people worldwide have recovered from Covid-19. The Ministry of Health (MOH) said on May 1 that there are 932 new Covid-19 cases in the country. The country now has a total of 17,101 confirmed cases, with an additional 24 discharged from hospital. A total of 1,268 individuals have recovered. - Advertisement - Another Singaporean succumbed to Covid-19 complications, bringing the total number of deaths in the country to 16. The latest fatality is a 60-year-old male who tested positive for the coronavirus on April 13 and was known to suffer from hypertension and hyperlipidaemia, according to MOH. The Ministry announced seven new infection clusters Joo Koon Lodge,Tuas South Incineration Plant, 19 Kian Teck Road, 12 Tuas Place, 15 Tuas View Square, 20 Sungei Kadut Avenue and 148 Woodlands Industrial Park E5. The UK announced it had met its goal of performing 100,000 Covid-19 tests daily by the end of April, said Health Secretary Matt Hancock. In fact, it had exceeded this goal by over twenty percent on the last day of April, reaching a total of 122,347 tests. Mr Hancock said, “I knew that it was an audacious goal, but we needed an audacious goal.” He added that the country has past its peak of infections. The UK has the fourth highest number of coronavirus infections around the globe, with 177,454 in all. India is extending its countrywide extension to by two weeks to May 17, with the exception of certain areas and activities, said the country’s Ministry of Home Affairs. The lockdown was supposed to have been lifted by Sunday, May 3. Citizens, except for those working in essential services, are still mandated to stay home from 7 p.m. to 7 a.m., and gatherings larger than four people are still banned. Pandemic experts said in a report released on April 30 that the coronavirus will go on spreading around the world for another 18 months to 2 years, until around 60 to 70 percent of the population has been infected. Mike Osterholm, the director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) at the University of Minnesota, said, “This thing’s not going to stop until it infects 60 to 70% of people. The idea that this is going to be done soon defies microbiology.” “The length of the pandemic will likely be 18 to 24 months, as herd immunity gradually develops in the human population,” the report says. The vice governor of Hubei, Yang Yunyan, said, “We have basically curbed the spread of the epidemic,” as the emergency alert level in the province where Covid-19 started was lowered for the first time since the outbreak started. However, he told residents “to stay at home as much as possible and avoid gatherings with other people” even as authorities kept up with “targeted efforts in the community.” —/TISG Read related: As world opens from virus, borders stay shut - Advertisement -
2 May 10:36 • The Independent • http://theindependent.sg/morning-brief-covid-19-update-for-may-2-2020/Rating: 0.39
Number of Covid-19 patients in ICU falls below 100
The number of patients in intensive care with confirmed cases of Covid-19 has fallen below 100 for the first time in just over a month. There are 99 patients in Intensive Care Units in the country's 29 acute hospitals with Covid-19. There are also 21 patients with suspected cases of the virus. There are 184 patients in intensive care who do not have the virus and are suffering from other conditions. As of yesterday evening, there were 134 critical care beds available and just over 1,400 general beds. For the fourth day in a row, the rise in the number of new cases notified by the Department of Health was under 2%. As of yesterday evening there were just over 1,000 patients in hospital with suspected or confirmed cases of Covid-19, with 706 confirmed cases, and 304 suspected. The Mater Hospital in Dublin had the highest number of confirmed cases with 113, followed by St James' with 81, Tallaght with 70, Beaumont with 69, St Vincent's University Hospital, with 62, and Connolly Hospital Blanchardstown with 48. Read more:Latest coronavirus stories Outside Dublin, Limerick (41), Mayo (31), and Tullamore with 23 had the highest number of patients with confirmed cases of Covid-19. There was a slight rise in admissions to hospital between Thursday and Friday mornings. Data from the Health Protection Surveillance Centre, based on more than 20,000 cases as of midnight on Wednesday, shows that Cavan is the county with the highest incidence of the virus per 100,000 people, followed by Dublin. The data shows that two people aged between 15 and 24 years old with confirmed cases of Covid-19 have died. Four of the deaths were in people aged between 25-34, nine were people aged between 35-44, 20 were aged between 45-64, 46 between 55 and 64 and 952 of those who died were over 65 years of age. On Wednesday night, there were 218 clusters in nursing homes and 124 in other residential institutions. There were 83 linked to hospitals and 31 clusters were related to workplaces.
2 May 10:21 • RTE.ie • https://www.rte.ie/news/2020/0502/1136241-coronavirus-ireland/Rating: 2.47
Number of people battling coronavirus across Tayside and Fife hospitals drops as overall number of cases hits 2,160
According to the latest figures uploaded to the NHS Scotland Open Data website on Saturday, there have now been 1392 confirmed Covid-19 cases across Tayside and 768 in Fife. Of these numbers 130 are currently in hospitals in the kingdom with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease, six of them in intensive care. In Tayside this figure is 86, with fewer than five people in intensive care. Of these local figures, 755 were in the Dundee local authority area, 343 were in Angus, and 284 were across Perth and Kinross. That means 54% of all Tayside coronavirus cases were in the City of Discovery. It comes as the number of confirmed Scottish deaths from the virus rose by 55 to 1,559. A total of 11,927 Scots have now tested positive for Covid-19. Across the country there are currently 1674 people in hospitals with confirmed or suspected cases of the disease. Some 108 of them were in intensive care as of last night. On Friday there were a total of 1379 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Tayside and 750 in the kingdom. A total of 86 people (fewer than five in intensive care) were in Tayside hospitals battling confirmed or suspected cases of the disease, along with 139 in Fife (six in intensive care). On Friday there were 177,454 positive Covid-19 cases in the UK, 11,654 of them in Scotland, and 27,510 confirmed deaths across the four nations.
2 May 15:29 • The Courier • https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/scotland/1305076/number-of-people-battling-coronavirus-across-tayside-and-fife-hospitals-drops-as-overall-number-of-cases-hits-2160/Rating: 0.30
Officials report 511 new COVID-19 cases and 55 more deaths in Ontario
TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting 511 new cases of COVID-19 and 55 more deaths in the province. The data reported on Saturday brings the total number of novel coronavirus cases in Ontario to 17,119, including 1,176 deaths and 11,390 recoveries. Health officials reported that 66.5 per cent of cases in Ontario have now been resolved. The number of new confirmed cases reported represents a slight uptick compared to the last few days. Officials reported 421 new cases on Friday, 459 new cases on Thursday and 347 new cases on Wednesday, which marked the lowest number of cases recorded in three weeks. According to Saturday’s epidemiological summary, most of the deaths, 37, were residents and patients in long-term care homes, bringing the total number deaths in these facilities to 578. DAILY BREAKDOWN: The spread of COVID-19 in Ontario Health officials, in the summary, said that of all deceased patients in Ontario, seven were between the ages of 20 and 39. They also said that 52 people were between the ages of 40 and 59 and 302 people were between the ages of 60 and 79. People who are over the age of 80 have been hit the hardest. So far, at least 815 people in this age group of have died. The province reported seven more outbreaks at long-term care homes in Ontario, bringing the total number of COVID-19 outbreaks in these facilities to 205. There has been an ongoing discrepancy between the data submitted by public health agencies through Public Health Ontario Daily Epidemiologic Summary (iPHIS) and the information obtained by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. While the ministry is reporting 910 deaths and 167 outbreaks in long-term care, the iPHIS is reporting the 205 outbreaks and 578 deaths. The province reported that 2,540 health-care workers have also been diagnosed with COVID-19. Of the more than 17,000 COVID-19 lab-confirmed cases reported in Ontario, health officials say about 11.6 per cent have been hospitalized at some point. As of Saturday, there are 977people in hospital, 221 are in the intensive care unit and about 154 of them are using a ventilator. Quick facts on all Ontario COVID-19 patients: COVID-19 testing in Ontario In total, the province has conducted more than 310,359 tests for the novel coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, officials conducted 16,305 tests. There are 12,829 test samples under investigation. The province’s goal was to reach 16,000 tests daily by May 6.
2 May 14:30 • Toronto • https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/officials-report-511-new-covid-19-cases-and-55-more-deaths-in-ontario-1.4922031Rating: 0.30
Pakistan records highest single day jump with 1,297 new coronavirus cases
Coronavirus in Pakistan: As many as 193,859 tests have been conducted so far, including 9,164 in the last 24 hours in the country The death toll due to the viral infection jumped to 417 with 32 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of National Health Services said. Pakistan registered its highest single day increase in the coronavirus cases with 1,297 new infections, taking the total number to 18,114, officials said on Saturday. The death toll due to the viral infection jumped to 417 with 32 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of National Health Services said. As many as 4,715 patients have been recovered, it said. A record number of 1,297 new COVID-19 patients were added in a single day on Friday, the ministry said. Officials, however, said the spike in the COVID-19 cases is not surprising as it due to the increase in the coronavirus testing. Also read:Coronavirus India Live Updates: COVID-19 cases in India rise to 37,776, death toll at 1,223 As many as 193,859 tests have been conducted so far, including 9,164 in the last 24 hours, they said. Of the total 18,114 cases, Punjab registered the highest number of 6,733, followed by Sindh at 6,675, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,799, Balochistan 1,136, Islamabad 365, Gilgit-Baltistan 340 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at 66. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan wished his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin speedy recovery and good health after he was tested positive for the novel coronavirus. "Wishing PM of Russia Mikhail Mishustin a speedy recovery and good health. Coronavirus is a common challenge and we stand together with our Russian friends in battling this challenge," he tweeted. Also read: Make plan to employ 15-20 lakh people in UP: CM Adityanath tells officials Also read: Coronavirus impact: Warren Buffett's Berkshire posts record net loss of $50 billion in March quarter
2 May 15:34 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/current/world/pakistan-records-highest-single-day-jump-with-1297-new-coronavirus-cases/story/402703.htmlRating: 2.10
Pakistan registers highest single day spike in COVID-19 infections
Pakistan registered its highest single day increase in the coronavirus cases with 1,297 new infections, taking the total number to 18,114, officials said on Saturday. The death toll due to the viral infection jumped to 417 with 32 fatalities recorded in the last 24 hours, the Ministry of National Health Services said. As many as 4,715 patients have been recovered, it said. A record number of 1,297 new COVID-19 patients were added in a single day on Friday, the ministry said. Officials, however, said the spike in the COVID-19 cases is not surprising as it due to the increase in the coronavirus testing. As many as 193,859 tests have been conducted so far, including 9,164 in the last 24 hours, they said. Of the total 18,114 cases, Punjab registered the highest number of 6,733, followed by Sindh at 6,675, Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa 2,799, Balochistan 1,136, Islamabad 365, Gilgit-Baltistan 340 and Pakistan-occupied Kashmir (PoK) at 66. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Imran Khan wished his Russian counterpart Mikhail Mishustin speedy recovery and good health after he was tested positive for the novel coronavirus. “Wishing PM of Russia Mikhail Mishustin a speedy recovery and good health. Coronavirus is a common challenge and we stand together with our Russian friends in battling this challenge,” he tweeted.
2 May 07:57 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/pakistan-registers-highest-single-day-spike-in-covid-19-infections/article31487781.eceRating: 0.30
UK coronavirus death toll nears 28,000 after another 465 die in hospitals
The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen to at least 27, 975 after 465 more people died in hospitals. The toll was updated after England recorded another 370 deaths in hospitals, Scotland another 40, Wales another 44 and Northern Ireland another 11. As of yesterday, the total number of people who have died of Covid-19 in all settings stood at 27,510. The new number will rise even further later today, when deaths in care homes and the wider community are announced. Previously, the Department of Health only included deaths in hospitals in their daily figures. That number now stands at at least 23,753. The government began including care home deaths in their figures earlier this week, amid concern it reflected a significant hidden death toll. The UK now has the third highest number of recorded deaths in the world, which critics have blamed on the government’s slow response to the outbreak, including its testing strategy. The government announced yesterday that it had hit its 100,000 a day target, which it pledged to reach by the end of April. Health secretary Matt Hancock said 112, 347 tests had been provided in the 24 hours to 9am on May 1st. However, concerns were raised over how this was counted with the figure including tens of thousands of home test kits that had been sent, but not carried out. Contact tracing is set to form the next stage of the UK’s response to the virus. Mr Hancock said 18,000 contact tracers to track those who have come into contact with an infected person will be in place by mid-May and the numbers will be expanded if necessary. He said this next phase of dealing with Covid-19 will allow the Government ‘to reassert, as much as is safely possible, the liberty of us all’. Details on how life after lockdown might look are also expected to be published by the government next week. Ministers say the UK must pass five tests before restrictions could be lifted, meaning current measures could be in place until at least June. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
2 May 14:09 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-nears-28000-another-454-die-hospitals-12644841/Rating: 2.18
UPDATED: Four die of COVID-19 in Lagos
Sodiq Oyeleke No fewer than four patients have died of coronavirus-related complications in Lagos State. The state’s Ministry of Health announced this via its Twitter handle on Saturday. It tweeted, “Unfortunately, four COVID-19 deaths were recorded. This brings the total number of #COVID=19 related deaths in Lagos to 25.” The LSMOH also announced the discharge of 22 more COVID-19 who have recovered from the infection. It tweeted, “22 more COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians were today discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba, @LUTHofficial and Lekki to reunite with the society. “The patients; 19 from @LUTHofficial, two from IDH, Yaba and one from our isolation centre at Lekki have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19. “With this, number of patients successfully managed and discharged in Lagos is now 247.”
2 May 17:48 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/breaking-four-die-of-covid-19-in-lagos/Rating: 0.30
US CDC reports 1,062,446 coronavirus cases, 62,406 deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Friday reported 1,062,446 cases of new coronavirus, an increase of 30,787 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 2,349 to 62,406. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by a new coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. ET on April 30, compared with its count a day earlier. The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states.
2 May 03:46 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/us-cdc-reports-1062446-coronavirus-cases-62406-deaths-832536.htmlRating: 2.25
Using mathematics to understand and control the 2019 novel coronavirus pandemic
The world is currently facing a devastating pandemic of a novel coronavirus (COVID-19), which started as an outbreak of pneumonia of unknown cause in the Wuhan city of China in December of 2019. Within days and weeks, the COVID-19 pandemic has spread to over 210 countries. By the end of April 2020, COVID-19 has caused over 3 million confirmed cases and 230,000 fatalities globally. China was the original epicenter of COVID-19, followed by Italy and now the United States (with the state of New York shouldering the overwhelming brunt of the COVID-19 burden). As of April 29, 2020, the US has recorded over 1 million confirmed cases and 61,000 deaths. The first documented confirmed case of COVID-19 in the US was reported on January 20, 2020. This was linked to a resident who has returned from a trip to Wuhan city. Although it was possible that COVID-19 was already spreading in the state of New York by mid-February 2020, the first index case was documented in New York state on March 1, 2020. This was traced to a woman who traveled to New York city from Iran (a country that was ravaged by COVID-19 at that time). I gave the dates for the index cases in New York state and the entire US to illustrate an important point, namely the exponential nature of the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic during the early stages of its outbreak. Starting with the single case on March 1, 2020, the state of New York recorded nearly 70,000 by the end of March 2020 (with about 1000 deaths). Further, the number of confirmed cases skyrocketed to over 300,000 by the end of April 2020 (and 17,000 deaths). These numbers clearly illustrate the exponential spread of the pandemic! We will come back to this later. Most of the COVID-19 related deaths and severe cases occur in the elderly (65 years of age and older) and people with co-morbidities (such as people with diabetes, hypertension, obesity, kidney disease and other conditions that suppress or compromise the immune system, such as people living with HIV/AIDS). Younger people and frontline healthcare workers are also at high risk of acquiring COVID-19 infection. This article introduces some of the basic principles associated with the use of mathematics to understand the transmission dynamics and control of infectious diseases, such as COVID-19, in human populations. What are coronaviruses, you might ask. Coronaviruses (CoV) represent a major group of RNA viruses that cause diseases in mammals and birds. Human coronaviruses (HCoV) represent a major group of coronaviruses associated with multiple respiratory diseases of varying severity, including common cold, pneumonia and bronchiolitis. While the mild form of coronavirus infections causes diseases such as the common cold, the lethal form can cause diseases like the severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), middle eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS) and COVID-19 (caused by SARS-CoV-2). The name “coronavirus” is derived from the Latin word “Corona” for crown or wreath. It signifies “the characteristic appearance of the virions (the infective form of the virus), which have a fringe of large, bulbous surface projections creating an image reminiscent of the solar corona or halo”. In other words, “coronaviruses” are the crown-jewel of all viruses here on earth. Zoonotic scientists estimate that there are millions of viruses in the wild, and humans are always vulnerable to mutations in these zoonotic viruses that could trigger pandemics. HCoVs, rated among the most rapidly evolving viruses due their genetic makeup (notably due to their high genomic nucleotide substitution rates and recombination), have their origins in bats and rodents. Data shows that the evolution of HCoVs has been expedited in recent years due to urbanization and poultry farming (resulting in the frequent mixing of species and facilitating the crossing of species barrier and genomic recombination of these viruses). Six known human coronaviruses have been identified in recent years. These include the 2002/2003 pandemic of severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV), a highly transmissible disease which started in the Guandong province in China and spread to 29 countries (causing 8,000 cases and 744 fatalities globally), and the 2012 pandemic of the middle eastern respiratory syndrome (MERS-CoV), which started out of Saudi Arabia and spread to 27 countries (causing 2,519 cases and 866 deaths by January 2020). Over 80% of MERS-CoV occurred in Saudi Arabia. Palm civet and bats were implicated as the natural reservoirs of SARS-CoV (which has a mortality rate of 10%). MERS-CoV, which was believed to have likely originated from bats, and then likely spread from infected dromedary camels to humans, has a mortality rate of about 35%. Both SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV have similar clinical symptoms, namely atypical pneumonia marked by fever, headache and subsequent onset of respiratory symptoms (such as cough and pneumonia), which may later develop into life-threatening respiratory failure and acute respiratory distress syndrome. As was the case with the two other coronaviruses (SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV), COVID-19 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted from human-to-human through direct contact with contaminated objects or surfaces and through inhalation of respiratory droplets from both symptomatic and asymptomatically-infectious humans. There is also limited evidence that the virus can be exhaled through normal breathing. The incubation period of the disease ranges from 2-14 days, and most infections (over 80%) show mild or no clinical symptoms of the disease. The common symptoms include fever, coughing and shortness of breath for mild cases, and pneumonia for severe cases. There is currently no safe and effective vaccine for use in humans (although some promising candidate vaccines are undergoing various accelerated stages of clinical trials in humans). There are also no safe and approved antiviral drugs for use to treat COVID-19 patients (although there are a number being tested in humans, such as remdesivir, with potentially promising effectiveness). Hence, efforts aimed at controlling and mitigating the burden of COVID-19 are focused on the implementation of non-pharmaceutical interventions, such as social-distancing (and other measures for reducing community transmission, such as community lockdowns), using face-masks in public, quarantine of suspected cases, isolation and hospitalization of confirmed cases and contact-tracing of confirmed cases. Since the novel 2019 coronavirus is transmitted among people who come in close contact with each other, the implementation of strict social-distancing measures has been the primary tool for curbing the spread of the pandemic. As of April 7, 2020, stringent social-distancing mechanisms (which, in addition to maintaining 6-feet physical separation with other humans, entails mandatory lockdowns/ stay-at-home orders) have been imposed in over 42 states of the United States, together with Washington DC, Guam, and Puerto Rico (representing over 95% of the US population; involving approximately 316 million Americans). In fact, the state of New York (the current epicenter for COVID-19) has even imposed a fine against people who fail to comply with its stringent social-distancing measures that took effect March 22, 2020. Common social-distancing measures or guidelines being employed in the US include temporary closures of schools and non-essential businesses, avoiding crowded events and mass gatherings, moving in-person meetings online, etc. The city of Wuhan lifted its 76-day strict lockdown on April 8, 2020 (this was done in a phased way, with the first relaxation of measures on February 9, 2020). Now we come to the COVID-19 situation in Nigeria, the most populous country in Africa (with over 200 million citizens). The Nigerian Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reports the first confirmed COVID-19 case in Nigeria on February 27, 2020. As of April 29, 2020, data from the website of the NCDC shows that Nigeria has recorded 1,278 confirmed cases and 51 deaths. The data showed that Lagos State currently has 718 active cases and recorded 21 deaths, and the new epicenter, Kano State, has 136 reported cases and 3 residents of the state have died of COVID-19. Even if these seemingly grossly under-reported COVID-19 case and mortality numbers are to be believed for a second, the fact that the ancient city of Kano has over 100 confirmed cases, and considering its sheer population size (of over 10 million residents) and highly dense nature, for instance, suggests a potentially catastrophic COVID-19 outcome for the city and the rest of Kano state (and, perhaps, the neighboring environs). There are two obvious reasons to substantiate my claim. The first is that Kano city is like New York city in terms of population size and population density. The second is that, in the absence of serious public health interventions (particularly strict social-distancing protocols and other measures for reducing community transmission), the pandemic is going to grow in an exponential manner, as we saw in New York city and the rest of the state of New York. The Kano State Government has finally acknowledged, on April 27, 2020, the “mysterious deaths” of over 640 inhabitants. This prompted President Buhari to order a complete lockdown of the state the following day. A very laudable move. Kano city is a major commercial hub. In fact, it has historically been the commercial capital of the whole of West Africa. It is also the nucleus and focal point of the Nigeria’s north. It is home to all the nationalities/ethnicities within the north (and the south too). If Kano catches fire (i.e., if it is ravaged by COVID-19), so will the rest of the North….and, by extension, the rest of the Nigerian nation. Sadly, at the height of this COVID-19 pandemic, the government of Kano State, in its infinite wisdom, decided to “repatriate” Nigerian citizens (kids partaking in the almajiri system) back to their “state of origin”. First, it really is amazing how this kind of lawlessness can be tolerated in a federal system. How can any citizen (regardless of age or socio-economic status) be treated as a foreigner in his/her own country? Second, these kids that were “repatriated” from Kano city back to their “state of origin” may have been infected with COVID-19, thereby silently starting COVID-19 outbreaks in the locations they were forcibly re-located to by the lawless Kano State government. This irresponsible action of the Kano State government, while manifestly illegal, could contribute in exporting COVID-19 to other neighbouring states and communities. No state government has the right to repatriate any citizen. This is illegal, and the Nigerian (federal) government must hold the lawless KNSG accountable…. otherwise, our citizenship means next to nothing (since a state government or Governor can suspend it at will). This lawlessness cannot be tolerated. This now gives me perfect time to Segway to something a lot more pleasant. Mathematics. The science of precision. Mathematics, being the universal language of nature/universe and the foundation of all the natural and engineering sciences, has historically being used to gain realistic insight into the transmission dynamics and control of emerging and re-emerging infectious diseases of public health interest. This dates back to the pioneering works of the likes of Sir Ronald Ross, a British surgeon and a polymath, who, in addition to elucidating the full lifecycle of the malaria parasite (Plasmodium) in birds and in humans in Freetown, Sierra Leone, in the 1890s, introduced the notion of threshold analysis in the control of infectious diseases. He showed, using a simple mathematical model involving two differential equations for the temporal dynamics of the population of infected mosquitoes and infected humans, that we do not need to kill all mosquitoes to effectively control malaria. All that was needed was to reduce the mosquito population below a certain threshold, and malaria will be effectively controlled (or even eliminated from the community). This was what was done to eliminate malaria from Western Europe. He won the 1902 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine. In the 1920s, distinguished Scottish scientists (biochemist, William O. Kermack and Lt. Col. Anderson G. McKendrick, military physician and epidemiologist) formulated the much-celebrated mathematical framework for modeling infectious diseases. Their modeling framework is based on stratifying the total human population into mutually-exclusive compartments based on infection status. The resulting mathematical models typically take the form of deterministic systems of nonlinear differential equations, involving a number of state variables (i.e., humans compartments) and model parameters. The resulting dynamic models are built based on incorporating all the key/pertinent epidemiological, ecological, immunological and demographic features of the disease, as well as making realistic assumptions on the key aspects associated with the disease transmission process (e.g., mixing patterns, distribution of waiting times in epidemiological compartments etc). That’s why the models are dynamic in nature. In other words, the transmission dynamics and control of the disease is now represented (or modelled) using a collection of mathematical equations, which typically take the form of differential equations (i.e., equations that measure the rate at which some epidemiological state variable of the model, such as the number of infected or hospitalized individuals, changes with time). By using rigorous mathematical analysis, coupled with data analytics to parameterize the models, the models can be used to first reproduce the observed trajectory of the disease (i.e., the model can be validated by showing that it reasonably mimics the observed data, vis a vis the initial number of cases, hospitalizations and the disease-induced death) and, consequently, be used to make predictions on the likely course of the disease (i.e., we can then predict the expected number of cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and mortality in the near or distant future). Thus, mathematical modeling (or mathematical biology to be more precise) is inherently multi-disciplinary. It entails the coming together of various disciplines, notably mathematics, statistical data analytics, epidemiology, ecology, immunology, public health, computation and even the social sciences (including disciplines such as communications and behavioral analysis…. needed to determine effective ways to communicate the disease control strategies obtained from modeling to the general public). In the context of COVID-19, for instance, a basic Kermack-Mckendrick-type mathematical model will entail subdividing the total population at time t, denoted by N(t), into the mutually-exclusive compartments of susceptible individuals (S(t); these are individuals who do not yet have the disease, but could get infected if they come in contact with someone who is already infected), exposed (E(t); these are individuals who are newly-infected but are not yet infectious. Which means they are generally not sick, and not able to pass the disease to others), symptomatically-infectious (I(t); these are individuals with the clinical symptoms of COVID-19), asymptomatically-infectious (A(t); these are infectious individuals who show mild or no symptoms of the disease), self-isolated or hospitalized (H(t)), ICU patients (Q(t)) and recovered (R(t)) individuals. This means the total population (N(t)) is given by the equation: N(t)= S(t)+E(t)+I(t)+A(t)+H(t)+Q(t)+R(t). A system of nonlinear differential equations is then derived for the rate of change of each of the seven state variables of the model (S, E, I, A, H, Q and R). We then rigorously analyze the temporal dynamics of the resulting model (using mathematical theories and techniques from various branches of mathematics, such as analysis, nonlinear dynamical systems, topology, graph theory, probability theory, linear algebra etc.) We essentially analyse the asymptotic dynamics of the various steady-state solutions of the model (i.e., we seek to determine conditions for the existence of such solutions, and then determine under what conditions can they attract solution trajectories). This process can be summarized in two main concepts: asymptotic stability analysis and bifurcation theory. Having completed these analyses (which are critical in determining conditions, in parameter space, needed to effectively control or eliminate the disease), we then use tools from statistics and probability theory to realistically estimate the parameters of the model (such as least square fitting and general inverse problem type approaches). Mathematical models for disease spread in human populations, such as the one briefly described above, typically have many parameters, and uncertainties may arise in estimating the numerical values of some of the parameters. For instance, during the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, the parameter associated with contacts between individuals may not be known precisely (i.e., we may not know, at the early stages, how many contacts, on average, each member of the community makes with other members of the community, and whether or not these contacts would lead to infection. Further, we may not even know the incubation period or recovery rate during the early stages). To account for this, we carry out detailed uncertainty analysis (using statistical techniques, such as the Monte-Carlo-based Latin Hypercube sampling technique). We can also determine which of the many parameters of the model greatly influence the disease dynamics (this will then be targeted for control strategies). This is called sensitivity analysis, and we use tools like partial rank correlation coefficient method to rank all the parameters in terms of how important they are in determining the dynamics/trajectory of the disease with respect to the chosen response function. We also use tools from optimization theory to assess the population-level effectiveness of various proposed public health interventions. This will allow the determination of optimal ways to allocate the resources for public health interventions during disease outbreaks (such as the COVID-19 pandemic) that will result in the effective control of the disease (measured in terms of reduction in the disease burden, such as reduction in number of cases, hospitalizations, ICU admissions and disease-related mortality). In other words, mathematical modeling and analysis allow for the determination of optimal cost-effective strategies (for using the available public health resources) to achieve optimal population-level results, vis a vis the control of the disease. A crucial mathematical quantity of major public health interest is the basic reproduction number of the model (denoted by R_0). This is the most important number public health practitioners, tasked with the control of an emerging disease or pandemic, wish to know as soon as possible. This number measures the average number of new cases of the disease generated by a typical infected individual (not an atypical one, like a super-spreader) if introduced into a completely susceptible population (i.e., a population, like ours, where no one has seen the novel Coronavirus before…..or no one has been vaccinated; hence, no one has any prior immunity against the disease) before he/she get cured or dies of the disease. For instance, R_0 = 2 implies that, on average, one infected individual will infect two others, and these two will infect four others etc. Hence, before you know it, lots of people (in thousands or hundreds of thousand or even millions) will get infected. Mathematically-speaking, this number is computed by using concepts in linear algebra to calculate the largest eigenvalue (i.e., spectral radius in linear algebra jargon) of some matrix. The early estimate for R_0 for COVID-19 was between 2 and 3. That’s why public health agencies around the world were in a heightened state of panic once mathematical modelers around the world (including our group) published their estimates for R_0 shortly after the pandemic was announced by the World Health Organization on December 31, 2019. The reason is simply that if the R_0 value for any country or community is greater than one, then that country or community will suffer a major outbreak (and the disease may become endemic). In this case, the disease will be spreading at an exploding (exponential) pace. Thousands of new cases can be generated within a few days (like we saw in New York state during March 2020). However, once intervention and mitigation measures (such as social-distancing, use of face masks in public, quarantine and isolation etc.) are implemented, the value of R_0 will begin to decrease, depending on the effectiveness and the coverage level (i.e., compliance) of the intervention measures being implemented. If it decreases to a value below unity, then the disease can be fully controlled (or eliminated), otherwise, the disease will persist in the community. Having laid the mathematical foundation above, we can now explore why COVID-19 is far more transmissible and virulent than its two cousins, SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV. The first thing to note is that while the basic reproduction number (R_0) for SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV lie in the range (1.7-1.9) and (0.4-0.9), respectively, that of COVID-19 range between 2 and 3 (as stated earlier). Thus, on average, a person infected with COVID-19 can transmit the infection to at least two others during the duration of his/her infectiousness (i.e., before he/she recovers or dies from COVID-19). This, plus the fact that, unlike in the case of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV, asymptomatic transmission is a dominant feature of the COVID-19 transmission dynamics, explains why COVID-19 is a lot more transmissible and fatal than its two cousins. This explains why, unlike SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV which were geographically limited in their spread (limited to only 29 countries), COVID-19 spread to every country on earth within days or few weeks. Further, this explains why the burden of COVID-19 is a lot higher (causing over 3 million confirmed cases and 230,000 deaths from December 2019 to April 2020) than the burdens of SARS-CoV and MERS-CoV combined (totaling about 11,000 confirmed cases and 1,600 deaths, globally). You must now be wondering what all this long grammar and rigorous mathematization of epidemiology mean in the context of COVID-19 dynamics in the Nigerian nation. The answer is simple. Plenty. Nigeria is blessed with a large, and dare I say ingenious, resilient and hardworking, population (of over 200 million), and majority of the populace lives in highly dense urban areas. The public health infrastructure in Nigeria is, generally, of moderate capacity and quality. It is fair to surmise that it is probably not fully equipped to handle natural disasters of the menacing scope of COVID-19. Further, there are legitimate reasons to greatly doubt the statistics on COVID-19 collected and disseminated by the NCDC. That is, the COVID-19 surveillance and mortality data published by the NCDC (for the daily or cumulative number of confirmed cases and mortality) is, at best, remarkably suspicious. The NCDC stated that the index case in Nigeria was diagnosed/confirmed on February 27, 2020. Since COVID-19 was already spreading in China by the end of 2019, it stands to reason (considering the huge volume of traffic from Nigeria to China and vice versa) that the pandemic was brought into Nigeria a lot earlier than February 27, 2020. This means that, like in the case of many other hard-hit COVID-19 countries outside China, Nigeria has been weeks, if not months, behind the exponentially-growing COVID-19 pandemic. Recent modeling data from Northeastern University in Boston, USA, shows that New York city might have had about 11,000 COVID-19 cases before the first confirmed case in the state was announced on March 1, 2020 (the study, backed by CDC testing data at JFK International Airport, claims that COVID-19 was already circulating in the state since late January, 2020). Some of Nigeria’s largest cities, notably Kano and Lagos, are very much like New York city in terms of both population size and population density. Hence, it stands to reason that what transpired in New York city, vis a vis the burden of the COVID-19 pandemic, should be expected to transpire in these Nigerian cities. My own mathematical modeling research group has recently studied the dynamics and control of COVID-19 in the state of New York and the entire US nation. We estimated the pre-social-distancing mortality numbers for the US to be around 160,000 (our estimate falls within the range estimated by the University of Washington Institute of Health Metrics Evaluation group, whose model is being used by the US Presidential Task Force on COVID-19). Our modeling shows that, once strict social-distancing and other measures for curbing community transmission (such as the use of face-masks, contact-tracing of confirmed cases, quarantine of suspected cases, isolation of confirmed cases etc.) are implemented, and maintained until the end of the year, the cumulative mortality numbers for the US will reduce to about 60,000. We also showed that the use of face-masks in public, even if the masks are of relatively low efficacy (such as home-made cloth masks), is very useful in curtailing the pandemic, particularly if the masks-usage policy is implemented nationwide and the coverage in its usage is high (i.e., if everyone in the nation, except young children and those who cannot wear face-masks for health reasons, are encouraged to wear masks….and majority comply with such recommendation). Face masks are primarily useful in preventing susceptible people from acquiring infection after inhaling the respiratory droplets that hand in the air after infected people (not wearing masks) sneeze or cough. So, where do we go from here? The answer is mathematics to the rescue. I offer the following 10-point mathematical recipe for effectively controlling (or eliminating) COVID-19 in Nigeria: In summary, COVID-19 is a devastating pandemic we have not seen since the deadly 1918/1919 H1N1 influenza pandemic. Nigeria is now feeling the wrath of this beast. We have what it takes to effectively control its deadly menace if we get our acts together. These are desperate moments, which require desperate measures. In the absence of a safe and effective vaccine or antiviral, we have no choice but to focus on implementing (and sustaining) the tried-and-tested non-pharmaceutical interventions (such as social-distancing, community lockdown, quarantine, isolation, contact tracing, widescale random testing etc.). If we do what other nations have done (and done so successfully), we indeed can minimize and mitigate the burden of the pandemic. If we can implement and maintain strict nationwide social-distancing and community lockdown (for an extended period of time), coupled with an effective implementation of the strict containment strategy (i.e., rapidly identify and isolate a confirmed case, then trace their contacts and quarantine them), and implement widescale testing, we can certainly do very well in minimizing the devastation we otherwise would absolutely record. The authorities in Wuhan locked down the city for 76 days, and it seemed to have worked in curtailing community transmission. It is time for cooler heads to prevail in Nigeria. It is time for science and basic common sense to prevail. It is time for people to be willing and able to make sacrifices for the greater good of all (i.e., to avert a catastrophe). We all in this together. We, as a nation, have been through adversities in the past. We survived them. I believe we can survive COVID-19 if we do the right things. Yes, we can. Together. In a decidedly mathematical fashion. I should add that one of the main take-home messages from this lengthy article is the role mathematics plays in our daily life. It shows the direct application of the many mathematical concepts we learned in high schools, undergraduate and graduate schools etc. to help save lives. The mathematics courses we were all taught during our undergraduate studies (algebra, analysis, topology, linear algebra, graph theory, dynamical system, metric spaces etc.) are all very useful in helping us understand how diseases spread, and how best to combat them (in addition to their applications in many other areas of the natural and engineering sciences). Thus, everyone must take the rigorous training in mathematics extremely seriously. In this vein, it is also imperative to emphasize the urgent need to revise our mathematics curricula at all levels of the education sector to make them more modern and suited for the 21st century. The curricula must emphasize critical-thinking, problem-solving skills, innovation, multi-disciplinarity, originality, real-life applications, team work and comprehensive training and background in all branches of mathematics. It must also encourage data analytics, computation and ability to appreciate and address challenging problems from other disciplines. Advanced nations have many things in common. The one that is a constant is their massive investment in mathematics training at all levels. They understand that there can be no development until they build, and sustain, a culture of world-class excellence in the mathematical sciences. This is the only way to build a sustainable knowledge-based economy that is rooted in excellence in science and technology. Bibliography [1] Steffen E. Eikenberry, Marina Mancuso, Enahoro Iboi, Tin Phan, Keenan Eikenberry, Yang Kuang, Eric Kostelich and Abba B. Gumel. To mask or not to mask: Modeling the potential for face mask use by the general public to curtail the COVID-19 pandemic. Infectious Disease Modeling. 5(2020): 293-308. [2]. Calistus N. Ngonghala, Enahoro Iboi, Steffen Eikenberry, Matthew Scotch, Chandini Raina MacIntyre, Matthew H. Bonds and Abba B. Gumel. Mathematical assessment of the impact of non-pharmaceutical interventions on curtailing the 2019 novel Coronavirus. Mathematical Biosciences. doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.mbs.2020.108364. In press. Gumel is a foundation professor of mathematics at Arizona State University, USA. He is also a fellow of both the Nigerian Academy of Science (FAS) and the African Academy of Sciences (FAAS).
2 May 19:47 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/using-mathematics-to-understand-and-control-the-2019-novel-coronavirus-pandemicRating: 0.30
West Bengal: Toll reaches 48 with 15 more deaths; 127 new infections
Fifteen more patients died of novel coronavirus and 127 new positive cases were reported in the last 48 hours, according to a bulletin by the state government. The bulletin did not reveal the total number of active cases in the state. On Thursday, the state government said that the state had recorded a total of 572 active positive cases, 33 deaths and 139 recoveries. Active cases are minus recoveries and deaths. In the last 48 hours, 60 patients have been discharged from hospitals after being discharged. Back of the envelope calculation put the total number of active cases till Saturday to 624 while the toll rose to 48. The state BJP and the Central government have regularly accused the Mamata Banerjee-led government of underreporting coronavirus cases. Chief Secretary Rajiva Sinha had on Thursday revealed that 105 persons infected with the coronavirus had died in the state, but maintained that only 33 of these deaths could directly be attributed to COVID-19. According to Saturday’s bulletin, as many as 2,410 samples were tested in the last 24 hours taking the total to 20,976. Meanwhile, eight coronavirus positive indoor patients were diagnosed at NRS Medical College and Hospital on Saturday. As many as 42 COVID-19 patients recovered and were discharged from MR Bangur Hospital. West Bengal Police arrested 130 people and warned another 283 for allegedly posting fake posts in April, tweeted from West Bengal Police.
2 May 19:27 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/kolkata/west-bengal-toll-reaches-48-with-15-more-deaths-127-new-infections-6391009/Rating: 0.30
5 Indian security personnel, 2 rebels die in Kashmir fight
3 May 20:47
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5 Indian security personnel, 2 rebels die in Kashmir fight
SRINAGAR, India — Five Indian security personnel and two militants were killed in a major spike in fighting in disputed Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the house in northwestern Handwara area on late Saturday and “successfully extricated the civilians,” an Indian army statement said. The security forces came under heavy gunfire from militants and in the ensuing firefight, two militants and all the team members died, it said. The statement did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No militant group has immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the militants. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said the reinforcement of special forces was called in and they shot dead the two militants but other two likely escaped. India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus. Militants fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on government forces and alleged informants either. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting. Rebel groups in Indian-held Kashmir demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training anti-India rebels. Pakistan denies this, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the militants and to Kashmiris who oppose Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. Aijaz Hussain, The Associated Press
3 May 20:47 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/5-indian-security-personnel-2-rebels-die-in-kashmir-fight/Rating: 0.77
Kashmir: 5 security forces and 2 rebels killed in a gun battle
Five security forces and two rebels were killed in Indian-administered Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said on Sunday. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the home in the northwestern Handwara area late Saturday and "successfully extricated the civilians", an Indian army statement said. More: The government forces came under heavy gunfire from the house, and in the ensuing firefight two rebels and all counterinsurgency team members died, it said. It did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No rebel group immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major, along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the rebels. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said special forces reinforcements were called in and they shot dead two rebels but two others likely escaped. Meanwhile, at least eight civilians, including three young children and a teenage boy, were wounded on Sunday in a blast caused by an explosive device just a few kilometres from Saturday's gun battle. Police were investigating the cause of the explosion. India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus pandemic. Rebels fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on security forces and alleged informants. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarised frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting. India and Pakistan claim divided Kashmir in its entirety. Most Kashmiris support the rebel cause that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country, while also participating in civilian street protests against Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting Indian control since 1989. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training the fighters, a charge Pakistan denies. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.
3 May 14:43 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/kashmir-5-security-forces-2-rebels-killed-gun-battle-200503132100911.htmlRating: 2.44
Egypt says 18 suspected armed fighters killed in Sinai firefight
Egypt's interior ministry has said 18 suspected armed group members were killed in North Sinai in a firefight with security forces, two days after a deadly blast claimed by the ISIL (ISIS) armed group. "National security received intelligence about terrorist elements hiding out in a home in Bir al-Abed, where they were planning to launch hostile operations," the ministry said in a statement on Sunday. "Their hideout was targeted and a firefight ensued, which led to the death of 18 [fighters]." Security forces found 13 automatic weapons, two explosive belts and three other explosive devices in their possession, the ministry said. The incident came after Egypt's army said on Thursday that 10 soldiers, including an officer, had been killed or wounded in an explosion targeting an armoured vehicle near Bir al-Abed in North Sinai. The ISIL claimed responsibility for the attack in a statement posted on its propaganda channels. The army on Friday killed two suspected armed group members in North Sinai province, spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said. On Sunday, the army released a video outlining its latest counterterrorism operations in the Sinai Peninsula, in which it said 126 suspected armed men had been killed in 22 raids, while 15 military personnel had been killed or wounded. The army added that 228 "hideouts used by terrorist elements" had been destroyed and 266 "criminal elements" arrested. Security forces have been battling a long-running armed uprising in the area, spearheaded by a local ISIL affiliate. The fighting intensified after the military's 2013 removal of President Mohamed Morsi. In February 2018, security forces launched a nationwide operation against armed groups, focused on North Sinai. More than 925 suspected armed fighters have been killed in the region along with dozens of security personnel, according to official figures.
3 May 14:55 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/egypt-18-suspected-armed-fighters-killed-sinai-firefight-200503135545337.htmlRating: 2.44
Egypt reports 15 military casualties in Sinai recently
CAIRO (Reuters) - Egypt’s military said on Sunday that 15 of its men had died or been wounded in operations in the Sinai Peninsula recently, and that 126 suspected militants had been killed. The military publishes updates on its operations in Sinai every few months, without giving a specific time frame. The statement came three days after the military said 10 personnel were killed or wounded in an attack near Bir al-Abd in North Sinai. Islamic State claimed the attack. The Interior Ministry later said 18 suspected militants had been killed in a shootout near Bir al-Abd. Militants loyal to Islamic State are active in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, where Egypt has been battling an insurgency for years. Human rights organisations accuse Egypt of carrying out extrajudicial executions, forced evictions and collective punishment as part of the crackdown. The military has denied such accusations, saying it takes the lives of civilians into consideration during operations.
3 May 14:09 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-egypt-security-idUSKBN22F0L7Rating: 4.04
Gun battles leave 9 dead including 5 security personnel in Occupied Kashmir
SRINAGAR: Five Indian armed forces were killed and four freedom fighters embraced martyrdom in two gun battles in Indian Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IOJ&K), officials said on Sunday. Tensions are high in the restive Himalayan region after New Delhi scrapped Kashmir’s autonomous status in early August, with flashes of violence reported regularly. Four army personnel, including two officers, a counterinsurgency policeman and two separatists died after a firefight in the village of Changimul near the Line of Control (LoC), said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. They had entered a home “to evacuate the civilians”, but came under “heavy fire” from separatists inside the building, Col Kalia added in the statement. It was unclear why the men had entered the house, with a police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, telling AFP they had “walked into an ambush”. On Saturday, two separatists were martyred by security forces in a brief shoot-out in the Pulwama area, police said. At least 54 freedom fighters have been martyred in IOJ&K this year, including more than 30 since the start of the lockdown from late March, according to an AFP tally. Last month, at least five Indian soldiers and nine separatists were killed in two separate firefights over two days in the occupied valley. Since the start of lockdown, India has continuously violated the ceasefire agreement despite the holy month of Ramazan. Freedom fighters have fought the Indian regime for decades in the Himalayan region and have sacrificed many lives. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead since 1989, mostly civilians.
3 May 15:40 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213251/3-gun-battles-leave-9-dead-including-5-security-personnel-occupied-kashmir/Rating: 1.80
Handwara encounter: Colonel, Major among 5 security personnel killed, PM Modi says their ‘valour will not be forgotten’
A Colonel-rank officer and a Major were among the five security personnel who were killed in an encounter with militants at Handwara in Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Two militants were also killed in the gun battle which broke out at the Chanjmulla area of Handwara, part of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district, on Saturday, they said. “Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty,” Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told news agency PTI. The Army personnel were leading a team to rescue civilians who were taken hostage by the militants, the officials said. In the process, all the five security men, including two Army soldiers and one J&K police sub-inspector lost their lives, they added. Taking to Twitter, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the “valour and sacrifice of the deceased security personnel will never be forgotten”. “Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends,” he posted on the micro-blogging site. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also expressed condolences to the families of the deceased soldiers and personnel. “I offer my tributes to the soldiers and security personnel who fell in action. My heart goes out to the families who lost their loved ones today. India stands shoulder to shoulder with the families of these brave martyrs,” he tweeted. “The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara (J&K) is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage in their fight against the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country. We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice,” he added. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat, “The armed forces are proud of their courage as they have successfully eliminated the militants. We salute these brave personnel and express our deep felt condolences for the bereaved families.” A senior police officer had earlier told The Sunday Express that the militants were found hiding in a cowshed. Besides Colonel Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj Sood, the other Army soldiers killed in the encounter were identified as Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. Col Sharma was the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles and had been decorated for gallantry twice in Kashmir. A wreath-laying ceremony would be held in Srinagar after which Col Sharma’s body would be flown to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and that of Major Sood to Chandigarh, the officials said. The Army had on Saturday announced that two of the three Armymen injured in cross-border shelling in Uri on Friday had succumbed to their injuries. In another incident, two militants were killed in a gunbattle in Dangerpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama Saturday. The incident led to stone-pelting by local residents. CRPF officers said that while the troops were leaving, a grenade was lobbed at them, leaving one personnel with minor injuries.
3 May 12:38 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-handwara-encounter-army-officers-security-personnel-killed-6391357/Rating: 0.30
17 Taliban militants killed, wounded in Paktiya and Logar provinces
The Afghan forces killed 11 Taliban militants during the operations in Paktiya and Logar provinces, the Afghan military said. The 203rd Thunder Corps in a statement said the Taliban militants attacked the security posts in Pir Laka area of Jani Khel district on Saturday night. The statement further added that the Afghan forces effectively responded to the attack with the support of the Afghan Air Force, killing at least 6 militants. The Taliban militants also launched an attack in Deh Naw area of Mohammad Agha district in Logar province which was repelled by the Afghan forces. According to 203rd Thunder Corps, the Afghan forces killed 5 Taliban militants and wounded 6 others during the clash besides destroying some weapons and munitions of the militants. The Taliban group has not commented regarding the two incidents so far.
3 May 20:59 • The Khaama Press News Agency • https://www.khaama.com/17-taliban-militants-killed-wounded-in-paktiya-and-logar-provinces-04768/Rating: 1.51
Taliban Kill 3 Soldiers in Attack on Checkpoints in Eastern Afghanistan - Official
KABUL (Sputnik) - Three Afghan soldiers were killed and five others injured overnight in a gunfight with Taliban militants in the eastern Afghan province of Paktia, a spokesman for the governor told Sputnik on Sunday. "Last night, insurgents fought for several hours at Afghan checkpoints in the Loari area of Chamkani district and Muqbalo area of Patan district and killed three soldiers and injured five others," Abdullah Hasrat said. Government forces killed eight insurgents and wounded five others, he added. The Taliban have not yet commented on the clashes. The Pentagon said in a quarterly report published this week that the Taliban had increased attacks on Afghan forces to levels above seasonal norms in the month following the signing of the US-Taliban peace deal in late February.
3 May 12:42 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/asia/202005031079181948-taliban-kill-3-soldiers-in-attack-on-checkpoints-in-eastern-afghanistan---official/Rating: 3.96
Egypt reports 15 military casualties in Sinai recently
CAIRO, May 3 —Egypt’s military said today that 15 of its men had died or been wounded in operations in the Sinai Peninsula recently, and that 126 suspected militants had been killed. The military publishes updates on its operations in Sinai every few months, without giving a specific time frame. The statement came three days after the military said 10 personnel were killed or wounded in an attack near Bir al-Abd in North Sinai. Islamic State claimed the attack. The Interior Ministry later said 18 suspected militants had been killed in a shootout near Bir al-Abd. Militants loyal to Islamic State are active in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, where Egypt has been battling an insurgency for years. Human rights organisations accuse Egypt of carrying out extrajudicial executions, forced evictions and collective punishment as part of the crackdown. The military has denied such accusations, saying it takes the lives of civilians into consideration during operations. —Reuters
3 May 13:49 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/egypt-reports-15-military-casualties-in-sinai-recently/1862691Rating: 1.42
Nine killed in Indian Kashmir gun battles
SRINAGAR, May 3 — Five security personnel and four suspected militants have been killed in two gun battles in Indian-administered Kashmir, officials said today. Tensions are high in the restive Himalayan region contested with nuclear rival Pakistan after New Delhi scrapped Kashmir’s semi-autonomous status in early August, with flashes of violence reported regularly. Four army personnel, including two officers, a counterinsurgency policeman and two militants died after a firefight in the village of Changimul near the Line of Control that divides the disputed territory, said army spokesman Colonel Rajesh Kalia. They had entered a home to “to evacuate the civilians” but came under “heavy fire” from militants inside the building, Kalia added in the statement. It was unclear why the men had entered the house, with a police officer, who asked to remain anonymous, telling AFP they had “walked into an ambush”. Yesterday, two suspected militants were killed by security forces in a brief shootout in the Pulwama area of the southern Kashmir valley, police said. At least 54 militants have been killed in Kashmir this year, including more than 30 since the start of the lockdown from late March, according to an AFP tally. Early last month at least five Indian soldiers and nine militants were killed in two separate firefights over two days in the Kashmir valley. Near-daily cross-border firing between India and Pakistan in Kashmir has occurred regularly despite the pandemic and the ongoing Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. Two Indian soldiers were killed in one such incident yesterday, authorities said. Rebel groups have fought for decades for the Himalayan region’s independence or its merger with Pakistan. The fighting has left tens of thousands dead since 1989, mostly civilians. India regularly accuses Pakistan of arming and sending rebels across the heavily militarised border. Islamabad denies the claims. — AFP
3 May 12:44 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/nine-killed-in-indian-kashmir-gun-battles/1862672Rating: 1.42
ISIS takes advantage of Covid crisis to launch attacks on military positions in Iraq and oil fields and civilians in Syria
Iraq and Syria are battling a resurgence in attacks from ISIS as the terror group takes advantage of the coronavirus pandemic. There are between 2,500 to 3,000 Islamic state fighters in Iraq, security officials estimate, and a further 500 have escaped from prisons in Syria, fuelling a spike in violence in the region. Three security guards were killed outside a government building in Kirkuk, Iraq, after a suicide bomber blew himself up in the first week of Ramadan. And yesterday ten Iraqi military fighters were killed in a three-pronged co-ordinated attack in Salahaddin province, just 54 miles from the capital Baghdad. As many as 32 Syrian soldiers were killed during a two-day ISIS attack on a settlement near Homs. Two oil fields were also heavily damaged by the terror group, causing electricity production to collapse to 70 per cent of normal levels. The deputy prime minister of Iraq's northern Kurdish region, Qubad Talabani, said the group's resurgence is a 'real threat'. 'They are mobilising and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon,' he said. Iraq's designated prime minister, Mustafa al-Kadhimi, has paid tribute to those killed on May 2. 'This attack reflects a desperate attempt to capitalise on the state of political rivalry which has impeded the formation of a new government that will work to protect and secure its citizens,' he said. The village of Kujalo, concealed in the barren centre of Iraq, has also seen a rise in extremist activity. 'They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,' a local farmer said. 'IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organised and have more people.' An attack in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala killed a federal police officer and wounded a battalion commander and brigadier general on April 1. And an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of earlier last month. The uptick comes as Baghdad cuts the number of soldiers on the ground by half due to coronavirus, and as the US-led coalition forces continue to withdraw from bases in Nineveh and Kirkuk, western Iraq. Territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities in the northern Kurdish region have also left parts of three provinces without law enforcement, leaving the rugged landscape open to rebel groups. 'Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,' said a senior intelligence official, who declined to be named. 'Now', he said, 'security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month.' Coalition spokesman Colonel Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Analysts have warned the surge in attacks is aimed at securing the influence of the new leader, Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, named after his predecessor who was killed last year. Iraq has recorded 95 deaths and 2,219 cases of Covid-19 since the outbreak began, although the figures are feared to be far higher due to the country's proximity to Iran. Syrian forces have also faced a sudden surge in ISIS-run violence. On April 9, extremists targeted government positions near Sukhna, Homs, forcing the government to bring in reinforcements covered by a Russian airstrike. As many as 32 soldiers died in two days of gun-fighting, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights. It also said 26 ISIS fighters were killed. Gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were targeted on April 13, leaving them non-operational and causing a 30 per cent fall in electricity production. Syria has recorded three deaths due to coronavirus and 44 cases. However, nine years of civil war have left the country's health system severely damaged, prompting fears there may be far more cases in the country than reported.
3 May 15:52 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282389/ISIS-takes-advantage-Covid-crisis-launch-attacks-Iraq-Syria.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ito=1490&ns_campaign=1490Rating: 4.11
Handwara encounter inside details: Terrorists used civilians as human shields, hid in their house
Security forces were on the trail of a group of terrorists in the forest area of Rajwara in Jammu Kashmir’s Kupwara near Handwara on May 1 when the first contact was made at around 3 pm. This was the same group that took shelter in a house in Changimulla, Handwara where five security personnel including an Indian army colonel who was commanding the unit part of the operation were killed. While four army personnel and one from Jammu and Kashmir police were killed in action, two terrorists were gunned down. The terrorists managed to give security forces a slip after being cornered as they used 11 civilians as human shields including five women and children. “One terrorist was injured in the brief gun battle but the group of 3-4 terrorists managed to flee,” said a source privy to the details. Sources said as civilians were being used as a shield the operation had to be halted. As fresh intelligence on their movement came in, the terrorists were found hiding in a home taking civilians hostage in a house in Changimulla in Handwara of Kupwara district. Sources said the first information about a group of terrorists active in the forest areas came in on April 28. “Searches were launched and contact was made on May 1,” said an official. The following day on May 2, based on new inputs, another operation was launched zeroing in a house in Changimulla, Handwara. A joint operation was launched by Army and Jammu and Kashmir Police. A team comprising of five Army and J&K Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. As the team moved in there was heavy firing from one corner of the house. “Later it was found that the terrorists were hiding in a cowshed and firing from there. Two of them were killed but we lost five men,” said an official. While two terrorists were killed, there were at least two more terrorists in the premises of the house who fired from a different direction that resulted in the casualties. “The team of Army and J&K Police personnel entered the target area and successfully extricated the civilians. However, during the process, the team was subjected to a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists. In the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were eliminated and the team of five Army and J&K Police personnel comprising of two Army officers, two Army soldiers and one J&K Police Sub Inspector attained martyrdom,” a statement from the Army said. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Sena Medal Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rakesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and Sub Inspector Shakeel Qazi laid down their lives in the operation.
3 May 12:19 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/handwara-encounter-inside-details-terrorists-used-civilians-as-human-shields-hid-in-their-house-1673940-2020-05-03?utm_source=rssRating: 0.30
Kashmir Gun Battle Kills at Least 7
NEW DELHI — A gun battle between the Indian Army and militants in Kashmir left at least seven people dead, Indian officials said on Sunday, and the violence threatened to heighten tensions in the disputed region. The army said soldiers were hunting down militants fighting Indian rule in the remote town of Handwara, in northern Kashmir, close to the border with Pakistan, when the militants took civilians hostage on Saturday afternoon. The claim could not be independently verified. As fighting worsened, the army said, five Indian security personnel — including a colonel, a major and a Kashmiri police officer — were killed. India’s defense minister, Rajnath Singh, said on Sunday on Twitter that the loss was deeply disturbing. “We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice,” he said. Kashmir — caught in a territorial dispute between Hindu-majority India, which controls much of the territory, and Muslim-majority Pakistan — has endured brutal conflict for decades. A violent secession movement that started in the late 1980s saw many guerrilla fighters crossing the border from Pakistan into India. In turn, India increased its military presence in the region to try to quell the uprising. In recent weeks, tensions have risen between India and Pakistan along the rugged and mountainous Line of Control, which divides the Kashmir region into two parts. Videos shot late last month in northern Kashmir depicted soldiers firing artillery shells across the watch towers and bunkers that dot foothills populated by villages. On Saturday, a spokesman for Pakistan’s Foreign Ministry said India was seeking to divert attention from its human rights violations in Kashmir by raising false allegations of “infiltration attempts.” The ministry has not denied that Indian soldiers were killed over the weekend. “Pakistan’s policy and approach is clear as it does not allow use of its soil for any activity against anyone,” a statement by the ministry said. Kashmir was cast into chaos in August when the Indian government revoked the region’s partial autonomy. Since then, tensions have been high in Kashmir Valley, where many businesses were shuttered, streets emptied and, doctors said, residents’ hopelessness morphed into a severe psychological crisis. Life had started to rebound a bit before India imposed a nationwide lockdown in March to fight the coronavirus, plunging Kashmir into fresh turmoil. Police officers blocked roads with coils of glistening concertina wire. Shops closed once again, and thousands of Kashmiris lost their jobs. But despite the lockdown, firefights and skirmishes in Kashmir have not stopped. At least 50 militants and 20 soldiers have been killed this year, according to data collected by the South Asia Terrorism Portal, a research project that tracks the conflict. The gun battle raged late Saturday for hours in Handwara, where Indian Army and police officers found themselves trapped between houses as they came under fire from militants, witnesses said. A shopkeeper, Mushtaq Ahmad Wagee, 61, who lives near the site of the gun battle, said his family could not sleep as the firing between the holed up militants and forces continued and giant plumes of smoke filled the sky. “In the end, someone dies every day in Kashmir,” he said. “This bloodshed should stop now.”
3 May 11:43 • NY Times • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/world/asia/kashmir-gun-battle-army-militants.htmlRating: 5.38
Ex-convict helps neighbors cope in Morocco virus lockdown
CAIRO: Egypt’s military said on Sunday that 15 of its men had died or been wounded in operations in the Sinai Peninsula recently, and that 126 suspected militants had been killed.The military publishes updates on its operations in Sinai every few months, without giving a specific time frame.The statement came three days after the military said 10 personnel were killed or wounded in an attack near Bir Al-Abd in North Sinai. Daesh claimed the attack.The Interior Ministry later said 18 suspected militants had been killed in a shootout near Bir Al-Abd.Militants loyal to Daesh are active in the northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, where Egypt has been battling an insurgency for years.Human rights organizations accuse Egypt of carrying out extrajudicial executions, forced evictions and collective punishment as part of the crackdown.The military has denied such accusations, saying it takes the lives of civilians into consideration during operations.
3 May 15:11 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1669031/middle-eastRating: 1.72
Colonel, Major among five security personnel killed in encounter in north Kashmir
Srinagar: An Army Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter with terrorists at a village in north Kashmir's Handwara area, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said on Sunday. "Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty," Singh told PTI. He said the Colonel and his team bravely rescued civilians held hostage by the terrorists. The two terrorists were killed in the encounter. Giving details, the Army said based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking hostage some civilians in a house in Changimulla at Handwara of Kupwara district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. A team comprising of five Army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians and successfully extricated them, it said. However, during the process, the team came under a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists and in the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were eliminated and the five Army personnel and a policeman were killed in the line of duty, the Army said. The terrorists are believed to have come to Handwara to receive an infiltrating group from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, officials said. Besides Colonel Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj Sood, the other Army personnel killed in the encounter were identified as Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. Col Sharma was the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles and had been decorated for gallantry twice in Kashmir. A wreath-laying ceremony would be held here after which the Col Sharma's body would be flown to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and that of Major Sood to Chandigarh, the officials said.
3 May 11:38 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/in-other-news/030520/colonel-major-among-five-security-personnel-killed-in-encounter-in-no.htmlRating: 1.64
Handwara encounter: Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major among 5 killed; PM pays tributes
Handwara encounter: Army officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and Lance Naik Dinesh and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty Two senior army officers, a colonel and a major, were among five security personnel martyred in an encounter that ensued in Handwara town in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district late Saturday. In nearly an eight-hour long firefight, security forces gunned down two terrorists, which included Lashkar-e-Taiba (LET) chief identified as Haider. The identity of the second terrorist is yet to be ascertained. "The chief commander of Lashkar in Valley, identified as Haider, has been killed in Handwara encounter. We had inputs that he was in Handwara to receive a fresh batch of infiltrators but was eliminated," Inspector General in Jammu Kashmir Police, Vijay Kumar, told India Today TV. Army officer Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and Lance Naik Dinesh and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh told news agency PTI. "Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, (in the) Handwara (area) of Kupwara district, hostage, a joint operation was launched by Army and JK Police. A team comprising of five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians," the official statement read. Condoling the death of security personnel, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that their valour and sacrifice would never be forgotten. "Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends," PM Modi said in a tweet. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also paid tributes to the security personnel killed in the encounter. "The loss of our soldiers and security personnel in Handwara(J&K) is deeply disturbing and painful. They showed exemplary courage in their fight against the terrorists and made supreme sacrifice while serving the country. We will never forget their bravery and sacrifice (sic)," he tweeted. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat said the operations in Handwara highlighted the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people.
3 May 11:13 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/handwara-encounter-colonel-major-among-5-martyred-in-action-pm-modi-pays-tributes/story/402745.htmlRating: 2.10
Col Sharma, martyred in the Handwara encounter, was awarded medals twice for his gallantry
Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the commanding officer (CO) of 21-Rashtriya Rifles, who was martyred along with Major Anuj, two soldiers and a J&K police inspector while fighting militants in Kashmir’s Handwara, had been decorated twice for bravery. Read: Colonel, Major, two soldiers and police officer killed in terrorist encounter in Kashmir’s Handwara Col Sharma had been part of several successful counter-insurgency operations in Kashmir in the past. Army officials said he served in Kashmir for a long time and was twice awarded Sena Medal for gallantry, including one for his bravery as CO. He received the gallantry award as a CO when he shot a militant-- who was rushing towards his men on a road with a grenade hidden in his clothes-- at close range. On Saturday night as well Col Sharma didn’t care for his own life and entered the house to evacuate the trapped civilians after the firing had stopped for an hour. Col Sharma is the first CO or a colonel rank officer in the last five years to have lost life in an encounter with militants. On 27 January 2005, Col MN Rai lost his life while fighting with militants in Kashmir’s Pulwama district just a day after being awarded Yudh Seva Medal. Same year in November, Colonel Santosh Mahadik – the CO of 41 Rashtriya Rifles - laid down his life battling militants near Line of Control (LoC) in north Kashmir's Kupwara district.
3 May 11:04 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/col-sharma-martyred-in-the-handwara-encounter-was-awarded-medals-twice-for-his-gallantry-832946.htmlRating: 2.25
Martyred in Handwara, Col Ashutosh Sharma was decorated twice for gallantry
NEW DELHI: Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the commanding officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit, who lost his life in operation in Handwara, had been twice awarded gallantry medals for exemplary bravery in counter-terrorist missions. He is also the first Commanding Officer or a Colonel-rank Army person in the last five years to have lost his life in an encounter with terrorists. Colonel MN Rai lost his life in operation over five years ago in January 2015 in an operation in the Kashmir valley while Colonel Santosh Mahadik lost his life in November same year. Army officials said Colonel Ashutosh Sharma belonging to the Guards Regiment had been serving in the Kashmir valley for a long time and was twice awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry including one for his bravery as commanding officer. He had received his gallantry award as a commanding officer when a terrorist was rushing towards his men on a road with a grenade hidden in his clothes. Sharma shot him at a close range which helped in saving the lives of many of his troops along with Jammu and Kashmir Police personnel. Army persons who lost their lives in the Handwara operation include Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. Two terrorists were also killed in the operation by the security forces in the remote location of Handwara.
3 May 12:00 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/03/martyred-in-handwara-col-ashutosh-sharma-was-decorated-twice-for-gallantry-2138593.htmlRating: 2.04
ISIS launches heavy overnight attack in eastern Iraq
BEIRUT, LEBANON (12:10 P.M.) – Three Iraqi police were killed and two others wounded late Saturday night, after an armed attack was carried out by the Islamic State (ISIS/ISIL/IS/Daesh) terrorist organization in the eastern part of the country. The Iraqi security forces said in a statement that members of the terrorist gangs attack the police station in the Al-Fattah district of the Diyala Governorate, killing 3 members of the police forces. The Iraqi security forces said that the terrorist attack resulted in the injury of two members of the police, citing more details to be announced later. Six Iraqi fighters were killed late Thursday night after ISIS terrorists targeted a point belonging to the 35th Brigade of the Popular Mobilization Units in the Salaheddine Governorate. The liberated provinces, especially Salaheddine, and parts of Kirkuk, Diyala, Nineveh and Al-Anbar have recently witnessed terrorist attacks by members of the Islamic State sleeper cells. In December 2017, Iraq announced the liberation of its entire territory from the grip of the Islamic State after about three and a half years of confrontations with the terrorist organization that had occupied about a third of the country, declaring the establishment of a so-called “caliphate”.
3 May 09:30 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/isis-launches-heavy-overnight-attack-in-eastern-iraq/Rating: 0.63
Egypt Says Security Forces Kill 18 Militants in Sinai Raid
Egyptian police forces killed 18 militants in a raid on the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, the Interior Ministry said Sunday. The ministry said security forces exchanged fire with Islamic militants as they stormed a hideout in the small Sinai town of Bir al-Abed. No casualties were reported among the police. The ministry, which did not say when the raid took place, said police found weapons, three explosive devices and two explosives belts. The details could not be independently corroborated as Egyptian authorities heavily restrict access to that part of Sinai. On Thursday, an explosion hit a military armored convoy causing at least 10 casualties among Egyptian soldiers who were participating in a campaign against an Islamic insurgency in the volatile region. The military spokesman, Tamer el-Refai, did not specify the number of soldiers killed by the improvised explosive device. But other officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 10 soldiers died, including an officer, and three others suffered shrapnel wounds. An affiliate of the Islamic State group based in northern Sinai claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack, which took place during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, after sundown when the faithful break their daily fast. El-Refai said Friday that the military killed two militants who were hiding in a farm in northern Sinai. Egypt has been battling militants in the northern part of Sinai Peninsula for years, but the insurgency became far more deadly after the 2013 military ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected but divisive Islamist president amid nationwide protests against his brief rule. An Islamic State affiliate based in the Sinai has carried out high-profile attacks in recent years, mainly targeting security forces and Egypt’s Christian minority.
3 May 08:37 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/egypt-says-security-forces-kill-18-militants-in-sinai-raid-1.8816220Rating: 1.13
Colonel, Major Among Five Security Personnels Killed In Terrorist Encounter In North Kashmir
Bookmark An army colonel and a major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter with terrorists at a village in north Kashmir's Handwara area, Director General of Police Dilbagh Singh said on Sunday. "Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty," Singh told PTI. He said the colonel and his team bravely rescued civilians held hostage by the terrorists. The two terrorists were killed in the encounter. Giving details, the army said based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking hostage some civilians in a house in Changimulla at Handwara of Kupwara district, a joint operation was launched by the Army and the Jammu and Kashmir Police. A team comprising of five Army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians and successfully extricated them, it said. Besides Colonel Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj Sood, the other Army personnel killed in the encounter were identified as Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. Colonel Sharma was the Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles and had been decorated for gallantry twice in Kashmir. A wreath-laying ceremony would be held here after which the Colonel Sharma's body would be flown to Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh and that of Major Sood to Chandigarh, the officials said. Missing BloombergQuint's WhatsApp service? Join our Telegram channel or activate Website Notifications.
3 May 08:29 • Bloomberg | Quint • https://www.bloombergquint.com/politics/colonel-major-among-five-security-personnel-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-north-kashmirRating: 1.94
5 Indian security personnel, 2 rebels die in Kashmir fight
SRINAGAR, India — Five Indian security personnel and two militants were killed in a major spike in fighting in disputed Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the house in northwestern Handwara area on late Saturday and “successfully extricated the civilians,” an Indian army statement said. The security forces came under heavy gunfire from militants and in the ensuing firefight, two militants and all the team members died, it said. The statement did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No militant group has immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the militants. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said the reinforcement of special forces was called in and they shot dead the two militants but other two likely escaped. India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus. Militants fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on government forces and alleged informants either. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting. Rebel groups in Indian-held Kashmir demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training anti-India rebels. Pakistan denies this, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the militants and to Kashmiris who oppose Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. Aijaz Hussain, The Associated Press
3 May 07:47 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/5-indian-security-personnel-2-rebels-die-in-kashmir-fight/Rating: 0.61
5 Indian troops, 2 rebels killed in Kashmir fighting
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Five Indian troops and two militants were killed in fighting in disputed Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said Sunday. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the house in the northwestern Handwara area late Saturday and “successfully extricated the civilians,” an Indian army statement said. The government forces came under heavy gunfire from militants, and in the ensuing firefight, two militants and all the team members died, the statement said. It did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No militant group immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the militants. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said the reinforcement of special forces was called in and they shot dead the two militants but other two likely escaped. Meanwhile, at least eight civilians, including three young children and a teenage boy, were injured Sunday in a blast caused by an explosive device just a few kilometers from Saturday’s gunbattle site, police said. Police were investigating whether the device was a leftover shell from the earlier gunbattle site. India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus. Militants fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on government forces and alleged informants. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting. Rebel groups in Indian-held Kashmir demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training anti-India rebels. Pakistan denies this, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the militants and to Kashmiris who oppose Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown.
3 May 07:46 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/5-indian-security-personnel-2-074650026.htmlRating: 0.30
Rashtriya Rifles battalion CO among 5 killed in encounter with terrorists in J&K’s Handwara
New Delhi: Four Army personnel, including the commanding officer of the Rashtriya Rifles’ 21 Battalion, and a sub-inspector of police were killed in action in an encounter with terrorists in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara Saturday. Two unidentified terrorists were also killed in the operation when special forces were deployed after the team of five personnel — Col Ashutosh Sharma, the CO, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh, and J&K Police Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi — went incommunicado. Initial inputs had suggested the presence of four terrorists. The Army confirmed the deaths in a Sunday morning statement. “In the ensuing fire fight two terrorists were eliminated and the team of five army and JK (Police) personnel comprising of two Army officers, two Army soldiers and one JK Police sub-inspector attained martyrdom,” it stated. The last time a Commanding Officer was killed in action during an operation was in November 2015, when Col Santosh Mahadik of 41 Rashtriya Rifles succumbed to injuries sustained in an encounter in Kupwara, the same district where this incident took place. Security sources told ThePrint that a combined team of the 21 RR, CRPF and the Special Operations Group of the Jammu and Kashmir Police launched a cordon and search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district Friday, following inputs about the presence of terrorists there. After the initial contact, the suspected group of four terrorists managed to get away, but the security forces were on their trail. At about 1530 hours (3:30 pm) Saturday, a fresh encounter began. The terrorists had managed to enter a house which had civilians in it, the Army said. The team led by Col Sharma, a two-time Sena Medal awardee for gallantry, entered the house where the militants had taken civilians hostage. Sources said the civilians were rescued, but the team came under heavy fire in an open compound while exiting. Security sources said that when no radio contact could be established with the team despite several attempts, a phone call was made to Col Sharma’s mobile. The call was answered by a terrorist with an “Assalamualaikum”. Following this, special forces were inducted into the operation. Since there was no input about the team which was inside, the forces took extreme precautions so as not to put them in harm’s way. But there were intermittent exchanges of fire between the terrorists and the security forces. Sources said because of continuous rainfall and darkness, the operation was put on hold. However, a tight cordon was laid. Thinking that darkness will help them, the terrorists tried to escape. However, they were spotted and, after a brief round of fire, two terrorists were killed and their bodies recovered. At the break of dawn, the forces were able to enter the house and recover the bodies of their fellow soldiers and that of sub-inspector Qazi. (This report has been updated to reflect that Col Santosh Mahadik was killed in action in November 2015, not July 2018. The error is regretted.) ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
3 May 06:00 • ThePrint • https://theprint.in/defence/rashtriya-rifles-battalion-co-among-5-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-jks-handwara/413442/Rating: 1.95
Hostages, gunfight, assault teams: How the Handwara encounter ensued
The gunbattle in north’s Kashmir’s Handwara, during which an Indian Army colonel and four other security personnel were killed, had been raging since Saturday afternoon. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and sub-inspector of Jammu-Kashmir police Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty while rescuing civilians held hostage by the terrorists. Two terrorists were also shot dead by the security forces in the Handwara encounter. Col Sharma, the commanding officer of the army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, was leading the three army men and the sub-inspector and had been locked in a gunfight with the terrorists holed up inside a house in Rajwar forests. The army said a joint operation was launched by the army and state police based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking hostage some civilians in a house in Changimulla. A team comprising of the five army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. The terrorists came into the village near the forest as the operation was underway and went inside the house that had a cowshed near to it. Col Sharma, who had been decorated for gallantry twice in Kashmir, Major Sood and sub-inspector Qazi took refuge inside a house as they thought that the terrorists were hiding inside the cowshed. The moment they went inside the house, a gunfight ensued. After that, there was no communication between the army teams outside the house and CO who had gone inside for a few hours. Late in the night, assault teams of the army went inside the house late and recovered the bodies of all five security force personnel. However, the team came under a heavy firing by the terrorists during the process and in the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were gunned down and the security personnel were killed.
3 May 05:50 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/hostages-gunfight-assault-teams-how-the-handwara-encounter-ensued/story-GPXTDe2iv33spOc0FwTEyK.htmlRating: 0.30
Handwara Encounter: Colonel, Major Among Five Security Personnel Martyred; Two Terrorists Killed
New Delhi: An Army Colonel, a Major and two jawans of Indian Army were among five security personnel martyred in an encounter with terrorists in Handwara district of North Kashmir. A sub-inspector of J&K police also lost his life in the gun-battle. Besides, two terrorists were also neutarlised in the encounter. Also Read - Best Not to Speculate, Tweets Omar Abdullah as Reports Claim of 'Hostage Situation' in Handwara Among those martyred is the Commanding Officer, Major of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit, SM Colonel Ashutosh Sharma. Col Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood who lost their lives in the encounter belonged to 19 Battalion of the Brigade of Guards, while officers and jawans martyred in the encounter were from 21 Rashtriya Rifles. Also Read - J&K: Two Soldiers injured in Pak Ceasefire Violation Succumb; Encounter Underway Between Security Forces And Militants in Pulwama Other security personnel who were martyred in Handwara today have been identified as Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. Also Read - Jammu and Kashmir: Pakistan Violates Ceasefire in Poonch District, Encounter Underway Notably, Army Col Ashutosh Sharma was leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists hiding in a house at the Chanjmullah area of Handwara in frontier Kupwara district yesterday. Sharma had been part of several successful counter-terrorist operations in the past. The J&K Police and the Indian Army had launched a joint operation upon receiving Intel inputs that civilians were being held hostage inside a home in Changimulla. A team comprising five security personnel entered the area successfully managed to release the civilians but they came under heavy fire by militants which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel in the outer cordon. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on India Latest News on India.com. Comments - Join the Discussion
3 May 04:10 • India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com • https://www.india.com/news/india/handwara-encounter-colonel-major-among-five-security-personnel-martyred-two-terrorists-killed-4017951/Rating: 0.30
Colonel, Major among 5 killed in encounter in J&K's Handwara; LeT commander gunned down
After an intense gun battle that lasted for nearly 8 hours, an operation by security forces in Handwara town in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district has come to an end. According to news agency PTI, one Colonel, one major, two Army jawans and a police sub-inspector were killed in this encounter with militants. Among those killed in the line of duty is the Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma. He had been part of several successful counter-terrorism operations in the past. Colonel Sharma was the only commanding officer to have been decorated for gallantry a second time in Kashmir, officials told India Today. He had received gallantry as a CO when he had saved the lives of his men by subduing a militant running towards them with a concealed grenade. Other security personnel who were killed in Handwara on Sunday have been identified as Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh. According to preliminary inputs, a joint operation was launched by the J&K Police and the Indian Army upon receiving Intel that civilians were being held hostage inside a home in Changimulla, Handwara. A team comprising five security personnel entered the target area occupied by militants. They successfully managed to extricate the civilians. However, the team came under heavy fire by militants in the process. The Indian Army carried out a final assault at the first light of the day to neutralize militants hiding in the area. Re-enforcements were brought in and a door-to-door intervention was conducted as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP). Internet services were also snapped in Handwara as part of the operation. The latest reports also suggest that the civilians stuck in the house have been evacuated safely. Two militants were killed as a result of the operation. Inspector-General of Police, Kashmir, Vijay Kumar told India Today that top Lashkar-e-Taiba commander 'Haider' was among the two militants killed during the operation on Sunday. The identity of the second militant is being ascertained.
3 May 03:05 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/jammu-kashmir-kupwara-handwara-encounter-operation-indian-army-millitants-jawans-martyred-1673820-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
5 Indian security personnel, 2 rebels die in Kashmir fight
SRINAGAR, India (AP) — Five Indian security personnel and two militants were killed in a major spike in fighting in disputed Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the house in northwestern Handwara area on late Saturday and “successfully extricated the civilians,” an Indian army statement said. The security forces came under heavy gunfire from militants and in the ensuing firefight, two militants and all the team members died, it said. The statement did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No militant group has immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the militants. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said the reinforcement of special forces was called in and they shot dead the two militants but other two likely escaped. Advertising India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus. Militants fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on government forces and alleged informants either. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting. Rebel groups in Indian-held Kashmir demand that the territory be united either under Pakistani rule or as an independent country. India accuses Pakistan of arming and training anti-India rebels. Pakistan denies this, saying it offers only moral and diplomatic support to the militants and to Kashmiris who oppose Indian rule. Rebels have been fighting Indian rule since 1989. Nearly 70,000 people have been killed in the uprising and the ensuing Indian military crackdown. AIJAZ HUSSAIN
3 May 00:46 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/5-indian-security-personnel-2-rebels-die-in-kashmir-fight/Rating: 0.74
5 Indian security personnel, 2 rebels die in Kashmir fight
SRINAGAR, India (AP) - Five Indian security personnel and two militants were killed in a major spike in fighting in disputed Kashmir when the army and police stormed a house where rebels were holding hostages, officials said. A five-member counterinsurgency team entered the house in northwestern Handwara area on late Saturday and “successfully extricated the civilians,” an Indian army statement said. The security forces came under heavy gunfire from militants and in the ensuing firefight, two militants and all the team members died, it said. The statement did not specify how many civilians were rescued. No militant group has immediately commented and there was no independent confirmation of the hostage-taking. A police officer said an army colonel and a major along with a police officer and two other soldiers tried to storm the hideout when they were gunned down by the militants. The officer spoke on condition of anonymity in keeping with department policy. The officer said the reinforcement of special forces was called in and they shot dead the two militants but other two likely escaped. India has stepped up its counterinsurgency operations across Kashmir in recent months despite a lockdown to combat the coronavirus. Militants fighting Indian rule have not ceased their attacks on government forces and alleged informants either. There has also been almost daily fighting over the last several months along the rugged and mountainous highly militarized frontier that divides Kashmir between India and Pakistan. On Friday, two Indian soldiers were killed in border skirmishes. On Wednesday, a Pakistani soldier and three civilians on both sides of Kashmir were killed in another bout of fighting.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/5-indian-security-personnel-2-rebels-die-in-kashmi/Rating: 0.79
Egypt says security forces kill 18 militants in Sinai
CAIRO (AP) - Egyptian police forces killed 18 militants in a raid on the restive northern part of the Sinai Peninsula, the Interior Ministry said Sunday. The ministry said security forces exchanged fire with Islamic militants as they stormed a hideout in the small Sinai town of Bir al-Abed. No casualties were reported among the police. The ministry, which did not say when the raid took place, said police found weapons, three explosive devices and two explosives belts. The details could not be independently corroborated as Egyptian authorities heavily restrict access to that part of Sinai. On Thursday, an explosion hit a military armored convoy causing at least 10 casualties among Egyptian soldiers who were participating in a campaign against an Islamic insurgency in the volatile region. The military spokesman, Tamer el-Refai, did not specify the number of soldiers killed by the improvised explosive device. But other officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said 10 soldiers died, including an officer, and three others suffered shrapnel wounds. An affiliate of the Islamic State group based in northern Sinai claimed responsibility for Thursday’s attack, which took place during the Islamic holy month of Ramadan, after sundown when the faithful break their daily fast. El-Refai said Friday that the military killed two militants who were hiding in a farm in northern Sinai. Egypt has been battling militants in the northern part of Sinai Peninsula for years, but the insurgency became far more deadly after the 2013 military ouster of Mohammed Morsi, an elected but divisive Islamist president amid nationwide protests against his brief rule.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/egypt-says-security-forces-kill-18-militants-in-si/Rating: 0.79
Egypt’s security forces kill 18 ‘terrorists’ in North Sinai: Interior Ministry
CAIRO – 3 May 2020: The security forces killed 18 “terrorist elements” in Egypt’s North Sinai, the Interior Ministry announced early on Sunday, two days after a terrorist attack in the same area either “killed or injured” 10 army members, according to the military spokesman. North Sinai’s attack in Bir El Abd city on Thursday have provoked international condemnation. Military spokesman Tamer Al-Refae did not specify how exactly was the number of deaths. In a statement, the Interior Ministry said intelligence information had revealed that the 18 elements were hiding in a house, which they used to plan their hostile operations. The security forces managed to seize 13 automatic firearms, three explosive devices and three explosive belts. The ministry on Friday, a day after the tragic attack, mourned the death and injury of army officers and soldiers in North Sinai in the attack and denounced the terrorists’ “abortive attempts” to harm the nation. “Such abortive attempts will not stop the brave Armed Forces’ men from defensing the resources of the nation,” the ministry said in a brief statement. Also on Friday, the military spokesman said two high-risk terrorists were shot dead in a shoot-out with Egyptian armed forces in North Sinai. Egypt has been countering terrorism and extremism ideologies over the past years since the ouster of late Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi. Several operations have been taking place in Sinai against terrorists, as many Egyptian officers and soldiers have martyred in the battle.
3 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/1/85345/Egypt%E2%80%99s-security-forces-kill-18-%E2%80%98terrorists%E2%80%99-in-North-Sinai-InteriorRating: 0.67
10 Iraqi paramilitary men killed in Islamist attack
Ten Iraqi paramilitaries were killed in Islamic State (IS) group attacks north of Baghdad overnight, security forces said on Saturday, the deadliest operation by jihadist sleeper cells in months. Iraq declared IS defeated in late 2017 but remnants of the group still wage hit-and-run attacks on security forces in remote areas of the north and west. Across Baghdad, a moment of respite and guarded hope Early on Saturday, the jihadists attacked fighters of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force stationed outside a town about 180 km north of Baghdad, according to a statement by Iraq’s security forces. “Six fighters were killed. As another unit was dispatched to reinforce them, an explosive device detonated on that convoy and killed three fighters,” the statement said. A 10th fighter was killed in a separate IS attack on nearby unit from the Hashed, a network of armed groups incorporated into the regular army chain of command. A security source in Salahaddin province, where the attack took place, told AFP said that the first IS ambush took place just before midnight. “All the Iraqi security forces manning the checkpoint were killed. F16 planes are flying overhead to search for the IS fighters,” said the source. The attack was IS’s deadliest in several months and appeared to cap a period of more numerous and aggressive operations. Last week, the jihadists claimed a suicide attack that wounded four outside an intelligence headquarters in the northern province of Kirkuk. “The group's attacks have seemingly grown bolder over the past month or so, as it's increasingly launched direct assaults on Iraqi security forces and carried out some daytime attacks,” Sam Heller, an independent analyst focused on IS and Iraq, told AFP. “Last night's attack, if it was in fact coordinated between several IS units, would mark a new escalation by the group,” he added. IS overran around a third of Iraq in 2014, triggering the creation of both a US-led coalition to defeat the jihadists and the Hashed, comprised mostly of Shiite units with ties to Iran – Iraq's neighbour but a foe to Washington. The two forces are at odds in Iraq, as the U.S. blames hardline Hashed factions for deadly rocket attacks on its troops while the Hashed and allied politicians have demanded US troops leave the country. In recent months, the coalition has pulled back from five bases where it had been deployed to help track down IS sleeper cells, saying the Iraqi military could largely finish the fight on their own. The coalition is still backing Iraqi troops with air strikes, intelligence and surveillance.
2 May 17:14 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/10-iraqi-paramilitary-men-killed-in-islamist-attack/article31491259.eceRating: 0.30
Blast near Laghman Prison Leaves 3 Civilians Dead
At least three civilians were killed in an explosion near the Laghman prison in the city of Mehtarlam on Saturday morning, a local official said. The explosives were placed on a motorbike, the provincial governor’s spokesman Assadullah Dawlatzai said. He said that the target of the explosion was Haji Noor Mohammad, the head of the prison, who was wounded along with three others. So far, no group has claimed responsibility for the attack. This comes as a UN report shows that more than 500 civilians were killed in the Afghan conflict in the first quarter of this year.
2 May 07:33 • TOLO news • https://tolonews.com/index.php/afghanistan/blast-near-laghman-prison-leaves-3-civilians-deadRating: 1.16
Egypt says killed 2 jihadists, day after deadly blast hits army
The Egyptian army killed two suspected jihadists on Friday in restive North Sinai, a day after a blast targeted an armoured vehicle, a military spokesperson said. Army spokesperson Tamer al-Rifai said the suspects died in an exchange of fire in a farming area of the region in eastern Egypt, and that arms, ammunition and walkie-talkies were seized. Egypt's army said on Thursday that 10 soldiers, including an officer, were killed or wounded in an explosion that day targeting an armoured vehicle near Bir al-Abed in North Sinai. It gave no further details on Friday on the army's casualties. The Islamic State group (IS) claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement posted by its propaganda unit, Amaq News Agency. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended his condolences to the victims on Twitter. North Sinai has been at the centre of a long-running Islamist insurgency spearheaded by a local affiliate of the IS. Security forces have been battling to contain the insurgency, which intensified after the military's 2013 ouster of Islamist president Mohamed Morsi. In February 2018, Egypt's security forces launched a nationwide operation against militants, focused on North Sinai. More than 800 suspected militants have been killed in the region along with almost 70 security personnel, according to the army. No independent figures are available as the region is largely closed off to the media.
2 May 08:04 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/Africa/News/egypt-says-killed-2-jihadists-day-after-deadly-blast-hits-army-20200502Rating: 2.83
Egypt: 2 Extremists Killed in North Sinai Raid
The Egyptian army killed two extremists Friday during a raid in North Sinai, military spokesman Tamer al-Rifai said. The suspects died in an exchange of fire in a farming area of the region, and arms, ammunition and walkie-talkies were seized, said Rifai. Egypt's army said Thursday that 10 soldiers, including an officer, were killed or wounded in an explosion that day targeting an armored vehicle near Bir al-Abed in North Sinai. Security experts told Asharq Al-Awsat that planting bombs is a sign of weakness. ISIS claimed responsibility for the attack, according to a statement posted by its propaganda unit, Amaq News Agency. Egypt's President Abdel Fattah al-Sisi extended his condolences to the victims on Twitter. He also praised the fallen soldiers as “heroes” and “martyrs.” The army and the people “will remain steadfast against the forces of evil,” Sisi said. North Sinai has been at the center of a long-running insurgency spearheaded by a local affiliate of the ISIS. In February 2018, Egypt's security forces launched a nationwide operation against militants, focused on North Sinai. Egyptians laid to rest the victims of Thursday’s attack. They chanted slogans against terrorism and extremist groups. The Egyptian government said in a statement that the people appreciate the role of the armed forces in protecting the nation and defending them. The parliament also said that “desperate” terrorist attacks will not be able to strike at the determination of the armed forces.
2 May 04:45 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2263466/egypt-2-extremists-killed-north-sinai-raidRating: 2.10
Explosion close to a prison leaves 3 dead in Laghman province of Afghanistan
An explosion took place close to a prison in eastern Laghman province of Afghanistan leaving at least three dead, the local officials said. Asadullah Dawlatzai, a spokesperson for the provincial government, said a bomb exploded close to a prison in Mehtarlam city earlier today. According to Dawlatzai, the explosives were placed in a bike which went off as the head of the prison was crossing the area. He also added that the explosion killed 3 civilians and wounded 4 others. No individual or group including Taliban has so far claimed responsibility for the incident. Laghman is among the relatively calm provinces in East of Afghanistan but the anti-government armed militants including Taliban are active in some of its remote districts where they often attempt to carry out terrorist related activities.
2 May 12:18 • The Khaama Press News Agency • https://www.khaama.com/explosion-close-to-a-prison-leaves-3-dead-in-laghman-province-of-afghanistan-04757/Rating: 1.51
ISIL attack kills Hashd al-Shaabi forces in Iraq
At least 10 members of the Hashd al-Shaabi forces have been killed in a coordinated attack carried out by the ISIL (ISIS) group in Iraq's Salahaddin province. According to Hashd and Iraqi state media early on Saturday, clashes erupted between the paramilitary unit, also known as the Popular Mobilisation Forces, and ISIL on several fronts in the town of Mekeeshfa and the city of Balad. "The Popular mobilisation forces and security forces have killed and wounded a number of ISIL fighters after being exposed to significant attacks on Balad and Mekeeshfah south of Tikrit," the Hashd said in a statement later on Saturday. "The Hashd also lost 10 members, while several others were wounded in clashes between the two sides," it said, adding that its forces had managed to push back ISIL after the arrival of air and land reinforcements in the area. According to the Hashd statement, nine members of the Tigris Regiment were killed in Mekeeshfah and two others were wounded, while one member of Brigade 41 was killed in Tal al-Dahab area. In a statement published by local media, Iraq's Prime Minister-designate Mustafa al-Kadhimi paid tribute to families of those who were killed. "It is with great sadness, we received news of the martyrdom of a group heroes from among the Hashd al-Shaabi who died defending their homeland in the face of ISIL attacks in the Mekeeshfah and Balad areas north of Baghdad." He also took the opportunity to call on Iraq's political factions to agree on a new government ahead of his looming 30-day deadline to form a new cabinet by May 9. "This attack reflects a desperate attempt to capitalise on the state of political rivalry which has impeded the formation of a new government that will work to protect and secure its citizens." Al-Kadhimi had announced on Wednesday that he sent his proposed government programme to Parliament in Baghdad, adding that names of candidates for various ministerial posts would be submitted soon. Reports circulated on Friday night of the list of nominees for the majority of the posts. After two other candidates failed to form a government since Adel Abdul Mahdi stepped down in December last year, Iraqi President Barham Salih tasked al-Kadhimi, the former head of Iraq's intelligence, with the job on April 9. The coordinated assault is believed to be one of the largest ISIL attacks since the armed group was defeated in December 2017. "This was a well organised attack, something of this scale hasn't been seen at all for two years," independent Iraqi analyst Sajad Jiyad told Al Jazeera. The Hashd al-Shaabi, founded as a loose network of Shia-majority factions, played a crucial role in defeating ISIL, which occupied a large swath of territory in Iraq and Syria between 2014 and 2017. ISIL attacks in Iraq have been on the rise since April compared with previous months this year. According to Jiyad, the attack's significance lay in its proximity to Baghdad, its involvement of a large number of ISIL fighters and the sophisticated nature of the attack which used "varied methods." "It's worrying for Iraq that so many of the Iraqi security forces including PMF fighters were killed. It is a reminder that Iraq needs constant counter terrorism efforts and support from the coalition in terms of surveillance and logistical or air support," said Jiyad. "If that will no longer be there, then the Iraqi government needs to find a way to replace this in kind through other partners or it needs to step up its own capabilities otherwise ISIL will continue with these attacks," he added. The US-led coalition forces in Iraq have withdrawn from several military bases across the country over the past months in line with a plan to consolidate forces in Baghdad and at Ain al-Assad in western Iraq. According to Zeidon al-Kinani, the attack pointed towards ISIL taking "advantage of the COVID-19 pandemic and curfew [in place], the long deadlock of forming a cabinet...and the increasing divisions within the PMF." Last week, four Iraqi militant groups affiliated with Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the highest Shia authority in Iraq, announced their withdrawal from the Iran-backed Popular Mobilization Units (PMU) in a move that signified a deepening divide within the group. According to Kinani, the threat of ISIL may continue. "The existing protest movement and their preparation to revolt again following the COVID-19 pandemic gives ISIL an opportunity as the government will be facing two fronts: the protesters in the capital and southern provinces and ISIL around the western and northern fronts," he told Al Jazeera.
2 May 09:38 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/isil-attack-kills-hashd-al-shaabi-forces-iraq-reports-200502021705978.htmlRating: 2.44
ISIS Kills 10 PMF Fighters in Coordinated Attack in Iraq
ISIS militants killed at least 10 Iraqi militiamen in a coordinated assault overnight near the central city of Samarra, security officials said Saturday, adding to concerns the extremist group that once controlled large areas of the country is staging a comeback. The military and the Popular Mobilization Forces, an umbrella group of mostly Shiite militias allied with the government, confirmed the attack in separate statements. It was the deadliest of a series of attacks in recent weeks that come as authorities are grappling with a worsening economic crisis and trying to contain a coronavirus outbreak. Iraq declared victory over ISIS in December 2017 after a costly three-year campaign. At its height, the group controlled around a third of Iraq and neighboring Syria. In recent months, remnants of ISIS have exploited security gaps resulting from a territorial dispute between Iraq's central government and the autonomous Kurdish region in the north, as well as the withdrawal of US forces in a planned drawdown. Last week a suicide bomber targeted an intelligence office in the northern city of Kirkuk, wounding at least three security forces in the first such attack in months. The PMF said six of its fighters were killed by direct fire late Friday in the village of Mekeeshfa, south of Tikrit. Another three fighters were killed by a roadside bomb as reinforcements were called in. A 10th militiaman was shot dead in the nearby village of Tal al-Dahab. The coordinated attack occurred around 60 miles (95 kilometers) north of the capital, Baghdad.
2 May 13:30 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2264156/isis-kills-10-pmf-fighters-coordinated-attack-iraqRating: 2.10
Islamic State attack kills 10 Iraqi fighters north of Baghdad
Ten Iraqi paramilitaries were killed in Islamic State group attacks north of Baghdad overnight, security forces said Saturday, the deadliest operation by jihadist sleeper cells in months. Iraq declared IS defeated in late 2017 but remnants of the group still wage hit-and-run attacks on security forces in remote areas of the north and west. Early Saturday, the jihadists attacked fighters of Iraq’s Hashed al-Shaabi paramilitary force stationed outside a town about 180 kilometres (110 miles) north of Baghdad, according to a statement by Iraq’s security forces. “Six fighters were killed. As another unit was dispatched to reinforce them, an explosive device detonated on that convoy and killed three fighters,” the statement said. A 10th fighter was killed in a separate IS attack on nearby unit from the Hashed, a network of armed groups incorporated into the regular army chain of command. A security source in Salahaddin province, where the attack took place, told AFP that the first IS ambush took place just before midnight. “All the Iraqi security forces manning the checkpoint were killed. F16 planes are flying overhead to search for the IS fighters,” the source said. The attack was IS’s deadliest in several months and appeared to cap a period of more numerous and aggressive operations. Last week, the jihadists claimed a suicide attack that wounded four outside an intelligence headquarters in the northern province of Kirkuk. “The group’s attacks have seemingly grown bolder over the past month or so, as it’s increasingly launched direct assaults on Iraqi security forces and carried out some daytime attacks,” Sam Heller, an independent analyst focused on IS and Iraq, told AFP. “Last night’s attack, if it was in fact coordinated between several IS units, would mark a new escalation by the group,” he added. IS overran around a third of Iraq in 2014, triggering the creation of both a US-led coalition to defeat the jihadists and the Hashed, comprised mostly of Shiite units with ties to Iran -- Iraq’s neighbour but a foe to Washington. The two forces are at odds in Iraq, as the US blames hardline Hashed factions for deadly rocket attacks on its troops while the Hashed and allied politicians have demanded US troops leave the country. In recent months, the coalition has pulled back from five bases where it had been deployed to help track down IS sleeper cells, saying the Iraqi military could largely finish the fight on their own. The coalition is still backing Iraqi troops with air strikes, intelligence and surveillance.
2 May 11:47 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/is-attack-kills-10-iraqi-fighters-north-of-baghdad/story-udkzt5UHxlOlJ4EDAAuF2N.htmlRating: 0.30
Islamic State militants kill 12 militiamen in Iraq
Kindly Share This Story: Twelve members of a powerful Iran-backed militia were on Saturday killed in an attack by Islamic State militants South of the Iraqi city of Tikrit, a security official said. According to Police official from Salah el-Din province, Islamic State elements opened fire on a trailer in which Hash Shaabi militiamen had been preparing a pre-dawn meal before the start of fasting hours. The official said that the attack left all the 12 people inside the trailer dead. Meanwhile, they set the trailer on fire before fleeing the scene. However, a manhunt had been launched to arrest them. Iraq declared victory over Islamic State in December 2017, having retaken all the territory captured by the Sunni extremists in 2014 and 2015 with the help of a U.S-led alliance. However, some remnants of the extremist group remained in the country. vanguardngr.com Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 14:06 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/islamic-state-militants-kill-12-militiamen-in-iraq/Rating: 2.43
Libyan Armed Forces foil militias attack on 2 districts southern Tripoli, confiscate Turkish vehicles
CAIRO – 2 May 2020: The Libyan National Army (LNA) declared the confiscation of two Turkish Kirpi armored vehicles while foiling an attempt by the militias of the Government of National Accord (GNA) to enter Ain Zara district southern Tripoli on May 1. The LNA deterred a twin attack on Al Mashrou and Ain Zara districts by GNA militias causing material and human losses among them. In Al Mashrou district, the Libyan Armed Forces was able to restore the points lost to militias on April 30 after fierce clashes and the takeover of Matabat Street. The LNA announced withdrawing seven bodies that belong to Syrian mercenaries after the militias had fled the battle field in the Mashrou District. The Libyan Armed Forces also burned a vehicle and restored three others from the militias. On April 27, the General Commander of the Libyan Armed Forces Khalifa Haftar declared fulfilling the Libyan people's demand to rule the country and cancel Skhirat Agreement signed on December 17, 2015 to achieve reconciliation and hold elections. Speaker of the Libyan Parliament Aguila Saleh announced earlier this week the cancelation of a political initiative consisting of eight points on restructuring the current executive authority. That initiative was derived from Skhirat Agreement, and was aimed at selecting new members of the executive authority, rewriting the constitution, and the operation of the current House of Representatives until new legislative elections take place. The Libyan House of Representatives, elected in August 2014, currently convenes in Tobruk which also houses an interim government that rules Libyan territories except for Tripoli and Misrata, which are controlled by the GNA. Yet, the general command of the Libyan Armed Forces is based in Benghazi eastern Libya. The GNA, which lost Sirte to the LNA in January 2020, is an interim non-elected government that is recognized by the United Nations. The GNA is protected by militias, and signed in December 2019 two MoUs with Turkey on defense and gas drilling in the Mediterranean. As a consequence, Turkey transported more than 6,000 Syrian mercenaries into Libya, and sent Turkish officers and military experts to command the operations rooms of Tripoli militias. Furthermore, Turkey has been using Tripoli's Mitiga airbase to pilot drones that target LNA concentrations and forces that encircle the capital and Misrata. Spokesperson of the LNA Ahmed al-Mesmary declared in April that the militias attempt to enter Al Watiyah district western Tripoli in order to take over its base to pilot Turkish drones as the Libyan Armed Forces are deployed near Mitiga airbase and can recover it soon.
2 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/2/85319/Libyan-Armed-Forces-foil-militias-attack-on-2-districts-southernRating: 0.67
Three Civilians Killed in Bomb Blast Near Prison in Afghanistan's East - Governor’s Office
KABUL (Sputnik) - Three civilians were killed and four others sustained injuries after a motorcycle bomb went off near a prison in Afghanistan’s eastern province of Laghman on Saturday, the governor’s spokesman said. Locals revealed that the explosion took place at 11 a.m. local time (06:30 GMT). No militant group has claimed responsibility for the blast yet. Earlier this week, four Afghan policemen were killed and five others were injured as Taliban militants carried out an attack on a security checkpoint in the Nachin area of the country's central province of Oruzgan.
2 May 09:04 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/asia/202005021079169799-three-civilians-killed-in-bomb-blast-near-prison-in-afghanistans-east---governors-office/Rating: 3.96
Watch: Front-line footage of Iraqi forces engaging ISIS terrorists
BEIRUT, LEBANON (10:20 A.M.) – On Saturday morning, a video clip showed members of the Popular Mobilization Forces in Iraq tracking down ISIS terrorists in the Salaheddine Governorate. In the video filmed by a member of the PMF, dozens of their fighters appear at dawn in the Samarra district of Salaheddine Governorate as they attack and pursue the ISIS terrorists who launched a large-scale attack against their forces from four axes last night. The Popular Mobilization Forces said in a press statement last night that “strong confrontations waged by the PMF forces against ISIS gangs in the Balad and Machishafa regions in southern Tikrit within the sector of Salaheddine operations.” They said that theirforces “killed and wounded a number of ISIS during the repulsion of the attack, and a process is now underway to surround the areas of exposure to track the criminal ISIS gangs after the arrival of air and ground reinforcements to secure the exposure areas.” They added that “the primary outcome is the killing of 10 Hashd (PMF) fighters and the wounding of others, and they have been evacuated to the Hashd medical field hospitals for treatment.”
2 May 07:52 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/watch-front-line-footage-of-iraqi-forces-engaging-isis-terrorists/Rating: 0.63
Pompeo says 'significant' evidence that new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
3 May 23:12
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Pompeo says 'significant' evidence that new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it was not man-made. “There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week,” referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States. Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued last Thursday by the top U.S. spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory. “The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying: “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reasonto believe that they’ve got it wrong.” The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on Pompeo’s comments. China’s Global Times, run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, said in an editorial responding to Pompeo’s Sunday interview that he did not have any evidence the virus came from the lab in Wuhan and that he was “bluffing,” calling on the United States to present the evidence. “The Trump administration continues to engage in unprecedented propaganda warfare while trying to impede global efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” the editorial said. Thursday’s report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with “the wide scientific consensus” that the disease was not man-made. U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped. Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with wildlife at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards. Pompeo said on Thursday it was not known whether the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a meat market, or somewhere else. Trump said the same day that he was confident it may have originated in a Chinese virology lab, but he declined to describe the evidence.
3 May 23:12 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-pompeo-idUSKBN22F0SCRating: 4.04
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' virus came from Wuhan lab
WASHINGTON (AFP) - US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC s "This Week." But while highly critical of China s handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China s role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable." News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we ll hold those responsible accountable."
3 May 20:13 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/543882-Pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-Wuhan-labRating: 1.71
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' coronavirus came from Wuhan lab
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday (May 3) that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week." But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China's role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable." News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement on Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 23:50 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-coronavirus-wuhan-lab-12698348Rating: 3.25
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' virus came from Wuhan lab
Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week." But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China's role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable." News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." Read MoreIran warns of nuclear deal 'death' if arms embargo extended A top Iranian official on Sunday warned that a nuclear deal the US withdrew unilaterally from would "die forever" if an arms embargo on Tehran is extended. Read MoreShots fired from NKorea believed to be 'accidental': Pompeo US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said shots fired Sunday from North Korea towards the South in the DMZ that divides the peninsula were believed to have been "accidental." Read More'Once Upon a Virus': China mocks U.S. coronavirus response in Lego-like animation In an interview with Reuters, Trump said he believes China's handling of the coronavirus pandemic is proof that Beijing "will do anything they can" to make him lose his re-election bid in November.
3 May 17:59 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-Wuhan-labRating: 3.14
Pompeo says 'significant' evidence new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was "a significant amount of evidence" that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute US intelligence agencies' conclusion that it was not man-made. "There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan," Pompeo told ABC's "This Week," referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States. Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued this week by the top US spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory. "The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point," Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying, "I've seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they've got it wrong." The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on Pompeo's comments. Thursday's report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with "the wide scientific consensus" that the disease was not man-made. US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped. Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards.
3 May 23:16 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/04/pompeo-says-significant-evidence-new-coronavirus-emerged-from-chinese-labRating: 2.85
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' virus came from Wuhan lab
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week." But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China's role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable." News reports say Trump has tasked U.S. spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the U.S. intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." © 2020 AFP
3 May 21:03 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/pompeo-says-%27enormous-evidence%27-virus-came-from-wuhan-labRating: 2.09
There is ‘enormous evidence’ COVID-19 came from Wuhan lab ― US
Kindly Share This Story: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. “There is enormous evidence that this is where it began,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” But while highly critical of China’s handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China’s role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held “accountable.” News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred “with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But he went further than Trump, in citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories,” Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.” [AFP] Vanguard News Nigeria. Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 17:03 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/there-is-enormous-evidence-covid-19-came-from-wuhan-lab-%e2%80%95-us/Rating: 2.43
Coronavirus | Pompeo says ‘significant’ evidence virus emerged from Chinese lab
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that COVID-19 emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it was not man-made. “There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Mr. Pompeo said, referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States. Mr. Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued this week by the top U.S. spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory. “The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” Mr. Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies, Mr. Pompeo backtracked, saying, “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” The U.S. State Department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on Mr. Pompeo’s comments. Thursday’s report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with “the wide scientific consensus” that the disease was not man-made. U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped. Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with wildlife at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards. Mr. Pompeo on Thursday said it was not known whether the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a meat market, or somewhere else. Mr. Trump said the same day that he was confident it may have originated in a Chinese virology lab, but he declined to describe the evidence.
3 May 23:20 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-pompeo-says-significant-evidence-virus-emerged-from-chinese-lab/article31496773.ece?utm_source=taboolaRating: 0.30
Pompeo says 'significant' evidence new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
WASHINGTON DC: Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute US intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it was not man-made. “There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week,” referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States. Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued this week by the top US spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory. “The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of US intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying, “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” The US State Department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on Pompeo’s comments. Thursday’s report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with “the wide scientific consensus” that the disease was not man-made. US officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped. Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with animals at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards.
3 May 19:17 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213389/3-pompeo-says-significant-evidence-new-coronavirus-emerged-chinese-lab/Rating: 1.80
Pompeo says 'significant' evidence that new coronavirus emerged from Chinese lab
WASHINGTON — Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory, but did not dispute U.S. intelligence agencies’ conclusion that it was not man-made. “There is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week,” referring to the virus that emerged late last year in China and has killed about 240,000 people around the world, including more than 67,000 in the United States. Pompeo then briefly contradicted a statement issued last Thursday by the top U.S. spy agency that said the virus did not appear to be man-made or genetically modified. That statement undercut conspiracy theories promoted by anti-China activists and some supporters of President Donald Trump who suggest it was developed in a Chinese government biological weapons laboratory. “The best experts so far seem to think it was man-made. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” Pompeo said. When the interviewer pointed out that was not the conclusion of U.S. intelligence agencies, Pompeo backtracked, saying: “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” The State Department did not immediately respond to a request for clarification on Pompeo’s comments. China’s Global Times, run by the ruling Communist Party’s official People’s Daily, said in an editorial responding to Pompeo’s Sunday interview that he did not have any evidence the virus came from the lab in Wuhan and that he was “bluffing,” calling on the United States to present the evidence. “The Trump administration continues to engage in unprecedented propaganda warfare while trying to impede global efforts in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic,” the editorial said. Thursday’s report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said it concurred with “the wide scientific consensus” that the disease was not man-made. U.S. officials familiar with intelligence reporting and analysis have said for weeks that they do not believe Chinese scientists developed the coronavirus in a government biological weapons lab from which it then escaped. Rather, they have said they believe it was either introduced through human contact with wildlife at a meat market in the central city of Wuhan, or could have escaped from one of two Wuhan government laboratories believed to be conducting civilian research into possible biological hazards. Pompeo said on Thursday it was not known whether the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, a meat market, or somewhere else. Trump said the same day that he was confident it may have originated in a Chinese virology lab, but he declined to describe the evidence. (Reporting by Daphne Psaledakis; Additional reporting by David Brunnstrom; Editing by Scott Malone, Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney)
3 May 23:12 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/environment-pmn/pompeo-says-significant-evidence-that-new-coronavirus-emerged-from-chinese-labRating: 1.59
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says there is "enormous evidence" that the new coronavirus originated in a lab in Wuhan, China
1 / 3US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says there is "enormous evidence" that the new coronavirus originated in a lab in Wuhan, China (AFP Photo/Andrew Harnik) Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday stepped up a US campaign to hold China accountable for the spread of the deadly coronavirus, asserting there is "enormous evidence" the virus originated in a laboratory in the city of Wuhan. The high-security bio-containment facility, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has called such claims "impossible". Pompeo, speaking on ABC's "This Week," did not elaborate on what he also described as "significant amounts of evidence". But Pompeo's words clearly sought to buttress repeated criticism from Donald Trump about China's role in the pandemic. The US president has said that by playing down the gravity of the virus early this year and failing to fully cooperate with international investigators, Beijing put lives at risk around the world. Pompeo's comments came as an Australian newspaper, The Saturday Telegraph, reported that China had deliberately suppressed or destroyed evidence about the outbreak in an "assault on international transparency" that cost tens of thousands of lives. The report cited what it said was a 15-page dossier on the COVID-19 contagion prepared by the so-called Five Eyes intelligence agencies of the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Pompeo, a former director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, made no mention of the Five Eyes report, but said that "there is enormous evidence that this (Wuhan) is where it began." Last week, Pompeo indicated he had not seen definitive proof. "We don't know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of virology," he said at the time. While highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined on Sunday to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. The pandemic has so far infected more than 3.4 million people and killed more than 243,000 around the world, while also fuelling conspiracy theories about its origin. - 'Not man-made' - News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats. Pompeo told ABC that he agreed with a US intelligence community statement Thursday that backed "the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in the Wuhan lab. "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said, adding early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." In its Thursday statement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that the intel community will continue to study "whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan." The Saturday Telegraph report said the Australian government believed the virus probably originated in a so-called wet market, but that there was a five percent chance it accidentally leaked from the Wuhan lab. Some Democrats have said Trump is trying to shift blame to avoid responsibility for a slow response to the pandemic that has resulted in the US having by far the largest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. "Not wanting to take responsibility as the deaths continue to mount, he blames others," Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said in a statement. - Growing calls for transparency - Trump has also been sharply critical of the World Health Organization's response to the pandemic and is suspending US financial support, saying it moved too slowly to alert the world to the gravity of the disease and was insufficiently skeptical of China's involvement. The WHO has said it wants to be invited to take part in Chinese investigations into the animal origins of the pandemic. Several countries, including Australia, Britain, Germany and France, have joined in US calls for China to be more transparent about the coronavirus outbreak. The United States now has more than 1,134,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 66,000 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. China now has nearly 84,000 cases and more than 4,600 deaths. After moving aggressively to lock down the region and contain the virus, Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei lifted restrictions on movements in late March and early April.
3 May 17:45 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-wuhan-lab-143808685.htmlRating: 0.30
There is ‘enormous evidence’ that coronavirus came from Chinese lab: Pompeo
There is “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus came from a laboratory in the Chinese city of Wuhan, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said in an interview with ABC’s “This Week” on Sunday. Despite his criticism of China’s response to the outbreak, Pompeo did not say directly if he thought that the virus had been released on purpose, AFP reported. This comes after the US national intelligence director’s office said earlier this week that they agreed with the scientific consensus that the coronavirus was not genetically modified. They added, however, that they would continue their investigation into how the outbreak started. US President Donald Trump has repeatedly suggested that COVID-19 could have been released from a Wuhan laboratory. China rejected the allegation, with a top Wuhan laboratory official denying any role in spreading the deadly infection. As of 3 May, the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases globally has exceeded 3,349,786, with 238,628 deaths, according to the World Health Organisation. Source: Sputnik
3 May 18:55 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/there-is-enormous-evidence-that-coronavirus-came-from-chinese-lab-pompeo/Rating: 0.63
Trump's Secretary of State claims there's 'enormous evidence' that coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab
US SECRETARY OF State Mike Pompeo said today that there was “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. “There is enormous evidence that this is where it began,” he said on ABC’s This Week. But while highly critical of China’s handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China’s role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held “accountable”. News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement on Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred “with the wide scientific consensus that the Covid-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But he went further than Trump, in citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories,” Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.” - © AFP 2020 #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
3 May 15:18 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/pompeo-wuhan-evidence-5090835-May2020/Rating: 1.13
There’s “enormous evidence” that coronavirus came from Wuhan Lab – Mike Pompeo (Video)
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there’s “enormous evidence” to support the theory that the coronavirus originated in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, not a nearby wildlife market. On Sunday, May 3, 2020 when Mike Pompeo appeared on ABC’s “This Week” where he declined to comment on whether the virus was released intentionally from the lab. He further denounced China’s “classic Communist disinformation effort” to distort information on the spread of the virus in its early days. As for escalating tensions between Washington and Beijing, after US President Donald Trump said China would be held “accountable,” Pompeo reiterated his message, vowing to “hold those responsible accountable.” However, the Secretary of State agreed with a US intelligence community statement released Thursday that stipulated “the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” Watch the video below. Follow us on Facebook – @Lailasnews; Twitter – @LailaIjeoma for updates
3 May 17:03 • LailasNews.com • https://lailasnews.com/theres-enormous-evidence-that-coronavirus-came-from-wuhan-lab-mike-pompeo-video/Rating: 1.27
Pompeo says ‘enormous evidence’ virus came from Wuhan lab
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. “There is enormous evidence that this is where it began,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” But while highly critical of China’s handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China’s role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held “accountable.” News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred “with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But he went further than Trump, in citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories,” Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.”
3 May 14:52 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-lab/Rating: 0.30
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' virus came from Wuhan lab
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week." But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China's role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world. He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable." News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby. Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." bbk/jm https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 14:48 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-lab/dgmr2kkRating: 0.51
Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' coronavirus originated in Wuhan lab
"There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," the US secretary of state said on ABC's "This Week." "These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo added, pointing at China's "history of running substandard laboratories." Though highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump also claimed he had seen evidence that the virus originated in a Chinese lab, ratcheting up tensions with Beijing over the origins of the deadly outbreak. "Yes, yes I have," Trump said when asked if he had seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. The US president declined to give specifics, adding: "I can't tell you that. I'm not allowed to tell you that." The Chinese state-backed Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations, and other US officials have downplayed their likelihood. Most experts believe the virus originated in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan and jumped from animals to people. Pompeo himself had appeared to cast doubt on Trump's claims, stating on Thursday that it was not known whether the virus came from the lab. "We don’t know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. We don’t know if it emanated from the wet market or yet some other place. We don’t know those answers," Pompeo said in an interview with Newsradio 1040. The spread of the coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19, has contributed to a deepening rift between the Trump administration and China. Beijing has suggested the US military might have brought the virus to China and Trump has said China failed to alert the world to the risks in a timely and transparent fashion. Trump also said on Thursday it was possible that China either could not stop the spread of the coronavirus or allowed it to spread. (FRANCE 24 with AFP, REUTERS)
3 May 15:00 • France 24 • https://www.france24.com/en/20200503-pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-coronavirus-originated-in-wuhan-labRating: 2.48
Pompeo: 'Enormous evidence' coronavirus came from Chinese lab - Foreign Affairs
The novel coronavirus pandemic which has led to outbreaks across the globe likely originated at a laboratory in Wuhan, China, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday. In an interview with ABC, Pompeo said there was “enormous evidence” backing claims that the COVID-19 virus, which has infected more than 3.45 million people worldwide and killed nearly a quarter of a million people since the outbreaks began in 2020, spread from a Chinese laboratory. "There's enormous evidence that that's where this began. We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset. But I think the whole world can see now.” But the Secretary of State declined to weigh on whether the virus had been intentionally released, noting instead that China has a poor record for safety precautions in labs such as the one operated in Wuhan. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren't the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab.” Pompeo’s claim challenges China’s narrative of the virus’ origin, which Beijing claims lies in the west end of the wet market in Wuhan, where a variety of wild animals are sold for food. Critics of China’s claims regarding the virus’ origins noted that the type of bat which carried the novel coronavirus live roughly 1,000 miles southwest of Wuhan. That led some to suspect that the virus originated not in the wet market, but rather in either the Wuhan Center for Disease Control and Prevention, or the Wuhan Institute of Virology, with the former laboratory just several hundred yards from the wet market. On Saturday, details of a 15-page intelligence report drawn up jointly by American, British, Australian, Canadian, and New Zealand intel agencies were released, including claims the Chinese government had actively worked to hide the extent of the coronavirus pandemic in December and Januarry. Last week, it was reported that US President Donald Trump was assessing different retaliatory measures against China in wake of its alleged mishandling of the COVID-19 pandemic and that sources familiar with the situation were of the opinion that the President had become increasingly convinced that the socialist state was to blame for a misinformation campaign and that a political and economic break with China were in order.
3 May 17:42 • Israel National News • http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279599Rating: 0.83
Pompeo says ‘enormous evidence’ shows coronavirus began in Wuhan lab
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said “enormous evidence” exists indicating the coronavirus pandemic began in a lab in Wuhan, China and that the ruling Communist Party did everything it could to keep the outbreak under wraps. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began. We’ve said from the beginning that this was a virus that originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset. But I think the whole world can see now,” he said on ABC News’ “This Week” on Sunday. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories. These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.” After the first cases were reported in Wuhan in December, Pompeo said Beijing began a “disinformation” campaign that “created enormous risk” around the world. “China behaved like authoritarian regimes do, attempted to conceal and hide and confuse. It employed the World Health Organization as a tool to do the same. These are the kind of things that have now presented this enormous crisis, an enormous loss of life and tremendous economic cost, all across the globe,” Pompeo said. There are now nearly 3.5 million cases around the world and more than 245,000 people have died from COVID-19. Asked by host Martha Raddatz if he believed the virus was man-made or genetically modified, Pompeo cited “experts” saying it was man-made. But Raddatz pointed out that the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said the scientific consensus is that COVID-19 was not man-made or genetically modified. “That’s right. I agree with that. Yeah. I’ve seen their analysis. I’ve seen the summary that you saw that was released publicly. I have no reason to doubt that that is accurate,” he said. Pompeo said it still hasn’t been determined whether China intentionally released the virus or it was a lab accident. “I think there’s a lot to know. But I can say this. We’ve done our best to try and answer all of those questions. We tried to get a team in there. The World Health Organization tried to get a team in there. And they have failed. No one’s been allowed to go to this lab or any of the other laboratories — there are many labs inside of China,” he said. “This risk remains.”
3 May 18:35 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/pompeo-enormous-evidence-shows-coronavirus-began-in-wuhan-lab/Rating: 2.55
Pompeo steps up US pressure on China over pandemic handling
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday stepped up a US campaign to hold China accountable for the spread of the deadly coronavirus, asserting there is "enormous evidence" the virus originated in a laboratory in the city of Wuhan. The high-security bio-containment facility, the Wuhan Institute of Virology, has called such claims "impossible". Pompeo, speaking on ABC's "This Week," did not elaborate on what he also described as "significant amounts of evidence". But Pompeo's words clearly sought to buttress repeated criticism from Donald Trump about China's role in the pandemic. The US president has said that by playing down the gravity of the virus early this year and failing to fully cooperate with international investigators, Beijing put lives at risk around the world. Pompeo's comments came as an Australian newspaper, The Saturday Telegraph, reported that China had deliberately suppressed or destroyed evidence about the outbreak in an "assault on international transparency" that cost tens of thousands of lives. The report cited what it said was a 15-page dossier on the COVID-19 contagion prepared by the so-called Five Eyes intelligence agencies of the United States, Australia, Britain, Canada and New Zealand. Pompeo, a former director of the US Central Intelligence Agency, made no mention of the Five Eyes report, but said that "there is enormous evidence that this (Wuhan) is where it began." Last week, Pompeo indicated he had not seen definitive proof. "We don't know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of virology," he said at the time. While highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined on Sunday to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. The pandemic has so far infected more than 3.4 million people and killed more than 243,000 around the world, while also fuelling conspiracy theories about its origin. - 'Not man-made' - News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats. Pompeo told ABC that he agreed with a US intelligence community statement Thursday that backed "the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in the Wuhan lab. "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said, adding early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." In its Thursday statement, the Office of the Director of National Intelligence said that the intel community will continue to study "whether the outbreak began through contact with infected animals or if it was the result of an accident at a laboratory in Wuhan." The Saturday Telegraph report said the Australian government believed the virus probably originated in a so-called wet market, but that there was a five percent chance it accidentally leaked from the Wuhan lab. Some Democrats have said Trump is trying to shift blame to avoid responsibility for a slow response to the pandemic that has resulted in the US having by far the largest numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths. "Not wanting to take responsibility as the deaths continue to mount, he blames others," Senator Patrick Leahy of Vermont said in a statement. - Growing calls for transparency - Trump has also been sharply critical of the World Health Organization's response to the pandemic and is suspending US financial support, saying it moved too slowly to alert the world to the gravity of the disease and was insufficiently skeptical of China's involvement. The WHO has said it wants to be invited to take part in Chinese investigations into the animal origins of the pandemic. Several countries, including Australia, Britain, Germany and France, have joined in US calls for China to be more transparent about the coronavirus outbreak. The United States now has more than 1,134,000 COVID-19 cases and more than 66,000 deaths, according to a tally kept by Johns Hopkins University in Maryland. China now has nearly 84,000 cases and more than 4,600 deaths. After moving aggressively to lock down the region and contain the virus, Wuhan and the surrounding province of Hubei lifted restrictions on movements in late March and early April.
3 May 14:40 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-lab/article/571134Rating: 0.78
Philippines rejects all international flights amid virus outbreak
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China."There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week."But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released.President Donald Trump has been increasingly critical of China's role in the pandemic, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 around the world.He has insisted that Beijing recklessly concealed important information about the outbreak and demanded that Beijing be held "accountable."News reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, at first blamed on a Wuhan market selling exotic animals like bats, but now thought possibly to be from a virus research laboratory nearby.Pompeo, a former director of the Central Intelligence Agency, told ABC that he agreed with a statement Thursday from the US intelligence community in which it concurred "with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified."But he went further than Trump, in citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan laboratory."I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," Pompeo said. He added that the US and the World Health Organization (WHO) tried to get access to the lab in Wuhan where coronavirus may have originated but that they were denied access. “We tried to get a team in there. The World Health Organization tried to get a team in there. And they have failed. No one has been allowed to go to this lab or any of the other laboratories.” He said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.""President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable."
3 May 14:03 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1669016/worldRating: 1.72
COVID-19: Pompeo says 'enormous evidence' virus came from Wuhan lab
Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was "enormous evidence" that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. "There is enormous evidence that this is where it began," he said on ABC's "This Week." But while highly critical of China's handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released. US President Donald Trump said on Thursday did not mince words at a White House event on Thursday, when asked if he had seen evidence that gave him a “high degree of confidence” the virus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. “Yes, yes I have,” he said, declining to give specifics. “I can’t tell you that. I’m not allowed to tell you that.” The Chinese state-backed Wuhan Institute of Virology has dismissed the allegations, and other US officials have downplayed their likelihood. Most experts believe the virus originated in a market selling wildlife in Wuhan and jumped from animals to people. Trump said previously his administration was trying to determine whether the coronavirus emanated from the Wuhan lab, following media reports it may have been artificially synthesized at a China state-backed laboratory or perhaps escaped from such a facility.
3 May 14:09 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/covid-19-pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-virus-came-from-wuhan-lab-1.1588515442738Rating: 3.21
Pompeo: ‘Enormous Evidence’ Linking Wuhan Lab To Covid Outbreak
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there is “enormous evidence” to support the controversial theory COVID-19 originated in Wuhan laboratory, another indication the Trump administration is rallying around the claim despite assertions from scientists and health officials that the virus originated in wildlife. The unsubstantiated claim that the virus spread from a lab in Wuhan, China, has emerged as a powerful political weapon as the Trump administration turns to deflecting attention away from claims the White House faltered in its handling of the outbreak and casting blame onto China. “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo said Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” though there has so far been no public evidence to support such a theory. “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. Last week, the New York Times reported that senior Trump administration officials, led by Pompeo, have pushed U.S. spy agencies to dig up evidence supporting the lab theory even though most intelligence agencies remain skeptical of the lab claim. Pompeo’s comments come days after President Trump also claimed, without showing proof, to have seen evidence the lab was the origin of the virus. Still, Pompeo noted that he agreed with the report from the Office of the Director of National Intelligence stating the virus was not genetically modified or man-made: “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said,” Pompeo said of the statement. “I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” The idea of a lab-leaked virus bubbled up in February among conservative media — including Fox News — and right-wing lawmakers, including Sen. Tom Cotton, R-Ark., who has been one of the most vocal proponents of the theory. But the claim the virus originated in a lab has gained new life in recent weeks with reports that officials inside the government were investigating the claim. Trump gave credence to the theory when he, without citing evidence, said April 18 during a White House briefing that the U.S. government was looking into the claim and that it made “sense.” The director of the Wuhan lab in question, Yuan Zhiming, denied the allegation in an interview with the state-run China Global Television Network on April 18. Scientists say that all seven known human coronaviruses originated in bats, mice or domestic animals. Report: Trump Officials Pressured Spy Agencies To Link Covid Outbreak To Wuhan Lab (Forbes) Pompeo Says ‘Enormous Evidence’ Links Virus to Wuhan Laboratory (Bloomberg) Trump Claims To Have Seen Evidence Linking Coronavirus To Wuhan Lab After Intelligence Chief Says Virus Not Manmade (Forbes) The Controversial Rumor COVID-19 Originated In A Wuhan Lab Creeps Into The GOP Mainstream (Forbes) Trump Officials Are Said to Press Spies to Link Virus and Wuhan Labs (New York TimesNYT ) Republicans See Attacking China As A Winning Strategy (Forbes) A Virologist Explains Why It Is Unlikely COVID-19 Escaped From A Lab (Forbes) No, COVID-19 Coronavirus Was Not Bioengineered. Here’s The Research That Debunks That Idea (Forbes) Coronavirus and the Laboratories in Wuhan (Wall Street Journal) Chinese lab conducted extensive research on deadly bat viruses, but there is no evidence of accidental release (Washington Post)
3 May 00:00 • Forbes • https://www.forbes.com/sites/jackbrewster/2020/05/03/pompeo-enormous-evidence-linking-wuhan-lab-to-covid-outbreak/Rating: 4.41
Israel's Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu's fate as prime minister
3 May 17:01
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Israel's Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu's fate as prime minister
JERUSALEM (Reuters) - Israel’s Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment on criminal charges disqualifies him from forming a new government. A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won. In power for more than a decade and currently head of a caretaker government, right-wing Netanyahu will serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Gantz, according to the unity deal. The pact has support from a majority in parliament. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned Israel’s highest court to nullify the deal and bar Netanyahu from leading the government, citing the criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote to the court saying that there was no sufficient legal ground to disqualify Netanyahu. He described the case as a “head-on collision” between “on one side the most basic democratic principle of honouring the will of the majority ... (and) on the other integrity in public service, specifically among elected officials.” Eleven justices, wearing face masks and separated by screens as coronavirus precautions, presided over the discussion. A small group outside the court, also following social distancing guidelines, carried signs and Israeli flags to protest against government corruption. Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and says he is a victim of a political witch-hunt. Netanyahu’s trial is due to start on May 24. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. But legal some experts say there are legal precedents suggesting elected officials indicted with charges that carry moral turpitude should resign.
3 May 17:01 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-israel-politics-netanyahu-idUSKBN22F084Rating: 4.04
Israel's Supreme Court discusses fate of Netanyahu-Gantz unity government
Israel's Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been indicted for corruption, will be allowed to form a new government. A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election - the fourth since April 2019 - as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity government, after three elections that neither of them won. Under the agreement, they would take turns leading Israel. Right-wing Netanyahu - who has been in power for more than a decade - would serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Gantz. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned the country's highest court to nullify the deal and bar Netanyahu from leading the government, citing the criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said there was no sufficient legal ground to disqualify Netanyahu. Some Israeli analysts have said the Supreme Court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Israel's longest-serving prime minister was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and claims to be the victim of a political witch-hunt. Netanyahu's trial is due to start on May 24. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obliged to step down until a final conviction. He is accused of wrongfully accepting $264,000 worth of gifts from businessmen, and of offering regulatory favours in exchange for positive news coverage. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison on bribery charges and a maximum three-year term for fraud and breach of trust.
3 May 12:59 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/israels-supreme-court-discusses-fate-125927839.htmlRating: 0.30
Israel's Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu's fate as prime minister
JERUSALEM: Israel's Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on Sunday (May 3) to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been indicted for corruption, will be allowed to form a new government. A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won. In power for more than a decade and currently head of a caretaker government, right-wing Netanyahu will serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Gantz, according to the unity deal. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned the country's highest court to nullify the deal and bar Netanyahu from leading the government, citing the criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel's Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit said there was no sufficient legal ground to disqualify Netanyahu. Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Netanyahu, Israel's longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and has said that he is a victim of a political witch-hunt. Netanyahu's trial is due to start on May 24. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting US$264,000 worth of gifts from businessmen, which prosecutors said included cigars and champagne, and of promoting regulatory favours in alleged bids for improved coverage by a popular news website and Israel's best-selling newspaper. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison on bribery charges and a maximum three-year term for fraud and breach of trust.
3 May 16:22 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/israel-supreme-court-fate-netanyahu-prime-minister-12697944Rating: 3.25
Israel’s Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu’s fate as prime minister
JERUSALEM, May 3 — Israel’s Supreme Court began a two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s indictment on criminal charges disqualifies him from forming a new government. A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won. In power for more than a decade and currently head of a caretaker government, right-wing Netanyahu will serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Gantz, according to the unity deal. The pact has support from a majority in parliament. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned Israel’s highest court to nullify the deal and bar Netanyahu from leading the government, citing the criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel’s Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit wrote to the court saying that there was no sufficient legal ground to disqualify Netanyahu. He described the case as a “head-on collision” between “on one side the most basic democratic principle of honouring the will of the majority ... (and) on the other integrity in public service, specifically among elected officials.” Eleven justices, wearing face masks and separated by screens as coronavirus precautions, presided over the discussion. A small group outside the court, also following social distancing guidelines, carried signs and Israeli flags to protest against government corruption. Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and says he is a victim of a political witch-hunt. Netanyahu’s trial is due to start on May 24. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. But legal some experts say there are legal precedents suggesting elected officials indicted with charges that carry moral turpitude should resign. — Reuters
3 May 13:50 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/israels-supreme-court-discusses-netanyahus-fate-as-prime-minister/1862692Rating: 1.42
Israel’s Supreme Court discusses Netanyahu’s fate as Prime Minister
Israel’s Supreme Court began two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether Prime Ministe Benjamin Netanyahu, who has been indicted for corruption, wil be allowed to form a new government. A ruling against Netanyahu would likely trigger a sna election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapple with the coronavirus crisis and its economic fallout. Netanyahu and his main rival Benny Gantz signed an agreement last month to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won. In power for more than a decade and currently head of caretaker government, right-wing Netanyahu will serve as prime minister of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Gantz, according to the unity deal. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned the country’s highest court to nullify the deal and bar Netanyahu from leading the government, citing the criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel’s Attorney Genera Avichai Mandelblit said there was no sufficient legal ground to disqualify Netanyahu. Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyah loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach o trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and has said that he is a victim of a political witch-hunt. Netanyahu’s trial is due to start on May 24. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. Netanyahu is suspected of wrongfully accepting $264,00 worth of gifts from businessmen, which prosecutors said include cigars and champagne, and of promoting regulatory favours and alleged bids for improved coverage by a popular news website an Israel’s best-selling newspaper. If convicted, he could face up to 10 years in prison o bribery charges and a maximum three-year term for fraud an breach of trust.
3 May 09:28 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/world/israels-supreme-court-discusses-netanyahus-fate-as-prime-minister-6391723/Rating: 0.30
Top Israeli court hears challenge to Netanyahu forming government
Benjamin Netanyahu could be barred from forming a government after Israel’s high court began assessing petitions that seek to obstruct the prime minister because he is under criminal indictment. Sunday’s hearing threatens to end the political career of the country’s longest-serving leader. It could also return Israel to political crisis just two weeks after it appeared the year-long stalemate had finally been resolved. On 20 April, Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, agreed to form a unity government. The deal, which envisions Netanyahu remaining in power for the first 18 months, after which Gantz would assume the role of prime minister for the next 18 months, follows three elections with no clear result. However, eight petitions filed by advocacy groups and opposition figures say that as a caretaker leader, Netanyahu is not protected by an Israeli law under which prime ministers are not legally obliged to step down if charged with a crime. “This is part of the difficult problem in Israel today. Corruption has become acceptable,” Eliad Shraga, the founder of the non-profit Movement for Quality Government in Israel, said in court. It would be a significant and controversial step for the courts to intervene after such a critical political agreement, especially one that was in part achieved because of the added urgency caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The virus has infected about 16,000 Israelis, killed 230, and devastated the economy. Shimi Brown, a lawyer representing Gantz’s Blue and White alliance, told the judges on Sunday it would be “improper and extremely unreasonable” for the court to rule in favour of the petitioners after such a deal was reached. In an opinion submitted to the court last week, Israel’s attorney general, Avichai Mandelblit, said that while Netanyahu’s indictments raised “major difficulties”, there was no legal basis for barring him from forming a government. In January, the high court also declined to rule on whether Netanyahu could form a government under indictment, essentially deferring the decision to the electorate in March’s election. However, that vote was inconclusive, leaving the question open. Netanyahu and his allies have accused the court of overreach. Interviewed on public radio on Saturday, the energy minister, Yuval Steinitz, said that if the court ruled Netanyahu cannot serve, it would amount to “an unprecedented attack on Israeli democracy”. On Sunday, Netanyahu’s lawyer, Michael Ravillo, told the court: “Can this composition of judges replace voters?” Meanwhile, pro-democracy protests have taken place, calling on the courts to hold the government to account. The weekly protests have been held under tight restrictions, with each protester standing two metres apart and wearing masks. A few dozen protesters gathered outside the prime minister’s residence in Jerusalem as the court convened on Sunday. The hearing was broadcast live, unusual for Israeli cases, because coronavirus restrictions meant few were allowed to attend. All 11 judges wore face masks, with clear plastic barriers separating them from each other. It is unclear when a decision will be announced. On Monday, the court will address separate petitions that question whether the Netanyahu-Gantz deal was itself legal, in part because it reduces the legally mandated four-year term to three. Netanyahu’s upcoming trial – in which he faces damning charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust – was meant to begin last month but was postponed until 24 May owing to concerns about the spread of the coronavirus in courthouses. The 70-year-old has denied any wrongdoing, describing the investigations as a “witch hunt”.
3 May 16:04 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/top-israeli-court-hears-challenge-to-netanyahu-forming-governmentRating: 5.39
Israel’s supreme court mulls Netanyahu’s fate as prime minister
Israel’s supreme court began a two-day hearing on Sunday to determine whether prime minister Binyamin Netanyahu’s indictment on criminal charges disqualifies him from forming a new government. A ruling against Mr Netanyahu would likely trigger a snap election, the fourth since April 2019, as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis and its economic impact. Mr Netanyahu and his main rival, Benny Gantz, signed an agreement last month to form a unity government under which they would take turns leading Israel after three elections that neither of them won. The right-wing Mr Netanyahu – in power for more than a decade and head of a caretaker government – will serve as PM of a new administration for 18 months before handing the reins to centrist Mr Gantz, according to the unity pact. The agreement has support from a majority in parliament. But several groups, including opposition parties and democracy watchdogs, have petitioned Israel’s highest court to nullify the deal and bar Mr Netanyahu from leading the government, citing criminal proceedings against him. Responding to the petition, Israel’s attorney general Avichai Mandelblit wrote to the court saying there was insufficient legal ground to disqualify Mr Netanyahu. He described the case as a “head-on collision” between “on one side the most basic democratic principle of honouring the will of the majority . . . [and] on the other integrity in public service, specifically among elected officials”. Eleven judges, wearing face masks and separated by screens as coronavirus precautions, presided over the discussion. A small group outside the court, also following physical-distancing guidelines, carried signs and Israeli flags to protest against government corruption. Some Israeli analysts have said the court, cast by Netanyahu loyalists as liberal and interventionist, was unlikely to bar the premier from heading a new government. A ruling is expected to be announced by Thursday. Mr Netanyahu, Israel’s longest-serving prime minister, was indicted in January on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. He denies any wrongdoing in all three cases against him and says he is a victim of a political witch-hunt. Mr Netanyahu’s trial is due to start on May 24th. Israeli law says a prime minister under indictment is not obligated to step down until a final conviction. But several legal experts say there are precedents suggesting elected officials indicted with charges that carry moral turpitude should resign. – Reuters Stay on top of the latest newsSIGN UP HERE
3 May 14:46 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/middle-east/israel-s-supreme-court-mulls-netanyahu-s-fate-as-prime-minister-1.4244005Rating: 1.99
Top Israel court to hear bids to block coalition deal
Israel's top court will consider on Sunday whether to block the coalition government agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz, a case that could force another election. Netanyahu, a right-wing premier in power since 2009, and the centrist ex-military chief Gantz, faced off in three inconclusive elections in less than a year. READ | Israel's coalition deal between Netanyahu and Gantz: Political stability with pitfalls With neither man able to form a viable governing coalition in Israel's deeply divided 120-seat parliament, they agreed to a power-sharing deal last month, aiming to avert a fourth vote opposed across the political spectrum. Under the three-year coalition deal, the government's first six months will be dedicated primarily to combatting the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 16 000 Israelis and ravaged the economy. But eight separate petitions to be examined by the Supreme Court seek to declare the deal illegal, including one from former Gantz ally Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid. Series of protests Lapid broke with Gantz last month when the ex-military commander was elected parliament speaker and decided to pursue a deal with Netanyahu. Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated against the deal in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the latest in a series of protests over a unity government. One argument against the coalition government, which has not yet been sworn in, centres on indictments filed against Netanyahu in January. The veteran premier has been charged with accepting improper gifts and illegally trading favours in exchange for favourable media coverage. He denies wrongdoing and his trial is set to start May 24. Israeli law bars an indicted person from serving as an ordinary cabinet minister, but does not compel a criminally-charged prime minister to leave office. The complication regarding Netanyahu is that he is not currently an ordinary prime minister. He has been serving as the caretaker head of a transitional government through Israel's grinding political deadlock. According to some interpretations of Israeli law, that makes Netanyahu merely a candidate to become prime minister. The deal's opponents argue that his candidacy should be therefore disqualified by the indictments. In an opinion delivered to the Supreme Court this week, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who indicted Netanyahu, argued there is no legal basis to prohibit him from leading a government. Interviewed on public radio on Saturday, energy minister and Netanyahu ally Yuval Steinitz said that if the court rules Netanyahu cannot serve, it would amount to "an unprecedented attack on Israeli democracy". The Gantz-Netanyahu agreement is "a necessity, the result of three election campaigns and a desire among Israelis to avoid a fourth election". The main argument against the coalition deal concerns specific provisions opponents say violate the law. The agreement sees Netanyahu serving as prime minister for 18 months, with Gantz as his "alternate", a new title in Israeli governance. They will swap roles midway through the deal, likely taking voters back to the polls in 36 months. But Israeli law traditionally endows governments with four-year mandates, an issue pounced on by the deal's opponents. There is also a provision freezing certain public appointments during the government's initial six-month pandemic emergency phase, which critics also say is illegal. The attorney general's opinion said that while "certain arrangements in the coalition agreement raise major difficulties... at this time there are no grounds to disqualify (it)". He advised that problematic provisions be reviewed "at the implementation stage". If the expanded panel of 11 judges set to hear the case deems the coalition deal invalid, Israel may be forced to hold its fourth election in less than two years.
3 May 12:40 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/World/News/top-israel-court-to-hear-bids-to-block-coalition-deal-20200503Rating: 2.83
Jordan lifts all curbs on economic activity in latest easing of lockdown
JERUSALEM: Israel’s top court will consider Sunday whether to block the coalition government agreed between Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his rival-turned-partner Benny Gantz, a case that could force another election.Netanyahu, a right-wing premier in power since 2009, and the centrist ex-military chief Gantz, faced off in three inconclusive elections in less than a year.With neither man able to form a viable governing coalition in Israel’s deeply divided 120-seat parliament, they agreed to a power-sharing deal last month, aiming to avert a fourth vote opposed across the political spectrum.Under the three-year coalition deal, the government’s first six months will be dedicated primarily to combatting the novel coronavirus that has infected more than 16,000 Israelis and ravaged the economy.But eight separate petitions to be examined by the Supreme Court seek to declare the deal illegal, including one from former Gantz ally Yair Lapid, head of the opposition Yesh Atid.Lapid broke with Gantz last month when the ex-military commander was elected parliament speaker and decided to pursue a deal with Netanyahu.Hundreds of Israelis demonstrated against the deal in Tel Aviv on Saturday, the latest in a series of protests over a unity government. One argument against the coalition government, which has not yet been sworn in, centers on indictments filed against Netanyahu in January.The veteran premier has been charged with accepting improper gifts and illegally trading favors in exchange for favorable media coverage. He denies wrongdoing and his trial is set to start May 24.Israeli law bars an indicted person from serving as an ordinary cabinet minister, but does not compel a criminally-charged prime minister to leave office.The complication regarding Netanyahu is that he is not currently an ordinary prime minister. He has been serving as the caretaker head of a transitional government through Israel’s grinding political deadlock.According to some interpretations of Israeli law, that makes Netanyahu merely a candidate to become prime minister.The deal’s opponents argue that his candidacy should be therefore disqualified by the indictments.In an opinion delivered to the Supreme Court this week, Attorney General Avichai Mandelblit, who indicted Netanyahu, argued there is no legal basis to prohibit him from leading a government.Interviewed on public radio Saturday, energy minister and Netanyahu ally Yuval Steinitz said that if the court rules Netanyahu cannot serve, it would amount to “an unprecedented attack on Israeli democracy.”The Gantz-Netanyahu agreement is “a necessity, the result of three election campaigns and a desire among Israelis to avoid a fourth election.” The main argument against the coalition deal concerns specific provisions opponents say violate the law.The agreement sees Netanyahu serving as prime minister for 18 months, with Gantz as his “alternate,” a new title in Israeli governance.They will swap roles midway through the deal, likely taking voters back to the polls in 36 months.But Israeli law traditionally endows governments with four-year mandates, an issue pounced on by the deal’s opponents.There is also a provision freezing certain public appointments during the government’s initial six-month pandemic emergency phase, which critics also say is illegal.The attorney general’s opinion said that while “certain arrangements in the coalition agreement raise major difficulties... at this time there are no grounds to disqualify (it).”He advised that problematic provisions be reviewed “at the implementation stage.”If the expanded panel of 11 judges set to hear the case deems the coalition deal invalid, Israel may be forced to hold its fourth election in less than two years.
3 May 04:40 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668846/middle-eastRating: 1.72
Company behind new FDA-approved coronavirus antibody aims to produce millions of kits by June
3 May 14:39
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Company behind new FDA-approved coronavirus antibody aims to produce millions of kits by June
The Food and Drug Administration continues to expedite its approval time for technology that should help combat the coronavirus pandemic. This time, the FDA cleared a coronavirus antibody test produced by Swiss diagnostics giant Roche for emergency use, the company said Sunday. The test identifies via blood samples antibodies made by the body to fight off the coronavirus. It could therefore determine whether a person had been infected with the virus in the past, even if the infection subsided. There are questions about the accuracy of many available commercial antibody tests so far, but they're considered crucial for better understanding both the true extent of the pandemic, as well as possible length of immunity to the virus. Roche, at least, doesn't have those concerns about its product, saying its test has proven 100 percent accurate at detecting antibodies in the blood and 99.8 percent accurate at ruling out the presence of those antibodies. Thom Schinecker, who leads the company's diagnostics business, said they were able to run its test on 6,000 blood samples, which is a much higher number than its smaller competitors. Additionally, Roche's infrastructure will allow it to increase production of the test quickly, and its kits are also designed to run on Roche automated machines, which are already installed in more than 100 labs throughout the U.S. The company is determined to dispense test kits in the "high double-digit millions" by June, and double that by the end of the year. Read more at The Wall Street Journal and The Guardian.
3 May 14:39 • The Week • https://theweek.com/speedreads/912455/company-behind-new-fdaapproved-coronavirus-antibody-aims-produce-millions-kits-by-juneRating: 0.58
Roche receives emergency-use authorisation for Covid-19 antibody test
Roche received emergency-use authorization from the US Food and Drug Administration for its new Covid-19 antibody test, according to a company statement. The Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 test is designed to determine if a patient has been exposed to the coronavirus and has developed antibodies against it, Roche said on Sunday. Governments are trying to learn how many people have been exposed to Covid-19 as they reopen economies and end social-distancing measures. The restrictions have resulted in millions of lost jobs, closed schools and businesses and sent the financial markets through the most turbulent period since the 2008 financial crisis. With no vaccine available yet for the novel coronavirus, more than 100 different programs have been launched to develop and test treatments. These include everything from antiviral drugs and antibody-containing plasma from recovered patients, to traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Gilead Sciences’s antiviral drug remdesivir was cleared by US regulators on May 1st for emergency use in Covid-19 patients, becoming the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the disease. – Bloomberg
3 May 12:24 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/business/personal-finance/roche-receives-emergency-use-authorisation-for-covid-19-antibody-test-1.4243917Rating: 1.99
Roche gets FDA emergency use approval for COVID-19 antibody test
BASEL: Roche Holding received emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said on Sunday (May 3). Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to "high double-digit millions" per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8 per cent and sensitivity rate of 100 per cent. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including US-based Abbott Laboratories , Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy's DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got US emergency authorisation for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinised some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA's decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 10:55 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/roche-gets-fda-emergency-use-approval-for-covid-19-antibody-test-12697684Rating: 3.25
Roche gets US FDA emergency use nod for COVID-19 antibody test
Roche Holding AG received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said in a statement on Sunday. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to "high double-digit millions" per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories , Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy's DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got U.S. emergency authorization for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinized some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA's decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed.
3 May 11:20 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Roche-gets-US-FDA-emergency-use-nod-for-COVID-19-antibody-testRating: 3.14
Roche gets US FDA emergency use nod for COVID-19 antibody test
Roche Holding AG received emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to "high double-digit millions" per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including US-based Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy's DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got US emergency authorisation for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinized some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA's decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed.
3 May 10:40 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/health/2020/05/03/roche-gets-us-fda-emergency-use-nod-for-covid-19-antibody-testRating: 2.85
FDA grants emergency approval to Swiss firm's coronavirus antibody test
The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued an emergency use authorization for an antibody coronavirus test developed by Roche Holding AG, the Swiss healthcare company said in a statement Sunday. The tests are used to determine whether a person has been infected with the novel coronavirus and developed antibodies against it. State and federal officials have touted the tests as a way to help guide decisions about how to safely reopen parts of the U.S. Roche Holding AG said that its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, had a 99.8 percent specificity rate and a sensitivity rate of 100 percent based on a sampling of 5,272 people. The company said that it would begin ramping up production of the tests to the "high double-digit millions per month" to serve countries accepting them. The firm has already started shipping the tests to some laboratories. “Thanks to the enormous efforts of our dedicated colleagues we are now able to deliver a high-quality antibody test in high quantities, so we can support healthcare systems around the world with an important tool to better manage the COVID-19 health crisis,” Roche Group CEO Severin Schwan said in a statement. ”I am in particular pleased about the high specificity and sensitivity of our test, which is crucial to support health care systems around the world with a reliable tool to better manage the COVID-19 health crisis.” Multiple companies, including US-based Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Co, and Italy’s DiaSorin, have reportedly received emergency approval from the FDA for their antibody tests. The rush to develop the tests, however, has produced fears about inaccurate results. The House Oversight and Reform Committee recently released a report that showed the FDA allowed numerous antibody tests on the market without review. The committee said it resulted in hundreds of flawed tests that are still available on the market, which could lead to inaccurate conclusions about whether someone has immunity to COVID-19. Rep. Raja Krishnamoorthi (D-Ill.), chairman of the House Oversight and Reform Subcommittee on Economic and Consumer Policy, told The Hill last week that he wants the agency to clear the market of any unauthorized test. In its news release, Roche said that its sampling showed no cross-reactivity to the four human coronaviruses causing a common cold, reducing the chance of false positives. The company previously said that its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies, Reuters reported.
3 May 14:18 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/policy/healthcare/495854-fda-grants-emergency-approval-to-swiss-firms-coronavirus-antibody-testRating: 1.94
A coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate is now cleared for emergency use in the US, easing concerns of false positives that hindered earlier tests
US regulators authorized Sunday emergency use of a coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate, addressing concerns about high false positive rates that have plagued some of the first tests. The test is made by Roche, a Swiss giant in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. Roche said Sunday it will boost its manufacturing to produce "high double-digit millions per month" of the test. Antibodies are proteins created by the body's immune system to fight invading threats, like viruses or bacteria. Antibody testing is seen by many as a critical step into reopening the economy. Some have floated ideas of using the tests to issue some form of "immunity passports," which could allow people with the antibodies to return to work. Roche stated the test has a 100% sensitivity rating and a 99.8% specificity rating, which are significantly higher than some of the first antibody tests that were cleared for use in the US. The results came from using more than 5,000 samples on its test. It will take about 18 minutes to process a single test, with Roche's devices able to run up to 300 tests per hour in an automated fashion, the company said. One recent study found several of these tests are less than 90% accurate. Combined with Roche's ability to mass-manufacture millions of tests, this new test should help address the issue of false positive results, where a test may tell someone they have the antibodies when they actually do not. Another medical diagnostics giant, Abbott, has been using its antibody test for the past few weeks in the US. Abbot says its test is 99% accurate, based on testing about 1,000 samples. Read more: Tests that can tell who's had the coronavirus are crucial to reopening the country. Here are the companies racing to bring them to the US healthcare system. Even if fully accurate, antibody testing still faces several critical unknowns that may limit the usefulness of these tests. First, it is not yet known for sure that having antibodies equals protection. For most viruses, having antibodies means being protected from future infections. But studies have yet to be done on the novel coronavirus proving this to be the case, and there have been some reports of potential reinfection. Even if antibodies give a degree of protection from the virus, researchers do not know how long that protection will last. This could be another critical limitation if antibody protection lasts for months instead of years. Finally, it is still unknown what percentage of the US or world population has already been infected with the coronavirus. Reliable and widespread antibody testing can help answer this question. LoadingSomething is loading. Featured Health Articles:- Telehealth Industry Explained- Value-Based Care Explained- Senior Care & Assisted Living Market- Smart Medical Devices & Wearable Tech- AI in Healthcare- Remote Patient Monitoring Explained - AI in Medical Diagnosis Systems Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/antibody-test-that-is-more-than-99-accurate-gets-emergency-clearance-by-fda-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Thinking of getting a COVID-19 antibody test? Here's what you should know
Antibody tests are seen as a valuable tool in helping medical experts in the battle against COVID-19.But the process also has limitations.EveryDay Healthcare in Fresno, California is one of the latest clinics to unveil its capability to conduct testing for COVID-19 antibodies.Blood samples taken there are sent to major national lab company Quest Diagnostics to be analyzed.Many people who've been sick in the past have questions."Were you exposed to a positive case, did you go through the quarantine for 14 days but now feel better, have no symptoms and now you want to find out if you have antibodies?" says Gilbert Bustos.Data from antibody tests help track the spread of the coronavirus but that information is limited.With several companies offering FDA-approved antibody tests, experts say it can be difficult to validate results."There's no single test that's the perfect one to compare to show that this one is the gold standard and it performs as well as that," says Dr. Jessica Mason.Bustos says many insurance companies cover the cost of the test. If you don't have insurance, it would cost $95 for the office visit. You'd also get a $55 bill from Quest."It's really a good helpful tool to find out if you ever had it. If they come back positive, they have antibodies,which helps to determine whether the can return to work, go back to school."But false positives are a real concern because you could have been exposed to a different coronavirus and return to life as normal, thinking you're protected."It is also not necessarily the Holy Grail. It's going to give us very valuable information but we have to remember the limitations. You may have antibodies and have a negative test. You also may not have antibodies and have a positive test," says Dr. Mason.Dr. Mason adds that even if you do have COVID-19 antibodies, it is not known whether or not you can be re-infected.
3 May 18:32 • ABC7 Los Angeles • https://abc7.com/health/want-to-get-a-covid-19-antibody-test-heres-what-to-know/6147384/Rating: 0.39
A coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate is now cleared for emergency use in the US, easing concerns of false positives that hindered earlier tests
US regulators authorized Sunday emergency use of a coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate, addressing concerns about high false positive rates that have plagued some of the first tests. The test is made by Roche, a Swiss giant in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. Roche said Sunday it will boost its manufacturing to produce “high double-digit millions per month” of the test. Antibodies are proteins created by the body’s immune system to fight invading threats, like viruses or bacteria. Antibody testing is seen by many as a critical step into reopening the economy. Some have floated ideas of using the tests to issue some form of “immunity passports,” which could allow people with the antibodies to return to work. Roche stated the test has a 100% sensitivity rating and a 99.8% specificity rating, which are significantly higher than some of the first antibody tests that were cleared for use in the US. The results came from using more than 5,000 samples on its test. It will take about 18 minutes to process a single test, with Roche’s devices able to run up to 300 tests per hour in an automated fashion, the company said. One recent study found several of these tests are less than 90% accurate. Combined with Roche’s ability to mass-manufacture millions of tests, this new test should help address the issue of false positive results, where a test may tell someone they have the antibodies when they actually do not. Another medical diagnostics giant, Abbott, has been using its antibody test for the past few weeks in the US. Abbot says its test is 99% accurate, based on testing about 1,000 samples. Read more:Tests that can tell who’s had the coronavirus are crucial to reopening the country. Here are the companies racing to bring them to the US healthcare system. Even if fully accurate, antibody testing still faces several critical unknowns that may limit the usefulness of these tests. First, it is not yet known for sure that having antibodies equals protection. For most viruses, having antibodies means being protected from future infections. But studies have yet to be done on the novel coronavirus proving this to be the case, and there have been some reports of potential reinfection. Even if antibodies give a degree of protection from the virus, researchers do not know how long that protection will last. This could be another critical limitation if antibody protection lasts for months instead of years. Finally, it is still unknown what percentage of the US or world population has already been infected with the coronavirus. Reliable and widespread antibody testing can help answer this question.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/antibody-test-that-is-more-than-99-accurate-gets-emergency-clearance-by-fda-2020-5Rating: 0.30
A coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate is now cleared for emergency use in the US, easing concerns of false positives that hindered earlier tests, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
US regulators authorized Sunday emergency use of a coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate, addressing concerns about high false positive rates that have plagued some of the first tests. The test is made by Roche, a Swiss giant in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. Roche said Sunday it will boost its manufacturing to produce “high double-digit millions per month” of the test. Antibodies are proteins created by the body’s immune system to fight invading threats, like viruses or bacteria. Antibody testing is seen by many as a critical step into reopening the economy. Some have floated ideas of using the tests to issue some form of “immunity passports,” which could allow people with the antibodies to return to work. Roche stated the test has a 100% sensitivity rating and a 99.8% specificity rating, which are significantly higher than some of the first antibody tests that were cleared for use in the US. The results came from using more than 5,000 samples on its test. It will take about 18 minutes to process a single test, with Roche’s devices able to run up to 300 tests per hour in an automated fashion, the company said. One recent study found several of these tests are less than 90% accurate. Combined with Roche’s ability to mass-manufacture millions of tests, this new test should help address the issue of false positive results, where a test may tell someone they have the antibodies when they actually do not. Another medical diagnostics giant, Abbott, has been using its antibody test for the past few weeks in the US. Abbot says its test is 99% accurate, based on testing about 1,000 samples. Read more:Tests that can tell who’s had the coronavirus are crucial to reopening the country. Here are the companies racing to bring them to the US healthcare system. Even if fully accurate, antibody testing still faces several critical unknowns that may limit the usefulness of these tests. First, it is not yet known for sure that having antibodies equals protection. For most viruses, having antibodies means being protected from future infections. But studies have yet to be done on the novel coronavirus proving this to be the case, and there have been some reports of potential reinfection. Even if antibodies give a degree of protection from the virus, researchers do not know how long that protection will last. This could be another critical limitation if antibody protection lasts for months instead of years. Finally, it is still unknown what percentage of the US or world population has already been infected with the coronavirus. Reliable and widespread antibody testing can help answer this question.
3 May 14:10 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/antibody-test-that-is-more-than-99-accurate-gets-emergency-clearance-by-fda-2020-5Rating: 0.30
A coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate is now cleared for emergency use in the US, easing concerns of false positives that hindered earlier tests
US regulators authorised Sunday emergency use of a coronavirus antibody test that is more than 99% accurate, addressing concerns about high false positive rates that have plagued some of the first tests. The test is made by Roche, a Swiss giant in the pharmaceutical and diagnostics industries. Roche said Sunday it will boost its manufacturing to produce “high double-digit millions per month” of the test. Antibodies are proteins created by the body’s immune system to fight invading threats, like viruses or bacteria. Antibody testing is seen by many as a critical step into reopening the economy. Some have floated ideas of using the tests to issue some form of “immunity passports,” which could allow people with the antibodies to return to work. Roche stated the test has a 100% sensitivity rating and a 99.8% specificity rating, which are significantly higher than some of the first antibody tests that were cleared for use in the US. The results came from using more than 5,000 samples on its test. It will take about 18 minutes to process a single test, with Roche’s devices able to run up to 300 tests per hour in an automated fashion, the company said. One recent study found several of these tests are less than 90% accurate. Combined with Roche’s ability to mass-manufacture millions of tests, this new test should help address the issue of false positive results, where a test may tell someone they have the antibodies when they actually do not. Another medical diagnostics giant, Abbott, has been using its antibody test for the past few weeks in the US. Abbot says its test is 99% accurate, based on testing about 1,000 samples. Read more:Tests that can tell who’s had the coronavirus are crucial to reopening the country. Here are the companies racing to bring them to the US healthcare system. Even if fully accurate, antibody testing still faces several critical unknowns that may limit the usefulness of these tests. First, it is not yet known for sure that having antibodies equals protection. For most viruses, having antibodies means being protected from future infections. But studies have yet to be done on the novel coronavirus proving this to be the case, and there have been some reports of potential reinfection. Even if antibodies give a degree of protection from the virus, researchers do not know how long that protection will last. This could be another critical limitation if antibody protection lasts for months instead of years. Finally, it is still unknown what percentage of the US or world population has already been infected with the coronavirus. Reliable and widespread antibody testing can help answer this question.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/antibody-test-that-is-more-than-99-accurate-gets-emergency-clearance-by-fda-2020-5Rating: 0.30
'Covid-19 results taking too long'
DOCTORS have urged the government to work on improving the turnaround time of Polymerase Chain Reaction (PCR) test results for coronavirus (Covid-19) which they say is way too long.PCR tests are being done to check for the presence of Covid-19 in human beings.So far in Zimbabwe results have been taking between two and three days to be ready while patients are waiting for them at home.Zimbabwe Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) said this is risky as positive Covid-19 patients could be spreading the virus in their homes without knowing within those three days."We commend the government for decentralising testing to Mpilo Hospital and implore that more centres be opened. We are however concerned with the long turnaround time for results. In some of the scenarios, suspected cases waiting for the PCR tests results will have been told to go home and wait for a phone call to avail their results.With the current decentralisation of services, the ministry can utilise the available counselling services from counsellors, nurses and doctors in the different units to take part in availing results," the doctors said in a statement.Doctors said there is need for training of those responsible for divulging results to avoid situations whereby results are shared on social media before their owners are informed.This comes after a Bulawayo nurse who recently tested positive for Covid-19 and identified herself as #case 15 complained that she saw her results on social media before getting formal communication from health officials.Health and Childcare minister Obadiah Moyo said PCR results take long as they have to test samples from all over the country in only two centres."The reason why our results take longer to come out is to do with the testing scheme. We have to batch the samples which will be coming from all over the country. The testing system itself takes a long time before you get the results."We have the PCR system which takes five hours and part of that testing system requires that after the samples have been taken from the patient, you have to extract it and then do what are called Oral or Nasal-phyryngial Swabbing," Moyo said.
3 May 13:58 • Bulawayo24 News • https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-184707.htmlRating: 0.30
Thinking of getting a COVID-19 antibody test? Here's what you should know
Data from antibody tests help track the spread of the coronavirus - but they have limitations. Antibody tests are seen as a valuable tool in helping medical experts in the battle against COVID-19. But the process also has limitations. EveryDay Healthcare in Fresno, California is one of the latest clinics to unveil its capability to conduct testing for COVID-19 antibodies. Blood samples taken there are sent to major national lab company Quest Diagnostics to be analyzed. Many people who've been sick in the past have questions. "Were you exposed to a positive case, did you go through the quarantine for 14 days but now feel better, have no symptoms and now you want to find out if you have antibodies?" says Gilbert Bustos. Data from antibody tests help track the spread of the coronavirus but that information is limited. With several companies offering FDA-approved antibody tests, experts say it can be difficult to validate results. "There's no single test that's the perfect one to compare to show that this one is the gold standard and it performs as well as that," says Dr. Jessica Mason. Bustos says many insurance companies cover the cost of the test. If you don't have insurance, it would cost $95 for the office visit. You'd also get a $55 bill from Quest. "It's really a good helpful tool to find out if you ever had it. If they come back positive, they have antibodies,which helps to determine whether the can return to work, go back to school." But false positives are a real concern because you could have been exposed to a different coronavirus and return to life as normal, thinking you're protected. "It is also not necessarily the Holy Grail. It's going to give us very valuable information but we have to remember the limitations. You may have antibodies and have a negative test. You also may not have antibodies and have a positive test," says Dr. Mason. Dr. Mason adds that even if you do have COVID-19 antibodies, it is not known whether or not you can be re-infected.
3 May 18:32 • ABC7 New York • https://abc7ny.com/health/want-to-get-a-covid-19-antibody-test-heres-what-to-know/6147384/Rating: 0.30
Roche COVID-19 antibody test gets emergency FDA approval
Roche Holding AG became the latest company to win emergency US approval for a coronavirus antibody test and promised a fast scale-up of the tool that policy makers hope will smooth the reopening of economies. The Swiss giant expects production of the test to reach the high double-digit millions by June and pass the 100 million monthly threshold later this year. The test looks for antibodies in blood that have been raised to fight off the virus that causes Covid-19. Roche's version runs on a high-volume instrument that can produce a single result in 18 minutes and as many as 300 results in an hour, the company said in a statement Sunday after receiving emergency authorization from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration. "Our people have been working in operations day and night to make sure we have all the products," Thomas Schinecker, head of Roche's diagnostics unit, said in a phone interview. Antibody testing could help pinpoint which people have already been exposed to the virus, potentially giving them some immunity to it. It could also help determine how widely the disease has spread, since the molecular testing that's been around since January - and used to confirm more than 3 million infections globally - can't show who had the disease weeks or months ago. While it's still unclear how strong immunity will be for different people - or how long it will last - knowing who has already fought off the virus could nonetheless show how vulnerable regions are to future outbreak waves. The pandemic probably won't be controlled until about two-thirds of the world's population is immune, according to a report from the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Roche's antibody test has demonstrated a "specificity" of more than 99.8% and a "sensitivity" of 100% when validated against over 5,000 blood samples taken from people 14 days after their Covid-19 cases were confirmed using molecular testing, Roche said. If a test can reliably identify positive samples, it's considered highly sensitive. If it can identify negatives, it's called specific. That means it knows the difference between Covid-19 antibodies and others raised by, say, another coronavirus that causes the common cold. Read More: Where Are We in Quest for Coronavirus Drugs, Vaccine? Governments are trying to learn how many people have been exposed to the virus as they wind down social-distancing measures. The restrictions on businesses have cost millions their jobs and the global economy is on course for its deepest dive since the Great Depression. Countries including the U.K. and parts of the U.S. were so eager for antibody tests early on that they bought versions that didn't work. Most of the earliest versions on the market came from small players, but now bigger companies with strong reputations are bringing out their own versions - including Roche and Abbott Laboratories. The U.S. FDA has granted emergency use approval to about a dozen of these tests. Roche's test is also cleared for countries accepting Europe's CE marking, the company said. With no vaccine available yet for the novel coronavirus, there have been proposals that people who have antibodies could be issued an "immunity passport" that would allow them to travel or return to work, on the assumption that they're safe from re-infection. Yet the World Health Organization has cautioned on the level of protection against a second infection that people who have recovered from Covid-19 will have. In addition to the search for a vaccine, more than 100 different programs have been launched to develop and test treatments. These include everything from antiviral drugs and antibody-containing plasma from recovered patients, to traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Gilead Sciences Inc.'s antiviral drug remdesivir has been cleared by US regulators for emergency use in Covid-19 patients, becoming the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the disease. Once any resistance to the coronavirus is better understood, Roche's new test could help assess who has built up immunity, Roche said. For now, the tests will probably go first to health-care workers and their families, along with people who have already had the disease and those who think they may have had it, Schinecker said. "There are people that think they had the flu in February, and now they're not sure - did they have the flu or something else?" Schinecker said. "Most likely these people will be tested, and then over time you can see how this develops - are they immune, or are they not immune?"
3 May 17:25 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/roche-covid-19-antibody-test-gets-emergency-fda-approval-1.1588526987459Rating: 3.21
Roche wins U.S. nod for COVID-19 antibody test, aims to boost output
Roche has won emergency approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to determine whether people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said http://pdf.reuters.com/htmlnews/htmlnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20200503:nGNE71pdqt on Sunday. Thomas Schinecker, Roche’s head of diagnostics, said the company aims to more than double production of tests from about 50 million a month to significantly more than 100 million a month by the end of the year. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests to learn who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to help end national lockdowns. Basel-based Roche, which also makes molecular tests to identify active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test has a specificity rate exceeding 99.8% and sensitivity of 100%, meaning tests would show very few false positives and no false negatives. A false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. Roche said its test relies on intravenous blood draws, with higher accuracy than finger-prick tests. “If you take blood from a finger prick, you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve … when you take blood from the vein,” Schinecker said. “You have to have very, very high specificity. Even 0.1% or 0.2% makes a difference.” RIVALS’ TESTS Similar antibody tests have also been developed by companies including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Italy’s DiaSorin. Abbott has said the specificity and sensitivity of its test are 99.5% and 100% respectively. Diasorin has said its Liason XL test has 97.4% sensitivity and 98.5% specificity. As demand escalates for antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established testing competency have also joined the experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. Roche did not disclose a price for its test but said that it would be identical worldwide. Schinecker foresees a high need for testing healthcare workers and their families for exposure, and those who showed signs and symptoms, to see if they have antibodies. While antibodies typically confer some immunity, Schinecker acknowledged that much remains to be learned about the novel coronavirus before drawing definitive conclusions. “Since this virus is not well known, one can hypothesize, but the proof will take longer,” he said. “Testing these people … is key to seeing whether or not people really have developed immunity.” (Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru and John Miller in Zurich; Editing by Himani Sarkar and David Goodman)
3 May 11:59 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/roche-wins-u-s-nod-for-covid-19-antibody-test-aims-to-boost-outputRating: 0.94
Roche Covid-19 antibody test gets emergency green light from FDA
Roche Holding AG received emergency-use authorisation from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for its new test determining if someone has been exposed to Covid-19, according to a statement on Sunday. The Basel-based drugmaker said it has already started shipments and that as of May, tens of millions of the antibody test will be available in the U.S. and much of Europe. Governments are trying to learn how many people have been exposed to the coronavirus as they wind down social-distancing measures. The restrictions on businesses have cost millions their jobs and the global economy is on course for its deepest dive since the Great Depression. “Our best scientists have worked 24/7 over the last few weeks and months,” said Thomas Schinecker, chief executive officer of Roche Diagnostics. Hospitals and reference laboratories can run the Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2 test on one of Roche’s analysis platforms, the Swiss pharmaceutical company said. Roche’s antibody test has a specificity of more than 99.8% and 100% sensitivity, meaning that it not only reliably identifies patients who’ve developed antibodies but also can filter out those who haven’t, reducing misdiagnoses. With no vaccine available yet for the novel coronavirus, there have been proposals that people who have antibodies could be issued an “immunity passport” that would allow them to travel or return to work, on the assumption that they were safe from re-infection. Yet the World Health Organization has cautioned on the level of protection against a second infection that people who have recovered from Covid-19 will have. Once any resistance to the coronavirus is better understood, the new test could help to assess who has built up immunity, Roche said. In addition to the search for a vaccine, more than 100 different programs have been launched to develop and test treatments. These include everything from antiviral drugs and antibody-containing plasma from recovered patients, to traditional Chinese herbal medicine. Gilead Sciences Inc.’s antiviral drug remdesivir has been cleared by U.S. regulators for emergency use in Covid-19 patients, becoming the first medication backed by early clinical data to be made available to fight the disease. © 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
3 May 11:21 • Moneyweb • https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/international/roche-covid-19-antibody-test-gets-emergency-green-light-from-fda/Rating: 1.42
Palestinian laborers back working in Israel as virus slows
DUBAI: An Abu Dhabi doctor said the new stem cell treatment against COVID-19 “doesn’t provide an entire cure,” but helps patients overcome its symptoms, local daily Khaleej Times reported.“It's a national achievement. This treatment is supportive and doesn't provide an entire cure. It helps patients overcome the symptoms caused by the virus but doesn't kill it,” Dr. Fatima Al-Kaabi, Head Hematology and Oncology at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, said.Al-Kaabi, who was part of the 28-man team that came up with the treatment, added clinical trials are ongoing.“We are about to conclude the collection of data to conduct further comparative experiments and compare them with patients who have not received the treatment,” she explained at a press conference on Saturday.The treatment works by extracting stem cells from a patient’s blood and reintroducing it in an “activated” state to the lungs through a fine mist.It was first used on a patient early last month, and has so far helped 73 coronavirus patients.
3 May 08:56 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668906/middle-eastRating: 1.72
Pharma giant Roche gets US go-ahead for Covid-19 antibody test
Swiss drug maker Roche Holding AG says it has received emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to “high double-digit millions” per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active Covid-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies, including US-based Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Co, and Italy’s DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. DiaSorin and Abbott recently received US emergency authorisation for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand Covid-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinised some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the US, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA’s decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed.
3 May 06:21 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/pharma-giant-roche-gets-us-go-ahead-for-covid-19-antibody-testRating: 5.39
Roche gets U.S. FDA emergency use nod for COVID-19 antibody test
(Reuters) - Roche Holding AG received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said on Sunday. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to “high double-digit millions” per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories, Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy’s DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got U.S. emergency authorization for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinized some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA’s decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed.
3 May 04:48 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/health-coronavirus-testing-roche-hldg-idUSKBN22F04WRating: 4.04
Roche gets U.S. FDA emergency use nod for COVID-19 antibody test
Roche Holding AG received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said http://pdf.reuters.com/htmlnews/htmlnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u=urn:newsml:reuters.com:20200503:nGNE71pdqt on Sunday. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to “high double-digit millions” per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories , Becton Dickinson and Co, Italy’s DiaSorin have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got U.S. emergency authorization for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinized some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA’s decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed. (Reporting by Aakriti Bhalla in Bengaluru and John Miller in Zurich; Editing by Himani Sarkar)
3 May 04:31 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/roche-gets-u-s-fda-emergency-use-nod-for-covid-19-antibody-testRating: 1.59
Coronavirus epidemic sparks rush for oxygen cylinders in India – even as oxygen demand drops
About 100 km from India’s national capital, Bharatpur district in Rajasthan has a population of more than 25 lakh people. The district hospital has 525 beds. Of these, only 18 beds are connected to piped oxygen, crucial to saving the lives of patients who develop acute respiratory distress because of the novel coronavirus infection. As of May 2, the district had 111 coronavirus positive cases. But what if the number of cases were to rise? Dr Navneet Saini, the principal medical officer of the district, said that in addition to the piped oxygen, the hospital had arranged for 90 oxygen cylinders and was procuring 200 more. Across India, the coronavirus epidemic has sparked a rush to buy oxygen cylinders. In a letter dated April 4, the Union Ministry of Health directed all states and Union Territories to maintain adequate oxygen supplies. In a press briefing on April 23, Dr Randeep Guleria, director of All India Institute of Medical Sciences, said that around 15% of all coronavirus cases in India could be treated with supportive care and oxygen therapy, while less than 5% would require ventilator support and critical care. This underlines the importance of oxygen availability – more vital than ventilators. On May 1, in a press briefing, the ministry said India had capacity to manufacture 6,400 metric tonnes of oxygen daily of which 1,000 metric tonnes was used as medical oxygen. About 60,000 industrial oxygen cylinders had been ordered for conversion into medical oxygen, a spokesperson said. The country has 4.38 lakh medical oxygen cylinders and orders had been placed for more than 1 lakh cylinders, he added. But health infrastructure varies across states and districts. States like Uttar Pradesh, Bihar and Assam have the most number of districts with shortages of isolation beds, intensive care units and ventilators, according to a presentation made by the Union cabinet secretary in a meeting attended by state health secretaries on April 26, The Indian Express reported. As many as 143 of a total of 718 districts in the country did not have intensive care unit beds and 123 districts had no ventilator beds. While there was no district-level data available publicly for beds connected to piped oxygen, Scroll.in spoke to district officials in seven districts across Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Bihar. Officials in four districts said that the district hospital did not have a medical gas pipeline connected to a central storage tanker to supply oxygen directly to beds. Some said they had just begun to construct the system in district hospitals. Others said it would be difficult to build infrastructure overnight and they had decided to stockpile oxygen cylinders to augment capacity. Uttar Pradesh, India’s most populous state, has detected 2,328 coronavirus cases as of May 2. In August 2017, more than 60 children had died in Gorakhpur’s Baba Raghav Das Medical College, the largest hospital in the state’s eastern region, because of an administrative crisis that failed to ensure supply of medical oxygen. What has the state done to ensure lack of oxygen does not have lethal consequences during the current epidemic? Muzaffarnagar district, which had reported 14 cases, did not have a piped oxygen supply system at the district hospital. “There is a proposal for now [to set up a central oxygen unit],” said Dr Praveen Chopra, the chief medical officer of the district. “We have got 100 cylinders.” In Ballia district, which had not yet reported a single case of the coronavirus, the work to install a piped supply was still ongoing. “There is a lockdown that is why the work has stopped but for now we are making do with oxygen cylinders,” said Dr BP Singh, the chief medical superintendent of the district hospital. Singh said that the hospital had 43 cylinders for the 226-bedded hospital. Kushinagar district has also not yet reported a single case. Chief Medical Officer Dr Narendra Kumar said that a central piped supply of oxygen was available for 100 beds in the district hospital and that an additional 40 cylinders had been ordered. So far, Bihar has reported 471 cases of the virus. In Siwan district that has seven cases, only 25 beds – 12 beds in the intensive care unit and 13 in the emergency ward – had piped oxygen supply, said Dr MK Alam, the additional chief medical officer. “We have 186 cylinders in both small and large sizes and we have just ordered for the piped supply to reach 15 more beds which will take four more days,” he said. There was no piped supply in Muzaffarpur’s district hospital where zero cases were reported, said Dr Harendra Kumar Alok, the chief medical officer. The hospital has 180 beds and had stockpiled 56 cylinders, he said. In Rajasthan’s Alwar district that has recorded seven cases, the district hospital does not have a piped supply facility either, said Dr OP Meena, the chief medical and health officer. “We only have cylinder supply only in specific wards,” he said, adding that the supply reached 84 beds out of 200 beds. “There is zero requirement [for oxygen] right now,” he said. Meena said that they had 80 cylinders and that they had begun the process of setting up the piped system. “We have spoken to the contractor. It could take around 15 to 20 days,” he said. As district hospitals across India order more oxygen cylinders, demand for the metal cylinders itself has risen manifold, said manufacturers. But firms supplying medical-grade oxygen say demand for the gas has dropped as elective surgeries have been deferred around the country during the lockdown. “The demand for the gas has gone down by 20-25%,” said Rajeev Gupta of Vinayak Air Products that supplies medical grade oxygen across North India. Gupta is the general secretary of All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers Association. He anticipates the demand could rise in the future – once the lockdown is lifted, and if there is a rise in coronavirus cases. “In case the number of Covid patients goes up, then in that scenario also we are equipped,” he said. Meanwhile, firms making cylinders that can store oxygen have already started beefing up capacity. Ravi Kaul of Luxfer Uttam India, a cylinder manufacturer based in Faridabad, Haryana, said that their manufacturing units had started to focus solely on making cylinders for medical oxygen. “We are not manufacturing anything else,” he said. Another manufacturer explained why firms were only producing cylinders for medical grade oxygen. “We have only got the licence for this [under the lockdown] so there is no use producing for any other gas,” said Puneet Khurana of Everest Kanto Cylinders, that manufactures cylinders from Kutch, Gujarat and Boisar, a suburb located outside Mumbai, Maharashtra. Khurana said that the firm manufactured around six lakh cylinders annually and supplied across the country to oxygen plants that would fill up the gas. “All the small hospitals and quarantine facilities cannot go on the pipeline system immediately,” he said. “Cylinders provide a temporary solution.” Both Kaul and Khurana said their firms faced difficulties in working with a minimal workforce under the lockdown. Kaul’s firm can produce around 2,000 cylinders a month but he said the unit was underproducing. “We are having issues mobilising manpower for production,” he said. “There are problems in some pockets. The workers are unable to come.” Another manufacturer in Gandhidham, Gujarat, cited the same reason for being unable to meet their capacity of producing around 8,000 cylinders per month. “We are getting many calls everyday and we are only making 30% of our capacity,” said Pravin Nandu of Euro India. To add to this, there was also difficulty in procuring raw materials for other parts that go into a cylinder such as flow meters, valves and regulators among other accessories. “We have to supply the complete kit,” he said. “But there is a problem in procuring this material. Some of these shops selling the parts may not be open.” At present, the industry produces around 900 metric tonnes of medical oxygen per day but the capacity could go up to 6,400 metric tonnes, said Gupta. The maximum retail price of the gas is fixed at Rs 17.5 per cubic metre, he said. To fast track the process of increasing oxygen supply in the country, the Central Drugs Standard Control Organisation on April 7 issued an order to state drug controllers stating that industrial gas manufacturers would get a licence within 24 hours to start manufacturing medical oxygen. On April 22, the Petroleum and Explosives Safety Organisation issued a circular stating the standard operating procedure of converting industrial gas cylinders to medical oxygen cylinders. “Now we have an option, if the need arises for the stock of industrial oxygen to be converted into medical oxygen,” said Saket Tiku, president of the All India Industrial Gases Manufacturers’ Association. Tiku is a member of a committee set up to ensure oxygen supply in the country under the Department of Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade of the Ministry of Commerce and Industry. The committee had made the proposal before the ministry. “This can reach far flung areas where there is no medical oxygen plant nearby but there is an industrial gas plant available,” he said. “We have to keep the [oxygen] impurity level in mind since we are not exempt from the [Drugs and Cosmetics] Act.”
3 May 04:00 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/article/960582/coronavirus-epidemic-sparks-rush-for-oxygen-cylinders-in-india-even-as-oxygen-demand-dropsRating: 0.30
FDA Grants Emergency Authorization To Roche Antibody Tests
Pharmaceutical and diagnostic company Roche said Sunday that its coronavirus antibody test was granted emergency authorization by the Food and Drug Administration, and that it can churn out over 100 million of the kits by the end of this year, as governments search for ways to safely reopen communities and let people go back to work. An antibody test can detect whether a person has had the coronavirus, according to the Wall Street Journal, which experts hope will mean protection against the virus moving forward. It’s unclear if—or for how long—antibodies can prevent repeated infections of COVID-19, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention; the virus is new and scientists are still learning about it, the WSJ reported. Roche says its test is 100% accurate in detecting the presence of antibodies, and 99.8% effective in ruling out the presence of antibodies, which means very few false positive results. Roche’s test relies on an intravenous blood draw as opposed to a finger prick, Reuters reported. According to the WSJ, most commercially-available antibody tests aren’t accurate enough. Roche has already begun shipping its test to labs around the world, CNBC reported. “Testing these people….is key to seeing whether or not people really have developed immunity,” Thomas Shinecker, Roche’s head of diagnostics, told Reuters. 6,000. That’s how many blood samples Roche tested for antibodies, Shinecker told the WSJ. Roche was able to test a significantly higher number of samples compared to its rivals, the WSJ said. Antibody testing is seen by governments around the world as one key to reopening economies, as the results can provide insight into the spread of coronavirus—especially mild or asymptomatic cases, the WSJ reported. Some governments are looking into whether to issue “immunity passports” to people who have antibodies, which could let those individuals return to work sooner. There is no vaccine or treatment for coronavirus (although antiviral remdesivir, also granted emergency FDA authorization over the weekend, appeared to shorten recovery time in a federal trial). Coronavirus Vaccine In 12-18 Months Is ‘Ambitious’, Roche CEO Says (Forbes) Coronavirus Drug Update: The Latest Info On Pharmaceutical Treatments And Vaccines (Forbes) Coronavirus Business Tracker: How The Private Sector Is Fighting The COVID-19 Pandemic (Forbes) Handicapping The Most Promising Of 267 Potential Coronavirus Cures (Forbes) Gilead’s Antiviral Remdesivir Had A Good Day - But It’s Still Not Clear How Effective It Is Against COVID-19 (Forbes) Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
3 May 00:00 • Forbes • https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/05/03/fda-grants-emergency-authorization-to-roche-antibody-tests/Rating: 4.41
Roche gets FDA emergency use nod for COVID-19 antibody test
By Aakriti Bhalla and John Miller (Reuters) - Roche Holding AG (S:ROG) received emergency use approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for an antibody test to help determine if people have ever been infected with the coronavirus, the Swiss drugmaker said http://pdf.reuters.com/htmlnews/htmlnews.asp?i=43059c3bf0e37541&u= on Sunday. Governments, businesses and individuals are seeking such blood tests, to help them learn more about who may have had the disease, who may have some immunity and to potentially craft strategies to end lockdowns that have battered global economies. Roche had previously pledged to make its antibody test available by early May and to boost production by June to "high double-digit millions" per month. The Basel-based company, which also makes separate molecular tests to identify people with active COVID-19 infections, said its antibody test, Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, has a specificity rate of about 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%. These rates help determine if a patient has been exposed to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus, and if the patient has developed antibodies against it. Other companies including U.S.-based Abbott Laboratories (N:ABT), Becton Dickinson and Co (N:BDX), Italy's DiaSorin (MI:DIAS) have also developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. Diasorin and Abbott recently got U.S. emergency authorization for their tests. Countries have various plans to use such tests to better understand COVID-19, while also identifying those who were infected but showed only mild symptoms, or none at all. An erroneous false-positive result could lead to the mistaken conclusion that someone has immunity. In developing its test, Roche scrutinized some existing products for reliability before rejecting them, its chief executive, Severin Schwan, had earlier said. Schwan said there were about 100 such tests on offer, including finger-prick assays that offer a quick result. It declined to specify which rival tests it had studied, but said it was not referring to tests from established testing companies. Roche has said its antibody test requires an intravenous blood draw to determine the presence of antibodies including immunoglobulin G (IgG), which remains longer in the human body, suggesting possible immunity. As demand escalates for blood antibody tests, an array of distributors with no background or established competency in medical testing have joined experienced companies in an all-but-unregulated marketplace in the United States, according to a Reuters investigation. The rush to obtain, advertise and find buyers for test kits follows the FDA's decision to allow any company to sell antibody tests in the country without prior review by the agency. This comes after the agency faced criticism that it did not act quickly enough with diagnostic tests. FDA has said the aim of its policy is to provide laboratories and healthcare providers early access to the tests, but that it will adjust the approach as needed.
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/roche-gets-fda-emergency-use-approval-for-covid19-antibody-test-2158852Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus latest: World lights up to thank 'heroes' working to combat COVID-19
Updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC/GMT) 05:22 Swiss drugmaker Roche says it has been granted emergency use approval from the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for its coronavirus antibody test. Such blood tests have been seen by governments and businesses as a potentially important tool in working out who has contracted the virus, and who may be immune, as countries move towards lifting lockdowns. The Basel-based company had previously pledged to make the test, called Elecsys Anti-SARS-CoV-2, available by early May. It requires an intravenous blood draw, and is designed to determine if a patient has been exposed to the SARS-CoV-2 virus, and if they have developed antibodies against it. Roche said it had already started shipping the tests to laboratories around the world, with plans to "ramp up production capacity to the high double-digit millions per month." 04:49 The coronavirus death toll in Japan has surpassed 500. According to official figures cited by local broadcaster NHK, the number of fatalities now stands at 530, with more than 15,000 confirmed cases. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is expected to decide Monday whether to extend the nationwide state of emergency, which is set to expire on May 6. While citizens are encouraged to stay home, and many shops and businesses are closed, Japan has resisted imposing the kind of strict lockdown measures seen in some other countries. People have still been allowed to go out to parks and beaches, as well as to crowded places such as games halls. 04:04 The Australian state of Victoria has seen its biggest jump in new cases in several weeks while the country's most populous state, New South Wales, is dealing with a cluster of infections at an old people's care facility. Thirteen new cases have been registered in Victoria, health officials said, with six of the infections related to a meat processing facility in the state’s capital, Melbourne. "What I'm worried about is the unknown unknowns," Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said, pleading for more people to get tested. She added: "We want to make sure that if we have cases that are positive in the community we can identify those individuals... this is how we are going to defeat the virus." In New South Wales there were four new infections, two of which were reported at the Newmarch aged care facility in Sydney, where more than 60 people have contracted the novel virus, resulting in 14 deaths. 03:57 The number of confirmed cases in Germany has increased by 793 to 162,496, data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases has revealed. This represented a decrease of 152 on the previous day's amount of new infections as the number of daily cases in Germany continues to steadily decline. The reported death toll rose by 74 bringing the total number of fatalities to 6,649. 02:49 China has reported two new cases in its daily COVID-19 update, up from one the day before, the country's national health authority has revealed. One case was imported and the other was local, the National Health Commission (NHC) said. The NHC also reported 12 asymptomatic cases for May 2, down from 20 in the previous day's update. China has recorded 82,877 cases in total since the outbreak first emerged in the city of Wuhan while the country's death toll currently stands at 4,633. The Chinese government has taken a number of stringent measures to prevent the spread of COVID-19, including blocking almost all foreigners from entering the country and sharply curtailing the number of international flights. 02:08 German Health Minister Jens Spahn has raised ethical questions over the possibility of issuing so-called "immunity passports" to those who had already been infected with the novel coronavirus. Spahn expressed his concerns in a letter to the Ethics Council in Germany, according to newspaper Bild am Sonntag. The Christian Democratic Union (CDU) politician said it is "a matter of concern to him that the ethical aspects" are met while there were still questions over "how and in what context the proof of an immunity should be used." "Immunity passports" could be a way for key workers to get back to work as they will have developed the antibodies necessary to give them protection from the virus that has infected almost 3.5 million people worldwide. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) recently said it was yet to be convinced on the idea of any such certification being issued. 01:25 The United States has registered 1,435 deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of fatalities to 66,364, significantly more any other country in the world. The Johns Hopkins University has stated that more than 1.1 million infections have occurred in the country, having recorded its first case on January 20. 01:22 Doctors treating British Prime Minister Boris Johnson for coronavirus last month were prepared to announce his death after he was taken into intensive care, he told the Sun on Sunday newspaper. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he said. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario." "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." The British PM first announced he had contracted the virus on March 27 but at the time was only displaying mild symptoms. However, the following week it became apparent that his condition had deteriorated sufficiently for him to be admitted to hospital, where soon after he was moved to intensive care. Johnson spent three days on "oxygen support," and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his battle "could have gone either way." The 55-year-old and his partner Carrie Symonds announced the arrival of their newborn son earlier this week and said the child would bear the names of "the two doctors that saved Boris' life," Symonds said. Read more: UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson names baby after coronavirus doctors 01:17 Mexico's health ministry reported 1,349 new cases of the novel coronavirus on May 2, bringing the total number of infections in the country to over 22,000. The country also reported 89 more deaths, which brought the total death toll to over 2,000. 00:48 Panama has recorded 370 new cases, bringing its total to 7,090, and 197 deaths, the health ministry said. The ministry said the increase was partly because of ramping up testing. In addition, Luis Sucre, Panama's health vice minister, said about a quarter of all tests performed had come back positive. "This tells us that we're not meeting our required objectives for this phase," said Sucre. 00:02 The Eiffel Tower joined other famous landmarks around the world on Saturday in capping a sparkling tribute to those fighting against COVID-19. The initiative was first launched by the Empire State Building in New York last month. At 8 p.m. local time (1800 GMT), the Paris monument lit up in "sparkling white" to hail "the unfailing courage of care workers confronting the coronavirus pandemic," said SETE, the firm that manages the Eiffel Tower. The nine-day #HeroesShineBright initiative first began on April 24 in New York. Each night a different color is shone into the night sky to express gratitude towards healthcare staff, transit workers, and police or military personnel, SETE said. Other landmarks that have seen similar acts are the Euromast in Rotterdam, the 360 Observation Deck in Chicago, the UAE'S Burj Khalifa, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower in China, the Busan Tower in South Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia. 00:00 Catch up on yesterday's coronavirus news here: Coronavirus latest: Spain released from seven-week lockdown In reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, unless otherwise specified, DW uses figures provided by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Coronavirus Resource Center in the United States. JHU updates figures in real-time, collating data from world health organizations, state and national governments and other public official sources, all of whom have their own systems for compiling information. Germany's national statistics are compiled by its public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). These figures depend on data transmission from state and local levels and are updated around once a day, which can lead to deviation from JHU.jsi/sms (AP, AFP, Reuters, dpa)
3 May 00:00 • Deutsche Welle • https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-latest-world-lights-up-to-thank-heroes-working-to-combat-covid-19/a-53314901Rating: 3.71
COVID-19: Latest developments around the world
Here are a few latest developments in the coronavirus crisis: US authorities approve an experimental drug for emergency use on patients, in the latest step in the global push to find viable treatments and a vaccine. Remdesivir, an antiviral drug initially developed to treat Ebola, is given the green light after a major trial finds it boosted recovery in serious COVID-19 patients. In reassuring news for millions of people, three major studies say commonly used blood pressure medicines do not heighten susceptibility to infection, or increase the risk of becoming seriously ill with the disease. The World Health Organization reiterates that the virus was of natural origin after claims from US President Donald Trump he had seen evidence it originated in a Chinese lab. 241,682 people have died worldwide since the epidemic surfaced in China in December, according to an AFP tally at 1900 GMT Saturday based on official sources. In all, 3,398,390 cases have now been reported in 195 countries and territories. In the United States, which has the highest toll, 65,645 people have died. Italy is the second hardest-hit country, with 28,710 dead, followed by the United Kingdom with 28,131, Spain 25,100 and France 24,760. France will extend a health emergency imposed on March 24 for another two months until July 24, its health minister announces. “We are going to have to perform a long-distance run,” says Olivier Veran. The chairman of the national rail operator SNCF says his company has already lost two billion euros ($2.2 billion) during the crisis, and will likely apply for state aid and cut staff numbers. Spain’s nearly 47 million people, under strict lockdown since March 14, are allowed outside for walks or sport. Many restrictions remain, however. In towns of more than 5,000 inhabitants, children and the elderly cannot leave home at the same time. The International Monetary Fund approves a $643 million emergency loan for Ecuador, hard hit by the pandemic and low oil prices. The repatriation of Europeans who found themselves outside the EU when borders closed as part of national lockdowns is almost complete, says the head of European diplomacy Josep Borrell. Rock legend Mick Jagger and Hollywood’s Will Smith will be among dozens of international and Bollywood stars taking part in a four-hour concert Sunday to raise funds for the battle against the virus in India, where the number of cases is surging. AFP
2 May 21:10 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/latest-covid-19-developments-around-the-world/Rating: 0.30
COVID-19 UAE: Stem cell treatment is supportive, not curative
Abu Dhabi: The innovative and promising treatment for COVID-19 infections using stem cells is supportive not curative, it helps patients to defeat the COVID-19 symptoms rather than eradicating the virus itself, a top health official has revealed on Saturday. While speaking during the UAE Government regular media briefing , Dr. Fatima Al Kaabi, Head of Hematology and Oncology Department at Sheikh Khalifa Medical City, and research assistant of the Stem Cell Project, said: “At the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, we are proud to work on developing a supportive treatment for COVID-19 patients, which is undergoing clinical trials for the first time in the UAE, this is a national achievement”. Dr. Fatima added: “We have successfully passed the initial phase of clinical trials - with 73 patients making full recoveries without any adverse side effects. The recipients were moderately or severely ill before treatment, with 25 per cent of them were at ICUs”. “We are finalizing data collection to establish the effectiveness of this treatment, comparing a control group with the same characteristics of the patients that received the treatment. Next steps involve evaluating its effectiveness and application to a wider group”. She further said: “A total of 28 researchers at Abu Dhabi Stem Cells Center worked on isolating an early-developed stem cell that maintains regenerative qualities. The procedure is less invasive, only requiring drawing blood from patients, and administration is done via jet nebulization method”. “After we collect blood and separate cells, we put them through a biochemical process whereby the patient’s own platelets growth factor is used to activate the cells. We believe they are able to regenerate damaged cells, help in repairing pulmonary damage,” Al Kaabi noted. Dr. Fatima also said: “Stem cells are a special type of cells found throughout the human body. They have multiple characteristics including the ability to transform into other types of cells and reproduce indefinitely to create more of the same cells. The idea behind using stem cells in treatments is to harness their unique characteristics to regenerate cells that do not regenerate on their own”. She highlighted that stem cells have been used as supportive therapies in many cases, including leukemia and immunodeficiency disorders for more than 30 years. Also speaking during the briefing was Prof. Alawi Al Sheikh-Ali, Emirates Scientists Council‘s spokesperson. “The scientific community of the UAE continues to focus on the Novel Coronavirus (Covid-19). Several research groups across UAE universities are conducting extensive studies to reach a deeper understanding of the virus” Prof. Alawi said. He added: “A group of researchers from the University of Sharjah and Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences worked on a study to understand why older adults and patients with comorbidities get severe COVID19 symptoms than younger populations”. Emirates Scientists Council‘s spokesperson noted that the study has found that children have less of specific receptors called (ACE2) in their nasal and lung tissue compared to adults, which make the virus entry possible. Also, the study has found that these receptors are increased in smokers, patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD), asthmatic patients, and patients with pulmonary hypertension. Another study with collaborative team including Mohammed bin Rashid University of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Sharjah and Al Jalila Children’s Specialty Hospital is examining the relationship between obesity and COVID-19, he underlined. The findings of the studies contribute to our understanding of why older adults and people with comorbidities may be at a higher risk of infection and develop severe COVID19 symptoms. They also confirm the need to adhere to the precautionary measures set by the UAE Government, he added.
2 May 19:02 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/uae/covid-19-uae-stem-cell-treatment-is-supportive-not-curative-1.1588446269179Rating: 3.21
1 million tested for Covid in India; 10k recover
The number of people tested for the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) in India crossed a million on Saturday, up from 38,914 on April 1, which takes the number of tests to almost 770 per million of the population. And the number of recoveries crossed 10,000. On Friday, India tested 74,507 samples, of which around 85% of the tests were done at government labs using the Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RT-PCR), which is the only diagnostic test for Covid-19 approved by the World Health Organization. “We have made a quantum jump in testing. We plan to ramp it up further to move towards a situation where we can test everyone who needs it. The number of labs doing Covid-19 tests has gone up, with 406 labs -- of which 105 are private ones -- now testing for Covid-19 across states,” said C K Mishra, secretary, environment, and co-chair of the PM’s high-level committee on preparedness for a medical emergency. The health ministry expects testing to cross 100,000 tests a day next week, up from 5,580 a day on April 1. “Positivity remains low except for the 20 cities, which are still a cause of concern as the Covid-19 curve doesn’t appear to be flattening there. The strategy for the future will be ramping up surveillance in these cities so we test every case of influenza-like illness to inform the containment response,” said a health ministry official who asked not to be named RT-PCR is used for qualitative detection of genetic material called nucleic acid (RNA) from Sars-CoV-2, the virus that causes Covid-19, and is the most accurate diagnostic test for infection, while other tests, such as rapid antibody tests, are surveillance tools that cannot test for current infection. Among the 304 government labs, 254 use Real-Time RT PCR systems, 42 use TrueNat machines, and use Gene-Xpert cartridge-based nucleic acid amplification test (CBNAAT) for Covid-19. Truenat is a small battery-operated machine that can run 32 to 48 samples and produces results in one hour, while CBNAAT machines are widely available in low-resource rural settings, where it is used to test for tuberculosis. India has added two more high throughput systems that are capable of running 1,100-1,200 tests in one shift to the existing two in Noida and Bhubhaneshwar. “Labs in Noida and Bhubaneshwar already have high-throughput systems, another one has been added to Bangalore, and a new one has arrived, which will be installed in National Centres of Disease Control in Delhi to increase testing capacity further,” said Mishra. India has testing kits in stock for another 11-12 days, and the threat of interrupted supply of RNA extraction kits from China is being addressed by domestic suppliers, who now provide 70,000-80,000 kits a day. “With local suppliers coming into play, shortages are no longer an overwhelming concern,” said the health ministry official. The health ministry has taken steps to address the pendency issue, where labs were taking several days to send back results. An examination of national showed Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Delhi being identified as the states with the highest pendency. In Delhi, the National Institute of Biologicals in Noida was identified as a bottleneck, with the lab’s capacity to test 1,000-1,100 samples a day being stretched because of the arrival of samples from both Uttar Pradesh and Delhi. It resulted in around 9,000 results being pending, of which close to 5,000 were from Delhi. “We asked Delhi to withdraw its samples and send them to private labs for testing, and now the problem is sorted. Delayed data entry in some states is still a challenge, but we are working on that,” said the health ministry official, who is part of the team coordinating with states. Public health experts hope more people with symptoms will come forward to get tested following the health ministry order that now allows for home quarantine of mild cases. “People are not stupid, no one wants to die. We have to empower them to protect themselves. Japan now asks people with fever and cough to stay home quarantined and get tested only if the symptoms worsen or don’t go away a week later,” said Mishra. According to HT’s dashboard, the number of infections were 39,911 on Saturday night, with 1,319 deaths and 10,758 recoveries.
2 May 18:11 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/1mn-tested-for-covid-in-india-10k-recover/story-SANAO358Z79yqNuGnP6NxN.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus | Can antibody tests help tackle COVID-19?
The story so far: In the COVID-19 fight, the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR) had advised States to use antibody testing for surveillance and reiterated that the focus has always been on real time RT-PCR (or real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction) tests for diagnosis. The rapid testing kits that State governments had been using to detect antibodies to the novel coronavirus were throwing up unreliable results. In Rajasthan for example, rapid testing kits failed to detect antibodies even when the laboratories had confirmed patients to be COVID-19 positive. There are two ways to detect the presence of a virus, directly or indirectly. Antibody tests, also called serological tests, have usually been the time-tested approach to finding out the presence of a virus in the body. They do so by detecting the presence and quantity of antibodies that are produced by the immune system to battle an infection. It is an indirect test because it cannot find the virus, but it can determine if the immune system has encountered it. Editorial | Rapid failures: On antibody testing kits Antibodies can show up between nine to 28 days after an infection has set in; by that time, an infected person, if not isolated, can spread the disease. Sometimes the antibodies may be produced in response to a closely-related pathogen and sometimes they may not be the right kind to counter the infection. These are the factors that can make an antibody test erroneous. In an RT-PCR test, a nasal or throat swab is taken from a patient suspected of having the disease. The test involves extracting RNA or ribonucleic acid, the genetic material of the virus, and checking if it shares the same genetic sequence as the SARS-CoV-2 virus. If it is a match, the sample is deemed positive. The only way such tests turn negative is if the actual sample does not have the virus or the swab was not properly administered and too little of the virus was gleaned. As the sequencing of genomes is now widespread and the technology well understood by experts in several countries, China, and subsequently others, were quickly able to determine the structure of the SARS-CoV-2 coronavirus and learn what differentiates it from related viruses. This is why it was possible to prepare accurate tests to detect the virus relatively quickly, almost in the middle of a pandemic, and the RT-PCR tests began to be followed as the ‘gold standard’ in detecting the virus. As not enough research hours have been spent studying the antibodies and the profile of recovered patients, the antibody tests we have for COVID-19 are imperfect. Coronavirus | Rapid antibody tests kits can’t be used, Centre informs Bombay High Court Antibody tests are fast and relatively inexpensive. The current RT-PCR technology requires RNA extracting machines, a specialised laboratory, and trained technicians. And at least a minimum of 30 samples are needed to make the process economically viable. The tests are done in batches and it can take up to four hours to confidently test for the presence of a virus from a batch. If one adds the time taken to isolate the RNA from swabs, this could again take a couple of hours. The scale of logistics involved can mean that it can practically take a day for results from a sample to be known. If one adds the cost of chemicals needed to perform these tests and the vagaries of importing practically every element of the paraphernalia involved, in the midst of a pandemic when demand far exceeds supply, it results in the test not being cheap. It can cost at least ₹4,500 depending on whether one is tested at a public or privately-run facility. Antibody tests are portable, can be administered on-site, conducted en masse and give quick answers. However, these answers are useful in-so-far as those who are using them are asking the right questions. Comment | Testing for COVID-19 in India Given that they are not useful for directly detecting the presence of the virus, antibody tests can be used to gauge the extent of infection in a community or a large group of people who may have had exposure to the virus. Much like pregnancy detection kits, rapid-test kits change colour when particular molecules are detected. Two kinds of antibodies result from an infection: Immunoglobulin M and Immunoglobulin G (IgM and IgG). In response to an infection, the IgM is first produced within a week of infection. Two weeks later, the levels of IgM reduce and are replaced by IgG. The latter is a longer-lasting antibody and, depending on the infectious agent involved, can offer different durations of immunity. Antibodies to the chickenpox virus last for decades. Those to influenza viruses and even other coronaviruses (that cause the common cold) last no more than a year or two. This is why people need flu shots at regular intervals, and one of the reasons why it is practically pointless to have a vaccine for the common cold. It is too early in the course of the COVID-19 pandemic to determine how long immunity lasts. Nevertheless the presence of IgM, IgG can in a sample of the population determine whether the virus is present in certain clusters. Ideally, this can help government authorities decide on what regions in a lockdown can be opened up if the aim is to get regular life back on track as soon as possible. Experts speak | COVID-19: The tests reveal all This is what happened when infections had reached frightening proportions in the United States and Europe. It was apparent that the limitations of the RT-PCR combined with the virus’s ability to spread even through those who were not visibly sick would mean large numbers would be infected without being detected. Rapid antibody tests can also play a role in determining the degree of “herd immunity” in a population. That is, the true number who may have been infected; when a sizeable fraction of the population has been infected, the virus ceases its pace of spread. Current research expects herd immunity to have been achieved when 55% to 80% of the population has been infected — only careful serological surveys can establish that. Studies in India too have shown that for every symptomatic positive, there are two asymptomatic or presymptomatics (those who do not visibly manifest the disease). Thus, antibody tests could also be used for such estimates in India. The ICMR had laid out the strategy to use antibody tests to gauge the degree of COVID-19 presence in the country. The plan involved using a combination of both RT-PCR and antibody tests to establish infection levels. Two Chinese companies, Wondfo and Livzon, got licences to sell 500,000 rapid antibody kits to the ICMR. Several of these were to be given to States and some were for the ICMR’s own use. A first batch was deployed in some States and soon complaints began pouring in over inaccurate results. The ICMR then asked States to stop using these kits for two days. After two days, the ICMR advised States to stop using the kits altogether. The Health Ministry has cancelled the licences given to the companies that were importing these kits from China. So far, the ICMR has not clarified what was wrong with the kits. The Chinese companies have also claimed that the kits were validated by the ICMR’s expert body, the National Institute of Virology (NIV). However, the NIV only clears batches of kits that are submitted for testing. It is possible that even if a company’s kits get cleared, it ends up supplying kits on the field that are not up to the mark. Editorial | Focus on the curve: On India’s COVID-19 numbers Another feature of the kits is their sensitivity (in percentage terms, the times the tests correctly identify people as positive for an infection) and specificity (in percentage terms, the times the test correctly rules out those not carrying the virus). Specificity refers to its ability to accurately distinguish between the target virus and other viruses. It is a well-established feature of tests that in regions of low actual prevalence of a disease, they can, depending on the kit’s specificity and sensitivity, miscategorise vast numbers of those tested. It is not clear if these were factored in in tests using kits blamed as faulty by States. India is not the only place where complaints over Chinese kits have been raised. The United Kingdom and Spain have also raised such issues with these kits. In either event, there is no clarity if the ICMR has ordered more kits. The Health Minister, Dr. Harsh Vardhan, has said that by the end of May, the country will have kits that are made in India for antibody and RT-PCR tests.
2 May 18:32 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/health/coronavirus-can-antibody-tests-help-tackle-covid-19/article31490919.eceRating: 0.30
Breakthrough COVID-19 Treatment Developed by UAE Stem Cell Center
A patent has been granted by the UAE’s Ministry of Economy for the development of an innovative and promising treatment for coronavirus infections using stem cells, Emirates News Agency (WAM) reported on Friday. The treatment was developed by a team of doctors and researchers at the Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center, ADSCC, and involves extracting stem cells from the patient’s own blood and reintroducing them after activating them. The patent was granted for the innovative method in which the stem cells are collected, WAM said. The treatment was administered in the UAE to 73 COVID-19 patients who recovered after they were successfully treated by inhaling the treatment, which had been nebulized into a fine mist, into their lungs. The treatment has successfully undergone the initial phase of clinical trials, demonstrating its safety. None of the patients who have received the treatment reported immediate adverse effects and there have been no interactions found with the conventional treatment protocols for COVID-19 patients, WAM said. Trials to demonstrate the efficacy of the treatment are ongoing and are expected to be completed in a couple of weeks, it added. According to WAM, the treatment has been given to patients along with the conventional medical intervention and will continue to be applied as an adjunct to established treatment protocols rather than as a replacement. Non-pharmacological interventions to prevent the spread of COVID-19 such as staying at home, social distancing and infection prevention and control measures remain necessary to reduce the burden of the disease on the healthcare system, said WAM.
2 May 05:30 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2263481/breakthrough-covid-19-treatment-developed-uae-stem-cell-centerRating: 2.10
Egypt contracts with Gilead to get remdesivir drug for COVID-19 patients
CAIRO - 2 May 2020: Egypt contracted with the U.S. Gilead Sciences to get antiviral medicine Remdesivir for the new coronavirus COVID-19 patients, said Egyptian Ministry of Health Hala Zayed. In a phone call with Al-Hikaya talk show on MBC channel on Friday, the minister added that the World Health Organization (WHO) confirmed that the first cargo of the medicine will be sent to Egypt. The ministry has previously announced that it started injecting plasma of patients who have recovered from the deadly COVID-19 into severely ill patients with the novel virus. Plasma from recovered cases has the antibodies required to battle the virus inside other patients and curb its replication. Moreover, Egypt contacted the Japanese manufacturer of the antiviral drug Avigan to treat patients. The drug, developed by a group firm of Fujifilm Holdings Corp., has been stored in Japan as a treatment for influenza. Reports in China showed that the drug has been effective in treating COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus. Japan plans to provide Avigan for free to 20 countries hoping to use it to treat COVID-19 patients and will provide the United Nations Office for Project Services with a $1 million grant to buy and distribute the drug, according to Japan’s national daily The Mainichi. Egypt recorded 298 new coronavirus cases and 9 deaths in the last 24 hours, bringing the total infected patients of COVID-19 to 6,193 and the total deaths to 415 according to the Health Minister's daily briefing on Saturday.
2 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/1/85341/Egypt-contracts-with-Gilead-to-get-remdesivir-drug-for-COVIDRating: 0.67
Struggling to scale COVID-19 tests, Nigeria considers antibodies diagnosis in general population
As Nigeria struggles to ramp up the number of COVID-19 tests, the country is now considering doing serological diagnosis within its general population to determine the total number of people infected with the virus. Nigeria sits among countries with the least number of standard coronavirus tests conducted worldwide. As of April 30, 2020, Nigeria has only carried out 12,828 reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) tests, which translates to 62 tests in every 1 million Nigerians. RT-PCR is the standard coronavirus test. It usually involves the use of a sterile swab inserted to the back of a person’s nasal passage and throat to absorb secretions, which are then tested for the presence of SARS-CoV2 in a molecular laboratory. Nigeria has 15 molecular laboratories with an aggregate capacity to undertake 2,500 tests per day, President Muhammadu Buhari claimed. However, last Sunday the director of Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), Chikwe Ihekweazu, confessed that the country was in desperate need of test kits and gave specifications and preferred manufacturers “We’re desperately looking for more RNA (Ribonucleic Acid) extraction kits as we expand #COVID19 testing. Product: Total viral RNA extraction kits (preferably spin column and with a lysis buffer). Manufacturers: Qiagen, ThermoFischer, SeeGene, Inqaba, LifeRiver etc,” he wrote on Twitter. Though the NCDC announced an “ambitious” plan to test two million people in the coming months, it, however, admitted that the financial implication of this plan was going to be enormous. Serological Diagnosis Thus, in order to determine the extent of the spread of the virus in the country, the Nigerian Institute of Medical Research (NIMR) in conjunction with the University College in London, said it planned to do a serological survey across Nigeria. “We are working with some of our colleagues in the PTF to do serological study,” Babatunde Salako, the director-general of the NIMR, told PREMIUM TIMES during a telephone chat. “This study will look at the community and the development of antibodies against COVID-19 in the community so that we can determine how widespread the infection has been, how many people have come in contact with that virus since we are not testing anybody. That is the only test that can show us how widely spread is the disease within a particular community.” “The one that we want to do is to assess in the general population how many people have such antibodies. That then means we would be able to project how many people within the population had come in contact with the virus. “A large majority of the virus people(carriers) are asymptomatic, so they don’t know if they have the disease. Naturally, they develop antibodies, their bodies fight the virus and kill the virus because of the antibodies, and they can get well, and they don’t know,” he added. Mr Salako, a professor, explained that because serological tests involved the use of conventional test equipment, it does not have the financial burden of the difficult-to-come-by test kits needed for RT-PCR tests. “What we are using is the gold standard for testing. In serological tests, you just take blood from the patient. You don’t need that kind of serious equipment (used in RT-PCR tests),” he said. However, Mr Salako said despite the lower cost implications of serological tests, the plan might not take off if funds were not immediately earmarked for it. The professor said he was concerned that researches into possible understanding and remedies are not getting enough attention in the country. He, however, said he was hopeful that in the coming days the Nigerian government and private institutions supporting efforts at controlling the spread of the disease would make funds available to support research endeavours. “Everybody both public and private are much more concern about case detection and case management and control of the disease than research. Whereas research is very key to the control and to the treatment of the disease. We are not seeing any clear-cut budget for research from the government. “No special fund for that now but I must quickly say, I am part of a meeting with the Federal Ministry of Health and we have recently been asked to put together our action plans and I imagine that through that action plan, they might be planning to give fund for research,” he said. WHO preaches caution While serological tests may help countries such as Nigeria understand the spread of the virus in their population, the World Health Organisation (WHO) in a brief released on April 24, 2020, warned that it should not be used as the basis for an “immunity passport” explaining that there is not enough evidence that people with antibodies are protected from being re-infected. “WHO continues to review the evidence on antibody responses to SARS-CoV-2 infection.2-17 Most of these studies show that people who have recovered from infection have antibodies to the virus. However, some of these people have very low levels of neutralizing antibodies in their blood,4 suggesting that cellular immunity may also be critical for recovery. As of 24 April 2020, no study has evaluated whether the presence of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2 confers immunity to subsequent infection by this virus in humans,” the brief read. “People who assume that they are immune to a second infection because they have received a positive test result may ignore public health advice. The use of such certificates may, therefore, increase the risks of continued transmission. As new evidence becomes available, WHO will update this scientific brief,” the brief added. Apart from NIMR’s planned serological test, scientists around the country are working on several responses to the outbreak of the coronavirus pandemic. These responses include the development of a rapid diagnostics, the development of a vaccine, and at least two clinical trials of two potential herbal treatment of symptoms associated with the virus. Development of a rapid test, vaccine At the forefront of these efforts is the African Centre of Excellence for Genomics of Infectious Diseases (ACEGID), located at Redeemer University in Ede, Osun State. The centre rose to national prominence during the 2014-2016 Ebola outbreak after it developed a five-minute diagnostics test for Ebola. Going forward the centre also developed a five-minute test for Lassa fever. Keeping with its pacesetting tradition, ACEGID, in collaboration with researchers from other institutions, did the first genomic sequence of SARS-CoV-2. Christian Happi, the coordinator of the centre told PREMIUM TIMES that the sequence was done within 48 hours, which he said was unprecedented globally. Just like it did during the outbreak of Ebola, and with Lassa fever, Mr Happi, a professor, told PREMIUM TIMES that the centre is working on developing a rapid 10-minute diagnostics for coronavirus, which could help improve Nigeria’s abysmal testing numbers. “We are working on developing rapid diagnostics. We are working to produce a-10-minutes rapid diagnostics. The Ebola diagnostics is different, but we are using the same technology to develop something similar. We are not there yet. I just want people to know that we have the technology. And we have done the same thing for Lassa fever. And we want to believe we would do the same thing for COVID-19,” he said. Mr Happi, also added that his centre is working on the development of a vaccine in collaboration with the University of Cambridge. He explained this was possible because of the successful genomic sequence of a sample of virus collected from Nigeria’s index case, an Italian. “Because we were able to sequence the whole genome, we have the ability to see the virus and see the areas of strength and areas of weakness of the virus. So, we want to use the areas of weakness of the virus to develop and vaccine. “We are working quietly on it, but we are at the very early stage. We are working on a collaboration with the University of Cambridge. It has cost implications but what we are doing right now is to put together a technology that can drive the production of the vaccine. We need additional technology to do that and that is what we are doing,” he said. He explained that because the virus is easily mutable, his institution is working to develop a technology that does not only lead to the production of a vaccine but one that makes it possible to adapt to a new strain of the virus within days. “If you are reading the literature, there is almost 30 strains of the virus circulating now This virus has the ability to change very fast so we are working on a technology that will be agile. If we see a new strain within three or four days, we can adapt our technology for that strain. We need technology and innovation; we need creativity in order to fight this virus. It is not business as usual. We have to keep an open mind that accepts and embrace innovation,” he said. Clinical trial of ‘repurposed’ drugs Mr Salako, the director of the NIMR, also told PREMIUM TIMES that country isn’t left out from the global experimentation of treating coronavirus patients with drugs which have been previously used to treat diseases such as HIV, Ebola and malaria. He said the study is being done in collaboration with foremost Nigerian tertiary medical institutions such as the College of Medicine at the University of Ibadan, Lagos University Teaching Hospitals and isolation centres across the country. “One of the drugs is Remdesivir which is used for Ebola virus and then there are other drugs for HIV virus and chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine. These drugs have been used in several places since the advent of COVID-19. Reports from China and France and a few other places show that chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine help the outcome of the disease. There are others that show that it didn’t help, so there is no consensus about the use of chloroquine. “But we thought we should also look at chloroquine and hydroxychloroquine and because this is a drug we have used for donkey years in Nigeria and so we are capable of knowing what side effect that can come from that drug and capable of managing those side effects,” he said. Herbal remedies Scientists at the University of Ibadan and the Federal University Dutse (FUD) have also commenced the study of herbal remedies to treat some of the symptoms in critical cases of the virus. At the University of Ibadan, researchers have started the clinical trial of a trial called Euphorbia Hirta to treat symptoms such as dry cough, fever and respiratory ailment associated with COVID-19. When reached for comment about the study, Idayat Gbadamosi, a member of the team of researcher told PREMIUM TIMES that they decided to study the plant following ethnobotanical information and the experience of users. She, however, refused to give details about the size of the population sample and preliminary results of the study. “We are conducting a clinical trial. We won’t divulge information until we are doing with the research,” she said. Similarly, at FUD, scientists are at the early stages of studying plants to treat acute pneumonia, fever and other symptoms of COVID-19. Salihu Ibrahim, the head of the research team, told PREMIUM TIMES that they are working in collaboration with traditional medicinal practitioners. “Eighty per cent of the population in Africa relies on traditional medicines because of accessibility and affordability. Traditional medical practitioners have vest knowledge of plants which they used to take care of diseases. The University is an institution for teaching, research and making policy. He said the clinical trial will test those plants for toxicity and long-term side effects. When asked if his team was working with local laboratories such as ACEGID, that has done the genomic sequence of the virus, Mr Ibrahim said, the research was in progress and it was too early to reveal details of what his team are exploring. “When the results are out, we shall call the press to tell them our findings,” he said.
2 May 10:54 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/news/headlines/390996-struggling-to-scale-covid-19-tests-nigeria-considers-antibodies-diagnosis-in-general-population.htmlRating: 0.30
UAE's corona treatment may be a game-changer
By Joanne SerriehDUBAI -- A United Arab Emirates research institute has developed a coronavirus treatment using stem cells “which could be a game-changer in the global fight” against the outbreak, a government official announced on Friday.The Abu Dhabi Stem Cell Center has developed a treatment method that regenerates lung cells and prevents the immune system from overreacting, Hend Al-Otaiba, Director of Strategic Communications with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, said in a Twitter thread.She said the treatment involves the extraction of stem cells from a patient’s own blood and reintroducing them into the lungs via inhalation of a mist.“[This] could have a significant impact on our ability to live with the virus until a vaccine is available,” Al Otaiba added.The treatment has successfully undergone an initial phase of clinical trials, with no harmful side effects, on 73 patients making full recoveries, according to the director. The Ministry of Economy granted a patent for the development of the treatment, official WAM news agency reported.Many of the trial patients were moderately to severely ill prior to treatment, and many were incubated in an intensive care unit, according to Al-Otaiba.More trials are being conducted and a clearer understanding of the treatment’s potential should be available in the coming weeks. -- Al Arabiya English
2 May 12:03 • Saudi Gazette • https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/592591/World/Mena/UAEs-corona-treatmentmay-be-a-game-changerRating: 0.30
US Scientists Design Coronavirus Test Detecting Carriers Before They Become Infectious - Report
The development comes as the US Food and Drug Administration has authorised the use of remdesivir, a drug originally developed to treat Ebola. It will be used on people hospitalised with COVID-19. A recent trial showed that remdesivir helps shorten the recovery time, however, it doesn’t improve survival rates. US scientists working for the military have designed a COVID-19 test that could potentially identify virus carriers before they become infectious and spread the disease, The Guardian reported. Researchers hope that their creation will be able to detect the virus as early as 24 hours after an individual is infected – 4 days earlier than existing tests. Unlike nasal swab tests that hunt for the virus itself, the new test looks at the body’s response to the disease. The project developed by the US Defence Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA) was initially designed to quickly detect germ and chemical warfare poisoning, but was repurposed after the coronavirus outbreak. It will be now be evaluated by the US Food and Drug Administration and should it be approved it could become the absolute gamechanger, said Dr Brad Ringeisen, head of DARPA’s biological technologies office. "The concept fills a diagnostic gap worldwide", said Ringeisen. The development comes as some countries prepare to ease lockdown measures introduced to curb the spread of the virus. Opponents of lifting restrictions say this may bring a second wave of the outbreak.
2 May 12:35 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/us/202005021079172233-us-scientists-design-coronavirus-test-detecting-carriers-before-they-become-infectious---report/Rating: 3.96
South Korea to relax social distancing rules further, starting May 6
3 May 11:04
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14 articles
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Weighted average GB: 0.7636304199906234
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Weighted average IN: 6.899445475558979
South Korea to relax social distancing rules further, starting May 6
SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korea will further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses, as the nation has largely managed to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday. Widespread testing, intensive contact tracing and tracking apps have enabled South Korea to limit the spread of the virus rather than rely on the lengthy lockdowns seen elsewhere. The government “will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines,” the prime minister told a televised meeting of government officials. Further easing of rules means public facilities such as parks, libraries as well as schools could reopen in phases, although the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended citizens to continue to exercise some caution in everyday life. The new guidelines from the government advise everyone to stay home for three to four days if they feel unwell, stay arms-apart with others in public spaces, and wash hands frequently. Seoul extended its social distancing policy until May 5 even as it managed to bring down daily infection cases of more than 900 in late February to around 10 per day in the past week. The national tally is at 10,793 as of midnight Saturday, with 250 deaths.
3 May 11:04 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-southkorea-idUSKBN22F06CRating: 4.04
Coronavirus | South Korea to relax social distancing rules further from May 6
South Korea will further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses, as the nation has largely managed to bring the COVID-19 outbreak under control, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday. Widespread testing, intensive contact tracing and tracking apps have enabled South Korea to limit the spread of the virus rather than rely on the lengthy lockdowns seen elsewhere. The government “will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines,” the Prime Minister told a televised meeting of government officials. Further easing of rules means public facilities such as parks, libraries as well as schools could reopen in phases, although the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended citizens to continue to exercise some caution in everyday life. The new guidelines from the government advise everyone to stay home for three to four days if they feel unwell, stay arms-apart with others in public spaces, and wash hands frequently. Seoul extended its social distancing policy until May 5 even as it managed to bring down daily infection cases of more than 900 in late February to around 10 per day in the past week. The national tally is at 10,793 as of midnight Saturday, with 250 deaths. Some professional sports, including baseball and soccer, are due to start their new seasons this week after being postponed over virus fears, although the matches will be played behind closed doors.
3 May 16:55 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-south-korea-to-relax-social-distancing-rules-further-from-may-6/article31495660.eceRating: 0.30
S.Korea to Relax Social Distancing Rules Further, Starting May 6
South Korea will further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses, as the nation has largely managed to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday. Widespread testing, intensive contact tracing and tracking apps have enabled South Korea to limit the spread of the virus rather than rely on the lengthy lockdowns seen elsewhere. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories The government "will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines," the prime minister told a televised meeting of government officials. Further easing of rules means public facilities such as parks, libraries as well as schools could reopen in phases, although the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention recommended citizens to continue to exercise some caution in everyday life. The new guidelines from the government advise everyone to stay home for three to four days if they feel unwell, stay arms-apart with others in public spaces, and wash hands frequently. Seoul extended its social distancing policy until May 5 even as it managed to bring down daily infection cases of more than 900 in late February to around 10 per day in the past week. The national tally is at 10,793 as of midnight Saturday, with 250 deaths.
3 May 14:14 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/science-and-health/s-korea-to-relax-social-distancing-rules-further-starting-may-6-1.8816585Rating: 1.13
South Korea to relax COVID-19 social distancing rules further from May 6
SEOUL: South Korea will further relax social distancing rules starting on May 6, allowing a phased reopening of businesses, as the nation has largely managed to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control, Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said on Sunday (May 3). The government "will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines," he told a televised meeting of government officials. Scores of events - from K-pop concerts to sports seasons - had been delayed or cancelled, while museums and galleries were closed and religious services suspended. The easing of measures comes as the country continues to record low numbers of COVID-19 infections. South Korea appears to have brought its outbreak under control thanks to an extensive "trace, test and treat" programme. Its reported death toll is 250 - vastly lower than that of Italy, Britain, Spain and France, which have each recorded at least 24,000 fatalities. "South Korea will implement the everyday life quarantine scheme starting Wednesday," Chung said during a government meeting. On Sunday, the country reported 13 new cases, bringing the national tally to 10,793, according to the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC). Ten of the new cases were imported. On Thursday, South Korea had no new domestic coronavirus cases for the first time since its Feb 29 peak. However, imported cases still remain a threat, said Yonhap news agency. Under the new quarantine scheme starting on Wednesday, schools and workplaces can return to normal routines, but under basic guidelines. The government is also set to announce this week the dates for students to return to school, which is expected to be some time around mid-May, according to Yonhap news agency. "The new guidelines are more of a compromise amid rising social and economic burdens sparked by the pandemic," Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a meeting, as reported by Yonhap. "People need to comply with basic guidelines, such as maintaining at least two meters of distance from each other, even after we move on to the everyday life quarantine," Chung added. Some professional sports, including baseball and soccer, are due to start their new seasons this week after being postponed over virus fears, although the matches will be played behind closed doors. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 17:11 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/south-korea-to-relax-covid-19-social-distancing-rules-further-12697852Rating: 3.25
Jordan lifts curbs on economy as coronavirus lockdown eases
Jordan says it has lifted all restrictions on economic activity in the latest easing of coronavirus lockdown rules to help jump-start the cash-strapped economy. Jordan has in the last two weeks been lifting restrictions to allow businesses back to work, but with lower levels of staff and strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Minister of Industry and Trade Tariq Hammouri said on Sunday businesses and industries would now be able to resume production. Public transport will be allowed to return to full normal service with safety guidelines following the outbreak, but universities and schools will remain closed and a night curfew will continue. Jordan has reported 460 confirmed coronavirus cases and nine deaths but says it has now contained the outbreak. The government of Prime Minister Omar al-Razzaz won widespread praise for quick moves to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But as the economic impact deepened, the government faced criticism from business groups and there were fears of social unrest.
3 May 17:39 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/jordan-lifts-curbs-economy-coronavirus-lockdown-eases-200503165530904.htmlRating: 2.44
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions slowly being relaxed across the country
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resume his COVID-19 briefings to the nation today after taking a rare day off from the daily routine on Saturday. With clear evidence of the pandemic curve flattening in Canada, some provinces have already begun relaxing certain lockdown restrictions, with others, including hardest hit Ontario and Quebec, set to do so on Monday. All are taking a cautious approach, maintaining physical distancing rules as the steps for reopening for business are phased in over weeks or months to try to guard against a second wave of infections. Canada's top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, said in a press release yesterday that by following public health recommendations, we have collectively brought down the rate of infection. "We are flattening the curve," she wrote. Tam added that while there is reason for cautious optimism, everyone must remain aware of their duty to protect one another in the weeks ahead, especially those at greatest risk. Public health officials reported another 175 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada yesterday, pushing the total to 3,566. The overall number of coronavirus cases stood at 56,714, which was an increase of 1,653 over 24 hours.
3 May 10:37 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-slowly-being-relaxed-across-the-country-1.4922655Rating: 1.66
COVID-19: Jordan lifts all curbs on economic activity in latest easing of lockdown
Amman: Jordan said on Sunday it had lifted all restrictions on economic activity in the latest easing of coronavirus lockdown rules to help jump-start the cash-strapped economy. Jordan has in the last two weeks been lifting restrictions to allow businesses back to work, but with lower levels of staff and strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Minister of Industry and Trade Tariq Hammouri said businesses and industries would now be able to resume production. Public transport will be allowed to return to full normal service with safety guidelines following the outbreak, but universities and schools will remain closed and a night curfew will continue. Jordan has reported 460 confirmed coronavirus cases and nine deaths but says it has now contained the outbreak. The government of Prime Minister Omar al Razzaz won widespread praise for quick moves to curb the spread of the coronavirus. But as the economic impact deepened, the government faced criticism from business groups and there were fears of social unrest.
3 May 16:59 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/covid-19-jordan-lifts-all-curbs-on-economic-activity-in-latest-easing-of-lockdown-1.1588525339512Rating: 3.21
Jordan Lifts All Curbs on Economic Activity
Jordan said on Sunday it had lifted all restrictions on economic activity in the latest easing of coronavirus lockdown rules to help jump-start the economy. Jordan has in the last two weeks been lifting restrictions to allow businesses back to work, but with lower levels of staff and strict social distancing and hygiene guidelines. Reuters quoted Minister of Industry and Trade Tariq Hammouri as saying that businesses and industries would now be able to resume production. Public transport will be allowed to return to full normal service with safety guidelines following the outbreak, but universities and schools will remain closed and a night curfew will continue. Jordan has reported 460 confirmed coronavirus cases and nine deaths but says it has now contained the outbreak.
3 May 17:15 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2265746/jordan-lifts-all-curbs-economic-activityRating: 2.10
Abe looks to extend state of emergency through May 31; some facilities may be OK'd to reopen
TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is planning to extend Japan's state of emergency by around a month through May 31 to fight the novel coronavirus, a government official said Sunday. The government is expected to formally decide on the extension Monday. The declaration, originally set to expire Wednesday following a one-month period, has led local governments to ask residents to stay home as much as possible and some businesses to shut to prevent the spread of the virus. But another senior official said the government is also planning to allow the reopening of parks, museums, libraries and some other public facilities, even in areas with a relatively high number of coronavirus infections. As part of efforts to deal with public weariness with the prolonged state of emergency, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a press conference that the government will permit those facilities to restart if sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the virus are put in place. The government will release a set of guidelines on how to resume social activities on Monday. The planned reopening of public facilities will be allowed in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and eight other prefectures that the government has singled out for taking stepped-up measures against the virus, according to Nishimura, who is in charge of issues related to the state of emergency. When he met with the press, Nishimura also said the government is considering using the Regional Economy Vitalization Corp of Japan, a public-private investment fund, to financially support troubled midsized firms in non-urban areas. "About 1 trillion yen ($9.3 billion) has been prepared (by the fund) for the whole country. If necessary, we will also think about increasing this amount," Nishimura said. He also said the government is considering increasing the current subsidy of up to 8,330 yen per day provided to companies for each employee taking days off due to the spread of the virus. On a TV program, Nishimura said that if realized, the increased amount will be paid for all days taken off since the subsidy program was introduced in early April. In addition, he said the government plans to disclose numerical targets for when to lift the state of emergency. On Friday, a government panel recommended that requests be kept in place for a while for people to stay at home and some businesses to close as the number of infections has not fallen sharply since Abe initially declared the state of emergency on April 7 for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures. On April 16, Abe expanded it to cover the rest of the country, urging the public to avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact with other people. The state of emergency was originally scheduled to end Wednesday, the last day of the Golden Week holiday. © KYODO
3 May 10:02 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/national/japan-to-allow-reopening-of-museums-after-virus-emergency-extendedRating: 2.09
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions slowly being relaxed across the country
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resume his COVID-19 briefings to the nation today after taking a rare day off from the daily routine on Saturday. With clear evidence of the pandemic curve flattening in Canada, some provinces have already begun relaxing certain lockdown restrictions, with others, including hardest hit Ontario and Quebec, set to do so on Monday. All are taking a cautious approach, maintaining physical distancing rules as the steps for reopening for business are phased in over weeks or months to try to guard against a second wave of infections. Canada’s top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, said in a press release yesterday that by following public health recommendations, we have collectively brought down the rate of infection. “We are flattening the curve,” she wrote. Tam added that while there is reason for cautious optimism, everyone must remain aware of their duty to protect one another in the weeks ahead, especially those at greatest risk. Public health officials reported another 175 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada yesterday, pushing the total to 3,566. The overall number of coronavirus cases stood at 56,714, which was an increase of 1,653 over 24 hours. Though Ontario reported another 55 deaths Saturday, Premier Doug Ford said his province could get through the pandemic faster than previously expected. “I don’t know the exact time … but if we keep going the way we’re going, we’re going to get out of this a lot sooner than we thought we might’ve been able to get out a couple of months ago,” Ford said. And from British Columbia’s top medical official there was a cautionary note as Dr. Bonnie Henry urged people to stay vigilant. “We cannot afford any missteps as we look to ease our restrictions in the coming days and weeks,” she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 09:00 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-slowly-being-relaxed-across-the-country/Rating: 0.77
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions slowly being relaxed across the country
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resume his COVID-19 briefings to the nation today after taking a rare day off from the daily routine on Saturday. With clear evidence of the pandemic curve flattening in Canada, some provinces have already begun relaxing certain lockdown restrictions, with others, including hardest hit Ontario and Quebec, set to do so on Monday. All are taking a cautious approach, maintaining physical distancing rules as the steps for reopening for business are phased in over weeks or months to try to guard against a second wave of infections. Canada’s top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, said in a press release yesterday that by following public health recommendations, we have collectively brought down the rate of infection. “We are flattening the curve,” she wrote. Tam added that while there is reason for cautious optimism, everyone must remain aware of their duty to protect one another in the weeks ahead, especially those at greatest risk. Public health officials reported another 175 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada yesterday, pushing the total to 3,566. The overall number of coronavirus cases stood at 56,714, which was an increase of 1,653 over 24 hours. Though Ontario reported another 55 deaths Saturday, Premier Doug Ford said his province could get through the pandemic faster than previously expected. “I don’t know the exact time … but if we keep going the way we’re going, we’re going to get out of this a lot sooner than we thought we might’ve been able to get out a couple of months ago,” Ford said. And from British Columbia’s top medical official there was a cautionary note as Dr. Bonnie Henry urged people to stay vigilant. “We cannot afford any missteps as we look to ease our restrictions in the coming days and weeks,” she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 08:00 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-slowly-being-relaxed-across-the-country/Rating: 0.61
COVID-19 lockdown restrictions slowly being relaxed across the country
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will resume his COVID-19 briefings to the nation today after taking a rare day off from the daily routine on Saturday. With clear evidence of the pandemic curve flattening in Canada, some provinces have already begun relaxing certain lockdown restrictions, with others, including hardest hit Ontario and Quebec, set to do so on Monday. All are taking a cautious approach, maintaining physical distancing rules as the steps for reopening for business are phased in over weeks or months to try to guard against a second wave of infections. Canada's top public health official, Dr. Theresa Tam, said in a press release yesterday that by following public health recommendations, we have collectively brought down the rate of infection. "We are flattening the curve," she wrote. Tam added that while there is reason for cautious optimism, everyone must remain aware of their duty to protect one another in the weeks ahead, especially those at greatest risk. Public health officials reported another 175 COVID-19 related deaths in Canada yesterday, pushing the total to 3,566. The overall number of coronavirus cases stood at 56,714, which was an increase of 1,653 over 24 hours. Though Ontario reported another 55 deaths Saturday, Premier Doug Ford said his province could get through the pandemic faster than previously expected. "I don't know the exact time ... but if we keep going the way we're going, we're going to get out of this a lot sooner than we thought we might've been able to get out a couple of months ago," Ford said. And from British Columbia's top medical official there was a cautionary note as Dr. Bonnie Henry urged people to stay vigilant. "We cannot afford any missteps as we look to ease our restrictions in the coming days and weeks," she said. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 08:00 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/covid-19-lockdown-restrictions-slowly-being-relaxed-across-the-country-2320293Rating: 0.30
Japan to ease curbs on social contact and let some facilities reopen
The government has decided to allow the reopening of parks, museums, libraries and other public facilities in areas with high coronavirus counts and to ease its request for slashing social contact, a senior official said Sunday. As part of efforts to deal with public fatigue from the nationwide state of emergency, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a news conference the government will permit such facilities to reopen if sufficient measures to slow the virus’s spread are put in place. The government will release guidelines on how to resume social activities on Monday, when it is expected to formally extend the state of emergency. A government source said Sunday that Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will extend the declaration until May 31. Abe will hold a news conference on the matter at 6 p.m. Monday. The plan will even apply to Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and eight other prefectures the government has singled out as needing stepped-up measures against the virus, said Nishimura, who is in charge of issues related to the emergency declaration. When he met with the media, Nishimura said the government also is considering using the Regional Economy Vitalization Corporation of Japan, a public-private investment fund, to financially support troubled midsize firms in nonurban areas. “About ¥1 trillion ($9.3 billion) has been prepared (by the fund) for the whole country. If necessary, we will also think about increasing this amount,” he said. He also said the government is considering increasing the current subsidy of up to ¥8,330 ($78) per day being provided to companies for each employee taking days off due to the virus. On a TV program, Nishimura said that any increase will be paid for all holidays taken since the subsidy program began early last month. In addition, he said the government plans to disclose numerical targets for when to lift the state of emergency. Under the emergency status, people are being asked to stay home as much as possible and businesses are being asked to shut. There are no legal penalties for noncompliance. Experts will make an interim assessment of the declaration’s effectiveness about two weeks after the extension, Nishimura said. On Friday, a government panel recommended the nonbinding requests be kept in place for awhile because infections haven’t fallen sharply since the initial state of emergency was declared by Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on April 7 for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures. Abe took the declaration nationwide on April 16, urging the public to avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact. The emergency was scheduled to end Wednesday, the last day of the Golden Week holidays. In the meantime, government sources said Saturday the government is considering scaling back its call for an 80 percent reduction in interpersonal contact in some areas at the same time it extends the state of emergency. The government plans to end the measure outside Tokyo, Osaka and 11 other prefectures specified as needing special caution, according to the sources. In addtion, social distancing measures “will be relaxed gradually from next Thursday in areas other than the specified prefectures,” Nishimura said Saturday. “We want to create a framework that will allow businesses to make proper decisions.” The revised policy is expected to call for maintaining the target of cutting interpersonal contact by 80 percent in the specified prefectures while relaxing stay-at-home and business-shutdown requests elsewhere in the country. The government plans to continue to request the nationwide promotion of teleworking. In the specified prefectures, the government is expected to seek a 70 percent cut in the number of commuting workers. In addition, people all over the country will continue to be asked to refrain from traveling across prefectural borders. Nishimura also urged various sectors to take the initiative to create their own guidelines based on the government’s policies. On Saturday, the Osaka Prefectural Government decided at a meeting of its coronavirus countermeasures task force to decide on whether it can ease requests for isolation and business suspensions based on the infection count as of May 15. On Friday, Osaka Gov. Hirofumi said he intends to draft guidelines of his own to help businesses restart.
3 May 06:34 • The Japan Times • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/03/national/japan-partially-relax-interpersonal-contact/Rating: 2.31
South Korea has brought new coronavirus cases under control. It’s taking steps to reopen public life.
South Korea will take new steps to relax social distancing on May 6, in yet another sign that the country that once had one of the worst outbreaks of coronavirus outside China has managed to bring its transmission under control. Prime Minister Chung Sye-kyun said in a televised meeting Sunday that the government “will allow businesses to resume at facilities in phases that had remained closed up until now, and also allow gatherings and events to take place assuming they follow disinfection guidelines.” Under what Chung referred to as the“everyday life quarantine scheme,” facilities like schools, parks, museums, and libraries are expected to reopen in phases, according to Reuters and the Korea Herald. The government’s guidelines will continue to recommend that people stay home for three to four days if they feel sick, wash their hands frequently, and keep an arms-length distance from other people in public, however. And professional baseball and soccer matches are expected to start up again this week, although without in-person audiences. The rate of new infections in the country has slowed dramatically in recent weeks. In late February, South Korea was seeing more than 900 new cases of coronavirus a day. By mid-April, that number hit as low as eight new reported cases in a day, and in the past week there have been around 10 new reported cases a day. Overall the country has reported around 10,800 cases and 250 deaths. The reduction of new cases in South Korea is a striking achievement for a country that earlier this year had the largest number of confirmed cases in Asia outside China. On February 20, confirmed infections skyrocketed exponentially after a parishioner of a megachurch in the southern city of Daegu infected other congregants during services, but the government’s aggressive testing and contact-tracing regime seems to have played a significant role in quickly counteracting that rapid spike in cases. The government said it would begin to relax quarantine rules if new reported cases stayed below 50 a day — a condition that has been met for the past 25 days, according to the Korea Herald. South Korea’s rapid reduction of its new infection rate has caught the eye of governments and public health officials around the world. Experts say there are a number of measures it’s taken to achieve its results, including building a highly organized and massive testing capacity, and the government’s institution of tracing and isolation measures for people who have been in contact with the infected. Notably, South Korea has generally avoided the wide-scale shutdowns that China and the US have pursued, according to Business Insider. It has shut down schools and imposed a curfew in some cities, but the government has sought primarily to isolate groups of people who are suspected to have been exposed — and it has done so in a highly targeted fashion. The New York Times’s Max Fisher and Choe Sang-Hun wrote a thorough explainer in late March about what makes the South Korean model effective. Among other things, they highlight that the government organized mass production of coronavirus test kits earlier than many other hard-hit countries, which meant in late March the country had a per-capita test rate “more than 40 times that of the United States.” They also point to an astonishingly extensive surveillance and contact-tracing infrastructure: The government has also taken measures to try to comfort people in the chaos by doing things like sending comfort packages with food and cleaning supplies to people who are under quarantine. Approval of the government’s response to the pandemic was so widespread that the country saw its largest turnout in nearly three decades during national elections held last month, and the ruling party won reelection by a landslide. Notably, there was no uptick in infections in the election’s aftermath, likely thanks to strict social distancing, testing, and disinfecting measures put in place at polling sites. South Korea’s management of the spread of the virus does not mean it’s out of the woods. Places like Hong Kong and Singapore have seen resurgences of cases, in part due to people entering the country from abroad. But South Korea does seem to have some effective tools — and a plan — in place to manage the spread for now. Support Vox’s explanatory journalism Every day at Vox, we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you, and our audience around the world, with information that has the power to save lives. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. Vox’s work is reaching more people than ever, but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today.
3 May 14:30 • Vox • https://www.vox.com/2020/5/3/21245594/south-korea-coronavirus-social-distancing-relaxRating: 2.47
Syrian tycoon decries 'inhumane' security forces in unprecedented criticism
3 May 13:11
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7 articles
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Best date: 3 May 13:03
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Weighted average IN: 4.954594643216231
Syrian tycoon decries 'inhumane' security forces in unprecedented criticism
AMMAN (Reuters) - Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said on Sunday that security forces were arresting employees at his companies “in an inhumane way” amid pressure on him to step down from his business empire and pay millions of dollars in tax. Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He played a big role in financing Assad’s war effort, Western officials have said. “Today pressures began in an unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees,” Makhlouf said in a video in an unprecedented attack on the powerful security forces by one of the country’s most influential figures. “Mr President (Assad), the security forces have started attacking people’s freedoms. These are your loyal supporters... The situation is dangerous and by God, if we continue, the situation of the country will be very difficult,” Makhlouf said. The security forces did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Makhlouf said in the video he had been asked to step down from his companies, including Syriatel, the main mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit government. “I have been asked today to step down from my companies and take instructions while I close my eyes. Authority is not given to put pressure on people to give in,” he said. “Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf’s companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?” He said he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth. The billionaire has been under U.S. sanctions since 2008 for what Washington calls public corruption and it has since toughened measures against top businessmen who are close to him. The European Union has also slapped sanctions on Makhlouf since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, accusing him of bankrolling Assad. Makhlouf became a hated figure to many pro-democracy protesters who rose up against corruption and the authoritarian rule of Assad in March 2011. Makhlouf, who belongs to Assad’s Alawite minority sect that holds political power in Syria, owes his fortune to Assad and was seen by many Syrian businessmen and others as a front man for the president and other members of the ruling family. The tycoon was rumoured in private business circles last year to have fallen out of favour with Assad. But until a first video he released on Thursday, he had kept out of the spotlight. In Thursday’s video, Makhlouf lashed out at his critics who accuse him of monopolising sectors of the economy through political patronage, saying his businesses and a charity arm had provided thousands of jobs for Syrians. He said he would appeal to Assad to allow Syriatel to reschedule payment of taxes. He said the government’s demand for 130 billion Syrian pounds ($300 million) was “unjust” but that he would comply. Makhlouf said in Sunday’s video that he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth to powerful rivals, whom he did not name. “This is an attack on private property. What I already have is something I cannot give up,” he said defiantly.
3 May 13:11 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-tycoon-idUSKBN22F0F3Rating: 4.04
Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf decries 'inhumane' security forces
Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said security forces were arresting employees at his companies "in an inhumane way" amid pressure on him to step down from his business empire and pay millions of dollars in tax. Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president's inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He played a big role in financing Assad's war effort, Western officials have said. "Today pressures began in unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees," Makhlouf said on Sunday in a video in an unprecedented attack on the powerful security forces by one of the country's most influential figures. "Mr President (Assad), the security forces have started attacking people's freedoms. These are your loyal supporters ... The situation is dangerous and by God, if we continue, the situation of the country will be very difficult," Makhlouf said. The security forces made no immediate comment. Makhlouf said in the video he had been asked to step down from his companies, including Syriatel, the main mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit government. "I have been asked today to step down from my companies and take instructions while I close my eyes. Authority is not given to put pressure on people to give in," he said. "Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf's companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?" He said he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth. The billionaire has been under US sanctions since 2008 for what Washington calls public corruption and it has since toughened measures against top businessmen who are close to him. The European Union has also slapped sanctions on Makhlouf since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, accusing him of bankrolling Assad. Makhlouf became a hated figure to many pro-democracy protesters who rose up against corruption and the authoritarian rule of Assad in March 2011. Makhlouf, who belongs to Assad's Alawite minority sect that holds political power in Syria, owes his fortune to Assad and was seen by many Syrian businessmen and others as a frontman for the president and other members of the ruling family. The tycoon was rumoured in private business circles last year to have fallen out of favour with Assad. But until a first video he released on Thursday, he had kept out of the spotlight. In Thursday's video, Makhlouf lashed out at his critics who accuse him of monopolising sectors of the economy through political patronage, saying his businesses and a charity arm had provided thousands of jobs for Syrians. He said he would appeal to Assad to allow Syriatel to reschedule the payment of taxes. He said the government's demand for 130 billion Syrian pounds ($300 million) was "unjust" but that he would comply. Makhlouf said in Sunday's video that he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth to powerful rivals, whom he did not name. "This is an attack on private property. What I already have is something I cannot give up," he said defiantly.
3 May 14:51 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/syrian-tycoon-rami-makhlouf-decries-inhumane-security-forces-200503135939918.htmlRating: 2.44
Syrian tycoon decries 'inhumane' security forces in unprecedented criticism
AMMAN — Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said on Sunday that security forces were arresting employees at his companies “in an inhumane way” amid pressure on him to step down from his business empire and pay millions of dollars in tax. Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He played a big role in financing Assad’s war effort, Western officials have said. “Today pressures began in an unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees,” Makhlouf said in a video in an unprecedented attack on the powerful security forces by one of the country’s most influential figures. “Mr President (Assad), the security forces have started attacking people’s freedoms. These are your loyal supporters… The situation is dangerous and by God, if we continue, the situation of the country will be very difficult,” Makhlouf said. The security forces did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Makhlouf said in the video he had been asked to step down from his companies, including Syriatel, the main mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit government. “I have been asked today to step down from my companies and take instructions while I close my eyes. Authority is not given to put pressure on people to give in,” he said. “Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf’s companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?” He said he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth. The billionaire has been under U.S. sanctions since 2008 for what Washington calls public corruption and it has since toughened measures against top businessmen who are close to him. The European Union has also slapped sanctions on Makhlouf since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, accusing him of bankrolling Assad. Makhlouf became a hated figure to many pro-democracy protesters who rose up against corruption and the authoritarian rule of Assad in March 2011. Makhlouf, who belongs to Assad’s Alawite minority sect that holds political power in Syria, owes his fortune to Assad and was seen by many Syrian businessmen and others as a front man for the president and other members of the ruling family. The tycoon was rumored in private business circles last year to have fallen out of favor with Assad. But until a first video he released on Thursday, he had kept out of the spotlight. In Thursday’s video, Makhlouf lashed out at his critics who accuse him of monopolizing sectors of the economy through political patronage, saying his businesses and a charity arm had provided thousands of jobs for Syrians. He said he would appeal to Assad to allow Syriatel to reschedule payment of taxes. He said the government’s demand for 130 billion Syrian pounds ($300 million) was “unjust” but that he would comply. Makhlouf said in Sunday’s video that he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth to powerful rivals, whom he did not name. “This is an attack on private property. What I already have is something I cannot give up,” he said defiantly. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi Editing by David Goodman and Nick Macfie)
3 May 13:03 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/syrian-tycoon-decries-inhumane-security-forces-in-unprecedented-criticismRating: 0.94
Syrian tycoon decries ‘inhumane’ security forces in unprecedented criticism
Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said on Sunday that security forces were arresting employees at his companies “in an inhumane way” amid pressure on him to step down from his business empire and pay millions of dollars in tax. Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He played a big role in financing Assad’s war effort, Western officials have said. “Today pressures began in an unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees,” Makhlouf said in a video in an unprecedented attack on the powerful security forces by one of the country’s most influential figures. “Mr President (Assad), the security forces have started attacking people’s freedoms. These are your loyal supporters … The situation is dangerous and by God, if we continue, the situation of the country will be very difficult,” Makhlouf said. The security forces did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Makhlouf said in the video he had been asked to step down from his companies, including Syriatel, the main mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit government. “I have been asked today to step down from my companies and take instructions while I close my eyes. Authority is not given to put pressure on people to give in,” he said. “Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf’s companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?” He said he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth. The billionaire has been under U.S. sanctions since 2008 for what Washington calls public corruption and it has since toughened measures against top businessmen who are close to him. The European Union has also slapped sanctions on Makhlouf since the Syrian conflict began in 2011, accusing him of bankrolling Assad. Makhlouf became a hated figure to many pro-democracy protesters who rose up against corruption and the authoritarian rule of Assad in March 2011. Makhlouf, who belongs to Assad’s Alawite minority sect that holds political power in Syria, owes his fortune to Assad and was seen by many Syrian businessmen and others as a front man for the president and other members of the ruling family. The tycoon was rumoured in private business circles last year to have fallen out of favour with Assad. But until a first video he released on Thursday, he had kept out of the spotlight. In Thursday’s video, Makhlouf lashed out at his critics who accuse him of monopolizing sectors of the economy through political patronage, saying his businesses and a charity arm had provided thousands of jobs for Syrians. He said he would appeal to Assad to allow Syriatel to reschedule payment of taxes. He said the government’s demand for 130 billion Syrian pounds ($300 million) was “unjust” but that he would comply. Makhlouf said in Sunday’s video that he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth to powerful rivals, whom he did not name. “This is an attack on private property. What I already have is something I cannot give up,” he said defiantly. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 13:43 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-syrian-tycoon-decries-inhumane-security-forces-in-unprecedented/Rating: 2.18
Syrian tycoon Makhlouf says security forces are arresting his employees
AMMAN: Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf on Sunday said that security forces are arresting employees at his diversified companies in what he said were "mounting pressures" on him days after Syrian authorities asked him to repay hefty taxes. "Today pressures began in unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees," Makhlouf said in a video. Makhlouf, a maternal cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He had played a big role in financing Assad's war effort, Western officials have said. (Reporting by Suleiman Al-Khalidi Editing by David Goodman)
3 May 13:32 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Syrian-tycoon-Makhlouf-says-security-forces-are-arresting-his-employeesRating: 3.14
Makhlouf Says Syrian Regime Forces are Arresting his Employees
Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf on Sunday said that security forces are arresting employees at his diversified companies in what he said were "mounting pressures" on him days after Syrian authorities asked him to repay hefty taxes. "Today pressures began in an unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees," Makhlouf said in a video. Makhlouf, a maternal cousin of President Bashar Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. Addressing Assad in the video, Makhlouf said he had been asked to step down from the companies he runs, including Syriatel, the country's main mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit regime. "Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf's companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?" he asked. Makhlouf had played a big role in financing Assad's war effort, Western officials have said. Earlier this week, Makhlouf posted a video on Facebook pleading with Assad to prevent the collapse of his telecommunication company through what he called excessive and “unjust” taxation. The unprecedented video pries open what has been rumored as a major rift in the tight-knit Assad family, which has ruled Syria for nearly 50 years. The regime on Saturday hit back, demanding that Makhlouf comes forth with the payment of public financial dues connected to Syriatel. The Regulatory Authority for Communications and Post, which is affiliated with the Ministry of Communications and Technology, issued a warning through the authorities to the two cellular companies in Syria, one of which Makhlouf owns, and gave them until May 5 to pay more than 233 billion pounds ($334 million) to “achieve a balance in the license”, otherwise legal measures will be taken. The Authority, in a statement, said that the sums required to be paid by the two telecom companies Syriatel and MTN were calculated according to existing and clear documents and by specialized committees. “The amounts required to be paid by cellular companies are amounts due to the state in accordance with clear and existing documents, and were calculated based on the work of specialized committees in financial, economic, technical and legal affairs,” the statement said. “In order to preserve the continuing work of the cellular network and the continued provision of its services to citizens … all the reservations of the companies were taken into consideration and given the deadlines and periods requested by them,” the Authority added. “The amounts required to be paid in two phases have been calculated, the first according to the actual figures during the first five operating years of 2015 to 2019 (according to the request of the two companies and according to the published financial data) … and the second according to the expected numbers presented by each company,” it said. The statement also stressed that the amounts claimed by the Authority are due and have nothing to do with the issue of tax evasion Syriatel is being accused of. As for the tax evasion case, the statement said that it is being pursued by “competent authorities.” Disputes and intrigue are not new to the family, including feuds and defections within its inner circle, particularly in the course of the country's nine-year war. But the public airing of grievances is extremely rare, perhaps a reflection of the multitude of players vying for influence in the fractured country. His video, posted on a new Facebook page, seems to be a running public diary of the widening rift — and the fall from grace of a once-powerful tycoon. Makhlouf, who is four years younger than the 54-year-old Assad, had declared that he was stepping aside from business to focus on charity work in 2011, at the start of Syria’s conflict. But he remained associated with the regime. The billionaire has been under US sanctions since 2008 for what Washington calls public corruption and it has since toughened measures against top businessmen who are close to him. The European Union has also slapped sanctions on Makhlouf since 2011, accusing him of bankrolling Assad. He became a hated figure to many pro-democracy protesters who rose up against corruption and the authoritarian rule of Assad in March 2011. Reports first surfaced last year of troubled relations as news of a regime campaign against Makhlouf and his businesses began to trickle out. Initial reports said he was under house arrest, and then a series of stories appeared about him being fined and having his holdings confiscated. Last month, a shipment of dairy products from one of Makhlouf's businesses was confiscated in Egypt, reportedly with drugs hidden in the cargo. On his Facebook page, Makhlouf called the incident a set-up aimed at “defaming" him.
3 May 10:15 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2265301/makhlouf-says-syrian-regime-forces-are-arresting-his-employeesRating: 2.10
Bashar al-Assad's cousin makes unprecedented public criticism of security forces amid family rift
Sanctions-hit Syrian tycoon Rami Makhlouf said on Sunday that security forces were arresting employees at his companies "in an inhumane way" amid pressure on him to step down from his business empire and pay millions of dollars in tax. Mr Makhlouf, a cousin of President Bashar al-Assad and widely considered part of the president’s inner circle, has a business empire that ranges from telecoms and real estate to construction and oil trading. He has played a big role in financing President Assad's war effort, Western officials say. However, a major and unusually public rift has appeared between the cousins, with the alleged arrest of employees being the latest development. "Today pressures began in an unacceptable ways and the security forces, in an inhumane way, are arresting our employees," Mr Makhlouf said in a video, in an unprecedented attack on the powerful security forces by one of the country's most influential figures. "Mr President [Assad], the security forces have started attacking people's freedoms. These are your loyal supporters... The situation is dangerous and by God, if we continue, the situation of the country will be very difficult," Mr Makhlouf said. The security forces did not immediately reply to a request for comment. Mr Makhlouf said in the video he had been asked to step down from his companies, including Syriatel, the country's largest mobile operator and main source of revenue for the sanctions-hit government. "I have been asked today to step down from my companies and take instructions while I close my eyes," he said. "Did anyone expect the security forces would pounce on Rami Makhlouf's companies who were their biggest supporters and their patron during the war?" He said he would not bow to pressure to hand over his wealth.
3 May 13:46 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/facebook-video-reveals-rift-within-134655147.htmlRating: 0.30
Two teenagers charged with murder of NHS worker David Gomoh
3 May 17:17
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4 articles
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Weighted average GB: 25.295373576004238
Average IN: 2.7
Weighted average IN: 2.620181729072695
Two teenagers charged with murder of NHS worker David Gomoh
Two teenagers have been charged with the murder of David Gomoh, the NHS worker killed outside his home in east London, Scotland Yard said. Gomoh, 24, who worked for Barts Health NHS trust in supplies and procurement, was stabbed to death in Newham just days before he was due to attend the funeral of his father, who died from a coronavirus-related illness. Muhammad Jalloh, 18, from Stratford, in Newham, and a 16-year-old boy, from Telford, in Shropshire, were both charged with murder on Sunday. The teenagers were also charged with conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with an alleged incident against a different person shortly before Gomoh was found stabbed on 26 April. Both will appear at Thames magistrates court on Monday. Gomoh’s mother, Marian, also works for the NHS as a matron at Newham hospital. A fundraising page has been set up by her colleagues to help with the costs of her son’s funeral. A statement on the page reads: “A mother should never have to bury her own child, especially just after the death of her husband. “Sister Marian has helped so many of us in the NHS, she has practised as both a nurse and midwife for over 20 years and is a credit to the service. She is currently matron of labour ward, where she goes above and beyond to support her staff with any problems they present to her.“Her life has been suddenly turned upside down and this is a chance for us to show our support and gratitude.” Gomoh was allegedly attacked in Freemasons Road by a group of four to five males moments after he left his home close to the NHS Nightingale hospital at the ExCel centre at 10.45pm. Gomoh was on the phone to a friend when he was attacked and had not been involved in any argument, police said.
3 May 17:17 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/uk-news/2020/may/03/two-teenagers-charged-with-murder-nhs-worker-david-gomohRating: 5.39
David Gomoh stabbing: Two teens charged with murder
Two teenagers have been charged with murdering an NHS worker who was stabbed to death days after his father died with coronavirus. David Gomoh, 24, was attacked after leaving his home in Newham, east London, on 26 April. Muhammad Jalloh, 18, of Stratford, Newham, and a boy, 16, from Telford, Shropshire, are charged with murder. They are also charged with conspiracy to cause GBH and are due to appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday. Police said a post-mortem examination found Southbank University graduate Mr Gomoh was stabbed in the chest and abdomen. Mr Gomoh, whose mother is a nurse, worked for the NHS helping to supply staff with essential equipment. The Met said he was killed just days before the funeral of his father, who died after contracting Covid-19.
3 May 16:36 • BBC News • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-52523940Rating: 4.85
Two teens are charged with the murder of NHS supply worker David Gomoh, 24, who was stabbed to death in east London just days after his father died from coronavirus
Two teenage boys have been charged with the murder of NHS worker David Gomoh. The 24-year-old was stabbed to death a short distance from his home in Newham, east London on April 26, just days after his father passed away from coronavirus. Muhammad Jalloh, 18, from Newham and a 16-year-old boy from Telford, Shropshire are charged with the murder and will appear at Thames Magistrates' Court on Monday. The pair, who had been in custody following their arrests over the weekend, are also charged with conspiracy to cause Grievous Bodily Harm (GBH) in a seperate incident involving a different person. According to post-mortem examination, Mr Gomoh was struck in the chest and abdomen, with the fatal incident taking place on Freemasons Road, Newham at around 10.25pm last Sunday. The 24-year-old's death also occurred days before the funeral of his father, Ken, who died from coronavirus in the days leading up to the attack on his son. Mr Gomoh was an NHS worker, like his mother Marian, 53, and helped to supply his colleagues with essential equipment during the global crisis. Earlier this week, Detective Inspector Tony Kirk said: 'Within days his mother has seen the death of her husband and son, his sister has lost her father and brother. Both are heartbroken. 'At this time we believe the only thing David did to be murdered was walk down the street.' Earlier this week, Ms Gomoh told the MailOnline: 'My son was not able to bury his father and we lost them both so close to each other. You cannot imagine how devastated the whole family is. 'For any family one death is bad enough but to suffer two in short a short space of time is so painful that I cannot put it into words. 'I am devastated, we all are and it's difficult to be strong at this time, but we are trying.'
3 May 19:02 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282725/Teenage-pair-charged-murder-NHS-worker-David-Gomoh-stabbed-death-week.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Telford boy, 16, charged with murdering young NHS worker in London
A Telford teenager has been charged with the murder of a 24-year-old man in London. Victim David Gomoh was found stabbed, in Newham, on April 26, just days before the funeral of his father, who died of a coronavirus-related illness. Detectives from the Metropolitan Police arrested a 16-year-old youth at an address in Telford, on Saturday. He and Muhammad Jalloh, aged 18, of London, have now both been charged with murder. They were also charged with conspiracy to cause grievous bodily harm in connection with an alleged incident against a different person shortly before Mr Gomoh was found with fatal injuries, in Freemasons Road, Newham. The teenagers are due to appear at Thames Magistrates Court on Monday. Mr Gomoh, was a health service key worker, helping to keep NHS staff supplied with equipment.
3 May 17:47 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/2020/05/03/telford-teen-16-charged-with-murdering-young-nhs-worker/Rating: 0.30
Instead of bidding against each other, New York and six other states are pooling their purchasing power to buy ventilators, protective gear, and coronavirus tests
3 May 17:56
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8 articles
Weight: 4.44
Importance: 4.44
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 17:56
Average US: 44.074999999999996
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Average IN: 2.925
Weighted average IN: 6.285311337053751
Instead of bidding against each other, New York and six other states are pooling their purchasing power to buy ventilators, protective gear, and coronavirus tests
Seven states in the northeastern US are banding together to buy medical equipment and testing they need to fight the coronavirus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the consortium Sunday, saying the seven states combine to spend about $5 billion per year on medical equipment and supplies. By combining their purchases, the participating states hope to better compete in the international market for medical supplies at better prices, Cuomo said. In the absence of a coordinated federal government purchasing effort, the states have largely been on their own in attempting to track down and buy this equipment. Many governors have commented that they feel like they are bidding against each other. New York, for instance, has paid as much as 15 to 20 times the usual price for routine medical gear like masks and gloves, ProPublica reporters Lydia DePillis and Lisa Song found. New York is the largest state of the group, accounting for about $2 billion in annual spending on medical supplies, Cuomo said. The six other participating states in the Regional State Purchasing Consortium are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. "The consortium, I think, will help us get the equipment and get it at a better price," Cuomo said, adding it will focus on buying personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, medical equipment, and coronavirus tests. The consortium will aim to better prepare for future outbreaks, including trying to buy more from American vendors instead of China. "I'm afraid this is still just beginning," Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. "We are planning for the next round of this, if there is a next round, making sure we control our own destiny going forward and we do it much better together." The group is also looking to establish sufficient testing capacity for the virus, which is widely seen as a critical element on the path to reopening the economy. "Part of this is testing, it's not just equipment," said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. "We really need to work together to build the capacity to test, or we're not going to be able to give our citizens the confidence they need to go back to work. They're not going to have the confidence to go back to school, or back to the store, or back to worship." LoadingSomething is loading. Featured Health Articles:- Telehealth Industry Explained- Value-Based Care Explained- Senior Care & Assisted Living Market- Smart Medical Devices & Wearable Tech- AI in Healthcare- Remote Patient Monitoring Explained - AI in Medical Diagnosis Systems Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 17:56 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/new-york-gov-cuomo-announces-coronavirus-state-purchasing-coalition-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Instead of bidding against each other, New York and six other states are pooling their purchasing power to buy ventilators, protective gear, and coronavirus tests
Seven states in the northeastern US are banding together to buy medical equipment and testing they need to fight the coronavirus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the consortium Sunday, saying the seven states combine to spend about $5 billion per year on medical equipment and supplies. By combining their purchases, the participating states hope to better compete in the international market for medical supplies at better prices, Cuomo said. In the absence of a coordinated federal government purchasing effort, the states have largely been on their own in attempting to track down and buy this equipment. Many governors have commented that they feel like they are bidding against each other. New York, for instance, has paid as much as 15 to 20 times the usual price for routine medical gear like masks and gloves, ProPublica reporters Lydia DePillis and Lisa Song found. New York is the largest state of the group, accounting for about $2 billion in annual spending on medical supplies, Cuomo said. The six other participating states in the Regional State Purchasing Consortium are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. “The consortium, I think, will help us get the equipment and get it at a better price,” Cuomo said, adding it will focus on buying personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, medical equipment, and coronavirus tests. The consortium will aim to better prepare for future outbreaks, including trying to buy more from American vendors instead of China. “I’m afraid this is still just beginning,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. “We are planning for the next round of this, if there is a next round, making sure we control our own destiny going forward and we do it much better together.” The group is also looking to establish sufficient testing capacity for the virus, which is widely seen as a critical element on the path to reopening the economy. “Part of this is testing, it’s not just equipment,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “We really need to work together to build the capacity to test, or we’re not going to be able to give our citizens the confidence they need to go back to work. They’re not going to have the confidence to go back to school, or back to the store, or back to worship.”
3 May 17:56 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/new-york-gov-cuomo-announces-coronavirus-state-purchasing-coalition-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Instead of bidding against each other, New York and six other states are pooling their purchasing power to buy ventilators, protective gear, and coronavirus tests
Seven states in the northeastern US are banding together to buy medical equipment and testing they need to fight the coronavirus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the consortium Sunday, saying the seven states combine to spend about $US5 billion per year on medical equipment and supplies. By combining their purchases, the participating states hope to better compete in the international market for medical supplies at better prices, Cuomo said. In the absence of a coordinated federal government purchasing effort, the states have largely been on their own in attempting to track down and buy this equipment. Many governors have commented that they feel like they are bidding against each other. New York, for instance, has paid as much as 15 to 20 times the usual price for routine medical gear like masks and gloves,ProPublica reporters Lydia DePillis and Lisa Song found. New York is the largest state of the group, accounting for about $US2 billion in annual spending on medical supplies, Cuomo said. The six other participating states in the Regional State Purchasing Consortium are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. “The consortium, I think, will help us get the equipment and get it at a better price,” Cuomo said, adding it will focus on buying personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, medical equipment, and coronavirus tests. The consortium will aim to better prepare for future outbreaks, including trying to buy more from American vendors instead of China. “I’m afraid this is still just beginning,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. “We are planning for the next round of this, if there is a next round, making sure we control our own destiny going forward and we do it much better together.” The group is also looking to establish sufficient testing capacity for the virus, which is widely seen as a critical element on the path to reopening the economy. “Part of this is testing, it’s not just equipment,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “We really need to work together to build the capacity to test, or we’re not going to be able to give our citizens the confidence they need to go back to work. They’re not going to have the confidence to go back to school, or back to the store, or back to worship.”
3 May 17:56 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/new-york-gov-cuomo-announces-coronavirus-state-purchasing-coalition-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Instead of bidding against each other, New York and six other states are pooling their purchasing power to buy ventilators, protective gear, and coronavirus tests, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Seven states in the northeastern US are banding together to buy medical equipment and testing they need to fight the coronavirus. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced the consortium Sunday, saying the seven states combine to spend about $5 billion per year on medical equipment and supplies. By combining their purchases, the participating states hope to better compete in the international market for medical supplies at better prices, Cuomo said. In the absence of a coordinated federal government purchasing effort, the states have largely been on their own in attempting to track down and buy this equipment. Many governors have commented that they feel like they are bidding against each other. New York, for instance, has paid as much as 15 to 20 times the usual price for routine medical gear like masks and gloves, ProPublica reporters Lydia DePillis and Lisa Song found. New York is the largest state of the group, accounting for about $2 billion in annual spending on medical supplies, Cuomo said. The six other participating states in the Regional State Purchasing Consortium are New Jersey, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania, Connecticut, Delaware, and Rhode Island. “The consortium, I think, will help us get the equipment and get it at a better price,” Cuomo said, adding it will focus on buying personal protective equipment (PPE), ventilators, medical equipment, and coronavirus tests. The consortium will aim to better prepare for future outbreaks, including trying to buy more from American vendors instead of China. “I’m afraid this is still just beginning,” Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont said. “We are planning for the next round of this, if there is a next round, making sure we control our own destiny going forward and we do it much better together.” The group is also looking to establish sufficient testing capacity for the virus, which is widely seen as a critical element on the path to reopening the economy. “Part of this is testing, it’s not just equipment,” said Pennsylvania Gov. Tom Wolf. “We really need to work together to build the capacity to test, or we’re not going to be able to give our citizens the confidence they need to go back to work. They’re not going to have the confidence to go back to school, or back to the store, or back to worship.”
3 May 17:56 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/new-york-gov-cuomo-announces-coronavirus-state-purchasing-coalition-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Cuomo: New York Will Join Northeastern States To Form Supply Chain To Combat COVID
NEW YORK — After working with neighboring states on coronavirus-related closing and reopening plans, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday that New York will join with states from Massachusetts to Delaware to create a regional supply chain for masks, gowns, ventilators, testing supplies and other equipment vital to fighting the disease. The states are joining together after months of dealing separately with what Cuomo said was a “totally inefficient and ineffective” purchasing process that pitted all 50 states against each other, as well as the federal government and other entities, driving up prices as supplies dried up. New York buys about $2 billion worth of medical equipment supplies per year, Cuomo said. The other states joining the consortium together spend about $5 billion per year. Working together, they’ll have stronger purchasing power and improve their clout with global suppliers, Cuomo said. “It will make us more competitive in the international marketplace and I believe it will save taxpayers money,” Cuomo said. “I also believe it will actually help us get the equipment, because we have trouble still getting the equipment.” The other states in the consortium are Connecticut, Rhode Island, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. One goal, the states’ governors said, is to find suppliers within the region, instead of relying on swamped manufacturers in China and other faraway places. ___ WASHINGTON — Michigan’s governor says gun-carrying protesters who demonstrated inside her state’s Capitol “depicted some of the worst racism” and “awful parts” of U.S. history. Democrat Gretchen Whitmer tells CNN that the protests featured “Confederate Flags, and nooses,” as well as swastikas. Members of the Michigan Liberty Militia protested the state’s stay-at-home orders this week, some with weapons and tactical gear and their faces partially covered. They went inside the Capitol, where being armed is allowed, then demanded access to the House floor, which is prohibited. Some went to the Senate gallery, where a senator said armed men shouted at her. Michigan’s Republican-controlled Legislature has questioned Whitmer’s authority to extend stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. But the governor used an executive order to extend a state of emergency declaration and has directed most businesses statewide to remain closed. Mentioned as a possible running mate for presumptive Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden, Whitmer said Sunday, “This isn’t something we just negotiate ourselves out of and it’s a political matter.” “This is a public health crisis,” she said.
3 May 21:37 • Talking Points Memo • https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/cuomo-new-york-join-northeastern-states-supply-chain-combat-covidRating: 0.30
Northeast governors banding together to buy medical supplies
NEW YORK — Seven Northeast governors are banding together to purchase medical equipment as a unit in hopes of avoiding a mad scramble for supplies if the coronavirus returns in the fall. The governors — who have said they will coordinate plans as they look to reopen their states — announced the consortium during a conference call on Sunday led by New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo. The aim is to give states more sway in the international marketplace, Cuomo said. “That will increase our market power when we’re buying and we will buy as a consortium, priced as a consortium, for the PPE equipment, ventilators, medical equipment — whatever we need to buy for all those hospitals together,” Cuomo said. In addition to New York, the group consists of New Jersey, Connecticut, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, Pennsylvania and Delaware. The idea of purchasing supplies regionally was floated last month, as states were bidding against one another and embarking on international hunts to acquire masks, gowns and ventilators, a competition they said was absurd but necessary in lieu of federal coordination. Cuomo said the governors estimate they’ll collectively buy about $5 billion in medical supplies this year, with $2 billion of that for New York. The states will figure out how much PPE they need to outfit their hospitals for at least 90 days, find suppliers who can meet the needs of the entire region and avoid vendors who started businesses during the pandemic “as an opportunity.” “Let’s stop doing business with vendors who we found out to be irresponsible, and we found out the hard way,” Cuomo said. “Let’s compare notes between the states.” The governors said they hope the consortium will help support local suppliers and research facilities. “‘Not only should we not have to be scouring the world for this, but it ought to be made in the USA and better yet made in our states,” said New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy. “I’m afraid this is still just the beginning," said Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont. "We’re planning for the next round of this [and] making sure we control our own destiny going forward." Governors from smaller states said they are more than ready to partner with their larger and more influential neighbors rather than attempt to bid against them. “If we’re going head to head with New York, we’re not going to get it," said Delaware Gov. John Carney. "We’re going shoulder to shoulder ... we’ve got a good chance of getting a good price and getting what we need." Cuomo noted that Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker, who was not on the call, used the New England Patriots' plane to get equipment from China. “You can’t be dependent on China to have the basic equipment to save lives in the United States,” Cuomo said. “That’s what this comes down to.” Murphy's office said the states are also discussing how they can explore emerging technologies and methods of production, such as 3D printing.
3 May 18:14 • POLITICO • https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/city-hall/story/2020/05/03/northeast-governors-banding-together-to-buy-medical-supplies-1281798Rating: 2.13
NY to partner with six states to stock up for possible second coronavirus wave
New York will partner with six other Northeast states to buy critical coronavirus supplies, and Empire State officials will mandate hospitals statewide to stockpile at least 90 days’ worth of protective gear in preparation for a possible second wave of the contagion, Gov. Andrew Cuomo said Sunday. “We’re going to form a consortium with our seven northeast partner states,” Cuomo said in a press briefing at his Midtown Manhattan office, counting New York among the total. “They’ve acted as neighbors.” New York and its six partners — New Jersey, Connecticut, Pennsylvania, Delaware, Rhode Island and Massachusetts — will now enter the marketplace together to buy some $5 billion of personal protective equipment, tests, ventilators and other equipment from companies and overseas suppliers. The seven states are already partnered to move towards a gradual reopening of their respective economies. Previously, states engaged in bidding wars with each other — and even the Federal Emergency Management Agency — in the mad dash to stock up before the worst of the coronavirus hit. The competition served only to drive up prices, force states to turn to dodgy private sellers and leave some stuck out in the cold, Cuomo said. “Let’s see if we can’t do the purchasing in this region,” the governor said. “This consortium, I think, will help us get the equipment and get it at a better price.” Additionally, Cuomo said that all hospitals statewide would be required to build up a cache of at least 90 days’ worth of PPE so that a possible recurrence of the coronavirus doesn’t catch the state off guard. “We can’t go through this day-to-day moving [of] masks all across the state,” said Cuomo, referring to the balancing act that facilities had to perform on the fly to ensure that all hospitals had enough to get by. “We can’t go through this again.” The governor laid out battle plans for a potential second wave as the virus’ first strike continued to kill hundreds of New Yorkers. Another 280 succumbed to the bug in the 24-hour period ending at midnight Sunday, raising the state’s overall death toll to 19,189. Though the daily fatalities continued on a general downward trend, Cuomo said the losses remained “tremendously distressing.” “The overall direction is good, even though it’s very painful,” he said.
3 May 18:34 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/ny-will-team-up-with-states-to-stock-for-another-coronavirus-wave/Rating: 2.55
NY Will Team Up With 6 States To Buy Medical Supplies, Cuomo Says
New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced in a Sunday press conference that a consortium of Northeast states will work together to buy masks, gowns and other protective equipment that was in short supply in the coronavirus pandemic, and focus on buying locally rather than relying on China. Cuomo said that a seven-state consortium—New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Delaware, Massachusetts, Pennsylvania and Rhode Island—will join together “to increase market power and bring down prices.” Cuomo cited the competition between states to obtain masks, gowns, ventilators and other medical supplies, and that “we learned the hard way about...equipment.” The state consortium will work to buy American-made supplies, instead of having to rely on China and other overseas suppliers, Cuomo said. Suppliers that can meet the consortium’s demand will be identified over the next three months, and manufacturing alternatives (like 3D printing) will be explored. New York will take the additional step of developing in-state suppliers, Cuomo said. Cuomo will also order ever New York hospital to have their own stockpile of all PPE equipment needed for 90 day supply at the rate of usage seen in the coronavirus pandemic. $2 billion. That’s how much money New York alone will spend on medical supplies this year, according to Cuomo. “The notion of coordinating together as a region makes an enormous amount of sense,” said New Jersey Gov. Chris Murphy in a video call during the press conference. “Not only should we not be scouring the world for this stuff, it ought to be made in the United States.” New York is the epicenter of America’s coronavirus outbreak, with over 318,000 cases and 24,000 deaths. The state’s daily hospitalization rate and deaths has been declining slowly. As of Sunday, the total number of people hospitalized dropped below 10,000 for the first time since mid-March. Cuomo announced April 13 that New York was working with the six states to reopen their economies, a partnership that continues with the medical supplies effort. Cuomo stressed the importance of social responsibility by wearing masks when outside of the house. “Act responsibly, wear a mask. I know the weather is getting warmer, you want to get out,” Cuomo said. “Wear a mask and socially distance. That is your social responsibility in the middle of this overall pandemic.” Cuomo Details Plans For Reopening New York, Says NYC Needs ‘Summer Activities’ Open For Residents (Forbes) Cuomo, Northeast Governors Say They Will Coordinate Reopening, Though Trump Insists It’s His Decision (Forbes) Cuomo Says Ventilators Cost $50,000—Up From $20,000—As States Compete For The Devices (Forbes) China’s Export Restrictions Reportedly Delaying Medical Supply Shipments To U.S. (Forbes) Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
3 May 00:00 • Forbes • https://www.forbes.com/sites/lisettevoytko/2020/05/03/ny-will-team-up-with-6-states-to-buy-medical-supplies-cuomo-says/Rating: 4.41
Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system
3 May 17:33
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Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system
LONDON (Reuters) - Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme next week on the Isle of Wight, just off the south coast of England, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. “This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month,” Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. “We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus ... they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak,” Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households.
3 May 17:33 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-tracing-idUSKBN22F0OJRating: 4.04
Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system which includes app
London: Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme that includes a smartphone app next week on the Isle of Wight, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. "This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month," Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island, just off the south coast of England, to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. "We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus ... they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak," Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households. Reuters
3 May 21:53 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/world/europe/britain-to-trial-new-coronavirus-tracing-system-which-includes-app-20200504-p54ph6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 2.20
Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system which includes app
London: Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme that includes a smartphone app next week on the Isle of Wight, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. "This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month," Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island, just off the south coast of England, to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. "We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus ... they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak," Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households. Reuters
3 May 21:53 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/europe/britain-to-trial-new-coronavirus-tracing-system-which-includes-app-20200504-p54ph6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 0.86
Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system which includes app
London: Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme that includes a smartphone app next week on the Isle of Wight, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. "This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month," Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island, just off the south coast of England, to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. "We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus ... they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak," Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households.
3 May 21:53 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/world/europe/britain-to-trial-new-coronavirus-tracing-system-which-includes-app-20200504-p54ph6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 0.55
Coronavirus | Britain to trial new tracing system
Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme next week on the Isle of Wight, just off the south coast of England, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from COVID-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. “This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month,” Mr. Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Mr. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. “We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus ... they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak,” Mr. Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households.
3 May 17:55 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-britain-to-trial-new-tracing-system/article31496061.eceRating: 0.30
Britain to trial new coronavirus tracing system
LONDON: Britain will trial a new coronavirus tracing programme next week on the Isle of Wight, just off the south coast of England, cabinet minister Michael Gove said on Sunday as the government looks at how to minimise the risk of a second wave of infection. Suffering one of the worst death tolls in Europe from Covid-19, Britain is confident that the peak of the virus has passed and is now looking at how to restart its shuttered economy and ease social restrictions on citizens. “This week we will be piloting new test, track and trace procedures on the Isle of Wight with a view to having that in place more widely later this month,” Gove told a news conference. A mass testing system along with the ability to trace people who have been in contact with those who test positive are seen as crucial to preventing a second spike and facilitating the relaxation of a lockdown which has lasted almost six weeks. Gove said the system being trialled next week would include asking citizens on the island to download a smartphone app as well as traditional ways of tracing those who have come into contact with a patient who has tested positive. “We will be able to make sure that people who are suffering from the virus … they and their contacts can be encouraged to stay at home, so that we can limit the potential of any outbreak,” Gove said. The Isle of Wight has around 80,000 households.
3 May 17:58 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213351/3-britain-trial-new-coronavirus-tracing-system/Rating: 1.80
British Government: Social distancing to remain until Covid-19 vaccine developed
Some social distancing measures will remain in place until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed but ministers will seek to restore people’s lives to “as close to normal as possible”, UK Cabinet Minister Michael Gove has said. He warned that people would have to live with “some degree of constraint” until they can be immunised against the deadly disease – suggesting Britons would have to accept a “new normal”. A total of 28,446 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday. Mr Gove revealed that the number of daily coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours had fallen to 76,496 – below the UK Government’s 100,000 daily testing target – which was blamed on lower uptake over the weekend. He told the daily No.10 Downing Street press conference: “Ultimately, unless and until we have a vaccine then I suspect that we are going to have to live with some degree of constraint because of the nature of the virus. “But we obviously want to, wherever possible, and consistent with the measures on public health, restore people’s lives to as close to normal as possible.” He said the UK Government will pursue a “phased approach” to removing lockdown restrictions rather than a sudden return to “the old normal”. NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said it was “really difficult” to know how the virus would play out in the months and years ahead. Serie A sides given green light to open training centres He said there was “hope” that a solution – either a vaccine or drugs – would be found sooner than might have been hoped 10 or 20 years ago, though it is “impossible to say when that will be”. “But it’s certainly true to say that we will need to adapt to a new normal until we get to that point.” Human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University began last month, with scientists aiming to have a million doses ready by September if efficacy tests go well. Mr Gove said British Prime Minister Boris Johnson would set out on Thursday how the country can get back to work, get the economy moving, return children to school and travel to work more safely. “We’re consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the Prime Minister will be saying more later this week,” he explained. Earlier on Sunday, Transport Minister Grant Shapps warned life would not return to “business as usual” when the UK Prime Minister sets out his exit strategy. And he admitted that fewer Britons would have died from coronavirus if more tests had been available earlier. Mr Shapps said “many things” could have been different if the UK’s testing capacity was above 100,000 before Covid-19 spread in the country. He also confirmed the NHSX contact tracing app – which he said would need 50%-60% of people to use for it to be successful – will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out later this month. Meanwhile: – A former Government chief scientific adviser, David King, has assembled a group of experts to look at how the UK could work its way out of the lockdown in response to concerns over the “lack of transparency” coming from the Sage group of advisers. – Conservative peer and former minister Ros Altmann said a requirement for older people to remain in lockdown longer as restrictions are lifted for the rest of the country would be “age discrimination”. – Former head of the army General Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. – Professor Ian Diamond, UK national statistician, cautioned against international comparisons of death figures and warned that a “lengthy and deep recession” could lead to increased deaths. In an interview with BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Shapps was asked whether fewer people would have died if testing capacity had been greater sooner. He replied: “Yes. If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started and the knowledge that we now have retrospectively, I’m sure many things could be different. “The fact of the matter is this is not a country that had – although we’re very big in pharmaceuticals as a country – we’re not a country that had very large test capacity.” He also revealed that he was “actively looking at” quarantining people travelling to Britain from abroad to keep coronavirus infection rates under control. It comes as Mr Johnson revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The UK Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” Random Covid-19 tests in Afghanistan find third of people have virus
3 May 17:40 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/british-government-social-distancing-to-remain-until-covid-19-vaccine-developed-997460.htmlRating: 0.69
Social distancing to remain until coronavirus vaccine developed, says Gove
It comes as the number of tests carried out in the last 24 hours fell to 76,496. Some social distancing measures will remain in place until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed but ministers will seek to restore people’s lives to “as close to normal as possible”, Michael Gove has said. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster warned that people would have to live with “some degree of constraint” until they can be immunised against the deadly disease – suggesting Britons would have to accept a “new normal”. A total of 28,446 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday. Mr Gove revealed that the number of daily coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours had fallen to 76,496 – below the Government’s 100,000 daily testing target – which was blamed on lower uptake over the weekend. The Cabinet minister told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Ultimately, unless and until we have a vaccine then I suspect that we are going to have to live with some degree of constraint because of the nature of the virus. “But we obviously want to, wherever possible, and consistent with the measures on public health, restore people’s lives to as close to normal as possible.” He said the Government will pursue a “phased approach” to removing lockdown restrictions rather than a sudden return to “the old normal” – and that the easing had to be done in a “cautious fashion”. NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said it was “really difficult” to know how the virus would play out in the months and years ahead. He said there was “hope” that a solution – either a vaccine or drugs – would be found sooner than might have been hoped 10 or 20 years ago, though it is “impossible to say when that will be”. “But it’s certainly true to say that we will need to adapt to a new normal until we get to that point.” Human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University began last month, with scientists aiming to have a million doses ready by September if efficacy tests go well. Mr Gove said Boris Johnson would set out on Thursday how the country can get back to work, get the economy moving, return children to school and travel to work more safely. “We’re consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the Prime Minister will be saying more later this week,” he explained. Earlier on Sunday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned life would not return to “business as usual” when the Prime Minister sets out his exit strategy. And he admitted that fewer Britons would have died from coronavirus if more tests had been available earlier. Mr Shapps said “many things” could have been different if the UK’s testing capacity was above 100,000 before Covid-19 spread in the country. He also confirmed the NHSX contact tracing app – which he said would need 50%-60% of people to use for it to be successful – will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out later this month. Meanwhile: – A former Government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, has assembled a group of experts to look at how the UK could work its way out of the lockdown in response to concerns over the “lack of transparency” coming from the Sage group of advisers. – Conservative peer and former minister Baroness Ros Altmann said a requirement for older people to remain in lockdown longer as restrictions are lifted for the rest of the country would be “age discrimination”. – Prof Powis said Government advisers now believe the R value – the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus to, on average – to be “around 0.7”. – Former head of the army General Lord Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. – Professor Sir Ian Diamond, UK national statistician, cautioned against international comparisons of death figures and warned that a “lengthy and deep recession” could lead to increased deaths. In an interview with BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Shapps was asked whether fewer people would have died if testing capacity had been greater sooner. He replied: “Yes. If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started and the knowledge that we now have retrospectively, I’m sure many things could be different. “The fact of the matter is this is not a country that had – although we’re very big in pharmaceuticals as a country – we’re not a country that had very large test capacity.” He also revealed that he was “actively looking at” quarantining people travelling to Britain from abroad to keep coronavirus infection rates under control. It comes as Mr Johnson revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.”
3 May 17:25 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/social-distancing-to-remain-until-coronavirus-vaccine-developed-says-gove/Rating: 0.30
Social distancing to remain until coronavirus vaccine developed, says Gove
Some social distancing measures will remain in place until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed but ministers will seek to restore people’s lives to “as close to normal as possible”, Michael Gove has said. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster warned that people would have to live with “some degree of constraint” until they can be immunised against the deadly disease – suggesting Britons would have to accept a “new normal”. A total of 28,446 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm on Saturday. Mr Gove revealed that the number of daily coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours had fallen to 76,496 – below the Government’s 100,000 daily testing target – which was blamed on lower uptake over the weekend. The Cabinet minister told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Ultimately, unless and until we have a vaccine then I suspect that we are going to have to live with some degree of constraint because of the nature of the virus. “But we obviously want to, wherever possible, and consistent with the measures on public health, restore people’s lives to as close to normal as possible.” He said the Government will pursue a “phased approach” to removing lockdown restrictions rather than a sudden return to “the old normal” – and that the easing had to be done in a “cautious fashion”. NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said it was “really difficult” to know how the virus would play out in the months and years ahead. He said there was “hope” that a solution – either a vaccine or drugs – would be found sooner than might have been hoped 10 or 20 years ago, though it is “impossible to say when that will be”. “But it’s certainly true to say that we will need to adapt to a new normal until we get to that point.” Human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University began last month, with scientists aiming to have a million doses ready by September if efficacy tests go well. Mr Gove said Boris Johnson would set out on Thursday how the country can get back to work, get the economy moving, return children to school and travel to work more safely. “We’re consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the Prime Minister will be saying more later this week,” he explained. Earlier on Sunday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned life would not return to “business as usual” when the Prime Minister sets out his exit strategy. And he admitted that fewer Britons would have died from coronavirus if more tests had been available earlier. Mr Shapps said “many things” could have been different if the UK’s testing capacity was above 100,000 before Covid-19 spread in the country. He also confirmed the NHSX contact tracing app – which he said would need 50%-60% of people to use for it to be successful – will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out later this month. Meanwhile: – A former Government chief scientific adviser, Sir David King, has assembled a group of experts to look at how the UK could work its way out of the lockdown in response to concerns over the “lack of transparency” coming from the Sage group of advisers. – Conservative peer and former minister Baroness Ros Altmann said a requirement for older people to remain in lockdown longer as restrictions are lifted for the rest of the country would be “age discrimination”. – Prof Powis said Government advisers now believe the R value – the number of people that one infected person will pass the virus to, on average – to be “around 0.7”. – Former head of the army General Lord Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. – Professor Sir Ian Diamond, UK national statistician, cautioned against international comparisons of death figures and warned that a “lengthy and deep recession” could lead to increased deaths. In an interview with BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Mr Shapps was asked whether fewer people would have died if testing capacity had been greater sooner. He replied: “Yes. If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started and the knowledge that we now have retrospectively, I’m sure many things could be different. “The fact of the matter is this is not a country that had – although we’re very big in pharmaceuticals as a country – we’re not a country that had very large test capacity.” He also revealed that he was “actively looking at” quarantining people travelling to Britain from abroad to keep coronavirus infection rates under control. It comes as Mr Johnson revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.”
3 May 17:25 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/social-distancing-to-remain-until-coronavirus-vaccine-developed-says-gove/Rating: 0.30
UK misses test target as minister admits lives would have been saved if testing capacity increased sooner
SOME SOCIAL DISTANCING measures will remain in place in the UK until a coronavirus vaccine has been developed but British ministers will seek to restore people’s lives to “as close to normal as possible”, Michael Gove has said. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster warned that people would have to live with “some degree of constraint” until they can be immunised against the deadly disease – suggesting Britons would have to accept a “new normal”. A total of 28,446 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for coronavirus in the UK as of 5pm yesterday. Gove revealed that the number of daily coronavirus tests in the last 24 hours had fallen to 76,496 – below the Government’s 100,000 daily testing target – which was blamed on lower uptake over the weekend. The Cabinet minister told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Ultimately, unless and until we have a vaccine then I suspect that we are going to have to live with some degree of constraint because of the nature of the virus. “But we obviously want to, wherever possible, and consistent with the measures on public health, restore people’s lives to as close to normal as possible.” He said the British government will pursue a “phased approach” to removing lockdown restrictions rather than a sudden return to “the old normal” – and that the easing had to be done in a “cautious fashion”. NHS England’s national medical director Professor Stephen Powis said it was “really difficult” to know how the virus would play out in the months and years ahead. He said there was “hope” that a solution – either a vaccine or drugs – would be found sooner than might have been hoped 10 or 20 years ago, though it is “impossible to say when that will be”. “But it’s certainly true to say that we will need to adapt to a new normal until we get to that point.” Human trials of a vaccine developed by Oxford University began last month, with scientists aiming to have a million doses ready by September if efficacy tests go well. Gove said Boris Johnson would set out on Thursday how the country can get back to work, get the economy moving, return children to school and travel to work more safely. “We’re consulting with employers and unions, professionals and public health experts, to establish how we can ensure that we have the safest possible working environments, and the Prime Minister will be saying more later this week,” he explained. Missed target Earlier today, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps warned life would not return to “business as usual” when the Prime Minister sets out his exit strategy. And he admitted that fewer Britons would have died from coronavirus if more tests had been available earlier. Shapps said “many things” could have been different if the UK’s testing capacity was above 100,000 before Covid-19 spread in the country. He also confirmed the NHSX contact tracing app – which he said would need 50%-60% of people to use for it to be successful – will be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out later this month. In an interview with BBC One’s The Andrew Marr Show, Shapps was asked whether fewer people would have died if testing capacity had been greater sooner. He replied: “Yes. If we had had 100,000 test capacity before this thing started and the knowledge that we now have retrospectively, I’m sure many things could be different. “The fact of the matter is this is not a country that had – although we’re very big in pharmaceuticals as a country – we’re not a country that had very large test capacity.” He also revealed that he was “actively looking at” quarantining people travelling to Britain from abroad to keep coronavirus infection rates under control. It comes as Johnson revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
3 May 20:25 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/grant-schapps-target-5090971-May2020/Rating: 1.13
UK govt set to reveal way out of coronavirus lockdown
The British government is expected to unveil plans to ease the country out of lockdown this week, amid indications of a phased approach to keep infection rates low. Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak and will outline a "roadmap" for lifting stringent measures imposed in late March. According to the latest figures, 28,131 have died in Britain, just short of Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. But hospital admissions and infection rates are down. Johnson himself contracted COVID-19 and spent three nights in intensive care. He revealed in a Sunday newspaper interview plans were put in place in case he died. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he told the Sun on Sunday. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," he added. Follow live updates on the coronavirus pandemic here Asked about the government's plan, as ministers review the lockdown on Thursday, transport minister Grant Shapps said: "It's definitely not going ot be business as usual." Weekend newspaper reports said primary schools could reopen in early June and that commuters taking public transport could face temperature checks. A quarantine period for people travelling to Britain by air has also been suggested. Shapps said it was a "serious point under consideration". "I'm actively looking at this issue right now, so when we have infection rates under control within the country we're not importing," he told BBC television. Britain ordered all non-essential shops and services to close on March 23, told people to stay at home except to shop for groceries and medicines and to exercise once a day. The measures, which were extended on April 16, have hit the economy, with the Bank of England warning it could lead to the worst recession in centuries. But an Opinium poll for the weekly Observer newspaper indicated widespread public support for continuing the restrictions. Fewer than one in five believed it was the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and sports stadiums. Concerns have been expressed about how to maintain social distancing guidelines by young children, and also over-crowding on public transport. Johnson has said the use of face masks could be "useful" as the country re-opens. Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar on Saturday said face masks covering the mouth and nose would be compulsory on services between London, Paris and Brussels from Monday. Britain is banking on an enhanced testing regime and contact tracing, including via a smartphone app, to monitor transmission rates and prevent a second wave of infection.
3 May 15:59 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/uk-govt-set-to-reveal-way-out-of-coronavirus-lockdown-833019.htmlRating: 2.25
UK says virus lockdown to be lifted gradually
The British government on Sunday said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government's plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. According to the latest figures, 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19, up 315 on Saturday, keeping it just below Europe's worst-affected country, Italy. The number of positive cases rose by 4,339 to 186,599. Johnson himself contracted COVID-19 and spent three nights in intensive care. He revealed in a newspaper interview that plans were even put in place in case he died. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he told The Sun on Sunday. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," he added. Senior minister Michael Gove said there would likely be "some degree of constraint" once restrictions were eased until a vaccine was found. And he told a daily briefing of the government's response to the global pandemic there would be no immediate return to the "old normal". Weekend newspaper reports said primary schools could reopen in early June while commuters taking public transport could face temperature checks. A quarantine period for people travelling to Britain has also been suggested. Transport minister Grant Shapps said it was a "serious point under consideration". - 'Phased approach' - Britain is banking on an enhanced testing regime and contact tracing, including via a smartphone app, to monitor transmission rates and prevent a second wave of infection. The app, developed by the digital arm of the state-run National Health Service (NHS), is to be trialled from next week on the Isle of Wight, off England's south coast. Gove said he hoped as many of the 80,000 households on the island as possible would download the app, which he said was "one arrow in the quiver" of measures to keep infection down. On lifting the lockdown, he added: "A phased approach is one which allows us to monitor the impact that those changes are having on public health and if necessary in a specific and localised way. "That means we can pause or even reintroduce those restrictions that might be required in order to deal with localised outbreaks of the disease." Britain ordered all non-essential shops and services to close on March 23, telling people to stay at home except to shop for groceries and medicines, and to exercise once a day. The Bank of England has warned the measures, which were extended on April 16, could lead to the worst recession in centuries. But an Opinium poll for the weekly Observer newspaper indicated widespread public support for continuing the restrictions. Fewer than one in five believed it was the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and sports stadiums. Concerns have been expressed about how to maintain social distancing guidelines by young children, and also over-crowding on public transport. Johnson has said the use of face masks could be "useful" as the country re-opens. Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar on Saturday said face masks covering the mouth and nose would be compulsory on services between London, Paris and Brussels from Monday.
3 May 17:40 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/uk-says-virus-lockdown-to-be-lifted-gradually/article/571140Rating: 0.78
UK says virus lockdown to be lifted gradually
The British government on Sunday said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government's plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. According to the latest figures, 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19, up 315 on Saturday, keeping it just below Europe's worst-affected country, Italy. The number of positive cases rose by 4,339 to 186,599. Johnson himself contracted COVID-19 and spent three nights in intensive care. He revealed in a newspaper interview that plans were even put in place in case he died. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he told The Sun on Sunday. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," he added. Senior minister Michael Gove said there would likely be "some degree of constraint" once restrictions were eased until a vaccine was found. And he told a daily briefing of the government's response to the global pandemic there would be no immediate return to the "old normal". Weekend newspaper reports said primary schools could reopen in early June while commuters taking public transport could face temperature checks. A quarantine period for people travelling to Britain has also been suggested. Transport minister Grant Shapps said it was a "serious point under consideration". Britain is banking on an enhanced testing regime and contact tracing, including via a smartphone app, to monitor transmission rates and prevent a second wave of infection. The app, developed by the digital arm of the state-run National Health Service (NHS), is to be trialled from next week on the Isle of Wight, off England's south coast. Gove said he hoped as many of the 80,000 households on the island as possible would download the app, which he said was "one arrow in the quiver" of measures to keep infection down. On lifting the lockdown, he added: "A phased approach is one which allows us to monitor the impact that those changes are having on public health and if necessary in a specific and localised way. "That means we can pause or even reintroduce those restrictions that might be required in order to deal with localised outbreaks of the disease." Britain ordered all non-essential shops and services to close on March 23, telling people to stay at home except to shop for groceries and medicines, and to exercise once a day. The Bank of England has warned the measures, which were extended on April 16, could lead to the worst recession in centuries. But an Opinium poll for the weekly Observer newspaper indicated widespread public support for continuing the restrictions. Fewer than one in five believed it was the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and sports stadiums. Concerns have been expressed about how to maintain social distancing guidelines by young children, and also over-crowding on public transport. Johnson has said the use of face masks could be "useful" as the country re-opens. Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar on Saturday said face masks covering the mouth and nose would be compulsory on services between London, Paris and Brussels from Monday. phz/har https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 17:43 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/uk-says-virus-lockdown-to-be-lifted-gradually/e0j0l6qRating: 0.51
UK COVID-19 deaths near 30,000
Britain’s death toll in the coronavirus outbreak rose to 28,446 on Sunday, after the government reported 315 more fatalities in hospitals, care homes and the wider community. According to the latest figures, 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19, up 315 on Saturday, keeping it just below Europe’s worst-affected country, Italy. The number of positive cases rose by 4,339 to 186,599. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to unveil the government’s plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. Johnson himself contracted COVID-19 and spent three nights in intensive care. He revealed in a newspaper interview that plans were even put in place in case he died. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he told The Sun on Sunday. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” he added. Senior minister Michael Gove said there would likely be “some degree of constraint” once restrictions were eased until a vaccine was found. And he told a daily briefing of the government’s response to the global pandemic there would be no immediate return to the “old normal”. Weekend newspaper reports said primary schools could reopen in early June while commuters taking public transport could face temperature checks. A quarantine period for people travelling to Britain has also been suggested. Transport minister Grant Shapps said it was a “serious point under consideration”. (AFP)
3 May 18:47 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/uk-covid-19-deaths-near-30000/Rating: 0.30
Probe into claims Afghan migrants forced into river by Iran guards
LONDON: The British government on Sunday said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll.Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government’s plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus.According to the latest figures, 28,446 people have now died after testing positive for COVID-19, up 315 on Saturday, keeping it just below Europe’s worst-affected country, Italy.The number of positive cases rose by 4,339 to 186,599.Johnson himself contracted COVID-19 and spent three nights in intensive care. He revealed in a newspaper interview that plans were even put in place in case he died.“It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he told The Sun on Sunday. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” he added.Senior minister Michael Gove said there would likely be “some degree of constraint” once restrictions were eased until a vaccine was found.And he told a daily briefing of the government’s response to the global pandemic there would be no immediate return to the “old normal.”Weekend newspaper reports said primary schools could reopen in early June while commuters taking public transport could face temperature checks.A quarantine period for people traveling to Britain has also been suggested. Transport minister Grant Shapps said it was a “serious point under consideration.”Britain is banking on an enhanced testing regime and contact tracing, including via a smartphone app, to monitor transmission rates and prevent a second wave of infection.The app, developed by the digital arm of the state-run National Health Service (NHS), is to be trialled from next week on the Isle of Wight, off England’s south coast.Gove said he hoped as many of the 80,000 households on the island as possible would download the app, which he said was “one arrow in the quiver” of measures to keep infection down.On lifting the lockdown, he added: “A phased approach is one which allows us to monitor the impact that those changes are having on public health and if necessary in a specific and localized way.“That means we can pause or even reintroduce those restrictions that might be required in order to deal with localized outbreaks of the disease.”Britain ordered all non-essential shops and services to close on March 23, telling people to stay at home except to shop for groceries and medicines, and to exercise once a day.The Bank of England has warned the measures, which were extended on April 16, could lead to the worst recession in centuries.But an Opinium poll for the weekly Observer newspaper indicated widespread public support for continuing the restrictions.Fewer than one in five believed it was the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and sports stadiums.Concerns have been expressed about how to maintain social distancing guidelines by young children, and also over-crowding on public transport.Johnson has said the use of face masks could be “useful” as the country re-opens.Cross-Channel train operator Eurostar on Saturday said face masks covering the mouth and nose would be compulsory on services between London, Paris and Brussels from Monday.
3 May 18:32 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1669061/worldRating: 1.72
Coronavirus UK: when will antibody tests be available?
Coronavirus in the UK, and around the world, continues to dominate headlines, with the UK death toll exceeding 28,000 people. Some places across the world have started to ease lockdown restrictions – including France, Belgium and Spain – and PM Boris Johnson has revealed plans to publish his exit strategy for the UK later this week. Something that could help more Brits return to a sense of normal life is the unrolling of antibody tests, which can test to see if someone has had Covid-19. When will the antibody tests be available and who can be tested? The antibody tests could be ready by the end of May, according to the National testing coordinator for the government, Professor John Newton. Read the latest updates: Coronavirus news live Speaking on the BBC, he said: ‘There has been a lot of work in antibody testing. We are optimistic that we will have a good antibody test when we need it.’ Antibody tests are usually carried out by pricking the finger of a person and then work by detecting a person’s blood for antibodies. Antibodies are proteins produced by the immune system to defend itself against a foreign invasion such as a virus. UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock had previously revealed that 3.5 million antibody tests were ordered for the NHS, but these didn’t work. It isn’t yet known exactly how the antibody tests will be rolled out. It’s possible that when the antibody tests are ready for use in the UK it will likely be essential workers and members of their household that will get the antibody test first. This is so that they can be tested and return to work on the frontline. Although essential workers will be a priority, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said that the government’s ‘ultimate goal’ is that ‘everyone who could benefit from a test gets a test.’ Madonna revealed to fans on social media that she had taken a test and is thought to have antibodies, but have the antibody tests been rolled out elsewhere? Germany and Italy have already launched country-wide antibody tests, with more announcing plans to follow. It’s been reported earlier today by The Guardian that US pharma giant Roche has been given the go-ahead to start antibody tests throughout the US. Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your views in the comments below.
3 May 12:02 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/when-will-covid-antibody-tests-available-what-countries-have-test-already-12647690/Rating: 2.18
UK government says COVID-19 death toll up by 621 to 28,131
LONDON: The UK on Saturday announced 621 more deaths in the coronavirus outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131, just behind Europe's worst-hit country Italy. The government said that 182,260 people had tested positive for COVID-19, up 4,806 on Friday. But hospital admissions had fallen, it added. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said the country had "past the peak" of the virus, as he comes under mounting pressure to ease lockdown restrictions imposed in late March. A review is expected this Thursday and Johnson said the government would outline a plan to lift social distancing measures that would keep transmissions rates down. ALSO READ| UK PM Boris Johnson and fiancee Carrie Symonds name baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas "The very strong advice today is that moment has not yet come," housing minister Robert Jenrick told a daily briefing on the government's response to the outbreak. In the meantime, the public should remain at home except to shop for essential groceries, medicine or to exercise, he added. The government aims to keep transmission rates down by a wider testing regime, and also through contact tracing of people who have been in proximity with someone infected. Jenrick said that just under 106,000 tests were carried on Friday. Britain was initially criticised for its light-touch approach to the growing pandemic but introduced stricter measures after scientists warned of mass casualties. The country's overall death toll jumped mid-week after a change in reporting, by including deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. That saw numbers surge past Spain and France. It is now just behind Italy, which as of 1530 GMT on Saturday had 28,236 deaths, according to an AFP tally of official sources. The United States remains the worst-affected, with 65,173 deaths.
3 May 00:54 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/world/2020/may/03/uk-government-says-covid-19-death-toll-up-by-621-to-28131-2138465.htmlRating: 2.04
Deaths due to coronavirus in UK mount to 28,131: Report
The UK on Saturday announced 621 more deaths in the coronavirus outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131, just behind Europe’s worst-hit country Italy. The government said that 182,260 people had tested positive for Covid-19, up 4,806 on Friday. But hospital admissions had fallen, it added. Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Thursday said the country had “past the peak” of the virus, as he comes under mounting pressure to ease lockdown restrictions imposed in late March. A review is expected this Thursday and Johnson said the government would outline a plan to lift social distancing measures that would keep transmissions rates down. “The very strong advice today is that moment has not yet come,” housing minister Robert Jenrick told a daily briefing on the government’s response to the outbreak. In the meantime, the public should remain at home except to shop for essential groceries, medicine or to exercise, he added. The government aims to keep transmission rates down by a wider testing regime, and also through contact tracing of people who have been in proximity with someone infected. Just under 106,000 tests were carried on Friday, Jenrick said. Britain was initially criticised for its light-touch approach to the growing pandemic but introduced stricter measures after scientists warned of mass casualties. The country’s overall death toll jumped mid-week after a change in reporting, by including deaths in all settings, including hospitals, care homes and the wider community. That saw numbers surge past Spain and France. It is now just behind Italy, which as of 1530 GMT on Saturday had 28,236 deaths, according to an AFP tally of official sources. The United States remains the worst-affected, with 65,173 deaths.
2 May 17:14 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/deaths-due-to-coronavirus-in-uk-mount-to-28-131-report/story-QL1nPeUyXfHmyVi7WYhdjI.htmlRating: 0.30
Venezuelan Officials Claim to Have Stopped an Armed Incursion
3 May 20:23
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14 articles
Weight: 4.20
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Best date: 3 May 16:35
Average US: 33.692857142857136
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Weighted average IN: 4.422657337084104
Venezuelan Officials Claim to Have Stopped an Armed Incursion
CARACAS — The Venezuelan government said security forces foiled an armed incursion Sunday morning near the capital, Caracas, killing eight men and capturing the remaining two. Néstor Reverol, the interior minister, said that the group of “mercenary terrorists” had come from Colombia by speedboat, intending to overthrow the government, but that it was stopped at the port of La Guaira, near Caracas. Responsibility for the attack was claimed by a retired American Green Beret, Jordan Goudreau, and a retired Venezuelan army captain, Javier Nieto. In a video posted on social media, the two men said that “Operation Gedeon” had been successfully launched “deep into the heart of Caracas” and that other armed cells had been activated throughout the country. “It is obvious that the electoral measures, the democratic and political ones of all kinds, have been exhausted,” Captain Nieto said in the video, defending the decision to try to topple the Venezuelan government with arms. There was no evidence of fighting in Caracas or elsewhere in the country, but Venezuela’s Defense Minister, Vladimir Padrino López, announced a sweep operation in the capital shortly after authorities said they repulsed the raid. President Nicolás Maduro and his officials have denounced dozens of what they said were coup and assassination attempts in recent years as the economy has sunk deeper into crisis and millions of Venezuelans have fled the country. Some of the assertions proved to be true, while others were never independently verified. The uprisings denounced by the government often have their roots in real discontent among Venezuelan officials and military officers but are almost always exaggerated to create a siege mentality among government supporters and to garner international sympathy, analysts say. The vice president of Venezuela’s governing party, Diosdado Cabello — who, like Mr. Reverol, has been linked by the United States to a drug conspiracy — said the plot thwarted on Sunday had been organized by Clíver Alcalá, a dissident retired Venezuelan general who recently surrendered to United States law enforcement to face drug charges. Before being taken into custody, General Alcalá said in March from his exile in Colombia that he was organizing a military incursion into neighboring Venezuela to overthrow Mr. Maduro. His plan was dismantled by the Colombian authorities, he said. The Associated Press reported on Friday that General Alcalá was working on the plot with Mr. Goudreau, who, it said, was drawn to the cause of Venezuela by the prospect of big payout for his private security firm and romantic desire to topple a repressive regime. Mr. Diosdado blamed the United States, Colombia and international drug cartels — the government’s usual scapegoats for the deep economic hardships facing Venezuela — for the most recent attack. He said that one of the detained men had confessed to being an agent for the Drug Enforcement Administration and that combat helmets with American flags were among the captured matériel. The State Department’s Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs discounted the report of a coup attempt. “We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” a spokesperson said. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.” The bureau went on to note human rights abuses, corruption and “thousands of murders of Venezuelans” by the Maduro government. Venezuela’s struggling economy went into a tailspin this year after a modest improvement in living conditions was derailed by the coronavirus pandemic, the collapse of the oil prices and a tightening of American sanctions. Mr. Maduro responded to the crisis by reverting to economic controls and printing more local currency, which sank local food production and unleashed a new bout of hyperinflation. Julie Turkewitz contributed reporting from Bogotá and Adriana Fernandez Loureiro from Caracas.
3 May 20:23 • NY Times • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/world/americas/venezuela-coup.htmlRating: 5.38
Venezuela kills eight invaders in foiled attack by boat on main port city
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan officials said they foiled an early morning attempt by a group of armed men to invade the country by boat on Sunday, killing eight attackers and arresting two more. Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello said that two of the attackers were being interrogated by authorities. Cabello said it was carried out by neighboring Colombia with United States backing in a plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro. Both countries have repeatedly denied earlier Venezuelan allegations of backing for military plots against the socialist government. “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action,” said Cabello, adding that one of the detained claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol described the attackers as “mercenary terrorists” bent on destabilizing Venezuela’s institutions and creating “chaos.” Officials said the attack took place on a beach in La Guaira, about 20 miles from Caracas and home to the nation’s largest airport. Authorities say the attackers had vehicles and heavy arms waiting for them in the port city. Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis in recent years under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care has driven nearly 5 million to migrate. A coalition of nearly 60 nations back opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, saying Maduro’s 2018 election was a sham because the most popular opposition candidates were banned from running. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a narcotrafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions, cutting off Venezuela’s oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. In addition to that pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising, which was joined by few soldiers. Maduro and his allies say the Trump administration is determined to end Venezuela’s socialist government to exploit the South American nation’s vast underground oil reserves. The Associated Press reported on Friday that an apparently ill-founded attempt to amass an invasion force of 300 men in Colombia involving a former Venezuelan military officer and an ex-Green Beret, suffered setbacks in March when a main organizer was arrested, an arms cache was seized and some participants abandoned its camps. Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in that alleged plot. Meanwhile, Cesar Omana, a businessman who participated in an unsuccessful plot against Maduro a year ago, said some 30 armed commandos from the Sebin intelligence police raided his Caracas home early Sunday. Omana is not in the country.
3 May 18:21 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/venezuela-says-it-killed-eight-invaders-in-foiled-boat-attack/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlowRating: 2.55
Venezuela says it foiled attack by boat on main port city
CARACAS, Venezuela — Venezuelan officials said they foiled an early morning attempt by a group of armed “mercenaries” to invade the country in a beach landing using speedboats Sunday, killing eight attackers and arresting two more. Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello said that two of the attackers were interrogated by authorities. Cabello said it was carried out by neighbouring Colombia with the United States backing the plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro - a claim dismissed by U.S. and Colombian officials. “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action," said Cabello, adding that one of the detained claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-calibre weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Both Colombia and the United States have repeatedly denied previous Venezuelan allegations of backing military plots against the socialist government. “We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” said a spokesperson with the State Department Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, speaking Sunday on condition of anonymity, referring to Maduro’s government. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.” Colombia's Foreign Affairs Ministry also rejected the claims made by what it called “Maduro's dictatorial regime.” Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol described the attackers as “mercenary terrorists” bent on destabilizing Venezuela's institutions and creating "chaos." Officials said the attack took place on a beach in La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from Caracas and home to the nation's largest airport. Authorities say the attackers had vehicles and heavy arms waiting for them in the port city. Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis in recent years under Maduro's rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care has driven nearly 5 million to migrate. A coalition of nearly 60 nations backs opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, saying Maduro's 2018 election was a sham because the most popular opposition candidates were banned from running. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a narco-trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions, cutting off Venezuela's oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. Iván Simonovis, a former high-ranking Venezuelan police official who now advises opposition leaders on intelligence strategy from Washington, speculated on Twitter that there might have been a clash between security forces on Sunday and suggested Maduro’s government created the story of a plot to justify “repression against the interim government and any Venezuelan who opposes the dictatorship." But in addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising, which was joined by few soldiers. The Associated Press reported on Friday that an apparently ill-funded attempt to amass an invasion force of 300 men in Colombia involving a former Venezuelan military officer and an ex-Green Beret, suffered setbacks in March when a main organizer was arrested, an arms cache was seized and some participants abandoned its camps. Jordan Goudreau, the ex-Green Beret, said in a video posted Sunday on Twitter from undisclosed location that forces had entered Venezuela from other points and were “deep inside Caracas.” He didn’t take credit for the alleged pre-dawn beach invasion, but said “our units have been activated,” although no other signs of unrest surfaced throughout the day. Retired Venezuelan National Guard Capt. Javier Nieto Quintero appeared in the video with Goudreau, urging members of the armed forces to help liberate the nation in an action he called “Operation Gideon.” Nieto, when contacted by AP on a Miami telephone, declined to comment and hung up. Goudreau also declined to comment in a call from Caracas. Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in that alleged plot. One of the men he said was killed, a man nicknamed “the Panther,” had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the force in Colombia. Maduro and his allies say the Trump administration is determined to end Venezuela’s socialist government to exploit the South American nation’s vast underground oil reserves. Maduro remains in power, backed by the military and with international support from Cuba, Russia, China and Iran. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino López, speaking on state TV Sunday backed by armed soldiers and tanks units, called the attackers mercenaries who “don't have souls. They're cowards.” Guaidó accused Maduro’s government of seizing on this example of unrest to draw the world’s attention away from embarrassing bloodshed in other parts of the country, including a prison riot days earlier that left at least 40 dead. “Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy." ___ Associated Press writer Joshua Goodman contributed to this report from Miami, Florida. Scott Smith, The Associated Press
3 May 23:26 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/world-news/venezuela-says-it-foiled-attack-by-boat-on-main-port-city-2320372Rating: 0.30
Venezuela Says It Foiled Boat Attack by 'Mercenaries' on Main Port City
Venezuelan officials said they foiled an early morning attempt by a group of armed “mercenaries” to invade the country in a beach landing using speedboats Sunday, killing eight attackers and arresting two more. Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello said that two of the attackers were interrogated by authorities. Cabello said it was carried out by neighboring Colombia with the United States backing the plot to overthrow President Nicolás Maduro - a claim dismissed by U.S. officials. “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action," said Cabello, adding that one of the detained claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Both Colombia and the United States have repeatedly denied Venezuela previous Venezuelan allegations of backing military plots against the socialist government. “We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” said a spokesperson with the State Department Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, speaking Sunday on condition of anonymity, referring to Maduro’s government. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.” Venezuelan authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol described the attackers as “mercenary terrorists” bent on destabilizing Venezuela's institutions and creating "chaos." Officials said the attack took place on a beach in La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) from Caracas and home to the nation's largest airport. Authorities say the attackers had vehicles and heavy arms waiting for them in the port city. Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis in recent years under Maduro's rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care has driven nearly 5 million to migrate. A coalition of nearly 60 nations back opposition leader Juan Guaidó as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, saying Maduro's 2018 election was a sham because the most popular opposition candidates were banned from running. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a narco-trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions, cutting off Venezuela's oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. Iván Simonovis, a former high-ranking Venezuelan police official who now advises opposition leaders on intelligence strategy from Washington, speculated on Twitter that there might have been a clash between security forces on Sunday and suggested Maduro’s government created the story of a plot to justify “repression against the interim government and any Venezuelan who opposes the dictatorship." But in addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising, which was joined by few soldiers. The Associated Press reported on Friday that an apparently ill-funded attempt to amass an invasion force of 300 men in Colombia involving a former Venezuelan military officer and an ex-Green Beret, suffered setbacks in March when a main organizer was arrested, an arms cache was seized and some participants abandoned its camps. Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in that alleged plot. One of the men he said was killed, a man nicknamed “the Panther,” had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the force in Colombia. Maduro and his allies say the Trump administration is determined to end Venezuela’s socialist government to exploit the South American nation’s vast underground oil reserves. Maduro remains in power, backed by the military and with international support from Cuba, Russia, China and Iran. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino López, speaking on state TV Sunday backed by armed soldiers and tanks units, called the attackers mercenaries who “don't have souls. They're cowards.” Guaidó accused Maduro’s government of seizing on this example of unrest to draw the world’s attention away from embarrassing bloodshed in other parts of the country, including a prison riot days earlier that left at least 40 dead. “Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy." Meanwhile, Cesar Omana, a businessman who participated in an unsuccessful plot against Maduro a year ago, said some 30 armed commandos from the Sebin intelligence police raided his Caracas home early Sunday. Omana is not in the country.
3 May 23:43 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/americas/venezuela-says-it-foiled-boat-attack-by-mercenaries-on-main-port-city-1.8817863Rating: 1.13
Venezuela says it foiled attempt by group of armed men to invade the country
CARACAS, VENEZUELA -- Venezuelan officials said they foiled an early morning attempt by a group of armed "mercenaries" to invade the country in a beach landing using speedboats Sunday, killing eight attackers and arresting two more. Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello said that two of the attackers were interrogated by authorities. Cabello said it was carried out by neighbouring Colombia with the United States backing the plot to overthrow President Nicolas Maduro - a claim dismissed by U.S. officials. "Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action," said Cabello, adding that one of the detained claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Both Colombia and the United States have repeatedly denied previous Venezuelan allegations of backing military plots against the socialist government. "We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime," said a spokesperson with the State Department Bureau of Western Hemisphere Affairs, speaking Sunday on condition of anonymity, referring to Maduro's government. "The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela." Venezuelan authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-calibre weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol described the attackers as "mercenary terrorists" bent on destabilizing Venezuela's institutions and creating "chaos." Officials said the attack took place on a beach in La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 kilometres) from Caracas and home to the nation's largest airport. Authorities say the attackers had vehicles and heavy arms waiting for them in the port city. Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis in recent years under Maduro's rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care has driven nearly 5 million to migrate. A coalition of nearly 60 nations back opposition leader Juan Guaido as Venezuela's legitimate leader, saying Maduro's 2018 election was a sham because the most popular opposition candidates were banned from running. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a narco-trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions, cutting off Venezuela's oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. Ivan Simonovis, a former high-ranking Venezuelan police official who now advises opposition leaders on intelligence strategy from Washington, speculated on Twitter that there might have been a clash between security forces on Sunday and suggested Maduro's government created the story of a plot to justify "repression against the interim government and any Venezuelan who opposes the dictatorship." But in addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro's government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone and Guaido's call for a military uprising, which was joined by few soldiers. The Associated Press reported on Friday that an apparently ill-funded attempt to amass an invasion force of 300 men in Colombia involving a former Venezuelan military officer and an ex-Green Beret, suffered setbacks in March when a main organizer was arrested, an arms cache was seized and some participants abandoned its camps. Cabello linked Sunday's attack to key players in that alleged plot. One of the men he said was killed, a man nicknamed "the Panther," had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the force in Colombia. Maduro and his allies say the Trump administration is determined to end Venezuela's socialist government to exploit the South American nation's vast underground oil reserves. Maduro remains in power, backed by the military and with international support from Cuba, Russia, China and Iran. Defence Minister Vladimir Padrino Lopez, speaking on state TV Sunday backed by armed soldiers and tanks units, called the attackers mercenaries who "don't have souls. They're cowards." Guaido accused Maduro's government of seizing on this example of unrest to draw the world's attention away from embarrassing bloodshed in other parts of the country, including a prison riot days earlier that left at least 40 dead. "Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela," Guaido said. "But it's clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy." Meanwhile, Cesar Omana, a businessman who participated in an unsuccessful plot against Maduro a year ago, said some 30 armed commandos from the Sebin intelligence police raided his Caracas home early Sunday. Omana is not in the country. ------ Associated Press writer Joshua Goodman contributed to this report from Miami, Florida.
3 May 16:43 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/venezuela-says-it-foiled-attempt-by-group-of-armed-men-to-invade-the-country-1.4922830Rating: 2.87
Venezuela says eight killed in foiled 'invasion by sea'
Venezuela's government has said it foiled a marine incursion by "terrorist mercenaries" who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighbouring Colombia, adding security forces killed eight of the fighters. The group landed early on Sunday on a beach in the port city of La Guaira, about 20 miles (32km) from the capital Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address. More: "They tried to carry out an invasion by sea, a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, in order to commit terrorist acts in the country, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government," he said. Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two were detained. "We have deactivated an attempted incursion of our territory, thanks to intelligence efforts," Cabello told reporters. President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow his administration with the support of the United States, which has promised to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the OPEC nations' oil exports. Critics of the governing Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the government. Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis that has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced nearly five million people to emigrate. The US and more than 50 other countries disavowed Maduro after his disputed 2018 election, which they say was rigged, and instead have recognised opposition leader Juan Guaido as the nation's legitimate interim leader. But Maduro retains the backing of the country's armed forces as well as countries including China and Russia, which have harshly criticised the US sanctions. The US has led a campaign to remove Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a drug trafficker and offering a $15m reward for his arrest. The US has also increased sanctions, cutting off Venezuela's oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. In addition to that pressure, Maduro's government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone and Guaido's call for a military uprising, which was joined by few soldiers. Maduro and his allies say the Trump administration is determined to end Venezuela's socialist government to exploit the South American nation's vast underground oil reserves.
3 May 17:57 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/venezuela-killed-foiled-invasion-sea-200503162349161.htmlRating: 2.44
Venezuela says it thwarted armed ‘invasion’ by sea
The Venezuelan government said it thwarted an armed invasion by sea in the early hours of Sunday, killing eight assailants and arresting two others in response to what it said was a plot orchestrated by the US and launched from neighbouring Colombia. Interior Minister Néstor Reverol told state television the attackers tried to land under cover of darkness in speedboats near the port city of La Guaira, close to Caracas. Describing them as “terrorist mercenaries”, he said they had planned “to assassinate leaders of the revolutionary government” and spark a coup. He said the operation was continuing and there might be further arrests. Speaking later, the powerful no. 2 of Venezuela’s ruling socialist party, Diosdado Cabello, said eight people had been killed, including a former army captain who he said was an associate of Clíver Alcalá, a former Venezuelan general who fled to Colombia two years ago and recently admitted he was planning an invasion of Venezuela. Mr Cabello said one of the two men arrested was a Venezuelan who admitted to working for the US Drug Enforcement Administration. The incident comes a month after Mr Alcalá handed himself to US authorities after saying he was planning “a military operation against the Maduro dictatorship” from camps on the La Guajira peninsula, which Colombia and Venezuela share. The plot collapsed after Colombian police found semi-automatic rifles, helmets, night-vision goggles and flak jackets in the back of a van. The US denied the plot existed. Mr Cabello said Sunday’s attempted invasion was part of the same plan. “The rest of the group continued with their plan this morning,” he said. The incident comes at a time of heightened tensions between the US and Venezuela, as the Trump administration steps up efforts to force President Nicolás Maduro from power. In March, the US Department of Justice charged Mr Maduro and a dozen associates in connection with “narco-terrorism” and other crimes, offering $15m for information leading to Mr Maduro’s arrest. Last month, the US sent warships closer to the Venezuelan coast to stop what President Donald Trump described as “cartels, criminals, terrorists and other malign actors” exploiting the coronavirus pandemic to smuggle drugs to the US.
3 May 16:35 • Ft • https://www.ft.com/content/f7ed9f92-f69d-401b-a8fa-20f93cf09bdcRating: 2.96
Venezuela says eight killed in alleged invasion
May 3 (UPI) -- Venezuelan officials said eight people were killed and two were arrested by security forces that thwarted an alleged invasion on Sunday, prompting skepticism from opposition leaders and the United States. Nestor Reverol, Venezuela's interior minister, said boats arrived from Colombia with the intent of assassinating leaders in the Venezuelan government to spur chaos. "The plan was to commit terrorist acts in the country, assassinate leaders of the revolutionary government and add to the spiral of violence while generating chaos and confusion in the population and attempt a new coup d'etat," said Reverol. Diosdado Cabello, president of the Constituent Assembly said that a large cache of weapons and some vehicles were also seized by security forces. "Behind all of this is the United States, the Colombian oligarchy and narcotrafficking," National Assembly head and opposition leader Juan Guaido, who led a rally to oust Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro last year, said the government's description of the event was "riddled with inconsistencies, doubts and contradictions." He also said the "alleged event" may have been staged to frame the opposition or cover up state killings. The U.S. State Department also issued a statement skeptical of the report from the Venezuelan government. "The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela," the agency said.
3 May 23:08 • UPI • https://www.upi.com/Top_News/World-News/2020/05/03/Venezuela-says-eight-killed-in-alleged-invasion/6421588544038/Rating: 0.76
Venezuelan Military on High Alert After Foiling Boat Invasion
Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said the attackers tried to invade the northern state of La Guaira on high-speed boats. Eight militants were killed and two others captured in the counteroperation. One of those detained was an agent of the US Drug Enforcement Administration, Reverol said. The Defence Ministry said it had seized the type of weapons used in a failed coup attempt on 30 April. The military is combing the sea bottom near the beach where the attack took place for more weapons after one of the boats capsized. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly denounced groups receiving support from Colombia and the US, accusing them of seeking “to undermine the stability of our homeland with violent actions”. Last month, Maduro announced the mobilization of artillery in strategic areas to protect the country from incursion. The latest escalation in tensions between Venezuela, the US and its allies comes after Washington slapped Maduro with “narco-terrorism” charges in March, and posted a $15 million reward for his capture or prosecution.
3 May 21:36 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/latam/202005031079185377-venezuelan-military-on-high-alert-after-foiling-boat-invasion/Rating: 3.96
Venezuela reports attempted naval invasion from Colombia
The Venezuelan armed forces and police have thwarted an attempted naval invasion by mercenaries attempting to enter the country by sea from neighbouring Colombia, Venezuelan Interior Minister Nestor Reverol has announced. “We would like to inform and denounce to the national and international community that early this morning, May 3, 2020, a group of terrorist mercenaries coming from Colombia attempted a sea invasion, with the objective to commit terrorist attacks in our country, assassinate leaders of the revolutionary government and to increase the spiral of violence, generate chaos and confusion among the population, and with this, to attempt a new coup d’état,” Reverol said, speaking on Venezuelan television Sunday morning. According to the interior minister, the mercenaries “attempted to come into the country through fast boats on the coast of Ojeda. But thanks to the fast and effective actions of our armed forces, and of the police task force, some were brought down, and others are now imprisoned,” he added. According to the official, weapons belonging to the mercenaries have also been confiscated. An investigation is now said to be ongoing into the incident. Local media have reported that as many as 8 mercenaries have been killed, with two others captured. Unauthenticated photo evidence has appeared online, purportedly showing some of the mercenaries’ equipment, weapons and vehicles. Video footage in the area where the landing attempt was made shows an increased security forces presence, with other footage apparently taken from a local urban area featuring the sound of gunfire and flares lighting up the night sky. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro has repeatedly denounced groups receiving support from Colombia and the US, accusing them of seeking “to undermine the stability of our homeland with violent actions.” Last month, Maduro announced the mobilization of artillery in strategic areas to protect the country from incursion. The latest escalation in tensions between Venezuela, the US and its allies comes after Washington slapped Maduro with “narco-terrorism” charges in March, and posted a $15 million reward for his capture or prosecution. The long-running Venezuelan crisis escalated in early 2019, when opposition lawmaker Juan Guaido proclaimed himself ‘interim president’ and called on the democratically elected Maduro government to step down. Maduro has refused to do so, accusing Guiado of trying to carry out a botched coup with the aim of robbing Venezuela of its vast oil and mineral resources. Source: Sputnik
3 May 15:43 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/venezuela-reports-attempted-naval-invasion-from-colombia/Rating: 0.63
Venezuela government says eight killed in foiled mercenary 'incursion'
CARACAS — Venezuela’s government said it foiled a marine incursion on Sunday by “terrorist mercenaries” who attempted to enter the country on speedboats from neighboring Colombia, which opposition leaders dismissed as a staged incident. President Nicolas Maduro frequently accuses political adversaries of attempting to overthrow him with the backing of Washington, which has vowed to force him from office through sanctions that have crippled the OPEC nation’s oil exports. Critics of the ruling Socialist Party often dismiss such accusations as stunts used as an excuse to detain opponents of the government. The group landed early on Sunday on the coast of La Guaira, about 20 miles (32 km) from the capital Caracas, Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said in a televised address. “They tried to carry out an invasion by sea, a group of terrorist mercenaries from Colombia, in order to commit terrorist acts in the country, murdering leaders of the revolutionary government,” he said. Opposition leader Juan Guaido said the government was seeking to distract from recent violent events including a deadly prison riot on Friday and bloody Caracas gang battle on Saturday night. “The regime is seeking to divert attention with a supposed incident (in La Guaira) plagued with inconsistencies, doubts and contradictions,” the press team for Guaido, who is recognized by more than 50 countries as Venezuela’s legitimate leader, said in a statement. Socialist Party leader Diosdado Cabello said eight people were killed and two detained. Defense Minister Vladimir Padrino said one of the speedboats had sunk, and that military vessels were searching the coast for survivors. The assertions by Maduro’s government of Colombian involvement were “unfounded,” Colombia’s foreign ministry said in a statement, and were an attempt to distract attention from “the true problems that the Venezuelan people are living.” Maduro has overseen a six-year economic crisis that has left many citizens unable to obtain basic food and medicine and forced nearly five million people to emigrate. The United States and dozens of other countries disavowed Maduro after his disputed 2018 election, which they say was rigged. They instead recognize Guaido, who is head of the country’s legislature. But Maduro retains the backing of the country’s armed forces as well as countries including China and Russia, which have harshly criticized the U.S. sanctions. (Reporting Vivian Sequera, additional reporting by Julia Symmes Cobb in Bogota; Writing by Brian Ellsworth; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
3 May 21:38 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/politics-news-pmn/venezuela-government-says-eight-killed-in-foiled-mercenary-incursion-3Rating: 1.59
Venezuela claims it 'foiled' attack backed by US, Colombia
Venezuelan officials claimed they stopped a team of attackers, backed by the United States and Colombia, who tried storming the country from sea early Sunday morning. Socialist party chief Diosdado Cabello told local reporters that his forces killed eight men who tried to enter the port city of La Guaira, and arrested two more. One of the men in custody supposedly claimed to be a DEA agent, but Fox News could not verify those claims. “One of the detainees claimed to be a [Drug Enforcement Administration] official. He participated in DEA operations in America. He is Venezuelan, said by himself,” Cabello said. “It is sad that those who call themselves Venezuelans are financed by drug trafficking and drug money.” CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE He continued, “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action.” Investigators claimed the men arrived by boat from Colombia and had supplies waiting for them, including vehicles, heavy arms, Peruvian documents, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Both Colombia and the United States previously have denied allegations by the Maduro government of backing military plots against the government. VENEZUELA PRISON RIOT KILLS AT LEAST 40, INCLUDING WARDEN Interior Minister Nestor Reverol described the would-be attackers as “mercenary terrorists” bent on destabilizing Venezuela’s institutions and creating “chaos.” Cabello went on to claim that the attack was backed by the United States in an attempt to overthrow disputed President Nicolás Maduro. Journalist Érika Ortega Sanoja reported that fishermen in La Guaira will help the security forces patrol the city’s coast in the face of the attempted incursion. Venezuela has suffered from a severe economic crisis, which has driven up crime rates and deepened political divides within the country. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million people to leave. A similar attack was planned earlier this year, but it fell apart after the Venezuelan government seized a bulk of the group’s weapons and arrested one of the central conspirators. An ex-Green Beret supposedly was involved with the attempt, though, the U.S. denied any support of the plot, which did not materialize. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Instead of backing direct conflicts, the United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro by indicting the socialist leader as a narcotrafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions, cutting off Venezuela’s oil sector to choke Maduro from a key source of hard cash. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
3 May 18:43 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/world/venezuela-claims-us-colombia-supported-attack-foiledRating: 3.32
Ex-Green Beret claims he led foiled raid into Venezuela | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
CARACAS, Venezuela >> A former Green Beret has taken responsibility for what he claimed was a failed attack Sunday aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and that the socialist government said ended with eight dead. Jordan Goudreau’s comments in an interview with an exiled Venezuelan journalist capped a bizarre day that started with reports of a predawn amphibious raid near the South American country’s heavily guarded capital. An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general now facing U.S. narcotics charges to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela’s security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest. But from the outset the ragtag army lacked funding and U.S. government support, all but guaranteeing defeat against Maduro’s sizable-if-demoralized military. It also appears to have been penetrated by Maduro’s extensive Cuban-backed intelligence network. Both Goudreau and retired Venezuelan Capt. Javier Nieto declined to speak to the AP today when contacted after posting a video from an undisclosed location saying they had launched an anti-Maduro putsch called “Operation Gideon.” Both men live in Florida. “A daring amphibious raid was launched from the border of Colombia deep into the heart of Caracas,” Goudreau, in a New York Yankees ball cap, said in the video standing next to Nieto who was dressed in armored vest with a rolled-up Venezuelan flag pinned to his shoulder. “Our units have been activated in the south, west and east of Venezuela.” Goudreau said 60 of his men were still on the ground and calls were being activated inside Venezuela, some of them fighting under the command of Venezuelan National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago. None of their claims of an ongoing operation could be independently verified. But Goudreau said he hoped to join the rebels soon and invited Venezuelans and Maduro’s troops to join the would-be insurgency although there was no sign of any fighting in the capital or elsewhere as night fell. In an interview later with Miami-based journalist Patricia Poleo, he provided a contradictory account of his activities and the support he claims to have once had — and then lost — from Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader recognized as Venezuela’s interim president by the U.S. and some 60 countries. He provided to Poleo what he said was an 8-page contract signed by Guaidó and two political advisers in Miami in October for $213 million. The alleged “general services” contract doesn’t specify what work his company, Silvercorp USA, was to undertake. He also released via Poleo a four-minute audio recording, made on a hidden cellphone, in the moment when he purportedly signed the contract as Guaidó participated via videoconference. In the recording, a person he claims is Guaido can be heard giving vague encouragement in broken English but not discussing any military plans. “Let’s get to work!,” said the man who is purportedly Guaido. The AP was unable to confirm the veracity of the recording. There was no immediate comment from Guaidó on Goudreau’s claim that the two had signed a contract. Previously, Guaidó has said he hadn’t signed any contract for a military incursion. Goudreau said he never received a penny from the Guaidó team and instead the Venezuelan soldiers he was advising had to scrounge for donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service Uber in Colombia. “It’s almost like crowdfunded the liberating of a country,” he said. Goudreau said everything he did was legal but in any case he’s prepared to pay the cost for anything he did if it saves the lives of Venezuelans trying to restore their democracy. “I’ve been a freedom fighter my whole life. This is all I know,” said Goudreau, who is a decorated three-time Bronze Star recipient for courage in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a special forces medic. Asked about why his troops would land at one of Venezuela’s most fortified coastlines — some 20 miles from Caracas next to the country’s biggest airport — he cited the example set by Alexander the Great, who had “struck deep into the heart of the enemy” at the Battle of Guagamela. The government’s claims that it had foiled a beach landing today triggered a frenzy of confusing claims and counterclaims about the alleged plot. While Maduro’s allies said it had been backed by Guaidó, Colombia and the U.S., the opposition accused Maduro of fabricating the whole episode to distract attention from the country’s ongoing humanitarian crisis. “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action,” said socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello, adding that one of two captured insurgents claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Both U.S. and Colombian officials dismissed the Venezuelan allegations. “We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” said a State Department spokesperson, referring to Maduro’s government. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.” Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro’s rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a drug trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions. In addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone in 2018 and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising a year ago. Cabello linked today’s attack to key players in the alleged plot led by Goudreau and Ret. Maj. Gen. Cliver Alcala, who is now in U.S. custody awaiting trial after being indicted alongside Maduro on narcoterrorist charges. One of the men he said was killed, nicknamed “the Panther,” had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the covert force in Colombia. Guaidó accused Maduro’s government of seizing on the incident to draw the world’s attention away from the country’s problems. “Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy.”
3 May 16:05 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/breaking-news/venezuela-says-it-foiled-attack-by-boat-on-main-port-city/Rating: 0.30
Venezuela
1 / 9Security forces patrol near the shore in the port city of La Guaira, Venezuela, Sunday, May 3, 2020. Interior Minister Nestor Reverol said on state television that security forces overcame before dawn Sunday an armed maritime incursion with speedboats from neighboring Colombia in which several attackers were killed and others detained. (AP Photo/Matias Delacroix) CARACAS, Venezuela (AP) — A former Green Beret has taken responsibility for what he claimed was a failed attack Sunday aimed at overthrowing Venezuelan President Nicolás Maduro and that the socialist government said ended with eight dead. Jordan Goudreau’s comments in an interview with an exiled Venezuelan journalist capped a bizarre day that started with reports of a predawn amphibious raid near the South American country's heavily guarded capital. An AP investigation published Friday found that Goudreau had been working with a retired Venezuelan army general now facing U.S. narcotics charges to train dozens of deserters from Venezuela's security forces at secret camps inside neighboring Colombia. The goal was to mount a cross-border raid that would end in Maduro’s arrest. But from the outset the ragtag army lacked funding and U.S. government support, all but guaranteeing defeat against Maduro’s sizable-if-demoralized military. It also appears to have been penetrated by Maduro's extensive Cuban-backed intelligence network. Both Goudreau and retired Venezuelan Capt. Javier Nieto declined to speak to the AP on Sunday when contacted after posting a video from an undisclosed location saying they had launched an anti-Maduro putsch called “Operation Gideon.” Both men live in Florida. “A daring amphibious raid was launched from the border of Colombia deep into the heart of Caracas,” Goudreau, in a New York Yankees ball cap, said in the video standing next to Nieto who was dressed in armored vest with a rolled-up Venezuelan flag pinned to his shoulder. “Our units have been activated in the south, west and east of Venezuela.” Goudreau said 60 of his men were still on the ground and calls were being activated inside Venezuela, some of them fighting under the command of Venezuelan National Guardsman Capt. Antonio Sequea, who participated in a barracks revolt against Maduro a year ago. None of their claims of an ongoing operation could be independently verified. But Goudreau said he hoped to join the rebels soon and invited Venezuelans and Maduro's troops to join the would-be insurgency although there was no sign of any fighting in the capital or elsewhere as night fell. In an interview later with Miami-based journalist Patricia Poleo, he provided a contradictory account of his activities and the support he claims to have once had — and then lost — from Juan Guaidó, the opposition leader recognized as Venezuela’s interim president by the U.S. and some 60 countries. He provided to Poleo what he said was an 8-page contract signed by Guaidó and two political advisers in Miami in October for $213 million. The alleged “general services” contract doesn’t specify what work his company, Silvercorp USA, was to undertake. He also released via Poleo a four-minute audio recording, made on a hidden cellphone, in the moment when he purportedly signed the contract as Guaidó participated via videoconference. In the recording, a person he claims is Guaido can be heard giving vague encouragement in broken English but not discussing any military plans. “Let’s get to work!,” said the man who is purportedly Guaido. The AP was unable to confirm the veracity of the recording. There was no immediate comment from Guaidó on Goudreau’s claim that the two had signed a contract. Previously, Guaidó has said he hadn’t signed any contract for a military incursion. Goudreau said he never received a penny from the Guaidó team and instead the Venezuelan soldiers he was advising had to scrounge for donations from Venezuelan migrants driving for car share service Uber in Colombia. “It’s almost like crowdfunded the liberating of a country," he said. Goudreau said everything he did was legal but in any case he's prepared to pay the cost for anything he did if it saves the lives of Venezuelans trying to restore their democracy. “I’ve been a freedom fighter my whole life. This is all I know,” said Goudreau, who is a decorated three-time Bronze Star recipient for courage in deployments to Iraq and Afghanistan as a special forces medic. Asked about why his troops would land at one of Venezuela's most fortified coastlines — some 20 miles from Caracas next to the country's biggest airport — he cited the example set by Alexander the Great, who had “struck deep into the heart of the enemy” at the Battle of Guagamela. The government’s claims that it had foiled a beach landing Sunday triggered a frenzy of confusing claims and counterclaims about the alleged plot. While Maduro's allies said it had been backed by Guaidó, Colombia and the U.S., the opposition accused Maduro of fabricating the whole episode to distract attention from the country's ongoing humanitarian crisis. “Those who assume they can attack the institutional framework in Venezuela will have to assume the consequences of their action,” said socialist party boss Diosdado Cabello, adding that one of two captured insurgents claimed to be an agent of the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. Authorities said they found Peruvian documents, high-caliber weapons, satellite phones, uniforms and helmets adorned with the U.S. flag. Both U.S. and Colombian officials dismissed the Venezuelan allegations. “We have little reason to believe anything that comes out of the former regime,” said a State Department spokesperson, referring to Maduro's government. “The Maduro regime has been consistent in its use of misinformation in order to shift focus from its mismanagement of Venezuela.” Venezuela has been in a deepening political and economic crisis under Maduro's rule. Crumbling public services such as running water, electricity and medical care have driven nearly 5 million to migrate. The United States has led a campaign to oust Maduro, increasing pressure in recent weeks by indicting the socialist leader as a drug trafficker and offering a $15 million reward for his arrest. The U.S. also has increased stiff sanctions. In addition to U.S. economic and diplomatic pressure, Maduro’s government has faced several small-scale military threats, including an attempt to assassinate Maduro with a drone in 2018 and Guaidó’s call for a military uprising a year ago. Cabello linked Sunday’s attack to key players in the alleged plot led by Goudreau and Ret. Maj. Gen. Cliver Alcala, who is now in U.S. custody awaiting trial after being indicted alongside Maduro on narcoterrorist charges. One of the men he said was killed, nicknamed “the Panther,” had been identified as involved in obtaining weapons for the covert force in Colombia. Guaidó accused Maduro’s government of seizing on the incident to draw the world’s attention away from the country's problems. “Of course, there are patriotic members of the military willing to fight for Venezuela,” Guaidó said. “But it’s clear that what happened in Vargas is another distraction ploy." ___ Goodman reported from Miami.
3 May 12:55 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/venezuela-says-foiled-attack-boat-125553161.htmlRating: 0.30
Six more Covid-19 deaths in Western Cape
3 May 18:10
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Six more Covid-19 deaths in Western Cape
Following the most tests carried out to date on Saturday, the Western Cape has recorded another six Covid-19 deaths. On Saturday, 4 059 tests were completed in a 24-hour period. The testing and screening was focussed on hotspots and pockets of infection. "Focused testing and screening, conducted at hotspots, or in pockets of infection are key in our fight to flatten the curve and to stop the spread. This cannot however be achieved through testing alone and requires the buy-in and help of everyone in society. It is still necessary for people to stay home in line with the regulation four guidelines, to wash their hands and to practice social distancing,” said Premier Alan Winde in a statement. However, the province also experienced six deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 58. The Western Cape currently has the most confirmed cases, having overtaken Gauteng on 23 April. As of 13:00 on Sunday, the Western Cape had recorded 3 113 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection. Winde urged caution as more residents return to work on Monday under Level 4 lockdown regulations.
3 May 18:10 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/SouthAfrica/News/six-more-covid-19-deaths-in-western-cape-20200503Rating: 2.83
Six more Covid-19 deaths in Western Cape
South Africa has the highest number of coronavirus cases on the continent. AFP/File/MARCO LONGARI Following the most tests carried out to date on Saturday, the Western Cape has recorded another six Covid-19 deaths. On Saturday, 4 059 tests were completed in a 24-hour period. The testing and screening was focused on hotspots and pockets of infection. “Focused testing and screening, conducted at hotspots, or in pockets of infection are key in our fight to flatten the curve and to stop the spread. This cannot, however, be achieved through testing alone and requires the buy-in and help of everyone in society. It is still necessary for people to stay home in line with the regulation four guidelines, to wash their hands and to practice social distancing,” said Premier Alan Winde in a statement. However, the province also experienced six deaths, bringing the total number of deaths from the virus in the province to 58. The Western Cape currently has the most confirmed cases, having overtaken Gauteng on 23 April. As of 13:00 on Sunday, the Western Cape had recorded 3 113 confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection. Winde urged caution as more residents return to work on Monday under Level 4 lockdown regulations.
3 May 16:24 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/news/covid-19/2278191/six-more-covid-19-deaths-in-western-cape/Rating: 1.26
Covid-19: Easing lockdown offends Nigeria’s experts
Abuja, Nigeria’s decision to ease nationwide lockdown by Monday has sparked a row as Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) fear that coronavirus pandemic will spiral. The National Medical Association (NMA) that has lost more than 11 doctors in the battle also kicked against the decision to unlock the economy and polity. NCDC warned that coronavirus cases will continue to rise for the next few months even as the cases peaked at 2,388 with 85 deaths, a leap within a week by more than 150 per cent. Dr Chikwe Ihekweazu, the Director General of NCDC, said the cases would likely increase if the people are allowed to mingle and given the increasing capacity to find and test more cases. The nation lacks bed spaces and this added to more infections will worsen the frightening scenario. “The easing of the lockdown should not be seen as going back to status quo,’’ as Nigeria may not be able to manage possible explosion, he said. Dr Ihekweazu said that governments and Nigerians have roles to play in slowing the spread of novel coronavirus pandemic and protecting themselves, their families and communities. President Muhammadu Buhari who imposed a lockdown in Lagos and Ogun states as well as in Abuja, the epicentres of the pandemic for 28 days as 34 other states also did has declared easing of the lockdown due to public demand. However, the relax of the lockdown came at a time that Kano, north west Nigeria with a population of more than 20 million, is recording its worse cases and with hundreds of mysterious deaths. Reports say that more than 150 people, including prominent indigenes of Kano have died mysteriously in two weeks, prompting the World Health Organization (WHO) to launch a probe into unusual deaths. President of the Association of NMA, Dr Francis Faduyile, described the unlocking as premature, as it will ``figuratively tilt the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike’’. The confusing situation in Kano, he said, had neither been unravelled nor resolved, while other states live in the delusion of zero COVID-19 incidences. Faduyile argued that unlocking the nation could be overwhelming as more than 113 Healthcare Workers (HCWs), including doctors, have been infected, including some fatalities. Despite the opposition to the lockdown and the increase in cases, guidelines on the relaxation of the lockdown and gradual reopening of the economy have been released by the Presidential Task Force (PTF) on COVID-19. Mr Boss Mustapha, the Secretary to the Government of the Federation, who is also the Chairman of PTE, announced on May 3, 2020, that the process would span six weeks, broken into three tranches of two weeks each. This is designed to reduce the pains of socio-economic disruptions while strengthening public health response. He argued the action would also provide succour to the poor and vulnerable groups, but warned that overnight curfew nationwide from 8 p.m. to 6 a.m. will be effective May 4, 2020. Other measure included the ban on inter-state travels except for the movement of goods, agro-products, petroleum products, essential services; closure of schools; closure of places of worship; and ban on all passenger flights. He explained however that offices and businesses will be re-opened on May 4, 2020 after the premises have been fumigated, decontaminated and have made provision for physical distancing. Workplaces would ensure compulsory use of face masks, testing of temperature, ensuring the prohibition of mass gathering of more than 20 people. The action of government did not amount to the end of the battle against the virus, but said: “It signifies the need for more vigilance and stringent compliance so that we are not lulled into complacence capable of diminishing the progress we have made so far.”
3 May 17:46 • Daily Nation • https://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Covid-19--Easing-lockdown-offends-Nigeria-s-experts/1066-5541730-12f1u7b/index.htmlRating: 1.96
Virus spread not ‘under control’
WE are moving towards an easing of the movement control order (MCO). This decision has been made in the context of balancing the risk to human life against economic losses. There are real risks in taking this course of action at this stage. Malaysia has not done enough random testing for Covid-19. The figures we have been given are mostly for detected or reported cases. A report in the Our World in Data site states that testing is our window into the pandemic and how it is spreading. Without testing, we have no way of understanding the pandemic. It is one of the most important tools in the fight to slow and reduce the spread and impact of the virus. Tests allow us to identify infected individuals, guide the medical treatment they receive, and enables us to isolate those infected and conduct contact tracing. And, it can help in the allocation of medical resources and staff more efficiently. But, testing in Malaysia has been woefully low. The figures as at April 29 are 4.76 per thousand people; 154,203 in total. This does not help much. Our neighbour, Singapore’s figures are 17.08 per thousand people; 99,929 in total (as of April 27). Testing on a wide scale is not easy and requires massive manpower and resources. The Health Ministry is doing its best with the available resources but progress is limited. In this scenario, it is not possible to analyse with any degree of certainty the actual prevalence of the virus. The Ro (R naught) figure (the rate of infection or transmission of the virus), which is an important metric, cannot be properly ascertained. This must be understood in the context that the majority of infected persons are asymptomatic; they show no signs of infection. Only an antibody test will reveal that they have been infected. So, there could be thousands of infected people who could spread the virus without having any symptoms themselves. To this we add the problem that there are large numbers of illegal workers in Malaysia who will not come forward for fear of action being taken against them. This category will probably comprise both symptomatic and asymptomatic persons. With the opening up of businesses, these illegal workers will come back to work in factories, restaurants and other industries. The government’s assertion that the virus is under control is an overstatement and meaningless in light of inadequate testing. We should proceed with great caution as some countries that have opened up show an immediate rise in the number of infected persons. We have not eliminated or “controlled” the spread of the virus. All our lockdowns and social distancing can achieve is delay the spread. We are just buying time until a vaccine or pharmaceutical cure is found. Until then, we should use the delay of the spread to gather our resources to handle a widespread outbreak in terms of adequate medical and hospital facilities. Without this state of readiness, we will be risking lives. The economy can be revived in time but lost lives cannot be recovered. The bogey of billions likely to be lost is not very intimidating in a country that has recovered from hundreds of billions lost through corruption and bad governance for more than 30 years. – May 3, 2020. * D.P. Vijandran is a practising lawyer.
3 May 19:00 • The Malaysian Insight • https://www.themalaysianinsight.com/s/242691Rating: 0.58
American hospitals have lost dozens of medical workers to the coronavirus. Here are some of their stories., Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
While most Americans are confined to their homes amidst state and city-wide lockdowns, healthcare workers continue to live on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. In the past two months, more than 9,000 US healthcare workers have contracted the coronavirus, according to an April report from the Center for Disease Control. The vast majority of healthcare workers reported that their symptoms were mild, but several hundred had cases serious enough to warrant a hospital stay, and at least 27 US healthcare workers have died from the disease. The number reported by the CDC is likely incomplete. Earlier this month, the National Nurses United union reported that at least 48 nurses have died from the coronavirus. Worldwide, the number of healthcare workers who have succumbed to coronavirus exceeds 100. Medical centers around the country – and around the world – continue to report they lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for their staff, and many have resorted to using rain ponchos, and even garbage bags to protect themselves. Business Insider has reached out to the friends and family of the doctors, nurses, and support staff who contracted and died from the disease while trying to save others. Here are the stories of some of the unsung healthcare heroes who lost their lives during the COVID-19 global crisis. This is an ongoing Business Insider project. If you know of other healthcare workers who have died from COVID-19, please reach out to Haven Orecchio-Egresitz at horecchio@businessinsider.com. captionWilkes was lauded by colleagues for her “commitment to family” and her “desire to live life to the fullest.” Diedre Heard Wilkes was a devout Christian who brought joy to those she worked with. A graduate of West Georgia Technical College, Wilkes received her Associate Degree in Radiology Technology, according to her obituary. She was a mammogram technician at Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Atlanta. “Deidre was my work daughter, whom I loved dearly. She brought me such joy in watching her professional commitment, her love of God, her commitment to family, her desire to live life to its fullest,” Cat Thompson wrote of her colleague. “I am fully blessed to have known such a person who proved to me that her generation is full of individuals who are not afraid of hard work and still believed Sunday was a day to honor God.” Wilkes, who was remembered as a kind and gentle spirit, has two children, Quintero and Khloe. She died at her home and a posthumous test came back positive for COVID-19, the local coroner told ABC News. One of her children was at home when she died. Attempts to reach several of Wilkes’ family members and friends were unsuccessful. “I love you and miss you so much my beautiful sister. It feels as if I have been stuck in a twilight zone since March 19th,” Wilkes’ sister LaSonya Heard wrote on her memorial page. “I am so thankful for the amazing relationship that we had as siblings.” captionWilson-Griffin, who died on March 20 of the coronavirus, “viewed prenatal nursing as her life’s work,” a colleague wrote. Maternal mortality rates in Missouri are among the worst in the nation, especially for black women. Judy Wilson-Griffin, a perinatal clinical nurse specialist at SSM Health-St. Mary’s Hospital-St. Louis, dedicated her career to making pregnancy safer for expectant mothers. Laura Kuensting, Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, remembered Wilson-Griffin as a passionate advocate for evidence-based care. She had practiced nursing for 30 years before enrolling in the DNP program in 2017. “Judy did not view her role in nursing as a career,” Kuensting wrote in a tribute to Wilson-Griffin on the university’s website. “She viewed perinatal nursing as her life’s work. Judy was motivated to keep moving forward, achieving excellence and making a difference. She was revered as an expert in perinatal nursing at the local, state, and national levels.” Kuensting said that she remembered when Wilson-Griffin finished the social determinants of health tour of St. Louis, designed to expose students to health disparities among low-income and predominantly black communities. “I remember her making comments to me of how impactful that was,” Kuensting wrote. “Being a black nurse herself and overcoming adversities and implicit biases throughout her career, she could relate. She was driven to change the maternal and infant mortality for African-American women in the St. Louis area.” When Wilson-Griffin learned that maternal transport teams – which transport pregnant people to the hospital by air or ambulance – reduce deaths, she established the first program in the state at Barnes Hospital and later another St. Mary’s, according to the University. Before she died, she was working on instituting a Maternal Fetal Triage Index, an evidence-based assessment for pregnant women, at the hospital. Wilson-Griffin was the first COVID-19 patient to die in St. Louis. “The nursing profession, and particularly the perinatal nursing specialty, have greatly benefited from Judy’s work,” Kuensting wrote. “Her leadership persevered through the times when she was told, ‘That’s not the way we’ve always done it.’ She was a mentor and a preceptor to countless numbers of nursing and medical students, colleagues, and coworkers. She was motivated and determined to deliver the best care to pregnant women.” captionKelly was a professional dancer before becoming a nurse — a profession he chose because it allowed him to help others. Kious Kelly could always sense when someone in the room was feeling down and would do anything in his power to make it right, his sister Marya Patrice Sherron, told Business Insider. That’s why it didn’t surprise Sherron to learn that her brother had gone without protective equipment at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City so others didn’t have to. Medical workers at Mt. Sinai complained of a lack of PPE and had resorted to using garbage bags as protective gear. “Of course he shouldn’t have been in that position, but I know he would,” Sherron said. “That’s the kind of person he was.” Kelly, who grew up in Lansing, Michigan, had a career as a professional dancer before entering nursing school about 10 years ago, his sister said. As his dancing career wound down, he wanted to transition into a profession where he could help people. He was accepted to New York University and finished his nursing program in two years, his sister said. At Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, he was a lead nurse during the weekdays and also managed weekend shifts. Sherron said that in the days since her brother’s death, she has been hearing about the small acts of kindness he carried out on the job. One colleague told Sherron that during a chaotic shift during the winter a man who was homeless at the time wouldn’t leave the emergency room because he was cold. Kelly, she learned, took his jacket off to give to the man. “That kind of story kind of epitomizes who he was. That’s not unique,” she said. “Everything was expendable. It didn’t matter if he could help someone else.” captionGabrin and his husband were hoping to adopt a child together at the time of his death. Frank Gabin dedicated his life to emergency medicine. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he started thinking seriously about having a family. At the time of his death, he and his husband Arnold Vargas had been planning to have children, Gabrin’s best friend Debra Vasalech told BI. “They hadn’t even been married a year,” said Vasalech, who was a guest at the couple’s August wedding. “They were already doing the work to have children. They were planning to move to Florida over the next few years to raise the kids.” Six days after becoming symptomatic in March, Gabrin woke up at his New York apartment struggling to breathe. Vargas called 911 and got Vasalech on speakerphone. In the 30 minutes it took for paramedics to arrive, Gabrin died in his husband’s arms, Vasalech said. Vargas has also tested positive and is still quarantined at their home. Gabrin, who started his career in emergency medicine as a Navy doctor, had survived cancer twice, his best friend said. After that, he overcame addiction issues related to professional burnout. Gabrin channeled his experience into the book Back from Burnout,which offered advice to other medical professionals about compassion fatigue. “He discovered how compassion was what was missing in medicine,” said Vasalech, who helped Gabrin with the book. “He believed that people in emergency medicine were born with the need to care for people.” Vasalech said that her best friend wasn’t worried about working on the frontlines at first because he had the equipment he needed. But when that equipment ran short, he felt danger approaching. “The moment that happened, he got nervous,” Vasalech said. “He was going out getting aloe vera plant to make his own hand sanitizer.” captionIlagan’s family are distraught they weren’t able to be with her during her in her final days, her niece Jhoanna said. Aracelli Buendia Ilagan left her home in the Philippines when she was in her 20s to work as a nurse in the United States. Even though she was thousands of miles away from her family, she was dedicated to maintaining close relationships and supporting them in tough times. “She’s very thoughtful to her family,” her niece, Jhoanna Mariel Buendia told BI. “We cannot accept that nobody was there to help her when she was suffering. We feel very helpless, we didn’t get the chance to speak to her during her most difficult times.” Ilagan had been a nurse manager in the surgical ICU at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida for 30 years. Buendia said that her aunt had self-quarantined after she started experiencing coronavirus symptoms. When her husband went in to check on her on March 28, he found her unresponsive on the floor, her niece said. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Buendia, who is 27 and working in an ICU in the UK, said that her aunt “groomed her” to become a nurse and has been her mentor. Having no children of her own, Ilagan shared a special bond with Buendia, according to the young nurse. “I actually have two aunts whose profession is nursing,” said Buendia, who is an ICU nurse in the UK. “They always told me that helping other people is one of the best feelings.” A few days before her death, Ilagan and Buendia spoke on the phone. Ilagan gave her tips on how to best care for patients suffering from COVID-19, and to stay safe. “I told her she had to take care of herself because she’s a little bit old already,” Buendia said. “The last thing she told me is that I have to take care of myself and the other patients, as well. It hit me hard. She never mentioned her illness or what she’s going through. I view her as a selfless woman.” captionTheresa Lococo’s daughter said that her mother would always show up to work at least an hour before her scheduled shift Theresa Lococo attended nursing school at Kings County Hospital in the 1970s. On March 27, the 68-year-old pediatric nurse died from the coronavirus after serving patients at the same facility for 48 years, her daughter Lisa Lococo told Business Insider. “My mother was very committed to what she did, and she just loved the people and the hospital,” Lisa Lococo said about her mother’s long career. “I can remember when I was a kid, she worked with a lot of children who were abandoned by their parents and they would become like her children. And they were patients of hers for years on end.” Lococo made life-long friendships with her colleagues and their children grew up together, Lisa said. Even though many of the nurses she started her career with have since retired, Lococo kept showing up to work. Every day for as her son and daughter can remember, their mother would leave for work at least an hour before her scheduled shift. “She was so committed to her patients and her friends and colleagues. That nursing job was her life,” Lisa said. Outside of work, Lococo’s world revolved around Lisa and her brother Anthony, and eventually their children. “She loved her kids and her grandchildren. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for any us,” Lisa said. “She would put herself last before everyone else.” Lisa said that her mother’s passing was unexpected and that she hadn’t been tested for the virus before she died. On March 27, Lisa called her mother at the exact moment her brother had called for paramedics. She died soon after. With social distancing measures still in place, the family hasn’t been able to have a memorial for her. Theresa Lococo’s mother, who was in her 90s and living in a Brooklyn nursing home, died two weeks after she did. “My grandmother was not aware of the death of my mother. She had Alzheimer’s,” Lisa said. “We have been suffering a tremendous loss,” she added. “It’s been really rough, and it’s even harder to deal with it from so far away. I can’t go up there and do anything.” captionHickok “served family, country, and faith,” his sister Mary said. Army Captain Douglas Linn Hickok, a physician assistant and New Jersey National Guardsman, became the first US military service member to die from the coronavirus when he passed away on March 28 at the age of 57 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Poconos in Pennsylvania. Born January 15, 1963, at Oklahoma’s Norman Air Force Base, Hickok was a third-generation service member who served as a captain in the National Guard Medical Unit in Seagirt, New Jersey. He graduated from US International University in California with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, and then went on to Cornell Medical School in New York City, where he attained a physician assistant medical degree. “Capt. Hickok provided compassionate and professional care to the Soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard while assigned to the Medical Command,” Col. Edwin Wymer, commander, New Jersey Army National Guard Medical Command, wrote in an emailed statement to BI. “Hickok was highly praised by subordinates and Senior Officers alike for his dedication and service to the Citizen-Soldiers of New Jersey.” After serving in New Jersey, Hickok moved to Maryland in 2009 to work as a civilian physician assistant at Andrew’s Air Force Base and then to Pennsylvania in 2017 where he worked as an orthopedic physician assistant at a clinic, according to his family. “He was my hero,” Mary Scott-Peavler, Hickok’s younger sister, told BI. “He never gave up, never ran from things, and was not afraid of anything.” “He served people. He served family, country, and faith,” Scott-Peavler said. “That sums up my brother.” Hickok’s daughter, Shandrea, described her father as a caring person who was devoted to spending time with her and her brother Noah. “My best memories of my father are the many trips he took my brother and me on,” she told BI in an email. “He loved to go outside and take us to parks, museums, battleships, military bases, movie theaters, beaches, and restaurants.” His hobbies included cooking, hiking, baseball, and scouting. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Hickok also served a church mission in Spain for two years in the 1980s and spoke fluent Spanish. A few weeks before his passing, Hickok and his daughter went on a spontaneous trip to the Sandy Hook Proving Ground in New Jersey, where Shandrea said her father excitedly took in the old canons, beautiful scenery, and wildlife on the grounds. “This memory really encompasses my father’s zest for life and sense of wonder for the outdoors,” she said. captionFreda Ocran’s son said a dearth of coronavirus tests at his mother’s hospital worried him. Freda Ocran worked as a nursing staff supervisor in Jacobi Medical Center’s psychiatric ward, the New York Post reported. About two weeks before her death, she began exhibiting mild symptoms of the illness. She continued to report to work until the hospital sent her home one day without testing her for the coronavirus, her son Kwame Ocran told the Post. On March 20, Ocran updated her Facebook profile picture with a banner reading, “I can’t stay home … I’m a healthcare worker!” She was eventually admitted to a hospital in the Bronx on March 24 and put on a ventilator. She died from coronavirus on March 28. According to Kwame Ocran, one of her three sons, Ocran was worried about the lack of testing being conducted at her facility. “Without those tests being administered, there’s no way of knowing if she was working with someone who had it or not,” Kwame Ocran told the New York Post. Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Ocran’s death the day after her passing, noting that family members relied upon her for support, including her mother who lives in Ghana. “What a horrible loss for that family, that hospital, and our city,” De Blasio said as the New York Post reports. Her son said she “gave herself undoubtedly to the church, to her work and to her kids,” according to CBS News. She leaves behind her husband of 30 years, Joseph. On March 16, almost two weeks before her death, Ocran shared a Facebook post reading, “Even in the midst of catastrophic events. Continue to speak your blessings. Dont stop!” caption“My father loved to show love through food,” Pattugalan’s son Gino told BI. Tomas Pattugalan, 70, an internal medicine doctor with over 40 years of experience, passed away from COVID-19 the morning of March 29 at Nassau University Hospital. Pattugalan was born and raised in Tuguegarao City in the Philippines and moved to New York in the late 1970s with his first wife and eldest daughter Patricia. He set up a private practice in Jamaica, Queens, in New York City, which he operated until his final days – transitioning from in-person to telehealth appointments once the city began to report more positive cases and he himself tested positive for the coronavirus on March 24. “I saw how he worked as I was growing up,” Pattugalan’s youngest daughter Tammy Justine Pattugalan, 14, told BI. “He knew every one of his patients by name. That was truly one of his most desirable traits.” Family and close friends affectionately referred to Pattugalan as “honeyboy,” according to Pattugalan’s son Gino Pattugalan. “He was just loved by everybody. He was honey, he was honeyboy,” Gino told BI. “And even if you were upset at him, he could charm you.” “My father loved to show love through food,” Gino said. “The question he would always ask was, ‘Did you eat?’ It’s one of those questions that comes from growing up in a third world country where you might go hungry. He always wanted to take care of us, to make sure we were healthy and provided for.” Pattugalan was a devout Catholic, according to family members. In January, a few months before he passed, Pattugalan traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate his 70th birthday. “It struck me when he told me that,” Gino said. “I think he started to see how thin the veil was between this life and next and he went to the Holy Land because he knew he just wouldn’t know the time or hour [of his death] and I think he knew maybe something could happen.” “I think he would want other people to know that he was a very religious man,” Tammy said, recounting her father’s words to her when his oxygen levels dropped and he had to go to the hospital. She asked him to promise her that he would live to see her graduate from middle school, get married, and live the rest of her life. “Tammy, just pray,” he responded. captionDanker was known as “Ms. Radiology” to her colleagues. Jeannie Danker spent more than 30 years at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. According to an internal letter to staff, colleagues nicknamed her “Ms. Radiology.” She met her husband of 30 years, John Danker, there as well. The two were proud Buckeyes and avid tailgaters at Ohio State football games, according to WBNS. She died on Sunday, March 29 at the age of 60, after testing positive for the coronavirus. John Danker tragically died just two months before, on January 30, after a battle with ALS, according to his obituary. They leave behind two daughters, Jill and Jennifer. Ohio State is not disclosing the specifics of how she contracted the virus, according to WBNS. Maggie Danker, who described Jeannie Danker as her aunt, posted on Facebook that her “contagious energy and loving heart will be sincerely missed.” Maggie Danker also wrote, “COVID-19 now has a face for me, it’s real, it’s happening, and affecting our loved ones.” When reached for comment, Jill Danker told BI that the family is requesting privacy at this time. In a statement to Wexner Medical Center staff obtained by WBSN, CEO Dr. Harold Paz called Danker a beloved and dedicated colleague. “She infused her administrative role with determination, selflessness, and a patient-first attitude,” Paz wrote. captionAnderson was “the backbone of the ER,” her friend Dorothy Lewis said. Larrice Anderson has been a practicing nurse since 2008 when she received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. A longtime New Orleans resident, the 46-year-old worked on the front lines in the emergency room unit at New Orleans East Hospital treating patients infected with the coronavirus disease. “She always was the backbone of the ER,” Anderson’s friend, Dorothy Lewis, told the New Orleans Advocate. Lewis also told the local newspaper that Anderson had underlying health issues, making her more susceptible to severe symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, Anderson bravely continued showing up to work. But in early March, Lewis said, Anderson became sick with stomach issues before being diagnosed with viral pneumonia. According to WBTV, she contracted the virus while tirelessly treating patients infected with the disease. “She only went to work and home,” Lewis told the New Orleans Advocate. “She had no room for nothing else. That tells you right there where she got it from.” She was admitted to the New Orleans East Hospital as a patient and eventually began to show signs of improvement. Her daughter, Cerrice Anderson, posted on Facebook on March 30 news of her mother being moved from the ICU to a separate unit to begin recovery. But her health dipped, and she ultimately died a day later. She leaves behind two children. “She passed away in hero fashion, doing something she truly loved which was caring for those in need, an unsung hero,” Anderson’s cousin, Donyette McGill Williams, wrote in a Facebook post. New Orleans East Hospital staff posted a video releasing balloons in honor of their fallen coworker. The hospital has also sent up a link for donations on the family’s behalf. “She was always smiling. That’s what I like to think of now. That’s what people remember, and not just remember her for this virus,” her former nursing school teacher Kristy Solis told WBTV.
3 May 17:15 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/healthcare-workers-who-died-with-the-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 0.30
We’ll continue to see increase in COVID-19 cases — NCDC boss
With the rate of COVID-19 infection, what is your projection on when we are likely to reach our peak and how prepared are we for it? There are various projections that have been developed, based on various contexts. With the increasing capacity to find and test more cases, we will continue to see an increase in cases in the next few months. Our strategy is to test quickly, detect confirmed cases, isolate and manage cases to recovery and follow up with contacts to reduce the risk of spread. In the absence of a vaccine for this disease, we must continue to adhere strictly to directives from the Federal Government on non-pharmaceutical interventions such as closure of large gatherings and physical distancing. By doing these, we have a better chance of reducing the risk of spread of this disease quickly. In preparing for the increase in cases, we are working closely with state governments to rapidly scale up the capacity in treatment centres. We have also begun the review of protocols and guidance for home management of asymptomatic cases. This will be implemented when needed. We have scaled up our sample collection and transportation as well as testing capacity to ensure that cases are tested within the shortest possible time. We are working closely with other Ministries and Agencies, including the Federal Ministry of Information, to ensure that Nigerians are fully aware of the risks and have verified information for decision making. Recently, you said NCDC has commenced use of COBAS system for testing 960 COVID-19 cases in eight hours. Why are we not considering a COBAS system with higher testing capacity, like the COBAS 8800 version which is capable of testing 4,128 cases a day? We recently published the national strategy on testing COVID-19, which details a five-prong approach for ramping up the national daily testing capacity. The document, which can be accessed online, contains a list of the throughput machines currently available in-country, including five COBAS 8800 machines. We are working very hard and leveraging first on current capacity in country. We will continue to expand this, but recognise ongoing difficulties in the global supply chain for laboratory and medical supplies. You said NCDC received donations of extraction kits from organisations and individuals after your tweet. To what extent have the donations solved the problem? The supply chain of consumables for testing has been stretched beyond limit and several countries as well as Nigeria are struggling to access these essential items. The more we test, the more of these extraction kits we will require. Following our announcement, we have gotten access to more extraction kits, which has enabled our continued testing. We will continue to work very hard to keep our laboratories running as we expand our testing capacity. With the obvious global shortage of RNA extraction kits for COVID-19 tests, what extra efforts have been made to ensure availability in Nigeria? Considering the fact that this is a global pandemic, demand for these kits has soared exponentially. Despite the constraints, we are working closely with partners and local suppliers to get as much as we can. It is important to highlight that SARS-CoV-2 is a new virus, therefore, these are not extraction kits that have been previously available. Despite setting up 15 COVID-19 testing laboratories, less than 20,000 tests have been carried out so far. How far have we gone now? We update these numbers on a daily basis on our situation report, which can be accessed via covid19.ncdc.gov.ng. On the 1st of May alone, we recorded over 2,000 cases and this will continue to increase. Are the various molecular laboratories across the country adaptive to different RNA kit brands, considering that you mentioned about four brands in your tweet? For quality assurance, we have selected specific brands/manufacturers. In activating these laboratories, we have developed standard processes that are followed across the country. Beyond the brand name, the specification is critical to ensure they align with our testing needs. Recently, Oyo State governor said out of the over 700 tests done, at least 300 results were being awaited. Is there a way results can be obtained faster than we have now? There is a laboratory for testing of COVID-19 in Oyo State, which is the University College Hospital, Ibadan. This gives the state an advantage of a shorter turn-around-time. The staff in these laboratories are working hard to meet the growing demands for testing and we continue to support them. To continue reading this interview and more, click here Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
3 May 15:17 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/well-continue-to-see-increase-in-covid-19-cases-ihekweazu/Rating: 0.30
Pharmacists caution residents as FG relaxes lockdown
Oladimeji Ramon The Association of Hospital and Administrative Pharmacists of Nigeria has called on Nigerians to take precautionary measures, including the wearing of face masks in public, as the Federal Government relaxes the total lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states and the Federal Capital Territory. It noted that the one-month lockdown of Lagos, Ogun and the FCT as well as in other states went a long way in curtailing the spread of the deadly coronavirus in the country. The pharmacists urged Nigerians to go for cloth face masks instead of the surgical face mask, so as not to worsen the shortage of surgical face masks. The association, in a statement by its National Chairman, Dr Kingsley Amibor, and National Secretary, Dr Hafiz Akande, also expressed worry over the rising number of health workers who had contracted the viral disease and called on the government to ensure that health workers were supplied with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment. It added, “We call upon the government to, as a matter of urgency, approve importation of active pharmaceutical ingredients necessary for the manufacture of hand sanitisers into the country by pharmacists in hospitals and pharmaceutical industry. “These industries have the capacity to produce face masks here in Nigeria if the ingredients for manufacture are made locally available. “The cost of surgical face masks is currently too exorbitant and government will need to intervene to subsidise the cost of importation while encouraging plans for local manufacturing.” The association also called for increased testing. It said, “We are of the opinion that there is a need to step up community testing of the population with a view to ascertaining the actual number of carriers of the virus and isolate such before more damage is done to the population. “The current method of testing, using conventional procedure has served well, but with onset of community transmission, mass testing using rapid diagnostic test kits has become inevitable. We implore the government to borrow the American model where the government recently gave approval for community pharmacists to serve as testing centres for the populace to ensure that most people in the population are screened for the disease. “Nigeria boasts community pharmacies in every state of the federation and co-opting them into COVID-19 testing programme will serve to reach the bulk of the population within a very short time.” Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
3 May 23:26 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/pharmacists-caution-residents-as-fg-relaxes-lockdown/Rating: 0.30
Latest Coronavirus Science: Pinning Down the True Fatality Rate
Every day brings new scientific insights into covid-19 and the coronavirus that causes it. Here are some of the latest studies and developments, including research into the virus’s fatality rate and impacts on children. Most countries have implemented social distancing to keep covid-19 at bay, since there are no currently available vaccines or approved drugs to treat it. And we’re finally starting to learn what it takes for these lockdowns to slow or even halt the spread of the virus. A new study in Science this week tried to measure how people in two regions of China moved around and interacted with others once the government began to enforce strict restrictions on travel. Researchers surveyed over 1,000 people total in Shanghai and Wuhan – the latter being the first known area in the world to report covid-19 cases – in early February, when the reported outbreak in China was at its peak and the lockdown was just underway. The respondents in Wuhan said that, in December 2019, they interacted with about 14 people a day on average, while those in Shanghai area said they came into contact with 20 people. But during the shutdown, social contact was reduced dramatically, with people in both cities reporting that they saw only around two people a day on average, who were usually people living in their home. The researchers found these social changes in both cities led to a drastic decrease in the virus’s ability to create new infections. Though some have criticised the validity of China’s official tally of cases and deaths, the country’s outbreak does seem to have slowed considerably. Other hard-hit countries, such as Italy and Spain, have seen a decline in reported cases following restrictions on social contact. The U.S., however, continues to experience a plateau, with neither the number of new reported cases nor deaths dropping much during the month of April. So the country’s level of social distancing may only be doing enough to keep the outbreak from spreading exponentially, not driving it down. Despite this, several states are now easing restrictions on travel and in-person businesses. Last weekend, doctors in Europe began sounding the alarm on a possible unexpected consequence of covid-19 in children. They noticed an uptick of children developing two rare inflammatory conditions that can fatally attack the body: Kawasaki disease and toxic shock syndrome. Some of these children tested positive for the virus behind covid-19, and others were suspected of having survived an earlier infection. On Wednesday, the first known U.S. case of Kawasaki disease possibly connected to covid-19 was reported by doctors at Stanford Children’s Hospital in California. The six-month-old girl had been diagnosed with Kawasaki disease soon after a visit to urgent care, with a positive test result for covid-19 coming later. Thankfully, Kawasaki disease can be treated successfully, with no long-term effects, if caught early. The infant was treated and quarantined for 14 days and seems to have recovered fully. Though Kawasaki disease has been linked to viral infections, including from a human coronavirus related to SARS-CoV-2, researchers still know very little about exactly why the condition happens (genetics could play a role). Time will have to tell whether the connection between covid-19 and either condition in children is real, but it’s more evidence that younger people aren’t impervious to this pandemic. A new study published Friday is the latest to suggest that covid-19 is especially bad for the heart. Researchers looked at mortality data from 169 hospitals in Asia, Europe, and North America, encompassing nearly 9,000 patients with covid-19. They found a consistent pattern: Infected patients with pre-existing heart conditions, such as coronary artery disease or arrhythmia, were more likely to die than those without heart problems. One theory for why covid-19 is more lethal for people with cardiovascular disease involves the drugs people take to manage their heart issues, particularly angiotensin-converting–enzyme (ACE) inhibitors and angiotensin-receptor blockers (ARBs). Both drugs interact with the receptor ACE2, which the coronavirus uses to hijack the cells it infects. Because of this shared link, some doctors have argued that patients may need to discontinue these drugs as a precaution. But organisations such as the American Heart Association have pushed back against the idea, stating that there hasn’t been any conclusive evidence of harm from taking either drug if you contract the virus. In this study, the researchers found no relationship between using these drugs and a greater risk of death. Given how valuable they are for managing cardiovascular disease, that’s at least a bit of comfort, provided the study’s results hold up. Lastly, a bit of math. A loud minority of people continue to downplay the seriousness of covid-19. Many still insist that covid-19, once you take into account unreported cases, is likely to be no deadlier than the flu. While the true fatality rate of covid-19 will take some time to figure out, though, we can definitely rule out that it’ll match the seasonal flu. A preliminary paper this week did it by simply taking the number of deaths in New York City, Madrid, Spain, and Lombardy, Italy – around 34,000 at the time – and dividing it by the combined 25.1 million residents living in those three areas. That yielded a mortality rate around 0.14 per cent, which is higher than the estimated 0.1 per cent rate associated with the typical flu. But that number is far too generous, as the paper admits, since it assumes that every single person in Lombardy, New York City, and Madrid has caught the virus and that no further deaths will happen. Early evidence has suggested that perhaps a quarter of New Yorkers have had covid-19, and there continue to be many deaths from covid-19 that have gone unrecorded in New York City and worldwide. One of the best ways to figure out covid-19’s fatality rate is to measure how many people carry antibodies to the coronavirus in an affected area, which can then be compared to reported deaths. Many of these studies are still underway, and some have been criticised for their methodology. Overall, though, their early findings suggest a fatality rate ranging from 0.5 per cent to 1 per cent. Those are numbers that would make covid-19 several times deadlier than the flu. Featured photo: Getty Images
3 May 16:00 • Gizmodo UK • https://www.gizmodo.co.uk/2020/05/latest-coronavirus-science-pinning-down-the-true-fatality-rate/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+uk%2Fgizmodo+%28Gizmodo+UK%29&hl=enRating: 0.30
Expert advice for smokers as WHO say they are more likely to catch coronavirus
Smokers are seen as more likely to be badly affected by coronavirus as well as catch the deadly disease. The World Health Organisation have advice for smokers all over the world on why they are particularly at risk of contracting Covid-19. While their lungs make them high risk of having severe symptoms - cigarettes themselves make inhaling the cigs that bit more dangerous. The organisation says: "Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to COVID-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. " Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity which would greatly increase risk of serious illness. Sign up for the Irish Mirror coronavirus newsletter by simply entering your email address in this article here. The FREE email will land into your inbox every single morning at around 9:30am and give you all the latest news you need to know regarding the coronavirus in Ireland. Whether it be about the latest restrictions, supermarket opening hours, schools and workplaces or anything else - this newsletter will have you covered for everything. You can unsubscribe from this service at any time. And rest assured that your data will not be shared with any other party. "Smoking products such as water pipes often involve the sharing of mouth pieces and hoses, which could facilitate the transmission of COVID-19 in communal and social settings. "Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia." Quit.ie have also advised that the best way to protect you and your loved ones from smoking linked coronavirus threats is to give up smoking - all their resources are available here.
3 May 19:11 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/news/irish-news/expert-advice-smokers-who-say-21967980Rating: 0.56
American hospitals have lost dozens of medical workers to the coronavirus. Here are some of their stories.
While most Americans are confined to their homes amidst state and city-wide lockdowns, healthcare workers continue to live on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. In the past two months, more than 9,000 US healthcare workers have contracted the coronavirus, according to an April report from the Center for Disease Control. The vast majority of healthcare workers reported that their symptoms were mild, but several hundred had cases serious enough to warrant a hospital stay, and at least 27 US healthcare workers have died from the disease. The number reported by the CDC is likely incomplete. Earlier this month, the National Nurses United union reported that at least 48 nurses have died from the coronavirus. Worldwide, the number of healthcare workers who have succumbed to coronavirus exceeds 100.Medical centers around the country — and around the world — continue to report they lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for their staff, and many have resorted to using rain ponchos, and even garbage bags to protect themselves. Business Insider has reached out to the friends and family of the doctors, nurses, and support staff who contracted and died from the disease while trying to save others. Here are the stories of some of the unsung healthcare heroes who lost their lives during the COVID-19 global crisis. This is an ongoing Business Insider project. If you know of other healthcare workers who have died from COVID-19, please reach out to Haven Orecchio-Egresitz at horecchio@businessinsider.com. Diedre Heard Wilkes was a devout Christian who brought joy to those she worked with. A graduate of West Georgia Technical College, Wilkes received her Associate Degree in Radiology Technology, according to her obituary. She was a mammogram technician at Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Atlanta. "Deidre was my work daughter, whom I loved dearly. She brought me such joy in watching her professional commitment, her love of God, her commitment to family, her desire to live life to its fullest," Cat Thompson wrote of her colleague. "I am fully blessed to have known such a person who proved to me that her generation is full of individuals who are not afraid of hard work and still believed Sunday was a day to honor God." Wilkes, who was remembered as a kind and gentle spirit, has two children, Quintero and Khloe. She died at her home and a posthumous test came back positive for COVID-19, the local coroner told ABC News. One of her children was at home when she died. Attempts to reach several of Wilkes' family members and friends were unsuccessful. "I love you and miss you so much my beautiful sister. It feels as if I have been stuck in a twilight zone since March 19th," Wilkes' sister LaSonya Heard wrote on her memorial page. "I am so thankful for the amazing relationship that we had as siblings." Maternal mortality rates in Missouri are among the worst in the nation, especially for black women. Judy Wilson-Griffin, a perinatal clinical nurse specialist at SSM Health-St. Mary's Hospital-St. Louis, dedicated her career to making pregnancy safer for expectant mothers. Laura Kuensting, Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Missouri–St. Louis, remembered Wilson-Griffin as a passionate advocate for evidence-based care. She had practiced nursing for 30 years before enrolling in the DNP program in 2017. "Judy did not view her role in nursing as a career," Kuensting wrote in a tribute to Wilson-Griffin on the university's website. "She viewed perinatal nursing as her life's work. Judy was motivated to keep moving forward, achieving excellence and making a difference. She was revered as an expert in perinatal nursing at the local, state, and national levels." Kuensting said that she remembered when Wilson-Griffin finished the social determinants of health tour of St. Louis, designed to expose students to health disparities among low-income and predominantly black communities. "I remember her making comments to me of how impactful that was," Kuensting wrote. "Being a black nurse herself and overcoming adversities and implicit biases throughout her career, she could relate. She was driven to change the maternal and infant mortality for African-American women in the St. Louis area." When Wilson-Griffin learned that maternal transport teams — which transport pregnant people to the hospital by air or ambulance — reduce deaths, she established the first program in the state at Barnes Hospital and later another St. Mary's, according to the University. Before she died, she was working on instituting a Maternal Fetal Triage Index, an evidence-based assessment for pregnant women, at the hospital. Wilson-Griffin was the first COVID-19 patient to die in St. Louis. "The nursing profession, and particularly the perinatal nursing specialty, have greatly benefited from Judy's work," Kuensting wrote. "Her leadership persevered through the times when she was told, 'That's not the way we've always done it.' She was a mentor and a preceptor to countless numbers of nursing and medical students, colleagues, and coworkers. She was motivated and determined to deliver the best care to pregnant women." Kious Kelly could always sense when someone in the room was feeling down and would do anything in his power to make it right, his sister Marya Patrice Sherron, told Business Insider. That's why it didn't surprise Sherron to learn that her brother had gone without protective equipment at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City so others didn't have to. Medical workers at Mt. Sinai complained of a lack of PPE and had resorted to using garbage bags as protective gear. "Of course he shouldn't have been in that position, but I know he would," Sherron said. "That's the kind of person he was." Kelly, who grew up in Lansing, Michigan, had a career as a professional dancer before entering nursing school about 10 years ago, his sister said. As his dancing career wound down, he wanted to transition into a profession where he could help people. He was accepted to New York University and finished his nursing program in two years, his sister said. At Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, he was a lead nurse during the weekdays and also managed weekend shifts. Sherron said that in the days since her brother's death, she has been hearing about the small acts of kindness he carried out on the job. One colleague told Sherron that during a chaotic shift during the winter a man who was homeless at the time wouldn't leave the emergency room because he was cold. Kelly, she learned, took his jacket off to give to the man. "That kind of story kind of epitomizes who he was. That's not unique," she said. "Everything was expendable. It didn't matter if he could help someone else." Frank Gabin dedicated his life to emergency medicine. It wasn't until a few years ago that he started thinking seriously about having a family. At the time of his death, he and his husband Arnold Vargas had been planning to have children, Gabrin's best friend Debra Vasalech told BI. "They hadn't even been married a year," said Vasalech, who was a guest at the couple's August wedding. "They were already doing the work to have children. They were planning to move to Florida over the next few years to raise the kids." Six days after becoming symptomatic in March, Gabrin woke up at his New York apartment struggling to breathe. Vargas called 911 and got Vasalech on speakerphone. In the 30 minutes it took for paramedics to arrive, Gabrin died in his husband's arms, Vasalech said. Vargas has also tested positive and is still quarantined at their home. Gabrin, who started his career in emergency medicine as a Navy doctor, had survived cancer twice, his best friend said. After that, he overcame addiction issues related to professional burnout. Gabrin channeled his experience into the book Back from Burnout, which offered advice to other medical professionals about compassion fatigue. "He discovered how compassion was what was missing in medicine," said Vasalech, who helped Gabrin with the book. "He believed that people in emergency medicine were born with the need to care for people." Vasalech said that her best friend wasn't worried about working on the frontlines at first because he had the equipment he needed. But when that equipment ran short, he felt danger approaching. "The moment that happened, he got nervous," Vasalech said. "He was going out getting aloe vera plant to make his own hand sanitizer." Aracelli Buendia Ilagan left her home in the Philippines when she was in her 20s to work as a nurse in the United States. Even though she was thousands of miles away from her family, she was dedicated to maintaining close relationships and supporting them in tough times. "She's very thoughtful to her family," her niece, Jhoanna Mariel Buendia told BI. "We cannot accept that nobody was there to help her when she was suffering. We feel very helpless, we didn't get the chance to speak to her during her most difficult times." Ilagan had been a nurse manager in the surgical ICU at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida for 30 years. Buendia said that her aunt had self-quarantined after she started experiencing coronavirus symptoms. When her husband went in to check on her on March 28, he found her unresponsive on the floor, her niece said. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Buendia, who is 27 and working in an ICU in the UK, said that her aunt "groomed her" to become a nurse and has been her mentor. Having no children of her own, Ilagan shared a special bond with Buendia, according to the young nurse. "I actually have two aunts whose profession is nursing," said Buendia, who is an ICU nurse in the UK. "They always told me that helping other people is one of the best feelings." A few days before her death, Ilagan and Buendia spoke on the phone. Ilagan gave her tips on how to best care for patients suffering from COVID-19, and to stay safe. "I told her she had to take care of herself because she's a little bit old already," Buendia said. "The last thing she told me is that I have to take care of myself and the other patients, as well. It hit me hard. She never mentioned her illness or what she's going through. I view her as a selfless woman." Theresa Lococo attended nursing school at Kings County Hospital in the 1970s. On March 27, the 68-year-old pediatric nurse died from the coronavirus after serving patients at the same facility for 48 years, her daughter Lisa Lococo told Business Insider. "My mother was very committed to what she did, and she just loved the people and the hospital," Lisa Lococo said about her mother's long career. "I can remember when I was a kid, she worked with a lot of children who were abandoned by their parents and they would become like her children. And they were patients of hers for years on end." Lococo made life-long friendships with her colleagues and their children grew up together, Lisa said. Even though many of the nurses she started her career with have since retired, Lococo kept showing up to work. Every day for as her son and daughter can remember, their mother would leave for work at least an hour before her scheduled shift. "She was so committed to her patients and her friends and colleagues. That nursing job was her life," Lisa said. Outside of work, Lococo's world revolved around Lisa and her brother Anthony, and eventually their children. "She loved her kids and her grandchildren. There is nothing she wouldn't do for any us," Lisa said. "She would put herself last before everyone else." Lisa said that her mother's passing was unexpected and that she hadn't been tested for the virus before she died. On March 27, Lisa called her mother at the exact moment her brother had called for paramedics. She died soon after. With social distancing measures still in place, the family hasn't been able to have a memorial for her. Theresa Lococo's mother, who was in her 90s and living in a Brooklyn nursing home, died two weeks after she did. "My grandmother was not aware of the death of my mother. She had Alzheimer's," Lisa said. "We have been suffering a tremendous loss," she added. "It's been really rough, and it's even harder to deal with it from so far away. I can't go up there and do anything." Army Captain Douglas Linn Hickok, a physician assistant and New Jersey National Guardsman, became the first US military service member to die from the coronavirus when he passed away on March 28 at the age of 57 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Poconos in Pennsylvania. Born January 15, 1963, at Oklahoma's Norman Air Force Base, Hickok was a third-generation service member who served as a captain in the National Guard Medical Unit in Seagirt, New Jersey. He graduated from US International University in California with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, and then went on to Cornell Medical School in New York City, where he attained a physician assistant medical degree. "Capt. Hickok provided compassionate and professional care to the Soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard while assigned to the Medical Command," Col. Edwin Wymer, commander, New Jersey Army National Guard Medical Command, wrote in an emailed statement to BI. "Hickok was highly praised by subordinates and Senior Officers alike for his dedication and service to the Citizen-Soldiers of New Jersey." After serving in New Jersey, Hickok moved to Maryland in 2009 to work as a civilian physician assistant at Andrew's Air Force Base and then to Pennsylvania in 2017 where he worked as an orthopedic physician assistant at a clinic, according to his family. "He was my hero," Mary Scott-Peavler, Hickok's younger sister, told BI. "He never gave up, never ran from things, and was not afraid of anything." "He served people. He served family, country, and faith," Scott-Peavler said. "That sums up my brother." Hickok's daughter, Shandrea, described her father as a caring person who was devoted to spending time with her and her brother Noah. "My best memories of my father are the many trips he took my brother and me on," she told BI in an email. "He loved to go outside and take us to parks, museums, battleships, military bases, movie theaters, beaches, and restaurants." His hobbies included cooking, hiking, baseball, and scouting. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Hickok also served a church mission in Spain for two years in the 1980s and spoke fluent Spanish. A few weeks before his passing, Hickok and his daughter went on a spontaneous trip to the Sandy Hook Proving Ground in New Jersey, where Shandrea said her father excitedly took in the old canons, beautiful scenery, and wildlife on the grounds. "This memory really encompasses my father's zest for life and sense of wonder for the outdoors," she said. Madhvi Aya, a physician's assistant in Brooklyn, New York, passed away from COVID-19 on March 29. Aya had worked at the Department of Emergency Medicine at Woodhull Medical Center in Brooklyn, NY for 12 years. She is survived by her 18-year-old daughter Minnoli, a freshman at the State University of New York at Buffalo studying pre-medicine, her husband Raj, and her 86-year-old mother. "She was beautiful. She was charismatic, very charming," Minnoli Aya told Business Insider. "She had a personality that like, if she walked into a room, people wanted to be around her and people wanted to talk to her." Minnoli said that she and her mother would talk for hours every night, and that it was a nightly occurrence for them to catch up, no matter how late it was or how early Aya had to get up the next morning. "She took that time out to talk to me and to get to know me and try to understand what I was going through as an American teen," Minnoli said. "What makes this grieving process worse is that because there are no horrible memories of my mother, all of them are good." In a statement to Business Insider, a spokesperson for the hospital would not comment on Aya's case but said, "We are deeply saddened by the loss of three members of the NYC Health + Hospitals/Woodhull community. We remain grateful for our health care workers who are bravely serving on the front lines. They are true heroes. As we continue to respond to this unprecedented global public health crisis, the safety of our staff and patients remain our first priority." On March 18, Aya was admitted to the Long Island Jewish Medical Center after being infected with the coronavirus. She told her family she most likely got it from a patient at work. Minnoli said that after experiencing first-hand a pandemic that led to her mother's death, she feels the healthcare system needs to shift to a system that values saving lives over profit. "Hospitals should be led by people who have a passion to save a life, not a passion to make money," she said. "I guess it starts with me and my generation." "My mother's death could have been prevented," Minnoli said. "I hope people don't forget about this and they don't forget about my mother." Freda Ocran worked as a nursing staff supervisor in Jacobi Medical Center's psychiatric ward, the New York Post reported. About two weeks before her death, she began exhibiting mild symptoms of the illness. She continued to report to work until the hospital sent her home one day without testing her for the coronavirus, her son Kwame Ocran told the Post. On March 20, Ocran updated her Facebook profile picture with a banner reading, "I can't stay home ... I'm a healthcare worker!" She was eventually admitted to a hospital in the Bronx on March 24 and put on a ventilator. She died from coronavirus on March 28. According to Kwame Ocran, one of her three sons, Ocran was worried about the lack of testing being conducted at her facility. "Without those tests being administered, there's no way of knowing if she was working with someone who had it or not," Kwame Ocran told the New York Post. Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Ocran's death the day after her passing, noting that family members relied upon her for support, including her mother who lives in Ghana. "What a horrible loss for that family, that hospital, and our city," De Blasio said as the New York Post reports. Her son said she "gave herself undoubtedly to the church, to her work and to her kids," according to CBS News. She leaves behind her husband of 30 years, Joseph. On March 16, almost two weeks before her death, Ocran shared a Facebook post reading, "Even in the midst of catastrophic events. Continue to speak your blessings. Dont stop!" Tomas Pattugalan, 70, an internal medicine doctor with over 40 years of experience, passed away from COVID-19 the morning of March 29 at Nassau University Hospital. Pattugalan was born and raised in Tuguegarao City in the Philippines and moved to New York in the late 1970s with his first wife and eldest daughter Patricia. He set up a private practice in Jamaica, Queens, in New York City, which he operated until his final days — transitioning from in-person to telehealth appointments once the city began to report more positive cases and he himself tested positive for the coronavirus on March 24. "I saw how he worked as I was growing up," Pattugalan's youngest daughter Tammy Justine Pattugalan, 14, told BI. "He knew every one of his patients by name. That was truly one of his most desirable traits." Family and close friends affectionately referred to Pattugalan as "honeyboy," according to Pattugalan's son Gino Pattugalan. "He was just loved by everybody. He was honey, he was honeyboy," Gino told BI. "And even if you were upset at him, he could charm you." "My father loved to show love through food," Gino said. "The question he would always ask was, 'Did you eat?' It's one of those questions that comes from growing up in a third world country where you might go hungry. He always wanted to take care of us, to make sure we were healthy and provided for." Pattugalan was a devout Catholic, according to family members. In January, a few months before he passed, Pattugalan traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate his 70th birthday. "It struck me when he told me that," Gino said. "I think he started to see how thin the veil was between this life and next and he went to the Holy Land because he knew he just wouldn't know the time or hour [of his death] and I think he knew maybe something could happen." "I think he would want other people to know that he was a very religious man," Tammy said, recounting her father's words to her when his oxygen levels dropped and he had to go to the hospital. She asked him to promise her that he would live to see her graduate from middle school, get married, and live the rest of her life. "Tammy, just pray," he responded. Jeannie Danker spent more than 30 years at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. According to an internal letter to staff, colleagues nicknamed her "Ms. Radiology." She met her husband of 30 years, John Danker, there as well. The two were proud Buckeyes and avid tailgaters at Ohio State football games, according to WBNS. She died on Sunday, March 29 at the age of 60, after testing positive for the coronavirus. John Danker tragically died just two months before, on January 30, after a battle with ALS, according to his obituary. They leave behind two daughters, Jill and Jennifer. Ohio State is not disclosing the specifics of how she contracted the virus, according to WBNS. Maggie Danker, who described Jeannie Danker as her aunt, posted on Facebook that her "contagious energy and loving heart will be sincerely missed." Maggie Danker also wrote, "COVID-19 now has a face for me, it's real, it's happening, and affecting our loved ones." When reached for comment, Jill Danker told BI that the family is requesting privacy at this time. In a statement to Wexner Medical Center staff obtained by WBSN, CEO Dr. Harold Paz called Danker a beloved and dedicated colleague. "She infused her administrative role with determination, selflessness, and a patient-first attitude," Paz wrote. Larrice Anderson has been a practicing nurse since 2008 when she received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. A longtime New Orleans resident, the 46-year-old worked on the front lines in the emergency room unit at New Orleans East Hospital treating patients infected with the coronavirus disease. "She always was the backbone of the ER," Anderson's friend, Dorothy Lewis, told the New Orleans Advocate. Lewis also told the local newspaper that Anderson had underlying health issues, making her more susceptible to severe symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, Anderson bravely continued showing up to work. But in early March, Lewis said, Anderson became sick with stomach issues before being diagnosed with viral pneumonia. According to WBTV, she contracted the virus while tirelessly treating patients infected with the disease. "She only went to work and home," Lewis told the New Orleans Advocate. "She had no room for nothing else. That tells you right there where she got it from." She was admitted to the New Orleans East Hospital as a patient and eventually began to show signs of improvement. Her daughter, Cerrice Anderson, posted on Facebook on March 30 news of her mother being moved from the ICU to a separate unit to begin recovery. But her health dipped, and she ultimately died a day later. She leaves behind two children. "She passed away in hero fashion, doing something she truly loved which was caring for those in need, an unsung hero," Anderson's cousin, Donyette McGill Williams, wrote in a Facebook post. New Orleans East Hospital staff posted a video releasing balloons in honor of their fallen coworker. The hospital has also sent up a link for donations on the family's behalf. "She was always smiling. That's what I like to think of now. That's what people remember, and not just remember her for this virus," her former nursing school teacher Kristy Solis told WBTV. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 17:15 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/healthcare-workers-who-died-with-the-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 4.40
American hospitals have lost dozens of medical workers to the coronavirus. Here are some of their stories.
While most Americans are confined to their homes amidst state and city-wide lockdowns, healthcare workers continue to live on the frontlines of the coronavirus pandemic. In the past two months, more than 9,000 US healthcare workers have contracted the coronavirus, according to an April report from the Center for Disease Control. The vast majority of healthcare workers reported that their symptoms were mild, but several hundred had cases serious enough to warrant a hospital stay, and at least 27 US healthcare workers have died from the disease. The number reported by the CDC is likely incomplete. Earlier this month, the National Nurses United union reported that at least 48 nurses have died from the coronavirus. Worldwide, the number of healthcare workers who have succumbed to coronavirus exceeds 100. Medical centers around the country – and around the world – continue to report they lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) for their staff, and many have resorted to using rain ponchos, and even garbage bags to protect themselves. Business Insider has reached out to the friends and family of the doctors, nurses, and support staff who contracted and died from the disease while trying to save others. Here are the stories of some of the unsung healthcare heroes who lost their lives during the COVID-19 global crisis. This is an ongoing Business Insider project. If you know of other healthcare workers who have died from COVID-19, please reach out to Haven Orecchio-Egresitz at horecchio@businessinsider.com. Diedre Heard Wilkes was a devout Christian who brought joy to those she worked with. A graduate of West Georgia Technical College, Wilkes received her Associate Degree in Radiology Technology, according to her obituary. She was a mammogram technician at Piedmont Newnan Hospital in Atlanta. “Deidre was my work daughter, whom I loved dearly. She brought me such joy in watching her professional commitment, her love of God, her commitment to family, her desire to live life to its fullest,” Cat Thompson wrote of her colleague. “I am fully blessed to have known such a person who proved to me that her generation is full of individuals who are not afraid of hard work and still believed Sunday was a day to honor God.” Wilkes, who was remembered as a kind and gentle spirit, has two children, Quintero and Khloe. She died at her home and a posthumous test came back positive for COVID-19, the local coroner told ABC News. One of her children was at home when she died. Attempts to reach several of Wilkes’ family members and friends were unsuccessful. “I love you and miss you so much my beautiful sister. It feels as if I have been stuck in a twilight zone since March 19th,” Wilkes’ sister LaSonya Heard wrote on her memorial page. “I am so thankful for the amazing relationship that we had as siblings.” Maternal mortality rates in Missouri are among the worst in the nation, especially for black women. Judy Wilson-Griffin, a perinatal clinical nurse specialist at SSM Health-St. Mary’s Hospital-St. Louis, dedicated her career to making pregnancy safer for expectant mothers. Laura Kuensting, Director of the Doctor of Nursing Practice program at the University of Missouri-St. Louis, remembered Wilson-Griffin as a passionate advocate for evidence-based care. She had practiced nursing for 30 years before enrolling in the DNP program in 2017. “Judy did not view her role in nursing as a career,” Kuensting wrote in a tribute to Wilson-Griffin on the university’s website. “She viewed perinatal nursing as her life’s work. Judy was motivated to keep moving forward, achieving excellence and making a difference. She was revered as an expert in perinatal nursing at the local, state, and national levels.” Kuensting said that she remembered when Wilson-Griffin finished the social determinants of health tour of St. Louis, designed to expose students to health disparities among low-income and predominantly black communities. “I remember her making comments to me of how impactful that was,” Kuensting wrote. “Being a black nurse herself and overcoming adversities and implicit biases throughout her career, she could relate. She was driven to change the maternal and infant mortality for African-American women in the St. Louis area.” When Wilson-Griffin learned that maternal transport teams – which transport pregnant people to the hospital by air or ambulance – reduce deaths, she established the first program in the state at Barnes Hospital and later another St. Mary’s, according to the University. Before she died, she was working on instituting a Maternal Fetal Triage Index, an evidence-based assessment for pregnant women, at the hospital. Wilson-Griffin was the first COVID-19 patient to die in St. Louis. “The nursing profession, and particularly the perinatal nursing specialty, have greatly benefited from Judy’s work,” Kuensting wrote. “Her leadership persevered through the times when she was told, ‘That’s not the way we’ve always done it.’ She was a mentor and a preceptor to countless numbers of nursing and medical students, colleagues, and coworkers. She was motivated and determined to deliver the best care to pregnant women.” Kious Kelly could always sense when someone in the room was feeling down and would do anything in his power to make it right, his sister Marya Patrice Sherron, told Business Insider. That’s why it didn’t surprise Sherron to learn that her brother had gone without protective equipment at Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York City so others didn’t have to. Medical workers at Mt. Sinai complained of a lack of PPE and had resorted to using garbage bags as protective gear. “Of course he shouldn’t have been in that position, but I know he would,” Sherron said. “That’s the kind of person he was.” Kelly, who grew up in Lansing, Michigan, had a career as a professional dancer before entering nursing school about 10 years ago, his sister said. As his dancing career wound down, he wanted to transition into a profession where he could help people. He was accepted to New York University and finished his nursing program in two years, his sister said. At Mt. Sinai Hospital in New York, he was a lead nurse during the weekdays and also managed weekend shifts. Sherron said that in the days since her brother’s death, she has been hearing about the small acts of kindness he carried out on the job. One colleague told Sherron that during a chaotic shift during the winter a man who was homeless at the time wouldn’t leave the emergency room because he was cold. Kelly, she learned, took his jacket off to give to the man. “That kind of story kind of epitomizes who he was. That’s not unique,” she said. “Everything was expendable. It didn’t matter if he could help someone else.” Frank Gabin dedicated his life to emergency medicine. It wasn’t until a few years ago that he started thinking seriously about having a family. At the time of his death, he and his husband Arnold Vargas had been planning to have children, Gabrin’s best friend Debra Vasalech told BI. “They hadn’t even been married a year,” said Vasalech, who was a guest at the couple’s August wedding. “They were already doing the work to have children. They were planning to move to Florida over the next few years to raise the kids.” Six days after becoming symptomatic in March, Gabrin woke up at his New York apartment struggling to breathe. Vargas called 911 and got Vasalech on speakerphone. In the 30 minutes it took for paramedics to arrive, Gabrin died in his husband’s arms, Vasalech said. Vargas has also tested positive and is still quarantined at their home. Gabrin, who started his career in emergency medicine as a Navy doctor, had survived cancer twice, his best friend said. After that, he overcame addiction issues related to professional burnout. Gabrin channeled his experience into the book Back from Burnout,which offered advice to other medical professionals about compassion fatigue. “He discovered how compassion was what was missing in medicine,” said Vasalech, who helped Gabrin with the book. “He believed that people in emergency medicine were born with the need to care for people.” Vasalech said that her best friend wasn’t worried about working on the frontlines at first because he had the equipment he needed. But when that equipment ran short, he felt danger approaching. “The moment that happened, he got nervous,” Vasalech said. “He was going out getting aloe vera plant to make his own hand sanitizer.” Aracelli Buendia Ilagan left her home in the Philippines when she was in her 20s to work as a nurse in the United States. Even though she was thousands of miles away from her family, she was dedicated to maintaining close relationships and supporting them in tough times. “She’s very thoughtful to her family,” her niece, Jhoanna Mariel Buendia told BI. “We cannot accept that nobody was there to help her when she was suffering. We feel very helpless, we didn’t get the chance to speak to her during her most difficult times.” Ilagan had been a nurse manager in the surgical ICU at Miami Jackson Memorial Hospital in Florida for 30 years. Buendia said that her aunt had self-quarantined after she started experiencing coronavirus symptoms. When her husband went in to check on her on March 28, he found her unresponsive on the floor, her niece said. Attempts to revive her were unsuccessful. Buendia, who is 27 and working in an ICU in the UK, said that her aunt “groomed her” to become a nurse and has been her mentor. Having no children of her own, Ilagan shared a special bond with Buendia, according to the young nurse. “I actually have two aunts whose profession is nursing,” said Buendia, who is an ICU nurse in the UK. “They always told me that helping other people is one of the best feelings.” A few days before her death, Ilagan and Buendia spoke on the phone. Ilagan gave her tips on how to best care for patients suffering from COVID-19, and to stay safe. “I told her she had to take care of herself because she’s a little bit old already,” Buendia said. “The last thing she told me is that I have to take care of myself and the other patients, as well. It hit me hard. She never mentioned her illness or what she’s going through. I view her as a selfless woman.” Theresa Lococo attended nursing school at Kings County Hospital in the 1970s. On March 27, the 68-year-old pediatric nurse died from the coronavirus after serving patients at the same facility for 48 years, her daughter Lisa Lococo told Business Insider. “My mother was very committed to what she did, and she just loved the people and the hospital,” Lisa Lococo said about her mother’s long career. “I can remember when I was a kid, she worked with a lot of children who were abandoned by their parents and they would become like her children. And they were patients of hers for years on end.” Lococo made life-long friendships with her colleagues and their children grew up together, Lisa said. Even though many of the nurses she started her career with have since retired, Lococo kept showing up to work. Every day for as her son and daughter can remember, their mother would leave for work at least an hour before her scheduled shift. “She was so committed to her patients and her friends and colleagues. That nursing job was her life,” Lisa said. Outside of work, Lococo’s world revolved around Lisa and her brother Anthony, and eventually their children. “She loved her kids and her grandchildren. There is nothing she wouldn’t do for any us,” Lisa said. “She would put herself last before everyone else.” Lisa said that her mother’s passing was unexpected and that she hadn’t been tested for the virus before she died. On March 27, Lisa called her mother at the exact moment her brother had called for paramedics. She died soon after. With social distancing measures still in place, the family hasn’t been able to have a memorial for her. Theresa Lococo’s mother, who was in her 90s and living in a Brooklyn nursing home, died two weeks after she did. “My grandmother was not aware of the death of my mother. She had Alzheimer’s,” Lisa said. “We have been suffering a tremendous loss,” she added. “It’s been really rough, and it’s even harder to deal with it from so far away. I can’t go up there and do anything.” Army Captain Douglas Linn Hickok, a physician assistant and New Jersey National Guardsman, became the first US military service member to die from the coronavirus when he passed away on March 28 at the age of 57 at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Poconos in Pennsylvania. Born January 15, 1963, at Oklahoma’s Norman Air Force Base, Hickok was a third-generation service member who served as a captain in the National Guard Medical Unit in Seagirt, New Jersey. He graduated from US International University in California with a Bachelor of Arts in International Relations and Diplomacy, and then went on to Cornell Medical School in New York City, where he attained a physician assistant medical degree. “Capt. Hickok provided compassionate and professional care to the Soldiers of the New Jersey Army National Guard while assigned to the Medical Command,” Col. Edwin Wymer, commander, New Jersey Army National Guard Medical Command, wrote in an emailed statement to BI. “Hickok was highly praised by subordinates and Senior Officers alike for his dedication and service to the Citizen-Soldiers of New Jersey.” After serving in New Jersey, Hickok moved to Maryland in 2009 to work as a civilian physician assistant at Andrew’s Air Force Base and then to Pennsylvania in 2017 where he worked as an orthopedic physician assistant at a clinic, according to his family. “He was my hero,” Mary Scott-Peavler, Hickok’s younger sister, told BI. “He never gave up, never ran from things, and was not afraid of anything.” “He served people. He served family, country, and faith,” Scott-Peavler said. “That sums up my brother.” Hickok’s daughter, Shandrea, described her father as a caring person who was devoted to spending time with her and her brother Noah. “My best memories of my father are the many trips he took my brother and me on,” she told BI in an email. “He loved to go outside and take us to parks, museums, battleships, military bases, movie theaters, beaches, and restaurants.” His hobbies included cooking, hiking, baseball, and scouting. As a member of the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints, Hickok also served a church mission in Spain for two years in the 1980s and spoke fluent Spanish. A few weeks before his passing, Hickok and his daughter went on a spontaneous trip to the Sandy Hook Proving Ground in New Jersey, where Shandrea said her father excitedly took in the old canons, beautiful scenery, and wildlife on the grounds. “This memory really encompasses my father’s zest for life and sense of wonder for the outdoors,” she said. Freda Ocran worked as a nursing staff supervisor in Jacobi Medical Center’s psychiatric ward, the New York Post reported. About two weeks before her death, she began exhibiting mild symptoms of the illness. She continued to report to work until the hospital sent her home one day without testing her for the coronavirus, her son Kwame Ocran told the Post. On March 20, Ocran updated her Facebook profile picture with a banner reading, “I can’t stay home … I’m a healthcare worker!” She was eventually admitted to a hospital in the Bronx on March 24 and put on a ventilator. She died from coronavirus on March 28. According to Kwame Ocran, one of her three sons, Ocran was worried about the lack of testing being conducted at her facility. “Without those tests being administered, there’s no way of knowing if she was working with someone who had it or not,” Kwame Ocran told the New York Post. Mayor Bill De Blasio announced Ocran’s death the day after her passing, noting that family members relied upon her for support, including her mother who lives in Ghana. “What a horrible loss for that family, that hospital, and our city,” De Blasio said as the New York Post reports. Her son said she “gave herself undoubtedly to the church, to her work and to her kids,” according to CBS News. She leaves behind her husband of 30 years, Joseph. On March 16, almost two weeks before her death, Ocran shared a Facebook post reading, “Even in the midst of catastrophic events. Continue to speak your blessings. Dont stop!” Tomas Pattugalan, 70, an internal medicine doctor with over 40 years of experience, passed away from COVID-19 the morning of March 29 at Nassau University Hospital. Pattugalan was born and raised in Tuguegarao City in the Philippines and moved to New York in the late 1970s with his first wife and eldest daughter Patricia. He set up a private practice in Jamaica, Queens, in New York City, which he operated until his final days – transitioning from in-person to telehealth appointments once the city began to report more positive cases and he himself tested positive for the coronavirus on March 24. “I saw how he worked as I was growing up,” Pattugalan’s youngest daughter Tammy Justine Pattugalan, 14, told BI. “He knew every one of his patients by name. That was truly one of his most desirable traits.” Family and close friends affectionately referred to Pattugalan as “honeyboy,” according to Pattugalan’s son Gino Pattugalan. “He was just loved by everybody. He was honey, he was honeyboy,” Gino told BI. “And even if you were upset at him, he could charm you.” “My father loved to show love through food,” Gino said. “The question he would always ask was, ‘Did you eat?’ It’s one of those questions that comes from growing up in a third world country where you might go hungry. He always wanted to take care of us, to make sure we were healthy and provided for.” Pattugalan was a devout Catholic, according to family members. In January, a few months before he passed, Pattugalan traveled to Jerusalem to celebrate his 70th birthday. “It struck me when he told me that,” Gino said. “I think he started to see how thin the veil was between this life and next and he went to the Holy Land because he knew he just wouldn’t know the time or hour [of his death] and I think he knew maybe something could happen.” “I think he would want other people to know that he was a very religious man,” Tammy said, recounting her father’s words to her when his oxygen levels dropped and he had to go to the hospital. She asked him to promise her that he would live to see her graduate from middle school, get married, and live the rest of her life. “Tammy, just pray,” he responded. Jeannie Danker spent more than 30 years at Ohio State University in Columbus, Ohio. According to an internal letter to staff, colleagues nicknamed her “Ms. Radiology.” She met her husband of 30 years, John Danker, there as well. The two were proud Buckeyes and avid tailgaters at Ohio State football games, according to WBNS. She died on Sunday, March 29 at the age of 60, after testing positive for the coronavirus. John Danker tragically died just two months before, on January 30, after a battle with ALS, according to his obituary. They leave behind two daughters, Jill and Jennifer. Ohio State is not disclosing the specifics of how she contracted the virus, according to WBNS. Maggie Danker, who described Jeannie Danker as her aunt, posted on Facebook that her “contagious energy and loving heart will be sincerely missed.” Maggie Danker also wrote, “COVID-19 now has a face for me, it’s real, it’s happening, and affecting our loved ones.” When reached for comment, Jill Danker told BI that the family is requesting privacy at this time. In a statement to Wexner Medical Center staff obtained by WBSN, CEO Dr. Harold Paz called Danker a beloved and dedicated colleague. “She infused her administrative role with determination, selflessness, and a patient-first attitude,” Paz wrote. Larrice Anderson has been a practicing nurse since 2008 when she received her Bachelor of Nursing from the University of Holy Cross in New Orleans, Louisiana. A longtime New Orleans resident, the 46-year-old worked on the front lines in the emergency room unit at New Orleans East Hospital treating patients infected with the coronavirus disease. “She always was the backbone of the ER,” Anderson’s friend, Dorothy Lewis, told the New Orleans Advocate. Lewis also told the local newspaper that Anderson had underlying health issues, making her more susceptible to severe symptoms of the disease. Nevertheless, Anderson bravely continued showing up to work. But in early March, Lewis said, Anderson became sick with stomach issues before being diagnosed with viral pneumonia. According to WBTV, she contracted the virus while tirelessly treating patients infected with the disease. “She only went to work and home,” Lewis told the New Orleans Advocate. “She had no room for nothing else. That tells you right there where she got it from.” She was admitted to the New Orleans East Hospital as a patient and eventually began to show signs of improvement. Her daughter, Cerrice Anderson, posted on Facebook on March 30 news of her mother being moved from the ICU to a separate unit to begin recovery. But her health dipped, and she ultimately died a day later. She leaves behind two children. “She passed away in hero fashion, doing something she truly loved which was caring for those in need, an unsung hero,” Anderson’s cousin, Donyette McGill Williams, wrote in a Facebook post. New Orleans East Hospital staff posted a video releasing balloons in honor of their fallen coworker. The hospital has also sent up a link for donations on the family’s behalf. “She was always smiling. That’s what I like to think of now. That’s what people remember, and not just remember her for this virus,” her former nursing school teacher Kristy Solis told WBTV.
3 May 17:15 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/healthcare-workers-who-died-with-the-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Lockdown Ease: Group cautions Nigerians on risk of infection
Coalition of Societies for the Rights of Older Persons in Nigeria (COSROPIN) on Sunday advised Nigerians against risky behaviours in the ease of lockdown. Sen. Eze Ajoku, the President of the coalition, gave the caution in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Abuja. Ajoku said this had become imperative because such behaviours were capable of exposing the public to COVID-19 infection. President Muhammadu Buhari in a nationwide broadcast announced a gradual easing of the COVID-19 lockdown at the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and two states of Lagos and Ogun from May 4. The unveiled new measures included a nationwide night-time curfew, mandatory wearing of face masks and a ban on “non-essential” travel between different regions. However, the COSROPIN president who expressed concern over a possible increase in the number of Nigeria’s cases, said the easing might be premature. He warned against replicating the Ghanaian experience in Nigeria, saying that easing of lockdown in Ghana was said to have resulted to over 50 per cent increase in their cases. “While we cannot ask government to change its decision, we appeal to them to not hesitate to reconsider their decision should the public response after lifting lockdown not match their expectation, especially if testing shows unacceptable higher numbers. “We are concerned about our older persons at home who have weak immunity hence the possibility of their being easily infected by mobile younger people if care is not taken with the ease of the lockdown,” he said. He urged government at all levels to ensure equitable and judicious distribution of palliatives so that people were not forced to the street out of hunger. Ajoku urged people especially in FCT, Lagos and Ogun to be at alert as they took advantage of the lockdown ease and not throw caution to the wind. “Many people are looking forward to Monday when lockdown will be lifted in Lagos ,Ogun and FCT. Some people may be planning how to jump out in congested taxis, kekes (tricycles) and Molue (buses), to visit friends and acquaintances. “Stay away from the visits for now. At the COSROPIN/NOA launch of wearing of face mask, we reminded the participants about the daily increasing numbers of infected persons. “Please do not go out for the fun of it and through your life style, pick up the virus and then subsequently infect your family, colleagues at work and loved ones.” he advised. The coalition boss who reiterated call for caution, said the virus “red light is up, don’t beat the traffic,” warning against community transmission to prevent community deaths. According to him, if you get infected and probably get well later, some of your loved ones, older persons or colleagues that you may have infected may not be so lucky. Ajoku appealed to Nigerians to stay at home as much as possible for safety reasons. “The person you are hanging out with today may have been out yesterday with someone else and gotten infected. “E no de show for face oh (It doesn’t show on the face). It is an air borne virus unlike HIV,” he said. He however emphasised that “if you must go out, wear your mask for adequate protection for benefit of all”. Ajoku also reminded Nigerians to always observe physical distancing, regular hand washing with soap and use of sanitiser as the only prevention and known ways of staying safe. (NAN)
3 May 11:24 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/lockdown-ease-group-cautions-nigerians-on-risk-of-infection/Rating: 0.30
Turkey's Contact Tracers Race to Contain Coronavirus
Two medics in protective suits jumped out of a car in a deserted street in central Ankara and hurried inside a building - one carrying medical equipment and the other, paperwork. Some 15 minutes later, they sped off to their next appointment, one of nearly 6,000 teams deployed across Turkey to try to stem the coronavirus pandemic by tracking down the contacts of those found to have become infected. After recording some of the fastest growth in COVID-19 infections in the world, health officials say the outbreak in Turkey has hit a plateau around six weeks after the first case was confirmed. The death toll of 3,336 is lower than 12 other countries. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories The daily death toll has been on a downward trajectory for more than 10 days, with 78 deaths confirmed in the past 24 hours, according to health ministry data on Saturday. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca credits the country's contact tracing efforts along with Turks' largely voluntary adherence to lockdown measures, for the trend. In contrast to South Korea, which limited deaths to below 250 with the help of a contact-tracing app, Turkey has taken a more labour-intensive approach. Koca said on Wednesday around 5,800 teams of two or three medics had identified 468,390 people who have been in contact with coronavirus patients. He said around 99% of those had been reached and were regularly monitored by health officials. In the capital Ankara, a coordination centre oversees the field visits and follow-up calls by telephone. The two groups cooperate to identify, test and report cases across the city. "Since a household is on average four to five people, with the workplace added in, there have been cases where we tracked 200 people at once," said Ayse Cigdem Simsek, the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate Deputy Chairwoman of Public Health Services. Under the system, the teams are tasked with telling contacts of a COVID-19 sufferers to stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms. Other teams are then instructed to call them daily to ensure compliance and check on their health. If they report symptoms, they get another visit to give a sample for testing in hospital, Kerime Altunay, a public health doctor and coordinator of the remote monitoring team in Ankara, told Reuters. The system grew out of a method Turkey had been using for decades to contain previous outbreaks of measles and flu, Simsek told Reuters. But while testing was launched on the day the first case was confirmed, March 11, it took a while to roll out. Initially Ankara sent testing kits to the United States when it was short of them at home, but has since ramped up testing. Turkey, with a population of 83 million is now doing 30,000-40,000 tests a day, according to data from the Health Ministry. Schools were closed immediately and other measures, including the closure of non-essential shops and factories and compulsory lockdowns at weekends, were brought in in stages. The lockdown has been stricter than South Korea but less stringent than some European countries like Spain or Italy. DEATH TOLL DEBATE The head of the Turkish Medics Association (TTB), Sinan Adiyaman, said early in the outbreak that not enough tests were being done. The TTB has also questioned the death toll, as experts have done for other countries, and said it wants the government to include those who died with COVID-19 symptoms even if they have not tested positive. The government says it is following reporting standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The TTB was not available for comment. Irshad Shaikh, acting head of the WHO's Turkey office, told Reuters the recent declining trend in new cases showed Turkey's testing methodology was robust and that the numbers of tests were sufficient. He said contact tracing helped lessen the spread in Turkey by pinpointing the majority of people who came into contact with confirmed cases. Shaikh said Turkey conducts tests during autopsies on suspected cases who die outside of hospitals, and repeat tests on suspected cases that initially turn up negative, which would make the potential number of errors in reporting deaths very small. Koca said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak was at its peak and would decline, and that contact tracing would continue to ensure it does not reignite. Mustafa Necmi Ilhan, head of the Public Health Department at Gazi University Medical School, said the initial speed of the outbreak in Turkey, which was similar to the worst affected countries such as Italy, prompted fears, but that contact tracing helped break the chain of infection. Turkey also says its distinctive practice of delaying transfer of patients to intensive care from other wards has helped limit the death toll by easing pressure on instensive care resources, such as medical gear and staff. Ankara has stressed the early use of high flow oxygen instead of intubation when respiratory difficulties appear, as well as early administration of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, before patients develop more severe symptoms. The government said this had lowered the death rate and shortened recovery times. Hydroxychloroquine, a decades-old generic medicine, has been touted by U.S. President Donald Trump and others as a "game changer" treatment for the highly contagious respiratory illness, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized its use in COVID-19 on an emergency basis. But there is not yet scientific proof that it works. There are currently no approved medicines or vaccines specifically for COVID-19. Last week the U.S. FDA cautioned against the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, saying it could cause abnormal heart rhythms and dangerously rapid heart rate. Ilhan said the drug was administered carefully, in different doses depending on the age and health of the patient. While it may have side effects, none had appeared so far, he said.
3 May 08:47 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/turkey/turkey-s-contact-tracers-race-to-contain-coronavirus-1.8816251Rating: 1.13
US hospitals promise new safety measures to ease patient fears after coronavirus crush
US hospitals, many past the peak coronavirus crush, are relying on plexiglass dividers, advance testing of patients and limited elevator traffic to convince people, especially those needing urgent care, that the facilities are safe. Hospitals put lucrative elective procedures and other nonessential operations on hold weeks ago as they geared up for the coronavirus onslaught. But fear of the highly contagious virus, which has killed over 63,000 people and infected more than one million in the United States, has kept even victims of serious health crises like stroke and appendicitis away from emergency rooms. "We have to convey to the public that we are safe ... and to defer medical care in urgent situations will cause more harm," said Mark Solazzo, chief operating officer at Northwell Health, New York's largest healthcare provider. In addition to urgent care, medical providers are beginning to tell patients they can come back for more routine care, and are spelling out new precautions they are taking in order to regain the public's trust. Efforts put in place due to the pandemic - like screening people for symptoms of COVID-19 - the illness caused by the coronavirus - taking the temperature of everyone entering a healthcare facility, making people wear masks, and supplying disinfectant wipes, will continue. Hospitals will still rely heavily on “telemedicine” visits by video chat to help triage patients and determine whether they need to be seen. Patients are automatically tested for coronavirus infection before they are admitted for scheduled surgery or other inpatient procedures. Northwell and other hospital systems have launched marketing campaigns to explain how they are making visits safer. In an email sent to nearly 3 million New York area residents, Northwell reminds patients that visitors are not allowed at its hospitals, that all staff wear full protective gear, and that patients can wait in the parking lot and check in to appointments on their phone to avoid waiting room crowds. Plexiglass barriers are being used in reception areas to separate patients from office staff and the health system plans to share information about how facilities are being deep-cleaned. UCHealth, Colorado's largest health system, is limiting elevator capacity, normally around a dozen people, to four at a time, and is asking them to maintain their distance, with one person in each corner. To avoid sharing pens, UCHealth urges patients to fill out their paperwork online ahead of a visit. RISK OF DELAYED CARE US hospitalisation rates fell in March compared to February for a range of critical conditions, according to claims statistics from health insurer Cigna Corp. Downturns ranged from 11% for acute coronary syndromes such as heart attack, to over 30% for patients experiencing stroke or irregular heartbeat. For a stroke, getting to the hospital very quickly is critical to recovery chances. US medical tests for detecting and monitoring cancer and other conditions fell by as much as 68% in mid-March through mid-April, according to a report from Komodo Health. Several recent stroke patients at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California had delayed care for days after their first symptoms, citing fear of the virus, Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadzki, the hospital's senior physician executive, told Reuters. One young man experienced weakness due to a rare lesion in his brain, but did not come to the hospital until he was paralyzed on one side. In another case, an elderly man had an acute stroke, but put off going to the hospital because he is in a high risk category for contracting the coronavirus. Both patients now have brain damage. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is emailing patients to assure them that people diagnosed with COVID-19 are kept separate from the general hospital population, that staff members are screened daily and that everyone is required to wear face masks. "We are encouraging people to seek urgent care. We still have the capacity," said Dr Richard Riggs, chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai. Hospitals are redesigning waiting rooms to space out seating, which in some cases is being replaced with furniture made of easy-to-clean materials. "It is important that we don't see ongoing delay of care. We worry about the escalation of chronic disease," Dr Robert Hart, chief medical officer at Ochsner Health, Louisiana's largest hospital system, said in a phone briefing. Ochsner is determining how to reschedule surgeries put on hold during the crisis in order to avoid "doing more harm than good," he said.
3 May 07:17 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/health/2020/05/03/us-hospitals-promise-new-safety-measures-to-ease-patient-fears-after-coronavirus-crushRating: 2.85
UK lockdown must not be lifted until Covid-19 transmission is understood, say scientists
British scientists are racing to try to answer fundamental questions about the Covid-19 virus and its transmission before the lifting of the current national lockdown is approved by the government in the near future. Researchers say relaxing social distancing should occur only once it is understood why new infections of the disease are still being diagnosed in their thousands every day. Such a rate means efforts to test and trace infected contacts – a key plank in the government’s anti-Covid strategy in coming months – would be quickly overwhelmed. Far more information is needed about the way the coronavirus is transmitted, they say. The new data will feed into the debate about the settings in which lockdown will be lifted first – for instance, whether it’s relatively safe to stage outdoor events. And last week, several groups launched studies aimed at providing answers. These include projects to analyse how virus-laden aerosols behave in the air in a bid to understand how the disease is passed between humans. In addition, other schemes will target healthcare workers to investigate how the virus is being spread to them from patients and then on to others. The importance of this latter approach was revealed in recent figures for cases of Covid-19 which have shown a drop in numbers of new cases in hospitals but reveal significant rises among health and social care workers. This point was stressed by epidemiologist Anne Johnson at University College London. She said cutting transmissions of Covid-19 to health and social care workers had now emerged as a major priority. “Half of all new infections reported last week were among healthcare workers,” she told the Observer. “This has now become the leading edge of the spread of the disease.” Lack of protective equipment and clothing may have worsened the situation, she added. “However, what is certain is that care workers are still at risk from their patients from whom they can pick up the virus and, in turn, pass it on to their colleagues, to their own families and possibly to other patients. We need to focus on limiting the spread of Covid-19 among health and social care workers as an absolute priority if we want to have a chance of bringing this epidemic to a halt.” This view was backed by infectious diseases expert Tom Wingfield of the Liverpool School of Tropical Medicine. “The numbers show that the rate of decline of new cases is slower in the UK than other European countries and that is likely to be down to transmission occurring within health and social care settings, transmission in the community despite social distancing and, to a lesser extent, chains of transmission that are still occurring within households, especially in larger households or shared accommodation.” Last week, researchers at Bristol University launched a major study aimed at finding out precisely how health workers are being infected by the Covid-19 virus. “We have taken a group of 130 health workers and we are going to test them intensively over the next three months,” said Professor Adam Finn, the leader of the project. “We will take swabs from them twice a week, take blood samples regularly, and catalogue their symptoms – in the expectation that some of them will become infected. Then we will be able to find out when they became infected; how that relates to their symptoms at the time; and how it relates to their immune response. We are going to uncover details of the disease’s natural history because none of this information is known in detail. On the other hand, it is vitally important if we are to understand how this disease behaves.” Finn said current modelling of the disease – although superb – was based on assumptions. “Essentially, the models are guesswork about the way the virus behaves. To get rid of the guesswork we need to supply evidence about how the virus actually behaves.” A different approach is being taken by another Bristol University group, led by chemist, Professor Jonathan Reid. His team is studying the way the Covid-19 virus is passed from one person to another. This happens when fairly large droplets are coughed up or sneezed out by infected people. However, it is also possible viruses may be spread by much smaller aerosol particles – although it is unclear if they can carry enough virus to be infectious. “It is clearly important to find out because aerosols can travel much further than heavier droplets,” said Reid. His team has just constructed a high-containment, automated laboratory containing a device in which clouds of virus-laden aerosol particles can be suspended while researchers alter temperature, humidity, ozone, levels of sunlight and other variables. “In this way we can study how the virus’s infectivity changes,” added Reid. “That might tell us if it is affected by heat. If it is there might be some seasonality to this epidemic. We could also get a better idea of how to run air conditioning in hospitals, care homes and public spaces – in terms of temperature or humidity – in order to reduce the lifetime of the virus so that exposure to it is reduced.”
3 May 06:41 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/uk-lockdown-must-not-be-lifted-until-covid-19-transmission-is-understood-say-scientistsRating: 5.39
Malaria still kills 1,100 a day
| FREDROS OKUMU | Today, another 1,100 people will die from malaria. The number will be repeated tomorrow, and the day after. As a public health researcher, I embrace the idea that all lives have equal value. That our goal is much more to delay death than to stop death, as the latter is inevitable. Therefore as we marked this year’s World Malaria Day, April 25, we emphasised the need for stronger health systems and sustained investments to tackle malaria more aggressively. This message needs to be conveyed even more urgently than usual amid the coronavirus pandemic. Given the situation in Europe, China and the US, it is clear that COVID-19 significantly disrupts health systems and economic growth. There is genuine fear that if it continues spreading in Africa, the impact may be worse given the continent’s weaker health systems. One of the greatest concerns is the likely shift of attention and resources from control programmes of other infections, such as malaria. Since 2000, Africa has benefited from some of the greatest efforts against malaria. This included a global coalition that has delivered more than 2 billion insecticide-treated nets to countries where malaria is endemic. Given the extensive health gains, experts increasingly embraced the idea that malaria eradication, though ambitious, is both a feasible and a necessary goal. This remains the aim. Recently, a strategic advisory panel set up by the World Health Organisation (WHO) five years ago released a report of a three-year study on benefits, future scenarios and feasibility of malaria elimination. Among its key recommendations is improved access to high-quality people-centred health services, adequate financing and resourcing for malaria programmes as well as stronger engagement with communities. Unfortunately, in the context of COVID-19, many of these recommendations will be unattainable in the short and medium term. Resources will be shifted to tackle the pandemic and community engagement initiatives will be reduced to a bare minimum to achieve social distancing. Moreover, access to health facilities may be reduced for people with other common diseases such as malaria. This will mean there will be many more deaths from malaria and other diseases. This has happened before. Evidence from Africa’s fight against Ebola suggests that during outbreaks, many more people are indirectly killed by other diseases such as malaria, HIV and tuberculosis than by the outbreak itself. African health authorities must therefore earnestly guard against such outcomes, and create a more rational response. Share on: WhatsApp Pages: 1 2
3 May 06:00 • The Independent Uganda: • https://www.independent.co.ug/malaria-still-kills-1100-a-day/Rating: 0.30
Virus Outbreak Russia
1 / 14In this photo taken on Saturday, May 2, 2020, doctors work inside the intensive care unit for people infected with the new coronavirus, at a hospital in Moscow, Russia. A Russian epidemiologist says the sharp increase in coronavirus infection cases recorded over the past week reflects increased testing. Russia on Sunday reported more then ten thousand new cases, nearly double the new cases reported a week ago and the first time the daily tally went into five digits.(AP Photo/Sophia Sandurskaya) ROME (AP) — While millions of people took advantage of easing coronavirus lockdowns to enjoy spring weather, some of the world's most populous countries reported worrisome new peaks in infections Sunday, including India, which saw its biggest single-day jump yet. Second in population only to China, India reported more than 2,600 new infections. In Russia, new cases exceeded 10,000 for the first time. The confirmed death toll in Britain climbed near that of Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s outbreak, even though the U.K. population is younger than Italy’s and Britain had more time to prepare before the pandemic hit. The United States continues to see tens of thousands of new infections each day, with more than 1,400 new deaths reported Saturday. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically once the lockdowns are relaxed. But pressure to reopen keeps building after the weeks-long shutdown of businesses worldwide plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and wiped out millions of jobs. China, which reported only two new cases, saw a surge in visitors to newly reopened tourist spots after domestic travel restrictions were loosened ahead of a five-day holiday that runs through Tuesday. Nearly 1.7 million people visited Beijing parks on the first two days of the holiday, and Shanghai's main tourist spots welcomed more than 1 million visitors, according to Chinese media. Many spots limited daily visitors to 30% of capacity. On the eve of Italy's first steps toward easing restrictions, the Health Ministry reported 174 COVID deaths in the 24-hour period ending Sunday evening — the lowest day-to-day number since the national lockdown began on March 10. Parks and public gardens were set to reopen on Monday. In Spain, many ventured outside for the first time since the country's lockdown began March 14, but social distancing rules remained in place. Masks are mandatory starting Monday on public transit. In Britain, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is under pressure to reveal how the country will lift its lockdown. The restrictions are due to last through Thursday, but with hundreds of deaths still being reported daily — twice as many recently as Italy or Spain — it's unclear how the country can safely loosen the restrictions. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care while being treated for COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper that he knew his doctors were preparing for the worst. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,’’ he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario’’ if he succumbed to the virus. Another potentially troubling sign emerged in Afghanistan’s capital city of Kabul, where a third of the 500 people selected in random test came up positive for the virus. In the U.S., New Jersey reopened state parks, though several had to turn people away after reaching a 50% limit in their parking lots. Margie Roebuck and her husband were among the first on the sand at Island Beach State Park. "Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Speaking on “Fox News Sunday," White House coronavirus coordinator Deborah Birx expressed concern about protests by armed and mostly maskless crowds demanding an end to stay-at-home orders and a full reboot of the economy. President Donald Trump has encouraged people to “liberate” their states. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather ... they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” If restrictions are lifted too soon, the virus could come back in “small waves in various places around the country,” said Dr. Tom Inglesby, director of the Center for Health Security of the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. "Nothing has changed in the underlying dynamics of this virus,” he said on NBC’s “Meet the Press.” Meanwhile, the divide in the United States between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously extended to Congress. The Republican-majority Senate will reopen Monday in Washington. The Democrat-controlled House of Representatives is staying shuttered. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell’s decision to convene 100 senators gives Trump, a Republican, the imagery he wants of America getting back to work, despite the risks. Russia's latest tally of infections was nearly double the new cases reported a week ago. More than half of Russia's new cases were in Moscow, where concern is rising about whether the capital’s medical facilities will be overwhelmed. Indian air force helicopters showered flower petals on hospitals in several cities to thank doctors, nurses and police at the forefront of the battle against the pandemic. The country's number of confirmed cases neared 40,000 as the population of 1.3 billion marked the 40th day of a nationwide lockdown. The official death toll reached 1,323. Pope Francis called Sunday for international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19 and invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14. The virus has infected 3.4 million people and killed more than 244,000 worldwide, including more than 66,000 dead in the United States, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. All the numbers are considered to be undercounts, due to testing issues, the problems of counting deaths in a pandemic and deliberate concealment by some governments. —- Moritsugu reported from Beijing and Gorondi from Budapest, Hungary. Associated Press journalists around the world contributed to this report. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
3 May 05:03 • Yahoo • https://finance.yahoo.com/news/emerging-lockdown-46-days-house-050330660.htmlRating: 0.30
Egypt puts strategy to curb rise in COVID-19 cases
CAIRO – 3 May 2020: Sources affiliated with the Egyptian Ministry of Health revealed Saturday the scenario set by the ministry to face the spread of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) as the number of cases exceeded 6 thousand cases. The ministry is planning to include and prepare other apparatuses such as social clubs, hotels, and Universities’ dormitories to become quarantine hospitals ready to receive new cases that have contracted the infectious virus. The step replaced equipping the existed quarantine hospitals, 17 hospitals, and will include other chest and fever hospitals all over Egypt to receive, sort, and diagnose any new cases. The sources said that the Ministry launched the new strategy on Thursday in response to the new rise in the number of cases contracted the virus, adding that the patients showing mild symptoms will be immediately transferred to the new quarantine hospitals- previously used as social clubs and dormitories- to receive a full medical treatment. The sources pointed out that medical teams will deal with the cases with mild symptoms as per the protocol set by the Ministry’s scientific committee, bearing in mind that cases with mild symptoms are not in a desperate need to be sent to the existing quarantine hospitals. Only 9 from 1400 new cases housed by hotels and dormitories had to be sent to the quarantine hospitals, according to the sources, adding that the new strategy aims to keep the capacity of the hospitals for the cases with the severest symptoms. The new strategy will also raise the efficiency of 34 hospitals in cooperation with other official parts in order to receive any expected rise in the COVID-19 cases, providing them with a full medical service that includes testing, quarantine, treatment, and the follow-up. The hospitals will be equipped through a time course that will not exceed two weeks, also cases who do not show COVID-19 symptoms will be instructed to apply a self-house quarantine, said sources from the Ministry of Health. Egypt recorded, Saturday 298 new coronavirus cases and 9 deaths, which raises the total infected patients of COVID-19 to 6193 and the total deaths to 415 according to Health Minster’s daily briefing.
3 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/1/85344/Egypt-puts-strategy-to-curb-rise-in-COVID-19-casesRating: 0.67
Central Park hospital to close as New York COVID-19 cases fall
An emergency field hospital erected in Central Park to treat COVID-19 patients is to close, the group running it announced Saturday, as coronavirus cases continue to decline in New York. Some dozen tents, with ventilators, went up on a lawn opposite Mount Sinai Hospital at the end of March as the Big Apple boosted hospital capacity for the outbreak's peak. Samaritan's Purse, a US-based Christian global relief agency, said the temporary hospital had treated 191 people infected with coronavirus and would stop admitting new patients from Monday. It will take approximately two weeks to treat the last patients before the tents are decontaminated and taken down, it added in a statement sent to AFP. "This marks a significant turning point in the coronavirus outbreak in New York because it means the case numbers are declining to the point that the local healthcare system will be able to meet the needs," the charity said. The field hospital proved controversial, with LGBT groups pointing out that staff and volunteers are required to sign a "statement of faith" stressing that marriage can only be between a man and a woman. Saturday's announcement comes after the US military hospital ship USNS Comfort sailed out of New York on Thursday. The navy vessel and Central Park hospital were part of a massive operation to double the number of hospital beds in New York state to 110,000. That included converting the Javits Convention Center and the home of the US Open tennis tournament into emergency field hospitals. But hospital admissions came in much lower than the worst-case projections because of the city's weeks-long shutdown, Governor Andrew Cuomo has said. Javits is due to close its temporary hospital next week. Cuomo announced Saturday that 299 New Yorkers had succumbed to COVID-19 in the last 24 hours, marginally up from the 289 recorded the day before. He added that hospitalizations and intubations continued to fall. Cuomo is expected to this week extend a stay-at-home past May 15 for the state's badly affected areas. The illness has killed almost 19,000 people across New York state, in one of the world's worst outbreaks.
2 May 22:11 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/central-park-hospital-to-close-as-new-york-covid-19-cases-fall-832853.htmlRating: 2.25
US hospitals promise new safety measures to ease patient fears after coronavirus crush
NEW YORK: US hospitals, many past the peak coronavirus crush, are relying on plexiglass dividers, advance testing of patients and limited elevator traffic to convince people, especially those needing urgent care, that the facilities are safe. Hospitals put lucrative elective procedures and other nonessential operations on hold weeks ago as they geared up for the coronavirus onslaught. But fear of the highly contagious virus, which has killed over 63,000 people and infected more than one million in the United States, has kept even victims of serious health crises like stroke and appendicitis away from emergency rooms. "We have to convey to the public that we are safe ... and to defer medical care in urgent situations will cause more harm," said Mark Solazzo, chief operating officer at Northwell Health, New York's largest healthcare provider. In addition to urgent care, medical providers are beginning to tell patients they can come back for more routine care, and are spelling out new precautions they are taking in order to regain the public's trust. Efforts put in place due to the pandemic - like screening people for symptoms of COVID-19 - the illness caused by the coronavirus - taking the temperature of everyone entering a healthcare facility, making people wear masks, and supplying disinfectant wipes, will continue. Hospitals will still rely heavily on “telemedicine” visits by video chat to help triage patients and determine whether they need to be seen. Patients are automatically tested for coronavirus infection before they are admitted for scheduled surgery or other inpatient procedures. Northwell and other hospital systems have launched marketing campaigns to explain how they are making visits safer. In an email sent to nearly 3 million New York area residents, Northwell reminds patients that visitors are not allowed at its hospitals, that all staff wear full protective gear, and that patients can wait in the parking lot and check in to appointments on their phone to avoid waiting room crowds. Plexiglass barriers are being used in reception areas to separate patients from office staff and the health system plans to share information about how facilities are being deep-cleaned. UCHealth, Colorado's largest health system, is limiting elevator capacity, normally around a dozen people, to four at a time, and is asking them to maintain their distance, with one person in each corner. To avoid sharing pens, UCHealth urges patients to fill out their paperwork online ahead of a visit. RISK OF DELAYED CARE US hospitalisation rates fell in March compared to February for a range of critical conditions, according to claims statistics from health insurer Cigna Corp. Downturns ranged from 11 per cent for acute coronary syndromes such as heart attack, to over 30 per cent for patients experiencing stroke or irregular heartbeat. For a stroke, getting to the hospital very quickly is critical to recovery chances. US medical tests for detecting and monitoring cancer and other conditions fell by as much as 68 per cent in mid-March through mid-April, according to a report from Komodo Health. Several recent stroke patients at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California had delayed care for days after their first symptoms, citing fear of the virus, Dr Michael Brant-Zawadzki, the hospital's senior physician executive, told Reuters. One young man experienced weakness due to a rare lesion in his brain, but did not come to the hospital until he was paralyzed on one side. In another case, an elderly man had an acute stroke, but put off going to the hospital because he is in a high risk category for contracting the coronavirus. Both patients now have brain damage. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is emailing patients to assure them that people diagnosed with COVID-19 are kept separate from the general hospital population, that staff members are screened daily and that everyone is required to wear face masks. "We are encouraging people to seek urgent care. We still have the capacity," said Dr Richard Riggs, chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai. Hospitals are redesigning waiting rooms to space out seating, which in some cases is being replaced with furniture made of easy-to-clean materials. "It is important that we don't see ongoing delay of care. We worry about the escalation of chronic disease," Dr Robert Hart, chief medical officer at Ochsner Health, Louisiana's largest hospital system, said in a phone briefing. Ochsner is determining how to reschedule surgeries put on hold during the crisis in order to avoid "doing more harm than good," he said. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
2 May 22:07 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/us-hospitals-promise-new-safety-measures-to-ease-patient-fears-after-coronavirus-crush-12696782Rating: 3.25
COVID-19: Easing of lockdown even in phases is very premature - Nigerian doctors
- President Buhari approved a ‘phased and gradual easing’ of lockdown measures in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun - The relaxation of lockdown is billed to take effect from Monday, May 4 - This move has been faulted by Nigerians doctors who think it is premature as the nation has not gotten to that "safe" point yet - According to the umbrella body of Nigerian doctors, NMA, more Nigerians will be exposed to the virus - PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has faulted the decision of the federal government to relax the stay-at-home order. The move was described as premature by the umbrella body of Nigerian doctors. According to the group, the country is still battling with inadequate Personal Protective Equipment for health workers, lack of enough bed spaces in states for infected people and rising infections across the country. The NMA said this move can potentially expose more Nigerians to the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection, The Nation reports. The president of the association, Dr. Francis Faduyile, in a statement in Abuja, on Friday, May 1, said Nigeria could experience a bounce in the number of coronavirus cases. “As the incidence of the COVID-19 hits the 2000th mark by this weekend, just seven days after hitting the 1000th mark, it figuratively tilts the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike. “More so, the revelation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the nation lacks bed spaces in Lagos worsens this frightening scenario. “The confusing situation in Kano is neither unravelled nor resolved. At the same time, some states continue to live in the delusion of zero COVID-19 incidences. “The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced 100 per cent increase in infection rate in just a week," the statement read in part. Faduyile said with 113 healthcare workers in Nigeria reportedly infected with COVID-19, this is the time for all doctors and healthcare workers to adhere strictly to infection prevention and control protocols and not let their guard down. He advised healthcare workers to be fully kitted in proper PPE before attending to any patient as every patient is a potential COVID-19 patient. Wishing Nigerians safety and protection from COVID-19, the NMA prayed that the authorities will continue to carry out all necessary and more invigorated knowledge-based interventions towards a zero COVID-19 Nigeria. Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja has been on lockdown for over a month due to the coronavirus pandemic. However, on Monday, April 27, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a ‘phased and gradual easing’ of lockdown measures in these areas, starting from May 4. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app It appears some Nigerians are not comfortable with this move. Many Nigerians have expressed their anxiety on public transportation which will see people jostle for buses in Lagos amid rising coronavirus tension. About 70% of Nigerians have said they would not be comfortable using public transport in as much as the Covid-19 still persists - a poll by Legit.ng has shown. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. How I go sitdon for house when I no get husband? - Market woman |Legit TV
2 May 12:59 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326215-covid-19-easing-lockdown-phases-premature---nigerian-doctors.htmlRating: 0.30
COVID-19: Relaxing lockdown premature —Nigerian doctors
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) on Friday spoke against the decision of the Federal Government to relax the stay-at-home order. The umbrella body of Nigerian doctors described the move as premature and can potentially expose more Nigerians to the coronavirus (COVID-19) infection. The association warns that the country could experience a bounce in the number of coronavirus cases as health workers are grappling with numerous challenges like lack for bed spaces in epicenters of the pandemic, especially Lagos, unraveled cause(s) of deaths in Kano State and delay in the distribution of personal protective equipment (PPE) to public and private hospitals, among others. President Muhammadu Buhari had declared a two-week lockdown of Lagos and Ogun states as well as the Federal Capital Teritory (FCT) Abuja during his first address on the pandemic on March 29, 2020, to enable the country tackle the coronavirus pandemic. On April 12, the President addressed the nation again on the same issue, announcing an extension of the lockdown by two weeks. However, on April 27, 2020, President Muhammadu Buhari approved a ‘phased and gradual easing’ of lockdown measures in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun when he extended the lockdown by one week. The relaxation of lockdown is billed to take effect from Monday, May 4, 2020. At the time of filing this report, there were 2,170 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country with 238 new cases recorded nationwide yesterday. The number of discharged patients was 319 while the number of deaths stood at 58. The President of the NMA, Dr. Francis Faduyile, in a statement in Abuja, said: “As the incidence of the COVID-19 hits the 2000th mark by this weekend, just seven days after hitting the 1000th mark, it figuratively tilts the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike. “More so, the revelation by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) that the nation lacks bed spaces in Lagos worsens this frightening scenario. “The confusing situation in Kano is neither unraveled nor resolved. At the same time, some states continue to live in the delusion of zero COVID-19 incidences. “The easing of the lockdown even in phases is very premature. Nigeria should learn from her neighbour Ghana where the same action produced 100 per cent increase in infection rate in just a week. “Instead, the association believes that agencies of state should intensify efforts through mass enlightenment campaigns beyond current attempts to explain the dangers inherent in easing the lockdown prematurely in the face of rising infection rates; and also for the palliatives to reach the needy.” The NMA condemned the pronouncement of the Bauchi State Governor, Bala Muhammed, mandating the use of chloroquine and Zithromax to treat coronavirus patients in the state. It describes such approach as improper and unethical. “The Association bemoans the rather meddlesome pronouncements by some state actors on the management protocols for COVID-19 in the country. “In particular, we view the directive by the Bauchi State Governor for the use of a specific drug in the treatment of positive cases as improper and unethical. “Medical doctors have the prerogative to use whatever treatment regimen they consider best based on evidence and presentation of the patients. “We, therefore, implore our leaders to desist from distracting our time tested doctors and health workers. “Instead, they should encourage them through the provision of personal protective equipment (PPE), incentives and communication tools to interact with peers within the country and overseas as it is customary in the world of medical science to arrive at the best possible interventions for their patients,” he said. He added: “With 113 healthcare workers in Nigeria reportedly infected with COVID-19 in the course of discharging their duties, NMA reminds all doctors and healthcare workers not to let down their guards in adhering strictly to infection prevention and control protocols. “The Association re-emphasises that all healthcare workers should wear the proper PPE before attending to any patient as every patient is a potential COVID-19 patient. “Furthermore, the Association notes with dismay the delay in distributing the available PPE to all public and private hospitals to prevent, detect and treat more patients as it ought to, and pray that the burgeoning bureaucracy is not a clog in the wheels of progress in this regard. “We wish that the ‘Panel of Experts’ recently inaugurated by the Federal Ministry of Health (FMoH) is empowered to immediately commence their work of thinking, analysing, synthesising, collating and disseminating the most relevant medical information that informs the best management of our COVID-19 patients. “Science and knowledge must inform policies and politics. We appreciate the FMOH for finally listening to the plea we made several weeks ago. “We wish the nation and our people the safety and protection from COVID-19 while praying the authorities to continue to carry out all necessary and more invigorated knowledge-based interventions towards a zero COVID-19 Nigeria.”
2 May 20:35 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/covid-19-relaxing-lockdown-premature-nigerian-doctors/Rating: 0.30
Chamba becomes coronavirus free as three more patients recover
Three more COVID-19 patients recovered in Himachal Pradesh on Saturday, taking the total number of those cured in the state to 33, officials said. Two patients from Una and one from Chamba district have recovered from the disease, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) R D Dhiman said. With this, Chamba district has become coronavirus free. Fifteen patients from Una district, six from Chamba, five from Solan, four from Kangra, two from Hamirpur and one patient from Sirmaur district have recovered so far. Follow live updates on the coronavirus pandemic here No fresh coronavirus case has been reported in the state for the past nine days, Dhiman said. Of the 370 samples sent for testing on Saturday, 144 tested negative while reports of the rest are awaited, he added. These tests are being conducted at five laboratories in HP at Tanda's Dr Rajendra Prasad Government Medical College (RPGMC), Indira Gandhi Medical College (IGMC) in Shimla, Palampur's Institute of Himalayan Bioresource Technology (IHBT) in Kangra, Shri Lal Bahadur Shastri Government Medical College (SLBSGMC) Nerchowk in Mandi and Kasauli's Central Research Institute (CRI) in Solan. Forty-one coronavirus cases have been reported in Himachal Pradesh so far and the number of active cases in the state is two. The active cases are from Una and Sirmaur districts of the hill state. Out of the 12 districts of Himachal Pradesh, 10 are coronavirus free. Two patients from Una and Sirmaur are being treated at Bhota Charitable Hospital in Hamirpur and Katha's ESIC in Baddi, respectively. Four patients from Solan district were shifted to a private hospital outside Himachal Pradesh. Two people have died of COVID-19 in the state. The fatalities include a 70-year-old Delhi resident who had stayed at a guest house of a factory in Solan district''s Baddi and died at PGIMER, Chandigarh on April 2.
2 May 18:48 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/chamba-becomes-coronavirus-free-as-three-more-patients-recover-832732.htmlRating: 2.25
Chamba is Covid free as 3 more patients recover, only 2 active cases left in Himachal
Three more coronavirus patients in Himachal Pradesh have recovered, leaving only two active cases in the state, Additional Chief Secretary (Health) RD Dhiman told the media here on Saturday. One patient in Chamba and two in Una have recovered, while one patient each in Una ans Sirmaur are still under treatment, health officials said. With this, Chamba district has become coronavirus free. A total of 370 people were tested on Saturday, among whom 144 tested negative while the results of the others were awaited at the time of filing of this report. The state has not reported a fresh infection since April 22, although a large influx of people into the state this week has posed a new challenge for the government. Police said a Chamba resident jumped home quarantine after tearing the quarantine sticker placed outside his house by officials, and has been booked. DGP SR Mardi said six districts in the state have been categorised as orange zones, including Kangra, Chamba, Hamirpur, Sirmaur, Una and Solan, while the remaining six districts are green zones. He said that the state government has not imposed any added restrictions upon the Centre’s list of regulations for the various zones. Coronavirus Explained Click here for more For those stuck in Tricity Meanwhile, the state government has decided to bring back its residents stranded in Chandigarh, Panchkula and Mohail— collectively called the tricity— from Sunday, an official spokesperson said. Those who do not have any vehicle can register on the portal http://covid19epass.hp.gov.in/, the spokesperson said, adding that the people stuck in the state can also register on it after which a comprehensive plan will be made for their movement. Himachal Road Transport Corporation (HRTC) will run its buses from Chandigarh between Sunday and Tuesday for permanent residents of the state stranded in the tricity. Buses for residents of Kangra, Chamba, Una and Hamirpur districts will run on the first-come-first-serve basis from Sunday at 6 am from Himachal Bhawan in Sector 28 of Chandigarh, an official said. Buses for residents of Bilaspur, Mandi, Kullu and Lahaul-Spiti districts will be run from May 4 whereas residents of Shimla, Sirmaur, Kinnaur and Solan districts can board buses on May 5. A photocopy of Aadhaar card or any other government identity proof will be required and boarding will be allowed only after a medical examination, he said, adding that all people will have to give an undertaking that they are not infected by coronavirus. Principal Secretary (Revenue) Onkar Chand Sharma has been made the state nodal officer for the task. Managing Director, HRTC, Yunus, has been designated as the state joint nodal officer for bringing back the stranded people, he added. Sharma and Yunus can be contacted on mobile numbers 9418230009 and 8894035375, respectively, he added.
2 May 17:09 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/chamba-is-covid-free-as-3-more-patients-recover-only-2-active-cases-left-in-himachal-6390861/Rating: 0.30
Distressed coronavirus frontline workers flood mental health hotline
Battle-scarred healthcare workers are calling state volunteers at a rate of more than once every hour for help dealing with the devastating emotional toll of witnessing death en masse, The Post has learned. The state’s COVID-19 Emotional Support Helpline fielded 380 calls from healthcare workers pushed to the brink by the pandemic from April 15-28, according to the state Office of Mental Health. That’s an average of 29 per day. The disturbing influx was revealed days after two city medical workers, Bronx EMT John Modello, 23, and New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital ER Dr. Lorna Breen, 49, committed suicide after weeks of working with coronavirus patients. Gov. Cuomo debuted the hotline March 25, warning New Yorkers not to “underestimate the emotional trauma that people are feeling, and the emotional health issues.” The free service is staffed by 6,000 volunteers. From March 26-April 21, a total of 8,350 callers from across the state dialed into the 1-844-863-9314 hotline open to anyone dealing with a coronavirus-induced emotional issues. Callers include an anxious woman with trouble sleeping, a high schooler overwhelmed by virtual learning and a canceled graduation ceremony, and an uninsured woman who couldn’t afford counseling, said Office of Mental Health spokesman James Plastiras. Realizing that “healthcare workers and first responders were clearly facing extraordinary and unique challenges due to the COVID-19 pandemic,” the state added the transfer-option for healthcare workers on April 15, Plastiras explained. In the wake of the deaths of Mondello on April 24 and Breen on April 26, Mayor de Blasio also announced a mental health program for healthcare workers that will involve “combat stress” counseling from military trauma experts.
2 May 19:55 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/02/new-york-coronavirus-frontline-workers-flood-mental-health-hotline/Rating: 2.55
Europeans embrace relaxed virus rules; Russia, Pakistan numbers spike
BARCELONA, Spain — Spaniards filled the streets Saturday to exercise outside in gorgeous spring weather for the first time in seven weeks, while German children rushed to playgrounds as countries in Western Europe moved ahead with the gradual relaxation of coronavirus lockdown restrictions. Russia and Pakistan, however, reported their biggest one-day spikes in new infections, in a sign the pandemic is far from over. Concern was growing in Moscow that hospitals might become overwhelmed after Russia recorded a new one-day high of 9,633 new infections, a 20% increase over Friday’s count, which itself was a new daily record. Russia has now reported 124,054 total cases, with 15,013 recoveries and 1,222 fatalities. True numbers are believed to be higher because not everyone is tested and Russian tests are reported to be only 70% to 80% accurate. Moscow’s mayor said this week that officials are considering establishing temporary hospitals at sports complexes and shopping malls to deal with the influx of patients. Infection cases have reached the highest levels of government, with both the prime minister and the construction minister contracting the virus. In Russia’s far northeast, officials said 3,000 of 10,000 workers at a vast natural gas field had tested positive, Russian news agencies reported. Employees of one of the contractors at the field reportedly held a protest this week claiming insufficient measures were being taken against the virus’ spread. At the same time, Spain, one of the worst-hit countries in the world with 24,543 deaths and more than 213,000 cases of COVID-19, was rolling back some emergency measures that helped bring the outbreak under control and save hospitals from collapse. A huge field hospital the military helped set up at a Madrid convention center was closed on Friday, and the capital has already closed a makeshift morgue the army established at an ice rink in a shopping mall. Since Spain’s lockdown started March 14, only adults have been able to leave home, for shopping for food, medicine and other essential goods, and to walk dogs close to home. The lockdown is credited with succeeding in reducing daily increases of infections from more than 20% to less than 1%. As restrictions were relaxed Saturday, people ran, walked, or rode bicycles under a brilliant sunny sky in Barcelona, where many flocked to the maritime promenade to get as close as possible to the still-off-limits beach. “I feel good, but tired. You sure notice that it has been a month and I am not in shape,” 36-year-old Cristina Palomeque said in Barcelona. “Some people think it may be too early, as I do, but it is also important to do exercise for health reasons.” The government has set up time slots for age groups and activities, and social-distancing measures are still in place. Spain has detailed a complex rollback plan that will vary by province. Those with the fewest cases and with health care resources in place to handle a rebound of the virus will be the first to enjoy further loosening of the measures. “We must take it with caution and responsibility,” Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez wrote on Twitter. “The virus is still with us. We need to respect the rules as well as the guidelines for hygiene and social distancing.” The virus has killed more than 238,000 people worldwide, including more than 65,000 in the United States and more than 20,000 each in Italy, Britain, France and Spain, according to a count kept by Johns Hopkins University. Health experts warn a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically. U.S. President Donald Trump said Friday he hopes the total number of U.S. deaths will be below 100,000, which he acknowledged is a “horrible number.” As the crisis stabilizes in some European countries and American states, governments are easing the shutdown of businesses that plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930’s and wiped out millions of jobs. Trump, who is running for reelection in the midst of a U.S. economic slump that has wiped out more than 10 million jobs, is pressing state governors to lift anti-disease controls despite warnings by some health experts that might lead to a spike in infections. In Italy, which has seen the most deaths in Europe with more than 28,000, people looked enviously on at Spain as they awaited their own relaxation of restrictions now that the number of new cases has leveled out. Italy’s special commissioner for combating the coronavirus, Domenico Arcuri, said that the gradual loosening of the two-month lockdown, starting Monday, signals a new challenge, “which by now is clear to everyone; we don’t know how long it will last.” More masks will be distributed for people riding public transportation, whose numbers are expected to climb as the manufacturing and construction sectors emerge from the lockdown. Stores, restaurants, bars and cultural sites like museums remain closed until May 18. Germany, which has registered more than 164,000 cases but seen only about 6,700 deaths, has strict social-distancing guidelines but never restricted people going outside for exercise. Smaller shops have already opened and this is the first weekend in which playgrounds, museums and zoos are permitted to open as well. Elsewhere, China, where the pandemic began in December, reported a single new infection Saturday, extending a steady decline in confirmed cases. South Korea reported six new cases on Saturday, none of them in the hard-hit city of Daegu in the southeast. Both countries are easing anti-virus controls and reviving economic activity. But Pakistan on Saturday announced 1,297 new cases, raising the total in the country of 220 million people to 18,114. The increase coincides with increased testing. The government said more than 9,000 tests were conducted in the previous 24 hours. Prime Minister Imran Khan has set a goal of 20,000 per day. Photos in newspapers showed large numbers of the faithful at Pakistani mosques and only some following social distancing rules. Khan’s government said it might ease controls, but doctors have pleaded for stricter lockdowns, warning an explosion of infections would overwhelm hospitals that have only 3,000 intensive care beds nationwide. Africa now has more than 40,000 reported cases, according to the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. There have also been more than 1,600 deaths across the continent from the virus, which has been reported in every country except for tiny and mountainous Lesotho.
2 May 14:08 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/europeans-embrace-relaxed-virus-rules-russia-pakistan-numbers-spike-2019690/Rating: 0.30
How primary health systems can help Nigeria's fight against coronavirus
While the Nigerian government has been shuffling various strategies to curtail a catastrophic outcome from the coronaviruspandemic, it has failed to chart a clear role for the Primary Health Care (PHC) level of the health system, health experts have said. Despite President Muhammadu Buhari’s approval of a gradual easing of lockdown measures in the capital, Abuja, Lagos and Ogun states from Monday, Nigeria’s COVID-19ordeal is still unfolding and its eventual casualties remain unknown. The number of infections has been increasing exponentially – from one case in Lagos on February 27 to more than 2,000 as of Saturday morning, after the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 238 new cases on Friday night, the nation’s highest daily tally. The federal government’s plan relies heavily on ramping up its daily testing and tracing of contacts, expanding the capacity of isolation and treatment centres with sustained training and protection of frontline health workers. Though these measures have proven critical, the Partnership for Advocacy in Child and Family Health at Scale (PACaH@Scale) in a statement on Thursday said the PHC facilities have been “under-emphasised and relegated to the background in the scheme of things.” It said the current approach highlights how much the primary healthcare system has been neglected even though it is considered the first line of defense during pandemic outbreaks by the World Health Organisation (WHO). This can be largely attributed to the multiple challenges with Nigeria’s PHC system but PACaH@Scale, a leading health advocacy group believes Primary Health systems still have an important role to play. “While infectious disease control requires highly specialised interventions with facilities removed from communities there is still an important role for PHCs in infectious disease prevention,” the statement said. “Primary Health Care centres in Nigeria, even if equipped poorly, are the hub for healthcare in the community and well positioned as the primary point of care under the Primary Health Care Under One Roof (PHCUOR) National Policy. The fight against Covid – 19 should not be one which trades off PHCs against a specialised and central command system of service delivery.” Below is a four-point agenda on how the PHC system can help in the fight against COVID-19, according to PACaH@Scale and a coalition of other 24 Civil Society organisations on public health: 1. The Government of Nigeria and the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in particular, should pivot and leverage PHCs as centres for community-based trainings and sensitisation engagements on hand washing and behavior change communication on social distancing for local communities, especially in rural geographies. Under the PHCUOR National Policy, the PHC health system has already been entrusted key social and behavioral change communication roles in areas of nutrition, polio and routine immunisation as well as prevention of diarrhea and pneumonia of infants and children. In regions with limited access to the internet where videos of hand-washing can be demonstrated, PHC staff are well placed to demonstrate proper handwashing and social distancing protocols. 2. Across Nigeria’s 36 states and in the FCT, PHCs are struggling to respond to the demands of the National and State Primary Health Development Agencies to continue providing services. Experiences from the Ebola outbreak in West and Central Africa provide the evidence base for not disrupting PHC services during an epidemic outbreak and no doubt underpin the expectation of the National and State PHCDAs. The enlightenment campaign of the National Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA) to reassure all Nigerians that PHC services will continue must be seen in this light. PHCs struggling to provide services for a mass clientele during this hot season or routine immunization services are in dire need of clear guidelines of how to remain active while not inadvertently spreading COVID-19. As the hot season approaches many states are coordinating Meningitis vaccinations programs within the PHC system; routine immunization has not stopped; women are giving birth; and research is being conducted in states with where new Vaccine-Derived Polio Virus type 2 (cVDPV2), cases have emerged. While PHCs are providing on-going public health services a strategic opportunity is being missed to incorporate COVID-19 protocols in their on-going services. Therefore, if PHC services are to remain undisrupted, critical questions must be asked about whether state governments have provided enough Personal Protective Equipment (PPE) to staff and whether they have received updates in hand-washing protocols? 3. Nigerian civil society community have been grumbling their under-presentation in National and State governments COVID-19 situation rooms and coordination points. They ask – “where are the Market Women Associations? Where are the health professional associations? Where is the Guild of Nigerian Actors? Where are representatives of Nigeria’s numerous religious and traditional leader’s councils in these coordinating agencies and situational rooms”? Maybe if they sat in situation rooms our Imams and Pastors would not continue to curate their flock for religious worship and our Actors and Actresses will realize the seriousness of COVID-19 and lend their voice to the campaign. While we agree that Infectious Disease health professionals must take the lead in testing and treatment; and that Epidemiologist are vanguards for contact tracing, there is also an important role for civil society groups to mobilize communities for behavioral change to prevent the spread of the virus. The PHC level provides an effective opportunity to engage civil society groups, including traditional and faith leaders and their communities of faith at the local level. Traditional/Religious leaders served as gatekeepers, key influencers, and guiding voices to most Nigerian communities. PHC centres can and should be positioned to serve as the NPHCDA/SPHCDA and the NCDC agents for interfacing with the Traditional/Religious leaders with regularity to support the process of community engagement, contact tracing, and subsequently, referrals and reporting back to the NCDC. Despite their well-known limitations, one critical success factor of PHC centres all over Nigeria is that they have well-established lines of coordination with community-based associations, traditional and faith leaders on issues related to disease outbreaks, to complaints of poor service, to social welfare for indigent patients. This asset can and must be pivoted and leveraged in the fight against COVID-19. 4. The government’s initiative to recruit 774,000 new sanitation officers in the fight against COVID-9 is commendable and has great potential for readdressing falling sanitation and hygiene standards in our over-crowded and infrastructure overburdened urban, peri-urban and rural centres across Nigeria. For hand-washing to be effective in the fight against COVID-19 there must be water; for water to be utilisable; it must be clean; for the 774,000 new sanitation officers to fulfill their role; they must be anchored within a PHC system. Within the PHC system their knowledge and skills will be stepped-down and reinforced. Water, Sanitation, Hygiene and Health are all interlinked and should not be separated in the fight against COVID- 19.
2 May 12:45 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/health/391015-how-primary-health-systems-can-help-nigerias-fight-against-coronavirus.htmlRating: 0.30
In control for 100 days
As Kerala takes its battle against COVID-19 into May, the State-level control room at the Directorate of Health Services that plays a frontline role in this fight has turned a 100 days old. For more than three months now, the control room team that includes doctors have been working round-the-clock to prevent a large-scale COVID-19 outbreak. Although the first case in Kerala was reported on January 30, the State had launched preventive measures much earlier. The control room was activated on January 24, armed with experience drawn from tackling the Nipah outbreak and the back-to-back floods of 2018 and 2019. It is this control room that has been coordinating a host of activities — data compilation on people returning from COVID-affected regions, contact tracing of COVID-positive patients, medical assistance, surveillance, and availability of medicines and protective equipment. The control room has 18 different committees for effectively coordinating its activities. At the district level, teams have been formed on similar lines and they liaise with the State control room. Every day, work begins by reviewing the activities of the previous day and preparing a list of activities that have to be undertaken that day. This is followed by a video conference by the Director of Health Services with district control rooms. Each of the 18 committees carry out scientific assessment of information related to their specialised areas and chart out courses of action. The 24x7 call centre at the control room (0471-2309250, 51, 52, 53, 54 and 55) has so far attended more than 15,000 calls. Health Minister K.K. Shylaja on Saturday congratulated the staff manning the State and district-level control rooms for their untiring fight against the pandemic.
2 May 14:02 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Thiruvananthapuram/in-control-for-100-days/article31490069.eceRating: 0.30
Japan's medical system overloaded but virus experts see signs of hope
The health care system remains overloaded but signs of hope are emerging thanks to a dropoff in COVID-19 cases and public compliance with emergency stay-home requests, medical experts helping the government’s coronavirus panel say. The panel said on Friday that the medical system remains under significant strain in certain prefectures and steps must be taken to prevent a full-scale collapse. Although coronavirus cases have declined overall in the past few weeks, how much that trend can ease the burden on hospitals is likely to be limited, the panel concluded. Akifumi Imamura, an expert in infectious diseases who serves as an observer to the panel, told a news conference that even though new patients are dwindling, the fact remains that the seriously or critically ill must be hospitalized for the long haul and will continue to occupy beds, all while requiring intense medical attention. Those initially thought to have minor cases of the disease caused by the virus could easily take a drastic turn for the worse, he added. “So the burden is still there, and it’s not going away anytime soon,” he said. Still, Imamura said the decline in infections is an encouraging sign things are improving, however slowly. The downward trend, coupled with a recent change in health policy that allows hotels to help by hosting patients with mild symptoms, can “give medical workers breathing space and make it easier for them to give the best possible treatment to critically ill patients that require urgent attention,” he said. “That’s the biggest sign of hope I see now.” “With the bit of a breather that we have, we want to save as many patients in critical condition as possible,” Imamura said. Coronavirus panel member Shigeru Omi echoed Imamura’s view. “It’s the first time since the end of the war that we as a nation have cooperated this much, I think,” Omi said, referring to the public’s abidance with the isolation requests he credits for Japan’s relatively low official infection numbers. Although the revised flu-response legislation lacks the authority to impose the same kind of citywide lockdowns seen overseas, “the fact that we have been able to curb, if not drastically, what was shaping up to be an upward trend without resorting to these kinds of lockdown measures is a fairly positive thing to come out of all this, I think,” he said. “Needless to say, we do need to ask for continued cooperation, however,” Omi added. What is needed to forestall the disintegration of the health care system is for each prefecture to assign hospitals under their jurisdiction to different roles that will allow some to concentrate on critical patients and secure accommodations for the mildly ill instead of forcibly hospitalizing them, the panel said. The government also needs to further boost its capacity for conducting polymerase chain reaction tests and procure more personal protective equipment for medical professionals to clamp down on in-hospital infections, the coronavirus panel added. In Tokyo, although the daily number of infections fell overall this week, the Tokyo Metropolitan Government revealed that nine people died of COVID-19 on Wednesday — the capital’s highest single-day death toll to date.
2 May 07:43 • The Japan Times • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/02/national/medical-system-overloaded/Rating: 2.31
Report: The COVID-19 pandemic could last up to two years
The pandemic that has brought businesses and lives globally to a standstill is believed to have started sometime around mid-November last year. The South China Morning Post traced the first-known instance of the infection to a 55-year-old man, who may have contracted the disease around November 17. While tracing back the origin and the beginning of the infections could help scientists find a way to combat the COVID-19 disease, a question on the minds of people affected by the pandemic is 'how long will all of this last?' A new report by the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP), Academic Health Center at the University of Minnesota, focuses on answering this very question. Given how different other coronavirus epidemics such as SARS or MERS are in comparison to the COVID-19 pandemic, the researchers used the influenza pandemics to analyse the possible scenarios that we might see in the future of this pandemic. Pandemics Since the early 1700s, at least eight global influenza pandemics have occurred, and four of these occurred since 1900: in 1918-19, 1957, 1968, and 2009-10. The report said, "Even though coronaviruses are very different from influenza viruses, the COVID-19 pandemic and pandemic influenza share several important similarities." These similarities, according to the study, are as follows: 1. SARS-CoV-2 and a pandemic influenza virus are novel viral pathogens to which the global population has little to no pre-existing immunity. 2. SARS-CoV-2 and influenza viruses are predominantly spread via the respiratory route by large droplets, but also with a significant component of transmission by smaller aerosols. 3. Asymptomatic transmission occurs with both viruses as well, thereby contributing to the spread of each. 4. Finally, both types of viruses are capable of infecting millions of people and moving rapidly around the globe. The report also focuses on a few key differences here; one is that influenza viruses have a shorter incubation period (1 to 4 days) vs. COVID-19. The second one is that, based on reports released so far, 25 per cent of COVID-19 cases are asymptomatic while the asymptomatic ratio for influenza is considerably lower. Another key finding of difference is that the viral shedding rate for COVID-19 cases, before symptoms show, is higher than the influenza virus, This difference denotes a much higher rate of transmission in the pre-symptomatic phase amid chances of delayed diagnosis. The number of people who can be infected by one coronavirus case is around 2 to 3 - in some cases as high as tens of people depending on extent of direct contact, asymptomatic stage of carriers etc. This is also significantly higher than any influenza virus pandemic that the world has seen as of now. The COVID-19 pandemic could last for up to two years. Based on the behaviour of virus in the influenza pandemics, and correlation with the SARS-CoV-2 virus markers. the experts concluded three possible scenarios. All three scenarios show one thing in common - the pandemic is not going anywhere soon. The study said, "The length of the COVID-19 pandemic will likely be 18 to 24 months, as herd immunity gradually develops in the human population." The report added that achieving 60 to 70 per cent herd immunity in the population could take time given that the length of such immunity to this virus is not known as of now. The first scenario that the experts put forward in what the pandemic will look like sees this wave as the biggest infection wave, which could be followed by smaller waves of infection throughout summer. The first scenario assumes a gradual diminishing of the infections by 2021. The second scenario, if it happens, could mean that the worst is yet to come. The experts expect in this scenario that the infection wave will return stronger in fall (autumn) or winter in 2020, followed by one or more smaller waves in 2021. The researchers add: "This pattern is similar to what was seen with the 1918-19 pandemic." In this scenario the experts believe it is possible that the first wave of COVID-19 in spring 2020 is followed by a “slow burn” of ongoing transmission and case occurrence, but without a clear wave pattern. This scenario has no precedence in past influenza pandemics, however, could be a possible future for COVID-19 the experts found. In all three scernarios, the pandemic is expected to last up to two years and well into 2021. The experts concluded, "As the pandemic wanes, it is likely that SARS-CoV-2 will continue to circulate in the human population and will synchronize to a seasonal pattern with diminished severity over time." Giving more credence to this outlook, Harvard scientists who modeled the pandemic's trajectory told AFP that a one-time lockdown won't halt the novel coronavirus and repeated periods of social distancing may be required into 2022 to prevent hospitals from being overwhelmed. The Harvard team's computer simulation, which was published in a paper in the journal Science, assumed that COVID-19 will become seasonal, like closely related coronaviruses that cause the common cold, with higher transmission rates in colder months. But much remains unknown, including the level of immunity acquired by previous infection and how long it lasts, the authors said. However, new facts and data are still being collected about the novel coronavirus - no data sheet about this disease is complete. "This is an excellent study that uses mathematical models to explore the dynamics of COVID-19 over a period of several years, in contrast to previously published studies that have focused on the coming weeks or months," Mark Woolhouse, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the University of Edinburgh said. "It is important to recognize that it is a model; it is consistent with current data but is nonetheless based on a series of assumptions - for example about acquired immunity - that are yet to be confirmed."
2 May 13:30 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/report-the-covid-19-pandemic-could-last-up-to-two-years-1.1588418014664Rating: 3.21
Tally of doctors catching coronavirus tops 59 in Balochistan
QUETTA: Healthcare professionals and staffers continue to be in harm’s way as the provincial tally of doctors diagnosed with coronavirus reached 59 in Balochistan. Doctors in Quetta remained the hardest hit by Covid-19. Eight more doctors tested positive recently. Four nurses also caught the virus while performing their duties. 35 other medical staff members have also been infected with the virus up till now, raising the total number of cases from the health department to 98. All the aforementioned patients have been isolated at home while 10 of them have recovered. It is pertinent to note that a senior dispenser in Sandeman Civil Hospital passed away due to the coronavirus. Balochistan witnessed a massive rise in Covid-19 cases, as healthcare protectors are also among the most affected by the virus. Doctors, paramedics and other health department staff have been urging the government to provide them basic protective gear to battle the deadly virus. In April, Balochistan Young Doctors Association held province-wide strike of services as police used excessive force to break up a protest by the young doctors in Quetta. The healthcare professionals were protesting against the lack of protective gear in hospitals as the country dealt with the coronavirus pandemic. YDA and police were engaged in clashes during the demonstration as the former pressed for their right to personal protective equipment. Following the trouble, security personnel dragged the medical officers and arrested them. Almost 100 doctors spent the night in jail despite orders for their release. Initial talks between the doctors and provincial ministers failed as doctors demanded stern action against those involved in the incident. Upon successful negotiations with the government, YDA announced ending their strike and vowed to resume duties at hospitals across the province. The decision was taken after provincial ministers assured the protesting doctors that all their concerns would be addressed soon. YDA President Dr Yasir Achakzai maintained that the protesting doctors were raising legitimate demands, but failed to get attention of the authorities concerned. He complained that the frontline soldiers who were fighting against the coronavirus were not being provided facilities which was also putting the lives of their families at risk. He noted everyone has the right to raise their voice in democracies. The tragic incident should not have happened in the first place, he said, adding that Chief Minister Jam Kamal Khan took notice of the situation at the right time to prevent the situation from deteriorating any further. Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2020.
2 May 05:25 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2211969/1-tally-doctors-catching-coronavirus-tops-59-balochistan/Rating: 1.80
The Latest: Pelosi and McConnell decline COVID-19 tests
The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. TOP OF THE HOUR: - British death toll from coronavirus surpasses 28,000. - Italy’s death toll from the coronavirus continues decline. - Spaniards flock to exercise after 7-week lockdown. WASHINGTON - The top Republican and Democrat in Congress say they are respectfully declining an offer of quick COVID-19 tests offered by President Donald Trump’s administration. Limited testing for lawmakers has become an issue in decisions about when they should return to Washington. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar had tweeted Friday that three rapid-testing machines and 1,000 tests were being sent for the Senate to use next week.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/the-latest-china-reports-1-new-virus-case-no-death/Rating: 0.79
Turkey's contact tracers race to contain coronavirus
ANKARA/ISTANBUL (Reuters) - Two medics in protective suits jumped out of a car in a deserted street in central Ankara and hurried inside a building - one carrying medical equipment and the other, paperwork. Some 15 minutes later, they sped off to their next appointment, one of nearly 6,000 teams deployed across Turkey to try to stem the coronavirus pandemic by tracking down the contacts of those found to have become infected. After recording some of the fastest growth in COVID-19 infections in the world, health officials say the outbreak in Turkey has hit a plateau around six weeks after the first case was confirmed. The death toll of 3,336 is lower than 12 other countries. The daily death toll has been on a downward trajectory for more than 10 days, with 78 deaths confirmed in the past 24 hours, according to health ministry data on Saturday. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca credits the country’s contact tracing efforts along with Turks’ largely voluntary adherence to lockdown measures, for the trend. In contrast to South Korea, which limited deaths to below 250 with the help of a contact-tracing app, Turkey has taken a more labour-intensive approach. Koca said on Wednesday around 5,800 teams of two or three medics had identified 468,390 people who have been in contact with coronavirus patients. He said around 99% of those had been reached and were regularly monitored by health officials. In the capital Ankara, a coordination centre oversees the field visits and follow-up calls by telephone. The two groups cooperate to identify, test and report cases across the city. “Since a household is on average four to five people, with the workplace added in, there have been cases where we tracked 200 people at once,” said Ayse Cigdem Simsek, the Ankara Provincial Health Directorate Deputy Chairwoman of Public Health Services. Under the system, the teams are tasked with telling contacts of a COVID-19 sufferers to stay at home for 14 days, even if they do not have symptoms. Other teams are then instructed to call them daily to ensure compliance and check on their health. If they report symptoms, they get another visit to give a sample for testing in hospital, Kerime Altunay, a public health doctor and coordinator of the remote monitoring team in Ankara, told Reuters. The system grew out of a method Turkey had been using for decades to contain previous outbreaks of measles and flu, Simsek told Reuters. But while testing was launched on the day the first case was confirmed, March 11, it took a while to roll out. Initially Ankara sent testing kits to the United States when it was short of them at home, but has since ramped up testing. Turkey, with a population of 83 million is now doing 30,000-40,000 tests a day, according to data from the Health Ministry. Schools were closed immediately and other measures, including the closure of non-essential shops and factories and compulsory lockdowns at weekends, were brought in stages. The lockdown has been stricter than South Korea but less stringent than some European countries like Spain or Italy. The head of the Turkish Medics Association (TTB), Sinan Adiyaman, said early in the outbreak that not enough tests were being done. The TTB has also questioned the death toll, as experts have done for other countries, and said it wants the government to include those who died with COVID-19 symptoms even if they have not tested positive. The government says it is following reporting standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO). The TTB was not available for comment. Irshad Shaikh, acting head of the WHO’s Turkey office, told Reuters the recent declining trend in new cases showed Turkey’s testing methodology was robust and that the numbers of tests were sufficient. He said contact tracing helped lessen the spread in Turkey by pinpointing the majority of people who came into contact with confirmed cases. Shaikh said Turkey conducts tests during autopsies on suspected cases who die outside of hospitals, and repeat tests on suspected cases that initially turn up negative, which would make the potential number of errors in reporting deaths very small. Koca said on Wednesday that the coronavirus outbreak was at its peak and would decline, and that contact tracing would continue to ensure it does not reignite. Mustafa Necmi Ilhan, head of the Public Health Department at Gazi University Medical School, said the initial speed of the outbreak in Turkey, which was similar to the worst affected countries such as Italy, prompted fears, but that contact tracing helped break the chain of infection. Turkey also says its distinctive practice of delaying transfer of patients to intensive care from other wards has helped limit the death toll by easing pressure on intensive care resources, such as medical gear and staff. Ankara has stressed the early use of high flow oxygen instead of intubation when respiratory difficulties appear, as well as early administration of hydroxychloroquine, an anti-malarial drug, before patients develop more severe symptoms. The government said this had lowered the death rate and shortened recovery times. Hydroxychloroquine, a decades-old generic medicine, has been touted by U.S. President Donald Trump and others as a “game changer” treatment for the highly contagious respiratory illness, and the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized its use in COVID-19 on an emergency basis. But there is not yet scientific proof that it works. There are currently no approved medicines or vaccines specifically for COVID-19. Last week the U.S. FDA cautioned against the use of hydroxychloroquine in COVID-19 patients, saying it could cause abnormal heart rhythms and dangerously rapid heart rate. Ilhan said the drug was administered carefully, in different doses depending on the age and health of the patient. While it may have side effects, none had appeared so far, he said.
2 May 18:14 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-turkey-tracing-idUSKBN22D4S8Rating: 4.04
U.S. hospitals promise new safety measures to ease patient fears after coronavirus crush
(Reuters) - U.S. hospitals, many past the peak coronavirus crush, are relying on plexiglass dividers, advance testing of patients and limited elevator traffic to convince people, especially those needing urgent care, that the facilities are safe. Hospitals put lucrative elective procedures and other nonessential operations on hold weeks ago as they geared up for the coronavirus onslaught. But fear of the highly contagious virus, which has killed over 63,000 people and infected more than one million in the United States, has kept even victims of serious health crises like stroke and appendicitis away from emergency rooms. “We have to convey to the public that we are safe ... and to defer medical care in urgent situations will cause more harm,” said Mark Solazzo, chief operating officer at Northwell Health, New York’s largest healthcare provider. In addition to urgent care, medical providers are beginning to tell patients they can come back for more routine care, and are spelling out new precautions they are taking in order to regain the public’s trust. Efforts put in place due to the pandemic - like screening people for symptoms of COVID-19 - the illness caused by the coronavirus - taking the temperature of everyone entering a healthcare facility, making people wear masks, and supplying disinfectant wipes, will continue. Hospitals will still rely heavily on “telemedicine” visits by video chat to help triage patients and determine whether they need to be seen. Patients are automatically tested for coronavirus infection before they are admitted for scheduled surgery or other inpatient procedures. Northwell and other hospital systems have launched marketing campaigns to explain how they are making visits safer. In an email sent to nearly 3 million New York area residents, Northwell reminds patients that visitors are not allowed at its hospitals, that all staff wear full protective gear, and that patients can wait in the parking lot and check in to appointments on their phone to avoid waiting room crowds. Plexiglass barriers are being used in reception areas to separate patients from office staff and the health system plans to share information about how facilities are being deep-cleaned. UCHealth, Colorado’s largest health system, is limiting elevator capacity, normally around a dozen people, to four at a time, and is asking them to maintain their distance, with one person in each corner. To avoid sharing pens, UCHealth urges patients to fill out their paperwork online ahead of a visit. U.S. hospitalization rates fell in March compared to February for a range of critical conditions, according to claims statistics from health insurer Cigna Corp. Downturns ranged from 11% for acute coronary syndromes such as heart attack, to over 30% for patients experiencing stroke or irregular heartbeat. For a stroke, getting to the hospital very quickly is critical to recovery chances. U.S. medical tests for detecting and monitoring cancer and other conditions fell by as much as 68% in mid-March through mid-April, according to a report from Komodo Health. Several recent stroke patients at Hoag Hospital in Newport Beach, California had delayed care for days after their first symptoms, citing fear of the virus, Dr. Michael Brant-Zawadzki, the hospital’s senior physician executive, told Reuters. One young man experienced weakness due to a rare lesion in his brain, but did not come to the hospital until he was paralyzed on one side. In another case, an elderly man had an acute stroke, but put off going to the hospital because he is in a high risk category for contracting the coronavirus. Both patients now have brain damage. Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles is emailing patients to assure them that people diagnosed with COVID-19 are kept separate from the general hospital population, that staff members are screened daily and that everyone is required to wear face masks. “We are encouraging people to seek urgent care. We still have the capacity,” said Dr. Richard Riggs, chief medical officer at Cedars-Sinai. Hospitals are redesigning waiting rooms to space out seating, which in some cases is being replaced with furniture made of easy-to-clean materials. “It is important that we don’t see ongoing delay of care. We worry about the escalation of chronic disease,” Dr. Robert Hart, chief medical officer at Ochsner Health, Louisiana’s largest hospital system, said in a phone briefing. Ochsner is determining how to reschedule surgeries put on hold during the crisis in order to avoid “doing more harm than good,” he said.
2 May 13:31 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-hospitals-idUSKBN22E0EPRating: 4.04
What will happen if Buhari relaxes lockdown – Medical doctors
The Nigeria Medical Association (NMA) has stated that the country may experience a surge in the number of infection of the coronavirus disease if President Muhammadu Buhari relaxes the ongoing lockdown in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun States. The medical body described the decision as premature, adding that it can potentially expose more Nigerians to the deadly COVID-19. President Buhari on Monday announced that by Monday, May 4, the lockdown will be relaxed in Abuja, Lagos and Ogun. But the NMA, in a statement in Abuja, signed by its President, Dr. Francis Faduyile, said, “As the incidence of the COVID-19 hits the 2000th mark by this weekend, just seven days after hitting the 1000th mark, it figuratively tilts the epidemiological curve towards an upward spike,” the statement said. Follow us on Facebook – @Lailasnews; Twitter – @LailaIjeoma for updates
2 May 12:46 • LailasNews.com • https://lailasnews.com/what-will-happen-if-buhari-relaxes-lockdown-medical-doctors/Rating: 1.27
Gary Neville claims Premier League are ‘frightened’ to back season restart
3 May 12:39
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Gary Neville claims Premier League are ‘frightened’ to back season restart
Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly “We have to Re-Start”. I’d respect them more if they said “We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take”. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. “The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. “No decisions were taken at today’s shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding ‘Project Restart’.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal” amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 12:39 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/sport/uk-sport/2020/05/03/gary-neville-claims-premier-league-are-frightened-to-back-season-restart/Rating: 0.38
Gary Neville says Premier League clubs ‘frightened to death’ about speaking out on season’s restart
Gary Neville has accused Premier League clubs of being “frightened to death” to publicly back the plan to restart the season. Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the coronavirus pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a [coronavirus] nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly ‘We have to Re-Start’. “I’d respect them more if they said ‘We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. Despite Neville’s out-spoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. “I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so Premier League football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the ‘new normal’ might look for a lot of working environments,” Parish wrote. “Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. “In my view a story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?” Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman.
3 May 14:28 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960936/gary-neville-says-premier-league-clubs-frightened-to-death-about-speaking-out-on-seasons-restartRating: 0.30
Neville claims Premier League clubs 'frightened' to publicly back restart
Gary Neville has accused Premier League clubs of being "frightened to death" to publicly back the plan to restart the season. Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly 'We have to Re-Start'. "I'd respect them more if they said 'We accept the increase in Health Risk but it's one we are willing to take'. They won't as they are frightened to death!" When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame." Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club's official website on Saturday. Despite Neville's out-spoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. "I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so Premier League football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the 'new normal' might look for a lot of working environments," Parish wrote. "Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. "In my view a story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?" Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman.
3 May 12:56 • Sport • https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/EnglishPremiership/neville-claims-premier-league-clubs-frightened-to-publicly-back-restart-20200503Rating: 0.63
Neville claims EPL clubs ‘frightened’ to publicly back restart
Gary Neville has accused English Premier League clubs of being “frightened to death” to publicly back the plan to restart the season. EPL stakeholders met on Friday (May 1) to discuss how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and, while the EPL has apparently earmarked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly ‘We have to Re-Start’. “I’d respect them more if they said ‘We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton and Hove Albion as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. Despite Neville’s outspoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. “I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so EPL football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the ‘new normal’ might look for a lot of working environments,” Parish wrote. “Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. “A story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. “It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?” Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman. – AFP
3 May 19:42 • thenewpaper • https://www.tnp.sg/sports/football/neville-claims-epl-clubs-frightened-publicly-back-restartRating: 0.49
Premier League, clubs ‘scared’ to publicly back restart — Ex-Manchester United player
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter The Premier League in England and its clubs are “frightened to death” about publicly backing the resumption of the season, television pundit Gary Neville said on Sunday. Neville said this was because they do not want to be held liable if someone dies because of the coronavirus. Professional football has been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic, which has infected over 182,000 people in the United Kingdom, killing more than 28,000. The 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday in which they looked at plans for a resumption of training this month. But they deferred making a decision on resuming the season until the government gave the go-ahead. The government had originally set May 7 as the day it would review lockdown restrictions. “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting health first but then brief constantly ‘We have to re-start’,” Neville wrote on Twitter. “I’d respect them more if they said, ‘We accept the increase in health risk, but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t, as they are frightened to death!” When a Twitter user asked him what would happen if they restarted the season and someone died, Neville said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO, Chairman, owner or executive open his mouth to back the re-start. “Scared to death of the liability and blame.” The clubs have reviewed plans for resuming training, which will initially be restricted to small groups of players with no use of indoor facilities. Some clubs started individual sessions for players at their training grounds last week. Neville said although he understands the complexities of a return to action, it was “depressing” to see the league and clubs not communicating their plans. “It would be good for them (the Premier League) to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included,” the former Manchester United and England defender added when it was suggested to him that the league has press briefings. “They are bottling this virus on comms (communications). Very happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” Reuters/NAN. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Yes, add me to your mailing list
3 May 17:08 • The Eagle Online • https://theeagleonline.com.ng/premier-league-clubs-scared-to-publicly-back-restart-ex-manchester-united-player/Rating: 0.39
Neville claims Premier League clubs ‘frightened’ to publicly back restart
Gary Neville says Premier League clubs are scared to publicly back a return to action . AFP/File/Glyn KIRK Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly ‘We have to Re-Start’. “I’d respect them more if they said ‘We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. Despite Neville’s out-spoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. “I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so Premier League football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the ‘new normal’ might look for a lot of working environments,” Parish wrote. “Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. “In my view a story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?” Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman.
3 May 11:39 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/sport/2278052/neville-claims-premier-league-clubs-frightened-to-publicly-back-restart/Rating: 1.26
‘Premier League, clubs scared to publicly back restart’: Gary Neville
The Premier League and its clubs are “frightened to death” about publicly backing the resumption of the season as they do not want to be held liable if someone dies because of the coronavirus, television pundit Gary Neville said on Sunday. Professional football has been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19pandemic which has infected over 182,000 people in the United Kingdom, killing more than 28,000. The 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday in which they looked at plans for a resumption of training this month but deferred making a decision on resuming the season until the government gave the go-ahead. The government had originally set May 7 as the day it would review lockdown restrictions. “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting health first but then brief constantly ‘We have to re-start’,” Neville wrote on Twitter here “I’d respect them more if they said, ‘We accept the increase in health risk but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When a Twitter user asked him what would happen if they restarted the season and someone died, Neville said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO, Chairman, Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start. “Scared to death of the liability and blame.” The clubs have reviewed plans for resuming training which will initially be restricted to small groups of players with no use of indoor facilities. Some clubs started individual sessions for players at their training grounds last week. Neville said that although he understands the complexities of a return to action, it was “depressing” to see the league and clubs not communicating their plans. “It would be good for them (the Premier League) to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included,” the former Manchester United and England defender added when it was suggested to him that the league has press briefings. “They are bottling this virus on comms (communications). Very happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.”
3 May 12:36 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/premier-league-clubs-scared-back-restart-gary-neville-6391965/Rating: 0.30
Soccer-Premier League, clubs 'scared' to publicly back restart, says Neville
The Premier League and its clubs are "frightened to death" about publicly backing the resumption of the season as they do not want to be held liable if someone dies because of the coronavirus, television pundit Gary Neville said on Sunday. Professional soccer has been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 182,000 people in the United Kingdom, killing more than 28,000. The 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday in which they looked at plans for a resumption of training this month but deferred making a decision on resuming the season until the government gave the go-ahead. The government had originally set May 7 as the day it would review lockdown restrictions. "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting health first but then brief constantly 'We have to re-start'," Neville wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1256847011933978624. "I'd respect them more if they said, 'We accept the increase in health risk but it's one we are willing to take'. They won't as they are frightened to death!" When a Twitter user asked him what would happen if they restarted the season and someone died, Neville said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO, Chairman, Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start. "Scared to death of the liability and blame." The clubs have reviewed plans for resuming training which will initially be restricted to small groups of players with no use of indoor facilities. Some clubs started individual sessions for players at their training grounds last week. Neville said that although he understands the complexities of a return to action, it was "depressing" to see the league and clubs not communicating their plans. "It would be good for them (the Premier League) to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included," the former Manchester United and England defender added when it was suggested to him that the league has press briefings. "They are bottling this virus on comms (communications). Very happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though."
3 May 18:11 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/soccer-premier-league-clubs-scared-to-publicly-back-restart-says-neville-833069.htmlRating: 2.25
Premier League, clubs 'scared' to publicly back restart, says Neville
The Premier League and its clubs are "frightened to death" about publicly backing the resumption of the season as they do not want to be held liable if someone dies because of the coronavirus, television pundit Gary Neville said on Sunday. REUTERS: The Premier League and its clubs are "frightened to death" about publicly backing the resumption of the season as they do not want to be held liable if someone dies because of the coronavirus, television pundit Gary Neville said on Sunday. Professional soccer has been suspended since mid-March due to the COVID-19 pandemic which has infected over 182,000 people in the United Kingdom, killing more than 28,000. The 20 Premier League clubs held a conference call on Friday in which they looked at plans for a resumption of training this month but deferred making a decision on resuming the season until the government gave the go-ahead. The government had originally set May 7 as the day it would review lockdown restrictions. "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting health first but then brief constantly 'We have to re-start'," Neville wrote on Twitter https://twitter.com/GNev2/status/1256847011933978624. "I'd respect them more if they said, 'We accept the increase in health risk but it's one we are willing to take'. They won't as they are frightened to death!" When a Twitter user asked him what would happen if they restarted the season and someone died, Neville said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO, Chairman, Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start. "Scared to death of the liability and blame." The clubs have reviewed plans for resuming training which will initially be restricted to small groups of players with no use of indoor facilities. Some clubs started individual sessions for players at their training grounds last week. Neville said that although he understands the complexities of a return to action, it was "depressing" to see the league and clubs not communicating their plans. "It would be good for them (the Premier League) to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included," the former Manchester United and England defender added when it was suggested to him that the league has press briefings. "They are bottling this virus on comms (communications). Very happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." (Reporting by Rohith Nair in Bengaluru, editing by Ed Osmond)
3 May 19:20 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/premier-league--clubs--scared--to-publicly-back-restart--says-neville-12698130Rating: 3.25
Gary Neville: 'Premier League having a nightmare over restart'
The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being "frightened to death" to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly "We have to Re-Start". I'd respect them more if they said "We accept the increase in Health Risk but it's one we are willing to take". They won't as they are frightened to death!" When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame." Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: "The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. "The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. "No decisions were taken at today's shareholders' meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding 'Project Restart'." Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club's official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation's mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a "new normal" amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: "Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it's depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens." ID:398277:
3 May 10:49 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/news/gary-neville-premier-league-having-a-nightmare-over-restart_398277.htmlRating: 0.38
Neville hits out at Premier League for being 'frightened' to back season restart
GARY NEVILLE HAS criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked 8 June as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly “We have to Re-Start”. I’d respect them more if they said “We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take”. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. “The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. “No decisions were taken at today’s shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding ‘Project Restart’.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal” amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 09:51 • The42 • https://www.the42.ie/neville-hits-out-at-premier-league-for-being-frightened-to-back-season-restart-5090703-May2020/Rating: 0.30
'Bottling it': Gary Neville says Premier League is failing to give lead on return
Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked 8 June as the best time to return following the coronavirus suspension. Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations, writing on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting health first but then brief constantly ‘We have to restart’. I’d respect them more if they said, ‘We accept the increase in health risk but it’s one we are willing to take.’ They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO/chairman/owner or executive open his mouth to back the restart! Brief, brief, brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League said on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement said: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and their chief executive, Paul Barber, expressed opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s website on Saturday. The West Ham vice-chair, Karren Brady, revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and the Crystal Palace chairman, Steve Parish, made the case for returning to action in the Sunday Times. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal”. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve, I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 09:33 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/03/gary-neville-accuses-premier-league-of-failing-to-give-lead-on-return-to-actionRating: 5.39
Gary Neville claims Premier League and clubs 'frightened' to back plan to restart season
Gary Neville has slammed the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action during the coronavirus pandemic. The former Manchester United and England star accused them of being "frightened to death" to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter : "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly "We have to Re-Start". I'd respect them more if they said "We accept the increase in Health Risk but it's one we are willing to take". They won't as they are frightened to death!" When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame." Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: "The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. "The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. "No decisions were taken at today's shareholders' meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding 'Project Restart'." Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club's official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation's mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a "new normal" amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: "Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it's depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens."
3 May 09:38 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/gary-neville-claims-premier-league-21966056Rating: 2.39
Gary Neville claims Premier League are ‘frightened’ to back season restart
Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly “We have to Re-Start”. I’d respect them more if they said “We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take”. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. “The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. “No decisions were taken at today’s shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding ‘Project Restart’.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal” amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 08:57 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/gary-neville-claims-premier-league-are-frightened-to-back-season-restart/Rating: 0.30
Gary Neville claims Premier League are ‘frightened’ to back season restart
Neville has urged more clubs to speak out about Project Restart instead of briefing. Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly “We have to Re-Start”. I’d respect them more if they said “We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take”. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. “The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. “No decisions were taken at today’s shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding ‘Project Restart’.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal” amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 08:57 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/gary-neville-claims-premier-league-are-frightened-to-back-season-restart/Rating: 0.30
Gary Neville claims Premier League are ‘frightened’ to back season restart
Gary Neville has criticised the Premier League and its clubs for failing to make the case for a return to action. The former Manchester United and England defender accused them of being “frightened to death” to publicly back plans to restart the season for fear of being held liable should something go wrong. Premier League clubs met on Friday to reaffirm their commitment to resuming the campaign and are understood to have earmarked June 8 as a best-case scenario to return following the coronavirus suspension. But Neville feels there has been too much anonymous briefing and not enough public declarations. Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly “We have to Re-Start”. I’d respect them more if they said “We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take”. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” The Premier League announced on Friday that clubs had again confirmed their commitment to finishing the season. A statement added: “The League and clubs are considering the first tentative moves forward and will only return to training and playing with Government guidance, under expert medical advice and after consultation with players and managers. “The League welcomed the creation of the Government medical working group for a return of elite sport, which met for the first time this morning. “No decisions were taken at today’s shareholders’ meeting and clubs exchanged views on the information provided regarding ‘Project Restart’.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. West Ham vice-chairman Karren Brady revealed more details about the plans in a newspaper column on Saturday and Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish made the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. Parish claimed the return of football, if considered appropriate, would be a boost to the taxpayer, lift the nation’s mental health and could help provide a blueprint for other industries to define a “new normal” amid the pandemic. Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman but reiterated his general point. The TV pundit wrote: “Steve I want football to return. I also understand the complexities. However it’s depressing that the PL and clubs seem to be in hiding, scared to death of communicating. No-one wants to be responsible for this one! Just in case the unthinkable happens.”
3 May 08:55 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/sport/soccer/gary-neville-claims-premier-league-are-frightened-to-back-season-restart-39176923.htmlRating: 1.21
Neville: PL clubs 'frightened' to publicly back restart
Gary Neville has accused Premier League clubs of being "frightened to death" to publicly back the plan to restart the season. Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: "The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly 'We have to Re-Start'. I'd respect them more if they said 'We accept the increase in Health Risk but it's one we are willing to take'. They won't as they are frightened to death!" When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: "That's why we haven't heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame." Main links Before making an exception for Brighton as the "only club willing to take a stand", Neville added: "It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though." Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club's official website on Saturday. Despite Neville's out-spoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. "I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so Premier League football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the 'new normal' might look for a lot of working environments," Parish wrote. "Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. In my view a story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?" Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman.
3 May 00:00 • BeSoccer • https://www.besoccer.com/new/neville-pl-clubs-frightened-to-publicly-back-restart-829565Rating: 1.07
‘Premier League clubs ‘frightened’ to publicly back restart’ – Gary Neville
LONDON (AFP) – Gary Neville has accused Premier League clubs of being “frightened to death” to publicly back the plan to restart the season. Premier League stakeholders met on Friday to debate how to finish the current campaign, with reports that some clubs want to abandon the season due to the pandemic and others are keen to play all remaining 92 fixtures. Former Manchester United defender Neville believes clubs do not want to be held liable should a player become ill with the coronavirus if the English season resumes. The French and Dutch seasons have been called off because of the health crisis and while the Premier League have apparently ear-marked a June return, that date is far from set in stone. Claiming there needs to be more public comment from clubs, Neville wrote on Twitter: “The PL are having a CV nightmare. They keep spouting Health First but then brief constantly ‘We have to Re-Start’. “I’d respect them more if they said ‘We accept the increase in Health Risk but it’s one we are willing to take’. They won’t as they are frightened to death!” When Neville was asked by a Twitter user what would happen if someone died as a result of the restart, he said: “That’s why we haven’t heard one single prominent CEO / Chairman / Owner or Executive open his mouth to back the re-start ! Brief / Brief / Brief ! Scared to death of the liability and blame.” Before making an exception for Brighton as the “only club willing to take a stand”, Neville added: “It would be good for them to speak at least once. Any of them! Clubs included. They are bottling this virus on comms. Very Happy to tell us when they are delivering food parcels though.” Brighton have held virtual press conferences during the shutdown and chief executive Paul Barber voiced opposition to the idea of finishing the season at neutral venues on his club’s official website on Saturday. Despite Neville’s out-spoken claims, Crystal Palace chairman Steve Parish did make the case for returning to action in a Sunday Times column. “I believe that just as Formula One is often the precursor to developments that become standard in general road vehicles, so Premier League football with its physical science, medical infrastructures and resources for looking after its people, can begin to define how the ‘new normal’ might look for a lot of working environments,” Parish wrote. “Not only that, in our country and beyond, people need to find ways to move forward mentally, to experience some small relief from the worries of this crisis. “In my view a story here and a conversation there about the game last night will not trivialise loss or suffering but offer a tiny respite from it for many people. It has the power to lighten lives; why not see if we can use that power again?” Neville later praised Parish for speaking out after being alerted to the article by the Palace chairman.
3 May 00:00 • The Zimbabwe Mail • https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/sports/premier-league-clubs-frightened-to-publicly-back-restart-gary-neville/Rating: 0.30
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
3 May 13:18
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17 articles
Weight: 3.88
Importance: 3.96
Age penalty: 0.98
Best date: 3 May 11:00
Average US: 15.131764705882354
Weighted average US: 13.117667048045082
Average GB: 0.7464705882352941
Weighted average GB: 0.877122782549676
Average IN: 3.8047058823529407
Weighted average IN: 4.896587438046602
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating for weeks in the Bay of Bengal have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, the chief local government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups said recently that hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. The United Nations, the British government and Human Rights Watch have recently urged Bangladesh to shelter all the refugees floating at sea, but the government had a lukewarm response, saying all other nations in the Bay of Bengal region should also share the responsibility of sheltering them. Bhasan Char was previously submerged by monsoon rains but Bangladesh’s government said in January that it was ready to house up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees from the crowded and squalid camps where they’ve lived for years in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh’s navy was involved with a multimillion-dollar project under which flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques have been built on the island. But no refugees have agreed so far to move to the island, and the U.N. and other international agencies did not show much optimism about the relocation to the newly built island. The U.N.’s refugee agency said Sunday that it was concerned about the refugees. “The U.N.’s long-standing position is that comprehensive technical and protection assessments to evaluate the safety and sustainability of life on Bhasan Char are essential before any relocations to the island take place. The U.N. has long been prepared to proceed with on-site assessment work,” Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, said in an e-mail. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the U.N. have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 13:18 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-bangladesh-island-2/Rating: 2.18
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
DHAKA, BANGLADESH -- At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating for weeks in the Bay of Bengal have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, the chief local government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh's Refugee Commissioner's office in Cox's Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups said recently that hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. The United Nations, the British government and Human Rights Watch have recently urged Bangladesh to shelter all the refugees floating at sea, but the government had a lukewarm response, saying all other nations in the Bay of Bengal region should also share the responsibility of sheltering them. Bhasan Char was previously submerged by monsoon rains but Bangladesh's government said in January that it was ready to house up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees from the crowded and squalid camps where they've lived for years in Cox's Bazar. Bangladesh's navy was involved with a multimillion-dollar project under which flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques have been built on the island. But no refugees have agreed so far to move to the island, and the UN and other international agencies did not show much optimism about the relocation to the newly built island. The UN's refugee agency said Sunday that it was concerned about the refugees. "The UN's longstanding position is that comprehensive technical and protection assessments to evaluate the safety and sustainability of life on Bhasan Char are essential before any relocations to the island take place. The UN has long been prepared to proceed with onsite assessment work," Louise Donovan, a spokeswoman for the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, or UNHCR, said in an email. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the UN have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination.
3 May 12:15 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-bangladesh-island-1.4922686Rating: 2.87
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
DHAKA, Bangladesh — At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating in the Bay of Bengal for weeks have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, local chief government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups say hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the U.N. have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. Julhas Alam, The Associated Press
3 May 10:23 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-bangladesh-island/Rating: 0.77
Rohingya refugees relocated to controversial Bangladesh island after weeks at sea
Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh officials said Sunday. Bangladesh last year constructed facilities for 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, saying they needed to take pressure off crowded border camps that are home to almost one million Rohingya. The 28 Rohingya were taken to the island late Saturday instead of the camps as authorities were afraid they might be infected with the coronavirus, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told AFP. "Most likely they will stay there until they return to Myanmar." They are the first group of Rohingya to be sent to the island, local government administrator Tanmoy Das told AFP, adding they were being looked after by navy personnel who had built the facilities. Officials said the group -- including 15 women and five children -- were detained after coming ashore on Saturday from one of two boats suck at sea while trying to reach Malaysia. Some 250 other refugees who also left the boat in six or seven dinghies have not been found, he added. Bangladesh had refused to let the two trawlers carrying about 500 people land on its territory despite UN calls to allow them in as a powerful storm bears down on the region. So far, no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the sprawling camps in Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar that house Rohingya who fled a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The plan to move the refugees to Bhashan Char has been staunchly opposed by the Rohingya community. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said Sunday that comprehensive assessments were needed before anyone is moved to the island, spokeswoman Louise Donovan told AFP. "UNHCR has all preparations in place to ensure the safe quarantine of any refugees arriving by boat to Cox's Bazar, as a precautionary measure related to the COVID-19 pandemic," she added. Human Rights Watch South Asia chief Meenakshi Ganguly said the relocation would place the refugees "at further risk after the suffering that they have already endured". In mid-April, 396 starving refugees were rescued from a trawler stranded in the Bay of Bengal for more than two months. At least 60 people died on the boat. The survivors were moved to transit centres near the border camps where they were quarantined. Thousands of Rohingya try every year to reach other countries, making the perilous journey on crowded, rickety boats.
3 May 15:21 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/rohingya-refugees-relocated-controversial-bangladesh-island-weeks-sea-152116893.htmlRating: 0.30
Rohingya refugees relocated to controversial Bangladesh island after weeks at sea
Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh officials said Sunday. Bangladesh last year constructed facilities for 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, saying they needed to take pressure off crowded border camps that are home to almost one million Rohingya. The 28 Rohingya were taken to the island late Saturday instead of the camps as authorities were afraid they might be infected with the coronavirus, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told AFP. “Most likely they will stay there until they return to Myanmar.” They are the first group of Rohingya to be sent to the island, local government administrator Tanmoy Das told AFP, adding they were being looked after by navy personnel who had built the facilities. Officials said the group — including 15 women and five children — were detained after coming ashore on Saturday from one of two boats suck at sea while trying to reach Malaysia. Some 250 other refugees who also left the boat in six or seven dinghies have not been found, he added. Bangladesh had refused to let the two trawlers carrying about 500 people land on its territory despite UN calls to allow them in as a powerful storm bears down on the region. So far, no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the sprawling camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar that house Rohingya who fled a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The plan to move the refugees to Bhashan Char has been staunchly opposed by the Rohingya community. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said Sunday that comprehensive assessments were needed before anyone is moved to the island, spokeswoman Louise Donovan told AFP. “UNHCR has all preparations in place to ensure the safe quarantine of any refugees arriving by boat to Cox’s Bazar, as a precautionary measure related to the COVID-19 pandemic,” she added. Human Rights Watch South Asia chief Meenakshi Ganguly said the relocation would place the refugees “at further risk after the suffering that they have already endured”. In mid-April, 396 starving refugees were rescued from a trawler stranded in the Bay of Bengal for more than two months. At least 60 people died on the boat. The survivors were moved to transit centres near the border camps where they were quarantined. Thousands of Rohingya try every year to reach other countries, making the perilous journey on crowded, rickety boats.
3 May 15:54 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/rohingya-refugees-relocated-to-controversial-bangladesh-island-after-weeks-at-sea/Rating: 0.30
Rohingya refugees relocated to controversial Bangladesh island after weeks at sea
DHAKA, May 3 — Dozens of Rohingya refugees stranded at sea for weeks have been relocated to a controversial flood-prone island in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh officials said today. Bangladesh last year constructed facilities for 100,000 people on Bhashan Char, a muddy silt islet in the cyclone-prone coastal belt, saying they needed to take pressure off crowded border camps that are home to almost one million Rohingya. The 28 Rohingya were taken to the island late yesterday instead of the camps as authorities were afraid they might be infected with the coronavirus, Foreign Minister A.K. Abdul Momen told AFP. “Most likely they will stay there until they return to Myanmar.” They are the first group of Rohingya to be sent to the island, local government administrator Tanmoy Das told AFP, adding they were being looked after by navy personnel who had built the facilities. Officials said the group—including 15 women and five children—were detained after coming ashore yesterrday from one of two boats suck at sea while trying to reach Malaysia. Some 250 other refugees who also left the boat in six or seven dinghies have not been found, he added. Bangladesh had refused to let the two trawlers carrying about 500 people land on its territory despite UN calls to allow them in as a powerful storm bears down on the region. So far, no coronavirus cases have been confirmed in the sprawling camps in Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar that house Rohingya who fled a 2017 military crackdown in neighbouring Myanmar. The plan to move the refugees to Bhashan Char has been staunchly opposed by the Rohingya community. The UN refugee agency UNHCR said today that comprehensive assessments were needed before anyone is moved to the island, spokeswoman Louise Donovan told AFP. “UNHCR has all preparations in place to ensure the safe quarantine of any refugees arriving by boat to Cox’s Bazar, as a precautionary measure related to the Covid-19 pandemic,” she added. Human Rights Watch South Asia chief Meenakshi Ganguly said the relocation would place the refugees “at further risk after the suffering that they have already endured”. In mid-April, 396 starving refugees were rescued from a trawler stranded in the Bay of Bengal for more than two months. At least 60 people died on the boat. The survivors were moved to transit centres near the border camps where they were quarantined. Thousands of Rohingya try every year to reach other countries, making the perilous journey on crowded, rickety boats. — AFP
3 May 15:48 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/rohingya-refugees-relocated-to-controversial-bangladesh-island-after-weeks/1862707Rating: 1.42
Rohingya refugees floating at sea for weeks land on Bangladesh island
At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating in the Bay of Bengal for weeks have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, local chief government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups say hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the U.N. have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh.
3 May 09:52 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-for-weeks-land-on-bangladesh-island/story-cfzFb8BZykBNtUXG9LZJMM.htmlRating: 0.30
Dozens of Rohingya from stranded boat land in southern Bangladesh
DHAKA: Dozens of Rohingya believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea landed on the coast of southern Bangladesh on Saturday (May 2), an official said, as concerns grew over hundreds stranded for weeks on trawlers because of coronavirus restrictions. “A small boat carrying 43 people came to shore today,” the government official said, declining to be named because they were not authorised to speak to media. Some of the arrivals were sent to Bhasan Char, a remote island off the coast where authorities previously planned to house Rohingya, the official said. Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project monitoring group, said the group that landed on Saturday had likely come on a small boat from one the larger vessels still at sea, believed to be carrying hundreds of people. Hundreds of Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, are stranded on at least two trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus. Another boat, carrying hundreds of Rohingya who were starving and emaciated after weeks at sea, landed in Bangladesh in mid-April. Survivors said several dozen died on board. The United Nations has urged authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea.
3 May 11:26 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/dozens-of-rohingya-from-stranded-boat-land-in-southern-12697694Rating: 3.25
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
DHAKA, Bangladesh — At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating in the Bay of Bengal for weeks have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, local chief government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups say hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the U.N. have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. Julhas Alam, The Associated Press
3 May 09:23 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-bangladesh-island/Rating: 0.61
Dozens of stranded Rohingya refugees land in Bangladesh
Dozens of Rohingya believed to be from one of several boats floating in the Bay of Bengal for weeks have landed on the coast of southern Bangladesh, according to officials, as fears grow over hundreds of people stuck at sea on vessels because of coronavirus restrictions. Security officials quoted by news agencies said on Sunday that a small boat carrying about 40 people, including "starving" women and children, had come ashore the previous day. Local people tipped off the coastguard and 29 people were arrested and about 10 fled, police and security officials said. Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project monitoring group, said the group that landed on Saturday had likely come on a small boat from one of the larger vessels still at sea, believed to be carrying hundreds of people. The two trawlers - carrying an estimated 500 Rohingya women, men and children - were stuck in the Bay of Bengal after being rejected by Malaysia, which has imposed restrictions on all boats in light of the coronavirus pandemic. Bangladesh has refused to let the fishing boats land on its territory despite United Nations calls to allow them in as a powerful storm bears down on the region. Shobbir Ahmed, a Rohingya at one of the refugee camps in southeast Bangladesh's Cox's Bazar told AFP news agency that two of his daughters who had been on the stranded boats were among those who landed on Saturday. He said the women, aged 19 and 17, had boarded a trawler two months ago trying to get to Malaysia. Ahmed said he paid a Rohingya intermediary about $2,230 for them to make the trip. Rohingya refugees walk to the shore with his belongings after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal in Teknaf, Bangladesh [File: Mohammad Ponir Hossain/Reuters] Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rescued Rohingya would be sent to the island of Bhashan Char in the Bay of Bengal where Bangladesh has built shelters for some 100,000 refugees. The proposed relocation to the island in the cyclone-prone coastal belt has drawn criticism from rights groups and sparked protests by the Rohingya. There are about one million Rohingya in camps in Bangladesh, the majority of whom fled a brutal military crackdown in Myanmar in 2017. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said last month that the country would not allow the Rohingya boats into its territory. His declaration came after more than 60 Rohingya died on a boat that waited at sea for two months before it could dock. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea.
3 May 11:00 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/dozens-stranded-rohingya-refugees-land-bangladesh-200503095818980.htmlRating: 2.44
29 Rohingyas sheltered in Bhashan Char
At least 29 Rohingyas, who had been in one of the two boats floating on the Indian Ocean, were sheltered at the Bhashan Char after they reached the shore of Teknaf early Saturday. "The 29 Rohingyas were taken to Bhashan Char under the supervision of the Navy," Mahbub Alam Talukder, Refugee Relief and Repatriation Commissioner (RRRC), told The Daily Star yesterday. Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said the Rohingyas took small boats and swam to the coast of Teknaf. Some of them even fled when locals were rescuing them, he said. A Rohingya broker said an international NGO gave them between Tk 90,000 and Tk 1 lakh for transporting the Rohingyas to Malaysia. As Malaysia denied to receive those Rohingyas the NGO again asked the brokers to get them back to Bangladesh, Momen said. "The broker did not name the NGO." They were then taken to Bhashan Char, an island in Noakhali. Bangladesh Navy has built a housing facility of 120 cluster villages on the 40sqkm island under a Tk 2,312 crore project for accommodating one lakh of the nearly 1 million Rohingyas sheltered at cramped camps in Cox's Bazar. However, the authorities were considering shelving the relocation plan after the UN and other aid agencies opposed the plan, saying there were risks of flood and cyclones and also that it did not have facilities for accommodating the aid agency officials. The foreign minister yesterday said the government did not want to "pollute" the Rohingya camps during coronavirus pandemic by sheltering new members there. Therefore, the rescued Rohigyas were taken to Bhashan Char. "Any new Rohingyas, if there are, will be sheltered at the Bhashan Char," he told The Daily Star. Earlier on April 16, some 400 Rohingyas were rescued by Bangladesh authorities. They were, however, quarantined in the Rohingya camp healthcare facilities. Rights bodies then said there were two boats carrying about 500 Rohingyas drifting in the sea as Malaysia and Thailand refused their entry to their territories. The UN and many other global and regional rights bodies then called for Bangladesh to rescue and shelter the Rohingyas. Momen had then requested the UN and rights bodies to ask the other regional countries to rescue and shelter the Rohingyas. Momen also wrote a letter to the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Michelle Bachelet citing the international law that surrounding countries of the Bay of Bengal and the Andaman Sea have a role to share the responsibility of helping the distressed people in the deep sea. He said so far there is information that the two boats were in the Myanmar territory of the Bay of Bengal, and that the UN should tell Myanmar to rescue and shelter the Rohingyas. On Saturday, European Union in a statement asked the regional countries to rescue and shelter the drifting Rohingyas on the Indian Ocean, following the example of Bangladesh that has been sheltering more than a million Rohingyas.
3 May 18:00 • The Daily Star • https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/29-rohingyas-sheltered-bhashan-char-1899223Rating: 2.11
Trump says up to 100,000 Americans may die from coronavirus
DHAKA: A group of Rohingya became the first refugees to be sent to the Bangladeshi island of Bhasan Char on Sunday after being rescued from the Bay of Bengal. Bangladesh has spent around $300 million to make the island habitable for 100,000 Rohingya in a bid to decongest overcrowded camps in Cox's Bazar, with a total of 120 cluster villages to accommodate refugees fleeing persecution. Most fled from Myanmar’s northern Rakhine State following a brutal military crackdown. Police Superintendent Mohammad Alamgir Hossain told Arab News that a group of 29 Rohingya were ferried to Bhasan Char at around 2.30 a.m, but said there were no further details about them as the island was still under naval supervision. Foreign Minister Dr. A.K. Abdul Momen said the refugees had been brought to Bangladesh on small boats after locals informed the coast guard that they had seen them floating at sea. “The rescued Rohingya were sent to Bhasan Char,” Momen told Arab News. “We rescued them only on humanitarian grounds. We don't want a single more Rohingya. Instead of putting Bangladesh under pressure, the international community should create more pressure on Myanmar to create favorable living conditions for them in their own land.” He added that UN authorities “should look after” the well-being of the refugees who had been moved to Bhasan Char, and that Bangladesh would discuss the matter with them. The UN’s refugee agency (UNHCR) had no official information of the whereabouts of the rescued Rohingya as of Sunday afternoon, according to its Cox’s Bazaar spokesperson Louise Donovan. “We are seeking further information from the relevant authorities at this time, following reports that a group of newly arrived refugees may be transferred to Bhasan Char,” she told Arab News. Each Bhasan Char house has concrete rooms measuring 2m x 2.5m, with small windows and a toilet, for 11 people. The current ratio in Cox’s Bazar camps stands at 1:22, and there are around 1.5 million refugees living there. A plan to relocate the first batch of Rohingya was postponed last November after the UN raised questions about the safety measures and living conditions on the island. Bhasan Char is located in the Bay of Bengal and was formed with Himalayan silt in 2006. Several international rights organizations urged Bangladesh not to relocate the Rohingya to the island due to it being in an area prone to cyclones. There are 120 cyclone shelters that have been built 4ft above ground, and these will be used as hospitals, schools, and community centers throughout the year. “The UN’s long-standing position is that comprehensive technical and protection assessments to evaluate the safety and sustainability of life on Bhasan Char are essential before any relocations to the island take place. The UN has long been prepared to proceed with onsite assessment work,” Donovan said. Momen said the island was a “safe place” and that even “resorts can be built there to attract tourists” in the future. Buddhist-majority Myanmar considers the Rohingya to be “Bengalis” from Bangladesh even though their families have lived in the country for generations. Nearly all of them have been denied citizenship for decades, and they are also denied freedom of movement and other basic rights.
3 May 11:37 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668971/worldRating: 1.72
Dozens of Rohingyas from stranded boat land in southern Bangladesh: official
Dozens of Rohingya believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea landed on the coast of southern Bangladesh on Saturday, an official said, as concerns grew over hundreds stranded for weeks on trawlers because of coronavirus restrictions. “A small boat carrying 43 people came to shore today,” the government official said, declining to be named because they were not authorised to speak to media. Some of the arrivals were sent to Bhasan Char, a remote island off the coast where authorities previously planned to house Rohingya, the official said. Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project monitoring group, said the group that landed on Saturday had likely come on a small boat from one the larger vessels still at sea, believed to be carrying hundreds of people. Hundreds of Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, are stranded on at least two trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus. Another boat, carrying hundreds of Rohingya who were starving and emaciated after weeks at sea, landed in Bangladesh in mid-April. Survivors said several dozen died on board. The United Nations has urged authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea.
3 May 08:29 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/03/dozens-of-rohingyas-from-stranded-boat-land-in-southern-bangladesh-officialRating: 2.85
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) — At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating for weeks in the Bay of Bengal have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, the chief local government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups said recently that hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. The United Nations, the British government and Human Rights Watch have recently urged Bangladesh to shelter all the refugees floating at sea, but the government had a lukewarm response, saying all other nations in the Bay of Bengal region should also share the responsibility of sheltering them. Advertising Bhasan Char was previously submerged by monsoon rains but Bangladesh’s government said in January that it was ready to house up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees from the crowded and squalid camps where they’ve lived for years in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh’s navy was involved with a multimillion-dollar project under which flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques have been built on the island. But no refugees have agreed so far to move to the island, and the U.N. and other international agencies did not show much optimism about the relocation to the newly built island. More than 700,000 Rohingya Muslims came to Bangladesh starting in August 2017, when the military in Buddhist-majority Myanmar began a harsh crackdown against them in response to an attack by insurgents. Global rights groups and the U.N. have called the campaign ethnic cleansing involving rapes, killings and torching of thousands of homes. Currently more than 1 million Rohingya live in Bangladesh. The Rohingya are not recognized as citizens in Myanmar, rendering them stateless, and face other forms of state-sanctioned discrimination. JULHAS ALAM
3 May 02:22 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-bangladesh-island/Rating: 0.74
Rohingya refugees floating at sea land on Bangladesh island
DHAKA, Bangladesh (AP) - At least 29 Rohingya refugees from a fishing boat floating for weeks in the Bay of Bengal have landed on an island in southern Bangladesh, officials said Sunday. The refugees, including 15 women and six children, landed on Bhasan Char island on Saturday and are believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea, said Tonmoy Das, the chief local government official in Noakhali district. Das said food, doctors and a team of 10 policemen were sent to the island to take care of the refugees. An official from Bangladesh’s Refugee Commissioner’s office in Cox’s Bazar district said the office was aware of the development. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to speak to the media. Rights groups said recently that hundreds of Rohingya are stranded on at least two fishing trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia. The refugees reportedly attempted to illegally reach Malaysia, but failed because of strict patrols to keep out the coronavirus. The United Nations, the British government and Human Rights Watch have recently urged Bangladesh to shelter all the refugees floating at sea, but the government had a lukewarm response, saying all other nations in the Bay of Bengal region should also share the responsibility of sheltering them. Bhasan Char was previously submerged by monsoon rains but Bangladesh’s government said in January that it was ready to house up to 100,000 Rohingya refugees from the crowded and squalid camps where they’ve lived for years in Cox’s Bazar. Bangladesh’s navy was involved with a multimillion-dollar project under which flood protection embankments, houses, hospitals and mosques have been built on the island. But no refugees have agreed so far to move to the island, and the U.N. and other international agencies did not show much optimism about the relocation to the newly built island.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/rohingya-refugees-floating-at-sea-land-on-banglade/Rating: 0.79
'Stranded' Rohingyas land on Bangladesh coast
COX'S BAZAR: Dozens of Rohingya refugees believed to have come from two boats stranded at sea for weeks as they tried to reach Malaysia landed on the Bangladesh coast on Saturday, Rohingya community leaders said. Bangladesh has refused to let the two trawlers carrying about 500 people land on its territory despite UN calls to allow them in as a powerful storm bears down on the region. Security officials said a small boat carrying about 40 people, including “starving” women and children, had come ashore. Local people tipped off the coast guard and 29 people were detained and about 10 fled, police and security officials said. Bangladesh officials would not confirm the Rohingya were from the boats stranded at sea. But Mr Shobbir Ahmed, a Rohingya at one of the refugee camps in south-eastern Bangladesh’s Cox’s Bazar told AFP that two of his daughters who had been on the stranded boats were among those who landed Saturday. He said the women, aged 19 and 17, had boarded a trawler two months ago trying to get to Malaysia. Mr Ahmed said he paid a Rohingya intermediary about US$2,230 (S$3,156) for them to make the trip. Security officials, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the rescued Rohingya would be sent to the island of Bhashan Char in the Bay of Bengal where Bangladesh has built shelters for some 100,000 refugees. The proposed relocation to the island in the cyclone-prone coastal belt has drawn criticism from rights groups and sparked protests by the Rohingya. There are about one million Rohingya in camps in Bangladesh. Most fled a 2017 military crackdown in Myanmar and many favour going to Muslim-majority Malaysia where there are more work opportunities. Bangladesh Foreign Minister AK Abdul Momen said last month that Bangladesh would not allow the Rohingya boats into its territory. His declaration came after more than 60 Rohingya died on a boat that waited at sea for two months before it could land. UN human rights commissioner Michelle Bachelet has made an urgent plea to Bangladesh to change its stance. Thousands of refugees died in the Andaman Sea in 2015 on rickety fishing vessels that tried to reach Malaysia and Thailand.
2 May 17:43 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2212620/3-stranded-rohingyas-land-bangladesh-coast/Rating: 1.80
Dozens of Rohingya from stranded boat land in southern Bangladesh: official says
DHAKA (Reuters) - Dozens of Rohingya believed to be from one of several boats stuck at sea landed on the coast of southern Bangladesh on Saturday, an official said, as concerns grew over hundreds stranded for weeks on trawlers because of coronavirus restrictions. “A small boat carrying 43 people came to shore today,” the government official said, declining to be named because they were not authorized to speak to media. Some of the arrivals were sent to Bhasan Char, a remote island off the coast where authorities previously planned to house Rohingya, the official said. Chris Lewa, director of the Arakan Project monitoring group, said the group that landed on Saturday had likely come on a small boat from one the larger vessels still at sea, believed to be carrying hundreds of people. Hundreds of Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, are stranded on at least two trawlers between Bangladesh and Malaysia, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus. Another boat, carrying hundreds of Rohingya who were starving and emaciated after weeks at sea, landed in Bangladesh in mid-April. Survivors said several dozen died on board. The United Nations has urged authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea.
2 May 17:49 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-bangladesh-rohingya-idUSKBN22E0QDRating: 4.04
Pope says coronavirus vaccine must be shared worldwide
3 May 11:57
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Weight: 3.84
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Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:57
Average US: 8.871428571428572
Weighted average US: 9.45033207010932
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Weighted average IN: 23.807493619011407
Pope says coronavirus vaccine must be shared worldwide
VATICAN CITY (Reuters) - Pope Francis called on Sunday for international scientific cooperation to discover a vaccine for the coronavirus and said any successful vaccine should be made available around the world. Francis, who has been delivering his Sunday address from the papal library instead of St. Peter’s Square because of the lockdown in Italy, thanked all those around the world who were providing essential services. He encouraged international cooperation to deal with the crisis and combat the virus, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 people worldwide. “In fact, it is important to unite scientific capabilities, in a transparent and impartial way to find vaccines and treatments,” he said. Francis said it was also important to “guarantee universal access to essential technologies that allow each infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary medical treatment.” World leaders pledged in April to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the WHO was slow to react to the outbreak and was being “China-centric”, and as a consequence has announced a suspension of funding. The WHO has defended its handling of the crisis. A number of pharmaceutical companies around the world have developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. The Trump administration is planning to speed up development of a coronavirus vaccine with the goal of having 100 million doses ready by the end of 2020, according to a senior U.S. administration official. Most experts have suggested clinical trials to guarantee a vaccine is safe and effective could take a minimum of 12 to 18 months. On Sunday, the pope also backed a proposal by an inter-religious group known as the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity for an international day of prayer and fasting on May 14 to ask God to help humanity overcome the pandemic.
3 May 11:57 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-pope-vaccine-idUSKBN22F0GGRating: 4.04
Pope says COVID-19 vaccine must be shared worldwide
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called on Sunday (May 3) for international scientific cooperation to discover a vaccine for the coronavirus and said any successful vaccine should be made available around the world. Francis, who has been delivering his Sunday address from the papal library instead of St Peter's Square because of the lockdown in Italy, thanked all those around the world who were providing essential services. He encouraged international cooperation to deal with the crisis and combat the virus, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 people worldwide. "In fact, it is important to unite scientific capabilities, in a transparent and impartial way to find vaccines and treatments," he said. Francis said it was also important to "guarantee universal access to essential technologies that allow each infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary medical treatment". World leaders pledged in April to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. .S President Donald Trump has said the WHO was slow to react to the outbreak and was being "China-centric", and as a consequence has announced a suspension of funding. The WHO has defended its handling of the crisis. A number of pharmaceutical companies around the world have developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. The Trump administration is planning to speed up development of a coronavirus vaccine with the goal of having 100 million doses ready by the end of 2020, according to a senior US administration official. Most experts have suggested clinical trials to guarantee a vaccine is safe and effective could take a minimum of 12 to 18 months. On Sunday, the pope also backed a proposal by an inter-religious group known as the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity for an international day of prayer and fasting on May 14 to ask God to help humanity overcome the pandemic.
3 May 20:16 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/pope-says-covid-19-vaccine-must-be-shared-worldwide-12698140Rating: 3.25
Pope says coronavirus vaccine must be shared worldwide
VATICAN CITY: Pope Francis called on Sunday for international scientific cooperation to discover a vaccine for the coronavirus and said any successful vaccine should be made available around the world. Francis, who has been delivering his Sunday address from the papal library instead of St. Peter’s Square because of the lockdown in Italy, thanked all those around the world who were providing essential services. He encouraged international cooperation to deal with the crisis and combat the virus, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 people worldwide. “In fact, it is important to unite scientific capabilities, in a transparent and impartial way to find vaccines and treatments,” he said. Francis said it was also important to “guarantee universal access to essential technologies that allow each infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary medical treatment.” World leaders pledged in April to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against Covid-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organisation (WHO) initiative. US President Donald Trump has said the WHO was slow to react to the outbreak and was being “China-centric”, and as a consequence has announced a suspension of funding. The WHO has defended its handling of the crisis. A number of pharmaceutical companies around the world have developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. The Trump administration is planning to speed up development of a coronavirus vaccine with the goal of having 100 million doses ready by the end of 2020, according to a senior US administration official. Most experts have suggested clinical trials to guarantee a vaccine is safe and effective could take a minimum of 12 to 18 months. On Sunday, the pope also backed a proposal by an inter-religious group known as the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity for an international day of prayer and fasting on May 14 to ask God to help humanity overcome the pandemic.
3 May 12:31 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213189/3-pope-says-coronavirus-vaccine-must-shared-worldwide/Rating: 1.80
Pope Francis calls for international cooperation on finding vaccine for COVID-19
Pope Francis on Sunday called for an international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19. Speaking from the Apostolic Palace library after delivering his blessing, Francis stressed the importance of guaranteeing “universal access to the essential technologies that allow every infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary health care”. Follow live updates on the coronavirus pandemic here Some cross-country research is already underway to develop a safe, effective vaccine, and scientists and doctors in various nations have been sharing experiences in using different drugs to treat patients. The pope also invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14 to “implore God to help humanity to overcome the coronavirus pandemic”.
3 May 16:34 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/pope-francis-calls-for-international-cooperation-on-finding-vaccine-for-covid-19-833030.htmlRating: 2.25
Pope Francis Calls For International Cooperation On Finding Vaccine For COVID-19
Rest of the World News Written By Press Trust Of India | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 16:45 IST Pope Francis on Sunday called for an international collaboration in the search for a vaccine and treatment for COVID-19. Speaking from the Apostolic Palace library after delivering his blessing, Francis stressed the importance of guaranteeing “universal access to the essential technologies that allow every infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary health care”. Some cross-country research is already underway to develop a safe, effective vaccine, and scientists and doctors in various nations have been sharing experiences in using different drugs to treat patients. The pope also invited faithful of all religions to spiritually unite in prayer, fasting and works of charity on May 14 to “implore God to help humanity to overcome the coronavirus pandemic”. Image Credits: AP
3 May 16:45 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/pope-francis-calls-for-international-cooperation-on-finding-vaccine-for-covid-19.htmlRating: 2.30
Pope says coronavirus vaccine must be shared worldwide
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis called on Sunday for international scientific cooperation to discover a vaccine for the coronavirus and said any successful vaccine should be made available around the world. Francis, who has been delivering his Sunday address from the papal library instead of St. Peter’s Square because of the lockdown in Italy, thanked all those around the world who were providing essential services. He encouraged international cooperation to deal with the crisis and combat the virus, which has infected nearly 3.5 million people and killed more than 240,000 people worldwide. “In fact, it is important to unite scientific capabilities, in a transparent and impartial way to find vaccines and treatments,” he said. Francis said it was also important to “guarantee universal access to essential technologies that allow each infected person, in every part of the world, to receive the necessary medical treatment.” World leaders pledged in April to accelerate work on tests, drugs and vaccines against COVID-19 and to share them around the globe, but the United States did not take part in the launch of the World Health Organization (WHO) initiative. U.S. President Donald Trump has said the WHO was slow to react to the outbreak and was being “China-centric,” and as a consequence has announced a suspension of funding. The WHO has defended its handling of the crisis. A number of pharmaceutical companies around the world have developed tests to identify antibodies that develop after somebody has come into contact with the virus. The Trump administration is planning to speed up development of a coronavirus vaccine with the goal of having 100 million doses ready by the end of 2020, according to a senior U.S. administration official. Most experts have suggested clinical trials to guarantee a vaccine is safe and effective could take a minimum of 12 to 18 months. On Sunday, the pope also backed a proposal by an inter-religious group known as the Higher Committee on Human Fraternity for an international day of prayer and fasting on May 14 to ask God to help humanity overcome the pandemic. (Reporting by Philip Pullella; Editing by Edmund Blair)
3 May 11:23 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/pope-says-coronavirus-vaccine-must-be-shared-worldwideRating: 1.59
Pope Francis Calls for International Cooperation to Develop Vaccines Against COVID-19
The Pope noted that it was important to bring together scientific capacities in a transparent and disinterested way to find vaccines and treatments and to guarantee universal access to essential technologies that will enable every infected person in every part of the world to receive the necessary health care. Francis also voiced his support of the initiative by the Higher Committee of Human Fraternity, a group of religions and cultural leaders and scholars, to hold a world day of prayer for against the COVID-19 pandemic on 14 May. According to the World Health Organisation, there are eight candidate vaccines in clinical evaluation, with another 94 in preclinical evaluation.
3 May 12:50 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/europe/202005031079181989-pope-francis-calls-for-international-cooperation-to-develop-vaccines-against-covid-19/Rating: 3.96
30 New Covid-19 Cases Confirmed In Kenya, Toll Rises To 465
3 May 14:21
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30 New Covid-19 Cases Confirmed In Kenya, Toll Rises To 465
The government has confirmed 30 new cases of Covid-19 after testing 883 people, bringing the total number of cases to 465. Mombasa has had the biggest number at 19 followed by Nairobi at eight. Bungoma has two new cases while Kitui one. Of the cases, 23 are male while seven are female. The government has also confirmed 15 more recoveries, raising the total of recoveries to 167. Two patients from Mombasa have also succumbed to Covid-19, raising the number to 24. Announcing the updates today, Health CAS Dr Rashid Aman said that the government has moved to mass testing in places like Kawangware and Eastleigh, which have been perceived as Covid-19 hot spots in Nairobi.
3 May 14:21 • KahawaTungu • https://www.kahawatungu.com/30-new-covid-19-cases-confirmed-kenya-toll-rises-to-465/Rating: 0.41
25 more test positive in Navi Mumbai; total cases now 314
The number of COVID-19 cases in Navi Mumbai crossed the 300 mark on Sunday as 25 fresh cases were recorded, taking its tally to 314. Of these, nine cases each have been reported from Nerul and Vashi, five from Koparkhairane, and one each from Airoli and Turbhe. Forty-eight patients under the Navi Mumbai Municipal Corporation (NMMC) have recovered and six succumbed to the virus. The APMC market reported five new cases, bringing the number of those affected in the market up to 29. Besides this, eight more contacts of patients from the market also tested positive. The NMMC has till date conducted tests on 4,026 people, of which 2,866 were found to be negative and 846 reports are pending. Due to the increasing number of cases of the virus in APMC market, Konkan Divisional Commissioner Shivaji Daund and NMMC Commissioner Annasaheb Misal organised a swab testing drive at the market. Over 4,100 people were tested in this drive. These included 2,086 workers from the vegetable and fruit market, 1,979 traders and 59 other staff from the market. “The tests were free of cost. Around 27 doctors from DY Patil Medical College and 11 from Terna Medical College and two health officers from the NMMC were present for the drive, which was conducted by following social distancing,” Anil Chavan, secretary, APMC market, said. Three more people under the Panvel Municipal Corporation tested positive, bring the total number of cases up to 93. One case each was reported from Kalamboli, Kamothe and Taloja. On Saturday one employee of USV Pharma Company in Govandi along with three contacts of another employee of the company tested positive. On Sunday, after one more employee of the firm was found to be positive, the PMC has notified the firm to conduct tests of all employees and sanitise the premises. Thirty-four patients under the PMC have recovered and two deaths have been reported. The civic body has so far tested 1,038 people, of which 18 reports are pending. Meanwhile, Panvel rural too reported three new cases — one each at Ulwe, Sukapur and Vichumbe villages. This brought the total number of cases in the taluka to 17, of whom five have been discharged.
3 May 20:37 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/25-more-test-positive-in-navi-mumbai-total-cases-now-314/article31496692.eceRating: 0.30
Tamil Nadu Covid-positive cases surpass 3000 mark
Tamil Nadu reported a massive spike in Covid-19 cases on Sunday with the State reporting 266 cases and taking the total tally of cases to 3023. Chennai accounted for 203 of the 266 cases on Sunday. The number of children below the age of 12 who have tested positive stood at 170 on Sunday, the media bulletin confirmed. Of the 3023 positive cases, 2015 are male, 1007 are female and one is a transgender patient. Chennai is the worst-hit district in the State with the total number of cases standing at 1458. Coimbatore has the second-highest number of cases in the State with 146 cases. The number of active cases in the State stands at 1611. One more death was reported on Sunday taking the death toll to 30 in the State, the bulletin confirmed. On Sunday, 38 patients were discharged taking the total number of recoveries in the State to 1379. So far, 1,50,107 samples and 1,40,716 persons have been tested. There are 1,564 samples pending in the State.
3 May 15:18 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/tamil-nadu-covid-positive-cases-surpass-3000-mark/articleshow/75521122.cmsRating: 0.30
Ontario health officials report 434 new COVID-19 cases and 40 more deaths
TORONTO -- Ontario health officials are reporting another slight dip in the number of new novel coronavirus cases. Health officials reported on Sunday 434 new COVID-19 cases, which is a slight drop from the 511 announced just the day before. The total number of confirmed cases in the province now stands at 17,553. The volume of new cases reported Sunday is similar to what had been reported last week before the slight uptick on Saturday. Officials reported 421 new cases on Friday, 459 new cases on Thursday and 347 new cases on Wednesday, which marked the lowest number of cases recorded in three weeks. The provincial experts also reported 40 more deaths, bringing the total number of deaths in the province to 1,216. According to Saturday’s epidemiological summary, of all deceased patients in Ontario, seven were between the ages of 20 and 39, fifty-five people were between the ages of 40 and 59 and 309 people were between the ages of 60 and 79. People, who are over the age of 80, continue to be the hardest hit group. So far, at least 845 people in this age group of have died. The province also reported that 12,005 (68.4 per cent) of COVID-19 cases in Ontario have now been resolved. Of the more than 17,000 COVID-19 lab-confirmed cases reported in Ontario, health officials say about 12.0 per cent have been hospitalized at some point. As of Saturday, there are 1,010 people in hospital, 33 more than the day before. The province reported that 232 of those patients are in the intensive care unit and about 174 of them are using a ventilator. The province reported that 2,640 health-care workers have also been diagnosed with COVID-19. Health officials said there are four more outbreaks at long-term care homes in Ontario, bringing the total number of COVID-19 outbreaks in these facilities to 209. There has been an ongoing discrepancy between the data submitted by public health agencies through Public Health Ontario Daily Epidemiologic Summary (iPHIS) and the information obtained by the Ministry of Long-Term Care. While the ministry is reporting 954 deaths and 170 outbreaks in long-term care, the iPHIS is reporting the 209 outbreaks and 590 deaths. Quick facts on all Ontario COVID-19 patients: COVID-19 testing in Ontario In total, the province has conducted more than 327,505 tests for the novel coronavirus. In the last 24 hours, officials conducted 17,146 tests. There are 9,785 test samples under investigation. The province’s goal was to reach 16,000 tests daily by May 6.
3 May 14:31 • Toronto • https://toronto.ctvnews.ca/ontario-health-officials-report-434-new-covid-19-cases-and-40-more-deaths-1.4922741Rating: 0.30
Ontario reports 434 new cases of COVID-19, another 40 deaths
Ontario is reporting 434 new cases of COVID-19, marking a return to somewhat lower levels of new infections following a one-day spike on Saturday. The Ministry of Health reported 511 new cases of the virus on Saturday. It was just the second time in a week that the number of new instances of the virus surged past 500. In fact after a record 640 new cases were reported on April 25, the province has actually seen the number of new cases confirmed each day go down to an average of 448. That has, in turn, sparked optimism from some officials that we could be seeing the other side of the epidemic’s peak. Encouragingly, the drop in new cases of COVID-19 is also coming as the province ramps up its testing. After being stuck at two or three thousand tests a day in early-April, the province is now regularly surpassing 15,000 tests each day and conducted a record 17,146 of them on Saturday. “While it's coming down slowly, it's having ups and downs and we'd like to see it progressing even quicker,” Ontario’s Chief Medical Officer of Health Dr. David Williams said of the rate of new infections on Saturday. “That means everyone needs to adhere to physical distancing as we're not yet disrupting community transmission adequately at this time. So we want to stick to the task.” While the number of new infections seems to have plateaued and may even be on the decline, the death toll continues to mount. Ontario is reporting another 40 deaths in people who had contracted the virus over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number so far 1,216. Residents in long-term care facilities continue to account for more than three-quarters of all deaths (954), though there have been seven fatalities reported in people between the ages of 20 and 39. Hospitalizations are also continuing to trend upwards. Over the last 24 hours another 33 people with COVID-19 ended up in hospitals as the total number provincewide surged past the 1,000 threshold for the first time. Of those people, 232 are in intensive care units. That remains well off the 264 people that were in ICU units on April 9 but is up 11 from one day prior. It should be noted that Ontario officials have said that they need to see a “consistent” two-to-four week decline in new cases and a reduction in new hospitalizations before they can consider lifting the restrictions that have shuttered businesses and brought public life to a virtual standstill. “We’re flattening the curve, we ‘re heading in the right direction,” Premier Doug Ford said on Friday. “We have reason to be optimistic – as the trends continue downwards, as we continue seeing a reduction in community spread, we’re getting closer and closer to opening things back up.” The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 now stands at 17,553 with more than two-thirds of those cases (12,005) considered resolved.
3 May 14:30 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/ontario-reports-434-new-cases-of-covid-19-another-40-deaths-1.4922725Rating: 1.66
UPDATED: Nigeria records highest COVID-19 cases, deaths in West Africa
Sodiq Oyeleke Nigeria has the highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in West Africa, The PUNCH reports. With 2,388 confirmed infections and 85 fatalities, Nigeria also has the third-highest number of confirmed cases in Africa. South Africa has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in Africa with 6,336 infections while Algeria has the second-highest cases with 4,295 infections. According to data released by the World Health Organisation, as of 11am on Sunday, no fewer than 11,503 confirmed COVID-19 cases, 280 deaths, and 3,480 recoveries have been recorded in West Africa. Ghana has the second-highest number of COVID-19 infections with 2,169 cases, 18 deaths, and 229 recoveries. READ ALSO: Mother, son test positive for COVID-19 in Osun With 1,586 confirmed COVID-19 cases, seven deaths and 405 recoveries, Guinea has the third-highest number of infections in West Africa. A further breakdown of the data showed that Benin has recorded a total of 90 COVID-19 cases, two deaths, and 42 recoveries. In Burkina Faso, 652 cases, 44 deaths, and 535 recoveries have been reported. Cape Verde also recorded 152 confirmed COVID-19 cases, Ivory Coast, 1,362; Senegal, 1,115; Gambia, 17; Guinea-Bissau, 260; Liberia, 154; Mali, 544; Niger, 736; Sierra Leone, 155; and Togo, 123. On death, Cape Verde has recorded two fatalities, Ivory Coast, 15; Senegal, nine; Gambia, one; Guinea-Bissau, one; Liberia, 18; Mali, 26; Niger, 35; Sierra Leone, eight; and Togo, nine. Meanwhile, Cape Verde has recorded 18 recoveries, Ivory Coast, 622; Senegal, 368; Gambia, nine; Guinea-Bissau, 19; Liberia, 48; Mali, 206; Niger, 507; Sierra Leone, 21; and Togo, 66. READ ALSO: Coronavirus: NCDC fears spread may worsen as lockdown ends today The data also showed that Africa has recorded a total of 42, 381 confirmed cases, and 1, 749 deaths. Giving an update on COVID-19 cases in Nigeria, the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control said, “On the 2nd of May 2020, 220 new confirmed cases and 17 deaths were recorded in Nigeria. “No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. “Till date, 2,388 cases have been confirmed, 385 cases have been discharged and 85 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 220 new cases are reported from 19 states – Lagos(62), FCT(52), Kaduna(31), Sokoto(13), Kebbi(10), Yobe (nine), Borno (six), Edo (five), Bauchi (five), Gombe (four), Enugu (four), Oyo (four), Zamfara (three), Nasarawa (two), Osun (two), Ebonyi (two), Kwara (two), Kano (two), Plateau (two). “Thirty-four cases were discharged in the last 24 hours in four states – Lagos (22), Kano (seven), Osun (four), and Ogun (one). “Seventeen deaths were recorded in the last 24 hours in seven states – Borno (five), Katsina (four), Kano (three), Lagos (two), Ogun (one), Sokoto (one) and Yobe (one).”
3 May 20:05 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/breaking-nigeria-records-highest-covid-19-cases-deaths-in-west-africa/Rating: 0.30
Kenya registers 30 new coronavirus infections bringing total to 465
Kenya has registered 30 new coronavirus infections, the highest number of confirmed cases since the disease was first reported mid-March. The national tally is now at 465 cases. The Health Ministry said it had tested 883 samples in the last 24 hours, of which 30 turned positive. SEE ALSO:Kenyan man arrested for fake corona virus post on social media Twenty-three of the new cases are males and seven are females, and range between four and 64 years old. The country has also registered 15 new recoveries and two more deaths, bringing fatalities to 24. According to Health CAS Rashid Aman (pictured), 19 of the cases are from Mombasa County, eight in Nairobi, two in Bungoma, and one case in Kitui County. Bungoma now joins a growing list of counties in the country with confirmed cases of Covid-19, bringing the total to 16 counties. The Nairobi cases are distributed as follows: Kawangawre-2, Eastleigh-5, and Kibera-1 SEE ALSO:World Bank to give Kenya Sh8 Billion to counter coronavirus, locusts Mass testing The Health Ministry has expressed concern with low turnout of the mass testing exercise across the country. For instance, in Nairobi’s Kawangware area which has been identified as a hotspot, only 803 people were tested against a daily target of 2000. Aman advised that if the country is to flatten the curve and reduce infections, then Kenyans have to turn up in large numbers for testing, which is being conducted for free. “The Ministry of Health has acquired the capacity to undertake targeted testing but the willingness of the people to be tested is low. I want to appeal to Kenyans to willingly come forward to be tested,” the CAS said. SEE ALSO:Kids at home: Why radio lessons may fail Curfew/Quarantine He also warned of a worrying trend where some Kenyans have completely ignored the ministry’s guidelines in preventing the fast spread of the disease, and are returning to work, not wearing masks while in public places and disobeying curfew rules. “We have noted with dismay the casual attitude with which some of our people are not observing these measures. We have observed that some eateries are not only operating without any regard to the social distancing requirement but also deep into curfew hours,” Aman continued. This laxity has prompted the government to come up with more stringent measures that will ensure Kenyans obey the rules. As such, individuals arrested for breaking curfew rules will no longer be accommodated at government facilities, but at a curfew breakers holding facility, overseen by the Inspector General of Police Hillary Mutyambai. SEE ALSO:Kenya Airways suspends all international flights The government has also extended schools closure for another month effective tomorrow (May 4) up to June 4, 2020. Are you suspecting that you have coronavirus? Before you rush to the hospital, do this quick easy self-assessment test. #StayHome #WashYourHandsHERE. * indicates requiredEmail Address * First Name Last Name
3 May 14:23 • The Standard • https://www.standardmedia.co.ke/article/2001369975/kenya-registers-30-new-coronavirus-infections-and-2-deathsRating: 0.30
Biggest 24-hour spike in deaths, cases
New Delhi: More than a month into a countrywide lockdown, India reported the biggest single-day jump in the number of coronavirus patients with 2,487 n... New Delhi: More than a month into a countrywide lockdown, India reported the biggest single-day jump in the number of coronavirus patients with 2,487 new cases in the last 24 hours, including 83 deaths - also the highest - taking the total to 40,263 cases and 1,306 deaths, the Union Health Ministry said on Sunday. In the last week, the country has registered more than 13,000 cases and more than 700 deaths linked to the highly contagious illness, which began in China's Wuhan city in December and has spread to over 180 countries. The lockdown is set to ease from tomorrow in parts of the country that are least affected by the pandemic identified as Orange and Green zones. Strict restrictions continue to be in place in worst-hit districts marked as "Red Zones" Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with the total number of cases rising to 12296 with 521 deaths, though 2000 people have also recovered from the deadly virus. Gujarat reported 5055 cases so far followed by Delhi with 4122 cases, according to the Health Ministry data. The other states which have seen sharp rise in cases are Madhya Pradesh (2846), Rajasthan (2772), Tamil Nadu (2757) and Uttar Pradesh (2626). Maharashtra has the highest number of fatalities, among all the states, followed by Gujarat with 262 deaths, Madhya Pradesh 156, Rajasthan 65 and Delhi 64. Among other major states, Andhra Pradesh has reported 1583 cases and 33 deaths so far, Bihar 482 cases and 4 deaths, Haryana 394 and four deaths, Jammu and Kashmir 666 cases and 8 deaths, Karnataka 606 and 25 deaths and Kerala 500 cases and 4 deaths. States which have reported less than 10 cases are Tripura, Mizoram, Puducherry, Manipur and Arunachal Pradesh.nipur and Arunachal Pradesh. Email ArticlePrint Article Next Story
3 May 21:09 • The Hans India • https://www.thehansindia.com/news/national/biggest-24-hour-spike-in-deaths-cases-620645Rating: 1.10
Latest COVID-19 numbers: Florida cases top 36,000 as deaths near 1,400
(WSVN) - There are now more than 36,000 reported cases of the coronavirus in Florida, with 1,379 deaths. As of 11 a.m., Sunday, the Florida Department of Health reported 36,078 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 615 from yesterday’s latest update. There are now 12,775 confirmed cases in Miami-Dade and 5,312 cases in Broward. The total number of cases in Palm Beach County has now reached 3,130, and 80 cases have been reported in Monroe County. Health officials also reported 6,035 hospital admissions statewide. For a full breakdown of the cases in Florida, click here. Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
3 May 15:34 • WSVN 7News • https://wsvn.com/uncategorized/latest-covid-19-numbers-florida-cases-top-35000-as-deaths-exceed-1300-2/Rating: 0.30
Covid-19: Tamil Nadu reports 266 more Covid-19 cases
In another day’s high, 266 persons have been infected with coronavirus in Tamil Nadu taking the tally to 3,023. Of the 266 new cases, Chennai alone recorded 203, taking the total to 1,458 — nearly half the total affected in the State. Villupuram witnessed a record 33 cases; followed by Cuddalore with 9; Kallakurichi with 6; Coimbatore with 4; Ariyalur, Madurai, Tenkasi and Tiruvallur with two each, and Kanyakumari, Tiruvannamalai and Chengalpattu with one each. Total blood samples tested today were 10,617 to total 1.50 lakh. One death was reported today to take the number to 30. With 38 Covid-19 positive patients discharged following treatment, the total number of those recovered from the infection increased to 1,379 in the State, according to government data.
3 May 14:45 • BusinessLine • https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/covid-19-266-fresh-cases-reported-in-tamil-nadu-total-crosses-3000/article31495180.eceRating: 1.98
Coronavirus: 19 more deaths, 330 news cases in Ireland
The Department of Health has confirmed that 19 more people have died of coronavirus, bringing the death toll in Ireland to 1,303. There have also been an additional 330 COVID-19 cases confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases to 21,506. The HSE is working to identify any contacts the patients may have had to provide them with information and advice to prevent further spread. Today’s data from the HPSC, as of midnight, Friday 1st May (21,064 cases), reveals:
3 May 16:11 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/news/coronavirus-19-deaths-330-news-cases-ireland-366924Rating: 0.30
30 New people test positive for Covid-19 as number rises to 465
Just in The Ministry of Heath has confirmed 30 new cases of novel coronavirus infection as the number rises to 465 in Kenya. In an announcement made by Health CAS Rashid Aman, the 30 are spread across four Counties. “Our Coronavirus situation is as follows; in the last 24 hours we have tested 883 cases, out of this 30 people tested positive. Out of this number, 19 are from Mombasa, 8 from Nairobi, 2 from Bungoma and one from Kitui,” said CAS Rashid. The cases are distributed in various estates as follows; Nairobi 2 are from Kawangware, 5 Eastleigh, Kibra 1. In Mombasa, Mvita recorded 15 cases, Kisauni 3 and Likoni 1. In Kitui the one case was reported in Mwingi town while the two cases from Bungoma are from truck drivers. 15 people have been discharged.
3 May 14:06 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/30-new-people-test-positive-for-covid-19-as-number-rises-to-465/t86yx63Rating: 0.51
Kuwait records 364 new coronavirus cases, tally at 4,983
Mubasher: Kuwait on Sunday has reported 364 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases, taking the total number of infections in the GCC country to 4,983, according to an official statement. A total of five new coronavirus related deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 38. According to the latest figures, the number of recoveries increased by 73 to stand at 1,776 so far. A total of 3,169 patients are currently receiving treatment at hospitals whilst 72 others are in the intensive care unit. Source: Mubasher Source: {{details.article.source}}
3 May 14:39 • english.mubasher.info • https://english.mubasher.info/news/3635803/Kuwait-records-364-new-coronavirus-cases-tally-at-4-983?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+en%2FTDWL%2Fnews+%28TDWL+News+English%29Rating: 1.94
Karnataka: 3 more test positive for COVID-19 in Kalaburagi
Three more persons including a 13-year-old girl tested positive for the coronavirus in Kalaburagi on Sunday. With this, the total count of COVID-19 cases rose to 58 in the district. Track live updates on coronavirus here Out of the total positive cases, a total of 18 patients were discharged from the hospital after recovering from the virus and five have died. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases
3 May 12:20 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/state/karnataka-3-more-test-positive-for-covid-19-in-kalaburagi-832958.htmlRating: 2.25
Thailand reports 3 new COVID-19 cases, as some restrictions ease
BANGKOK: Thailand reported three new COVID-19 cases and no deaths on Sunday (May 3), as the country started lifting restrictions on some businesses and aspects of life. The new infections marked the lowest number since early March, just before the country started reporting clusters and tolls started rising. Thailand has seen a total of 2,969 coronavirus cases and 54 deaths since the outbreak began in January. New daily infections have stayed in the single digits for a week. The government has allowed some businesses and public parks to reopen on Sunday, as well as resumed alcohol sales. Six types of activities and businesses will benefit from the partial relaxation. This includes markets, eateries outside department stores, retailers, sports and recreational activities, hair salons and barbershops, as well as pet grooming and boarding businesses. However, the government warned that it would reverse the relaxation if the number of new cases increase during a 14-day observation period. The nationwide curfew between 10pm and 4am will remain until the state of emergency ends on May 31. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 15:38 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/thailand-covid-19-new-cases-restrictions-ease-12697766Rating: 3.25
Total Number of Covid-19 Cases in Bulgaria Reached 1611
The total number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 infection in Bulgaria has reached 1611, the National Crisis Staff has reported. In the past 24 hours, 982 samples were checked and 23 new cases of infection have been registered. 10 of the people have been hospitalized. The number of recovered patients was 23. Three elderly patients with with comorbidity passed away and the number of coronavirus-related deaths has reached 72. A doctor at Alexandrovska Hospital in Sofia passed away as she had initially recovered but later sought medical help again as her condition worsened.
3 May 11:09 • novinite.com • https://www.novinite.com/articles/204342/Total+Number+of+Covid-19+Cases+in+Bulgaria+Reached+1611Rating: 0.30
In a new high, India sees 2,411 cases in 24 hours
New Delhi: As special trains continued to transport stranded migrants workers, students and others, India recorded 2,411 new cases in 24 hours, taking the total number of positive novel coronavirus cases in the country to 37,776. A total of 71 deaths were reported in the last one day from across the country, taking the total death toll to 1,223. As per the Union Health Ministry, of the total cases, 26,535 are active, 10,017 people have recovered. The total count also includes 111 foreign nationals. Maharashtra continued to be the worst-hit state with 11,506 cases and 485 deaths. Gujarat, the second most affected state, has 4,721 positive cases so far, followed by Delhi with 3,738 cases. The other states which have seen a sharp rise in cases are Madhya Pradesh (2,719), Rajasthan (2,666), Tamil Nadu (2,526) and Uttar Pradesh (2,455). Meanwhile, a day after the Railways rolled out the first such passenger service during the national lockdown, Bihar, Uttar Pradesh, Jharkhand and other states braced for the return of their natives as more non-stop Shramik Special trains were flagged off on Saturday to ferry thousands of stranded migrant workers. The first train to Bihar carrying 1,187 stranded migrant workers reached Danapur railway station on the outskirts of Patna from Jaipur on Saturday afternoon after a 16-hour journey. Most of the train services originated from Kerala, Maharashtra and Gujarat. In Chennai, workers, housed at various facilities in the city converged at three different locations, defying social distancing rules, leading to anxiety for a while. The police eventually pacified them and sent them back to their respective places of stay.
3 May 07:07 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/030520/in-a-new-high-india-sees-2411-cases-in-24-hours.htmlRating: 1.64
Thailand reports three new coronavirus cases, as some restrictions ease
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand reported three new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Sunday, as the country started lifting restrictions on some businesses and aspects of life. The new infections marked the lowest number since early March, just before the country started reporting clusters and tolls started rising. Thailand has seen a total of 2,969 coronavirus cases and 54 deaths since the outbreak began in January. New daily infections have stayed in the single digits for a week. The government has allowed some businesses and public parks to reopen on Sunday, as well as resumed alcohol sales.
3 May 04:56 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-thailand-idUSKBN22F050Rating: 4.04
Thailand reports three new coronavirus cases, as some restrictions ease
BANGKOK (Reuters) - Thailand reported three new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Sunday, as the country started lifting restrictions on some businesses and aspects of life. The new infections marked the lowest number since early March, just before the country started reporting clusters and tolls started rising. Thailand has seen a total of 2,969 coronavirus cases and 54 deaths since the outbreak began in January. New daily infections have stayed in the single digits for a week. The government has allowed some businesses and public parks to reopen on Sunday, as well as resumed alcohol sales. (Reporting by Patpicha Tanakasempipat)
3 May 04:56 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/thailand-reports-three-coronavirus-cases-045639966.html/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: NCDC announces 220 new COVID-19 cases
- NCDC has reported 220 new cases of coronavirus - Lagos state recorded the highest number with 62 new cases - With this, Nigeria now has 2,388 confirmed cases of COVID-19, 385 discharged and 85 deaths PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 220 cases of the novel coronavirus in Nigeria on Saturday, May 2. The new cases are among the highest to be reported in the country by the federal health agency. According to the report, Lagos state has the highest cases with 62 cases while Federal Capital Territory, Abuja followed with 52 cases. Kaduna came third with 31 cases and followed by Sokoto which has 13 cases. Kebbihas 10 cases while Yobe has nine. Borno recorded six cases while Edo and Bauchi have five cases each. Gombe, Enugu and Oyo also record four cases each. Zamfara has three cases while Nasarawa, Osun, Ebonyi, Kwara, Kano, and Plateau have two cases each. Breaking: NCDC announces 238 new coronavirus cases, Kano has 92 With this, Nigeria now has 2,388 confirmed cases of #COVID19, with 385 discharged and 85 deaths; 17 new deaths recorded within 24 hours. PAY ATTENTION:Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that Nigeria's minister of health, Osagie Ehanire disclosed that most of those who have tested positive for coronavirus in the country are aged between 31 and 40 years. He disclosed this while he was speaking at the briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday, April 24. Going further, he also disclosed that most deaths have occurred in older persons. “The high number of new cases is due to on-going community transmission and active case search. From our test statistics, the most affected age group among the positives is 31-40 years while the highest COVID-19 fatality rate is among the older generation above 50 years of age,” he said. Just in: Jigawa records first COVID-19 death, confirmed cases rise to nine The minister continued: “We have now deployed COVID-19 starter packs to all tertiary institutions and Federal Medical Centers to complement what was earlier sent to each State. The starter packs consist of medical consumables and disposables, to ensure that our frontline healthcare workers are protected." NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better God has given me the cure for Coronavirus - Primate Ayodele | Legit TV
3 May 04:42 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326295-coronavirus-ncdc-announces-220-covid-19-cases.htmlRating: 0.30
Iowa health officials report 528 new virus cases, 9 deaths
DES MOINES, Iowa (AP) - Iowa health officials reported 528 additional coronavirus cases and nine new deaths linked to COVID-19 to give the state 9,169 cases. The Iowa Department of Public Health said Sunday a total of 184 deaths have been reported in the state. The actual number of infections is thought to be far higher, though, because many people have not been tested and studies suggest that people can be infected without feeling sick. Iowa has begun lifting restrictions on many businesses and churches in 77 counties where few cases of the virus have been reported. More stringent rules remain in 22 counties, which include most of the state’s major cities. Health officials said Sunday that 77 percent of the new cases reported Sunday came from the 22 counties where restrictions remain in place. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/iowa-health-officials-report-528-new-virus-cases-9/Rating: 0.79
WC remains epicentre of COVID-19 with 3,044 cases, SA registers 8 more deaths
JOHANNESBURG – As South Africa’s COVID-19 cases now sit at 6,783, the Western Cape remains the epicentre of the virus with 3,044 cases. Eight more deaths have been recorded with two from Western Cape, four from the Eastern Cape and two from Gauteng, bringing the number of total deaths to 131. According to the Health Department, as of 30 April, 7,216,777 citizens have been screened and from that community screening programme 72,087 were referred for testing. A total of 245,747 people have been tested in both the private and public sectors. Gauteng now has 1,624 cases followed by KwaZulu-Natal with 1,076. The Eastern Cape is also nearing the 1,000 mark with 774 cases.
3 May 00:00 • ewn.co.za • https://ewn.co.za/2020/05/03/wc-remains-epicentre-of-covid-19-with-3-044-cases-sa-registers-8-more-deathsRating: 1.68
Tennessee confirmed virus cases jump 36% in one week
NASHVILLE, Tenn. (AP) - Tennessee has seen a 36% jump in new coronavirus cases in the past week. Health officials on Sunday reported 516 new coronavirus cases, pushing Tennessee’s total to at least 13,177. A week ago Sunday, the state had at least 9,667 confirmed cases. Last week the state saw a spike in positive cases from prison inmates and workers at the privately run Trousdale Turner Correctional Facility. Officials announced Friday that all inmates and prison staff statewide will be tested. A total of 210 people in Tennessee have died from the virus, according to the state Department of Health. Republican Gov. Bill Lee is allowing salons and barbershops to reopen next Wednesday in 89 of Tennessee’s 95 counties. Restaurants in most counties resumed dine-in service last Monday and retail stores were allowed in-store customers Wednesday. Gyms reopened Friday. Lee also issued new guidelines Friday allowing places of worship to hold services under certain limitations, asking congregants to practice physical distancing and wear face masks. For most people, the new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up within weeks. For some, especially older adults and those with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness and be life-threatening.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/tennessee-confirmed-virus-cases-jump-36-in-one-wee/Rating: 0.79
BREAKING: COVID-19 fatalities in Nigeria reach 85 as confirmed cases rise to 2,388
Kindly Share This Story: The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday confirmed 220 new cases of Coronavirus (COVID-19) outbreak in the country, bringing the total number of infections in Nigeria to 2,388. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control also confirmed 17 new deaths, bringing the total number of deaths to 85. “220 new cases of #COVID19; 62-Lagos 52-FCT 31-Kaduna 13-Sokoto 10-Kebbi 9-Yobe 6-Borno 5-Edo 5-Bauchi 4-Gombe 4-Enugu 4-Oyo 3-Zamfara 2-Nasarawa 2-Osun 2-Ebonyi 2-Kwara 2-Kano 2-Plateau 2388 confirmed cases of #COVID19 in Nigeria Discharged: 385 Deaths: 85″ Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 23:05 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/breaking-covid-19-fatalities-in-nigeria-reach-85-as-confirmed-cases-rise-to-2388/Rating: 2.43
Kebbi records first COVID-19 death
Muhammad Jafaar, commissioner of health in Kebbi, says the state has recorded its first casualty from COVID-19. The state has confirmed just two cases of the disease. Speaking to journalists on Saturday, Jafaar said the victim was the second COVID-19 case recorded in Kebbi. He said the victim, a 60-year-old man, was brought from Usmanu Dan Fodio Teaching Hospital (UDTH) Sokoto into the state. Jafaar said the patient was discovered at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kebbi to be diabetic and hypertensive before contracting the disease. “This is the second index case,” he said. “He was a 60-year-old man brought from Usmanu Dan Fodio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto by a relative to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Birnin Kebbi, where he was receiving treatment for diabetes and hypertension. “While in the FMC, a consultant was invited and COVID-19 was suspected and our response team was called in. Sample was collected from the patient on 25 April. “Before the patient was taken to the isolation centre, he died on April 26. On April 29, the result of the test turned positive of COVID-19. “From then, our contacts tracing team swung into actions and traced 12 closed contacts and 17 other contacts. “All samples have been collected and sent to the laboratory for testing,” Jafaar said the management of UDUTH, Sokoto had been contacted and working together with Kebbi’s COVID-19 task force to curtail the spread of the virus. The commissioner asked residents of the state to remain calm, and assured them that the state had received technical support from the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the case management. Kebbi announced the first index case of COVID-19 in the state on April 26. The patient is a 40-year-old man with a travel history to Lagos state.
2 May 20:57 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/kebbi-records-first-covid-19-deathRating: 0.30
Total cases close to 2,500, death toll inches to 50 in UP
The number of coronavirus cases in UP reached close to 2,500 with 159 cases reported in the last 24 hours. For the last two days, the cases have soared in three digits — 117 on Friday and 159 on Saturday after a brief three day lull when figures of new cases had touched to around 50. The number of districts affected by coronavirus has also reached 64 of the total 75 districts. The new districts added to the list of coronavirus cases are Sidharthnagar, Deoria and Mahoba. Six of the 64 have, however, have no active cases at present. Shamli could be the latest to join the list with only one patient. A total of 698 patients have so far recovered, bringing down the number of active cases to 1,746 on Saturday. However, three more patients of coronavirus died in the last two days, taking the total number of COVID-19-related deaths to 43 in the state, including 14 in Agra , followed by seven in Moradabad, six in Meerut, four in Kanpur, two in Firozabad and one each in Lucknow, Ghaziabad, Varanasi, Bareilly, Bulandshahr, Basti, Mathura, Amroha, Aligarh and Shravasti. While those found positive in Sidharthnagar and Deoria are migrants who recently reached the district, two health workers have tested positive in Mahoba. Four people, including three women, tested positive for coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh’s Gautam Buddh Nagar on Saturday, taking the total tally of COVID-19 cases in the district to 159, officials said. Coronavirus Explained Click here for more In Noida, four patients, including a toddler, have been discharged from hospital following recovery, leaving 65 active cases in the district, they said. “Four more tested positive. The cumulative positive cases of coronavirus is now 159,” Gautam Buddh Nagar District Surveillance Officer Sunil Dohare said. Earlier in the day, Principal Secretary (Health) Amit Mohan Prasad said that the state is prepared to receive the migrants, expected to come from different parts of the country, and detailed guidelines have been issued for the same. “Under the guidelines, all the migrants are to be screened. If they are found healthy they would be sent into home quarantine for 21 days. Outside their homes, we will paste a flyer mentioning the data till they are in home quarantine. Anyone having any kind of symptom will be stopped and tested. If tested positive, they will be kept in isolation ward. If tested negative, they will still have to be in quarantine for at least seven days. Another test will be conducted after seven days,” he said. Since a large number of migrants will be returning to the state, arrangement of community surveillance is being made, the principal secretary said. For this, ‘gram nigrani samitis’ are being formed in the rural areas and ‘mohalla nigrani samitis’ in the urban areas, he added. According to him, the number of tests is continuously increasing and including the backlogs, a total 4,431 samples were tested on Friday. In addition to that, 3,356 new samples were sent to labs for testing. “In pool testing, 331 pools of 1607 samples were tested in 11 of our laboratories. Out of these, 23 pools came out to be positive after which all samples in them were tested separately, Rest of the 308 pools tested negative,” he added.
2 May 20:59 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/lucknow/total-cases-close-to-2500-death-toll-inches-to-50-in-up-6391072/Rating: 0.30
170 Nanded pilgrims among Punjab’s 187 new cases — steepest spike in a day
With187 new coronavirus cases, Punjab on Saturday recorded its highest single-day spike since the outbreak. The state’s cases tally is now 772. Of the 187 new cases, 170 were pilgrims who had returned from Nanded, Maharashtra. A government functionary said that of the total 772 who have tested positive in the state so far, 339 were pilgrims who had returned from Nanded, accounting for nearly 44 per cent of the total cases. There are 640 active cases in the state, 112 patients have recovered and 20 deaths have been reported so far. Of 24,868 samples taken from across the state, 19,316 have tested negative and results of 4,780 are pending. Coronavirus Explained Click here for more In Moga district, four Accredited Social Health Activist (ASHA) workers and 17 pilgrims who returned from Nanded were among the 22 new positive cases. A 34-year-old man from Manuke village of Nihal Singh Wala, who returned from Dubai, also tested positive. With this the total cases in Moga district reached 28. In Khanna, a man arrested in an illicit liquor factory and distillery case by Khanna police on April 28 from village Bahomajra tested positive. Khanna SSP Harpreet Singh said at least ten policemen have been quarantined. The maximum positive cases of novel coronavirus have been reported from Amritsar (143), followed by Jalandhar (119) and Ludhiana (94).
2 May 18:21 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/chandigarh/170-nanded-pilgrims-among-punjabs-187-new-cases-steepest-spike-in-a-day-6390943/Rating: 0.30
550 new cases of Coronavirus were recorded in Ukraine
Monitoring Desk: In Ukraine, 550 new cases of coronavirus COVID-19 were recorded in a day, which is 95 cases more than over the past day, reports Ukrainian News Agency.The highest number of cases are reported in metropolitan (1494) and 747 cases are in other parts of Kyiv region.Ivano-Frankivsk region is second on list as 942 persons are infected.The tally of total COVID-19 patients is 11, 411 laboratory confirmed cases in Ukraine.A story written of Olga Fandorina stated that figures were reported by the Ministry of Health in Telegram.It is important to mention that 279 patients are consider serious while 1,498 patients have already recovered in Ukraine. Region-wise statement states patients as: Vinnytsia region – 427 cases;Volyn region – 315 cases;Dnipropetrovsk region – 436 cases;Donetsk region – 70 cases;Transcarpathian region – 496 cases;Zaporizhzhya region – 267 cases;Ivano-Frankivsk region – 942 cases;Kirovograd region – 394 cases;m. Kiev – 1494 cases;Kiev region – 747 cases;Lviv region – 465 cases;
2 May 07:57 • Dispatch News Desk • https://dnd.com.pk/550-new-cases-of-coronavirus-were-recorded-in-ukraine/188009Rating: 0.30
6 New Cases Of COVID-19
Today we have two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to report and four new probable cases. Five of today’s cases can be traced to a known source. One case is still being investigated. The total of confirmed and probable cases is 1,485. New Zealand’s total number of confirmed cases is 1,134. This is the number we report to the World Health Organization and in many instances this is the number reported publicly by other countries. There were 5,691 tests completed yesterday, with a combined total to date of 145,589. Of our cases, 1,263 are reported as recovered – an increase of 11 on yesterday. 85% of all confirmed and probable cases have now recovered. There are five people in hospital, none in ICU. Sadly, today we are reporting the death of a resident of Rosewood Rest Home who was transferred to Burwood Hospital. George Hollings was in his 80s, and his family have asked us to share his name and some information about him. George had a lot of friends who the family don’t have contact details for and they’d like for them to have the opportunity to grieve along with his family. His family tell us that George will be remembered as a real Kiwi bloke, a rough diamond, who loved his deer stalking. They ask for the media to respect their privacy and to give them time to grieve. His family also say the staff who cared for George did an exemplary job. “We can’t speak highly enough of the care Dad received. You’ve clearly chosen the best, most compassionate staff to work at Burwood”. George was considered to be a probable case of COVID-19, and he also had underlying health conditions. He passed away early this morning. Every person we lose to COVID-19 is a tragedy, with a family and friends left without their loved one. Our thoughts are with George’s family today and in the coming days. There have now been 20 deaths from COVID-19 in New Zealand. There are still 16 significant clusters, no change from yesterday. Three clusters are now considered closed as there is no longer transmission of the virus associated with the cluster. A COVID-19 cluster is considered be closed after a total of 28 consecutive days – or two incubation periods for the virus – since itsmost recent report date of a reported case. The three closed clusters are the Wellington wedding cluster (closed 25 April) and the two clusters linked with group travel to the United States – one in Wellington and the other in Auckland – closed today. A further reminder that people should not delay seeking care for any health needs either by phoning Healthline 0800 611 116 or through their GP. And, as usual, if it is an emergency then dial 111 and ask for the ambulance service or go to your nearest hospital emergency department. Also, if you get an appointment for an investigation such as an x-ray or scan, or to get an elective operation or procedure, it is safe to attend. The hospital will have tight processes in place to keep you and the staff safe. © Scoop Media
2 May 13:17 • SCOOP • https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2005/S00006/6-new-cases-of-covid-19.htmRating: 0.30
69 recover in Ethiopia from coronavirus – UPDATED
The Ministry of Health of Ethiopia said 69 coronavirus (COVID-19) patients have recovered so far after seven have recovered in the past few days. In its update about the global pandemic, the Ministry stated that including two confirmed cases found during the last 24 hours, a total of 133 COVID-19 patients are confirmed in Ethiopia so far. The two new COVID-19 positive individuals are both Ethiopian nationals – 20 and 25 years old.One of them has returned from Puntland Somalia and was in Jigjiga town quarantine center. The other coronavirus positive individual has come from Kenya and was kept in Moyale town quarantine center. The latest report of the Ministry shows that some 16,000 people are kept in quarantine of which over 4,000 have completed their quarantine period so far. After Ethiopia reported its confirmed COVID-19 case about two months ago, a total of close to 20,000 people have got laboratory test for coronavirus, while three have died and two foreign nationals returned to their country.
2 May 10:46 • New Business Ethiopia • https://newbusinessethiopia.com/health/69-recover-in-ethiopia-from-coronavirus-updated/Rating: 0.30
A.P. crosses the 1,500-mark in COVID positive cases tally
The State has reported 62 fresh positive COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours taking the tally to 1,525. The State has crossed the 1,500-mark and 1,08,403 tests were conducted so far putting the positivity rate at 1.40%, death rate at 2.16% and recovery rate at 29%. Thirty-eight patients recovered during the same period and no new deaths were reported. Currently the State has 1,051 active patients and 33 patients died. So far, 441 persons recovered. Most of the fresh cases were reported in Kurnool (25), followed by Krishna (12). Nellore reported six fresh cases and Anantapur, Visakahapatnam and Kadapa reported four fresh cases each while East Godavari reported three cases. Guntur reported only two new cases and Prakasam and West Godavari reported one fresh case each. Out of the 38 patients who had recovered, 19 are from Guntur, seven each from West Godavari and Krishna and two each are from Anantapur and Chittor and one from Nellore. No new deaths were reported. As of Saturday, Kurnool reported 436 cases while Guntur reported 308 cases, Krishna reported 258 cases and Nellore 90. They are followed by Kadapa (83), Chittoor (80), Anantapur (71), Prakasam (61), West Godavari (59), East Godavari (45), Visakhapatnam (29) and Srikakulam.
2 May 18:09 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/ap-crosses-the-1500-mark-in-covid-positive-cases-tally/article31491877.eceRating: 0.30
BREAKING: 22 COVID-19 patients discharged in Lagos
Kindly Share This Story: The Lagos State government has yet again announced that 22 COVID-19 patients have been discharged from infectious disease centres in the state. Eight females and 14 males were discharged after fully recovering and tested negative for COVID-19. Nineteen of the patients were discharged from Lagos State University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), two from the infectious diseases hospital (IDH), Yaba and one from the isolation centre in Lekki. With the new cases, the total number of discharged cases is 247. Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 16:42 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/breaking-22-covid-19-patients-discharged-in-lagos/Rating: 2.43
COVID-19: Kebbi announces first death from 2nd index case
Kebbi State has recorded the first death arising from the second index case of novel coronavirus pandemic. The chairman of the state Task Force on COVID-19, Alhaji Muhammad Jafaar, told newsmen on Saturday in Birnin Kebbi that the second index case, the 60-year-old patient was brought from Usmanu Dan Fodio Teaching Hospital (UDTH), Sokoto, into the state. Jafaar, who is the state Commissioner for Health, explained that the patient was discovered at the Federal Medical Centre (FMC), Birnin Kebbi to be diabetic and hypertensive before contracting the virus. “This is the second index case. “He was a 60-year-old man brought from Usmanu Dan Fodio Teaching Hospital, Sokoto by a relative to the Federal Medical Centre (FMC) Birnin Kebbi, where he was receiving treatment for diabetes and hypertension. “While in the FMC, a consultant was invited and COVID-19 was suspected and our response team was called in. “Sample was collected from the patient on 25 April. “Before the patient was taken to the isolation centre, he died on April 26. “On April 29, the result of the test turned positive of COVID-19. “From then, our contacts tracing team swung into actions and traced 12 closed contacts and 17 other contacts. “All samples have been collected and sent to the laboratory for testing,’’ he explained. Jafaar said that the management of the UDUTH, Sokoto had been contacted and working together with Kebbi’s COVID-19 task force to curtail the virus. The commissioner urged the people of the state to remain calm, assuring that the state had received technical support from the National Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on the case management. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) recalls that the state government had on April 26 announced the first index case of COVID-19 in the state. The patient was a 40-year-old man with a travel history of having come from Lagos State.
2 May 17:46 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/covid-19-kebbi-announces-first-death-from-2nd-index-case/Rating: 0.30
Chennai continues to account for bulk of new cases
Chennai reported 174 of the 231 fresh COVID-19 cases in Tamil Nadu on Saturday. This is the highest ever single-day spike the State has reported till now, taking its tally to 2,757*. Of the 231 new patients, 158 were men, 72 women and one was a 48-year-old transperson in Chennai. The youngest among the new COVID-19 patients was a 14-day-old baby in Kancheepuram. A 76-year-old woman from Chennai died due to COVID-19 at 5.30 p.m. on May 1 at the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital. With this, the State has reported 29 deaths due to COVID-19. The State’s single-day sample count crossed the 10,000-mark. A total of 10,127 samples were tested. This took the total number of samples tested so far to 1,39,490. With another 29 persons discharged from hospitals across the State, the total number of persons discharged increased to 1,341. In Chennai alone, a total of 223 persons have been discharged till now, followed by 127 in Coimbatore and 108 in Tiruppur. The total number of active cases in the State was 1,384, according to a bulletin issued by the Directorate of Public Health and Preventive Medicine. With Chennai adding 174 more cases to its tally, the total number of cases in the city stand at at 1,257. Along with Chennai, 13 more districts have reported fresh cases — 18 in Ariyalur, 13 in Kancheepuram, seven in Tiruvallur, five in Chengalpattu, two each in Cuddalore, Perambalur, Ramanathapuram, Tiruppur and Villupuram, and one each in Coimbatore, Madurai, Salem and Theni. Another nine children in the 0-12 age group have tested positive, taking the total number of affected children in the age group to 159. As on date, a total of 2,318 persons in the 13-60 age group and 280 persons aged above 60 have tested positive for COVID-19 in the State. One more private testing facility has been approved — the Metropolis Healthcare, Chennai. As of now, the State has 34 testing facilities in the government and 13 facilities in the private sector. A total of 1,30,132 persons, including 10,049 today, have been tested so far. A total of 35,418 persons are under home quarantine and 40 in government quarantine facilities. Another 2,099 individuals with suspected symptoms of COVID-19 have been admitted to isolation wards in various hospitals.
2 May 18:31 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/chennai-continues-to-account-for-bulk-of-new-cases/article31492074.eceRating: 0.30
Coronavirus spread in Baltic States. 871 in Latvia, 1 406 in Lithuania 1 699 in Estonia
The total number of confirmed COVID-19 infection cases in Latvia has reached 871, increasing by nine new cases in the past day. Lithuania, meanwhile, reports 1 406 infection cases. The latest information from Estonia reports a total of 1 699 confirmed COVID-19 infection cases. 50 people in Estonia have died from the virus so far. 236 people in this country have recovered from the infection. The number of deaths caused by complications from the infection has reached 45 in Lithuania, whereas the number of recoveries has reached 536. 63 102 people in Latvia have been tested for COVID-19 so far, according to information from Disease Prevention and Monitoring Centre (SPKC). 16 people in Latvia have died from COVID-19, whereas 348 have made a full recovery During a joint meeting on 14 March, Latvia’s government and the Crisis Management Council decided to limit the open hours of all culture, entertainment, sports and other leisure venues to 23:00. Read also: Latvia’s COVID-19 success puzzles Lithuanian pundits, draws global praises The government has also decided to limit the number of simultaneous participants of unorganized culture, entertainment, leisure, sports and religious events to 50. To halt the spread of COVID-19, Latvia’s government and Crisis Management Council have agreed to also shut down all international passenger services until the end of the state of emergency in the country, which is set to end 14 April. On 24 March the government also decided to close gyms and have shopping centres close down for weekends. This requirement does not extend to food stores, veterinary stores, gardening and construction stores, as well as pharmacies and optician stores. On 29 March the Cabinet of Ministers issued new restrictions for public places: prohibiting residents from coming closer than 2 m to one another, as well as limiting the number of people allowed to gather indoors and outdoors unless they are members of the same family or perform professional duties. Residents are urged to work from home when possible, shop less often and avoid crowded places. In Estonia the state of emergency will remain in force until 1 May. In Lithuania the state of emergency will remain until 11 May. Until then, sports, culture, leisure and entertainment venues are shut down.
2 May 00:00 • BNN - Baltic News Network • https://bnn-news.com/coronavirus-spread-in-baltic-states-871-in-latvia-1-406-in-lithuania-1-699-in-estonia-212951Rating: 0.30
Delaware coronavirus cases top 5,000, with 168 deaths
WILMINGTON, Del. (AP) - Delaware health officials say the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the state has surpassed 5,000. The News Journal reports that the state has a total of 5,038 confirmed cases and 168 deaths, according to updated figures released Saturday. Sussex County, which has nearly half the state’s positive cases, reported 2,359 cases, an increase of 67 from the previous day. Although state figures show that new hospitalizations have been declining, there are 300 people hospitalized, with 64 of them critically ill.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/delaware-coronavirus-cases-top-5000-with-168-death/Rating: 0.79
GCS: 165 new cases of novel coronavirus infection take total number of cases to 12,732
As many as 165 new cases of persons infected with the novel coronavirus have been registered in Romania since the latest information, the total number of cases thus reaching 12,732, the Strategic Communication Group (GCS) informed on Saturday. From among the persons who tested positive for the novel coronavirus, 4,547 were declared recovered and were discharged.265 patients are admitted to ICUs.According to the source, as many as 755 people diagnosed with COVID-19 have died.
2 May 13:41 • Stiri pe surse • https://www.stiripesurse.ro/gcs-165-new-cases-of-novel-coronavirus-infection-take-total-number-of-cases-to-12732_1460005.htmlRating: 1.18
Latest COVID-19 numbers: Florida cases top 35,000 as deaths exceed 1,300
(WSVN) - There are now more than 35,400 reported cases of the coronavirus in Florida, with 1,364 deaths. As of 11 a.m., Saturday, the Florida Department of Health reported 35,463 confirmed cases of COVID-19 in the state, an increase of 735 from yesterday’s latest update. There are now 12,632 confirmed cases in Miami-Dade and 5,257 cases in Broward. The total number of cases in Palm Beach County has now reached 3,080, and 79 cases have been reported in Monroe County. Health officials also reported 5,945 hospital admissions statewide. For a full breakdown of the cases in Florida, click here. Anyone with questions and concerns about the coronavirus can call the Florida Department of Health’s 24-hour hotline at 1-866-779-6121.
2 May 15:23 • WSVN 7News • https://wsvn.com/uncategorized/latest-covid-19-numbers-florida-cases-top-35000-as-deaths-exceed-1300/Rating: 0.30
Qatar reports 776 new coronavirus cases
Dubai: Qatar’s Ministry of Public Health (MoPH) has confirmed another 776 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of COVID-19 cases in the country to 14,872, Qatar News Agency reported Saturday. The ministry also revealed that 98 more people have recovered from the virus, bringing the total number of recoverie to 1,534. No fatalities were reported today, keeping the death toll at 12. The ministry said most of the new cases are expatriate workers who were infected with the virus as a result of contact with previously infected individuals. The remainder of cases are citizens and residents who contracted the virus from members of their families, who in turn had got the virus through their workplaces or other places where they got exposed to infected people. All the new infected cases have been quarantined and are receiving the necessary medical care. The ministry stated that the number of infected cases is expected to fluctuate during the current period.
2 May 12:43 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/gulf/qatar/qatar-reports-776-new-coronavirus-cases-1.71294330Rating: 3.21
Region's total of COVID-19 cases now 782
The number of positive COVID-19 cases across the region has risen to 782, according to new reports from The Region of Waterloo Public Health. On Saturday, Public Health confirmed one new case of COVID-19 as eight more cases were reported. The total number of resolved cases also went up to 330 and the region's total of COVID-19 related deaths is now 73. At this time, no new outbreaks are being reported, but Forest Heights Revera now has over 150 cases of COVID-19 with 35 deceased. Trinity Village is reporting the second highest number of cases with 33 residents and 32 staff members infected with COVID-19.
2 May 15:00 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-news/regions-total-of-covid-19-cases-now-782-2319067Rating: 0.30
Ukraine coronavirus update: 550 new cases in past day, bringing total to 11,411
Ukraine's Health Ministry says the total number of confirmed coronavirus cases across the country has reached 11,411. "According to the Public Health Center, there were 11,411 laboratory-confirmed cases of COVID-19 as of 09:00 Kyiv time on May 2, including 279 deaths. Some 1,498 patients have recovered. A total of 550 new cases have been recorded over the past day," the ministry said on Facebook in its morning update on May 2. Now the novel coronavirus was recorded in the following regions: 427 cases in Vinnytsia region; 315 in Volyn region; 436 in Dnipropetrovsk region; 70 in Donetsk region; 393 in Zhytomyr region; 496 in Zakarpattia region; 267 in Zaporizhia region; 942 in Ivano-Frankivsk region; 394 in Kirovohrad region; 1,494 in the city of Kyiv; 747 in Kyiv region; 465 in Lviv region; 37 in Luhansk region; 140 in Mykolayiv region; 329 in Odesa region; 212 in Poltava region; 689 in Rivne region; 105 in Sumy region; 823 in Ternopil region; 311 in Kharkiv region; 121 in Kherson region; 98 in Khmelnytsky region; 1,745 in Chernivtsi region; 304 in Cherkasy region; and 51 in Chernihiv region. Data from Russia-occupied areas – the Autonomous Republic of Crimea, the city of Sevastopol, parts of Donetsk and Luhansk regions – is not available. The tests were conducted with the use of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) in the Public Health Center's virological reference laboratory and regional laboratories. As of the morning of May 2, 2020, the Center had received 727 reports of suspected COVID-19 cases. In total, there have been 31,043 reports on suspected COVID-19 since the beginning of 2020.
2 May 11:57 • UNIAN • https://www.unian.info/society/coronavirus-in-ukraine-550-new-cases-in-past-day-10981415.htmlRating: 0.30
Turkey's Virus Death Toll Rises to 3,397
3 May 19:00
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Turkey's Virus Death Toll Rises to 3,397
Turkey’s health minister has announced 61 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest number in over a month. The country's total death toll stands at 3,397. Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that 1,670 more cases were confirmed, with the total number of infections now at 126,045. The daily increase is the lowest climb in over a month, but the number of administered tests has also decreased. The number of tests conducted in Turkey in the past 24 hours stood at 24,001, raising the total number of tests during the outbreak to more than 1.135 million, the health ministry said. Turkey ranks eighth in confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, but experts believe the tally around the world is higher than reported. The health minister said 4,892 people were discharged from hospitals Sunday, with total recoveries now above 63,000. The country extended restrictions put in place in early April of entry and exits from 31 Turkish cities for another day until President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the measures Monday.
3 May 19:00 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2265771/turkeys-virus-death-toll-rises-3397Rating: 2.10
Turkey records 61 new COVID-19 deaths, lowest in over a month
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s health minister has announced 61 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest number in over a month. The country’s total death toll stands at 3,397. Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that 1,670 more cases were confirmed, with the total number of infections now at 126,045. The daily increase is the lowest climb in over a month, but the number of administered tests has also decreased. Turkey ranks eighth in confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, but experts believe the tally around the world is higher than reported. The health minister said 4,892 people were discharged from hospitals Sunday, with total recoveries now above 63,000. The country extended restrictions put in place in early April of entry and exits from 31 Turkish cities for another day until President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the measures Monday. Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Associated Press
3 May 18:10 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/turkey-records-61-new-covid-19-deaths-lowest-in-over-a-month/Rating: 0.77
Turkey records 61 new COVID-19 deaths, lowest in over a month
ISTANBUL — Turkey’s health minister has announced 61 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest number in over a month. The country’s total death toll stands at 3,397. Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that 1,670 more cases were confirmed, with the total number of infections now at 126,045. The daily increase is the lowest climb in over a month, but the number of administered tests has also decreased. Turkey ranks eighth in confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, but experts believe the tally around the world is higher than reported. The health minister said 4,892 people were discharged from hospitals Sunday, with total recoveries now above 63,000. The country extended restrictions put in place in early April of entry and exits from 31 Turkish cities for another day until President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the measures Monday. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Associated Press
3 May 17:10 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/turkey-records-61-new-covid-19-deaths-lowest-in-over-a-month/Rating: 0.61
Malaysia reports 122 new COVID-19 cases, two deaths
KUALA LUMPUR: Malaysia reported 122 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Sunday (May 3), taking the total to 6,298 infections. It marks the third straight day of the case count creeping back up, just as the government prepares to ease movement restrictions. The health ministry also reported two more deaths, raising the total number of fatalities from the outbreak to 105. Of the new cases, 52 were imported, said the ministry on Twitter. One of the patients who died was an 82-year-old man who also had high blood pressure and heart disease. The other patient, a 64-year-old man, had a history of diabetes, high blood pressure, as well as kidney disease. Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin on Friday announced that most economic sectors in the country will open from May 4, with health protocols in place. Businesses such as cinemas, karaoke lounges and Ramadan bazaars will remain closed, as social distancing would be difficult to enforce in activities that involve mass gatherings. Sports activities that involve body contact and mass gatherings will not be allowed. These include football, rugby, swimming in public areas and all indoor sports. Outdoor activities such as badminton, tennis, cycling, golf and running in small groups with not more than 10 people will be permitted. Malaysia's movement control order (MCO) has been in place since Mar 18 and has been extended three times until May 12. The decision to ease restrictions sparked criticism in some quarters. Former prime minister Najib Razak, whose political party UMNO is part of the ruling coalition, said the easing of measures was "huge and sudden" and that there was no rush to reopen the economy, local media reported. Malaysia's finance minister said on Saturday that Malaysia's economy in 2020 could shrink more than initially forecast due to the extended MCO imposed to curb COVID-19. Malaysia's central bank had projected in April gross domestic product (GDP) growth of between -2 per cent and 0.5 per cent this year. The government will also announce an economic recovery plan later this month, added the minister. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 18:03 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/malaysia-reports-122-new-covid-19-cases-two-deaths-12697980Rating: 3.25
Over 10,000 COVID-19 Patients Fully Recover; National Doubling Rate Increased To 12 Days: Health Minister
In a major milestone moment in India's pushback against the COVID-19 pandemic, Union Minister for Health and Family Welfare Dr Harsh Vardhan shared today (3 May) that more than 10,000 confirmed patients of the disease have successfully recovered so far, reports Hindustan Times. Dr Vardhan also underscored that many more who are still admitted in hospitals across the nation are on the road to recovery. He further added that the nation has been successful in increasing the doubling rate of the COVID-19 cases in the nation to around 12 days. It should be noted that the doubling rate of cases in India has been consistently improving. Over the past 14 days, the doubling rate stood at 10.5 days. Also, India has achieved the aforementioned metrics while also ensuring a mortality rate of just 3.2 per cent which is the lowest, anywhere in the world. Meanwhile, it should be noted that the European nation of Belgium has the worst mortality rate of 15 per cent. The nation has reported around 50,000 COVID-19 cases of whom over 8,000 have died.
3 May 20:26 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/over-10000-covid-19-patients-fully-recover-national-doubling-rate-increased-to-12-days-health-ministerRating: 1.22
Israel's fatalities from coronavirus reach 232 - Inside Israel
The death toll in Israel from coronavirus has risen to 232, according to an update published on Sunday evening by the Ministry of Health. The number of cases stands at 6,227, with 94 in serious condition, and 76 of them on respirators. So far, 9,749 patients have recovered. Only 29 new cases of coronavirus were recorded in Israel over the last 24 hours, the lowest number in the past month and a half. The total number of people infected with the virus in Israel since the outbreak stands at 16,208. The Ministry of Health will on Monday bring for Cabinet approval a draft of the emergency regulations ahead of Lag Baomer, which will prohibit bonfires from May 11 to May 12, on Monday and Tuesday of next week. According to Channel 13 News, the entrance to Mount Meron will not be permitted to anyone who is not a resident of the area or who is not a qualified person. This provision has the exception that the ministers of Religious Affairs, Health, Interior and Transportation can grant exceptional permits to enter Mount Meron for lighting bonfires. The Ministry will publish its outline for a return to routine within about a month and a half. The next phase, which will take place in about a week, will see schools reopening for students in grades 4-6 as well as the reopening of hotels, markets, gyms and studios, swimming pools, professional sports without the presence of fans, libraries, museums and cultural institutions. In addition, classes in community centers will be permitted. The third phase, scheduled to start on May 31, will include the opening of banquet halls, restaurants, bars, cinemas and theaters. In the final stage, scheduled for June 14, all activities will be permitted, subject to maintaining distance between people and the wearing of masks.
3 May 23:43 • Israel National News • http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279615Rating: 0.83
'India's COVID-19 Mortality Rate Is The Lowest In The World': Dr. Harsh Vardhan
General News Written By Ananya Varma | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 16:32 IST India's COVID-19 mortality rate is the lowest in the world revealed Union Health and Family Welfare Minister Dr Harsh Vardhan on Sunday. India's mortality rate of COVID-19 is 3.2 percent with over 10,000 coronavirus patients discharged from hospitals after recovering from the disease so far, said the Health Minister. Along with that India's doubling rate has gone up from 10.5 days to 12 days. Read: WATCH: Indian Navy Helicopter Showers Flowers On Health Workers Of INHS Asvini In Mumbai Read: Maharashtra Government Allows Liquor Shops To Open In Red Zones, Issues Guidelines Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: Armed Forces Pay Tribute To COVID Warriors Ahead Of Lockdown 3.0 On Friday, the Central government announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 17. The new guidelines for the post-May 3 lockdown period grant more relaxations for Red zones, Orange zones, and Green zones. The movement of individuals for all non-essential activities shall remain strictly prohibited between 7 pm and 7 am. Moreover, persons above the age of 65, persons having comorbidities, pregnant women, and children below the age of 10 have been directed to stay at home. Out-patient departments and medical clinics can remain open in all zones barring for containment areas with social distancing norms. The death toll due to the novel Coronavirus rose to 1301 and the number of cases climbed to 39,980 in the country on Sunday, with 78 more deaths and 1,511 fresh cases being reported in the past 24 hours, according to the Union Health Ministry. The number of active COVID-19 cases stood at 28,046 as 10,632 people were cured and discharged, and one patient migrated, the ministry said. Read: India's COVID-19 Cases Near 40,000 Mark; Death Toll At 1,301; 10,632 Recoveries So Far Read: Dr Harsh Vardhan Speaks To Bihar Health Minister To Discuss AES, COVID-19 Outbreak
3 May 16:32 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/indias-covid-mortality-rate-lowest-in-the-world-union-health-min-har.htmlRating: 2.30
With 447 new infections and 8 new deaths, overall Covid-19 tally now at 6,783
Health minister Zweli Mkhize. Picture: Jacques Nelles In a statement on Sunday, Health Minister Zweli Mkhize confirmed that the total number of confirmed Covid-19 cases in South Africa has risen to 6,783. He reported that a further 8 Covid-19 related deaths were recorded: two from the Western Cape, four from the Eastern Cape and two from Gauteng, bringing the total deaths to 131. “We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and salute the health care workers who treated the deceased patients.” Dept of health The provincial infection breakdown was as follows: Testing Data “We also wish to indicate that as of 30 April 2020 7,216,777 citizens have been screened and from the Community Screening Programme and 72,087 were referred for testing. We thank all these compatriots for their solidarity with the programme and allowing our healthcare workers into the privacy of their homes.”
3 May 17:49 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/news/south-africa/breaking-news/2278224/with-447-new-infections-and-8-new-deaths-overall-covid-19-tally-now-at-6783/Rating: 1.26
COVID-19: Malaria cure symptomatic relativity worth examining
Kindly Share This Story: It is on record that the United States has a record of about 1,700 malaria fever cases every year from immigrants and travellers returning from countries where the disease is more common. The symptom is a serious and sometimes life-threatening tropical disease that spreads through parasites just like coronavirus. Records have it that it kills more than 445,000 people a year, many of them children in Africa. Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) is also an infectious disease caused by what the experts termed a new virus. The disease causes respiratory illness (like the flu) with symptoms such as a cough, fever, and in more severe cases, difficulty breathing. Coronavirus disease spreads primarily through contact with an infected person when they cough or sneeze. It also spreads when a person touches a surface or object that has the virus on it. With the emerging news of upsurge of coronavirus in highly populated towns and areas like Lagos and FTC Abuja, the need for cause examination of malaria/coronavirus relativity becomes a compelling necessity if in reality prevention will be found. Statistics shows that in the year 2018, Nigeria accounted for 25 percent of malaria fever cases worldwide, becoming the highest record in any country with occurrence in more than 100 countries and territories. Clustering of people in a thickly mass populated area like Lagos metropolis must no doubt encourage mosquito bites, which spread the malaria fever among the people. The highly welcome suggestion of Dr. Osagie Ehanire, Minister of Health on expansion of testing criteria on COVID- 19 to include cases with fever and respiratory tract symptoms but also all persons with fever respiratory tract symptoms must be an attractive approach to the menacing health problem currently confronting humanity. ALSO READ: Madagascar ships ‘Covid-Organics’ anti-virus potion to Guinea-Bissau The fact must be faced that coronavirus is a foreign disease imported to Nigeria with yet unknown cure whilst malaria is better known to Nigerians with known cure.One is of the strong opinion that Nigeria having rightly been acclaimed to be malaria conqueror of the world should have prompted our researchers, experts and institutions coming up with Malaria drugs capable at least also being applicable to treat coronavirus. If it took U.S President Donald Trump little or no time to reason that our already known malaria drug in Nigeria, chloroquine is capable of addressing coronavirus menace, nothing should have stopped us as a nation, accounting for 25 percent of malaria cases world wide coming up with a solution on the matter. Coronavirus epidemic has thrown the world economic and productive manufacturing off balance, informing unprecedented restrictive trade policies. Experience, we are told, is the best teacher. Oyo State Governor Seyi Makinde incidentally, was one of those who went into the coronavirus’ lion’s den and came out well, hale and hearty. The experience of such person could be promptly tapped on what drugs and solutions he used to treat himself. To borrow the words of our amiable Central Bank Governor Godwin Emefiele: “Although these developments are troubling, they present a clear opportunity to re- echo a persistent message the Central Bank of Nigeria has been sending for a long time, and at this time even more urgently so. We must look inwards as a nation and guarantee food security, high quality and affordable health care, and cutting edge education for our people.” Now with threatening global recession and food, drugs, medicine imports getting restricted what should a nation like Nigeria with no plan for self reliance do? COVID -19 symptoms seems to be a sister to malaria fever, our field of expertise, this is an opportunity for Nigeria to prove our prowess, not only in meeting health challenges, but to providing solutions to our other healthcare problems. The battle of wit on how to find a cure for COVID-19 with the method we have been using for years to cure malaria, acute malaria and related diseases etc. ought now to be deployed to tell the whole what Nigerians are capable of. *Agoro, Aladura Patriarch, is the Owa’Tapa of Itapa Ijesha and former presidential candidate, National Action Council (NAC). Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 16:35 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-malaria-cure-symptomatic-relativity-worth-examining/Rating: 2.43
Coronavirus symptoms: From ‘COVID toe’ to headaches
Chills, muscle pain, loss of taste and smell, and possibly a frostbite-like rash on your toes, are all suspected symptoms of the new coronavirus. As COVID-19 sweeps the globe, we learn more about it. In the past week, the Centres for Disease Control in America released a list of six new symptoms that can come with the deadly virus. Meanwhile, dermatologists around the world started investigating another possible symptom. Fever, cough, shortness of breath or difficulty breathing, chills, repeated shaking with chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat and new loss of taste or smell were all officially added to the symptom list in America. The CDC said COVID-19 patients had presented with a “wide range of symptoms” and they ranged from “mild symptoms to severe illness”. It also said there are a number of ‘emergency’ warning signs of COVID-19: Difficulty breathing, persistent pain or pressure in the chest, confusion or difficulty waking up, and bluish lips or face. A runny nose rarely occurs with the new coronavirus and sneezing has not yet been a known symptom. Dermatologists are also warning a rash on your feet could mean you’re carrying the coronavirus. More research is needed to determine if COVID-19 can cause a pinkish-reddish rash, but some dermatologists think this may be the case. The link was first noticed by French doctors in early April. They noted the rash had an “appearance of pseudo-frostbite” and “persistent, sometimes painful redness, and transient hive lesions”. Esther Freeman, director of Global Health & Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor at Harvard Medical School, said “COVID toe” had been seen by some doctors in the US. “We’re seeing this inflammatory response that we would normally see when someone was exposed to the cold temperature … like someone who has been playing outside with wet socks,” Dr Freeman told CBS News. “However, in this setting, we’re seeing it in warm climates and we’re seeing it in patients who have been indoors and sheltering in place.” She said the data so far showed those people likely to get it were asymptomatic or had milder symptoms and it usually went away within two weeks without treatment. The rash seemed to affect younger patients, including those in their 20s or 30s. As the cases of coronavirus continue to rise, frontline healthcare workers and researchers are seeing new symptoms. But according to the World Health Organisation, the most common ones are fever, dry cough and tiredness. “Some patients may have aches and pains, nasal congestion, sore throat or diarrhoea,” reads the WHO’s website. “These symptoms are usually mild and begin gradually. Some people become infected but only have very mild symptoms.” The Australian health department said the range of symptoms can vary wildly. “Symptoms of COVID-19 can range from mild illness to pneumonia. Some people will recover easily, and others may get very sick very quickly,” it said. “People with coronavirus may experience fever, symptoms such as coughing, a sore throat and fatigue, shortness of breath.” Symptoms typically last for seven to 10 days and those that experience them should seek medical help, it said. “If you are sick and think you have symptoms of COVID-19, seek medical advice. If you want to talk to someone about your symptoms, call the National Coronavirus Helpline [1800 020 080] for advice.”
3 May 22:00 • The New Daily • https://thenewdaily.com.au/news/2020/05/03/coronavirus-symptoms-list-toes/Rating: 0.78
Only nine known coronavirus deaths on Saturday; N. Brabant no longer hardest hit province
The Netherlands reached a troubling milestone on Sunday, with over 5,000 confirmed fatal cases involving someone who tested positive for a coronavirus infection. Public health agency RIVM confirmed another 69 deaths in an update, including 9 who died on Saturday. As it stands now, the single-digit figure of coronavirus-related deaths was the first since March 13. Delays in data reporting and testing updates are likely to lead to an increase in all reported deaths. For example, the other deaths reported by the agency took place between March 25 and May 1, bringing the total up to 5,056. Since the pandemic began, 10,995 have required hospitalization after testing positive for the virus, an increase of 44. Twelve of those included in the total were known to have been hospitalized on Sunday, while the rest were scattered starting on March 16. Generally, the number of new patient admissions has been on a downward trend since May 24, while daily registered deaths have declined since May 31. The number of people with Covid-19 in intensive care has also fallen steadily since a peak on April 9, reaching a busy but more normal level on Saturday. To date, 40,571 people have tested positive for the viral infection, an increase of 335 since the last set of figures was reported on Saturday. By Friday nearly 226 thousand people had been tested for coronavirus. More tests were being carried out over the weekend, but the amount of tests was not likely to be known until Monday. The latest report from the RIVM also showed that the southern province of Noord-Brabant was no longer home to the most infections in the country, for the first time since reporting began. Zuid-Holland, the province which includes Rotterdam, The Hague, and Leiden, now had more infected residents than any of the 12 provinces. Some 8,416 residents in Zuid-Holland have tested positive for coronavirus since late February, compared to 8,404 in Noord-Brabant. Both provinces represent approximately 20.7 percent of all infected persons in the Netherlands. Noord-Brabant was home to the first person to have reported a positive coronavirus test in the Netherlands. Soon after, several members of the man's family tested positive, as did hundreds of others in the province, as the number of cases there surged between the end of February through the third week in March. Infections there began to slow as residents there were the first in the Netherlands to be advised to stay at home as much as possible, while keeping distance from others. At the same time, the number of cases in Zuid-Holland and Gelderland surged before finally beginning to taper off after Easter.
3 May 11:56 • NL Times • https://nltimes.nl/2020/05/03/nine-known-coronavirus-deaths-saturday-n-brabant-longer-hardest-hit-provinceRating: 0.33
Turkey records 61 new COVID-19 deaths, lowest in over a month
ISTANBUL (AP) — Turkey’s health minister has announced 61 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest number in over a month. The country’s total death toll stands at 3,397. Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that 1,670 more cases were confirmed, with the total number of infections now at 126,045. The daily increase is the lowest climb in over a month, but the number of administered tests has also decreased. Turkey ranks eighth in confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, but experts believe the tally around the world is higher than reported. The health minister said 4,892 people were discharged from hospitals Sunday, with total recoveries now above 63,000. The country extended restrictions put in place in early April of entry and exits from 31 Turkish cities for another day until President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the measures Monday. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak The Associated Press
3 May 10:09 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/turkey-records-61-new-covid-19-deaths-lowest-in-over-a-month/Rating: 0.74
MOH: Senior citizens most vulnerable to Covid-19, should keep staying at home despite CMCO
KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — Ahead of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) tomorrow, the Ministry of Health (MOH) has advised senior citizens and those with non-communicable diseases (NCD) to stay at home since they are more vulnerable to Covid-19. Its director-general Datuk Dr Noor Hisham Abdullah told his daily Covid-19 press conference that based on their study, the elderly is the most vulnerable group to being infected and killed by the deadly novel coronavirus, followed by those suffering from NCDs. “Based on our mortality review on 99 out of the 105 Covid-19 deaths in Malaysia, we have found that those in the age group between 61 and 70 have the highest death rate which is 32 cases or 32.2 per cent. “The second largest age group belongs to those aged between 71 and 80 with 19 cases or 19.2 per cent. “Even though we do not fully understand the Covid-19 pandemic, what is clear is that the infection and death risks increase according to age and to those with NCD such as heart diseases, diabetes, cancer and kidney problems,” said Dr Noor Hisham. In light of the statistics, Dr Noor Hisham said it is clear that the senior citizens are the highest risk group and must be protected by all parties. He added that following the MOH’s standard operating procedures (SOP) on social distancing and cleanliness among others are critical to ensure that the senior citizens are protected from the virus. The good doctor reminded family members with the elderly at home to prioritise their safety by following the SOPs and avoid leaving the house as much as possible to reduce the chances of infection. “Families that care for senior citizens are encouraged to maintain Covid-19 prevention measures because they have the potential to infect their parents or grandparents. “They should quickly take their elders for treatment if they are ill, ensure that they have enough medical supplies and don’t skip any medical appointments,” said Dr Noor Hisham. He reiterated his advice that those aged 60 and above should avoid leaving their homes unless it is extremely necessary and to avoid the three Cs — crowded places, confined places and close conversation. At the same time, the ministry has also decided to conduct Covid-19 screening to all workers and residents of senior citizen nursing homes in phases beginning with 17 Rumah Sri Kenangan and Rumah Ehsan under the Welfare Department. “The Health Ministry is aware that there are nearly or more than 1,000 private nursing homes for senior citizens that are not registered under any Acts. “The District Health Departments have been tasked to identify these nursing homes as well as Islamic religious schools (“pondok agama”) in their respective districts to ensure that the Covid-19 screening is holistic,” said Dr Noor Hisham.
3 May 10:06 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/03/moh-senior-citizens-most-vulnerable-to-covid-19-keep-staying-at-home-despit/1862635Rating: 1.42
Health Minister expresses hope as over 10,000 recover from Covid-19 in India
Union Health Minister Dr Harsh Vardhar on Sunday said that the number of patients who have recovered from coronavirus in the country has crossed the 10,000-mark. Many more, who are still admitted in hospitals, “are on the road to recovery,” he said as reported by news agency ANI. The health minister said that the doubling rate of Covid-19 cases in the country is around 12 days today as compared to 10.5 days in the last 14 days. “Our mortality rate of 3.2% is the lowest in the world,” Dr Vardhan said. The number of people who have recovered from coronavirus or have been discharged from hospitals across India stands at 10,632. With 28,046 active Covid-19 cases and 1,301 fatalities, coronavirus cases in the country near the 40,000-mark in India with 39,980 total cases. With over 3% of fatality ratio, India’s Covid-19 mortality rate is among the lowest in the world. Also read: How does Covid-19 mortality rate differ across countries Johns Hopkins University suggests coronavirus-affected countries across the globe have reported very different “case fatality ratios”. The ratio is the number of deaths divided by the number of confirmed cases. The University states that the number of fatalities can differ across regions owing to the following factors: - Differences in the number of people tested: With more testing, more people with milder cases are identified. This lowers the case-fatality ratio. - Demographics: For example, mortality tends to be higher in older populations. - Characteristics of the healthcare system: For example, mortality may rise as hospitals become overwhelmed and have fewer resources, among other factors. “Countries at the top of the figure have the most deaths proportionally to their Covid-19 cases or population, not necessarily the most deaths overall,” it says. According to the data, Belgium tops the list of countries with highest Covid-19 fatality ratio with 15% Covid-19 mortality rate. The country has around 50,000 coronavirus patients and nearly 8,000 fatalities.
3 May 09:30 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/health-minister-expresses-hope-as-over-10-000-recover-from-covid-19-in-india/story-OeoQajofj3kd1xuxU1HLsN.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus impact: UK Doctor alerts Indians that poor diet major cause behind COVID-19 deaths
Western countries such as the US and the UK have seen some of the highest death rates from COVID-19 in the world, which are likely to correlate with unhealthy lifestyles Poor diet is a major cause behind the COVID-19 deaths and the Indians must urgently cut down on ultra-processed food to build resilience against the deadly virus, a leading Indian-origin cardiologist in the UK has cautioned. Dr Aseem Malhotra, who is among the UK's National Health Service (NHS) frontline medics and also a professor of evidence-based medicine, said that obesity and excess weight were the "elephant in the room" that needs to be addressed as a major factor behind the deaths from the coronavirus. "India is particularly vulnerable, having a very high prevalence of lifestyle-related diseases," says the 42-year-old medic, who is on a mission to spread awareness around lifestyle changes as a major weapon in the fight against coronavirus. "Specifically, conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease are three of the major risk factors for death from COVID-19. This is rooted in excess body fat, a cluster of conditions known as a metabolic syndrome," he noted. Western countries such as the US and the UK have seen some of the highest death rates from COVID-19 in the world, which are likely to correlate with unhealthy lifestyles. "The elephant in the room is that the baseline general health in many Western populations was already in a horrendous state, to begin with. In the UK and US, more than 60 per cent of adults are overweight or obese," he pointed out. In the US, less than one in eight people are metabolically healthy, which means having normal blood pressure, having a weight circumference if you are a man less than a 102cm and less than 88cm for a woman and healthy levels of blood sugar and good cholesterol. "There's no such thing as a healthy weight, only a healthy person. If people try to maintain all these metabolic health parameters through a healthy lifestyle, this could potentially be achieved within a few weeks of just a change of diet," says Malhotra, who is from New Delhi. A recent report in the 'Nature' science journal revealed that patients with Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome might have up to 10 times greater risk of death when they contract COVID-19 and called for mandatory glucose and metabolic control of Type 2 diabetes patients to improve outcomes. Malhotra warns that the medications that are used for Type 2 diabetes and many of the other conditions have "very, very marginal effects" in terms of improving lifespan or reducing the risk of death, which most people are not made aware of, and they also come with side effects. "This is not to say that medications should be discontinued but the lifestyle changes are considerably more impactful on health and will reduce the need for medication. The positive news is that you can reverse this, but it is not being made aware to patients or practised by the majority of physicians as lifestyle prescriptions in India," he said. Based on his own clinical experience and also reflected across medical literature, the expert recommends giving up ultra-processed foods, which covers any packaged food that comes with five or more ingredients, because usually, these are high in sugar, starch, unhealthy oils, additives and preservatives. In the UK, these foods now represent more than 50 per cent of the diet, which he says is "really quite staggering and shocking". Similar figures are there for the US and probably to some degree reflect why there is specifically more increased death rates from COVID-19 in these countries. "So, what I would advise the Indian population is to completely cut out these types of food from their diet, make sure that you are cooking from scratch, do not snack," the doctor said. "Beyond that, the other issue in Indian diet is that we have a very high intake of refined carbohydrate foods, these are also foods that are particularly harmful in excess because they raise glucose and insulin and therefore rooted in many of these chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease - this involves too much consumption of flour and white rice. "These must be swapped with a variety of whole foods such as vegetables and fruits and for those who are non-vegetarians, it is completely fine to eat red meat as well as full-fat dairy products, eggs, fish etc," he said. In reference to recent data on the higher risk faced by black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK from coronavirus, the NHS doctor believes that disparity is also cultural or lifestyle-related. "South Asians have been found vulnerable because the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is three-four-fold higher in the population. Indians, therefore, I think have to be extra careful with their diet and what they are consuming and they should also not have the illusion of protection just because they are given a normal body mass index (BMI). Extra body fat, particularly around the waist, is much more detrimental to health than using outdated indices such as BMI to define health risk," he said. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: 78% people want ecommerce sites to sell non-essential items too, shows survey Also Read: China mocks US' response to coronavirus in short animation 'Once Upon a Virus' Also Read: Major milestone! India conducts 1 million coronavirus tests
3 May 09:00 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/coronavirus-impact-uk-doctor-alerts-indians-that-poor-diet-major-cause-behind-covid-19-deaths/story/402735.htmlRating: 2.10
UK doctor alerts Indians to poor diet link with Coronavirus deaths
London, May 3: Poor diet is a major cause behind the COVID-19 deaths and the Indians must urgently cut down on ultra-processed food to build resilience against the deadly virus, a leading Indian-origin cardiologist in the UK has cautioned. Dr Aseem Malhotra, who is among the UK's National Health Service (NHS) frontline medics and also a professor of evidence based medicine, said that obesity and excess weight were the "elephant in the room" that need to be addressed as a major factor behind the deaths from the coronavirus. "India is particularly vulnerable, having a very high prevalence of lifestyle related diseases," says the 42-year-old medic, who is on a mission to spread awareness around lifestyle changes as a major weapon in the fight against coronavirus. "Specifically, conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure, heart disease are three of the major risk factors for death from COVID-19. This is rooted in excess body fat, a cluster of conditions known as a metabolic syndrome," he noted. Western countries such as the US and the UK have seen some of the highest death rates from COVID-19 in the world, which are likely to correlate with unhealthy lifestyles. "The elephant in the room is that the baseline general health in many Western populations was already in a horrendous state to begin with. In the UK and US, more than 60 per cent of adults are overweight or obese," he pointed out. In the US, less than one in eight people are metabolically healthy, which means having normal blood pressure, having a weight circumference if you are a man less than a 102cm and less than 88cm for a woman and healthy levels of blood sugar and good cholesterol. "There's no such thing as a healthy weight, only a healthy person. If people try to maintain all these metabolic health parameters through a healthy lifestyle, this could potentially be achieved within a few weeks of just a change of diet," says Malhotra, who is from New Delhi. A recent report in the 'Nature' science journal revealed that patients with Type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome might have up to 10 times greater risk of death when they contract COVID-19 and called for mandatory glucose and metabolic control of Type 2 diabetes patients to improve outcomes. Malhotra warns that the medications that are used for Type 2 diabetes and many of the other conditions have "very, very marginal effects" in terms of improving lifespan or reducing risk of death, which most people are not made aware of, and they also come with side effects. "This is not to say that medications should be discontinued but the lifestyle changes are considerably more impactful on health and will reduce the need for medication. The positive news is that you can reverse this, but it is not being made aware to patients or practised by the majority of physicians as lifestyle prescriptions in India," he said. Based on his own clinical experience and also reflected across medical literature, the expert recommends giving up ultra-processed foods, which covers any packaged food that comes with five or more ingredients, because usually these are high in sugar, starch, unhealthy oils, additives and preservatives. In the UK, these foods now represent more than 50 per cent of the diet, which he says is "really quite staggering and shocking". Similar figures are there for the US and probably to some degree reflect why there is specifically more increased death rates from COVID-19 in these countries. "So, what I would advise the Indian population is to completely cut out these types of food from their diet, make sure that you are cooking from scratch, do not snack," the doctor said. "Beyond that, the other issue in Indian diet is that we have a very high intake of refined carbohydrate foods, these are also foods that are particularly harmful in excess because they raise glucose and insulin and therefore rooted in many of these chronic conditions such as Type 2 diabetes, high blood pressure and heart disease - this involves too much consumption of flour and white rice. "These must be swapped with a variety of wholefoods such as vegetables and fruits and for those who are non-vegetarians, it is completely fine to eat red meat as well as full fat dairy products, eggs, fish etc," he said. In reference to recent data on the higher risk faced by black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) communities in the UK from coronavirus, the NHS doctor believes that disparity is also cultural or lifestyle related. "South Asians have been found vulnerable because the prevalence of metabolic syndrome is three-four-fold higher in the population. Indians, therefore, I think have to be extra careful with their diet and what they are consuming and they should also not have the illusion of protection just because they are given a normal body mass index (BMI). Extra body fat, particularly around the waist, is much more detrimental to health than using outdated indices such as BMI to define health risk," he said.
3 May 04:17 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/international/uk-doctor-alerts-indians-to-poor-diet-link-with-coronavirus-deaths-3082013.htmlRating: 0.30
6,783 confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa – as deaths climb to 131
Health minister Dr Zweli Mkhize has announced that there are now 6,783 positive Covid-19 cases in South Africa. This is up by 447 from the 6,336 Covid-19 cases announced on Saturday – and the highest 24-hour tally to date in the country. Dr Mkhize said in a statement on Sunday evening (3 May), that a further eight people have died from the virus, taking total deaths to 131. He added that a total of 245,747 people have been tested, with 15,061 people tested in the past 24 hours. Mkhize said that more than 7.2 million South Africans have been screened. Globally, coronavirus cases top 3.5 million, with deaths at more than 245,000, and around 1.13 million recoveries. Deaths from the coronavirus declined in Spain and Germany, putting pressure on political leaders to further ease restrictions that have strangled Europe’s economy, Bloomberg reported. The euro-area economy could shrink as much as 12% this year and fail to return to its pre-coronavirus size until the end of 2022, the European Central Bank said last week. And with a turning point in sight, with the infection’s spread slowing and lockdown measures being gradually lifted, the WHO is promoting the Swedish way of doing things, Bloomberg said. “Sweden represents a future model… if we wish to get back to a society in which we don’t have lockdowns,” the WHO’s Mike Ryan said, praising the way Swedes are trusted to “self-regulate.” In Sweden, restaurants, bars and schools have stayed open, and social distancing is encouraged rather than enforced by police. When looking at all-cause mortality — which is probably a better gauge of the real level of coronavirus deaths — Sweden has been hit with “very high” excess deaths since the start of the year, according to the European body monitoring these statistics. Like other countries, it has experienced a surge in deaths in care homes, where about one in three virus deaths is estimated to have taken place. Staff are expected to “self-regulate” but, according to reports, they don’t always do so. Swedes are becoming increasingly unconcerned about keeping their distance as time goes on, as images of packed restaurants indicate. Public-health officials have warned about their behavior. In Stockholm they’ve threatened to shut bars and restaurants. Sweden may very well turn out to be a relative winner of sorts, especially economically. It will probably experience a shorter and less severe slowdown than its European neighbors, said Torbjorn Isaksson, an analyst at Nordea Bank. Prepare for returning employees With a number of workers set to return to work from Monday under level 4 of lockdown, the Labour Department has drafted the minimum guidelines for employers to ensure the workplace is safe for returning employees. These guidelines come as government gradually reopens the economy under level 4 of lockdown while ensuring that the spread of Covid-19 is contained. Under these guidelines, returning employees must wear masks at work. Employers must also require members of the public entering a workplace to wear masks. Employers must provide each employee, free of charge, with at least two cloth masks to wear while at work or commuting. Employees with Covid-19 symptoms must not be at work and employers must grant paid sick leave or apply for COVID-19 Temporary Employee/Employer Relief Scheme (TERS) benefits. Employers must further appoint a manager from within the existing structure to address the concerns of employees and workplace representatives. “They must take measures to minimise the contact between workers and between workers and the public to prevent transmission. “They must minimise the number of workers in the workplace at any time through shift or working arrangements to achieve social distancing,” said labour minister Thulas Nxesi. The guidelines also require the employer to provide employees with information concerning Covid-19 and how to prevent its transmission. Employers are also required to report any diagnosis of Covid-19 at work to the Health Department and the Labour Department of Employment and, investigate the cause, and take appropriate measures. Social distancing With regard to social distancing, workplaces must be arranged to ensure a minimum of 1.5 meters between workers. If this is not practicable, physical barriers must be erected and workers must be supplied free of charge with appropriate Personal Protective Equipment (PPE). Social distancing must be implemented in all common areas in and around the workplace to prevent crowding, including working spaces, canteens and meeting rooms. Screening In relation to screening, employers must screen workers for symptoms of Covid-19 at the time that they report for work. Workers with symptoms must be placed in isolation and arrangements made for their safe transport for a medical examination or for self-isolation. Sanitisers and disinfectants Employers are also required to provide sufficient quantities of hand sanitiser with at least 70% alcohol content. Communal and shared equipment must be regularly cleaned and disinfected. In relation to enforcement, labour inspectors are empowered to promote, monitor and enforce compliance with the directives. Failure to comply with the directives may result in the closure of contravening businesses.
3 May 00:00 • BusinessTech • https://businesstech.co.za/news/business/394678/6783-confirmed-coronavirus-cases-in-south-africa-as-deaths-climb-to-131/Rating: 1.45
Big increase in COVID-19 cases in South Africa
South Africa now has 6,783 coronavirus cases, according to Health Minister Zweli Mkhize. This is an increase of 447 cases in the last 24 hours, and the number of deaths related to COVID-19 has increased by eight. The total number of COVID-19 related deaths in South Africa is now 131, Mkhize said. “Regrettably, we report a further eight COVID-19 related deaths: two from Western Cape, four from the Eastern Cape, and two from Gauteng,” Mkhize said. “We wish to express our condolences to the families of the deceased and salute the health care workers who treated the diseased patients.” The full provincial breakdown of coronavirus cases in South Africa is shown below. Mkhize added that as of 30 April, 7,216,777 citizens have been screened for the coronavirus, with around 1% being referred for testing. “We also wish to indicate that as of 30 April 2020, 7,216,777 citizens have been screened and from that Community Screening Programme 72,087 were referred for testing.” “We thank all those compatriots for their solidarity with the programme and allowing our health care workers into the privacy of their homes,” Mkhize added. The testing data provided by the department of health shows that of the 245,747 tests conducted, 50% have been conducted by the private sector, with the other half coming from the public sector. Of the 15,061 new tests, 11,900 were conducted by the private sector, the department stated.
3 May 00:00 • MyBroadband • https://mybroadband.co.za/news/trending/350444-big-increase-in-covid-19-cases-in-south-africa.htmlRating: 1.91
Turkey records 61 new COVID-19 deaths, lowest in over a month
ISTANBUL (AP) - Turkey’s health minister has announced 61 new deaths from COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, which is the lowest number in over a month. The country’s total death toll stands at 3,397. Fahrettin Koca tweeted Sunday that 1,670 more cases were confirmed, with the total number of infections now at 126,045. The daily increase is the lowest climb in over a month, but the number of administered tests has also decreased. Turkey ranks eighth in confirmed cases, according to Johns Hopkins University, but experts believe the tally around the world is higher than reported. The health minister said 4,892 people were discharged from hospitals Sunday, with total recoveries now above 63,000. The country extended restrictions put in place in early April of entry and exits from 31 Turkish cities for another day until President Recep Tayyip Erdogan reviews the measures Monday.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/turkey-records-61-new-covid-19-deaths-lowest-in-ov/Rating: 0.79
"COVID toes" may be coronavirus symptom
There is still much to learn about the novel coronavirus, including a wide range of symptoms that appears to be expanding. Common symptoms of the respiratory illness include fever, cough, shortness of breath and chills, but some doctors have reported less obvious symptoms in some patients — including what some are calling "COVID toes" and other skin ailments. Esther Freeman, director of Global Health & Dermatology at Massachusetts General Hospital and an assistant professor a Harvard Medical School, said "COVID toe" cases look similar to pernio or chilblains, a condition of inflamed blood vessels caused by cold temperatures. "We're seeing this inflammatory response that we would normally see when someone was exposed to the cold temperature... like someone who has been playing outside with wet socks," Freeman told CBS News. "However, in this setting, we're seeing it in warm climates and we're seeing it in patients who have been indoors and sheltering in place." Freeman said it's not unusual for a virus to cause a rash, so most dermatologists aren't surprised that COVID-19 could cause skin symptoms. "What is surprising to me are these 'COVID toes,' these pernio-like lesions...because we haven't seen as many reports of these in other viruses." Freeman is a practicing dermatologist at Massachusetts General Hospital who has been seeing patients via tele-health video appointments. "I have seen more toes in the past two weeks in my clinic than I have in my entire previous career combined," said Freeman, who is a member of American Academy of Dermatology (AAD) COVID-19 task force. Aside from seeing skin symptoms in her own patients, Freeman has also received examples of these symptoms from health care providers all over the world. The AAD COVID-19 task force set up an international registry for physicians to send in examples of dermatological manifestations of COVID-19, to help further the study of these symptoms. Physicians from 21 different countries have sent in information to the registry so far. Freeman said "COVID toes" have been seen in both children and adults. They are sometimes present along with more typical coronavirus symptoms, and sometimes they are the only symptom the patient is experiencing. "Actually, about half of the registry is experiencing something other than toes," Freeman said. Some physicians have also reported seeing skin conditions that look like morbilliform (measles-like) rashes, hives or chickenpox. In fact, one of the first case series of dermatologic manifestations included 18 Italian patients with several skin abnormalities including redness, hives and rashes, often on their torsos, Freeman and her colleagues write in the Journal of American Academy of Dermatology. Freeman says her own patients tend to come to her with two main concerns. "The first thing they want to know is 'My toes are purple, am I going to get really sick?' I can be reassuring that most of the patients in our registry, most of the data that we're looking at, are doing really very well," Freeman said. "The second thing my patients want to know is, 'Am I potentially infectious? Could I be infecting my family members?'" Freeman said it is important to be cautious because some "COVID toe" patients might still be infectious and should talk to their doctor about getting a coronavirus test. "The overall message I want to tell the public is not to panic," Freeman said. "Most of our patients who have these 'COVID toes' are doing extremely well." "If you need to go to the ER because you're otherwise sick or you have other symptoms you need to be evaluated for, that's fine. But if the only symptom you have is purple toes, you don't need to go rushing into the ER," Freeman said, adding that if a patient does experience toe or skin abnormalities, they should talk to their physician. A group of researchers from Belgium and Oregon published a study documenting a case of so-called "COVID toes" in a 23-year-old man. JAAD A team of dermatologists from Brussels, Belgium and and Portland, Oregon have also studied toe and skin infections in relation to COVID-19. In a case report published in JAAD, they say it's important for dermatologists to recognize the signs. The researchers write about a 23-year-old man who had "acute-onset" purplish and painful plaques on his toes and the outer side of his feet for three days. For several days before that, he'd also had a low-grade fever and dry cough. After a complete skin examination, the patient tested positive for COVID-19. The researchers say he was diagnosed with "COVID-19 infection–induced chilblains," the medical term for the skin sores. Similar cases have been observed by French and Belgian dermatologists, but had not been previously reported due to lack of testing, the researchers said. "Young patients presenting with chilblains have lacked criteria sufficient to allow for a COVID-19 PCR test," according to the study. "Because of the recent outbreak of chilblains, concurrent with the increase of COVID-19 cases, COVID-19 has been widely suspected as the etiology," or cause, they write. This study looked COVID-19 chilblains cases in children and young adults, whose feet have been more affected than their hands. "Chilblains may be the inaugural symptom of COVID-19, and a fever and dry cough may be minimal or even absent," according to the study. Saturday Sessions: M. Ward performs "Heaven's Nail and Hammer" Saturday Sessions: M. Ward performs "Rio Drone" Saturday Sessions: M. Ward performs Billie Holiday's "For Heaven's Sake"
2 May 13:27 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/covid-toes-may-coronavirus-symptom-191234494.htmlRating: 0.30
Does the COVID-19 crisis pose more danger for asthma sufferers in Nigeria?
BY SUNDAY OMEIKE It is the era of COVID-19, an infectious disease caused by the novel coronavirus that has resulted in three million cases worldwide. Countries initiated lockdowns to curb the spread of the respiratory illness, still without a cure, and over two million are still battling for their lives while a million have recovered so far. Recovery led to global campaign against stigmatization of survivors, and recently, Nigeria with over 200 recoveries joined the cause. The many signs and symptoms of COVID-19 are still being understood but commonly known progression is fever, coughs then shortness of breath that would require hospitalization. Nigerians have been well sensitized about these symptoms and a major preventive measure is social distancing to avoid respiratory droplets, therefore coughing and sneezing in public places are met with disdain rather than the usual “sorry” or “bless you” due to the CODIV-19 era. However, these common COVID-19 symptoms — except for fever — mirror those suffered by people battling with other forms of respiratory illnesses such as pneumonia, bronchitis, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and also asthma. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), asthma affects people of all ages. The disease is incurable and could be fatal in the event of a sudden attack. It is however non-communicable unlike COVID-19. The global health agency’s 2019 asthma figures show that 200 million people are affected globally and over 80% of asthma-related deaths occur in low and lower-middle income countries. Nigeria is one of such countries, and a 2017-2018 survey reported diagnosis of approximately 13 million asthmatic individuals in the country. Due to similarities in symptoms of both diseases, there is the possibility of people suffering asthma attack being prejudiced as COVID-19 patients by hospitals. While COVID-19 survivors are fighting stigmatization after winning the battle to life, should asthmatic individuals and others suffering some form of non-communicable respiratory illnesses suffer stereotyping and possibly lose the right to life? As one who suffers this condition, the concern has grown into palpable fear as I recollected two scenarios I previously found myself before COVID-19 set foot in the country. Sometime in November 2019, I woke up to a sudden asthma attack — few hours before dawn — that defied reprieve usually offered by a Ventolin inhaler, 8 mg of Salbutamol tablets was ineffective and natural tricks brought no reprieve. Sauntering out of my apartment alone in the dark to the major road, vigilantes who saw my struggles rallied around me until I got a commercial motorcycle that raced to the clinic in record time. Coughing, sweating and breathlessly struggling for life, two nurses and a doctor threw caution into the wind and swung into action to save me. Two hours later I was on my way to work! Similarly, I recently shared, with three other occupants in close proximity, a taxicab moving behind a heavy-duty truck emitting a thick cloud of smoke from its exhaust. Despite the use of handkerchief, bronchospasm set in within minutes and led to sneezes, intense coughs and breathing difficulty. Sympathy reigned as I took long deep breaths after two puffs of my Ventolin inhaler. I regained proper use of my lungs and the driver further helped by tactfully overtaking the truck. I doubt asthmatic individuals would retain luxury of this emergency response and empathy enjoyed in those situations in the present reality due to similarity of symptoms with COVID-19! Coughing and sneezing are now frowned against in the public and could elicit abusive words, while signs of breathing difficulty requiring urgent medical attention could lead to commuters and onlookers scampering to safety. Worse still, the situation could turn into a spectacle, especially with this clout-chasing social media populace that could make a video of the incident and term it “a COVID-19 patient about to die on the street after showing symptoms” instead of helping a dying individual. This situation is already upon us, with reports of public stigmatization emanating from Bauchi state, and hospitals reportedly threading with caution before accepting outpatients, and outright rejection in many, especially those exhibiting fever and respiratory symptoms. This also recently resulted in the loss of a pneumonia-suffering individual at the General Hospital in Lagos state. Rushed to the hospital, he was left unattended until his death which the hospital wanted to report as suspected COVID-19. This could be the new, sad and undeserved reality of millions of individuals managing respiratory illnesses in Nigeria. Therefore, as the lockdown begins to ease in major cities across the country from next week, stereotyping and stigmatization of people in respiratory crisis should be avoided by medical personnel and the public. We should acknowledge the possibility of encountering and helping asthma sufferers, and others with chronic respiratory illnesses not related to COVID-19, while still practicing safety measures. Their survival could depend on those first few minutes of the encounter. Copyright 2020 TheCable. All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from TheCable.Follow us on twitter @Thecablestyle
2 May 17:20 • TheCable Lifestyle • https://lifestyle.thecable.ng/does-the-covid-19-crisis-pose-more-danger-for-asthma-sufferers-in-nigeria/Rating: 0.30
France says 166 more deaths from COVID-19 taking toll to 24,760
PARIS (Reuters) - The number of people who have died from coronavirus infections in France rose by 166 to 24,760 on Saturday while hospitalisations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the French health ministry said. Saturday’s daily tally was markedly lower than the 218 recorded on Friday. The number of people in hospital with COVID-19 fell to 25,827 from 25,887 on Friday, and the number of people in intensive care with COVID-19 fell to 3,827 from 3,878. Both numbers have been on a downward trend for more than two weeks.
2 May 19:43 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-toll-idUSKBN22E0QXRating: 4.04
Pennsylvania Doctor: Coronavirus May Be Less Deadly than Feared
University of Pittsburgh Medical Center Dr. Donald Yealy said on Thursday he believes the coronavirus death rate is much lower than feared, and he sees hospitals returning to normalcy soon. “We’ve learned that way more people, far, far more people have actually been exposed to the infection without any knowledge of it,” Dr. Yealy, chair of emergency medicine explained during an extended conversation with reporters. “That makes the overall death rate much lower. Many people just didn’t feel sick at all and recovered without difficulty.” Yealy cited studies of New York and California, alongside the official death counts due to the COVID-19 coronavirus in Pittsburgh. Studies found that somewhere between five and twenty percent of the populations had been infected, with the majority facing only minor illness — and many remained completely asymptomatic. Yealy raised a hypothetical situation, in which roughly three percent of Allegheny County residents were infected. That would mean an estimated 36,000 people contracted COVID-19. As of Thursday, the novel coronavirus death toll for Allegheny County is sitting at 94. That puts the death rate closer to .25 percent than current estimates as high as seven percent. “There is a big difference between 0.25% mortality and 7%,” he said. There are, of course, many caveats. First among them is that Allegheny has only reported about 1,300 patients who tested positive. Second, it is impossible to say how many deaths can be attributed to the virus without proactive testing — impossible outside of already-critical cases with the current supply. It is also important to note that even at .25 percent, the coronavirus would still be nearly three times as deadly as influenza, which is estimated at around .1 percent fatality. But the doctor said that “2% percent of the UPMC system’s 5,500 beds are occupied by COVID-19 patients,” and the hospital is seeing a decline in new cases. Dr. Rachel Sackrowitz, the chief medical officer for UPMC’s intensive care units, told reporters that 234 COVID-19 patients have recovered and been released. “This is very good news. It means people are getting better and we’re all on the right track together,” she said. Dr. Sackrowitz hesitated to make any guesses about the danger of a nationwide relapse and focused on a long-term evaluation: “What I suspect is COVID-19 will be a part of our experience treating patients for an extended [period of] months to maybe years,” she said.
2 May 00:12 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/01/pennsylvania-doctor-coronavirus-may-be-less-deadly-than-feared/Rating: 0.30
Tips for pregnant women to stay safe from COVID-19
Pregnant women at this time have to take extra care of their health. As we all know, the novel coronavirus spreads through respiratory droplets sent into the air when a person who has COVID-19 coughs or sneezes. It may also spread when someone touches a surface infected by a person who has the virus. Researchers are working quickly to learn more about the new coronavirus as well as its impact on our daily lives and of course on pregnant ladies too. The current, hopeful assessments of the new coronavirus are based in large part on a study published online last month in The Lancet, of nine pregnant women in their third trimester in Wuhan, China, who had pneumonia caused by COVID-19. None of the women developed severe illness, and all of their babies were born healthy. The risk of passing the infection to the foetus appears to be very low, and there is no evidence of any foetal malformations or effects due to maternal infection with COVID-19. This is even more important for women who are pregnant because they have full responsibility for the care of their unborn child. That is why you can protect yourself and your baby in the right way by taking more precautions than normal at this time. Dr Shobha Gupta, medical director and IVF expert, Mother’s Lap IVF Center points out that “one reason to worry about COVID-19 in pregnancy is that women are prone to become severely ill with flu when they are pregnant”. “This is because pregnancy suppresses a person’s immune system. Additionally, in the later stages of pregnancy, the foetus and uterus can start squashing other organs, including the lungs. As a result, some areas of the lungs become less able to circulate air, leaving them more prone to infection,” she said. If you become ill with symptoms of cough, fever and face difficulty in breathing, it is advised to stay at home and call your local healthcare services for advice. If you are found ill with COVID-19, please call your midwife or antenatal care provider and inform them about your illness. Request instructions on how to proceed with antenatal care appointments and delivery plans during the course of your illness. “In fact many hospitals in our country are stressing on the priority testing of pregnant women with COVID-19 symptoms, isolation of pregnancy wards from confirmed COVID-19 cases, an elevation of care for any pregnant women with respiratory illnesses, and extra care for all women in delivery, in case breathing complications should arise,” informed Dr Shweta Goswami, senior consultant gynaecologist and IVF expert, Jaypee and Cloudnine Hospital, Noida. Steps are being taken by the Government of India to avoid crowding. Pregnant women should avoid going out to run errands to avoid contracting the infection. If for some reason you have to venture out, use a mask that covers your face properly. Also, do not touch the mask other than the straps to wear it and remove it. Ensure you practice social distancing of at least one metre from any person. Be very aware of the potential symptoms of coronavirus and regular flu symptoms so that pregnant women can call their health provider if they have experience any, which include fever, respiratory symptoms or possibly even diarrhoea. Additionally, if you have been in contact with someone who has tested positive for COVID-19, you should monitor your own temperature and be especially aware of any respiratory symptoms. Your doctor can advise best steps for care and testing. It is necessary to wash your hands thoroughly with soap several times a day for at least 20 seconds. If you are in a place where water is not available, then keep using an alcohol-based sanitiser to clean the hands. Regular check-ups during pregnancy are very important for the health of your baby and you. To minimise any potential danger, it is necessary that you have your check-up periodically. “But during this hour of corona crisis, except important pregnancy check-ups, try consulting your doctor online. Many offices are already working to consolidate in-person appointments; for example, if someone is coming in for an ultrasound, a routine prenatal check might be added to the same visit. So apart from social distancing, try and cut your routine checks ups to online consultations. But at the same time it is very important to inform your doctor immediately if any health problems arise,” advised Dr Anubha Singh, gynaecologist and IVF, Shantah Fertlity Centre. If you have a habit of repeatedly touching your mouth, eyes, nose and ears, change this immediately. It is even more important for pregnant women because it can be harmful to their health as well as to their baby. It is important for pregnant women to keep the body and mind fully energetic. To keep the body and mind energetic, you need to get enough sleep. It has been proved in many researches that by getting enough sleep each day, our body’s immunity increases amazingly. If your immunity is good, you can easily avoid many health problems. Along with this, moments of rest are very important for the baby growing in your womb. So do not compromise and make sure you get enough sleep. The immune system’s efficacy dips during pregnancy, which places pregnant people at a higher risk for contracting many transmissible illnesses whether food borne or respiratory. So it is necessary for expectant mothers to have a nutritious diet. Your child also gets nutrients from what you eat. A balanced diet should be your first priority to provide proper nutrition to your baby during pregnancy. The right diet and all kinds of vitamins increase your body’s ability to fight against diseases. So without delay, get a diet chart from your specialist and eat a balanced diet according to it.
2 May 08:03 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/tips-pregnant-women-covid-19-coronavirus-infection-symptoms-flu-pandemic-6389996/Rating: 0.30
Why more Nigerians risk COVID-19 infection
Kindly Share This Story: Coronavirus, arguably, is the world’s most dreadful disease of the past few decades. Like the Human Immuno Virus, HIV; COVID-19 has in the past few weeks, driven a wedge of panic into the psyche of men and women across the world. Since an unnamed Italian first tested positive to the virus in Nigeria on February, 27, 2020; the total number of persons infected has grown to an astronomical 1,728 (as at the time of filing this report), 307 discharged cases with 51 confirmed deaths across the country. As rightly admitted a few weeks ago by Health Minister, Dr. Osagie Ehanire that Nigeria was not prepared for the pandemic, the past few weeks revealed the sorry state of awareness or stark disregard for same by many Nigerians who continued to flout government’s directive to observe social distancing, work from home amongst sundry preventive measures. In Abuja, the nation’s capital, things are probably worse as they are in rural dwellings. That may sound a bit hyperbolic but how does one explain the mad crowd in Kurudu, Nyanya and Karshi markets where sellers and buyers transact businesses as usual as if no one is aware of the deadly blows of coronavirus? Penultimate Thursday, a Pickup Van stationed a few metres away from the Karu Market entry gate attracted a sea of heads who formed a semi-circular ring around the owner, to buy crates of eggs. Apart from the seller, a light-skin young man in his mid 30s, none of the buyers wore a face mask. They pushed and shoved, in flagrant breach of the social distancing campaign, as they rushed to identify which crate had the biggest eggs. Same day, this reporter drove down to the second gate of the Military Barracks, Kurudu, settlement of the Abuja Municipal Area Council, where two Monetary Deposit Banks, Eco Bank and Union Bank for Africa, UBA, have their Automated Teller Machines, ATMs. At Eco Bank, a mammoth crowd of the young and old, each struggling to make a withdrawal, attracted the attention of yours truly, who promptly responded to the stimulus by moving some inches closer to see things for himself. One of the bank’s customers who identified herself simply as Sandra told Saturday Vanguard that there was a sense of order initially until the queue earlier formed was discarded due to what she attributed to the impatience of a lady who saw herself as a god because “she drove here in a big car.” According to Sandra, “We kept a straight line even though I complained that we were not adhering to the social distancing campaign. We were making withdrawals and there was no problem until a Ford Explorer packed beside us and the driver, a middle-aged woman went straight ahead of everybody to make a withdrawal. We carefully explained to her to join the queue but she ignored us and said she had no time to waste. Those who patiently lined up abandoned the queue and that is why you are seeing this commotion now.” Needless to add, getting a chance to transact business became a survival of the fittest and those without the strength to compete, left to explore other avenues. There are reports of people caring less about the measures to curtail the spread of the disease. Certainly, the awareness campaign appears inadequate. Serial violators of the work-from-home directive of government are likely to make the quest to defeat COVID-19 pretty difficult. Apart from city centres like Wuse, Garki, Gwarimpa, Asokoro, Maitama and a few others; satellite town of Abuja are bubbling as ever. Tricycle (Keke) riders, commercial drivers Aware people are flouting the stay-at-home order of government, tricycles riders and taxi drivers continue to do business as usual. With four passengers at the back seat and two in front, taxi drivers plying the Nyanya/Jikwoyi/Kurudu/Orozo/Karshi axis are literally aiding possible spread of the disease we are all trying to run away from. It’s the same for keke riders who in addition to stubbornly carrying three passengers behind sometimes convey two others in front, one either side of the rider in total disregard to the social distancing campaign of government, the Nigerian Centre for Disease Control, NCDC and the World Health Organization, WHO. If this trend is left unchecked, chances are that communal infection would be on the rise, particularly now that government has chosen to relax the lockdown earlier declared in Lagos, Ogun and the Federal Capital Territory, FCT, with effect from Monday, May 4th, 2020. Nigeria and Africa For those who still bask in the euphoria of the country’s description as the “Giant of Africa,” the poor handling of the coronavirus awareness campaign coupled with the shoddy state of the health sector could probably make them to do a rethink today. In spite of billions of dollars earned from crude oil sale in several decades; the nation’s health sector is as bad as its education counterpart. This much was confirmed by no less a person than Secretary to the Government of the Federation and chairman, Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19, Boss Mustapha, who was recently quoted as saying that he never knew that the nation’s health sector was such in a mess until his appointment to lead government’s charge at curtailing and containing the virus a few weeks ago. In the continent where Nigeria often claimed to be a giant over every other nation; two smaller countries are attracting global attention to their respective anti-COVID-19 campaigns. Madagascar, the East African country with a population of 26.3 million people (2018 estimate) gained independence, like Nigeria, in 1960. As at the time of filing this report, the country had 128 confirmed cases of the coronavirus with 71 recoveries and no death. The story of Madagascar has become a continental pride so much that even the federal government appears to be flirting with the idea of importing herbs (can you beat that?) from the East African nation to augment present effort aimed at battling the spread of coronavirus. Briefing health correspondents earlier in the week, Boss Mustapha said: “I want to assure you that whatever is happening in the world, we are mindful of it and we are keeping tab. “I was reading of the experiences in Madagascar– of why everybody is drinking some solutions that have been prepared. This morning I was sharing with my wife, and I told her that probably I would request that Mr. President allow us import a plane load for a trial because we are all navigating an uncharted cause. Nobody has ever been on this road. So, every attempt to find solution that would bring succour to our people, be rest assure that this task force is very responsible and we would do everything to ensure that we get what will benefit our people, what will help them in the processes that we find ourselves today.” Like Madagascar, the West African country of Senegal has attracted positive headlines owing to her effort at taming the ugly COVID-19. With 823 confirmed cases, out of which 296 have recovered and nine patients dead, the country has shown impressive effort in curtailing the pandemic, much to the admiration of the world. Dr. Abdoulaye Buosso, Director of Health Emergency Operation Centre of Senegal on Tuesday attributed the country’s story to a system that works, saying, “Senegal has very few severe cases and is taking care of its patients swiftly: test results are available within 24 hours, all patients who test positive are systematically hospitalized, whether they have symptoms or not, and their contacts are quarantined.” For Nigeria to successfully wage this war against a virus aiming to kill the rich and the poor, old and young, educated and illiterate; she must intensify effort at enforcement of established rules including compulsory wearing of face masks at least in public. Anything short of this is an invitation extended to the virus, which will be more than willing to strike deadly as it has done in the United States of America and the United Kingdom where 57, 000 and 21, 678 have died respectively from complications related to COVID-19. Testing centres should be replicated across the land and like in Senegal, contacts of confirmed cases should immediately be hospitalized. Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 02:11 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/why-more-nigerians-risk-covid-19-infection/Rating: 2.43
Iran's OPEC governor in coma after brain haemorrhage
3 May 20:03
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3 articles
Weight: 3.72
Importance: 3.72
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:03
Average US: 10.433333333333334
Weighted average US: 11.06997875028857
Average GB: 0.39999999999999997
Weighted average GB: 0.4101763878588269
Average IN: 9.166666666666666
Weighted average IN: 8.632096775901486
Iran's OPEC governor in coma after brain haemorrhage
(Reuters) - Iran’s OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili is in a coma after a “severe brain haemorrhage”, SHANA, the news site of the Iranian oil ministry, reported on Sunday. He was hospitalized on Friday, SHANA said, without providing any additional details. Kazempour Ardebili is a key figure in Iran’s oil industry and served as the country’s deputy foreign minister and deputy oil minister in the 1980s. He was ambassador to Japan in the early 1990s, while at the same time serving as OPEC governor.
3 May 20:03 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-iran-oil-opec-governor-idUSKBN22F0UFRating: 4.04
Iran Opec Governor Ardebili in coma after 'severe brain haemorrhage'
Iran’s Opec Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili is in a coma after a “severe brain haemorrhage”, SHANA, the news site of the Iranian oil ministry, reported on Sunday. He was hospitalized on Friday, SHANA said, without providing any additional details. Kazempour Ardebili is a key figure in Iran's oil industry and served as the country's deputy foreign minister and deputy oil minister in the 1980s. He was ambassador to Japan in the early 1990s, while at the same time serving as OPEC governor.
3 May 23:10 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/iran-opec-governor-ardebili-in-coma-after-severe-brain-haemorrhage-1.1588547707276Rating: 3.21
Iran's OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili in Coma Due to Brain Hemorrhage
Iran's OPEC Governor Hossein Kazempour Ardebili is in a coma, the Iranian Oil Ministry said in a statement on Sunday. He was earlier taken to hospital in Tehran after suffering a severe brain hemorrhage, it added. The ministry has not elaborated on the details. During his long career, Kazempour Ardebili served as Iran's deputy foreign minister and deputy oil minister in the 1980s. He also held the post of Iran's ambassador to Japan in the early 1990s, while also serving as OPEC governor during that period. In 2012, he was appointed ambassador to the OPEC again, by order of Bijan Namdar Zangeneh, Iran's oil minister.
3 May 20:28 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202005031079185041-irans-opec-governor-hossein-kazempour-ardebiliin-coma-due-to-brain-hemorrhage/Rating: 3.96
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19: The Sun
3 May 12:44
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27 articles
Weight: 3.62
Importance: 3.63
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 12:44
Average US: 11.18074074074074
Weighted average US: 18.29635281345575
Average GB: 8.081481481481482
Weighted average GB: 3.955877750252249
Average IN: 10.534074074074073
Weighted average IN: 14.318784456671139
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19: The Sun
LONDON (Reuters) - The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as he battled COVID-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. “I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link,” he said. “But I was really feeling pretty groggy ... I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.” “Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.” Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. “I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong ... The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors called Nicholas who they said had saved Johnson’s life.
3 May 12:44 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson-il-idUSKBN22E0UBRating: 4.04
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19: The Sun
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. "They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario," Johnson, 55, was quoted as saying by The Sun. "It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it." After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas' said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved Johnson's life. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong," Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. "The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction." He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe," he said. "That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." If you want to help in the fight against COVID-19, we have compiled an up-to-date list of community initiatives designed to aid medical workers and low-income people in this article. Link: [UPDATED] Anti-COVID-19 initiatives: Helping Indonesia fight the outbreak
3 May 14:32 • The Jakarta Post • https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/03/uk-had-contingency-plan-for-pm-johnsons-death-as-he-battled-covid-19-the-sun.htmlRating: 1.40
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. "They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario," Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday's edition of The Sun. "It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it." Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. "I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link," he said. "But I was really feeling pretty groggy ... I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough." "Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go." Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. "I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time," he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe," he said. "That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong ... The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction." After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas' said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors called Nicholas who they said had saved Johnson's life.
3 May 17:21 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/03/uk-had-contingency-plan-for-pm-johnson-s-death-as-he-battled-covid-19Rating: 2.85
'UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled coronavirus'
LONDON: The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as he battled Covid-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for Covid-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. “I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link,” he said. “But I was really feeling pretty groggy … I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.” “Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.” Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. “I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong … The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors called Nicholas who they said had saved Johnson’s life.
3 May 13:24 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213197/3-uk-contingency-plan-pm-johnsons-death-battled-coronavirus/Rating: 1.80
Doctors arranged for my death if things went wrong, says Boris Johnson on his coronavirus treatment
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed for the first time on Sunday that there were "contingency plans" in place in case things went “badly wrong” and he died during his treatment for COVID-19 in a hospital here last month. The 55-year-old leader, who returned to work at 10 Downing Street after his recovery last week, told ‘The Sun On Sunday’ that he was given "litres and litres of oxygen" after going into intensive care at St Thomas’ Hospital on April 7. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario,” he told the newspaper. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie," he said as the country reported over 28,000 deaths due to the coronavirus outbreak as on Saturday. The interview comes a day after his fiancée Carrie Symonds shared a picture on Instagram with the couple’s newborn son, who they have named Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson – with the name Nicholas chosen in a nod to the two doctors who saved the British premier's life. Johnson admitted that he was "in denial" about how serious his condition was after testing positive for coronavirus and that he really did not want to go to hospital. “I said I really didn't want to go into hospital. It didn't seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. “It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent. I remember feeling frustrated. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better," he said during an emotional interview from the Downing Street. “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." In reference to his time in intensive care, he added: "Because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, 'There's no medicine for this thing and there's no cure'. That was the stage when I was thinking, 'How am I going to get out of this?'" Johnson admits he was coming to terms - probably for the first time - with his own mortality. He had been in hospital several times before, usually with rugby injuries, but nothing quite like this. He said: “I’ve broken my nose, I’ve broken my finger, I’ve broken my wrist, I’ve broken my rib. I’ve broken just about everything. I’ve broken all sorts of things, several times in some cases. But I’ve never had anything as serious as this.” Johnson had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 and was admitted to the hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care. He said his recovery was due to the "wonderful, wonderful nursing" and felt "lucky" to have come out of the deadly disease, given so many others were still suffering. "And so if you ask me, 'Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?' Yes, I absolutely am. But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I'm very confident we'll get there," he said. The prime minister is expected to unveil the UK's approach to tackling "phase two" of the virus now the peak of infections has passed and lay out a “comprehensive” plan for unlocking the economy. So far, over 28,000 COVID-19 related deaths have been registered in hospitals and the wider community across the UK, which remains under strict social distancing lockdown measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
3 May 15:49 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/doctors-arranged-for-my-death-if-things-went-wrong-says-boris-johnson-on-his-coronavirus-treatment-833015.htmlRating: 2.25
Johnson Says U.K. Had Contingency Plan for His Death as He Battled COVID-19
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," Johnson, 55, was quoted as saying by The Sun. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it." After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas' said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancיe, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved Johnson's life. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong," Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. "The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction." He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe," he said. "That was when it got a bit?.?.?.?they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally."
3 May 12:44 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/johnson-says-u-k-had-contingency-plan-for-his-death-as-he-battled-covid-19-1.8815669Rating: 1.13
UK had contingency plans for Boris Johnson's death
London: The British government had a contingency plan for prime minister Boris Johnson’s death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson, 55, was quoted as saying by The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved Johnson’s life. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.”
3 May 09:45 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/europe/030520/uk-had-contingency-plans-for-boris-johnsons-death.htmlRating: 1.64
Coronavirus | U.K. had contingency plan for PM’s death
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as he battled COVID-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Mr. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a death of Stalin-type scenario,” Mr. Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Mr. Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. “I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link,” he said. “But I was really feeling pretty groggy... I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.” “Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.” Mr. Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. “I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong... The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” After Mr. Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the Prime Minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Mr. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors who they said had saved Mr. Johnson’s life.
3 May 17:02 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-uk-had-contingency-plan-for-pms-death/article31495677.eceRating: 0.30
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19 -The Sun
LONDON — The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as he battled COVID-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. “I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link,” he said. “But I was really feeling pretty groggy … I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.” “Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.” Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. “I was going through liters and liters of oxygen for a long time,” he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong … The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors called Nicholas who they said had saved Johnson’s life. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge and Estelle Shirbon;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
3 May 09:00 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/uk-had-contingency-plan-for-pm-johnsons-death-as-he-battled-covid-19-the-sun-2Rating: 1.59
Boris Johnson reveals 'contingency plans' were made to announce his death
British Prime Minsiter Boris Johnson has revealed 'contingency plans' were made while he was in hospital with COVID-19. Mr Johnson spent three nights in Intensive Care Unit in a London hospital after he contracted coronavirus and his condition rapidly deteriorated. He told the Sun on Sunday that plans were made to announce his death as he battled the illness is hospital. Mr Johnson said that he was given "litres and litres of oxygen" to keep him alive. "It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it," he said. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." In his newspaper interview, the prime minister describes being wired up to monitors and finding the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction". "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he's quoted as saying, adding that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?" Yesterday, his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, revealed they had named their new baby boy Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. The names are a tribute to their grandfathers and two doctors who treated Mr Johnson while he was in hospital with coronavirus, Ms Symonds wrote in an Instagram post. Johnson is expected to take a "short period" of paternity leave at some point later this year.
3 May 10:38 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/news/boris-johnson-contingency-plans-announce-death-366888Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson says doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus
Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas' in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him "litres and litres of oxygen". He described it as a "tough old moment", telling the Sun On Sunday: "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. READ MORE: Boris Johnson and Carrie Symonds name son in tribute to doctors who saved PM "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. "They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie." Mr Johnson (55) said it was "hard to believe" his health had deteriorated in just a few days, saying he "couldn't understand why I wasn't getting better". The PM told the paper the "indicators kept going in the wrong direction" and that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?" "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. "That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." He said he was "in denial" initially about how serious his illness was, and that doctors were right to "force" him to go to hospital. After a fortnight convalescing from the virus, and just two days after he returned to work full-time, his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. They named him after their grandfathers, and two doctors - Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart - who helped save Mr Johnson's life. He shared his experience of the disease as the number of people who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of 5pm on Friday rose to 28,131, up by 621. The death toll has edged closer to that of Italy, which now stands at 28,710 and is the highest in Europe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And the number of daily tests both concluded and sent out in the last 24 hours dropped to 105,937 from 122,347 the previous day. Of those, the number of people tested also fell - down to 63,667. It comes as questions were raised over how tests are being counted after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday he had met his target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Elsewhere: - The Telegraph reported that primary schools could reopen as early as June 1. Government sources suggested no firm dates had been set, and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said at the daily press conference that ministers could not give a date. - The British Medical Association told the Sunday Times that the lockdown measures for should be eased based on "individual risk", after Dr Jenny Harries said blanket restrictions on those told to shield would be reviewed. - Fewer than one in five people believe it is the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and stadiums, a poll for The Observer suggested. - Former head of the army General Lord Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. Meanwhile, the Communities Secretary said the Government was "optimistic" people will download a phone app to trace the spread of coronavirus. Robert Jenrick said he thought the "vast majority" of people would download the app and "play their part" - though he insisted it was just one element of the plan to stop the spread. Contact tracing will be central to the Government's efforts in slowing the spread of coronavirus, and will involve alerting people who have been in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. It has been used extensively in South Korea, Hong Kong and Germany, where outbreaks have been contained more quickly. The Government intends to use an app and a phone team to carry out the tracing. Mr Jenrick told the daily Downing Street press conference: "Contact tracing will rely on all of us in society playing our part, but I'm optimistic about the prospects for that. "This has been a national effort so far - if you think of the different measures that we've brought forward, the restrictions, the vast majority of people have got behind it and I think that they will do again when we are able to launch the app on a national scale." Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said to get contact tracing "up and running at scale and effectively" is "another significant task but (there is) lots of preparation under way".
3 May 11:29 • The Irish News • http://www.irishnews.com/news/uknews/2020/05/03/news/boris-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-as-he-battled-coronavirus-1924765/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson: Doctors Were Preparing for ‘Death of Stalin’ Event
Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed that in his battle with the Chinese coronavirus he received “litres and litres of oxygen” as his condition began to “deteriorate” — forcing doctors to begin planning for a “Death of Stalin-type scenario” if he perished. Mr Johnson, who was hospitalised in early April, described his frustration with the virus, saying how “the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, ‘There’s no medicine for this thing and there’s no cure’. “So they gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he explained. “That was the stage when I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get out of this?’” Johnson toldThe Sun on Sunday. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘Death of Stalin’-type scenario”, Johnson said, adding: “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” the Prime Minister said. Mr Johnson went on to say that he is keen to open up the economy, as has begun happening in other countries across Europe. “[I]f you ask me, ‘Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?’ Yes, I absolutely am. But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I’m very confident we’ll get there,” he said. Next week, Mr Johnson is expected to release his plan for easing the national lockdown, with ministers pointing to May 26th as a possible date to re-open the economy, provided that the number of infections continues to drop by that point. The government will reportedly call on firms to introduce precautionary measures to prevent the spread of the virus in the workplace, such as adding Plexiglass screens and gaps in between desks. Another key plank of the “unlockdown” strategy will be the release of a coronavirus tracking app, meant to prevent a second outbreak of the Wuhan virus. However, privacy experts have warned that the app — which will store user data on government servers — could infringe on privacy rights and be used as a means of “social control“. Follow Kurt on Twitter at @KurtZindulka
3 May 15:18 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/europe/2020/05/03/boris-doctors-were-preparing-for-death-of-stalin-situation-if-i-died/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson reveals doctors were preparing for his death in emotional interview
Boris Johnson has revealed how doctors were making preparations to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital. The Prime Minister told the Sun on Sunday that his time in hospital was a 'tough old moment.' He said he received 'litres and litres of oxygen' to help him fight the deadly virus and described how a 'death of Stalin'-style scenario was prepared in case he passed away. Mr Johnson also admitted his doctors 'forced' him to go to hospital as he was reluctant to leave Downing Street. He told the Sun On Sunday: "It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. "It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent." The Prime Minister added that at one point doctors were considering putting a tube down his throat. He suggested it was at this moment they started to think about how to 'handle' his death 'professionally'. Mr Johnson had a face mask and a 'little nose jobbie' providing him with oxygen in hospital. He recalls that as he was rushed to intensive care he asked himself 'how am I going to get out of this?' He felt frustrated and confused about his inability to recover from the disease. Mr Johnson announced on March 27 that he had tested positive for coronavirus and was self-isolating in Downing Street. At that time, he said he had suffered mild symptoms, including a fever and cough, but would continue to lead the Government. The Prime Minister has now revealed he was feeling 'pretty wasted'. He was admitted to St Thomas' Hospital, a short drive from Downing Street, on April 5 after his condition deteriorated. He spent three nights in intensive care before returning to a ward. After a week in hospital he was released on April 12 to continue his recovery at Chequers. On Wednesday, just over two weeks after leaving hospital, Mr Johnson oversaw the birth of his son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. He was with his fiancée Carrie Symonds as she gave birth to their boy, in a moment he has described as 'extraordinary'. The couple named their child Nicholas after Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart, who cared for Mr Johnson while he was recovering. The 55-year-old was initially reluctant to go to hospital, however his doctors insisted as his symptoms became worse. Despite being taken to intensive care, Mr Johnson refused to even consider the idea that the disease could kill him. He said a 'terrible buoyancy' within him meant he felt he would be fine in the end.
3 May 09:19 • birminghammail • https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/news/uk-news/boris-johnson-reveals-doctors-were-18191156Rating: 0.34
Boris Johnson: Hospital doctors were ready to announce my death
Boris Johnson said that he came so close to dying in hospital with COVID-19 that doctors were ready to announce, what he called a "'death of Stalin'-type scenario." The U.K. prime minister was discharged from St Thomas' Hospital in central London on April 12 after spending three days in intensive care where he told the Sun on Sunday newspaper he required "liters and liters of oxygen." “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it," he said. "They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario." "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong," he added. Johnson, who had self-isolated in Downing Street for the days before going into hospital said it was "hard to believe" that his health had deteriorate so quickly and he could not understand why he was not getting better when he went into hospital. “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he said. Yesterday, Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, with the name Nicholas chosen to honor two doctors who saved the prime minister's life.
3 May 07:40 • POLITICO • https://www.politico.eu/article/boris-johnson-hospital-doctors-were-ready-to-announce-my-death/Rating: 0.80
Boris Johnson says the British government had a contingency plan in place for his death
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper published Saturday night. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson, 55, told The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson did not detail what the contingency plans were, but said he was aware that they existed. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place,” he told the newspaper. The Sun reported that Johnson grew emotional in the interview from 10 Downing Street, tearing up as he described the quality of the care he received from hospital staff. “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it. They really did it and they made a huge difference,” he said. “I get emotional about it… but it was an extraordinary thing.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson has previously said he owed the hospital staff his life. In his interview with The Sun, Johnson said his condition deteriorated and became “a bit scary” shortly after he was moved to intensive care. “They gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors – Nicholas Price and Nicholas Hart – who they said had saved Johnson’s life. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
3 May 05:55 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/boris-johnson-says-government-had-contingency-plan-for-his-death-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
"Contingency plans" in place for UK PM in case of coronavirus death
In an interview with British newspaper The Sun On Sunday, UK prime minister Boris Johnson said doctors had "contingency plans" ready in case he died while in intensive care after contracting coronavirus. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he told the newspaper, speaking for the first time in detail about his illness. "They had a strategy to deal with a death of Stalin-type scenario". “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong". Boris Johnson, 55, announced on March 27 that he had contracted Covid-19, saying he had only mild symptoms. He was admitted to St Thomas’ Hospital in London on April 5 for precautionary testing, but within 24 hours got transferred to the intensive care unit. The leader of UK's Conservative Party spent three days on oxygen assistance. When he was finally discharged, on April 12, he said his fight against the virus "could have gone both ways." He also sent a heartfelt message to the UK's national health service (NHS) for saving his life. The UK prime minister returned to work on April 27. Two days before, his fiancée Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. His third name is a tribute to two of the doctors who took care of him in hospital - Nick Price and Nick Hart. Emotionally describing his recovery as an "extraordinary thing," Johnson said he was in "denial" at the outset regarding the severity of his condition. He admitted not wanting to go hospital at first, but added that doctors were "right" to force him. He said that this experience made him even more determined to fight Covid-19. British authorities announced yesterday (May 2) 621 additional deaths in 24 hours, bringing the total to over 28,100 and making the UK Europe's second worst-hit country behind Italy for coronavirus-related deaths. However, Boris Johnson stated this week that the country was 'past the peak' and promised to lay out a lockdown exit plan in the coming days.
3 May 16:18 • euronews • https://www.euronews.com/2020/05/03/uk-pm-says-contingency-plans-for-his-death-were-ready-as-he-recalls-coronavirus-ordealRating: 3.04
UK made contingency plans in case Johnson died in COVID-19 battle
Boris Johnson, the United Kingdom's prime minister, has revealed that the British government made contingency plans for his death as his condition deteriorated while battling COVID-19 in hospital last month. In an interview with The Sun newspaper on Sunday, Johnson said doctors gave him "litres and litres of oxygen" to keep him alive. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the new coronavirus. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," Johnson told The Sun. "It was a tough old moment; I won't deny it." He added: "I was not in particularly brilliant shape, and I was aware there were contingency plans in place." After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas' said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancee, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved Johnson's life. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong," Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. "The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction." He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe," he said. "That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." Johnson described feeling "frustrated" as his health worsened and became emotional as he described the ordeal, according to The Sun. He put down his recovery to "wonderful, wonderful nursing", adding: "it was an extraordinary thing". The experience made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal, Johnson said, adding that he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. The prime minister's comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 - just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy.
3 May 05:16 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/uk-contingency-plans-case-johnson-died-covid-19-battle-200503035844750.htmlRating: 2.44
Boris Johnson says the British government had a contingency plan in place for his death
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson's death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper published Saturday night. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London's St Thomas' Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," Johnson, 55, told The Sun. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it." Johnson did not detail what the contingency plans were, but said he was aware that they existed. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place," he told the newspaper. The Sun reported that Johnson grew emotional in the interview from 10 Downing Street, tearing up as he described the quality of the care he received from hospital staff. "It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it. They really did it and they made a huge difference," he said. "I get emotional about it... but it was an extraordinary thing." After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas' said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson has previously said he owed the hospital staff his life. In his interview with The Sun, Johnson said his condition deteriorated and became "a bit scary" shortly after he was moved to intensive care. "They gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time," he said. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors — Nicholas Price and Nicholas Hart — who they said had saved Johnson's life. "The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong," Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. "The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction." He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. "The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe," he said. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 03:52 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/boris-johnson-says-government-had-contingency-plan-for-his-death-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Boris Johnson says the British government had a contingency plan in place for his death
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper published Saturday night. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson, 55, told The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson did not detail what the contingency plans were, but said he was aware that they existed. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place,” he told the newspaper. The Sun reported that Johnson grew emotional in the interview from 10 Downing Street, tearing up as he described the quality of the care he received from hospital staff. “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it. They really did it and they made a huge difference,” he said. “I get emotional about it… but it was an extraordinary thing.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson has previously said he owed the hospital staff his life. In his interview with The Sun, Johnson said his condition deteriorated and became “a bit scary” shortly after he was moved to intensive care. “They gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors – Nicholas Price and Nicholas Hart – who they said had saved Johnson’s life. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
3 May 03:52 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/boris-johnson-says-government-had-contingency-plan-for-his-death-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson says the British government had a contingency plan in place for his death, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper published Saturday night. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson, 55, told The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson did not detail what the contingency plans were, but said he was aware that they existed. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place,” he told the newspaper. The Sun reported that Johnson grew emotional in the interview from 10 Downing Street, tearing up as he described the quality of the care he received from hospital staff. “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it. They really did it and they made a huge difference,” he said. “I get emotional about it… but it was an extraordinary thing.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson has previously said he owed the hospital staff his life. In his interview with The Sun, Johnson said his condition deteriorated and became “a bit scary” shortly after he was moved to intensive care. “They gave me a face mask and my intake became really quite substantial. I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors – Nicholas Price and Nicholas Hart – who they said had saved Johnson’s life. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Cynthia Osterman)
3 May 03:52 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/boris-johnson-says-government-had-contingency-plan-for-his-death-2020-5Rating: 0.30
UK had plan to deal with ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario: Johnson as he battled Covid-19
The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as his condition deteriorated while he battled COVID-19 last month in intensive care, Johnson said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. Johnson, 55, spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street from late March, but was then was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he received oxygen treatment and spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson, 55, was quoted as saying by The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.”After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced the name of their newly born son as Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two of the intensive care doctors who they said had saved Johnson’s life. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” Johnson said of his COVID-19 battle. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” He said doctors discussed invasive ventilation.”The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit, they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.”
3 May 03:12 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/world/uk-had-contingency-plan-for-pm-johnson-death-as-he-battled-covid-19-6391330/Rating: 0.30
‘It was 50-50’: UK PM Boris Johnson reveals doctors had contingency plan if he died of Covid-19
Doctors at a London hospital had made arrangements to announce the death of Prime Minister Boris Johnson, he revealed on Sunday, describing his near-death experience after contracting coronavirus and emerging after a stint in the ICU to the relief of many. Johnson, 55, was moved to the St Thomas’ Hospital on April 5 when his condition worsened, and emerged on April 12, grateful to the medical staff for saving his life when, as he said, “things could have gone either way”. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, an emotional Johnson recalled his brush with death, when he was administered ‘litres and litres’ of oxygen but ICU monitors showed little progress, forcing doctors to make plans to announce his passing away. He recalled: “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong”. “It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent. I remember feeling frustrated. I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better. But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” Johnson went through mixed emotions within a month: recuperating in the country residence in Buckinghamshire and later witnessed his partner, Carrie Symonds, delivering his son, whose middle name is Nicholas, named after doctors Nicholas Price and Nicholas Hart, who saved his life in ICU. Thanking the medical staff for bringing him back from a precarious condition, he said: “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it…I can’t explain how it happened. I don’t know . . . it was just wonderful to see the . . . ” The tabloid’s report said his voice faltered and eyes reddened during the interview in Downing Street, as he added: “I get emotional about it . . . but it was an extraordinary thing,” admitting that he was initially reluctant to go to the hospital. He said: “I’ve broken my nose, I’ve broken my finger, I’ve broken my wrist, I’ve broken my rib. I’ve broken just about everything. I’ve broken all sorts of things, several times in some cases. But I’ve never had anything as serious as this”. “All I remember feeling was just frustration. I couldn’t see why I wasn’t getting better. I was just incredibly frustrated because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, ‘There’s no medicine for this thing and there’s no cure’. That was the stage when I was thinking, ‘How am I going to get out of this?’” He insisted: “It would be wrong to say that at any stage I thought, ‘Oh my goodness, this is it’. Some terrible buoyancy within me kept convincing me that everything would almost certainly be all right in the end. But I was just frustrated. I remember seeing a lot of other victims, both going in and going out of intensive care”. According to the interviewer, David Wooding, Johnson is a changed man after the experience: “Over the years, I’ve met or interviewed Boris Johnson many times — but this meeting was like no other. Not only were we forced to sit far apart for social distancing, but it’s clear his brush with death has left him a changed man.” As of Saturday, the UK’s death toll was 28,131 and had registered 182,260 coronavirus cases.
3 May 00:17 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/it-was-50-50-uk-pm-boris-johnson-reveals-doctors-had-a-plan-if-he-died-of-covid-19/story-m3P3IPx9vxvn64Zmi3kMyJ.htmlRating: 0.30
UK PM says doctors prepared for his death in COVID-19 battle
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson revealed for the first time on Sunday that there were "contingency plans" in place in case things went "badly wrong" and he died during his treatment for COVID-19 in a hospital in London last month. IMAGE: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson. Photograph: Courtesy @BorisJohnson/Twitter The 55-year-old leader, who returned to work at 10 Downing Street after his recovery last week, told The Sun On Sunday that he was given "litres and litres of oxygen" after going into intensive care at St Thomas' Hospital on April 7. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario," he told the newspaper. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie," he said as the country reported over 28,000 deaths due to the coronavirus outbreak as on Saturday. The interview comes a day after his fiancée Carrie Symonds shared a picture on Instagram with the couple's newborn son, who they have named Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson -- with the name Nicholas chosen in a nod to the two doctors who saved the British premier's life. Johnson admitted that he was "in denial" about how serious his condition was after testing positive for coronavirus and that he really did not want to go to hospital. "I said I really didn't want to go into hospital. It didn't seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. "It was hard to believe that in just a few days my health had deteriorated to this extent. I remember feeling frustrated. I couldn't understand why I wasn't getting better," he said during an emotional interview from the Downing Street. "But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." In reference to his time in intensive care, he added: "Because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, 'There's no medicine for this thing and there's no cure'. That was the stage when I was thinking, 'How am I going to get out of this?'" Johnson admits he was coming to terms -- probably for the first time -- with his own mortality. He had been in hospital several times before, usually with rugby injuries, but nothing quite like this. He said: “I've broken my nose, I've broken my finger, I've broken my wrist, I've broken my rib. I've broken just about everything. I've broken all sorts of things, several times in some cases. But I've never had anything as serious as this.” Johnson had been diagnosed with COVID-19 on March 26 and was admitted to the hospital 10 days later. The following day, he was moved to intensive care. He said his recovery was due to the "wonderful, wonderful nursing" and felt "lucky" to have come out of the deadly disease, given so many others were still suffering. "And so if you ask me, 'Am I driven by a desire to stop other people suffering?' Yes, I absolutely am. But I am also driven by an overwhelming desire to get our country as a whole back on its feet, healthy again, going forward in a way that we can and I'm very confident we'll get there," he said. The prime minister is expected to unveil the UK's approach to tackling "phase two" of the virus now the peak of infections has passed and lay out a “comprehensive” plan for unlocking the economy. So far, over 28,000 COVID-19 related deaths have been registered in hospitals and the wider community across the UK, which remains under strict social distancing lockdown measures to curb the spread of the deadly virus.
3 May 00:00 • Rediff • https://www.rediff.com/news/report/covid-19-uk-pm-says-doctors-prepared-for-his-death/20200503.htmRating: 0.30
Boris says doctors prepared to announce his death as he fought coronavirus
Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors began to make arrangements for his death as he fought coronavirus in hospital. The prime minister, 55, said he was given ‘litres and litres of oxygen’ but ‘the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction’ and it soon hit home for him that there was no cure for Covid-19. Getting emotional as he discussed his experience in an interview, the Tory leader added that it was ‘extraordinary’ that he recovered in time to be at the birth of his son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. Speaking to The Sun on Sunday, the Conservative politician admitted he was reluctant to go into hospital, but doctors were ‘adamant’ and he was put on oxygen and fitted with a tube. He said: ‘It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a “death of Stalin”-type scenario. ‘I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. ‘The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.’ Mr Johnson was forced to acknowledge how serious the situation was when he started to deteriorate and was admitted to intensive care on the Monday. Although he never believed he would die, he said there was a ‘bad moment’ when ‘it was 50-50 whether they would put a tube down his windpipe. He said: ‘That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.’ The interview comes hours after the first picture of his newborn son was released. Carrie Symonds posted a photo of her cradling their baby Wilfred to Instagram this afternoon. The new mum also revealed that he was named after both parents’ grandparents, as well as the two doctors that saved the prime minister’s life from coronavirus in April. She wrote on Instagram: ‘Introducing Wilfred Lawrie Nicolas Johnson born on 29.04.20 at 9am. ‘Wilfred after Boris’ grandfather. Lawrie after my grandfather. Nicholas after Dr Nick Price and Dr Nick Hart – the two doctors that saved Boris’ life last month. ‘Thank you so, so much to the incredible NHS maternity team at UCLH that looked after us so well. I couldn’t be happier. My heart is full.’ The two medics later shared their ‘warm congratulations’ with the couple in a statement that read: ‘We are honoured and humbled to have been recognised in this way, and we give our thanks to the incredible team of professionals who we work with at Guy’s at St Thomas’ and who ensure every patient receives the best care. We wish the new family every health and happiness.’ Dr Nicholas Price is a consultant in infectious diseases and general medicine, according to the Guys and St Thomas’ NHS trust website, with further expertise in infection prevention and control. Professor Nicholas Hart is the director of the Lane Fox Respiratory Service at the Guys and St Thomas’ trust, and a professor of respiratory and critical care medicine at King’s College London. He has expertise in rehabilitation and home mechanical ventilation with chronic respiratory failure, according to his profile. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
2 May 23:15 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/boris-says-doctors-prepared-announce-death-fought-coronavirus-12647002/Rating: 2.18
UK Prime Minister says doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled Covid-19
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The UK Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. “They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.” Mr Johnson, 55, said it was “hard to believe” his health had deteriorated in just a few days, saying he “couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better”. The UK Prime Minister told the paper the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction” and that he kept asking himself: “How am I going to get out of this?” “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” He said he was “in denial” initially about how serious his illness was, and that doctors were right to “force” him to go to hospital. Mr Johnson shared his experience of the disease as the number of people who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of 5pm on Friday rose to 28,131, up by 621. The death toll has edged closer to that of Italy, which now stands at 28,710 and is the highest in Europe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And the number of daily tests both concluded and sent out in the last 24 hours dropped to 105,937. Of those, the number of people tested also fell – down to 63,667. It comes as questions were raised over how tests are being counted after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday he had met his target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Meanwhile, the Communities Secretary said the UK Government was “optimistic” people will download a phone app to trace the spread of coronavirus. Robert Jenrick said he thought the “vast majority” of people would download the app and “play their part” – though he insisted it was just one element of the plan to stop the spread. Contact tracing will be central to the UK Government’s efforts in slowing the spread of coronavirus, and will involve alerting people who have been in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. It has been used extensively in South Korea, Hong Kong and Germany, where outbreaks have been contained more quickly. The UK Government intends to use an app and a phone team to carry out the tracing. Mr Jenrick told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Contact tracing will rely on all of us in society playing our part, but I’m optimistic about the prospects for that. “This has been a national effort so far – if you think of the different measures that we’ve brought forward, the restrictions, the vast majority of people have got behind it and I think that they will do again when we are able to launch the app on a national scale.” Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said to get contact tracing “up and running at scale and effectively” is “another significant task but (there is) lots of preparation under way”. Fianna Fáil says 'crunch' will come when Government needed
2 May 21:48 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/uk-prime-minister-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-as-he-battled-covid-19-997377.htmlRating: 0.69
Boris Johnson says doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled Covid-19
The Prime Minister said it was ‘hard to believe’ his health had deteriorated in just a few days. Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. “They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.” Mr Johnson, 55, said it was “hard to believe” his health had deteriorated in just a few days, saying he “couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better”. The PM told the paper the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction” and that he kept asking himself: “How am I going to get out of this?” “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” He said he was “in denial” initially about how serious his illness was, and that doctors were right to “force” him to go to hospital. After a fortnight convalescing from the virus, and just two days after he returned to work full-time, his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. They named him after their grandfathers, and two doctors – Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart – who helped save Mr Johnson’s life. He shared his experience of the disease as the number of people who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of 5pm on Friday rose to 28,131, up by 621. The death toll has edged closer to that of Italy, which now stands at 28,710 and is the highest in Europe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And the number of daily tests both concluded and sent out in the last 24 hours dropped to 105,937. Of those, the number of people tested also fell – down to 63,667. It comes as questions were raised over how tests are being counted after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday he had met his target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Elsewhere: – The Telegraph reported that primary schools could reopen as early as June 1. Government sources suggested no firm dates had been set, and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said at the daily press conference that ministers could not give a date. – The British Medical Association told the Sunday Times that the lockdown should be eased for healthy over-70s, after Dr Jenny Harries said blanket restrictions on those told to shield would be reviewed. – Fewer than one in five people believe it is the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and stadiums, a poll for The Observer suggested. – Former head of the army General Lord Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. Meanwhile, the Communities Secretary said the Government was “optimistic” people will download a phone app to trace the spread of coronavirus. Robert Jenrick said he thought the “vast majority” of people would download the app and “play their part” – though he insisted it was just one element of the plan to stop the spread. Contact tracing will be central to the Government’s efforts in slowing the spread of coronavirus, and will involve alerting people who have been in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. It has been used extensively in South Korea, Hong Kong and Germany, where outbreaks have been contained more quickly. The Government intends to use an app and a phone team to carry out the tracing. Mr Jenrick told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Contact tracing will rely on all of us in society playing our part, but I’m optimistic about the prospects for that. “This has been a national effort so far – if you think of the different measures that we’ve brought forward, the restrictions, the vast majority of people have got behind it and I think that they will do again when we are able to launch the app on a national scale.” Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said to get contact tracing “up and running at scale and effectively” is “another significant task but (there is) lots of preparation under way”.
2 May 21:41 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/boris-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-as-he-battled-covid-19/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson says doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled Covid-19
Boris Johnson has revealed that doctors prepared to announce his death as he battled coronavirus in hospital last month. The Prime Minister spent three nights in intensive care at St Thomas’ in London with the disease, where he said medics gave him “litres and litres of oxygen”. He described it as a “tough old moment”, telling the Sun On Sunday: “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. “They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.” Mr Johnson, 55, said it was “hard to believe” his health had deteriorated in just a few days, saying he “couldn’t understand why I wasn’t getting better”. The PM told the paper the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction” and that he kept asking himself: “How am I going to get out of this?” “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” He said he was “in denial” initially about how serious his illness was, and that doctors were right to “force” him to go to hospital. After a fortnight convalescing from the virus, and just two days after he returned to work full-time, his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth to their son, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. They named him after their grandfathers, and two doctors – Dr Nick Price and Prof Nick Hart – who helped save Mr Johnson’s life. He shared his experience of the disease as the number of people who have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19 in the UK as of 5pm on Friday rose to 28,131, up by 621. The death toll has edged closer to that of Italy, which now stands at 28,710 and is the highest in Europe, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. And the number of daily tests both concluded and sent out in the last 24 hours dropped to 105,937. Of those, the number of people tested also fell – down to 63,667. It comes as questions were raised over how tests are being counted after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Friday he had met his target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day. Elsewhere: – The Telegraph reported that primary schools could reopen as early as June 1. Government sources suggested no firm dates had been set, and Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said at the daily press conference that ministers could not give a date. – The British Medical Association told the Sunday Times that the lockdown should be eased for healthy over-70s, after Dr Jenny Harries said blanket restrictions on those told to shield would be reviewed. – Fewer than one in five people believe it is the right time to consider reopening schools, restaurants, pubs and stadiums, a poll for The Observer suggested. – Former head of the army General Lord Dannatt and ex-chief of the defence staff General Lord Richards backed calls for health workers to be given daily allowances like those given to soldiers in war zones. Meanwhile, the Communities Secretary said the Government was “optimistic” people will download a phone app to trace the spread of coronavirus. Robert Jenrick said he thought the “vast majority” of people would download the app and “play their part” – though he insisted it was just one element of the plan to stop the spread. Contact tracing will be central to the Government’s efforts in slowing the spread of coronavirus, and will involve alerting people who have been in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. It has been used extensively in South Korea, Hong Kong and Germany, where outbreaks have been contained more quickly. The Government intends to use an app and a phone team to carry out the tracing. Mr Jenrick told the daily Downing Street press conference: “Contact tracing will rely on all of us in society playing our part, but I’m optimistic about the prospects for that. “This has been a national effort so far – if you think of the different measures that we’ve brought forward, the restrictions, the vast majority of people have got behind it and I think that they will do again when we are able to launch the app on a national scale.” Deputy chief medical officer Dr Jenny Harries said to get contact tracing “up and running at scale and effectively” is “another significant task but (there is) lots of preparation under way”.
2 May 21:41 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/boris-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-as-he-battled-covid-19/Rating: 0.30
Joe Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
3 May 18:09
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Joe Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
TOPEKA, Kan. — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday’s vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots. “Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times,” party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. “We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November.” A Democratic presidential candidate hasn’t carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter — Gabbard in this case — was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders.
3 May 18:09 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/joe-biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-with-all-mail-balloting/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitterRating: 2.55
Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
TOPEKA, KAN. -- Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice-president had been expected to prevail in Saturday's vote and capture a majority of the state's delegates to the Democrats' national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party's national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots. "Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times," party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. "We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November." A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Sanders easily won Kansas' caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state's 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter -- Gabbard in this case -- was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders. This story has been corrected to explain that in the ranked-choice voting, only the lowest vote-getter was knocked out after the first round, not all candidates with less than 15% of the vote.
3 May 18:37 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-with-all-mail-balloting-1.4922904Rating: 2.87
Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday's vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots. “Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times," party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. “We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November.” A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter — Gabbard in this case — was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders. ____ Editors: This story has been corrected to explain that in the ranked-choice voting, only the lowest vote-getter was knocked out after the first round, not all candidates with less than 15% of the vote. ___ Follow John Hanna on twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
3 May 17:30 • THE OKLAHOMAN • https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/10046584/biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-with-all-mail-ballotingRating: 0.30
Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
TOPEKA, Kan. — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice-president had been expected to prevail in Saturday's vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots. “Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times," party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. “We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November.” A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter — Gabbard in this case — was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders. ____ Editors: This story has been corrected to explain that in the ranked-choice voting, only the lowest vote-getter was knocked out after the first round, not all candidates with less than 15% of the vote. ___ Follow John Hanna on twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna John Hanna, The Associated Press
3 May 17:30 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/world-news/biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-with-all-mail-balloting-2320486Rating: 0.30
Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
TOPEKA, Kan. >> Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday’s vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. A candidate who failed to get 15% in the first round of voting had his or her votes reallocated to voters’ second choices, and the process continued until the only remaining candidates all had at least 15%. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order. Many Democrats hoped a smooth primary would encourage greater reliance on mail balloting in Kansas’ regular primary in August and its November general election.
3 May 16:41 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/breaking-news/biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-with-all-mail-balloting/Rating: 0.30
Warren Is Favorite VP Pick in New CBS Poll: Campaign Update
Senator Elizabeth Warren topped the wish list for Joe Biden’s running mate among Democratic voters, according to a new CBS poll released on Sunday. Warren had 36% support as voters’ first choice, with Senator Kamala Harris of California at 19%, Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams at 14%, and Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota at 13%. Familiarity was a factor, as Warren, Harris and Klobuchar had been in the running for president, and Abrams ran for governor of Georgia in 2018. By a seven to one margin, Democrats with a preference want the running-mate pick to be a woman. Most think that would make things easier rather than harder for the ticket to win in November, when Biden, the presumptive nominee, goes up against President Donald Trump. According to the survey, 49% of likely voters prefer Biden, six points over Trump. Those are nationwide numbers, though, and the outcome is determined by the state-by-state Electoral College results. Likely voters say the economy and the coronavirus outbreak are major factors in their vote choice right now. The CBS poll was conducted April 28-May 1 by YouGov. Some 2,200 U.S. residents were polled; the survey had a margin of error of plus or minus 2.5 points. Joe Biden easily won the Democratic primary in Kansas after a vote that wrapped up on Saturday, conducted entirely via mail-in ballots because of the coronavirus pandemic. The Associated Press reported on Sunday that Biden -- the party’s presumptive nominee -- received 77% of the vote over Bernie Sanders with 23%. The Vermont senator ended his campaign in April but was still in the running when the state Democratic party started mailing ballots to voters in late March. The state has 39 pledged delegates of the 1,991 originally needed to secure the party’s nomination. The postponement of many primaries — and New York state’s outright cancellation — means that the total number delegates could be different by the time of the convention in August. Kansas officials abandoned plans for in-person voting after Democratic Governor Laura Kelly issued a stay-at-home order to slow the spread of Covid-19. -- Ros Krasny Oregon is due to hold its Democratic primary on May 19. The northwest state conducted all statewide contests by mail since 1998.
3 May 16:18 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/biden-wins-in-kansas-after-all-mail-in-vote-campaign-updateRating: 4.04
Biden wins Kansas primary conducted with all-mail balloting
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday's vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Biden won 29 delegates and Sanders got 10, inching Biden closer to the number of delegates he needs to clinch the Democratic nomination. He has a total of 1,435 delegates and needs 1,991 to win the nomination on the first ballot at the party’s national convention this summer, a threshold Biden is likely to reach in June after many states postponed their primaries. Sanders has 984 delegates, according to the count by the Associated Press released Sunday. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order, and the change nearly tripled participation over four years ago, with 34.7% of registered Democrats casting ballots. “Kansas Democrats made history in this election with record participation levels along with demonstrating how a vote-by-mail election can protect voters and our democracy, even in the most uncertain of times," party chairwoman Vicki Hiatt said in a statement. “We are confident the enthusiasm and engagement seen during the 2020 Primary will only continue to grow and translate into Democratic victories up and down the ballot in November.” A Democratic presidential candidate hasn't carried Kansas in November since Lyndon Johnson in 1964. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. The lowest vote-getter — Gabbard in this case — was then eliminated, and her votes redistributed to the other choices in a second round if voters listed a second choice. That process continued until only candidates with at least 15% of the vote remained, eventually only Biden and Sanders. ____ Editors: This story has been corrected to explain that in the ranked-choice voting, only the lowest vote-getter was knocked out after the first round, not all candidates with less than 15% of the vote. ___ Follow John Hanna on twitter: https://twitter.com/apjdhanna
3 May 13:45 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/biden-wins-kansas-primary-conducted-134540974.htmlRating: 0.30
Joe Biden Wins Kansas Primary Conducted Exclusively By Mail
TOPEKA, Kan. (AP) — Joe Biden has overwhelmingly won a Democratic presidential primary in Kansas that the state party conducted exclusively by mail because of the coronavirus pandemic. The former vice president had been expected to prevail in Saturday’s vote and capture a majority of the state’s delegates to the Democrats’ national nominating commission. Biden took 77% of the vote. Vermont Sen. Bernie Sanders was still in the race when the Kansas party began mailing ballots at the end of March, but he suspended his campaign and endorsed Biden. Sanders easily won Kansas’ caucuses in 2016 over former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, riding a surge of enthusiasm among liberal voters and first-time caucus-goers. But the state party mailed ballots this year to more than 400,000 registered Democrats to get a far larger turnout than the 39,000 who voted four years ago. The primary determined how 39 of the state’s 45 national convention delegates would be allocated. The remaining six are party leaders, including Gov. Laura Kelly and U.S. Rep. Sharice Davids. Besides Biden and Sanders, Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Hawaii Rep. Tulsi Gabbard also were on the Kansas ballot. Voters also could choose to be uncommitted. The contest also featured ranked-choice voting, allowing voters to pick more than one candidate and rank them. A candidate who failed to get 15% in the first round of voting had his or her votes reallocated to voters’ second choices, and the process continued until the only remaining candidates all had at least 15%. Democratic leaders originally had planned to set up polling places across the state in addition to allowing mail balloting. But they scrapped plans for in-person voting at the end of March after Kelly issued a statewide stay-at-home order. Many Democrats hoped a smooth primary would encourage greater reliance on mail balloting in Kansas’ regular primary in August and its November general election.
3 May 14:01 • HuffPost • https://www.huffpost.com/entry/joe-biden-wins-kansas-primary_n_5eaecc11c5b69a7955193678?guccounter=1Rating: 2.48
Elizabeth Warren First Choice Among Democrats For Joe Biden VP Pick
Former Vice President Joe Biden is the presumptive Democratic nominee in the 2020 presidential election against incumbent Donald Trump. He is yet to make a final decision on his choice for a running mate but has pledged to pick a woman. Senator Elizabeth Warren is Democratic voters’ first pick for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s choice for vice president, according to a CBS News poll released on Sunday. Seventy-one percent of Democratic voters say that Biden should pick Warren as his running mate, heading the list of potential female options. Senator Kamala Harris followed Warren in second at 59%, with former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams at 50 percent and Senator Amy Klobuchar at 49%. The progressive Massachusetts politician also topped the first-choice pick for the position with 36%. Harris followed at 19%, who edged Abrams at 14%, and Klobuchar who came in fourth with 13%. The majority of white Democrats and liberals support Warren as the VP candidate. For black Democrats, she remains a contender but their votes are split between Abrams and Harris too. Senator Warren also was also among the top three choices for moderate Democrats, alongside Klobuchar and Harris. CBS noted that familiarity appeared to play a role, as all 3 candidates who topped the list also ran in the 2019 presidential race. Warren was also the top pick for those who consider "economic expertise" to be an important factor for the position as well as those who think Biden should pick a progressive to be his running mate. Economic expertise and crisis management are two of the top qualities that Democratic voters say they want from a vice presidential candidate. 55% of Democratic voters also say that Biden should make a “bold” choice with his vice presidential pick, while 45% say he should rely on a "safe option". Biden has promised to pick a woman as his running mate and on Saturday said his selection committee was vetting “more than a dozen women". In the same poll, Biden leads Trump in a head to head national election matchup - 49% to 43%. The poll was conducted through a survey of 200 US residents between April 28 and May 1 and has a margin of error of 2.5 points. Elizabeth Warren dropped out of the 2019 presidential race after coming third in her own state on super Tuesday, trailing both fellow progressive Senator Bernie Sanders and Joe Biden.
3 May 21:20 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/us/202005031079184269-elizabeth-warren-first-choice-among-democrats-for-joe-biden-vp-pick/Rating: 3.96
Warren is Democratic voters' top choice for Biden VP: poll
Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.) ranks as Democratic voters’ top choice for presumptive Democratic nominee Joe Biden’s vice presidential pick, a CBS News poll released Sunday found. Seventy-one percent of Democratic voters say Warren should be considered as a running mate, topping the list of potential female picks. Warren was followed by Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) at 59 percent, former Georgia gubernatorial candidate Stacy Abrams at 50 percent and Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) at 49 percent. The Massachusetts progressive also earned the top first-choice pick for the position, at 36 percent. Harris followed at 19 percent, ahead of Abrams at 14 percent and Klobuchar at 13 percent. Warren won the vote among white Democrats and liberals by big margins. For black Democrats, she is among the top picks, although their votes are distributed between her, Abrams and Harris. The progressive also was one of the top three choices for moderate Democrats, along with Klobuchar and Harris. Familiarity appears to play a role in the choices, as the three women who ran for president on the list, Warren, Klobuchar and Harris, rank in the top picks, CBS News noted. The Massachusetts senator earned support among those who said economic expertise is an important factor and among those who believe Biden should choose a progressive running mate. Democratic voters rank economic expertise and crisis management as top qualities wanted in a vice presidential candidate. A total of 55 percent of Democratic voters think Biden should make a “bold” choice in his vice presidential pick, while 45 percent say he should go with the “safe” option. Biden has pledged to pick a woman as his running mate and on Saturday said his vice presidential selection committee is vetting “more than a dozen women.” In the poll, Biden leads Trump in a matchup, 49 percent to 43 percent. The poll surveyed 2,200 U.S. residents between April 28 and May 1. The margin of error is 2.5 points.
3 May 16:54 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/campaign/495875-warren-is-democratic-voters-top-choice-for-biden-vp-pollRating: 1.94
DHS Report: China Hid Virus’ Severity to Hoard Supplies
3 May 23:07
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DHS Report: China Hid Virus’ Severity to Hoard Supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. “Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.,” Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.” “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Speaking Sunday on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, echoed that sentiment, saying he believes China “is the most significant geopolitical threat to the United States for the next century.” “The communist government in China bears enormous responsibility, enormous direct culpability for this pandemic. We know they covered it up,” Cruz said. “Had they behaved responsibly and sent in health professionals and quarantined those infected, there’s a real possibility this could have been a regional outbreak, and not a global pandemic. And the hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide are in a very real sense the direct responsibility of the communist Chinese government’s lies.” By Will Weissert and Matthew Lee
3 May 23:07 • Courthouse News Service • https://www.courthousenews.com/dhs-report-china-hid-virus-severity-to-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.30
DHS report: China hid coronavirus’ severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked "for official use only," the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data," the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China's changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government's missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world's medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. "Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.," Trump wrote without citing specifics. "Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner." Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories." "These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo said. "And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan." The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn't man-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans. Beijing has repeatedly pushed back on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China's fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China's public announcement on Jan. 20 that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits. “The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday. Copyright 2020 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
3 May 21:16 • Hawaii News Now • https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/05/03/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.30
DHS report: China hid coronavirus’ severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked "for official use only," the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data," the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China's changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government's missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world's medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. "Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.," Trump wrote without citing specifics. "Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner." Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories." "These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo said. "And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan." The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn't man-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans. Beijing has repeatedly pushed back on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China's fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China's public announcement on Jan. 20 that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits. “The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday.
3 May 21:16 • NewsChannel 10 • https://www.newschannel10.com/2020/05/03/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.30
DHS report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked "for official use only," the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data," the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China's changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government's missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world's medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. "Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.," Trump wrote without citing specifics. "Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner." Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories." "These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo said. "And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan." The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn't man-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans. Beijing has repeatedly pushed back on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China's fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China's public announcement on Jan. 20 that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits. “The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday.
3 May 21:16 • WVLT • https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/Report-China-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies-570160041.htmlRating: 0.30
China hid virus’ severity to hoard supplies, agency says
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.” “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion virtually word for word hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Speaking Sunday on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, echoed that sentiment, saying he believes China “is the most significant geopolitical threat to the United States for the next century.” “The communist government in China bears enormous responsibility, enormous direct culpability for this pandemic. We know they covered it up,” Cruz said. “Had they behaved responsibly and sent in health professionals and quarantined those infected, there’s a real possibility this could have been a regional outbreak, and not a global pandemic. And the hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide are in a very real sense the direct responsibility of the communist Chinese government’s lies.” AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
3 May 21:25 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/china-hid-virus-severity-to-hoard-supplies-agency-says-2020373/Rating: 0.30
New DHS Report Claims China Hid Virus’ Severity To Hoard Supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report.Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”“These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion virtually word for word hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Speaking Sunday on Fox News Channel’s “Sunday Morning Futures,” Sen. Ted Cruz, R-Texas, echoed that sentiment, saying he believes China “is the most significant geopolitical threat to the United States for the next century.” “The communist government in China bears enormous responsibility, enormous direct culpability for this pandemic. We know they covered it up,” Cruz said. “Had they behaved responsibly and sent in health professionals and quarantined those infected, there’s a real possibility this could have been a regional outbreak, and not a global pandemic. And the hundreds of thousands of deaths worldwide are in a very real sense the direct responsibility of the communist Chinese government’s lies.”___AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report.
3 May 21:30 • Talking Points Memo • https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/dhs-report-china-virus-severity-suppliesRating: 0.30
Report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.” ___ AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report. Will Weissert, The Associated Press
3 May 20:28 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.61
China ‘stocked up on medical supplies after coronavirus cover-up’
US intelligence documents suggest China ‘intentionally concealed the severity’ of the outbreak. US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by the Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical US trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data”, the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organisation that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame US intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Mr Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. “Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the US,” Mr Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” Mr Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake”. His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking on Sunday on ABC’s This Week, Mr Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added: “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”
3 May 20:47 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/china-stocked-up-on-medical-supplies-after-coronavirus-cover-up/Rating: 0.30
Report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON -- U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak -- and how contagious the disease is -- to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was inadequate and slow. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data," the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad -- and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China's changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories."
3 May 20:45 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies-1.4922967Rating: 2.87
DHS report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders "intentionally concealed the severity" of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government's response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump's political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked "for official use only," the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data," the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China's changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government's missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world's medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. "Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.," Trump wrote without citing specifics. "Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner." Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible "mistake." His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC's "This Week," Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories." "These are not the first times that we've had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab," Pompeo said. "And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan." The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn't man-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans. Beijing has repeatedly pushed back on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China's fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China's public announcement on Jan. 20 that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits. “The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday. Copyright 2020 Associated Press. All rights reserved.
3 May 16:16 • KNOE 8 News • https://www.knoe.com/content/news/Report-China-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies-570160041.htmlRating: 0.30
DHS report: China hid virus' severity to hoard supplies
U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it. That's according to U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Associated Press. They say Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January. Word of the Department of Homeland Security analysis dated May 1 comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.
3 May 21:19 • ABC15 Arizona • https://www.abc15.com/news/national/coronavirus/dhs-report-china-hid-virus-severity-to-hoard-suppliesRating: 0.30
DHS report: China hid virus' severity to hoard supplies
U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it. That's according to U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Associated Press. They say Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January. Word of the Department of Homeland Security analysis dated May 1 comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.
3 May 21:19 • ABC Action News - WFTS - Tampa Bay • https://www.abcactionnews.com/news/national/coronavirus/dhs-report-china-hid-virus-severity-to-hoard-suppliesRating: 0.30
China ‘stocked up on medical supplies after coronavirus cover-up’
US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by the Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical US trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data”, the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organisation that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame US intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Mr Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. “Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the US,” Mr Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” Mr Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake”. His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking on Sunday on ABC’s This Week, Mr Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added: “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”
3 May 20:48 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/china-stocked-up-on-medical-supplies-after-coronavirus-cover-up/Rating: 0.30
China ‘stocked up on medical supplies after coronavirus cover-up’
US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by the Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical US trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data”, the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organisation that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame US intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Mr Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. “Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the US,” Mr Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” Mr Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake”. His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking on Sunday on ABC’s This Week, Mr Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added: “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”
3 May 20:45 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/world/china-stocked-up-on-medical-supplies-after-coronavirus-cover-up-997484.htmlRating: 0.69
China ‘stocked up on medical supplies after coronavirus cover-up’
US officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by the Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying on Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical US trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data”, the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organisation that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. Mr Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake”. His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking on Sunday on ABC’s This Week, Mr Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added: “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.”
3 May 20:45 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/world-news/china-stocked-up-on-medical-supplies-after-coronavirus-cover-up-39177736.htmlRating: 1.21
DHS report: China hid virus' severity to hoard supplies
U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it. That's according to U.S. intelligence documents obtained by The Associated Press. They say Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January. Word of the Department of Homeland Security analysis dated May 1 comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable.
3 May 16:19 • Fox 4 • https://www.fox4now.com/news/national/coronavirus/dhs-report-china-hid-virus-severity-to-hoard-suppliesRating: 0.30
China 'intentionally concealed the severity' of coronavirus outbreak to hoard supplies: DHS report
China downplayed its coronavirus outbreak in order to buy time to hoard medical supplies needed to respond to the pandemic, according to intelligence documents. A four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by the Associated Press on Sunday showed that U.S. officials believe Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the virus, including how contagious it is and how large the country's outbreak was, from the rest of the world in January. The report strongly suggested that China did this while knowing how contagious and deadly the coronavirus was during the crucial weeks before it became a global pandemic. The DHS analysis indicated that China increased imports of medical supplies and decreased exports while it was hiding the extent of the coronavirus and even attempted to cover up doing so by "denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data." The report also stated that China failed to notify the World Health Organization that the coronavirus "was a contagion" for most of January so it could purchase medical supplies abroad. Officials noted that the country's trade data “shows that China likely stockpiled medical supplies for domestic use before its official notification to the World Health Organization that COVID-19 was contagious."The intelligence report stated that China increased its imports and decreased its exports of medical supplies beginning in early January. During that time, the nation increased its imports of surgical face masks by 278%, of surgical gowns by 72%, and of surgical gloves by 32%, according to detailsfrom ABC News and Politico. China also decreased its exports of medical supplies at the same time, including 45% fewer ventilators, 56% fewer intubator kits, 53% fewer thermometers, 58% fewer cotton balls and swabs, 48% fewer surgical gloves, 71% fewer surgical gowns, and 48% fewer surgical face masks. The conclusions of the report were based on a 95% chance that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within the normal range. China has faced criticism from President Trump, lawmakers, and public health experts for its coronavirus response and for failing to alert the world of the virus when it was first identified in Wuhan late last year. White House trade adviser Peter Navarro claimed last month that the country spent six weeks concealing the virus from the WHO while cornering the personal protective equipment market. “During that period of time, that six-week interval when they were hiding this virus from the world, China went from a net exporter of personal protective equipment, they are the largest producer of that in the world, to a large net importer,” he said. “They basically went around and vacuumed up virtually all of the PPE around the world ... and what that did was leave people in New York, Milan, and everywhere in-between defenseless when it came time to have that PPE.” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo confirmed elements of the DHS report on Sunday during an interview with Martha Raddatz on This Week on ABC. "I want to turn to China, with intelligence officials... saying that the Chinese government intentionally concealed the severity of COVID-19 from the international community in early January, while it stockpiled medical supplies. In terms of international concealing, I assume you think they did that intentionally to keep as many masks for themselves as possible," Raddatz said. "Will there be some sort of retaliation?" Pompeo replied that "you've got the facts just about right" and "we can confirm that the Chinese Communist Party did all that it could to make sure that the world didn't learn in a timely fashion about what was taking place. There's lots of evidence of that. "It’s the way Communist parties operate," he continued. "This is a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk, and now you can see hundreds of thousands of people around the world, tens of thousands in the United States, have been harmed. President Trump is very clear. We're going to hold those responsible accountable, and we'll do so on a timeline that is our own." Trump has speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to a “mistake" and said he has seen evidence to give him a high degree of confidence that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan laboratory. Pompeo said Sunday there is "enormous evidence" connecting the coronavirus to the Wuhan Institute of Virology. A senior intelligence official told the Washington Examiner that a majority of the U.S. Intelligence Community's 17 spy agencies believe COVID-19 originated through an accidental escape from the lab. As of Sunday, the world had seen nearly 3,500,000 cases of the COVID-19 virus and more than 246,000 related deaths.
3 May 21:48 • Washington Examiner • https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/china-intentionally-concealed-the-severity-of-coronavirus-outbreak-to-hoard-supplies-dhs-reportRating: 0.51
DHS report: China hid virus’ severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. Advertising China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world’s medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact. “Intelligence has just reported to me that I was correct, and that they did NOT bring up the CoronaVirus subject matter until late into January, just prior to my banning China from the U.S.,” Trump wrote without citing specifics. “Also, they only spoke of the Virus in a very non-threatening, or matter of fact, manner.” Trump had previously speculated that China may have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.” Advertising “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,” Pompeo said. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work, they should continue to do that, and verify so that we are certain, I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” The secretary of state appeared to be referring to previous outbreaks of respiratory viruses, like SARS, which started in China. His remark may be seen as offensive in China. Still, Pompeo repeated the same assertion hours later, via a tweet Sunday afternoon. Experts say the virus arose naturally in bats, and make it clear that they believe it wasn’t man-made. Many virologists say the chance that the outbreak was caused by a lab accident is very low, though scientists are still working to determine a point at which it may have jumped from animals to humans. Beijing has repeatedly pushed back on U.S. accusations that the outbreak was China’s fault, pointing to many missteps made by American officials in their own fight against the outbreak. China’s public announcement on Jan. 20 that the virus was transmissible from person to person left the U.S. nearly two months to prepare for the pandemic, during which the U.S. government failed to bolster medical supplies and deployed flawed testing kits. “The U.S. government has ignored the facts, diverted public attention and engaged in buck-passing in an attempt to shirk its responsibility for incompetence in the fight against the epidemic,” Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesman Geng Shuang said Friday. WILL WEISSERT
3 May 13:28 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.74
US intel report: China hid dangers of coronavirus, hoarded supplies
ABC News has obtained a U.S. intelligence report that suggests China hid the extent of the coronavirus epidemic from the rest of the world as it hoarded crucial medical supplies. The Department of Homeland Security report said the country "intentionally concealed the severity of COVID-19" in early January. During that time, officials said China was also building out its own stockpile of medical supplies and took steps to protect it. The virus was first identified outside of the Chinese city of Wuhan in December 2019, and by mid-January, and the surrounding Hubai providence became the epicenter of the coronavirus outbreak. At that time, China reported to the World Health organization that the virus showed "no clear evidence of human-to-human transmission," according to a Jan. 14 WHO tweet. But according to the intelligence report, exports from China dropped significantly as the country cornered off supplies, disrupting the global supply chain for nations that needed those essential items most. "We further assess the Chinese government attempted to hide its actions by denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data ... trade data shows that China likely stockpiled medical supplies for domestic use before its official notification to the World Health Organization that COVID-19 was contagious," the report said. A Homeland Security analysis shows china produces about 80% of the world's surgical face masks but 48% fewer were shipped out during that time period. Exports on gloves dropped 48% and ventilator exports dropped 45%. This report comes as the rift between the U.S. and China deepens. President Donald Trump once praised China's handling of the outbreak, saying President Xi Jinping was "doing a very good job with a very, very tough situation." Now, the president is stepping up on attacks, placing blame for the virus on China. "We are not happy with China. We are not happy with that whole situation because we believe it could have been stopped at the source, it could have been stopped quickly, and it wouldn't have spread all over the world," he said last week.
3 May 15:02 • ABC7 New York • https://abc7ny.com/intel-report-china-hid-dangers-of-covid-19-hoarded-supplies/6147033/Rating: 0.30
Report: China hid coronavirus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON — U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak — and how contagious the disease is — to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that China was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric against China coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was inadequate and slow. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused the president and his administration of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. The analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad — and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behaviour were not within normal range, according to the report. Trump has speculated that China could have unleashed the coronavirus due to some kind of horrible “mistake.” His intelligence agencies say they are still examining a notion put forward by the president and aides that the pandemic may have resulted from an accident at a Chinese lab. Speaking Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” Pompeo said he had no reason to believe that the virus was deliberately spread. But he added, “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running substandard laboratories.” AP Diplomatic Writer Matthew Lee contributed to this report. Will Weissert, The Associated Press
3 May 09:28 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-supplies/Rating: 0.77
DHS report: China hid virus' severity to hoard supplies
WASHINGTON (AP) - U.S. officials believe China covered up the extent of the coronavirus outbreak - and how contagious the disease is - to stock up on medical supplies needed to respond to it, intelligence documents show. Chinese leaders “intentionally concealed the severity” of the pandemic from the world in early January, according to a four-page Department of Homeland Security intelligence report dated May 1 and obtained by The Associated Press. The revelation comes as the Trump administration has intensified its criticism of China, with Secretary of State Mike Pompeo saying Sunday that that country was responsible for the spread of disease and must be held accountable. The sharper rhetoric coincides with administration critics saying the government’s response to the virus was slow and inadequate. President Donald Trump’s political opponents have accused him of lashing out at China, a geopolitical foe but critical U.S. trade partner, in an attempt to deflect criticism at home. Not classified but marked “for official use only,” the DHS analysis states that, while downplaying the severity of the coronavirus, China increased imports and decreased exports of medical supplies. It attempted to cover up doing so by “denying there were export restrictions and obfuscating and delaying provision of its trade data,” the analysis states. The report also says China held off informing the World Health Organization that the coronavirus “was a contagion” for much of January so it could order medical supplies from abroad - and that its imports of face masks and surgical gowns and gloves increased sharply. Those conclusions are based on the 95% probability that China’s changes in imports and export behavior were not within normal range, according to the report. China informed the WHO of the outbreak on Dec. 31. It contacted the U.S. Centers for Disease Control on Jan. 3 and publicly identified the pathogen as a novel coronavirus on Jan. 8. Chinese officials muffled doctors who warned about the virus early on and repeatedly downplayed the threat of the outbreak. However, many of the Chinese government’s missteps appear to have been due to bureaucratic hurdles, tight controls on information, and officials hesitant to report bad news. There is no public evidence to suggest it was an intentional plot to buy up the world’s medical supplies. In a tweet on Sunday, the president appeared to blame U.S. intelligence officials for not making clearer sooner just how dangerous a potential coronavirus outbreak could be. Trump has been defensive over whether he failed to act after receiving early warnings from intelligence officials and others about the coronavirus and its potential impact.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/report-china-hid-coronavirus-severity-to-hoard-sup/Rating: 0.79
Uber to Design Tech to Check If Drivers Wearing Masks, CNN Says
3 May 17:32
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Uber to Design Tech to Check If Drivers Wearing Masks, CNN Says
Uber Technologies Inc. is developing technology to detect whether its drivers are wearing masks or face coverings before they go online and accept trips, CNN reported, citing a person familiar with the matter. Meanwhile, the ride-sharing platform will require both drivers and passengers to wear masks or face coverings while in vehicles. The requirement will be rolled out in the coming weeks in some of its markets, including the U.S., CNN said. “Our teams are preparing for the next phase of recovery, where we will all have a role to play,” Andrew Hasbun, head of safety communications at Uber, said in a statement to CNN Business. “We continue to ask riders to stay home if they can, while shipping safety supplies to drivers who are providing essential trips.” To view the source of this information click here
3 May 17:32 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/uber-to-design-tech-to-check-if-drivers-wearing-masks-cnn-saysRating: 4.04
Uber to require drivers, riders to wear masks due to coronavirus
(CNN) - Whether you're an Uber driver or rider, you'll need to start wearing a mask. Executives decided last week that it will require face coverings when using the platform in certain countries, including the U.S. The requirement is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks. Uber said it’s also in the process of developing technology to hold drivers and riders accountable. The company said it’s trying to get masks to drivers as soon as possible, but that it may take some time because supplies are limited. Copyright 2020 CNN. All rights reserved.
3 May 18:31 • Hawaii News Now • https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/05/03/uber-require-drivers-riders-wears-masks-due-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
Uber to require drivers, riders to wear masks due to coronavirus
(CNN) - Whether you're an Uber driver or rider, you'll need to start wearing a mask. Executives decided last week that it will require face coverings when using the platform in certain countries, including the U.S. The requirement is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks. Uber said it’s also in the process of developing technology to hold drivers and riders accountable. The company said it’s trying to get masks to drivers as soon as possible, but that it may take some time because supplies are limited.
3 May 18:31 • WVLT • https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/Uber-to-require-drivers-riders-to-wears-masks-due-to-coronavirus-570158711.htmlRating: 0.30
Uber to require drivers, riders to wear masks due to coronavirus
(CNN) - Whether you're an Uber driver or rider, you'll need to start wearing a mask. Executives decided last week that it will require face coverings when using the platform in certain countries, including the U.S. The requirement is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks. Uber said it’s also in the process of developing technology to hold drivers and riders accountable. The company said it’s trying to get masks to drivers as soon as possible, but that it may take some time because supplies are limited.
3 May 18:31 • NewsChannel 10 • https://www.newschannel10.com/2020/05/03/uber-require-drivers-riders-wears-masks-due-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
Uber will soon require drivers, riders in U.S. to wear face coverings
As it anticipates a restart to its core rideshare business amid the pandemic, Uber plans to require drivers and riders to wear face masks or face coverings when using the platform in certain countries, including the United States, CNN Business has learned. Executives approved the new policy in a meeting this past week, according to a person familiar with the matter, and the requirement is expected to be rolled out in the coming weeks. As part of the policy, Uber is in the process of developing technology todetect if drivers are wearing masks or face coverings before they go online and start accepting trips, said the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity because the policy decision was just made recently and has not yet been introduced. The company already has face verification capabilities as part of its "Real Time ID-check" feature used to verify the identity of drivers. Uber is also looking into ways to hold riders accountable, the person said. Uber confirmed to CNN Business that the company plans to introduce a policy around requiring masks or face coverings in certain markets, and that it is developing technology to detect drivers' usage of face coverings. "As countries reopen, Uber is focused on safety and proceeding with caution. Today, we continue to ask riders to stay home if they can, while shipping safety supplies to drivers who are providing essential trips. At the same time, our teams are preparing for the next phase of recovery, where we will all have a role to play," said Uber's head of safety communications Andrew Hasbunin a statement to CNN Business. For roughly six weeks, much of the U.S. has been under stay-at-home orders due to the pandemic, upending Uber's core ride-hailing business. Last week, The Information reported that Uber is weighing significant staff cuts. Competitor Lyft announced last week that it is laying off nearly 1,000 employees and furloughing hundreds of others. Both companies are set to report earningsthisweek. Uber's Rides business made up 81% of the company's adjusted net revenue in the fourth quarter of 2019; its food delivery service, Eats, made up 11%. But as parts of the country begin to reopen for business, Uber -- like other travel companies -- is also considering how it might ramp back up. This past week, JetBlue, Delta Air Lines, and American Airlines, all of which have been hurt badly by the pandemic, said passengers would soon be required to wear masks. Once the policy is introduced, Uber drivers and delivery workers will be required to wear some kind of face covering, such as a mask or bandana, regardless of whether they have received a company-provided mask. Uber said it is trying to get masks to drivers who need them as soon as possible. In April, Uber said it began shipping masks to drivers and delivery workers, as well as disinfectant spray. The company said then that it would purchase and ship tens of millions of ear-loop face masks to its global workers. However, it noted that, because supplies are limited and health care workers take priority, this may take some time to get to drivers. In the U.S., Uber said it is prioritizing getting masks to active drivers in cities and states that have requested drivers wear face coverings. Robyn Gershon, a New York University epidemiology professor, said that because coronavirus can spread easily in close contact, such as in a vehicle, "absolutely positively everyone should be wearing a mask" or face covering. Those masks should be changed out frequently, she said, such as every eight hours for drivers who "work long hours." Masks should be placed into a new zip-lock bag after use and washed, if reusable, Gershon told CNN Business. Moreover, Gershon suggested drivers should disinfect vehicles after each rider is dropped off, if possible. She added that she "really likes the idea" of plastic barriers or divisions in vehicles to protect both drivers and passengers, something companies have started to explore. For example, Chinese rideshare company Didi Chuxing said it is installing plastic dividers in its fleets in China and Mexico; In India, Uber said all UberMedic cars, used to transport doctors and nurses, are fitted with a plastic sheet as a barrier. "Nobody should be riding if they're feeling the least bit sick or are in one of the high-risk groups," she added. In the statement to CNN Business, Hasbun said: "We'll communicate updates directly to users when ready, but in the meantime we continue to urge all riders and drivers to wear masks or face coverings when using Uber."
3 May 14:41 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/uber-will-soon-require-drivers-riders-in-u-s-to-wear-face-coverings-1.4922755Rating: 2.87
Uber is developing tech to ensure drivers wear face masks
Uber is coming to terms with the new reality imposed by the COVID-19 pandemic, and it’s using technology to make sure everyone adjusts. The company has confirmed to CNN Business that it’s requiring face masks or similar coverings for both drivers and passengers in countries like the US, and is developing technology to detect whether or not drivers are abiding by those rules. It didn’t elaborate on how the technology would work, although Uber already has a Real Time ID-check feature that periodically asks drivers to take selfies. A CNN tipster added that Uber was looking into ways to ensure riders wore masks, although privacy concerns clearly make that more difficult. Uber has already been supplying masks and disinfectants to drivers, but this new policy might be vital if the company hopes to revitalize its business as governments lift their lockdown restrictions. Ridesharing has taken a sharp hit as stay-at-home orders, closed stores and fear of travel have left would-be customers reluctant to go anywhere — especially in the close confines of a car. Masks would not only reduce the chances of infection, but increase trust for both sides. It might also be necessary for the survival of the company. Lyft recently laid off more than 1,000 employees to adapt to the financial realities of the pandemic, and The Information has claimed that Uber is looking at laying off roughly 20 percent of its staff. Job cuts like these could help the companies weather declines for a while, but they might not be enough if would-be customers remain frightened.
3 May 17:25 • Engadget • https://www.engadget.com/uber-face-mask-detection-technology-184137514.htmlRating: 2.92
Passengers and staff at Manchester Airport will have to wear gloves and cover faces - and bosses are trialling temperature scanners - as stricter measures are brought in
Passengers and staff at Manchester Airport will have to wear gloves and cover their faces starting this week. There will also be temperature scanners at the hub as part of a 'trial' to screen those who could have contracted COVID-19. Passengers could also be asked to make a 'health declaration' to confirm they are asymptomatic before entering the terminal - or even provide the results of a COVID-19 test. The measures, says Charlie Cornish, Group CEO of Manchester Airports Group, have been drawn up following consultation with medical experts and in the absence of official guidance from the government. It comes amid calls from across the industry for Whitehall to set a framework for minimum standards for all UK airports to adhere to. The government has said temperature testing is not reliable, although it is used in parts of Africa and the Middle East where there have been far fewer deaths. With airport leaders now understood to be frustrated with the waiting, they have taken the steps ahead of further international guidelines they expect to be introduced in the coming weeks. Airport bosses say the full details are still being hammered out, but the changes, to be launched this week, mean: It is something that has touched all our lives. From cradle to grave, the National Health Service is a part of British life. Today, more than ever, we should cherish those who dedicate themselves to our care as they work tirelessly to care for people in the face of the coronavirus pandemic. Click HERE to drop a heart on the map and you can also donate to our frontline fundraiser for the chance to win weekly prizes. The new measures would build on the existing signage, leaflets, annoucemenets and hand sanitisers already in place, they said. The airport has also implemented a 'more intensive and visible' cleaning regime. Bosses say they will be further strengthening these elements too. A Manchester Airport spokesman said: "Manchester Airport can confirm it will be piloting various new safety measures that are being put in place across MAG later this week. "They are designed to help the small number of passengers currently making essential journeys through Manchester Airport feel safer and more confident about flying at this time. "We will be providing confirmation of exact guidance for passengers, to allow them to fully prepare for their journey, before the measures are put in place." Charlie Cornish, Group CEO of MAG said: "Government has been slow to work with the UK aviation industry on what flying will look like in the new world. "It is vital that we work together to establish a clear and workable set of proposals, so that we are in position to lead discussions with other countries. "It’s clear that social distancing does not work on any form of public transport. But we’re confident that when the time is right, people will be able to travel safely. "UK airports have put a package of measures on the table for discussion with Government. We now need the Government to work urgently with airports and airlines to agree how we operate in the future. This has to be a top priority so that people can be confident about flying, and to get tourism and travel going again. "At MAG we’ve taken expert medical advice on how people can travel safely. From next week, we’ll be piloting new measures at MAG airports for those passengers who still need to travel." The move comes as passenger numbers at Manchester Airport plummet from 80,000 a day to around 500. Operating hours have been cut and just one runway and one terminal are in use. Flights still running include those to repatriate citizens and for 'essential' travellers like oil rig workers travelling to Aberdeen. More than 75 per cent of staff have been furloughed, with a 10pc pay cut in place for the entire workforce until next March. The Manchester Evening News has contacted the Department for Transport for comment.
3 May 09:41 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/greater-manchester-news/manchester-airport-masks-gloves-temperature-18191161Rating: 1.15
CMCO: GrabCar to extend operating hours to 11pm, up to 2 passengers per ride
Grab has announced an update for its GrabCar ride-sharing service that will take effect from 4th May 2020. This is in conjunction with Malaysia’s new Conditional Movement Control Order which allows reopening of selected business sectors in the country. GrabCar operating hours will be running from 6am to 11pm starting from Monday, 4th of May. Customers must book their rides before 10.30pm. During the CMCO, Grab is allowing a maximum of two passengers per ride. Both drivers and passengers must wear a face mask at all times and bring their own hand sanitisers. To minimise contact, passengers are encouraged to sit at the back seat of the vehicle. Passengers that are having flu symptoms such as fever, cough or sneezing are discouraged to request a ride. Grab drivers have the right to cancel rides and report passengers that display symptoms. Similarly, Grab passengers are allowed to cancel rides and report drivers if they are displaying flu symptoms as well. According to the e-hailing provider, cancellation fees will be refunded after a report is made through the Grab app’s Help centre. At the moment, Grab has suspended GrabShare and GrabBike to comply with social distancing rules. For further reading, you can refer to Grab’s COVID-19 guideline page. [ SOURCE ]
3 May 04:48 • SoyaCincau.com • https://www.soyacincau.com/2020/05/03/grabcar-malaysia-cmco-operating-hours/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=TwitterRating: 0.59
Ireland Moves Closer to New Government With Green Party Talks
3 May 16:38
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Ireland Moves Closer to New Government With Green Party Talks
Ireland’s Green Party agreed to enter formal talks with the country’s two traditional major parties on forming a government, moving a step closer to a new administration almost three months after the general election. The Green Party will start negotiations with the governing Fine Gael and main opposition Fianna Fail, it said in a statement on Sunday, citing “the huge challenges facing any government in the Covid-19 crisis.” “The party will now work with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to develop a deal that respects our mandate with a view to presenting that agreement to Green Party members for approval,” it added. The moves comes after the Feb. 8 election didn’t return a clear winner. Traditional rivals Fine Gael and Fianna Fail agreed to try to form a government together last month, but progress has been slow as the country grapples with the coronavirus crisis, and the two parties don’t have enough seats to command a parliamentary majority, making a third coalition member vital. Talks with the Green Party may still break down. A new government may still be some way away, and is unlikely to be formed this month, Prime Minister Leo Varadkar said on Friday. While Sinn Fein won the largest vote share at the election, Fine Gael and Fianna Fail refuse to govern with Sinn Fein because of its former links to the IRA and its left-wing politics.
3 May 16:38 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/ireland-moves-closer-to-new-government-with-green-party-talksRating: 4.04
Greens enter Irish coalition talks with climate on agenda
DUBLIN (Reuters) - Ireland’s Green Party agreed to enter talks about forming a government with the centre-right Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties on Sunday, but said it would withdraw if it could not agree a policy programme with climate action at its core. Ireland has been in political deadlock since an inconclusive election in February, with the caretaker government of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar forced to implement costly and extensive fiscal and political policies by the coronavirus crisis. Varadkar’s Fine Gael and traditional rival Fianna Fail reached an initial broad agreement last month to govern together for the first time, but need more support to control parliament and cannot pass any laws until a new prime minister is elected. If they can get the backing of the Green’s 12 lawmakers they would have a majority, which would allow the them to pass laws including those needed to uphold a 6.5 billion euro package to support businesses shuttered by Ireland’s lockdown. Measures to allow affected firms to defer tax liabilities for 12 months and to use a 2 billion euro ($2.2 billion) credit guarantee scheme will require legislation to be passed by June or early July, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said on Sunday. “We are conscious of the huge challenges facing any government in the Covid-19 crisis,” the Green Party said in a statement, after days of talks among its lawmakers. “Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society. If this is not the case Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations,” it added. Some Green Party members are sceptical that the two larger parties will pursue ambitious enough environmental policies, with the main sticking point being a commitment to a 7% average annual cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Even if its lawmakers agree to enter a coalition, any deal must be approved by 66% of the Green Party’s grassroots members. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which both draw support from parts of the agricultural sector opposed to the Greens’ target, require the backing of a majority of their wider membership. “We are absolutely committed to seeing are there ways in which we can significantly improve the ability of our country to reduce emissions,” Donohoe told the Newstalk radio station. “But we do need to understand how that is going to be done and how that will be funded, given all that we have going on in our country,” he added.
3 May 17:29 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-ireland-politics-idUSKBN22F0PTRating: 4.04
Green Party to enter government talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael
The Green Party is to enter negotiations on a programme for government with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil. The Greens held a parliamentary party meeting by teleconference this afternoon which approved the move, clearing the way for formal negotiations to begin later this week. In a statement the party confirmed the move saying it would “now work with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to develop a deal that respects our mandate with a view to presenting that agreement to Green Party members for approval. It notes that a two-thirds majority among members is needed for approval. “Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society,” it said. Can you form a government? If this is not the case, it says, “Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations and pursue their mandate in opposition and work to hold the government to account.” Green Party leader Eamon Ryan will now seek a meeting with the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leadership to start the process. Mr Ryan, who has been in constant contact with the Taoiseach and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar and the Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin, sought clarifications and additional commitments from the two parties to help secure the assent of his parliamentary party to enter talks on a new government. It is understood that these involved stronger commitments on some issues, and technical clarifications on others. The Irish Times understands that Mr Ryan received another letter from the two party leaders this weekend, which he brought to the parliamentary party and tabled the proposal to enter talks. Mr Ryan had the support of a clear majority of the parliamentary party for the move, but there was significant opposition expressed. There were fears in the party this weekend of a split over the question of government. Negotiations are likely to commence between representatives of the three parties in the coming days on a programme for government. Sources say these are likely to take much of the rest of the month, with the party leaders then seeking the endorsement of their parties to enter government on the basis of the document. This would mean – if the parties approve – that a new government formed in mid-June at the earliest.
3 May 15:29 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/news/politics/green-party-to-enter-government-talks-with-fianna-f%C3%A1il-and-fine-gael-1.4244053Rating: 1.99
Green Party will enter coalition talks with Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil
THE GREEN PARTY has confirmed it will enter talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael with a view to forming a coalition government. The party – which won 12 seats in February – had held talks among its TDs earlier today on the prospect of forming the next government. It said in a statement that it is conscious of the huge challenges facing any government during the Covid-19 crisis. It said: “Green Party approval of any programme for government will require support of 2/3 of the Green Party voting membership. “Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said his party looks forward to “constructive discussions” between the parties in the coming days. “Working together we can help to deal with the challenges facing Ireland, including getting people back to work, re-opening businesses, investing in and transforming our health service, housing system, childcare, climate action, balanced regional development and enlivening communities in rural Ireland,” Varadkar said in a statement. Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said he is “confident” the three parties will be able to agree a programme for government. “I am confident that working with Fine Gael and the Green Party we will be able to negotiate and agree a programme for government that protects people and ensures that the country’s economic recovery after Covid-19 is commenced as soon as possible and built on fairness,” he said in a statement. “There is important legislation that needs to be passed to allow Irish businesses to access finance and there needs to be a government in place to do this.” The party leader said Fianna Fáil will approach these negotiations “constructively and confidently”. Fine Gael, in particular, has been attempting to court the Greens in recent days with Taoiseach Leo Varadkar saying on RTÉ’s The Late Late Show he was keen on meeting one of the party’s redline targets – a 7% reduction in carbon emissions. The party currently in power during the Covid-19 crisis has also sought to emphasise that it is urgent a new government is formed, given that emergency legislation aimed at supporting businesses affected by the pandemic needs a new government in place for that to be enacted. Health Minister Simon Harris told TheJournal.ie: “I do hope we can form a new government in this country. The current government is working as hard as it possibly can, but it’s not a sustainable position for an awful lot longer. In a statement this evening, the youth wing of the Green Party said it noted the development with “disappointment”. It said: “In 2007, the Green Party campaigned to remove Fianna Fáil from office, before making the historic mistake to enter government with them – their ‘deal with the devil’. We now see history repeating itself.” With Fianna Fáil (37 seats), Fine Gael (35) and the Greens (12) together, they would exceed the 80 seats required for a majority in the Dáil. The Green Party last entered government a decade ago, when in 2007 it formed a coalition with Fianna Fáil. Sinn Féin – which won 37 seats at the last election – have been ruled out as coalition partners by Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael on numerous occasions. Varadkar told The Late Late Show that a new government could be in place by June. Sinn Féin TD Matt Carthy has accused Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil of “working to a plan to exclude Sinn Féin from government and to ignore our mandate for some time”. “Both of them in government together – no matter who they are propped up by – is not what people voted for and will not deliver the change that people voted for in February’s general election,” Carthy said today, responding to the Green Party’s decision. With reporting from Christina Finn #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
3 May 15:36 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/green-party-government-2-5090847-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Greens enter Irish coalition talks with climate on agenda
DUBLIN — Ireland’s Green Party agreed to enter talks about forming a government with the center-right Fianna Fail and Fine Gael parties on Sunday, but said it would withdraw if it could not agree a policy program with climate action at its core. Ireland has been in political deadlock since an inconclusive election in February, with the caretaker government of Prime Minister Leo Varadkar forced to implement costly and extensive fiscal and political policies by the coronavirus crisis. Varadkar’s Fine Gael and traditional rival Fianna Fail reached an initial broad agreement last month to govern together for the first time, but need more support to control parliament and cannot pass any laws until a new prime minister is elected. If they can get the backing of the Green’s 12 lawmakers they would have a majority, which would allow the them to pass laws including those needed to uphold a 6.5 billion euro package to support businesses shuttered by Ireland’s lockdown. Measures to allow affected firms to defer tax liabilities for 12 months and to use a 2 billion euro ($2.2 billion) credit guarantee scheme will require legislation to be passed by June or early July, Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe said on Sunday. “We are conscious of the huge challenges facing any government in the Covid-19 crisis,” the Green Party said in a statement, after days of talks among its lawmakers. “Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society. If this is not the case Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations,” it added. Some Green Party members are skeptical that the two larger parties will pursue ambitious enough environmental policies, with the main sticking point being a commitment to a 7% average annual cut in greenhouse gas emissions. Even if its lawmakers agree to enter a coalition, any deal must be approved by 66% of the Green Party’s grassroots members. Fine Gael and Fianna Fail, which both draw support from parts of the agricultural sector opposed to the Greens’ target, require the backing of a majority of their wider membership. “We are absolutely committed to seeing are there ways in which we can significantly improve the ability of our country to reduce emissions,” Donohoe told the Newstalk radio station. “But we do need to understand how that is going to be done and how that will be funded, given all that we have going on in our country,” he added. ($1 = 0.9105 euros) (Reporting by Padraic Halpin, Editing by Timothy Heritage and Alexander Smith)
3 May 17:28 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/greens-enter-irish-coalition-talks-with-climate-on-agendaRating: 0.94
Greens to enter government formation talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael
The Green Party is to enter government formation talks with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael. The talks have been described as aimed at developing a programme for government. Green Party leader Eamon Ryan is set to seek a meeting with the Fianna Fail and Fine Gael leadership to start the process Following February’s inconclusive election, Fianna Fail and Fine Gael are courting the Greens, Labour and the Social Democrats as potential junior partners in a three or four-party coalition. The Greens’ pre-condition of only entering a government committed to a 7% reduction in carbon emissions has emerged as a potential deal breaker. In a statement on Sunday the Greens said they will work to develop a deal that “respects our mandate”. The party said any potential programme for government will require the support of two thirds of their voting membership. “We are conscious of the huge challenges facing any government in the Covid-19 crisis,” the statement said. “The party will now work with Fianna Fail and Fine Gael to develop a deal that respects our mandate with a view to presenting that agreement to Green Party members for approval. “Green Party approval of any programme for government will require support of two thirds of the Green Party voting membership. “Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society. “If this is not the case, Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations and pursue their mandate in opposition and work to hold the Government to account.” Fianna Fail leader Micheal Martin and Fine Gael leader Leo Varadkar both welcomed the announcement. Sinn Fein TD Matt Carthy described a Government comprising Fianna Fail and Fine Gael as “not representing change” while People Before Profit TD Bríd Smith claimed the Greens decision was a “historic mistake that would lead to the betrayal of the Climate Action movement”. Mr Martin said he is confident the three parties will be able to “negotiate and agree a Programme for Government that protects people and ensures that the country’s economic recovery after Covid-19 is commenced as soon as possible and built on fairness”. “There is important legislation that needs to be passed to allow Irish businesses to access finance and there needs to be a government in place to do this,” he said. Mr Varadkar, who remains in place as Taoiseach until a new Government is formed, said his party looks forward to “constructive discussions” in the coming days. “Ireland needs a stable Government to manage the remainder of the Covid emergency and to rebuild and renew our society and economy over the next five years,” he said. “We are also very aware that a hard Brexit within six months is a distinct possibility with all the challenges that would bring. “We look forward to the forthcoming Programme for Government negotiations and believe that together our three parties can develop a programme that will deliver for the Irish people.”
3 May 16:20 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/breaking-news/irish-news/greens-to-enter-government-formation-talks-with-fianna-fail-and-fine-gael-39177449.htmlRating: 1.21
Green Party to enter formal talks to form a government
The Green Party is to enter formal talks with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael, with a view to developing a programme for government. Its Parliamentary Party made the decision after a meeting on Sunday. Both Fine Gael and Fianna Fáil have agreed to enter government together - but need a third party to make up numbers in the Dáil. During the week The Green Party set out its demands - however a key target of reducing carbon emissions by 7% was not agreed in a response. On Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar said it was something he would like to work towards. Mr Varadkar has also said he is hopeful a new government can be in place by June. In a statement on Sunday, The Green Party said: "We are conscious of the huge challenges facing any Government in the COVID-19 crisis. "The party will now work with Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael to develop a deal that respects our mandate with a view to presenting that agreement to Green Party members for approval." It added: "Green Party approval of any programme for government will require support of 2/3 of the Green Party voting membership. "Any proposal must be transformative on climate action and commit to strong progress towards a more sustainable and fairer society. "If this is not the case Green Party representatives will withdraw from negotiations and pursue their mandate in opposition and work to hold the government to account." Green Party leader Eamon Ryan says he will seek a meeting with the Fianna Fáil and Fine Gael leadership to start the process. An Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has welcomed the statement from the Greens. He said: "We look forward to constructive discussions on a programme for government commencing in the coming days. "This is a very welcome decision by the Green Party. "Ireland needs a stable government to manage the remainder of the COVID emergency and to rebuild and renew our society and economy over the next five years. "Working together we can help to deal with the challenges facing Ireland, including getting people back to work, re-opening businesses, investing in and transforming our health service, housing system, childcare, climate action, balanced regional development and enlivening communities in rural Ireland. And Fianna Fáil leader Micheál Martin said: "As the country faces into a very uncertain future, it is critically important that we have a solid and stable Government in place. "I am confident that working with Fine Gael and the Green Party we will be able to negotiate and agree a programme for government that protects people and ensures that the country’s economic recovery after COVID-19 is commenced as soon as possible and built on fairness. "I am also confident that together, with an agreed progressive programme for government we will have the opportunity to tackle, in a fundamental way, the biggest issues that are facing our people - COVID-19 ,the housing emergency, access to health services, child care and climate change. "We must also not forget that a hard Brexit in six months is still looming." He added that Fianna Fáil "will be approaching the forthcoming programme for government negotiations constructively and confidently, determined to deliver on the mandate we have been given."
3 May 17:55 • Newstalk • https://www.newstalk.com/news/green-party-enter-formal-talks-form-government-1009803Rating: 0.30
French coronavirus quarantine to spare travellers from Schengen area and UK
3 May 20:19
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4 articles
Weight: 3.56
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Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:10
Average US: 20.7
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Weighted average GB: 0.5205685693785874
Average IN: 10.1
Weighted average IN: 6.981718550695969
French coronavirus quarantine to spare travellers from Schengen area and UK
PARIS (Reuters) - Travellers to France who arrive from a country in Europe’s Schengen open-border area or Britain will be exempt from a planned compulsory two-week quarantine, the French consulate in Britain said on Sunday. The new quarantine rules will apply to travellers, whether French or foreigners, as part of the fight against the new coronavirus. Details will be provided in a decree specifying measures laid out in a bill extending a state of emergency until July 24. The move allows the government to restrict freedom of movement to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “People entering the French territory from countries in the European area (EU/Schengen and United Kingdom) will NOT be affected by the quarantine measure announced in France, the details of which will be specified shortly,” the French consulate in Britain said on Twitter on a verified account. France, which has been the fifth-hardest hit country with 24,895 deaths from COVID-19, is preparing to gradually lift lockdown measures from May 11. The French presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said earlier on Sunday that a list of “countries at risk” would soon be issued, without giving details. “We’ll establish a list of countries at risk and... when people come from risk areas, whether they are French or foreigners, we’ll have mandatory quarantine measures,” she said on France Inter radio station.
3 May 20:19 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-france-quarantine-idUSKBN22F0URRating: 4.04
French quarantine rules to spare travellers from Schengen area and Britain
France is preparing to ease lockdown measures from May 11, though the government has decided to extend a “state of health emergency” until July 24 to combat the spread of Covid-19. Announcing the extension on Saturday, the government had said that anyone entering France would have to remain in isolation for two weeks, French nationals included. However, the quarantine rules will not apply to "anyone arriving from the European Union, the Schengen zone or Britain, regardless of their nationality", the presidency said on Sunday. For French and EU citizens arriving in France from other regions outside the EU, the Schengen area and Britain, "the rules will be announced in the coming days", the presidency added. The French consulate in Britain had made a similar announcement earlier in the day. "People entering the French territory from countries in the European area (EU/Schengen and United Kingdom) will NOT be affected by the quarantine measure announced in France, the details of which will be specified shortly," the consulate said on Twitter. The number of new deaths from COVID-19 in France has been declining in recent days, with 135 fatalities reported over the past 24 hours on Sunday — the lowest daily tally since March 22. The national health service said the increase brought France's total death toll to 24,895, the world's fifth highest figure after the United States, Italy, Britain and Spain. France plans to start lifting the coronavirus lockdown from May 11, when children are to return to school in stages, some businesses will reopen and people will be able to travel within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of their homes without a signed justification for their movement. But Health Minister Olivier Veran warned Sunday that this would depend on further declines in COVID-19 infections, especially in hard-hit areas like the Paris region and northeast France. The government has said the number of new coronavirus cases must stabilise at fewer than 3,000 per day as it expands testing, otherwise doctors and nurses could face another wave of patients that have tested hospitals since March. "If the number of new cases proves too high, we'll have to reconsider the date for lifting the lockdown, and decide according to the situation in each department," Veran told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. He also cautioned against planning summer holidays for now, saying "it's unlikely that this virus is going to go on vacation". Officials are scrambling to ramp up testing capacities to 700,000 people each week by May 11, which health experts say is essential for containing the outbreak. (FRANCE 24 with AFP)
3 May 20:55 • France 24 • https://www.france24.com/en/20200503-french-quarantine-rules-to-spare-travellers-from-schengen-area-and-britainRating: 2.48
French coronavirus quarantine to spare travelers from Schengen area and UK
PARIS — Travelers to France who arrive from a country in Europe’s Schengen open-border area or Britain will be exempt from a planned compulsory two-week quarantine, the French consulate in Britain said on Sunday. The new quarantine rules will apply to travelers, whether French or foreigners, as part of the fight against the new coronavirus. Details will be provided in a decree specifying measures laid out in a bill extending a state of emergency until July 24. The move allows the government to restrict freedom of movement to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus. “People entering the French territory from countries in the European area (EU/Schengen and United Kingdom) will NOT be affected by the quarantine measure announced in France, the details of which will be specified shortly,” the French consulate in Britain said on Twitter on a verified account. France, which has been the fifth-hardest hit country with 24,895 deaths from COVID-19, is preparing to gradually lift lockdown measures from May 11. The French presidency did not immediately respond to a request for comment. French government spokeswoman Sibeth Ndiaye said earlier on Sunday that a list of “countries at risk” would soon be issued, without giving details. “We’ll establish a list of countries at risk and… when people come from risk areas, whether they are French or foreigners, we’ll have mandatory quarantine measures,” she said on France Inter radio station. (Reporting by Michel Rose and Mathieu Rosemain, Editing by Timothy Heritage)
3 May 20:10 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/french-coronavirus-quarantine-to-spare-travelers-from-schengen-area-and-ukRating: 1.59
France says won't quarantine EU, Schengen area citizens
France said Sunday that it would not quarantine anyone arriving from the EU, the Schengen area or Britain due to the coronavirus, as it prepares to start easing confinement measures after two months of lockdown. On Saturday, the government had said it would extend the state of emergency to contain the crisis until at least July 24, and anyone entering France would have to remain in isolation for two weeks. But the quarantine rules would not apply to "anyone arriving from the European Union, the Schengen zone or Britain, regardless of their nationality", the presidency said on Sunday. And for French and EU citizens arriving in France from other regions outside the EU, the Schengen area and Britain, "the rules will be announced in the coming days", the presidency said. Nevertheless, the tougher border controls introduced by France in mid-March to limit coronavirus contagion, particularly at the border with Germany, will continue, the interior ministry told AFP. "The travel restrictions currently in place at our borders will continue to apply," the ministry said. "Nothing has changed." The number of new deaths from COVID-19 in France has been declining in recent days, with 135 fatalities reported over the past 24 hours on Sunday. The national health service said the increase brought France's total death toll to 24,895, the world's fifth highest figure after the United States, Italy, Britain and Spain. The last time the number of daily reported deaths was below 135 was on March 22, when it represented only those reported by hospitals. The current figure also includes deaths reported by elderly care homes and other medicalised care facilities. France plans to start lifting the coronavirus lockdown from May 11, when children are to return to school in stages, some businesses will reopen and people will be able to travel within 100 kilometres (60 miles) of their homes without a signed justification for their movement. But Health Minister Olivier Veran warned Sunday that this would depend on further declines in COVID-19 infections, especially in hard-hit areas like the Paris region and northeast France. The government has said the number of new coronavirus cases must stabilise at fewer than 3,000 per day as it expands testing, otherwise doctors and nurses could face another wave of patients that have tested hospitals since March. "If the number of new cases proves too high, we'll have to reconsider the date for lifting the lockdown, and decide according to the situation in each department," Veran told the Journal du Dimanche newspaper. He also cautioned against planning summer holidays for now, saying "it's unlikely that this virus is going to go on vacation". Officials are scrambling to ramp up testing capacities to 700,000 people each week by May 11, which health experts say is essential for containing the outbreak.
3 May 22:20 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/france-says-won-t-quarantine-eu-schengen-area-citizens/article/571148Rating: 0.78
Holland boss Ronald Koeman in hospital after heart procedure
3 May 18:27
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14 articles
Weight: 3.52
Importance: 3.52
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:09
Average US: 8.827142857142858
Weighted average US: 11.837973744639136
Average GB: 11.747857142857143
Weighted average GB: 11.560020415646235
Average IN: 7.932857142857143
Weighted average IN: 14.618641660308835
Holland boss Ronald Koeman in hospital after heart procedure
The former Barcelona player is expected to return home on Monday. Holland manager Ronald Koeman has undergone a heart procedure in Amsterdam after experiencing chest pain and is due to return home on Monday. The 57-year-old, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League before taking over his country almost two years ago, was taken to hospital on Sunday evening where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. That involves the placement of a long, thin tube into a vein or artery and is typically performed without general anaesthetic. A statement from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, read: “Ronald Koeman was hospitalised on Sunday evening after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterisation and will return home tomorrow. “We wish Ronald a lot of strength and improvement.” A tweet from the governing body’s account added: “That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again.” Everton posted a message of support for the former Barcelona defender, tweeting: “Everyone at #EFC would like to wish former boss @RonaldKoeman a speedy recovery.” France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Koeman for both the Toffees and the Saints was also quick to react. “Prayers are with you! Stay strong @RonaldKoeman,” he wrote. Holland and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also added on Twitter: “Wishing you soon recovery coach.”
3 May 18:27 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/holland-boss-ronald-koeman-in-hospital-after-heart-procedure/Rating: 0.30
Ronald Koeman in hospital after undergoing heart procedure
Holland manager Ronald Koeman has undergone a heart procedure in Amsterdam after experiencing chest pain and is due to return home on Monday. The 57-year-old, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League before taking over his country almost two years ago, was taken to hospital on Sunday evening where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. That involves the placement of a long, thin tube into a vein or artery and is typically performed without general anaesthetic. A statement from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, read: ‘Ronald Koeman was hospitalised on Sunday evening after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterisation and will return home tomorrow. ‘We wish Ronald a lot of strength and improvement.’ A tweet from the governing body’s account added: ‘That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again.’ ‘Everton posted a message of support for the former Barcelona defender, tweeting: “Everyone at EFC would like to wish former boss @RonaldKoeman a speedy recovery.’ France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Koeman for both the Toffees and the Saints was also quick to react. ‘Prayers are with you! Stay strong @RonaldKoeman,’ he wrote, while Holland and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also added on Twitter: ‘Wishing you soon recovery coach.’
3 May 19:34 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/ronald-koeman-hospital-undergoing-heart-procedure-12649272/Rating: 2.18
Holland boss Ronald Koeman in hospital after heart procedure
Holland manager Ronald Koeman has undergone a heart procedure in Amsterdam after experiencing chest pain and is due to return home on Monday. The 57-year-old, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League before taking over his country almost two years ago, was taken to hospital on Sunday evening where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. That involves the placement of a long, thin tube into a vein or artery and is typically performed without general anaesthetic. A statement from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, read: “Ronald Koeman was hospitalised on Sunday evening after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterisation and will return home tomorrow. “We wish Ronald a lot of strength and improvement.” A tweet from the governing body’s account added: “That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again.” Everton posted a message of support for the former Barcelona defender, tweeting: “Everyone at #EFC would like to wish former boss @RonaldKoeman a speedy recovery.” France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Koeman for both the Toffees and the Saints was also quick to react. “Prayers are with you! Stay strong @RonaldKoeman,” he wrote. Holland and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also added on Twitter: “Wishing you soon recovery coach.”
3 May 18:27 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/holland-boss-ronald-koeman-in-hospital-after-heart-procedure/Rating: 0.30
Holland boss Ronald Koeman in hospital after heart procedure
HOLLAND MANAGER RONALD Koeman has undergone a heart procedure in Amsterdam after experiencing chest pain and is due to return home on Monday. The 57-year-old, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League before taking over his country almost two years ago, was taken to hospital on Sunday evening where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. That involves the placement of a long, thin tube into a vein or artery and is typically performed without general anaesthetic. A statement from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, read: “Ronald Koeman was hospitalised on Sunday evening after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterisation and will return home tomorrow. “We wish Ronald a lot of strength and improvement.” A tweet from the governing body’s account added: “That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again.” Everton posted a message of support for the former Barcelona defender, tweeting: “Everyone at #EFC would like to wish former boss @RonaldKoeman a speedy recovery.” France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Koeman for both the Toffees and the Saints was also quick to react. “Prayers are with you! Stay strong @RonaldKoeman,” he wrote. Holland and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also added on Twitter: “Wishing you soon recovery coach.”
3 May 19:26 • The42 • https://www.the42.ie/ronald-koeman-holland-hospital-heart-5090959-May2020/Rating: 0.30
Dutch coach Koeman hospitalised with heart problem
Dutch national coach Ronald Koeman required hospital treatment after suffering a heart problem, his wife told De Telegraaf newspaper on Sunday. The 57-year-old underwent a "cardiac catheterisation" procedure at a hospital in Amsterdam after complaining of feeling unwell at his home. "The speed with which he was taken to the hospital and the quick intervention of the doctors allowed his condition to be stabilised," said Bartina Koeman. Koeman, who has coached the Dutch side since 2018, is expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. "It was a shock," tweeted the Dutch football federation. "Happily, things are already a little better. Strength and a good recovery, coach." Koeman, a standout defender at Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Barcelona as well as the Dutch team in his playing career, had already qualified the Netherlands for Euro 2020. However, the tournament has been pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus.
3 May 20:56 • Sport • https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/dutch-coach-koeman-hospitalised-with-heart-problem-20200503Rating: 0.63
Netherlands coach Koeman undergoes heart surgery
Dutch national coach Ronald Koeman required hospital treatment after suffering a heart problem, his wife told De Telegraaf newspaper on Sunday. The 57-year-old underwent a “cardiac catheterisation” procedure at a hospital in Amsterdam after complaining of feeling unwell at his home. “The speed with which he was taken to the hospital and the quick intervention of the doctors allowed his condition to be stabilised,” said Bartina Koeman. Koeman, who has coached the Dutch side since 2018, is expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. “It was a shock,” tweeted the Dutch football federation. “Happily, things are already a little better. Strength and a good recovery, coach.” Koeman, a standout defender at Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Barcelona as well as the Dutch team in his playing career, had already qualified the Netherlands for Euro 2020. However, the tournament has been pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus. AFP
3 May 20:32 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/netherlands-coach-koeman-undergoes-heart-surgery/Rating: 0.30
Netherlands coach Koeman hospitalised with heart problem
Dutch national coach Ronald Koeman required hospital treatment after suffering a heart problem, his wife told De Telegraaf newspaper on Sunday. The 57-year-old underwent a "cardiac catheterisation" procedure at a hospital in Amsterdam after complaining of feeling unwell at his home. "The speed with which he was taken to the hospital and the quick intervention of the doctors allowed his condition to be stabilised," said Bartina Koeman. Koeman, who has coached the Dutch side since 2018, is expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. "It was a shock," tweeted the Dutch football federation. "Happily, things are already a little better. Strength and a good recovery, coach." Koeman, a standout defender at Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Barcelona as well as the Dutch team in his playing career, had already qualified the Netherlands for Euro 2020. However, the tournament has been pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus. bur/clv/dj/jc https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 18:58 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/sports/football/netherlands-coach-koeman-hospitalised-with-heart-problem/2je7y12Rating: 0.51
Netherlands coach Koeman hospitalised with heart problem
Dutch national coach Ronald Koeman required hospital treatment after suffering a heart problem, his wife told De Telegraaf newspaper on Sunday. The 57-year-old underwent a “cardiac catheterisation” procedure at a hospital in Amsterdam after complaining of feeling unwell at his home. “The speed with which he was taken to the hospital and the quick intervention of the doctors allowed his condition to be stabilised,” said Bartina Koeman. Koeman, who has coached the Dutch side since 2018, is expected to be discharged from hospital on Monday. “It was a shock,” tweeted the Dutch football federation. “Happily, things are already a little better. Strength and a good recovery, coach.” Koeman, a standout defender at Ajax, PSV, Feyenoord and Barcelona as well as the Dutch team in his playing career, had already qualified the Netherlands for Euro 2020. However, the tournament has been pushed back to 2021 due to the coronavirus.
3 May 19:45 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/sport/netherlands-coach-koeman-hospitalised-with-heart-problem/Rating: 0.30
Holland manager Ronald Koeman rushed to hospital with heart problem and has stent inserted after emergency operation
HOLLAND manager Ronald Koeman has been rushed to an Amsterdam hospital for an emergency heart operation. The former Everton and Southampton boss had a stent inserted into his coronary vein after scans showed it was blocked. Koeman's wife Bertina and his agent, Rob Jansen, confirmed to Dutch newspaper De Telegraaf that the 57-year-old is in a stable condition. The Ajax, PSV and Barcelona legend had to have a stent (a tube that keeps the blood vessel open) inserted after a cardiac catheterisation showed the vein was blocked. He had been out cycling before complaining of chest pain - he was then taken in an ambulance to Amsterdam UMC hospital. He is expected to be able to return home on Monday and there has been no suggestion so far that his heart problem was related to the coronavirus. Koeman, who won eight league titles, two European Cups and Euro 88 as a player, was preparing his Netherlands side for Euro 2020 this summer before the Covid-19 crisis forced the tournament to be postponed a year. All international matches have since been scrapped, with league across Europe awaiting the fait of their current campaigns. The Dutch season was cancelled at the end of April, with the French league soon following. At the moment, the Premier League plan to resume the season on June 12 and stage matches behind closed doors at neutral grounds - if the Government gives the green light. Premier League clubs agreed during their video conference on Friday on a target date of May 18 to return to full training, with match days following three weeks later. Players are set to be tested for Covid-19 twice a week, meaning the Premier League are planning on finding - and funding - over 10,000 tests between the start of training and the end of the season.
3 May 18:09 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/sport/football/11539356/holland-ronald-koeman-hospital-amsterdam-heart/?utm_medium=Social&utm_campaign=sunfootballtwitter&utm_source=TwitterRating: 2.72
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman suffers heart attack
Ronald Koeman is recovering after he was rushed to hospital with heart problems. Koeman, who is currently the manager of the Netherlands, underwent cardiac catheterization and is now believed to be recovering. He was rushed to hospital by ambulance from his home town though doctors have now said that the former Barcelona star is stable. Koeman had to have a stent placed in his vein as his coronary artery was blocked but there has been no suggestion his heart problem was coronavirus related. Koeman had told Dutch media recently that he was taking regular bike rides to maintain his fitness during the coronavirus lockdown. The 57-year-old is being treated at the Amsterdam University Medical Centre and his condition is not thought to be life-threatening. The former Southampton and Everton boss had fallen ill at his home in Bussum, a town 20 miles outside Amsterdam, this afternoon. Koeman took charge of the Netherlands in 2018 and led the country to the final of the inaugural Nations League last summer. He had gone into management after a glittering playing career where he had turned out for the likes of Ajax and PSV Eindhoven as well as Barcelona. His managing career has seen him take charge of European giants Benfica and Valencia as well as a spell in the Premier League with Everton and the Saints. He is expected to return home on Monday following his procedure with Koeman having been planning for this summer’s Euro 2020. That tournament has been postponed due to the coronavirus pandemic and is now set to be played in the summer of 2021. Koeman has helped Netherlands become one of the giants of world football again with the nation having missed out on the 2018 World Cup.
3 May 18:43 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/news/netherlands-boss-ronald-koeman-suffers-heart-attack-366942Rating: 0.30
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman hospitalised with heart problem
The 57-year-old, who managed Southampton and Everton in the Premier League before taking over his country almost two years ago, was taken to hospital on Sunday evening where he underwent cardiac catheterisation. That involves the placement of a long, thin tube into a vein or artery and is typically performed without general anaesthetic. A statement from the Dutch football association, the KNVB, read: "Ronald Koeman was hospitalised on Sunday evening after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterisation and will return home tomorrow. "We wish Ronald a lot of strength and improvement." A tweet from the governing body's account added: "That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again." Everton posted a message of support for the former Barcelona defender, tweeting: "Everyone at #EFC would like to wish former boss @RonaldKoeman a speedy recovery." France midfielder Morgan Schneiderlin, who played under Koeman for both the Toffees and the Saints was also quick to react. "Prayers are with you! Stay strong @RonaldKoeman," he wrote. Holland and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum also added on Twitter: "Wishing you soon recovery coach." ID:398340:
3 May 20:46 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/barcelona/news/netherlands-boss-ronald-koeman-hospitalised-with-heart-problem_398340.htmlRating: 0.38
Netherlands boss Ronald Koeman undergoes heart surgery
Netherlands head coach Ronald Koeman underwent successful heart surgery on Sunday. Koeman, a Dutch great who starred for the Oranje from the early late 1980s and into the 1990s, was reportedly dealt with by specialists in Amsterdam. According to De Telegraaf, Koeman was taken to the University Medical Centre (UMC) in the city and underwent treatment that involved unblocking a coronary artery and a stent being put into the vein. De Telegraaf, which said it had its information confirmed by Koeman's wife Bartina and agent Rob Jansen, reported the 57-year-old was in a stable condition. A statement issued by Jansen's Wasserman agency later confirmed his client had been operated on and would return home on Monday. "Ronald Koeman was hospitalized tonight (Sunday evening) after chest complaints. The 57-year-old national team coach of the Dutch national team has undergone a successful cardiac catheterization and will return home tomorrow," it read.The Dutch football association (KNVB) posted a message of support on Twitter, stating: "That is a shock. Fortunately things are going better again. Much strength and improvement, coach." Koeman enjoyed a stellar playing career at club level with Groningen, Ajax, PSV, Barcelona and Feyenoord, before turning to coaching. He had spells in charge of Ajax, PSV, Benfica, Southampton, Feyenoord, Valencia and Everton, becoming Netherlands head coach in 2018. Koeman led his country to second place at the inaugural Nations League Finals in 2019 and sealed qualification for Euro 2020, with the tournament since pushed back a year because of the coronavirus pandemic. Published 03 May 2020, 23:56 ISTFeedback
3 May 18:26 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/netherlands-boss-ronald-koeman-undergoes-heart-surgery?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Ronald Koeman: Holland manager hospitalised in Amsterdam with a heart problem
- Ronald Koeman has landed in hospital after suffering heart problems - The 57-year-old underwent a cardiac catheterization - Doctors have said he is now in stable condition The current Holland manager was rushed to the hospital after he suffered heart problems on Sunday, May 3, according to latest reports by SunSport. Koeman was immediately operated upon as he underwent cardiac catheterisation moments after he was rushed down via an ambulance. Holland outlet Telegraaf claimed that the development was confirmed through the wife of the former Barcelona star, Bartina. PAY ATTENTION:Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! It was gathered that the ex-Southampton boss had a stent (a tube that keeps the blood vessel open) placed in the vein as his coronary artery was blocked. Doctors who are attending to the case have reportedly confirmed his stability as they say he was rushed to the hospital on time. Just in: UNICEF senior official dies in Kano days after showing COVID-19 symptoms There has been no suggestion his heart problem was coronavirus related. Koeman was preparing his Holland side for Euro 2020 this summer before the coronavirus crisis forced the tournament to be postponed a year. As a player, Koeman featured for Barcelona between 1989 and 1995 where he appeared in 192 games scoring 67 goals. He returned to the Camp Nou in 1998 to work as the assistant coach before he left in year 2000. Fans of the club recently named him among the top 20 player ever to have played for the Catalan giants. Meanwhile, Blaise Matuidi has opened up about his unusual behaviour after testing positive to the deadly coronavirus. The France international is one of three Juventus stars that have contracted the disease including Daniele Rugani and Paulo Dybala. Though the midfielder has made full recovery, Matuidi disclosed that the sickness made him exhibit some unusual behaviour during the short period. One of two fleeing Borno COVID-19 patients found, now on ventilator at isolation centre as he is in ‘critical state’ Meanwhile, Legit.ng earlier reported that the chairman of English Premier League club Crystal Palace Steven Parish has stated that the suspended 2019/2020 league season should return or else the game might never recover. EPL and other top leagues across Europe were suspended as coronavirus crisis continue to ravage world economies, with more than 245,000 deaths across the globe. Premier League chiefs are at crossroads as to decide what should be done to the league because the end of the pandemic is not in sight. Nigeria still needs Vincent Enyeama, Maradona was my toughest opponent - Peter Rufai | Legit TV
3 May 18:30 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326427-ronald-koeman-holland-manager-hospitalised-amsterdam-a-heart-problem.htmlRating: 0.30
Netherlands Manager Ronald Koeman in Hospital With Heart Problems
Netherlands manager Ronald Koeman is reported to have been admitted to hospital with heart problems. The 57-year-old has been in charge of the Dutch national side, who he represented 78 times as a player, since 2018, after his departure from Everton. Dutch outlet De Telegraaf report that he was rushed via ambulance to the Amsterdam Medical Centre on Sunday afternoon, with what appears to have been cardiac problems. He is said to have undergone 'cardiac catheterization' in the care of doctors, but is believed to be in 'stable' condition for the time being. De Telegraaf say that the swift assistance of doctors and paramedics have contributed to a slight improvement in his condition, but it remains a worrying time for Koeman and his wife Bartina. The Dutch publication note that the improvement in Koeman's condition means that he could be released from hospital as soon as Monday, but that will depend on how things go over the next few hours. Koeman was set to lead a strong Netherlands side out at Euro 2020, but the tournament has been postponed until 2021 due to the ongoing coronavirus pandemic. An impressive qualifying campaign saw the Oranje lose just once - to Germany - and win six of their eight matches to storm to the finals, after disappointing in their failure to reach the 2018 World Cup. Koeman is a celebrated figure in his native Holland, his tenure in the hotseat adding to a stellar playing career during which he marshalled a fearsome Dutch defence. He helped Rinus Michels' famous side win the European Championships in 1988, and harboured hopes of repeating that success himself this summer before the Euros were postponed. For more from Robbie Copeland, follow him on Twitter!
3 May 00:00 • 90min • https://www.90min.com/posts/netherlands-manager-ronald-koeman-in-hospital-with-heart-problems-01e7dqh7vk0kRating: 1.30
Manchester United to warn Marcos Rojo after lockdown violation in Argentina
3 May 20:31
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10 articles
Weight: 3.50
Importance: 3.50
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:48
Average US: 15.090000000000002
Weighted average US: 21.104505114528543
Average GB: 21.71
Weighted average GB: 21.672070067699543
Average IN: 6.790000000000001
Weighted average IN: 5.207078368861971
Manchester United to warn Marcos Rojo after lockdown violation in Argentina
Manchester United will remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes since the January transfer window, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland in pictures taken by his brother, Franco, that were later deleted from social media. Argentina’s president, Alberto Fernández, recently extended lockdown in the country until 10 May. Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Moise Kean plus several Arsenal and Tottenham players were all criticised for breaking lockdown regulations.
3 May 20:31 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/football/2020/may/03/manchester-united-to-warn-marcos-rojo-after-lockdown-violation-in-argentinaRating: 5.39
Marcos Rojo breaks lockdown rules in Argentina as Man Utd star filmed smoking with friends
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has flouted coronavirus lockdown rules in his native Argentina by smoking and playing poker with friends. The 30-year-old, who moved on loan to Argentinian club Estudiantes in January, was filmed by his brother Franco surrounded by friends in a video which was quickly removed from Instagram - but not before Argentinian outlets were alerted to it. Rojo spent eight years as a youth player with Estudiantes before breaking into the first-team with his boyhood club. However, the former Sporting Lisbon man may be disciplined by the club after clearly breaking lockdown rules, which were extended by Argentinian president Alberto Fernandez until 10 May. A mandatory quarantine has been in force in the South American country since mid-March. Though some restrictions were relaxed recently and people are allowed to go within 500 metres of their homes for exercise, visiting friends is still prohibited. There have reportedly been 4,681 cases of coronavirus in Argentina and 241 people have died of the illness. Franco Rojo also landed his brother in hot water only a day earlier when he posted a picture of Marcos playing football with friends in a park. Controversially, Rojo was also wearing the shirt of Boca Juniors - Estudiantes' rivals - bearing the name of legendary Argentinian player Riquelme, who currently serves as Boca's vice-president. However, Rojo has also been in the news for the right reasons during the lockdown after delivering food and drinks to over 200 families in his native La Plata in April. Manchester United boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer is understood to be keen to offload Rojo this summer after the Argentine made only one Premier League start this season. Rojo has only made one appearance in the Superliga since joining Estudiantes, but he did provide an assist in that match and is keen to extend his stay with the club. "If it depends on me, I will speak to Manchester United's management about the possibility of staying here for another six months," Rojo said. "I will feel a tremendous sense of pain if I have to leave after playing in so few matches."
3 May 15:49 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/marcos-rojo-breaks-lockdown-rules-21966894Rating: 2.39
Manchester United to speak to Marcos Rojo after lockdown breach
Manchester United will remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules, the PA news agency understands. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland. Argentina president Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown in the country until May 10. Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break Government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Moise Kean plus several Arsenal and Tottenham players were all criticised for breaking lockdown regulations.
3 May 20:03 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/manchester-united-to-speak-to-marcos-rojo-after-lockdown-breach/Rating: 0.30
Manchester United to speak to Marcos Rojo after lockdown breach
MANCHESTER UNITED WILL remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules, the PA news agency understands. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland. Argentina president Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown in the country until 10 May. Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break Government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Moise Kean plus several Arsenal and Tottenham players were all criticised for breaking lockdown regulations.
3 May 20:59 • The42 • https://www.the42.ie/manchester-united-marcos-rojo-5090988-May2020/Rating: 0.30
Manchester United to speak to Marcos Rojo after lockdown breach
Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break Government rules. Manchester United will remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina’s coronavirus lockdown rules, the PA news agency understands. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland. Argentina president Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown in the country until May 10. Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break Government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Moise Kean plus several Arsenal and Tottenham players were all criticised for breaking lockdown regulations.
3 May 20:03 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/manchester-united-to-speak-to-marcos-rojo-after-lockdown-breach/Rating: 0.30
Marcos Rojo: Man Utd to speak to defender over 'lockdown breach'
Manchester United will speak to defender Marcos Rojo about his conduct after apparently flouting Argentina's coronavirus lockdown rules. Images of Rojo, who is on loan at Estudiantes, playing poker and smoking with friends were posted on social media by the 30-year-old's brother Franco. They were subsequently deleted. Argentina's lockdown rules remain in place until at least 10 May. Rojo, 30, is the latest Premier League star to ignore lockdown demands. Aston Villa skipper Jack Grealish, Manchester City defender Kyle Walker and Everton forward Moise Kean have all be criticised for ignoring governmental advice since the Premier League was brought to a halt in March.
3 May 18:48 • BBC Sport • https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52524677Rating: 4.85
Manchester United to speak to Marcos Rojo after breaking lockdown rules in Argentina
Manchester United will remind Marcos Rojo of his responsibilities after the defender was filmed appearing to flout Argentina's coronavirus lockdown rules. The 30-year-old, on loan at Estudiantes, was seen playing cards and smoking with friends in his homeland. Argentina president Alberto Fernandez recently extended lockdown in the country until May 10. Rojo is not the first Premier League player to break government rules. Jack Grealish, Kyle Walker and Moise Kean plus several Arsenal and Tottenham players were all criticised for breaking lockdown regulations. Rojo, who has not played for United's first team since November, returned to his homeland in January after he joined Estudiantes on a loan deal until the end of the season. The Argentine had been looking forward to taking part in the Copa Superliga, a 24-team tournament scheduled to end in a playoff in May, but the competition has been cancelled by the Argentine Football Association due to the coronavirus pandemic.
3 May 21:58 • Sky Sports • https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11982701/manchester-united-to-speak-to-marcos-rojo-after-breaking-lockdown-rules-in-argentinaRating: 2.48
Manchester United ace spotted breaking lockdown rules in deleted video
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has been spotted breaking lockdown rules in Argentina. In a video now deleted from Instagram, Rojo’s brother uploaded clips of the loaned-out Red Devils ace partying and playing cards with friends, according to the Daily Mail. United won’t be too impressed by Rojo’s behaviour, with the Argentina international clearly not taking the rules on social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic seriously enough. Thousands have died over the world in recent months and the evidence suggests that people staying at home can massively reduce the spread of the illness. Rojo is currently on loan at Estudiantes after a difficult time at Man Utd, and one imagines his Old Trafford career was all but over anyway. Still, it’s disappointing to see a footballer seemingly engage in activities like this when they have the platform to set a real example to others. While Rojo himself might not be a person at particularly high risk of serious illness from coronavirus, he could easily spread it to someone who is if he continues to flout the rules.
3 May 13:12 • CaughtOffside • https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/05/03/man-united-news-rojo-breaks-lockdown-rules/Rating: 0.46
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo breaks Covid-19 lockdown rules in Argentina as he smokes and plays cards with friends in video uploaded to Instagram by his brother
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo has been filmed smoking while playing poker with friends in breach of the coronavirus lockdown in his native Argentina. Rojo, currently on loan at Argentine club Estudiantes, was filmed by his brother Franco, who then uploaded the clip into his Instagram account. The video was quickly deleted but not before Argentine media outlets saw it. The 30-year-old centre-back left Old Trafford to join his boyhood club during the January transfer window but this apparent breach of discipline could land him in hot water. The gathering of friends around Rojo looks to be a breach of Argentina's lockdown rules, which were recently extended by president Alberto Fernandez until May 10. A nationwide mandatory quarantine has been in place since the middle of March though some restrictions were relaxed - with people allowed to go within 500 metres of their home for exercise. However, it doesn't permit visits from other people, certainly in the groups shown in the video. There have been almost 5,000 recorded cases of coronavirus in Argentina and 237 deaths as of this weekend. His brother also got Rojo into trouble a day earlier when he posted an Instagram image of them having a kickabout with friends in the park. To compound matters, Rojo was wearing the shirt of Estudiantes' rivals Boca Juniors with the name and No 10 of legendary player Roman Riquelme on the back. However, Rojo has also done some good during the lockdown, delivering food and drink to more than 200 families in his home town of La Plata last month. Rojo was deemed surplus to requirements at Old Trafford by United manager Ole Gunnar Solskjaer in January having started just one Premier League game all season. He played just the one league game for Estudiantes prior to the shutdown of the Argentine league but had already expressed his wish for the loan to be extended. Rojo said: 'If it depends on me, I will speak to Manchester United's management about the possibility of staying here for another six months. 'I will feel a tremendous sense of pain if I have to leave after playing in so few matches.'
3 May 11:49 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-8282113/Manchester-United-defender-Marcos-Rojo-breaks-Covid-19-lockdown-rules-Argentina.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Man Utd player breaks lockdown rules as he smokes and plays cards with pals
Manchester United defender Marcos Rojo – who is currently on loan at Estudiantes – appears to have broken coronavirus lockdown rules on multiple occasions in his native Argentina. The defender, who returned to Buenos Aires during the January transfer window, was seen smoking and playing cards with a group of friends in a video uploaded to Instagram by his brother, Franco, on Saturday night. Although the clip was quickly deleted, it was shared across social media with many supporters slamming Rojo’s behaviour as he flaunted social distancing guidelines. Argentina President Alberto Fernandez recently extended the country’s coronavirus lockdown until May 10, with the nationwide mandatory quarantine having been in place since the middle of March. Although some restrictions were relaxed – with people allowed to go out daily for recreational purposes within a 500-metre radius of their home – that has not been extended to visiting groups of people. But Rojo appeared to disregard those rules, with at least 11 people spotted in the video his brother uploaded to his Instagram stories. A day earlier he had also courted controversy when he had a kickabout with friends in the park, with the image again uploaded to Instagram by his brother. To make matters worse, the Estudiantes loanee was wearing the shirt of rival club Boca Juniors, with legendary player Juan Roman Riquelme’s name on the back, and supporters have called on club president Juan Sebastian Veron to reprimand Rojo. Despite his recent indiscretions, the 30-year-old has been keen to do his bit during the pandemic and distributed food and drink to more than 200 families in his hometown of La Plata last month. ‘It was a pleasure to do something small locally to me to help in this unfortunate struggle the world is going through,’ he said. ‘Of course, we took the necessary precautions using masks and gloves to protect ourselves and others. ‘My neighbourhood is a humble place but it’s a very friendly place and I am proud to call it home. The community spirit during this crisis has been really uplifting.’ Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more stories like this, check our sport page.
3 May 09:26 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/manchester-united-defender-marcos-rojo-breaks-lockdown-rules-smokes-plays-cards-pals-12647272/Rating: 2.18
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
3 May 13:28
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12 articles
Weight: 3.44
Importance: 3.45
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:28
Average US: 21.675
Weighted average US: 30.85375099938512
Average GB: 2.6583333333333328
Weighted average GB: 4.42588734933158
Average IN: 2.975
Weighted average IN: 5.808531894957119
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: "Arbeit Macht Frei, JB." The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the "Re-Open Illinois" protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. "Arbeit macht frei" is a German phrase which means "Work sets you free", and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz — the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. On Saturday, the organization that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded to the picture on Twitter, saying it was "painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate." The full tweet read: "'Arbeit macht frei' was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It's painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It's a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration." The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan's state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extension of the state's stay-at-home order. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 13:28 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/auschwitz-arbeit-macht-frei-anti-lockdown-poster-at-chicago-rally-2020-5?utm_campaign=sf-bi-uk&utm_source=facebook.com&utm_medium=socialRating: 4.40
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB.” The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the “Re-Open Illinois” protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. “Arbeit macht frei” is a German phrase which means “Work sets you free”, and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz – the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. On Saturday, the organization that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded to the picture on Twitter, saying it was “painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate.” The full tweet read: “‘Arbeit macht frei’ was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration.” The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan’s state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of the state’s stay-at-home order.
3 May 17:21 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/auschwitz-arbeit-macht-frei-anti-lockdown-poster-at-chicago-rally-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB.” The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the “Re-Open Illinois” protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. “Arbeit macht frei” is a German phrase which means “Work sets you free”, and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz – the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. The font of the letter “B” used on the sign also bore a strong resemblance to that used in the sign above the gates of Auschwitz. On Saturday, the organisation that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded on Twitter, saying it was “painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate.” The full tweet read: “‘Arbeit macht frei’ was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration.” The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan’s state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of the state’s stay-at-home order.
3 May 13:28 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/auschwitz-arbeit-macht-frei-anti-lockdown-poster-at-chicago-rally-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The Auschwitz slogan ‘Work sets you free’ seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB.” The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the “Re-Open Illinois” protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. “Arbeit macht frei” is a German phrase which means “Work sets you free”, and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz – the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. On Saturday, the organization that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded to the picture on Twitter, saying it was “painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate.” The full tweet read: “‘Arbeit macht frei’ was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration.” The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan’s state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of the state’s stay-at-home order.
3 May 13:28 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/auschwitz-arbeit-macht-frei-anti-lockdown-poster-at-chicago-rally-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent
Jim Vondruska/NurPhoto via Getty Images The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: "Arbeit Macht Frei, JB." The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the "Re-Open Illinois" protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. "Arbeit macht frei" is a German phrase which means "Work sets you free", and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz — the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. On Saturday, the organization that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded to the picture on Twitter, saying it was "painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate." The full tweet read: "'Arbeit macht frei' was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It's painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It's a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration." The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. Kacper Pempel/Reuters The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan's state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer's extension of the state's stay-at-home order. Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 13:28 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/auschwitz-slogan-sets-free-seen-132803366.htmlRating: 0.30
The Auschwitz slogan 'Work sets you free' seen at the Re-Open Illinois protest aimed at governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The Auschwitz Memorial in Poland has condemned a photo of a sign from an anti-lockdown protest in Chicago that bore the Nazi slogan: “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB.” The sign, which was held by an unidentified woman attending the “Re-Open Illinois” protest on May 1, is referring to Illinois governor JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. “Arbeit macht frei” is a German phrase which means “Work sets you free”, and was placed above the gates of Auschwitz – the largest Nazi extermination camp during the Holocaust, where at least 1.1 million people died. On Saturday, the organization that runs the Auschwitz Memorial responded to the picture on Twitter, saying it was “painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate.” The full tweet read: “‘Arbeit macht frei’ was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalized and used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration.” The photo was shared on Twitter by a registered nurse, Dennis Kosuth, who attended the same event on Friday as a counter-protester. It has since garnered more than 50,000 likes. Kosuth, who said he took the picture on his phone, told Buzzfeed that some protesters at the event were trying to provoke him by claiming he was an actor. According to Kosuth, when he confronted the woman holding the sign, she defended herself by saying she had Jewish friends. The protest in Chicago is the latest in a series of demonstrations around the country to reopen the economy. On April 30, hundreds of demonstrators, some armed, descended on Michigan’s state capitol to protest Gov. Gretchen Whitmer’s extension of the state’s stay-at-home order.
3 May 13:28 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/auschwitz-arbeit-macht-frei-anti-lockdown-poster-at-chicago-rally-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Auschwitz Museum Schools Illinois Anti-Lockdown Protester Over Banner With Nazi Slogan
A woman brandished the controversial banner during a rally in Chicago. Illinois Governor JB Pritzker this week announced plans to start gradually reopening parts of the state where the infection rates and the occupancy of intensive care units have been falling steadily. The Auschwitz Memorial has condemned an American protester for using a Nazi slogan during a protest against the coronavirus-induced lockdown. A photo that surfaced on social media from Friday’s ‘Reopen Illinois’ rally in Chicago showed a woman holding out a banner reading, “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB”. “Arbeit Macht Frei” is a German phrase for “Work sets you free”; it has been infamously used at the entrance of several Nazi concentration camps, including Auschwitz, in present-day Poland, where over 1 million people were killed during WW2. “JB” was an apparent reference to JB Pritzker, the Jewish governor of Illinois. “Those words became one of the icons of human hatred,” the Auschwitz Memorial said of the slogan. “It's painful to see this symbol instrumentalised & used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral & intellectual degeneration.” According to Dennis Kosuth, the witness who took the photo, the protester assured him that she was not a Nazi, and had Jewish friends. The veracity of his photo was called into question after the Associated Press debunked an image from a similar protest in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania as fake. In it, a person was waving a sign sporting the slogan in English.However, Kosuth insisted that his photo was genuine and tweeted a video from the scene to prove that was the case. Large protests against the lockdown, which contributed to an economic downturn and caused a historic spike in unemployment, have been happening across the country, from New York to California, since mid-April. President Donald Trump has left it up to governors to call the shots when it comes to reopening their states, with help from the federal government, and presented a phased-in plan which has already seen a dozen states reopen some businesses and ease social distancing restrictions. The US has registered more than 1.1 million COVID-19 cases and almost 66,400 deaths, according to a database kept by John Hopkins University.
3 May 15:06 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/us/202005031079183060-auschwitz-museum-schools-illinois-anti-lockdown-protester-over-banner-with-nazi-slogan/Rating: 3.96
Illinois’ Jewish Governor Condemns Nazi Slogan at Anti Coronavirus-Shutdown Protest
Illinois governor Jay Robert “J.B.” Pritzker on Saturday condemned the use of the Nazi slogan “Arbeit Macht Frei” (literally: work makes you free), which was hung over the entrance to the Auschwitz death camp in Poland, at Friday’s “Re-open Illinois” demonstration. The sign, which was carried by a woman wearing an American flag face mask, read “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB.” Governor Pritzker is a member of the Pritzker family, a Jewish family prominent in business and philanthropy, which has been near the top of the Forbes’ “America’s Richest Families” list since 1982. His sister, Penny Pritzker, served as President Obama’s Secretary of Commerce. The Nazi jab was clearly aimed at the governor’s Jewish heritage, although the woman who carried the sign told reporters she had many Jewish friends. Gov. Spitzer tweeted Saturday night: “Yesterday, there were quite a number of people protesting by carrying signs filled with hate. I’ll defend to the death their right to be wrong and to say it out loud. But if you look at the facts, the experts are trying to protect them.” Referring to the Nazi symbols at Friday’s rally, the governor said: “I’ve spent decades of my life fighting against bigotry & hatred. I helped build the Illinois Holocaust Museum by working with Holocaust survivors. The meaning of that swastika is apparently unknown to the people who are carrying it, or if it is known, it’s a demonstration of the hate that is among us.” “These were a few hundred demonstrators yesterday — but there are millions of people in the state who are doing the right thing, protecting each other during this extraordinary crisis. I am so grateful to live in a state with those millions of really good people,” the governor said. Illinois has been one of the hardest hit states, and on Saturday, Illinois health officials reported 2,450 additional known coronavirus cases, after Friday marked the first time more than 3,000 new cases were diagnosed in Illinois. This brings the total number of cases in the state to 58,505, with 105 new deaths, for a statewide total death toll of 2,559. Yet Illinois seems to be a strong hold of resistance to state-imposed restrictions on public gathering, and on Friday night Chicago Police broke up a number of house parties and more were expected Saturday night. Finally, we can’t run a story about Illinois Nazis without this immortal Blues Brothers clip:
3 May 09:04 • The Jewish Press • https://www.jewishpress.com/news/us-news/illinois-jewish-governor-condemns-nazi-slogan-at-anti-coronavirus-shutdown-protest/2020/05/03/Rating: 0.34
'Icons of human hatred': Auschwitz Museum condemns Nazi slogan at anti-quarantine Illinois protest
The Auschwitz Museum condemned the use of an old Nazi adage at the anti-quarantine protest in Illinois. A woman attending the "Re-open Illinois" protest on Friday was demonstrating with a sign that read, “Arbeit macht frei, JB.” The initials are likely denoting Democratic Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker, who is Jewish. The museum responded to a photo of the woman holding her sign hours later, condemning the usage of the German phrase meaning “work sets you free,” which was the Nazi slogan displayed at a number of Nazi concentration camps. "'Arbeit macht frei' was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of #Auschwitz," the museum tweeted. "Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It's painful to see this symbol instrumentalized & used again to spread hate. It's a symptom of moral & intellectual degeneration." Dennis Kosuth, a registered nurse who took the photo of the woman holding the sign, told the Hillthat he asked her if she was a Nazi and if she knew what the adage meant. The woman responded by claiming she wasn't a Nazi and that she has friends who are Jewish. “I couldn’t deal with her, I was so disturbed by it,” Kosuth said of the interaction. Pritzker has repeatedly expressed the importance for extensive test-and-trace capabilities statewide so the lockdown measures can be lifted. The stay-at-home order in the state has been extended to May 31, but it could be overturned by the courts after a Republican lawmaker filed a lawsuit claiming he did not have the legal authority to extend the order longer than 30 days.
2 May 17:22 • Washington Examiner • https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/icons-of-human-hatred-auschwitz-museum-condemns-nazi-slogan-at-anti-quarantine-illinois-protestRating: 0.51
Auschwitz Memorial condemns anti-lockdown protester 'with slogan from its gates'
The Auschwitz Memorial has condemned a ReOpen America protester accused of marching with the same slogan the Nazis erected above the concentration camp’s gates. It hit out after a masked woman was snapped apparently waving a banner saying ‘Arbeit macht frei JB’ in Chicago on Friday. The phrase is German for ‘Work sets you free’, with ‘JB’ a reference to Illinois State Governor JB Pritzker, who is Jewish. It notoriously appeared on the iron gates of the Polish concentration camp, where an estimated 1.1million people were murdered during World War Two. The Auschwitz Memorial tweeted: ‘Arbeit macht frei was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of #Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalized & used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral & intellectual degeneration.’ Registered nurse Dennis Kosuth first shared the snap of the woman on his Twitter Friday, although it is unclear whether he took the photo himself. He wrote: ‘This was one of the signs at the “Re-open Illinois” event today. ‘She assured those that she was not a Nazi, and stated, “I have Jewish friends.” Thank you for representing yourself and your “movement” for what it is.’ Al Jazeera journalist Sana Saeed tweeted another photo she said came from the same protest of a woman holding a sign that said ‘Heil Pritzker’, a further reference to Illinois’ Jewish governor. The Associated Press debunked another similar protest photo with a fake slogan on Saturday, causing widespread confusion about the Illinois picture. That snap, taken by photographer Andrew Rush, shows a woman leaning out of a car sunroof with a board saying ‘Free small businesses.’ It was photoshopped to say ‘Work sets you free’ in English. Thousands of ReOpen America protesters have taken to the streets across the United States to protest ongoing lockdowns. Friday saw armed protesters storm the Michigan state capitol building in Lansing after State Governor Gretchen Whitmer said she would extend most lockdown measures until May 28. Large groups were also filmed gathering in Huntington Beach, California, days after unemployment in the United States hit 30 million. President Trump has been accused of stoking the protests, after sending three capped-up tweets calling on protesters to ‘LIBERATE’ Michigan, Minnesota and Virginia. Trump was accused of playing politics by targeting states with Democratic governors. Coronavirus is so far known to have infected 1.13 million Americans, and killed over 65,000.
2 May 16:23 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/auschwitz-memorial-condemns-reopen-america-protester-who-marched-nazi-sign-12645933/Rating: 2.18
Auschwitz memorial condemns presence of Nazi slogan at US anti-lockdown rally
The organisation that runs the Auschwitz memorial has condemned the appearance at a US anti-lockdown rally of a picket sign bearing a Nazi slogan displayed above the entrance of the concentration camp. A demonstrator attending a rally in Illinois, where hundreds of people protested against the state’s lockdown and social distancing measures, was photographed carrying a sign bearing the words “Arbeit macht frei, JB”. The German phrase translates as “work sets you free”, with JB referring to the Illinois governor, JB Pritzker, who is of Jewish descent. The font of both instances of the letter “B” on the picket sign bore a striking resemblance to the shape of the letter “B” on the sign above the gates of Auschwitz, the largest of the German Nazi concentration camps and extermination centres, where more than 1.1 million men, women and children were murdered. Another demonstrator at the same rally was reportedly seen holding up a picket sign bearing a swastika and the words: “Heil, Pritzker.” The official Auschwitz memorial Twitter account condemned the gesture, writing: “‘Arbeit macht frei’ was a false, cynical illusion the SS gave to prisoners of Auschwitz. Those words became one of the icons of human hatred. It’s painful to see this symbol instrumentalised and used again to spread hate. It’s a symptom of moral and intellectual degeneration.” Holocaust survivors often describe the slogan as a reminder of the many ways in which the Nazis tried to give their prisoners false hope, with the inscription suggesting to the people arriving at the camps that hard work would eventually secure their release, when their deaths were already certain. The long, curving iron sign spanning the gates of Auschwitz is perhaps the best known version of the slogan. It was stolen by thieves from the death camp’s memorial site in Poland in 2009, but recovered by police and returned a month later. Pritzker, a Democrat, has repeatedly emphasised the need for an extensive test-and-trace programme across the state before lockdown measures can be lifted, and ordered all Illinois residents to shelter in place from 21 March. He subsequently extended the order until at least 31 May, a decision that could be overruled by the courts after the Republican lawmaker Darren Bailey filed a lawsuit alleging Pritzker did not have the legal authority to extend it beyond 30 days. David Harris, CEO of the American Jewish Committee, said in a tweet: “Those words – Work Sets You Free – were a savage Nazi hoax for slave labor and gas chambers. JB in the sign refers to state’s Jewish governor. Shameful. Shocking. Sickening.”
2 May 14:27 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/02/auschwitz-memorial-condemns-nazi-slogan-illinois-coronavirus-rallyRating: 5.39
Nazi Slogans At Coronavirus Lockdown Protest Draws Rebuke From Auschwitz Museum
The Auschwitz Memorial Museum criticized Illinois residents who used Nazi slogans Friday to protest the state’s coronavirus lockdown orders—not the first time its happened at such a rally—calling it “a symptom of moral [and] intellectual degeneration.” At a Chicago rally where hundreds of protestors demanded a rollback on coronavirus restrictions, a woman was photographed carrying a sign bearing the words “Arbeit Macht Frei, JB,” apparently referring to Illinois Governor JB Pritzker, who comes from a prominent Jewish family. The Auschwitz Memorial Museum, the organization that maintains the former concentration camp in Poland, replied to the photo via Twitter, calling the phrase one of the “icons of human hatred,” and saying it was “painful to see this symbol instrumentalized [and] used again to spread hate.” The woman’s sign, with what appears to be a stylized, upside-down “B,” is startlingly similar to the phrase’s appearance on the sign at the entrance of Auschwitz, the most notorious of Nazi Germany’s concentration camps, where more than 1 million people were murdered. The photo quickly went rival and earned condemnation; Illinois native and the American ambassador to Israel Daniel Shapiro called the sign "disgusting" while the head of the American Jewish Committee David Harris said it was “shameful, shocking [and] sickening.” The first person to post a picture of the sign was nurse Dennis Kosuth, who told The Hill he had attended the Chicago rally as a counter protestor—he said he took the photo himself and that the woman holding the sign told him she was not a Nazi and “[has] Jewish friends,” according to Kosuth. Another protester at the Chicago rally reportedly held a poster that read: “Heil, Pritzker,” and included an image of a swastika. “Arbeit Macht Frei,” a German phrase translating to “work sets you free,” was a slogan displayed at Nazi concentration camps like Auschwitz and Dachau. Holocaust survivors say the display of the phrase was a way Nazis lied to concentration camp prisoners to give them false hope of being freed if they worked hard enough. In reality, about 85% of the prisoners sent to Auschwitz are estimated to have been murdered in the camp during its five years of operation. It’s not the first time anti-lockdown protesters have incorporated Nazi phrases and imagery into their rallies. A rally in Lansing, Michigan earlier last month drew in thousands to protest Governor Gretchen Whitmer’s stay-at-home order. One protestor carried a sign that appears to have meant to read “Heil Whitmer,” though the governor’s name was misspelled. FURTHER READING Auschwitz memorial condemns presence of Nazi slogan at US anti-lockdown rally (The Guardian) 'Arbeit Macht Frei': Nazi Slogans Show Up at Illinois Rally Protesting Coronavirus Lockdown (Haaretz) Auschwitz Museum condemns Nazi slogan at 'Re-open Illinois' protest (The Hill) Full coverage and live updates on the Coronavirus
2 May 00:00 • Forbes • https://www.forbes.com/sites/carlieporterfield/2020/05/02/nazi-slogans-at-coronavirus-lockdown-protest-draws-rebuke-from-auschwitz-museum/Rating: 4.41
Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus and forced to miss Good Morning Britain
3 May 18:41
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Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus and forced to miss Good Morning Britain
Good Morning Britain host Piers Morgan has been forced to pull out of the show on Monday, after being tested for coronavirus. Piers confirmed on Twitter that in the past 48 hours he has suffered mild symptoms, amid the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic. As a result, Piers will remain of the show until his test results confirm whether or not he has the virus. He told his followers: "UPDATE: On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in past 48hrs, I’ve had a test for COVID-19 and so won’t be working on @GMB until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow." Piers revealed he is still awaiting the test results, which should come in tomorrow. The host, alongside co-presenter Susanna Reid, has been keeping GMB viewers up to date with all the latest COVID-19 news. It's not yet confirmed when he will be back on the show. Piers didn't go into what symptoms he had experienced, but did reveal he was going by medical advice. His friend Susanna was forced to miss two weeks of GMB at the start of lockdown measures being introduced in March, after her son had a cough. She soon returned, and Piers upped his episodes to four a week and has been vowing to get the answers the public wants on COVID-19. After posting the news on Twitter, Piers was met with a huge response from his followers. One fan tweeted: "I hope you’re well Piers. We need you!" Another said: "Hope all is well Piers we need you." Others commented on the fact Piers had been in the GMB studio for weeks, so were concerned over whether he should have been there. But Piers had only began experiencing "mild symptoms" in the past 48 hours and wasn't on the show on Friday. It's not currently known who will cover for Piers on Monday morning. In recent weeks Piers has been praised by viewers amid heated interviews with those in government, amid the ongoing COVID crisis. Just last week, Piers called out MPs over the testing shortages after Matt Hancock's promise to hit 100,000 tests a day. As the number strayed from this amount for several days, Piers questioned how they planned to meet their promise. At the end of the week, it was claimed the government had met this number, but on Sunday the amount dropped again it was reported. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays at 6am on ITV.
3 May 18:41 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/breaking-piers-morgan-forced-miss-21967859?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=sharebarRating: 2.39
Piers Morgan to miss Good Morning Britain as he waits on coronavirus test results
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan will not appear on the popular show after undergoing testing for Covid-19 on medical advice The divisive presenter told his 7.4 million Twitter followers he won't be returning to the ITV programme until he has been cleared by doctors. Piers announced he had taken a test "out of an abundance of caution" but reassured fans that his symptoms were "mild", reports Chronicle Live. Tonight (May 3), he tweeted: "UPDATE: On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in past 48hrs, I’ve had a test for COVID-19 and so won’t be working on @GMB until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow." Under new government guidelines, NHS Covid-19 tests are now available to all key workers and those who do work which cannot be done outside the home. As a broadcaster carrying out public service journalism work, Piers is among those classed as an "essential worker". BristolLive is running a unique nationwide survey aimed at capturing British life under lockdown. Help us record these historic times and tell us how the pandemic has affected your life - from food shopping to finances, home schooling to mental health. It only takes a few minutes and you'll be playing a part in how we look back on these times once the pandemic is over. Thank you. Click here to take the Great Big Lockdown Survey Public testing for the deadly virus has become a key issue for the government in recent weeks. Health Secretary Matt Hancock has claimed to have passed the target of 100,000 tests per day, although the figure includes testing kits posted to people's homes, whether or not they have been used yet. But on Sunday, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps admitted fewer people might have died if testing capacity had reached these levels earlier. More than 28,000 people have now died after testing positive for the virus in the UK - the third highest number in the world. While in Bristol, 160 have lost their lives after being diagnosed with the illness. Frequently controversial host Piers has been a vocal critic of both government policy and individuals breaking lockdown rules during the Covid-19 crisis. He recently divided opinion with a furious tirade at Care Minister, Helen Whately, who he accused of failing to answer important questions on deaths in care homes and of frontline NHS workers.
3 May 20:16 • BristolLive • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/uk-world-news/piers-morgan-coronavirus-gmb-television-4101522Rating: 0.30
Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus as he announces GMB absence
Piers Morgan has announced he will be absent from Good Morning Britain tomorrow, after being tested for coronavirus. The TV anchor announced that as a medical precaution, he has been advised to take the test after exhibiting a ‘mild symptom’ that is connected to the virus. Taking to Twitter, he wrote: ‘UPDATE: On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in past 48hrs, I’ve had a test for COVID-19 and so won’t be working on @GMB until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow.’ Piers did not state the symptoms he had started showing that were connected to coronavirus. Read the latest updates: Coronavirus news live Good Morning Britain, which Piers hosts alongside Susanna Reid, has been continuing to air every day amid the coronavirus crisis, giving updates and practical advice during the UK lockdown. Piers has also been a cheerleader for the NHS during their fight against the pandemic, which has seen more than 186,000 cases reported in hospitals. The reporter has on several occasions clashed with politicians on the show over their handling of the coronavirus spread, their lack of preparation for it, and the lack of PPE equipment. Thousands of viewers complained after a recent interview involving care minister MP Helen Whately, who appeared to snigger when talking about the possible 4000 coronavirus related care home deaths that had gone unreported. He was later cleared of being ‘combative’ by Ofcom and the complaints were not followed up. Another flood of complaints to watchdog Ofcom came after his interview with MP Victoria Atkins, the safeguarding minister. His line of questioning was later backed up by Susanna. Typically on the show on Mondays to Wednesdays, Piers announced he would also be present every Thursday as coverage of the crisis continued. At the beginning of April, he revealed his 19-year-old son Albert was believed to have had the virus, losing his sense of taste or smell, but was now OK. It’s not yet known who will replace Piers on the show. Metro.co.uk has contacted Good Morning Britain reps for comment. There are now more than 186,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK, with more than 28,000 deaths. Good Morning Britain airs weekdays from 6am on ITV. Got A Story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
3 May 19:10 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/piers-morgan-tested-coronavirus-getting-mild-symptom-announces-hell-absent-good-morning-britain-12649250/Rating: 2.18
Piers Morgan coronavirus fears: GMB host tweets he is taking time off 'out of an abundance of caution' while he awaits results of a Covid-19 test after feeling unwell
Piers Morgan will be taking some time off Good Morning Britain while he awaits the results of a coronavirus test. The presenter, 55, started feeling unwell over the weekend and will stay off the programme 'out of an abundance of caution'. He had been going into the west London studio every morning, doing his own make-up and sitting two metres away from co-host Susanna Reid. Mr Morgan tweeted on Sunday night: 'UPDATE: On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in past 48hrs, I've had a test for COVID-19 and so won't be working on @GMB until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow.' It comes after Ms Reid self-isolated at her London home for two weeks in March following a member of her household developing symptoms of the bug. Mr Morgan, who is usually on the show with Ms Reid from Monday to Wednesday, has been one of the strongest voices holding the government to account during the crisis. Since the country was put in lockdown on March 23, he has become the interviewer ministers fear most due to his ruthless scrutinising of the facts. He has spoken truth to power at every turn, including fiercely questioning decisions made by both the UK and US governments. In an article for MailOnline on Thursday, the columnist branded Prime Minister Boris Johnson's first press briefing back after beating Covid 'complete and utter bullsh*t'. He said Mr Johnson's speech had made US President Donald Trump seem credible and that his Brexit strategy cannot be used to beat the virus. Mr Morgan wrote: 'When Boris fans, the vast majority of them with union jack flags and Brexit slogans in their profiles, scream abuse at me all day long on Twitter for challenging their hero's coronavirus strategy, they do so because to them, any criticism of the government over this crisis is a re-run of the viciously toxic and partisan Brexit campaign.' He added: 'None of Boris Johnson's political skills that won him the Referendum and December's election are working like they did before the virus struck.' The journalist pointed to a chart that was shown at the end of the briefing on the 'Global Death Comparision'. He spotted how it showed the UK was trending to be the second worst hit country in the world for Covid-19 deaths. On Sunday the number of fatalities in Britain rose by 315 to 28,446, putting it on course to become the hardest hit in Europe. Its toll is now 264 behind Italy - the continent's original epicentre - which it will likely overtake tomorrow to suffer the second highest fatalities in the world after the US. Mr Johnson was not the only world leader Mr Morgan has targeted, with him going toe-to-toe with President Trump over the US's coronavirus strategy. The presenter has repeatedly called out Mr Trump's approach to the bug, which has rampaged across the US and killed more than 65,000 people. This culminating in him saying Mr Trump was 'batsh*t crazy' for his handling of the crisis. The US President faced widespread ridicule after he suggested tackling coronavirus with the use of 'powerful' UV light or even injecting patients with disinfectant. Starting his column by telling Mr Trump to 'shut the f*** up', Mr Morgan admonished the President for using his position to air the 'batsh*t crazy theories'. The presenter later announced Mr Trump had unfollowed him on Twitter. Mr Morgan's approach to politicians was vindicated last week when OFCOM cleared him for his 'combative' style. The GMB host attracted more than 3,000 complaints from two interviews with care minister Helen Whately on the show last month. Almost 600 viewers also complained about another interview with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on April 16. But Ofcom said: 'It is clearly in the public interest that broadcasters are able to hold those making political decisions to account.' Mr Morgan grilled Ms Whately about the number of NHS and care workers who have died from Covid-19 and accused her of 'massively understating' the effects of the virus. In the interview Mrs Whately claimed 76 NHS and care workers had died from the disease, to which the host replied: 'You see these numbers again, are completely wrong. 'The real figure of all the people who work in the NHS and care homes who have died is actually 111.' Mr Hancock was challenged by the MailOnline columnist on whether he would volunteer for a salary reduction. During the exchange on April 16, Morgan was also angered when the politician claimed the Government was prepared for the pandemic, telling him: 'Stop playing that game with me, Mr Hancock. You're buying yourself a bit of time.' Mr Morgan said he would have 'admired' Mr Hancock more if he would have just admitted that the Department of Health 'had not been prepared' for the impact the coronavirus pandemic has had on the National Health Service. He added: 'Your resolute refusal to concede you made any mistakes here grates with me and misjudges the public mood'. The pair continued to clash as Morgan chastised Mr Hancock, reminding him he runs the show after the politician urged him to 'let him speak', during the interview. On Good Morning Britain Mr Morgan said of the watchdog investigation: 'They have not held up any of the complaints. I'm glad about that. 'Freedom of speech matters and journalists doing their job matters. Getting the government to think about every decision they are taking matters, holding them to account matters. 'We do our job they do theirs. But we are all on the same side here and we shouldn't mistake challenging government's with wanting government to fail. 'I want our government to succeed. We do this challenging everyday with ministers to help them make better decisions, so that fewer people die. 'We are on the same side against the same enemy. It's not a referendum, its not an election, its one virus against the world.' It is not clear who will step in for Mr Morgan while he is off.
3 May 18:01 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282565/Piers-Morgan-coronavirus-fears-GMB-host-forced-ITV-morning-show.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
More than 300,000 UK smokers may have quit owing to Covid-19 fears
3 May 23:01
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3 articles
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Weighted average IN: 3.1299971584006583
More than 300,000 UK smokers may have quit owing to Covid-19 fears
More than 300,000 in the UK may have quit smoking during the coronavirus crisis as evidence mounts that the habit makes them more vulnerable to Covid-19, a survey suggests. A further 550,000 have tried to quit, while 2.4 million have cut down, according to the joint study by YouGov and the campaign group Action on Smoking and Health (Ash). The survey of 1,004 people suggested 2% of smokers had quit because of concerns about coronavirus; 8% were trying to quit; 36% had cut down; and 27% were now more likely to quit. A quarter of former smokers said they were less likely to resume smoking, although 4% said the pandemic had made them more likely to relapse. The results of the survey were welcomed by several health and anti-smoking organisations in a statement released by #QuitforCOVID Twitter campaign. Dr Nick Hopkinson, the chairman of Ash who is also a respiratory specialist at Imperial College London, said: “Smoking harms the immune system and our ability to fight off infections. Evidence is growing that smoking is associated with worse outcomes in those admitted to hospital with Covid-19. “Quitting smoking also rapidly reduces people’s risk of other health problems such as heart attacks and strokes. Those are bad whenever they happen, so preventing them is an end in itself and is especially important at a time like now when everyone is keen to stay out of hospital.” Ruth Tennant, the tobacco lead for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “There are so many reasons to quit smoking but never a more important time than right now during the coronavirus pandemic.” The founder of the #QuitforCOVID campaign urged more people to stop smoking during the pandemic and beyond. “Stopping smoking remains the single biggest thing people can do to improve their overall health,” said Dr Charlie Kenward, a GP from Bristol. “It will improve heart and lung health as well as reducing the chances of developing cancer and even improve wound healing after surgery. There has never been a better time to quit.” Cllr Ian Hudspeth, the community wellbeing board chairman at the Local Government Association, said: “Councils can help the government to achieve its ambition of eliminating smoking in England by 2030, through their tobacco control and other public health and support services, but need certainty over their long-term funding to help do so.”
3 May 23:01 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/society/2020/may/04/more-than-300000-uk-smokers-may-have-quit-owing-to-covid-19-fearsRating: 5.39
More than 300,000 Britons quit smoking over Covid-19 fears – survey
The study comes as evidence grows that smokers with the disease run a greater risk of becoming severely ill than non-smokers. More than 300,000 Britons have quit smoking during the coronavirus crisis as evidence mounts that the habit leaves them more vulnerable to Covid-19, a survey suggests. A further 550,000 Britons have tried to quit, while 2.4 million have cut down, according to the joint study by the UK arm of YouGov’s international Covid-19 tracker in conjunction with anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). The survey, of 1,004 people, suggested 2% of smokers had now quit due to Covid-19 concerns. In addition, 8% of smokers said they were trying to quit, 36% said they had cut down, and 27% said they were now more likely to quit. A quarter of ex-smokers said they were now less likely to resume smoking, although 4% say the pandemic had made them more likely to relapse. The figures were welcomed by several health and anti-smoking bodies in a statement issued by the #QuitforCOVID Twitter campaign. ASH chairman Nick Hopkinson, a respiratory specialist at Imperial College London, said: “Smoking harms the immune system and our ability to fight off infections. “Evidence is growing that smoking is associated with worse outcomes in those admitted to hospital with Covid-19. “Quitting smoking also rapidly reduces people’s risk of other health problems such as heart attacks and strokes – those are bad whenever they happen, so preventing them is an end in itself, but it’s especially important at a time like now when everyone is keen to stay out of hospital.” Ruth Tennant, tobacco lead for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “There are so many reasons to quit smoking but never a more important time than right now during the coronavirus pandemic.” The founder of the #QuitforCOVID campaign on Twitter, Bristol GP Charlie Kenward, encouraged more people to stop smoking amid the pandemic and beyond. “Stopping smoking remains the single biggest thing people can do to improve their overall health,” he said. “It will improve heart and lung health as well as reducing the chances of developing cancer and even improve wound healing after surgery. “There has never been a better time to quit.” The government is aiming to end smoking in England by 2030 as part of a range of measures to address preventable ill health. And the Local Government Association said councils will play a role in helping this happen. Community Wellbeing Board chairman Ian Hudspeth said: “Smokers are at particular risk of Covid-19 and it is encouraging that so many have quit the habit for good. “Councils can help the Government to achieve its ambition of eliminating smoking in England by 2030, through their tobacco control and other public health and support services, but need certainty over their long-term funding to help do so.”
3 May 23:03 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/more-than-300000-britons-quit-smoking-over-covid-19-fears-survey/Rating: 0.30
More than 300,000 Britons quit smoking over Covid-19 fears – survey
More than 300,000 Britons have quit smoking during the coronavirus crisis as evidence mounts that the habit leaves them more vulnerable to Covid-19, a survey suggests. A further 550,000 Britons have tried to quit, while 2.4 million have cut down, according to the joint study by the UK arm of YouGov’s international Covid-19 tracker in conjunction with anti-smoking group Action on Smoking and Health (ASH). The survey, of 1,004 people, suggested 2% of smokers had now quit due to Covid-19 concerns. In addition, 8% of smokers said they were trying to quit, 36% said they had cut down, and 27% said they were now more likely to quit. Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. A quarter of ex-smokers said they were now less likely to resume smoking, although 4% say the pandemic had made them more likely to relapse. The figures were welcomed by several health and anti-smoking bodies in a statement issued by the \#QuitforCOVID Twitter campaign. ASH chairman Nick Hopkinson, a respiratory specialist at Imperial College London, said: “Smoking harms the immune system and our ability to fight off infections. “Evidence is growing that smoking is associated with worse outcomes in those admitted to hospital with Covid-19. “Quitting smoking also rapidly reduces people’s risk of other health problems such as heart attacks and strokes – those are bad whenever they happen, so preventing them is an end in itself, but it’s especially important at a time like now when everyone is keen to stay out of hospital.” Ruth Tennant, tobacco lead for the Association of Directors of Public Health, said: “There are so many reasons to quit smoking but never a more important time than right now during the coronavirus pandemic.” The founder of the \#QuitforCOVID campaign on Twitter, Bristol GP Charlie Kenward, encouraged more people to stop smoking amid the pandemic and beyond. “Stopping smoking remains the single biggest thing people can do to improve their overall health,” he said. Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. “It will improve heart and lung health as well as reducing the chances of developing cancer and even improve wound healing after surgery. “There has never been a better time to quit.” The government is aiming to end smoking in England by 2030 as part of a range of measures to address preventable ill health. And the Local Government Association said councils will play a role in helping this happen. Community Wellbeing Board chairman Ian Hudspeth said: “Smokers are at particular risk of Covid-19 and it is encouraging that so many have quit the habit for good. “Councils can help the Government to achieve its ambition of eliminating smoking in England by 2030, through their tobacco control and other public health and support services, but need certainty over their long-term funding to help do so.”
3 May 23:03 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-04/more-than-300-000-britons-quit-smoking-over-covid-19-fears-survey/Rating: 0.88
Trump mocked George W. Bush's call for Americans to push aside partisanship and unite during coronavirus pandemic
3 May 16:29
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10 articles
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Trump mocked George W. Bush's call for Americans to push aside partisanship and unite during coronavirus pandemic
President Donald Trump mocked a video from George. W Bush calling for unity amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The former president shared a three-minute video on Twitter Saturday urging Americans to overcome partisanship after outlining the importance of the "spirit of service and sacrifice" and "empathy and simple kindness" in the face of outbreaks by leaders, healthcare workers, and other Americans. Bush also pointed to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an example that the US has withstood "times of testing before." Near the end of the video, Bush asks Americans to "let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat." "We are not partisan combatants," Bush says. "We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise." As of Sunday morning, the video had racked up at least 4.5 million views. Less than 24 hours after it had been tweeted, it also received a tweeted jab from Trump. The president tweeted early Sunday, apparently quoting weekend "Fox and Friends" co-anchor Pete Hegseth asking why Bush didn't push for "putting partisanship aside" during the impeachment trial against Trump. "He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!" Trump added. The 43rd president did not publicly comment on the two approved articles of impeachment the House passed against Trump in December 2019, but other members of the family have criticized Trump, including former first lady Barbara Bush who said in 2018 that she didn't consider herself a Republican anymore because of Trump's rise to prominence.
3 May 16:29 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-george-w-bush-call-for-unity-during-coronavirus-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Trump mocked George W. Bush’s call for Americans to push aside partisanship and unite during coronavirus pandemic
President Donald Trump mocked a video from George. W Bush calling for unity amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The former president shared a three-minute video on Twitter Saturday urging Americans to overcome partisanship after outlining the importance of the “spirit of service and sacrifice” and “empathy and simple kindness” in the face of outbreaks by leaders, healthcare workers, and other Americans. Bush also pointed to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an example that the US has withstood “times of testing before.” Near the end of the video, Bush asks Americans to “let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat.” “We are not partisan combatants,” Bush says. “We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise.” As of Sunday morning, the video had racked up at least 4.5 million views. Less than 24 hours after it had been tweeted, it also received a tweeted jab from Trump. The president tweeted early Sunday, apparently quoting weekend “Fox and Friends” co-anchor Pete Hegseth asking why Bush didn’t push for “putting partisanship aside” during the impeachment trial against Trump. “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump added. The 43rd president did not publicly comment on the two approved articles of impeachment the House passed against Trump in December 2019, but other members of the family have criticized Trump, including former first lady Barbara Bush who said in 2018 that she didn’t consider herself a Republican anymore because of Trump’s rise to prominence.
3 May 16:29 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/trump-george-w-bush-call-for-unity-during-coronavirus-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Trump mocked George W. Bush's call for Americans to push aside partisanship and unite during coronavirus pandemic, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
President Donald Trump mocked a video from George. W Bush calling for unity amid the novel coronavirus pandemic. The former president shared a three-minute video on Twitter Saturday urging Americans to overcome partisanship after outlining the importance of the “spirit of service and sacrifice” and “empathy and simple kindness” in the face of outbreaks by leaders, healthcare workers, and other Americans. Bush also pointed to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks as an example that the US has withstood “times of testing before.” Near the end of the video, Bush asks Americans to “let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat.” “We are not partisan combatants,” Bush says. “We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise.” As of Sunday morning, the video had racked up at least 4.5 million views. Less than 24 hours after it had been tweeted, it also received a tweeted jab from Trump. The president tweeted early Sunday, apparently quoting weekend “Fox and Friends” co-anchor Pete Hegseth asking why Bush didn’t push for “putting partisanship aside” during the impeachment trial against Trump. “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump added. The 43rd president did not publicly comment on the two approved articles of impeachment the House passed against Trump in December 2019, but other members of the family have criticized Trump, including former first lady Barbara Bush who said in 2018 that she didn’t consider herself a Republican anymore because of Trump’s rise to prominence.
3 May 16:29 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/trump-george-w-bush-call-for-unity-during-coronavirus-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Trump slams Bush's call to put partisanship aside during pandemic
President Trump was dismissive of former President George W. Bush’s call for unity amid the coronavirus pandemic, questioning why the former president didn’t defend him during his impeachment trial. “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump tweeted Sunday morning. Bush released a video message a day earlier urging people to ignore partisanship as the country works to overcome the outbreak. “Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” Bush said. “In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants, we are human beings equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise.”
3 May 13:54 • Washington Examiner • https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/trump-slams-bushs-call-to-put-partisanship-aside-during-pandemicRating: 0.51
Trump rips George W. Bush after he calls for unity amid coronavirus outbreak
President Trump on Sunday took aim at George W. Bush after the former Republican president issued a call to push partisanship aside amid the outbreak of the novel coronavirus. In a three-minute video shared on Twitter on Saturday, Bush urged Americans to remember "how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat." "In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants. We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God," Bush said. "We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise." In an early morning tweet on Sunday, Trump called out Bush for his failure to support him as he faced an impeachment trial earlier this year over his alleged dealings with Ukraine. He cited apparent comments from Fox News anchor Pete Hegseth, who asked why Bush didn't push for "putting partisanship aside" amid the trial. "He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history," Trump said. The House impeached Trump last December for allegedly pressuring Ukraine to open an investigation into his Democratic political rivals. The president was acquitted by the Senate in February. While Bush never commented publicly on the allegations and the trial, he and other members of his family have voiced criticism of the president and his policies. The former president released the video as confirmed cases of COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, continued to rise in parts of the U.S. The country has confirmed more than 1.1 million COVID-19 cases and more than 66,000 deaths from it. Bush invoked the Sept. 11, 2001, terrorist attacks in his message, noting that the U.S. has faced "times of testing before." "Let's remember that the suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly. In the days to come, it will be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed," he said. Trump has faced continued scrutiny for his early response to the outbreak. The president in February suggested the virus would suddenly "disappear" and later predicted that everyone who needed a test would have access to one. He's repeatedly pushed back against concerns from governors about testing and medical equipment shortages. --This report was updated at 10:19 a.m.
3 May 12:28 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/administration/495843-trump-rips-george-w-bush-after-he-issues-call-to-unite-amidRating: 1.94
Coronavirus: Trump Ridicules George W. Bush Appeal for Bipartisanship
A call by former President George W. Bush for humanity to jettison partisanship amid the Chinese coronavirus pandemic has drawn a sharp rebuke from President Donald Trump. Bush published a video message on Saturday urging unity and togetherness amid the coronavirus’ outbreak, which received 4.4 million views on Twitter as of Sunday morning. Bush’s plea amounted to a call for people to ignore partisanship to protect the most vulnerable and to assist those who have become unemployed. He based his plaintive call on the observation we are all God’s children and therefore equal of merit and support. “[L]et us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” Bush said. “In the final analysis we are not partisan combatants, we are human beings equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together, and we are determined to rise.” The president’s response was straight to the point, outlining Bush’s absence when Trump was being excoriated during his impeachment proceedings. “.@PeteHegseth “Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside. @foxandfriends He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump tweeted.
3 May 13:42 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/politics/2020/05/03/trump-ridicules-george-w-bush-appeal-for-bipartisanship-amid-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
Trump responds to Bush’s call for bipartisan unity with tweets attacking his enemies
Amid rising confirmed coronavirus case counts, and a death toll that has begun to plateau, President Donald Trump spent much of Sunday lashing out at politicians, attacking the media, and bragging about his poll numbers. He also seemed to suggest Covid-19 is a cosmic or biblical force — and one that has already been stopped. Sunday morning, the president panned former President George W. Bush’s recent call for bipartisan unity in the face of the coronavirus pandemic, arguing his predecessor should have spoken up on his behalf during Trump’s impeachment process. “Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” Bush said Saturday in a video message to the public. “In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants.” Trump felt this was inappropriate, however, quoting comments made by Pete Hegseth, a weekend cohost of Fox & Friends, who asked “where [Bush] was during impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.” To this, Trump added, “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” After sending out the tweet about Bush, Trump proceeded to send out one adversarial and divisive post after another. He deemed NBC and CNN “Chinese puppets who want to do business there” and “the enemy of the people.” He boasted about his approval ratings among Republicans and said that a new Gallup poll shows “Trump beating Sleepy Joe Biden.” (It does not.) He said there were “many complaints coming in” over Maine’s coronavirus response (despite the state government’s rising approval ratings) — and then added that he won the state. He also retweeted some of his old tweets, one in which he declared a video of a boat owner who painted Trump’s name onto his boat “very cool,” and another in which he falsely claims Democrats want “OPEN BORDERS.” He capped off his spree with a tweet about America coming together as a nation — and it was an odd one, in which he described an America rising from the “death and destruction” caused by “a great and powerful Plague” that led to “lost souls all over the World:” Trump’s tone in the tweet, which didn’t seem to have any obvious contextual explanation, was roundly mocked on social media by his critics. “Camus wept,” quipped Charles Pierce, a politics writer for Esquire. Talking Points Memo founder Josh Marshall tweeted, “tfw you try to bible-speak on twitter.” The tweet appeared to suggest the danger posed by the coronavirus had largely passed, given that it was all written in the past tense, but with its biblical language also seemed to place blame for the virus on some force greater than Trump himself, and one that he didn’t have control over. While it is true that the coronavirus is believed to have come from nature, in reality, Trump has botched countless opportunities to fight against the virus. Among many other things, he downplayed its dangers, dismantled the bureaucratic expertise required to manage a pandemic, refused to swiftly take steps to provide Americans with protective gear and medical equipment, and conditioned aid to states on political favors. These latest tweets have come during a period of heavy Twitter activity by the president. In general, Trump appears to tweet more when he feels under siege and wants to push back against particular narratives or Democratic attacks that undermine his reputation. Given that Trump is constantly under fire these days for his catastrophic mismanagement of the American coronavirus response, it’s not exactly surprising that he took to Twitter to unleash a wave of attacks. Support Vox’s explanatory journalism Every day at Vox, we aim to answer your most important questions and provide you, and our audience around the world, with information that has the power to save lives. Our mission has never been more vital than it is in this moment: to empower you through understanding. Vox’s work is reaching more people than ever, but our distinctive brand of explanatory journalism takes resources — particularly during a pandemic and an economic downturn. Your financial contribution will not constitute a donation, but it will enable our staff to continue to offer free articles, videos, and podcasts at the quality and volume that this moment requires. Please consider making a contribution to Vox today.
3 May 20:45 • Vox • https://www.vox.com/2020/5/3/21245726/trump-tweets-bush-coronavirus-bipartisan-unity-plagueRating: 2.47
Trump Criticizes Bush After Message of Unity Amid Coronavirus
U.S. President Donald Trump criticized former president George W. Bush’s message of unity for Americans during the coronavirus crisis on Sunday morning. Trump tweeted, “@PeteHegseth ‘Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside.’ @foxandfriends He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump appeared to take issue with Bush’s message of putting partisanship aside and instead called him out for not taking his side during his impeachment. Trump has received criticism during the ongoing coronavirus pandemic for not putting aside partisan fights and continuing to lash out at critics and political opponents. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories "Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat," Bush said in a video posted on Saturday. "In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants. We are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together." The nearly 3-minute video, shared by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, began by invoking Bush’s non-partisan response after the 9/11 terror attacks and highlighted how tragedy is shared equally within society. "Let's remember that the suffering we experience as a nation does not fall evenly. In the days to come, it will be especially important to care in practical ways for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed," Bush said. Some 30 million people have filed for unemployment in the last six weeks as many Americans struggle to pay their bills with diminished or no income.
3 May 13:06 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/trump-dismisses-bush-s-message-of-untiy-amid-coronavirus-1.8816933Rating: 1.13
Donald Trump Takes Aim at George W. Bush Over Call for Unity in Times of COVID-19
As the United States continues to battle the COVID-19 pandemic, former US President George W. Bush has stepped forward to call upon the populace to set aside their differences in the face of this insidious viral threat. Addressing people via a tweet posted by the George W. Bush Presidential Center, the ex-head of state praised the medical professionals who risk their health for the sake of the health of others, noting that the disease in question threatens not just one's physical well-being, but also people's "sense of safety, security and community". The ex-president's address elicited a somewhat mixed response online, as while a number of netizens praised him for his words, others seemed reluctant to forget certain events that transpired during Bush's presidency. It appears that Trump himself took note of this development, putting his two cents in and thus drawing the attention of his proponents and detractors alike. And several netizens also used this opportunity to criticize US President Donald Trump's response to the coronavirus crisis.
3 May 13:45 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/us/202005031079182422-donald-trump-takes-aim-at-george-w-bush-over-call-for-unity-in-times-of-covid-19/Rating: 3.96
Trump blasts George W. Bush for not speaking out against impeachment ‘hoax’
President Trump on Sunday ripped former President George W. Bush for urging Americans to dismiss partisanship during the coronavirus pandemic, questioning where the Republican was during the impeachment “hoax.” In a three-minute video released on the Twitter account of The George W. Bush Presidential Center in Dallas, the former commander-in-chief reminded Americans “how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat.” “@PeteHegseth ‘Oh bye the way, I appreciate the message from former President Bush, but where was he during Impeachment calling for putting partisanship aside,” Trump tweeted, citing comments from the “Fox & Friends” host. “He was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history!” Trump added. The Democratic-controlled House last December voted to impeach Trump over a phone call to the Ukrainian president seeking an investigation into Joe Biden, a political rival. Trump was acquitted in the GOP-controlled Senate in January.
3 May 17:26 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/trump-blasts-bush-for-not-speaking-out-against-impeachment-hoax/Rating: 2.55
Brazil's Bolsonaro headlines anti-democratic rally amid alarm over handling of coronavirus
4 May 15:45
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Best date: 3 May 19:45
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Brazil's Bolsonaro headlines anti-democratic rally amid alarm over handling of coronavirus
BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil, underlining the former army captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic. The right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and 7,025 deaths, according to the most recent data from the Health Ministry. On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation’s indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare. At the same time, Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and meddle in sensitive investigations. Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the president. On Saturday, Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on corruption, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro. Hours before, the president called Moro “Judas” on Twitter, referring to the apostle who betrayed Jesus. As Bolsonaro’s relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military. As in an April rally also attended by Bolsonaro, demonstrators called on Sunday for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil’s 1964-1985 military government. “We have the armed forces at the people’s side: the side of order, democracy, liberty,” Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook. “Enough interference. We’re not allowing any more interference. Our patience is over.” Bolsonaro did not call for a military takeover at the rally in Brasilia, and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil, where Congress, the courts, the press and civil society wield significant power. But political leaders have called Bolsonaro’s participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible, especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation’s former military dictatorship, which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions. Bolsonaro’s attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hot spot. Bolsonaro, who did not wear a mask on Sunday, has dismissed the coronavirus as a “little flu,” saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures would be deadlier than the virus itself. The open letter on Sunday, which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce the virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to “genocide,” was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic. It has also cut down, however, on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in remote regions as a safety measure. At the Sunday rally, at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators, according to a Reuters witness - an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil, where Bolsonaro routinely calls the work of major newspapers “fake news.” The Reuters witness saw one photographer from Sao Paulo newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo pulled off a ladder and repeatedly kicked in the ribs.
4 May 15:45 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-bolsonaro-idUSKBN22F0TQRating: 4.04
Brazil’s Bolsonaro headlines anti-democratic rally, amid alarm over handling of virus
BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil, underlining the former army captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic. Right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and 7,025 deaths, according to the most recent data from the Health Ministry. On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation’s indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare. At the same time, Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his popular justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and obstruct graft probes targeting his sons. Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the president. On Saturday, former justice minister Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on graft, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro. Hours before, the president called Moro “Judas” on Twitter, referring to the apostle that betrayed Jesus. As Bolsonaro’s relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military. As in an April rally also attended by Bolsonaro, demonstrators on Sunday called for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil’s 1964 to 1985 military regime. “We have the armed forces at the people’s side: the side of order, democracy, liberty,” Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook. “We want the best for our country. We want three truly independent branches (of government).”
3 May 23:56 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/brazils-bolsonaro-headlines-anti-democratic-rally-amid-alarm-over-handling-of-virus/Rating: 2.55
Bolsonaro tells rally Brazil lockdown destroying jobs
Brazil's President Jail Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown Sunday in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators as the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections passed 100,000, with more than 7,000 deaths. Bolsonaro blamed state governors for continuing the lockdown in a speech outside his presidential palace in Brasilia. "The destruction of jobs by some governors is irresponsible and unacceptable. We will pay a high price in the future," the head of state said in a speech broadcast live on Facebook. Bolsonaro has repeatedly clashed with state governors, insisting that strict containment measures they are imposing are an overreaction, and damaging to the economy. The country registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus by Sunday, according to figures released by the Brazilian health ministry, with 275 deaths from COVID-19 within the previous 24 hours. Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher, due to a large number of undetected cases given the lack of testing availability across the country's 210 million population. The demonstration in Brasilia drew a larger crowd than similar protests in recent weeks, and many people held up banners criticising Bolsonaro critics Rodrigo Maia, head of the chamber of deputies, and former justice minister Sergio Moro who resigned last week. Others in the crowd called on the army to intervene. "The people are with us and the army is on the side of the law, order, freedom and democracy," Bolsonaro told them. The Estado de Sao Paulo daily, one of the country's biggest newspapers, reported on its website that one of its photographers and his driver were attacked by demonstrators, who pushed and kicked them. Contrary to recent demonstrations in which he made an appearance, the far-right president -- who did not wear a mask -- maintained a distance of around two meters (six feet) from his nearest supporters after his address outside the presidential palace. However, he made an exception for supporters who joined him for a selfie with his nine-year-old daughter Laura. Experts are bracing for the biggest outbreak in South America to get far worse, as the peak of the pandemic is thought to be some weeks away. Last week, Rio de Janeiro state said it would extend stay-at-home orders until May 11, ignoring Bolsonaro's demands that local and state authorities encourage Brazilians to get back to work. lg/fjb/db/bgs https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 22:43 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/bolsonaro-tells-rally-brazil-lockdown-destroying-jobs/edc4n9gRating: 0.51
Bolsonaro tells rally Brazil lockdown destroying jobs
Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown Sunday in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators as the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections passed 100,000, with more than 7,000 deaths. Bolsonaro blamed state governors for continuing the lockdown in a speech outside his presidential palace in Brasilia. "The destruction of jobs by some governors is irresponsible and unacceptable. We will pay a high price in the future," the head of state said in a speech broadcast live on Facebook. Bolsonaro has repeatedly clashed with state governors, insisting that strict containment measures they are imposing are an overreaction, and damaging to the economy. The country registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus by Sunday, according to figures released by the Brazilian health ministry, with 275 deaths from COVID-19 within the previous 24 hours. Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher, due to a large number of undetected cases given the lack of testing availability across the country's 210 million population. The demonstration in Brasilia drew a larger crowd than similar protests in recent weeks, and many people held up banners criticising Bolsonaro critics Rodrigo Maia, head of the chamber of deputies, and former justice minister Sergio Moro who resigned last week. Others in the crowd called on the army to intervene. "The people are with us and the army is on the side of the law, order, freedom and democracy," Bolsonaro told them. The Estado de Sao Paulo daily, one of the country's biggest newspapers, reported on its website that one of its photographers and his driver were attacked by demonstrators, who pushed and kicked them. Contrary to recent demonstrations in which he made an appearance, the far-right president -- who did not wear a mask -- maintained a distance of around two meters (six feet) from his nearest supporters after his address outside the presidential palace. However, he made an exception for supporters who joined him for a selfie with his nine-year-old daughter Laura. Experts are bracing for the biggest outbreak in South America to get far worse, as the peak of the pandemic is thought to be some weeks away. Last week, Rio de Janeiro state said it would extend stay-at-home orders until May 11, ignoring Bolsonaro's demands that local and state authorities encourage Brazilians to get back to work.
3 May 22:40 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/bolsonaro-tells-rally-brazil-lockdown-destroying-jobs/article/571151Rating: 0.78
Bolsonaro headlines anti-democratic rally, amid alarm over handling of virus
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday, underlining the former army captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the COVID-19 on Latin America’s largest nation. Right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which had registered 95,559 confirmed cases and 6,750 deaths as of Saturday evening. On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation’s indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare. At the same time, Mr. Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his popular justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and obstruct graft probes targeting his sons. Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Mr. Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the president. On Saturday, former justice minister Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on graft, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Mr. Bolsonaro. Hours before, the president called Moro “Judas” on Twitter, referring to the apostle that betrayed Jesus. As Mr. Bolsonaro’s relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military. As in an April rally also attended by Mr. Bolsonaro, demonstrators on Sunday called for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil’s 1964 to 1985 military regime. “We have the armed forces at the people’s side: the side of order, democracy, liberty,” Mr. Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook. “We want the best for our country. We want three truly independent branches (of government).” Mr. Bolsonaro did not call for a military takeover at the rally in Brasilia, and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil, where Congress, the courts, the press and civil society wield significant power. But political leaders have called Mr. Bolsonaro’s participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible, especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation’s military dictatorship, which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions. His attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hotspot. Mr. Bolsonaro, who did not wear a mask on Sunday, has dismissed the virus as a “little flu,” saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures will be deadlier that the virus itself. The open letter on Sunday, which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce to virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to “genocide”, was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic. However, the state has also cut down on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in remote regions as a safety measure. At the Sunday rally, at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators, according to a Reuters witness - an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil, where Mr. Bolsonaro and other leaders routinely call the work of major newspapers “fake news.”
3 May 21:40 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/bolsonaro-headlines-anti-democratic-rally-amid-alarm-over-handling-of-virus/article31496584.eceRating: 0.30
Brazil's Bolsonaro headlines anti-democratic rally, amid alarm over handling of virus
BRASILIA/RIO DE JANEIRO — Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil, underlining the former army captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic. Right-wing Bolsonaro has drawn widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and 7,025 deaths, according to the most recent data from the Health Ministry. On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation’s indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to healthcare. At the same time, Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his popular justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the president of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and obstruct graft probes targeting his sons. Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the president. On Saturday, former justice minister Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on graft, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Bolsonaro. Hours before, the president called Moro “Judas” on Twitter, referring to the apostle that betrayed Jesus. As Bolsonaro’s relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military. As in an April rally also attended by Bolsonaro, demonstrators on Sunday called for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil’s 1964 to 1985 military regime. “We have the armed forces at the people’s side: the side of order, democracy, liberty,” Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook. “We want the best for our country. We want three truly independent branches (of government).” Bolsonaro did not call for a military takeover at the rally in Brasilia, and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil, where Congress, the courts, the press and civil society wield significant power. But political leaders have called Bolsonaro’s participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible, especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation’s military dictatorship, which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions. Bolsonaro’s attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hot spot. Bolsonaro, who did not wear a mask on Sunday, has dismissed the virus as a “little flu,” saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures will be deadlier than the virus itself. The open letter on Sunday, which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce the virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to “genocide,” was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bundchen. The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic. However, the state has also cut down on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in remote regions as a safety measure. At the Sunday rally, at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators, according to a Reuters witness – an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil, where Bolsonaro and other leaders routinely call the work of major newspapers “fake news.” One photographer from Sao Paulo newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, the Reuters witness said, was pulled off a ladder and repeatedly kicked in the ribs. (Reporting by Ueslei Marcelino in Brasilia and Gram Slattery in Rio de Janeiro Editing by Daniel Flynn, Lisa Shumaker and Diane Craft)
3 May 21:16 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/brazils-bolsonaro-headlines-anti-democratic-rally-amid-alarm-over-handling-of-virus-2Rating: 1.59
Hundreds Rally in Brazil's Capital in Support of President Bolsonaro
RIO DE JANEIRO (Sputnik) - Hundreds of Brazilians rallied in the capital's administrative district on Sunday in support of President Jair Bolsonaro, who has been criticized for his handling of the coronavirus outbreak. The march began on Sunday morning with a large column of cars blocking traffic, according to the footage shared by the O Globo news channel. The pro-business president has been under fire from his own ministers and medical experts for resisting restrictions on public life aimed at curbing the spread of the coronavirus. In a further blow, Moro, who resigned in April, testified to federal police on Saturday that Bolsonaro had interfered in judicial matters. Bolsonaro has repeatedly dismissed the virus as a "flu" and has continued to meet with the public after a trip to the United States in March, which saw 20 members of his delegation fall ill with COVID-19. He may face impeachment for breaking self-isolation rules if he tests positive. Rio de Janeiro Governor Wilson Witzel criticized the Sunday pro- Bolsonaro march, saying on Twitter that the president was giving a bad example by participating in a demonstration at the time when local authorities were calling for self-isolation amid the spread of the coronavirus. Bolsonaro has been calling for limited isolation only, for high-risk groups of people, such as seniors, but regional authorities have followed the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) subjecting all Brazilian residents to coronavirus restrictions.
3 May 21:02 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/latam/202005031079185056-hundreds-rally-in-brazils-capital-in-support-of-president-bolsonaro/Rating: 3.96
Brazil’s Bolsonaro lashes out at courts, critics amid outcry over handling of COVID-19
Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro attacked Congress and the courts in a speech to hundreds of supporters on Sunday as the number of coronavirus cases blew past 100,000 in Brazil, underlining the former army captain’s increasing isolation as he downplays the impacts of the pandemic. The right-wing President has drawn widespread criticism from across the political spectrum for dismissing the threat of the virus in Brazil, which has registered 101,147 confirmed cases and 7,025 deaths, according to the most recent data from the Health Ministry. On Sunday, dozens of public figures signed an open letter to the Brazilian government calling on officials to protect the nation’s indigenous people, who often live in remote locations with limited access to health care. At the same time, Mr. Bolsonaro faces the most serious political crisis of his mandate, after his popular justice minister, Sergio Moro, quit last week and accused the President of firing the federal police chief in a bid to appoint a personal ally to the post and obstruct graft probes targeting his sons. Brazil’s Supreme Court blocked Mr. Bolsonaro’s pick for a new chief on Wednesday, enraging the President. On Saturday, Mr. Moro, among Brazil’s most popular public figures due to his tough stance on graft, presented testimony regarding possible obstruction of justice by Mr. Bolsonaro. Hours before, the President called Mr. Moro “Judas” on Twitter, referring to the apostle who betrayed Jesus. As Mr. Bolsonaro’s relationship with legislators and the courts has cooled, he has become increasingly dependent on a cadre of advisers in his government who are active or former military. As in an April rally also attended by Mr. Bolsonaro, demonstrators on Sunday called for the closing of the Supreme Court and Congress, and a return to authoritarian measures used during Brazil’s 1964 to 1985 military regime. “We have the armed forces at the people’s side: the side of order, democracy, liberty,” Mr. Bolsonaro said in a speech transmitted live on Facebook. “We want the best for our country. We want three truly independent branches [of government].” Mr. Bolsonaro did not call for a military takeover at the rally in Brasilia, and such an occurrence is widely considered unlikely in Brazil, where Congress, the courts, the press and civil society wield significant power. But political leaders have called Mr. Bolsonaro’s participation in anti-democratic rallies irresponsible, especially as he has spoken approvingly of the nation’s military dictatorship, which was responsible for hundreds of extrajudicial executions. Mr. Bolsonaro’s attendance also drew criticism as the nation is a major coronavirus hot spot. Mr. Bolsonaro, who did not wear a mask on Sunday, has dismissed the virus as a “little flu,” saying the economic fallout of quarantining measures will be deadlier than the virus itself. The open letter on Sunday, which warned that loggers and ranchers could introduce the virus to indigenous communities in a development tantamount to “genocide”, was signed by celebrities ranging from U.S. television personality Oprah Winfrey to Brazilian supermodel Gisele Bündchen. The government has banned people from entering indigenous reserves during the pandemic. However, the state has also cut down on law enforcement against illegal loggers and miners in remote regions as a safety measure. At the Sunday rally, at least three photographers were attacked by demonstrators, according to a Reuters witness – an increasingly routine occurrence in Brazil, where Bolsonaro and other leaders routinely call the work of major newspapers “fake news.” One photographer from São Paulo newspaper O Estado de S. Paulo, the Reuters witness said, was pulled off a ladder and repeatedly kicked in the ribs. Sign up for the Coronavirus Update newsletter to read the day’s essential coronavirus news, features and explainers written by Globe reporters and editors.
3 May 20:10 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-brazils-bolsonaro-headlines-anti-democratic-rally-amid-outcry-over/Rating: 2.18
Bolsonaro tells rally Brazil lockdown destroying jobs
BRASíLIA — Brazil's President Jail Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown Sunday in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators as the number of confirmed COVID-19 infections passed 100,000, with more than 7,000 deaths. Bolsonaro blamed state governors for continuing the lockdown in a speech outside his presidential palace in Brasilia. "The destruction of jobs by some governors is irresponsible and unacceptable. We will pay a high price in the future," the head of state said in a speech broadcast live on Facebook. Bolsonaro has repeatedly clashed with state governors, insisting that strict containment measures they are imposing are an overreaction, and damaging to the economy. The country registered 101,147 confirmed cases of the virus by Sunday, according to figures released by the Brazilian health ministry, with 275 deaths from COVID-19 within the previous 24 hours. Experts believe the overall number of COVID-19 cases could be 12 to 15 times higher, due to a large number of undetected cases given the lack of testing availability across the country's 210 million population. The demonstration in Brasilia drew a larger crowd than similar protests in recent weeks, and many people held up banners criticising Bolsonaro critics Rodrigo Maia, head of the chamber of deputies, and former justice minister Sergio Moro who resigned last week. Others in the crowd called on the army to intervene. "The people are with us and the army is on the side of the law, order, freedom and democracy," Bolsonaro told them. The Estado de Sao Paulo daily, one of the country's biggest newspapers, reported on its website that one of its photographers and his driver were attacked by demonstrators, who pushed and kicked them. Contrary to recent demonstrations in which he made an appearance, the far-right president -- who did not wear a mask -- maintained a distance of around two meters (six feet) from his nearest supporters after his address outside the presidential palace. However, he made an exception for supporters who joined him for a selfie with his nine-year-old daughter Laura. Experts are bracing for the biggest outbreak in South America to get far worse, as the peak of the pandemic is thought to be some weeks away. Last week, Rio de Janeiro state said it would extend stay-at-home orders until May 11, ignoring Bolsonaro's demands that local and state authorities encourage Brazilians to get back to work. © 2020 AFP
3 May 19:45 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/bolsonaro-tells-rally-brazil-lockdown-destroying-jobsRating: 2.09
[OPINION] Excluding De Lima and others
(UPDATED) The coronavirus pandemic requires a whole of nation approach. Every sector and citizen must be enlisted in the fight ahead. This is a marathon and not a sprint. A disunited people and country will not win against this insidious virus. If we do not unite and come together as Team Philippines, to use a term popularized by former President Fidel Ramos, we are doomed and infections will spread and deaths will increase. Unfortunately, in the face of this clear need to close ranks, the national government is undermining such unity. We see this in what is happening on the Senate with respect to the participation of Senator Leila De Lima in its online proceedings. We are witnessing this in the many arrests done by the police last Friday, May 1, in Marikina, Quezon City, and Iloilo. Indeed this is obvious in the way quarantine rules are being arbitrarily imposed. We see this in the unabated killings of activists even as the country battles this crisis. Foul and unfair exclusion of De Lima I support the Senate decision to convene its forthcoming plenary sessions and committee hearings via teleconferencing. This decision is unprecedented even as it is necessitated by the physical distancing required by the coronavirus. It would even be more historic if Senator De Lima is allowed to participate. Unfortunately, under the proposed rules that is expected to be approved this coming Monday, May 4, that will not happen. Under those rules, the good senator, who has unjustly been detained already for a one thousand one hundred and sixty six days on Monday, will be not allowed to join the online proceedings. Senator De Lima rightly calls the Senate decision as “foul and unfair", motivated by “petty politics", and "completely and “absolutely misinformed." The Committee for the Freedom of Leila M. de Lima, of which I am a member, calls on the Senate to reverse this terribly unfair decision to exclude De Lima. It is our view that allowing her online participation will not in any way interfere with the exercise of jurisdiction of the court and the Philippine National Police over the person of the Senator, and will even honor the right of her 14 million voters to be represented in the deliberative processes of the Senate. The Committee cites the 2008 decision of the Supreme Court in the case of Trillanes v. Pimentel. In that case, the Court clarified that the limitation in the practice of profession only applies in a situation where the person deprived of liberty has to go out of the detention facility. In this case, Senator de Lima will not leave the PNP Custodial Center as she intends to attend the Senate sessions and hearings while in the detention facility, with the use of telecommunication and internet technologies, just like her colleagues at the Senate. In the same Trillanes case, the Supreme Court “recognized that the accused could somehow accomplish legislative results.” Despite her detention for more than 3 years now, Senator de Lima is able to file a good number of bills, resolutions, committee reports, dissenting reports, interpellation questions, and amendment papers. Senator de Lima is in fact the principal author of some pieces of meaningful legislation, including the 4Ps Act and the Magna Carta of the Poor. Hence, there simply is no rhyme or reason why Senator de Lima should be deprived of the option to participate in the online sessions and hearings of the Senate, a prerogative that will be available to all other senators. The Committee also emphasizes that Senator de Lima is constitutionally presumed innocent, and she does not suffer from any penalty of civil interdiction that prohibits her from exercising her civil and political rights. Performing her job as senator as long as she can do this inside the detention facility is part of her rights. Thus, there is no constitutional or legal impediment to disallow Senator de Lima from taking part in the online sessions, hearings, and meetings of the Senate. Targeting activists on Labor Day This exclusionary approach we also saw last Friday, May 1, when the PNP arrested women activists in Marikina and youth activists in Quezon City for providing food and other assistance to communities affected by the enhanced community quarantine imposed in Metro Manila. Fortunately, those arrested in Marikina have been released for lack of probable cause after the city’s courageous and progressive mayor, Marcy Teodoro, stood up for the activists. Likewise, those arrested in Iloilo for protesting the death of Bayan Muna leader Jory Porquia have been arrested although they have now been released on bail. In Rodriguez, Rizal, two labor leaders from the labor center Bukluran ng Manggagawang Pilipino were arrested by the police for participating in a labor day demonstration, despite the demonstration following strict physical distancing protocols. The two arrested labor leaders, Lito Rastica and Reynaldo Dulay, were part of a group of worker-activists calling for financial aid and mass testing for working class communities. After two days, they are still locked up in the San Jose Police station in Montalban awaiting inquest. I am hopeful that Quezon City prosecutors will also decide the same way and Mayor Joy Belmonte will be as courageous in supporting the youth activists and residents arrested in Quezon City. Our Chancellor in the University of the Philippines Diliman, Dr Fidel Nemenzo, has certainly been supportive of the UP students who were arrested in QC. Militaristic, arbitrary EQC implementation What is alarming is this militaristic and frankly, arbitrary approach to implementing the enhanced community quarantine is clearly a trend. We saw this earlier in the arrests of the San Roque residents and more recently, in the mauling of a vendor by Quezon City officials. Divisive acts by the police and other government officials are counterproductive. The government must reverse itself as this will not be a successful strategy to dealing with the challenge of the pandemic. First, arresting people and putting them in detention centers increase the likelihood of many – those arrested and the police, including the prosecutors and the defense lawyers – getting infected. Second, the kind of behavior required by the quarantine cannot be coerced. If people are not wearing masks, provide them masks to wear. If they are in places they should not be, escort them back to those places. A facilitative, educational approach works much better than using the strong arm of the law. Finally, I must plead to all armed groups, state sanctioned as well revolutionary forces, to stand down in this most challenging time. Enough of extrajudicial killings like what was done to Marlon Maldos in Bohol last March and Porquia just last week! Enough of ambushes of soldiers on relief missions. As I have written before, the pandemic is not a war and cannot be fought with arms nor brute force. It has to be fought with science, discipline, cooperation, and national unity. And unless we are united as a people, we will not defeat this enemy. The country is at a crossroads in its fight against COVID-19. Let’s win this not by excluding de Lima or intimidating relief workers. We can win this but only if we do it together. –Rappler.com Tony La Viña teaches law and is former dean of the Ateneo School of Government.
3 May 06:46 • Rappler • https://www.rappler.com/thought-leaders/259763-excluding-de-lima-and-othersRating: 1.64
Canada giving AbCellera Biologics C$176 million for coronavirus research
3 May 17:28
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4 articles
Weight: 3.18
Importance: 3.18
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 17:26
Average US: 15.675
Weighted average US: 20.111926513398366
Average GB: 0.225
Weighted average GB: 0.5126973870296851
Average IN: 4.05
Weighted average IN: 5.358315891175851
Canada giving AbCellera Biologics C$176 million for coronavirus research
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada said on Sunday it was giving privately held Canadian firm AbCellera Biologics Inc C$176 million to help it find naturally produced antibodies that could be used to battle the coronavirus outbreak. Federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said AbCellera had identified over 500 antibodies from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19. “This funding is instrumental in accelerating and expanding AbCellera’s capabilities to combat COVID-19. AbCellera and its partners expect clinical trials to begin in July 2020 or earlier,” he said in a statement. The money will also help the firm to build a Vancouver facility that can manufacture antibodies for clinical testing, he added. AbCellera said in March it was working with Eli Lilly and Co to co-develop antibody products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, a flu-like disease caused by the coronavirus.
3 May 17:28 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-abcellera-idUSKBN22F0R8Rating: 4.04
Canada giving AbCellera Biologics C$176 mln for coronavirus research
OTTAWA — Canada said on Sunday it was giving privately held Canadian firm AbCellera Biologics Inc C$176 million to help it find naturally produced antibodies that could be used to battle the coronavirus outbreak. Federal Innovation Minister Navdeep Bains said AbCellera had identified over 500 antibodies from a patient who has recovered from COVID-19. “This funding is instrumental in accelerating and expanding AbCellera’s capabilities to combat COVID-19. AbCellera and its partners expect clinical trials to begin in July 2020 or earlier,” he said in a statement. The money will also help the firm to build a Vancouver facility that can manufacture antibodies for clinical testing, he added. AbCellera said in March it was working with Eli Lilly and Co to co-develop antibody products for the treatment and prevention of COVID-19, a flu-like disease caused by the coronavirus. (Reporting by David Ljunggren; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
3 May 17:26 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/canada-giving-abcellera-biologics-c176-mln-for-coronavirus-researchRating: 0.94
Trudeau gives $175.6M to Eli Lilly partner for COVID work
AbCellera Biologics Inc. is getting $175.6 million (US$125 million) from the Canadian government to accelerate its research on COVID-19 antibodies. The Vancouver-based biotech company is in a partnership with Eli Lilly & Co. on a treatment for the disease, with a goal of starting clinical trials by July. “This new funding will help them continue their vital work,” Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said in a press conference from Ottawa Sunday. AbCellera, which says it has identified more than 500 antibodies from a patient who recovered from Covid-19, said it will use the money “to expand efforts related to the discovery of antibodies for use in drugs to treat Covid-19” and build technology for future antibody therapies. AbCellera’s research may also be used to create tests for Covid-19, and the company is working with other organizations to develop new diagnostics to monitor the disease, according to a government statement. Separately, another Canadian biotech firm, Spartan Bioscience Inc., said it is recalling a Covid-19 testing product after the National Microbiology Laboratory raised concerns about its efficacy, the Ottawa-based company said on its website. The government’s focus remains on how to resolve the crisis and it’s too early to draw conclusions about the origin of the pandemic, Trudeau said at the news conference. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said there is “enormous evidence” the coronavirus outbreak began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, without providing proof.
3 May 17:58 • BNN • https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/trudeau-gives-125-million-to-eli-lilly-partner-for-covid-work-1.1430793Rating: 1.34
Vancouver based research company receiving $175-million federal support in efforts to treat COVID-19
Summary Vancouver based AbCellera Biologics is receiving $175-million in federal support Funding the research company is an effort to treat COVID-19 OTTAWA (NEWS 1130) — The federal government is pouring millions of dollars into a Vancouver-based bio-research company, which is looking into the treatment and prevention of COVID-19. $175-million to AbCellera Biologics was announced by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during his daily update from Ottawa Sunday morning. He said the company is doing a “very promising” work around COVID-19. “They’ve identified antibodies that could be used in drugs to treat this virus. This new funding will help them continue their vital work, and will support human [trials].” Trials will begin as early as July. In addition to the federal support, the City of Vancouver is “ensuring AbCellera has the infrastructure needed as they accelerate finding a treatment for COVID-19,” Vancouver Mayor Kennedy Stewart says in a release published by AbCellera. “We couldn’t be more proud to be on the front lines of this global effort thanks to the innovation and leadership of AbCellera,” Stewart adds. During Trudeau’s Sunday briefing, he said, although while Canadians wait for effective treatments or a vaccine, “we still need a reliable supply of everything from masks to ventilators.”
3 May 18:22 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/vancouver-research-company-receiving-federal-support-covid/Rating: 0.77
Boris Johnson says doctors prepared his death announcement
3 May 17:13
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Boris Johnson says doctors prepared his death announcement
LONDON — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.” Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him “liters and liters of oxygen” but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.’ “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he told the newspaper. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” The remarks were Johnson’s most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive “could have gone either way,″ as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson’s actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain’s doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. The interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” and “the beating heart of this country” after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27.
3 May 17:13 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/boris-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-his-death-announcement-2020288/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson says death announcement was being prepared as he battled coronavirus
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said doctors were preparing a statement on his death during his hospitalization for the coronavirus. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” he told the Sun, a British tabloid, on Sunday. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place,” he said. “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” The revelation suggests Johnson’s health was more dire than Downing Street led on. The prime minister was hospitalized in early April, more than a week after he tested positive for the coronavirus. Downing Street said Johnson was admitted to the hospital as “a precautionary step” because his high fever and cough persisted. He was later moved to the intensive care unit as his condition worsened. Johnson said he received “liters and liters” of oxygen, and doctors considered putting him on a ventilator. “The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction,” he said. “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe. That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." Johnson was released from the hospital about a week after he was admitted.
3 May 17:19 • Washington Examiner • https://www.washingtonexaminer.com/news/boris-johnson-says-death-announcement-was-being-prepared-as-he-battled-coronavirusRating: 0.51
At low point, doctors prepared my death announcement: UK PM
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.’’ Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him “liters and liters of oxygen” but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.’ “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he told the newspaper. “That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” The remarks were Johnson’s most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive “could have gone either way,″ as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson’s actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain’s doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. T he interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” and “the beating heart of this country” after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27.
3 May 19:02 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/543873-At-low-point-doctors-prepared-my-death-announcement-UK-PMRating: 1.71
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson Reveals How Seriously Sick He Was With COVID-19
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,’’ he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.’’ Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him “liters and liters of oxygen’’ but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.’ “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,’’ he told the newspaper. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” The remarks were Johnson’s most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive “could have gone either way,″ as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson’s actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain’s doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. T he interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” and “the beating heart of this country” after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
3 May 13:46 • Talking Points Memo • https://talkingpointsmemo.com/news/boris-johnson-coronavirus-interviewRating: 0.30
UK PM: At low point, doctors prepared my death announcement
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it,'' he said. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario.'' Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him "liters and liters of oxygen'' but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” "But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,'' he told the newspaper. "That was when it got a bit...they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally." The remarks were Johnson's most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive "could have gone either way," as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson's actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain's doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. The interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS "unconquerable" and "the beating heart of this country" after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
3 May 13:30 • WBTV • https://www.wbtv.com/2020/05/03/uk-pm-low-point-doctors-prepared-my-death-announcement/Rating: 0.30
UK PM: At low point, doctors prepared my death announcement
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,’’ he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.’’ Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him “liters and liters of oxygen’’ but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.’ “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,’’ he told the newspaper. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” The remarks were Johnson’s most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive “could have gone either way,″ as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson’s actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain’s doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. T he interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” and “the beating heart of this country” after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27.
3 May 14:33 • WSVN 7News • https://wsvn.com/news/us-world/uk-pm-at-low-point-doctors-prepared-my-death-announcement/Rating: 0.30
UK PM says doctors prepared for his death
London: Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson said doctors treating him for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive c... London: Britain Prime Minister Boris Johnson said doctors treating him for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care. These were in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview, adding that he kept asking himself: "How am I going to get out of this?" "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. Email ArticlePrint Article Next Story
3 May 20:38 • The Hans India • https://www.thehansindia.com/news/international/uk-pm-says-doctors-prepared-for-his-death-620627Rating: 1.10
UK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19: The Sun
LONDON (Reuters) - The British government had a contingency plan for Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s death as he battled COVID-19 in intensive care last month, he said in an interview with The Sun newspaper. Johnson, 55, returned to work on Monday, a month after testing positive for COVID-19. He spent 10 days in isolation in Downing Street before he was taken to London’s St Thomas’ Hospital where he spent three nights in intensive care. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario,” Johnson was quoted as saying in Sunday’s edition of The Sun. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it.” Johnson said that during the period when he was self-isolating in Downing Street, he had resisted going to hospital. “I was in denial because I was working and I kept doing these meetings by video-link,” he said. “But I was really feeling pretty groggy ... I was feeling pretty wasted, not in an intoxicated way, but just, you know, pretty rough.” “Then I was told I had to go into St Thomas’. I said I really didn’t want to go into hospital. It didn’t seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go.” Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. “I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time,” he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. At one point, doctors discussed invasive ventilation. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he said. “That was when it got a bit . . . they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” “The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong ... The bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction.” After Johnson was discharged, St Thomas’ said it was glad to have cared for the prime minister, but the hospital has given no details about the gravity of his illness beyond stating that he was treated in intensive care. Johnson and his fiancée, Carrie Symonds, on Saturday announced they had named their newborn son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas, partly as a tribute to two intensive care doctors called Nicholas who they said had saved Johnson’s life.
3 May 12:44 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-johnson-il-idUSKBN22E0UBRating: 4.04
UK PM Johnson: 'Strategy' drawn up to announce my death
The British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says his health deteriorated so badly after contracting coronavirus that a strategy was drawn up in case he died. In an interview with The Sun On Sunday in the UK, he revealed he was given "litres and litres of oxygen" after going into intensive care with COVID-19 on April 7th. Mr Johnson said: "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. "They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie." The interview comes after his partner, Carrie Symonds, shared a picture of their new son, who they have named Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson - with the name Nicholas chosen in a nod to the two doctors who saved Mr Johnson's life. He also spoke about how he was "in denial" about how serious it was when he was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of March. "I said I really didn't want to go into hospital," he explained. "It didn't seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go." Recalling what it was like when things got more serious after he was moved to intensive care, Mr Johnson said: "I was just incredibly frustrated. "Because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, 'There's no medicine for this thing and there's no cure.' "That was the stage when I was thinking, 'How am I going to get out of this?'" Mr Johnson returned to work on Monday.
3 May 13:17 • Newstalk • https://www.newstalk.com/news/uk-pm-johnson-strategy-drawn-announce-death-1009728Rating: 0.30
UK PM Boris Johnson says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
LONDON: Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday (May 3), in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on Mar 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on Apr 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on Apr 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit ... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. "PRETTY GROGGY" Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care - doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 - just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 10:45 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/uk-pm-boris-johnson-dovid-19-doctors-plan-in-case-he-died-12697526Rating: 3.25
Boris Johnson describes 'tough old moment' in coronavirus intensive care
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. LIVE | All the latest coronavirus and lockdown updates "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted Covid-19 on 27 March but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on 5 April for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on 12 April that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". 'In denial' But although he told the newspaper he did think: "How am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancée Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care - doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28 131 - just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" toward easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. Stay healthy and entertained during the national lockdown. Sign up for our Lockdown Living newsletter. Register and manage your newsletters in the new News24 app by clicking on the Profile tab
3 May 10:30 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/World/News/boris-johnson-describes-tough-old-moment-in-coronavirus-intensive-care-20200503Rating: 2.83
Boris Johnson says doctors were preparing to announce his death
U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his condition deteriorated so rapidly from the coronavirus that his doctors were preparing how to explain his death, according to an interview with the Sun on Sunday. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” Johnson said. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.” Johnson spent three days in the critical unit at St Thomas’s Hospital in London and was given oxygen treatment to help him breathe. He said later it could have gone either way and thanked the medicals pros for saving his life. “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it,” he said to the Sun. “They really did it and they made a huge difference.” In a series of tweets on Sunday, Johnson reiterated the five tests that must be met before lifting Britain’s lockdown. The government has come under increasing pressure to set out how it will relax the restrictions as the economy craters. The conditions are: Maintaining capacity in the National Health Service • A sustained and consistent fall in deaths• The infection rate falling to manageable levels• Adequate supplies of testing and protective equipment• No risk of a second spike that would overwhelm the NHS
3 May 08:46 • BNN • https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/u-k-s-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-sun-1.1430706Rating: 1.34
Boris Johnson Says Doctors Prepared to Announce His Death
Sign up here for our daily coronavirus newsletter on what you need to know, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson said his condition deteriorated so rapidly from the coronavirus that his doctors were preparing how to explain his death, according to an interview with the Sun on Sunday. “The bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” the premier said. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.” Johnson spent three days in the critical unit at St Thomas’s Hospital in London and was given oxygen treatment to help him breathe. He said later it could have gone either way and thanked the medicals pros for saving his life. “It was thanks to some wonderful, wonderful nursing that I made it,” he said to the Sun. “They really did it and they made a huge difference.” Boris Johnson Pledges Lockdown Exit Plan With U.K. Past Peak (2) In a series of tweets on Sunday, Johnson reiterated the five tests that must be met before lifting Britain’s lockdown. The government has come under increasing pressure to set out how it will relax the restrictions as the economy craters. The conditions are:
3 May 08:20 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/u-k-s-johnson-says-doctors-prepared-to-announce-his-death-sunRating: 4.04
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson says doctors had plan in case he died of Covid-19
LONDON: Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted Covid-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
3 May 05:44 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/uk-prime-minister-boris-johnson-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/articleshow/75514883.cmsRating: 0.30
Johnson: Arrangements were being made in case I died - Europe
British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said an interview with The Sun On Sunday that his health deteriorated so badly after contracting coronavirus that a strategy was drawn up in case he died. Johnson also said in the interview that he was given "liters and liters of oxygen" after going into intensive care with COVID-19 last month. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it. They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario,” he told the newspaper. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong,” he continued. "They gave me a face mask so I got liters and liters of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie," recalled Johnson. He spoke openly about how he was "in denial" about how serious it was when he was diagnosed with COVID-19 at the end of March. "I said I really didn't want to go into hospital. It didn't seem to me to be a good move but they were pretty adamant. Looking back, they were right to force me to go," said Johnson. Recalling what it was like when things got more serious after he was moved to intensive care, Johnson said, "I was just incredibly frustrated. Because the bloody indicators kept going in the wrong direction and I thought, 'There's no medicine for this thing and there's no cure.'” "That was the stage when I was thinking, 'How am I going to get out of this?'" Johnson, who was discharged from the hospital a week after being admitted, returned to work last week. On Saturday, Johnson and his fiancée Carrie Symonds announced that they had named their new son Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson. In an Instagram post, Symonds wrote that the names were in honor of their grandfathers and the doctors who saved Johnson's life when he fell ill with coronavirus. Lawrie was Symonds' grandfather, and Wilfred was Boris' paternal grandfather, she wrote. She added that Nicholas is after two doctors, Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart, who worked to save the Prime Minister's life.
3 May 04:38 • Israel National News • http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279556Rating: 0.83
UK’s PM, Johnson, says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
Kindly Share This Story: Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving “oxygen support”, and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus “could have gone either way”. But although he told the newspaper he did think “how am I going to get out of this?”, he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given “litres and litres” of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. “That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally,” he told the weekly tabloid. Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds’ baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care — doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy’s name that Hart and Price “saved Boris’ life last month”. The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called “an extraordinary thing”. He said he had been “in denial” about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling “pretty groggy”. He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. “Looking back, they were right to force me to go,” he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 — just behind Europe’s worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a “roadmap” towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. [AFP] Vanguard News Nigeria. Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 04:30 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/uks-pm-johnson-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/Rating: 2.43
Tough old moment: UK PM Boris Johnson says doctors had plan in case he died of coronavirus
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. 'Pretty groggy' Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
3 May 02:20 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/world/story/uk-pm-boris-johnson-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-coronavirus-1673809-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
UK PM says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving “oxygen support”, and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus “could have gone either way”. But although he told the newspaper he did think “how am I going to get out of this?”, he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given “litres and litres” of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. “That was when it got a bit… they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally,” he told the weekly tabloid. – ‘Pretty groggy’ – Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service for their care. He and Symonds’ baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care — doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy’s name that Hart and Price “saved Boris’ life last month”. The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called “an extraordinary thing”. He said he had been “in denial” about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling “pretty groggy”. He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. “Looking back, they were right to force me to go,” he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 — just behind Europe’s worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a “roadmap” towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. (AFP)
3 May 01:30 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/Rating: 0.30
UK PM says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. - 'Pretty groggy' - Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
3 May 00:10 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/article/571109Rating: 0.78
UK PM says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week. phz/spm https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 00:08 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/sfbet51Rating: 0.51
Boris Johnson first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation
1 / 2Boris Johnson first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation (AFP Photo/Andrew PARSONS) London (AFP) - Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. - 'Pretty groggy' - Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
3 May 00:02 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-case-died-000219608.htmlRating: 0.30
UK PM says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
LONDON – Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. "It was a tough old moment, I won't deny it," he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. "They had a strategy to deal with a 'death of Stalin'-type scenario. "I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong." Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on 27 March but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on 5 April for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving "oxygen support", and admitted after his discharge on 12 April that his fight with the virus "could have gone either way". But although he told the newspaper he did think "how am I going to get out of this?", he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given "litres and litres" of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. "That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally," he told the weekly tabloid. 'PRETTY GROGGY' Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds' baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy's name that Hart and Price "saved Boris' life last month". The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called "an extraordinary thing". He said he had been "in denial" about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling "pretty groggy". He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. "Looking back, they were right to force me to go," he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe's worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a "roadmap" towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
3 May 00:00 • ewn.co.za • https://ewn.co.za/2020/05/03/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19Rating: 1.68
At low point, doctors prepared my death announcement – Boris Johnson
LONDON (AP) — Prime Minister Boris Johnson has offered more insight into his hospitalization for coronavirus, telling a British newspaper that he knew doctors were preparing for the worst. The 55-year-old Johnson, who spent three nights in intensive care during his week of treatment in a London hospital after falling ill with COVID-19, told The Sun newspaper he was aware that doctors were discussing his fate. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he said. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario.’’ Johnson couldn’t believe how quickly his health had deteriorated and had difficulty understanding why he wasn’t getting better. Medical workers gave him “liters and liters of oxygen” but he said the “indicators kept going in the wrong direction.’ “But the bad moment came when it was 50-50 whether they were going to have to put a tube down my windpipe,” he told the newspaper. “That was when it got a bit … they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally.” The remarks were Johnson’s most candid yet on his brush with death, though he acknowledged when he left the hospital that his fight to survive “could have gone either way,″ as he paid tribute to the two nurses who never left his bedside for 48 hours. Jenny McGee from New Zealand and Luis Pitarma from Portugal, he said, embodied the caring and sacrifice of National Health Service staff on the front lines of the pandemic, which has already killed 28,131 people in Britain. Johnson’s close call is reflected in the name that he and fiancée Carrie Symonds gave to their newborn son. Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson was named after Johnson and Symonds’ grandfathers and after Dr. Nick Price and Dr. Nick Hart — the two doctors who saved the prime minister’s life. Johnson’s actions since leaving the hospital suggest the NHS has a powerful new advocate as it seeks to reverse a decade of austerity that has left Britain’s doctors and nurses struggling to treat the flood of coronavirus patients with inadequate supplies of protective gear. Dozens of NHS workers have died in the outbreak. T he interview follows an emotional video made by Johnson after being released from the hospital on April 12. Johnson called the NHS “unconquerable” and “the beating heart of this country” after seeing its response to the outbreak first-hand. He also lauded the courage of everyone from doctors to cooks. The prime minister returned to work on April 27. ___
3 May 00:00 • The Zimbabwe Mail • https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/world-news/at-low-point-doctors-prepared-my-death-announcement-boris-johnson/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson says doctors had plan in case he died of Covid-19
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British prime minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted Covid-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving “oxygen support”, and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus “could have gone either way”. But although he told the newspaper he did think “how am I going to get out of this?”, he did not think at any point he was going to die. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given “litres and litres” of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. “That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally,” he told the weekly tabloid. - ‘Pretty groggy’ - Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds’ baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care -- doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy’s name that Hart and Price “saved Boris’ life last month”. The Sun on Sunday said Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called “an extraordinary thing”. He said he had been “in denial” about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling “pretty groggy”. He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. “Looking back, they were right to force me to go,” he said. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 -- just behind Europe’s worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a “roadmap” towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
2 May 23:49 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/boris-johnson-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/story-4prwE7yZ5o9S2IoCGDUcNP.htmlRating: 0.30
U.K. PM says doctors had plan in case he died of COVID-19
Doctors treating Boris Johnson for COVID-19 prepared to announce his death after he was taken to intensive care, the British Prime Minister said on Sunday, in his first detailed comments about his illness. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” he was quoted as saying by the Sun on Sunday newspaper in an interview. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. “I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong.” Mr. Johnson, 55, first announced he had contracted COVID-19 on March 27 but maintained he had only mild symptoms. Yet he failed to shake the illness after a week of self-isolation. He was taken to hospital as a precaution on April 5 for further tests but within 24 hours was moved to intensive care. The Conservative party leader spent three days receiving “oxygen support”, and admitted after his discharge on April 12 that his fight with the virus “could have gone either way”. But although he told the newspaper he did think “how am I going to get out of this?”, he did not think at any point he was going to die. Mr. Johnson, who returned to work last Monday and became a father again when his fiancee Carrie Symonds gave birth on Wednesday, said he was given “litres and litres” of oxygen in hospital. He said he felt frustrated he was not getting better but the reality hit home when doctors were deliberating whether to intubate him and put him on a ventilator. “That was when it got a bit... they were starting to think about how to handle it presentationally,” he told the weekly tabloid. Mr. Johnson has repeatedly paid tribute to staff of the state-run National Health Service (NHS) for their care. He and Symonds’ baby boy, Wilfred Lawrie Nicholas Johnson, is named in part after two of the doctors who led his care — doctors Nick Price and Nick Hart. Both are experts in infectious diseases and ventilation. Ms. Symonds, 32, said in an Instagram post earlier to announce the boy’s name that Hart and Price “saved Boris’ life last month”. The Sun on Sunday said Mr. Johnson was emotional when recalling his treatment and recovery, which he called “an extraordinary thing”. He said he had been “in denial” about the seriousness of his condition at first, as he tried to continue to work despite feeling “pretty groggy”. He also said he did not want to go to hospital at first but doctors were adamant because of his low oxygen levels. “Looking back, they were right to force me to go,” he said. Mr. Johnson said the experience had made him more determined to fight the disease and get the country back to normal. His comments came as the government announced 621 more deaths in the outbreak, taking the overall cumulative toll to 28,131 — just behind Europe’s worst-hit country, Italy. He said he would announce a “roadmap” towards easing the lockdown restrictions imposed in late March later this week.
2 May 22:38 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/uk-pm-says-doctors-had-plan-in-case-he-died-of-covid-19/article31493115.eceRating: 0.30
Cycling: Froome fears Tour de France may struggle to keep fans away
3 May 23:17
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15 articles
Weight: 3.14
Importance: 3.14
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 22:55
Average US: 23.019333333333336
Weighted average US: 16.88952661303704
Average GB: 7.278000000000001
Weighted average GB: 3.7450358836966053
Average IN: 3.0613333333333332
Weighted average IN: 4.845824174868599
Cycling: Froome fears Tour de France may struggle to keep fans away
LONDON: Chris Froome fears Tour de France organisers could struggle to prevent fans gathering to watch the race even if it is not open to the public because of the coronavirus. The Tour de France has been rescheduled for Aug 29 from its original Jun 27 start date, but there are still concerns about how to organise the event amid the pandemic. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but has clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. However, Team Ineos rider Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, believes it will be hard to control whether crowds turn up. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," Froome told former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live chat. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." Froome, 34, missed last year's Tour de France after suffering serious injuries in a crash. He has been hitting the gym every day during lockdown to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer - big days," he said. "Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "A lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period."
3 May 23:17 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/cycling-froome-tour-de-france-fans-12698340Rating: 3.25
Froome fears Tour de France may struggle to keep fans away
Chris Froome fears Tour de France organisers could struggle to prevent fans gathering to watch the race even if it is not open to the public because of the coronavirus. The Tour de France has been rescheduled for 29 August from its original 27 June start date, but there are still concerns about how to organise the event amid the pandemic. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but has clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. However, Team Ineos rider Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, believes it will be hard to control whether crowds turn up. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," Froome told former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live chat. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." Froome, 34, missed last year's Tour de France after suffering serious injuries in a crash. He has been hitting the gym every day during lockdown to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer - big days," he said. "Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "A lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period."
3 May 16:42 • Sport • https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Cycling/froome-fears-tour-de-france-may-struggle-to-keep-fans-away-20200503Rating: 0.63
Froome fears Tour de France may struggle to keep fans away
LONDON Chris Froome fears Tour de France organisers could struggle to prevent fans gathering to watch the race even if it is not open to the public because of the coronavirus. The Tour de France has been rescheduled for August 29 from its original June 27 start date, but there are still concerns about how to organise the event amid the pandemic. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but has clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. However, Team Ineos rider Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, believes it will be hard to control whether crowds turn up. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," Froome told former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live chat. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." Froome, 34, missed last year's Tour de France after suffering serious injuries in a crash. He has been hitting the gym every day during lockdown to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer - big days," he said. "Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "A lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period."
3 May 16:16 • Daily Nation • https://www.nation.co.ke/sports/othersports/Froome-fears-Tour-de-France-may-struggle-to-keep-fans-away/1951306-5541688-exljr0z/index.htmlRating: 1.96
Tour de France: Chris Froome doubts spectators will stay away
Chris Froome believes the Tour de France can work without spectators but has questioned how organisers can prevent large crowds converging along the route. Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing Covid-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," the Team Ineos rider said. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." The 34-year-old missed last year's race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash and made his first racing comeback at the UAE Tour in February after eight months away. The British rider has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer - big days," he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. "It gets pretty boring at times. I've been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. "But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can. Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "I mean, a lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period and I think mentally I'm obviously able to get through it a bit easier."
3 May 15:55 • Sky Sports • https://www.skysports.com/more-sports/cycling/news/15264/11982569/tour-de-france-chris-froome-doubts-spectators-will-stay-awayRating: 2.48
Froome unsure if Tour can keep crowds away
English cyclist Chris Froome believes the Tour de France can work without spectators – but questioned how organisers can prevent large crowds converging along the course. Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing COVID-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," the Team Ineos rider said. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." The 34-year-old missed last year's race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash. And Froome has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days," he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. "It gets pretty boring at times. I've been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. "But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can." PA
3 May 22:55 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/sport/cycling/froome-unsure-if-tour-can-keep-crowds-away-20200504-p54pi1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Froome unsure if Tour can keep crowds away
English cyclist Chris Froome believes the Tour de France can work without spectators – but questioned how organisers can prevent large crowds converging along the course. Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing COVID-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," the Team Ineos rider said. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." The 34-year-old missed last year's race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash. And Froome has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days," he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. "It gets pretty boring at times. I've been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. "But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can." PA
3 May 22:55 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/cycling/froome-unsure-if-tour-can-keep-crowds-away-20200504-p54pi1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Froome unsure if Tour can keep crowds away
English cyclist Chris Froome believes the Tour de France can work without spectators – but questioned how organisers can prevent large crowds converging along the course. Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing COVID-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," the Team Ineos rider said. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." The 34-year-old missed last year's race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash. And Froome has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days," he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. "It gets pretty boring at times. I've been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. "But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can."
3 May 22:55 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/cycling/froome-unsure-if-tour-can-keep-crowds-away-20200504-p54pi1.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Chris Froome doubts fans would stay away from Tour de France
Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing Covid-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," the Team Ineos rider said. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." The 34-year-old missed last year's race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash. And Froome has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days," he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. "It gets pretty boring at times. I've been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. "But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can. "Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "I mean, a lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period and I think mentally I'm obviously able to get through it a bit easier." ID:398312:
3 May 16:13 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/cycling/tour-de-france/news/chris-froome-doubts-fans-would-stay-away-from-tour-de-france_398312.htmlRating: 0.38
Froome fears Tour de France may struggle to keep fans away
LONDON: Chris Froome fears Tour de France organisers could struggle to prevent fans gathering to watch the race even if it is not open to the public because of the coronavirus. The Tour de France has been rescheduled for August 29 from its original June 27 start date, but there are still concerns about how to organise the event amid the pandemic. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but has clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. However, Team Ineos rider Froome, a four-time Tour de France winner, believes it will be hard to control whether crowds turn up. Explore Briefs "For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense," Froome told former England cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live chat. "I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. "You're not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. "Maybe that's the version of race we need to see this year. I don't know. "In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that's the bigger question." Froome, 34, missed last year's Tour de France after suffering serious injuries in a crash. He has been hitting the gym every day during lockdown to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. "Some days I'm even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer - big days," he said. "Obviously I'm coming off the back of a big injury now as well. "A lot of the training I've been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it's almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period."
3 May 14:42 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/more-sports/cycling/froome-fears-tour-de-france-may-struggle-to-keep-fans-away/articleshow/75520797.cmsRating: 0.30
Chris Froome unsure if Tour de France could keep crowds away
The race is due to start on August 29 but the French government has banned mass gatherings until September 1. Chris Froome believes the Tour de France can work without spectators – but questioned how organisers can prevent large crowds converging along the course. Initially due to start on June 27, the coronavirus pandemic has seen the Tour pushed back until August 29 and doubts remain given the differing Covid-19 situations across the world. The French government says no mass gatherings can take place before September, but have clarified the Tour could still go ahead on its new dates if the opening stages are managed correctly. That is one of the main things four-time champion Froome believes will be hard to manage as he continues to prepare for a tilt at another victory. “For sure we can put the race on without people standing on the roads and fans in that sense,” the Team Ineos rider said. “I mean, we can put on the race and it can be broadcast on television. “You’re not going to get the same scenes as you would get going through these tunnels of just people everywhere and all the rest of it. “Maybe that’s the version of race we need to see this year. I don’t know. “In theory, we can put the race on but I think the bigger question is would the organisers be able to keep people from actually coming out and gathering in large crowds? I think that’s the bigger question.” The 34-year-old missed last year’s race after suffering career-threatening injuries in a crash. And Froome has been hitting the gym first thing every day to try and replicate what he would be doing this time of the year in preparation for the Tour. “Some days I’m even doing up to six hours sitting on the stationary trainer – big days,” he told former cricketer Kevin Pietersen on an Instagram Live. “It gets pretty boring at times. I’ve been through every playlist I own about 10 times each. “But, yeah, just getting through it and doing the best I can. “Obviously I’m coming off the back of a big injury now as well. “I mean, a lot of the training I’ve been doing up until this point has been indoors already, so it’s almost prepared me in a way for this whole lockdown period and I think mentally I’m obviously able to get through it a bit easier.”
3 May 14:07 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/chris-froome-unsure-if-tour-de-france-could-keep-crowds-away/Rating: 0.30
Cycling: European championships postponed by a year - UEC
PARIS (Reuters) - The road cycling European championships scheduled for September in the Italian province of Trentino have been postponed by a year amid the COVID-19 crisis, the Union Europeenne de Cyclisme (UEC) said on Saturday. “Due to the difficult situation affecting the whole world... the European Road Championships in Trentino (Italy) from 9 to 13 September will be postponed to 2021 and will be held in the same city,” the UEC wrote in a statement. With elite racing suspended until Aug. 1, the sport’s flagship race, the Tour de France, was moved to Aug. 29-Sept 20. The UEC, however, said it would “look at the various alternatives for the 2020 European Road Championships and UEC calendar events this season so that all titles in each category can be awarded in all disciplines”.
2 May 11:15 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-cycling-idUSKBN22E0F9Rating: 4.04
European Road Cycling Championships postponed until 2021
The European Road Cycling Championships, which were due to take place in the Italian province of Trentino, have been postponed until next year. The UCI has pushed back the event, which was set to be held in September because of the coronavirus pandemic and have confirmed that Italy will retain staging rights for the rescheduled race in 2021. "Due to the difficult situation affecting the whole world, the Union Europeenne de Cyclisme must announce that the European Road Championships in Trentino (Italy) from 9 to 13 September will be postponed to 2021 and will be held in the same city," the European Cycling Union (UEC) announced in a statement. "The dates between the options requested (1-5 September 2021 or 8-12 September 2021) will be announced in the next few months by the Union Cycliste Internationale when it publishes the 2021 calendar." They added that they'll "look at the various alternatives for the 2020 European Road Championships and UEC calendar events this season so that all titles in each category can be awarded in all disciplines". Vuelta a Espana organisers have already decided to cancel their planned start in the Netherlands and have reduced the Grand Tour event to just 18 stages. The Tour de France has been pushed back until the 29th of August while the Giro d'Italia has also been pushed back to later in the season.
2 May 17:53 • Newstalk • https://www.newstalk.com/sport/european-road-cycling-championships-postponed-2021-1009585Rating: 0.30
The Latest: Cycling's European Road Championships postponed
The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ Cycling’s European Road Championships have been postponed until next year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The championships were scheduled to take place Sept. 9-13 in Trentino, Italy, but the European Cycling Union says the “uncertainty of the current health crisis” means there are not enough guarantees “for organizing an event of such magnitude.” The championship will move to either Sept. 1-5 or 8-12 in 2021. The International Cycling Union is expected to announce which dates when it publishes next year’s calendar in the coming months. ___ Cologne’s players are continuing to train despite the three positive tests for coronavirus at the club that have unsettled the German soccer league’s restart plans. Cologne said Friday that three people had tested positive but didn’t name them or say whether they were players, who are currently training in small groups. “The experts evaluate it as such that, due to the hygiene and infection prevention measures in group training, we can continue to train with those who tested negatively as we had been,” team doctor Paul Klein said on the club website Saturday. Klein added no-one at the club was considered “category one” in respect of the three individuals who gave samples Thursday. That is typically someone who either lives with an infected person or had close contact with them. ___ Formula One hopes to finally start the season with a double-header in the naturally isolated environment around the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite the first 10 races having been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the targeted start date is July 5 in Austria. F1 still envisages holding 15 to 18 of the 22 scheduled Grands Prix. One way to make up for lost time is having consecutive weekends on one circuit, like the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. F1 manager director of motorsports Ross Brawn says this is a “real consideration” so long as iron-tight safety regulations are met. “One of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the racing environment,” he told an official F1 podcast. “We can contain everyone within that environment, and therefore once we are there it is appealing to have another race the following week.” The Red Bull Ring’s location in the Styrian mountains makes it naturally isolated. ___ The 20 English Premier League clubs all want to complete the season but there are also a lot of obstacles to overcome, West Ham vice chair Karren Brady said on Saturday. The clubs were presented with the league’s “Project Restart” plans at a meeting on Friday and were told that the remaining 92 matches of a 2019-20 season halted by the coronavirus pandemic must be played behind closed doors at eight to 10 neutral stadiums, which could prove a major sticking point. “At yesterday’s meeting every club said it wants the season to restart,” Brady told the Sun newspaper. “We all know it is going to take a lot of working together, good faith, careful thought and compromises if we have any chance of that happening. “The only common theme from all the clubs is that any compromises have to be fair and uphold the integrity of the game. Players and managers have to be key decision-makers on the protocols as there is a long way to go from where we are now to actually getting playing again. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome and no doubt many compromises to make.” "Project Restart" has June 8 as the potential earliest date for matches. ___ The Australian government has given the New Zealand Warriors permission to travel to Australia and train during a 14-day isolation period due to the coronavirus pandemic, improving the National Rugby League’s chances of resuming the season on May 28. Two rounds were played before the season was suspended on March 23 due to the pandemic. Australian media reported Saturday that the NRL plans a 20-round season in a revised schedule with the grand final championship to be played on Oct. 25. The match venues have not been determined, although they are all expected to be played in New South Wales state. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
2 May 17:16 • THE OKLAHOMAN • https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/10046460/the-latest-f1-plans-to-restart-with-austrian-double-headerRating: 0.30
The Latest: Cycling's European Road Championships postponed
The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: Cycling’s European Road Championships have been postponed until next year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The championships were scheduled to take place Sept. 9-13 in Trentino, Italy, but the European Cycling Union says the “uncertainty of the current health crisis” means there are not enough guarantees “for organizing an event of such magnitude.” The championship will move to either Sept. 1-5 or 8-12 in 2021. The International Cycling Union is expected to announce which dates when it publishes next year’s calendar in the coming months. Cologne’s players are continuing to train despite the three positive tests for coronavirus at the club that have unsettled the German soccer league’s restart plans. Cologne said Friday that three people had tested positive but didn’t name them or say whether they were players, who are currently training in small groups.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/the-latest-f1-plans-to-restart-with-austrian-doubl/Rating: 0.79
The Latest: Cycling’s European Road Championships postponed
The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ Cycling’s European Road Championships have been postponed until next year amid the coronavirus pandemic. The championships were scheduled to take place Sept. 9-13 in Trentino, Italy, but the European Cycling Union says the “uncertainty of the current health crisis” means there are not enough guarantees “for organizing an event of such magnitude.” The championship will move to either Sept. 1-5 or 8-12 in 2021. The International Cycling Union is expected to announce which dates when it publishes next year’s calendar in the coming months. ___ Cologne’s players are continuing to train despite the three positive tests for coronavirus at the club that have unsettled the German soccer league’s restart plans. Advertising Cologne said Friday that three people had tested positive but didn’t name them or say whether they were players, who are currently training in small groups. “The experts evaluate it as such that, due to the hygiene and infection prevention measures in group training, we can continue to train with those who tested negatively as we had been,” team doctor Paul Klein said on the club website Saturday. Klein added no-one at the club was considered “category one” in respect of the three individuals who gave samples Thursday. That is typically someone who either lives with an infected person or had close contact with them. ___ Formula One hopes to finally start the season with a double-header in the naturally isolated environment around the venue for the Austrian Grand Prix. Despite the first 10 races having been canceled or postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic, the targeted start date is July 5 in Austria. F1 still envisages holding 15 to 18 of the 22 scheduled Grands Prix. One way to make up for lost time is having consecutive weekends on one circuit, like the Red Bull Ring in Spielberg. F1 manager director of motorsports Ross Brawn says this is a “real consideration” so long as iron-tight safety regulations are met. Advertising “One of the logistical challenges is getting everyone tested and cleared to enter the racing environment,” he told an official F1 podcast. “We can contain everyone within that environment, and therefore once we are there it is appealing to have another race the following week.” The Red Bull Ring’s location in the Styrian mountains makes it naturally isolated. ___ The 20 English Premier League clubs all want to complete the season but there are also a lot of obstacles to overcome, West Ham vice chair Karren Brady said on Saturday. The clubs were presented with the league’s “Project Restart” plans at a meeting on Friday and were told that the remaining 92 matches of a 2019-20 season halted by the coronavirus pandemic must be played behind closed doors at eight to 10 neutral stadiums, which could prove a major sticking point. “At yesterday’s meeting every club said it wants the season to restart,” Brady told the Sun newspaper. “We all know it is going to take a lot of working together, good faith, careful thought and compromises if we have any chance of that happening. “The only common theme from all the clubs is that any compromises have to be fair and uphold the integrity of the game. Players and managers have to be key decision-makers on the protocols as there is a long way to go from where we are now to actually getting playing again. There are a lot of obstacles to overcome and no doubt many compromises to make.” “Project Restart” has June 8 as the potential earliest date for matches. ___ The Australian government has given the New Zealand Warriors permission to travel to Australia and train during a 14-day isolation period due to the coronavirus pandemic, improving the National Rugby League’s chances of resuming the season on May 28. Two rounds were played before the season was suspended on March 23 due to the pandemic. Australian media reported Saturday that the NRL plans a 20-round season in a revised schedule with the grand final championship to be played on Oct. 25. The match venues have not been determined, although they are all expected to be played in New South Wales state. ___ More AP sports: https://apnews.com/apf-sports and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports The Associated Press
2 May 05:42 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/auto-racing/the-latest-f1-plans-to-restart-with-austrian-double-header/Rating: 0.74
Sunny days draw crowds to beaches, parks as US reopens from lockdowns
3 May 23:41
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Weight: 3.09
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Average US: 16.356250000000003
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Sunny days draw crowds to beaches, parks as US reopens from lockdowns
WASHINGTON, May 4 — Sunny days and warm weather are proving to be as challenging to manage as restaurants, hair salons and other businesses as about half of US states partially reopen their economies after the coronavirus lockdown. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to view a US Navy flyover to honour healthcare workers and others battling the pandemic. In New York City, the warmest weather yet this spring caused picnickers and sunbathers to flock to green spaces in Manhattan, including crowded conditions at Christopher Street Pier in Greenwich Village, according to photos on social media. Last week, California ordered beaches in Orange County to close, after crowds defied public health guidelines to throng the popular shoreline. That prompted protests by demonstrators who accused the state's Democratic governor of overreach. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said there are “some real issues” near the pier and police would increase patrols. Dr Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, said on Fox News Sunday that massing on beaches was not safe unless people kept at least 6 feet apart. She also weighed in against allowing such businesses as beauty salons and spas to reopen in the first phase. “We've made it clear that that is not a good phase one activity,” she said, as the number of US cases topped 1.1 million and the death toll rose to more than 67,000 yesterday. Protesters gathering, as they did last week in Michigan and other parts of the country to demonstrate against stay-at-home restrictions, poses a huge risk, she said. “It's devastatingly worrisome to me personally if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or a very — or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” Birx said. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said yesterday the country was seeing a “mixed bag” of results from coronavirus mitigation efforts. He said there were about 20 states that are seeing a rising number of new cases including Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Virginia reported a record number of deaths yesterday, up 44 for a total of 660. “We expected that we would start seeing more significant declines in new cases and deaths around the nation at this point. And we're just not seeing that,” he said on CBS' Face the Nation. “If we don't snuff this out more and you have this slow burn of infection, it can ignite at any time.” Even in the face of rising cases, some Americans are eager to return to socialising and large gatherings — including sports. The National Football League said it will announce its schedule for the upcoming season this week including its season opening game on September 10 and the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be played in Tampa, Florida on February 7. “We are planning on playing the 2020 NFL season as scheduled,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email, noting they will adjust to government regulations. On the other side of the spectrum is Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in Massachusetts, which has not begun reopening and is seeing coronavirus cases still climbing. Massachusetts also has issued a statewide order telling people to wear masks in public. He said the rallies against coronavirus mitigation efforts were causing confusion and making his job harder. “I don't understand it. That makes messaging really confusing. ... It's the wrong message, because we're still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus. Even if you're a state that is seeing numbers go down,” Walsh said. “If we're not smart about the way we do things, those numbers could turn around and go right back up again.” As Texas becomes one of the leading states pushing for its businesses to reopen, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said people appear to be obeying the new rules. “People have not been rushing back into these restaurants and they have not been rushing back into the areas of the economy that the governor reopened on Friday,” he told CNN. “What we are seeing is people sort of putting their toe back in.” — Reuters
3 May 23:41 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/04/sunny-days-draw-crowds-to-beaches-parks-as-us-reopens-from-lockdowns/1862735Rating: 1.42
Sunny days draw crowds to beaches, parks as US reopens from lockdowns
Sunny days and warm weather are proving to be as challenging to manage as restaurants, hair salons and other businesses as about half of US states partially reopen their economies after the coronavirus lockdown. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to view a US Navy flyover to honour healthcare workers and others battling the pandemic. In New York City, the warmest weather yet this spring caused picnickers and sunbathers to flock to green spaces in Manhattan, including crowded conditions at Christopher Street Pier in Greenwich Village, according to photos on social media. Last week, California ordered beaches in Orange County to close, after crowds defied public health guidelines to throng the popular shoreline. That prompted protests by demonstrators who accused the state's Democratic governor of overreach. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio has there "some real issues" near the pier and police would increase patrols. Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, said on "Fox News Sunday" that massing on beaches was not safe unless people kept at least 6 feet apart. She also weighed in against allowing such businesses as beauty salons and spas to reopen in the first phase. "We've made it clear that that is not a good phase one activity," she said, as the number of US cases topped 1.1 million and the death toll rose to more than 67,000 on Sunday. Protesters gathering, as they did last week in Michigan and other parts of the country to demonstrate against stay-at-home restrictions, poses a huge risk, she said. "If they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or a very -- or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives," Birx said. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on Sunday the country was seeing a "mixed bag" of results from coronavirus mitigation efforts. He said there were about 20 states that are seeing a rising number of new cases including Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. "We expected that we would start seeing more significant declines in new cases and deaths around the nation at this point. And we're just not seeing that," he said on CBS' "Face the Nation." "If we don't snuff this out more and you have this slow burn of infection, it can ignite at any time." Even in the face of rising cases, some Americans are eager to return to socialising and large gatherings -- including sports. The National Football League said it will announce its schedule for the upcoming season this week including its season opening game on Sept. 10 and the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be played in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 7. "We are planning on playing the 2020 NFL season as scheduled," NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email, noting they will adjust to government regulations. On the other side of the spectrum is Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in Massachusetts, which has not begun reopening and is seeing coronavirus cases still climbing. Massachusetts also has issued a statewide order telling people to wear masks in public. He said the rallies against coronavirus mitigation efforts were causing confusion and making his job harder. "I don't understand it. That makes messaging really confusing. ... It's the wrong message, because we're still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus. Even if you're a state that is seeing numbers go down," Walsh said. "If we're not smart about the way we do things, those numbers could turn around and go right back up again." As Texas becomes one of the leading states pushing for its businesses to reopen, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said people appear to be obeying the new rules. "People have not been rushing back into these restaurants and they have not been rushing back into the areas of the economy that the governor reopened on Friday," he told CNN. "What we are seeing is people sort of putting their toe back in."
3 May 22:08 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/04/sunny-days-draw-crowds-to-beaches-parks-as-us-reopens-from-lockdownsRating: 2.85
Sunny days draw crowds to beaches, parks as U.S. reopens from lockdowns
Sunny days and warm weather are proving to be as challenging to manage as restaurants, hair salons and other businesses as about half of U.S. states partially reopen their economies after the COVID-19 lockdown. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to view a U.S. Navy flyover to honour healthcare workers and others battling the pandemic. In New York City, the warmest weather yet this spring caused picnickers and sunbathers to flock to green spaces in Manhattan, including crowded conditions at Christopher Street Pier in Greenwich Village, according to photos on social media. Last week, California ordered beaches in Orange County to close, after crowds defied public health guidelines to throng the popular shoreline. That prompted protests by demonstrators who accused the state's Democratic governor of overreach. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said there are “some real issues” near the pier and police would increase patrols. Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, said on “Fox News Sunday” that massing on beaches was not safe unless people kept at least 6 feet apart. She also weighed in against allowing such businesses as beauty salons and spas to reopen in the first phase. “We've made it clear that that is not a good phase one activity,” she said, as the number of U.S. cases topped 1.1 million and the death toll rose to more than 67,000 on Sunday. Protesters gathering, as they did last week in Michigan and other parts of the country to demonstrate against stay-at-home restrictions, poses a huge risk, she said. “It's devastatingly worrisome to me personally if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or a very — or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” Ms. Birx said. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on Sunday the country was seeing a “mixed bag” of results from coronavirus mitigation efforts. He said there were about 20 states that are seeing a rising number of new cases including Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Virginia reported a record number of deaths on Sunday, up 44 for a total of 660. “We expected that we would start seeing more significant declines in new cases and deaths around the nation at this point. And we're just not seeing that,” he said on CBS' “Face the Nation.” “If we don't snuff this out more and you have this slow burn of infection, it can ignite at any time.” Even in the face of rising cases, some Americans are eager to return to socializing and large gatherings — including sports. The National Football League said it will announce its schedule for the upcoming season this week including its season opening game on Sept. 10 and the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be played in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 7. “We are planning on playing the 2020 NFL season as scheduled,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email, noting they will adjust to government regulations. On the other side of the spectrum is Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in Massachusetts, which has not begun reopening and is seeing COVID-19 cases still climbing. Massachusetts also has issued a statewide order telling people to wear masks in public. He said the rallies against coronavirus mitigation efforts were causing confusion and making his job harder. “I don't understand it. That makes messaging really confusing. ... It's the wrong message, because we're still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus. Even if you're a state that is seeing numbers go down,” Mr. Walsh said. “If we're not smart about the way we do things, those numbers could turn around and go right back up again.” As Texas becomes one of the leading states pushing for its businesses to reopen, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said people appear to be obeying the new rules. “People have not been rushing back into these restaurants and they have not been rushing back into the areas of the economy that the governor reopened on Friday,” he told CNN. ”What we are seeing is people sort of putting their toe back in.”
3 May 22:40 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/sunny-days-draw-crowds-to-beaches-parks-as-us-reopens-from-lockdowns/article31496767.eceRating: 0.30
Sunny days draw crowds to beaches, parks as U.S. reopens from lockdowns
Sunny days and warm weather are proving to be as challenging to manage as restaurants, hair salons and other businesses as about half of U.S. states partially reopen their economies after the coronavirus lockdown. On Saturday, thousands of people gathered on the National Mall in Washington to view a U.S. Navy flyover to honor healthcare workers and others battling the pandemic. In New York City, the warmest weather yet this spring caused picnickers and sunbathers to flock to green spaces in Manhattan, including crowded conditions at Christopher Street Pier in Greenwich Village, according to photos on social media. Last week, California ordered beaches in Orange County to close, after crowds defied public health guidelines to throng the popular shoreline. That prompted protests by demonstrators who accused the state’s Democratic governor of overreach. New York City Mayor Bill de Blasio said there are “some real issues” near the pier and police would increase patrols. Dr. Deborah Birx, response coordinator for the White House coronavirus task force, said on “Fox News Sunday” that massing on beaches was not safe unless people kept at least 6 feet apart. She also weighed in against allowing such businesses as beauty salons and spas to reopen in the first phase. “We’ve made it clear that that is not a good phase one activity,” she said, as the number of U.S. cases topped 1.1 million and the death toll rose to more than 67,000 on Sunday. Protesters gathering, as they did last week in Michigan and other parts of the country to demonstrate against stay-at-home restrictions, poses a huge risk, she said. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or a very — or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” Birx said. Scott Gottlieb, a former Food and Drug Administration commissioner, said on Sunday the country was seeing a “mixed bag” of results from coronavirus mitigation efforts. He said there were about 20 states that are seeing a rising number of new cases including Illinois, Texas, Maryland, Indiana, Virginia, North Carolina and Tennessee. Virginia reported a record number of deaths on Sunday, up 44 for a total of 660. “We expected that we would start seeing more significant declines in new cases and deaths around the nation at this point. And we’re just not seeing that,” he said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” “If we don’t snuff this out more and you have this slow burn of infection, it can ignite at any time.” Even in the face of rising cases, some Americans are eager to return to socializing and large gatherings — including sports. The National Football League said it will announce its schedule for the upcoming season this week including its season opening game on Sept. 10 and the Super Bowl, which is scheduled to be played in Tampa, Florida on Feb. 7. “We are planning on playing the 2020 NFL season as scheduled,” NFL spokesman Brian McCarthy said in an email, noting they will adjust to government regulations. On the other side of the spectrum is Boston Mayor Marty Walsh in Massachusetts, which has not begun reopening and is seeing coronavirus cases still climbing. Massachusetts also has issued a statewide order telling people to wear masks in public. He said the rallies against coronavirus mitigation efforts were causing confusion and making his job harder. “I don’t understand it. That makes messaging really confusing. … It’s the wrong message, because we’re still very much in the beginning days of coronavirus. Even if you’re a state that is seeing numbers go down,” Walsh said. “If we’re not smart about the way we do things, those numbers could turn around and go right back up again.” As Texas becomes one of the leading states pushing for its businesses to reopen, Dallas Mayor Eric Johnson said people appear to be obeying the new rules. “People have not been rushing back into these restaurants and they have not been rushing back into the areas of the economy that the governor reopened on Friday,” he told CNN. “What we are seeing is people sort of putting their toe back in.” (Reporting by Doina Chiacu in Washington and Jonathan Allen in New York; Additional reporting by Ben Klayman in Detroit; Writing by Lisa Shumaker; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
3 May 17:33 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/sunny-days-draw-crowds-to-beaches-parks-as-u-s-reopens-from-lockdowns-3Rating: 0.94
These photos show thousands flocking to New York's parks over the weekend after Mayor de Blasio said that good weather 'is very much a threat to us'
Thousands of New Yorkers flocked to the city's park this weekend enticed by the warm weather despite stay-at-home orders. While people exercised, walked their dogs, and even enjoyed picnics in and around Central Park, it appeared they were still endeavoring to adhere to social-distancing measures. City officials, who were expecting the large crowds, sent out 1,000 police officers to monitor the situation and hand out free face masks. Scroll down to see photos of thousands of people gathering in New York city's parks. Source: New York Times Source: New York Times A spokesperson for the New York City Pars Department told CNN that while there were a lot of park-goers out this weekend, most of them were complying with social-distancing rules. Source: CNN Source: CNN Source: New York Post LoadingSomething is loading. But de Blasio also said that it is "totally understandable" that people want to go out and get some fresh air. "People have heard that we need them to stay home, overwhelmingly they have. Even with good weather, they've gone out for a while and they came back home," he added. Source: CNN Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to the New York Times: "There's no reason a family can't picnic in the park." However, Nuzzo also said that it's difficult to determine whether the groups of people spotted in the park are from the same household or not. "It's hard for the people who enforce this to know whether they're dealing with a family or not," she said. Source: New York Times "I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that's great," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday in Queens, according to the New York Times. "Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask," he added. Source: New York Times Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 16:40 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/new-yorkers-rush-parks-as-warm-weather-becomes-new-challenge-2020-5Rating: 4.40
These photos show thousands flocking to New York's parks over the weekend after Mayor de Blasio said that good weather 'is very much a threat to us'
Noam Galai/Getty Images Thousands of New Yorkers flocked to the city's park this weekend enticed by the warm weather despite stay-at-home orders. While people exercised, walked their dogs, and even enjoyed picnics in and around Central Park, it appeared they were still endeavoring to adhere to social-distancing measures. City officials, who were expecting the large crowds, sent out 1,000 police officers to monitor the situation and hand out free face masks. Scroll down to see photos of thousands of people gathering in New York city's parks. New Yorkers rushed to parks and open spaces on Saturday as the first weekend of May welcomed temperatures in the high 70s. Noam Galai/Getty Images Source: New York Times Thousands of people were sunbathing, doing exercise, walking their dogs, and even picnicking in and around Central Park. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters New York State, which has been one of the worst-affected in the country, is still under an executive order from Gov. Andrew Cuomo that restricts any "nonessential gatherings" until at least May 15. Noam Galai/Getty Images Source: New York Times But it appeared as if New Yorkers — some of who wore masks — were following the social-distancing measures as much as possible. John Lamparski/Getty Images A spokesperson for the New York City Pars Department told CNN that while there were a lot of park-goers out this weekend, most of them were complying with social-distancing rules. Source: CNN City officials were also aware that the warm weather would draw crowds, sending out 1,000 police officers to enforce social distancing measures and also give away free face masks. Noam Galai/Getty Images Source: CNN But some people didn't enjoy the police presence. "It's Orwellian to be watched like this," one park-goer told the New York Post. Noam Galai/Getty Images Source: New York Post The crowds of people are making public officials nervous. In a radio interview on Friday, Mayor Bill de Blasio said: "The nice weather is very much a threat to us." Eduardo Munoz Alvarez/Getty Images But de Blasio also said that it is "totally understandable" that people want to go out and get some fresh air. "People have heard that we need them to stay home, overwhelmingly they have. Even with good weather, they've gone out for a while and they came back home," he added. Source: CNN Parks have remained open in the city, with public health experts saying that they are generally regarded as a relatively low-risk environment for illness transmission. Noam Galai/Getty Images Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to the New York Times: "There's no reason a family can't picnic in the park." However, Nuzzo also said that it's difficult to determine whether the groups of people spotted in the park are from the same household or not. "It's hard for the people who enforce this to know whether they're dealing with a family or not," she said. Source: New York Times New York State has seen a decline in new coronavirus cases in the last few days, but locals are still ordered to keep their outings to a minimum. Eduardo Munoz/Reuters "I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that's great," Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday in Queens, according to the New York Times. "Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask," he added. Source: New York Times Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 16:40 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/photos-show-thousands-flocking-yorks-164038977.htmlRating: 0.30
These photos show thousands flocking to New York's parks over the weekend after Mayor de Blasio said that good weather 'is very much a threat to us'
Thousands of New Yorkers flocked to the city’s park this weekend enticed by the warm weather despite stay-at-home orders. While people exercised, walked their dogs, and even enjoyed picnics in and around Central Park, it appeared they were still endeavouring to adhere to social-distancing measures. City officials, who were expecting the large crowds, sent out 1,000 police officers to monitor the situation and hand out free face masks. Scroll down to see photos of thousands of people gathering in New York city’s parks. Source: New York Times Source: New York Times A spokesperson for the New York City Pars Department told CNN that while there were a lot of park-goers out this weekend, most of them were complying with social-distancing rules. Source: CNN Source: CNN Source: New York Post But de Blasio also said that it is “totally understandable” that people want to go out and get some fresh air. “People have heard that we need them to stay home, overwhelmingly they have. Even with good weather, they have gone out for a while and they came back home,” he added. Source: CNN Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to the New York Times: “There’s no reason a family can’t picnic in the park.” However, Nuzzo also said that it’s difficult to determine whether the groups of people spotted in the park are from the same household or not. “It’s hard for the people who enforce this to know whether they’re dealing with a family or not,” she said. Source: New York Times “I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that’s great,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday in Queens, according to the New York Times. “Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask,” he added. Source: New York Times
3 May 16:40 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/new-yorkers-rush-parks-as-warm-weather-becomes-new-challenge-2020-5Rating: 0.30
These photos show thousands flocking to New York’s parks over the weekend after Mayor de Blasio said that good weather ‘is very much a threat to us’
Thousands of New Yorkers flocked to the city’s park this weekend enticed by the warm weather despite stay-at-home orders. While people exercised, walked their dogs, and even enjoyed picnics in and around Central Park, it appeared they were still endeavoring to adhere to social-distancing measures. City officials, who were expecting the large crowds, sent out 1,000 police officers to monitor the situation and hand out free face masks. Scroll down to see photos of thousands of people gathering in New York city’s parks. Source: New York Times Source: New York Times A spokesperson for the New York City Pars Department told CNN that while there were a lot of park-goers out this weekend, most of them were complying with social-distancing rules. Source: CNN Source: CNN Source: New York Post But de Blasio also said that it is “totally understandable” that people want to go out and get some fresh air. “People have heard that we need them to stay home, overwhelmingly they have. Even with good weather, they’ve gone out for a while and they came back home,” he added. Source: CNN Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to the New York Times: “There’s no reason a family can’t picnic in the park.” However, Nuzzo also said that it’s difficult to determine whether the groups of people spotted in the park are from the same household or not. “It’s hard for the people who enforce this to know whether they’re dealing with a family or not,” she said. Source: New York Times “I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that’s great,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday in Queens, according to the New York Times. “Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask,” he added. Source: New York Times
3 May 16:40 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/new-yorkers-rush-parks-as-warm-weather-becomes-new-challenge-2020-5-2Rating: 0.30
These photos show thousands flocking to New York's parks over the weekend after Mayor de Blasio said that good weather 'is very much a threat to us', Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Thousands of New Yorkers flocked to the city’s park this weekend enticed by the warm weather despite stay-at-home orders. While people exercised, walked their dogs, and even enjoyed picnics in and around Central Park, it appeared they were still endeavoring to adhere to social-distancing measures. City officials, who were expecting the large crowds, sent out 1,000 police officers to monitor the situation and hand out free face masks. Scroll down to see photos of thousands of people gathering in New York city’s parks. Source: New York Times Source: New York Times A spokesperson for the New York City Pars Department told CNN that while there were a lot of park-goers out this weekend, most of them were complying with social-distancing rules. Source: CNN Source: CNN Source: New York Post But de Blasio also said that it is “totally understandable” that people want to go out and get some fresh air. “People have heard that we need them to stay home, overwhelmingly they have. Even with good weather, they’ve gone out for a while and they came back home,” he added. Source: CNN Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor at the Department of Epidemiology at the John Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health to the New York Times: “There’s no reason a family can’t picnic in the park.” However, Nuzzo also said that it’s difficult to determine whether the groups of people spotted in the park are from the same household or not. “It’s hard for the people who enforce this to know whether they’re dealing with a family or not,” she said. Source: New York Times “I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that’s great,” Gov. Andrew Cuomo said on Saturday in Queens, according to the New York Times. “Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask,” he added. Source: New York Times
3 May 16:40 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/new-yorkers-rush-parks-as-warm-weather-becomes-new-challenge-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Connecticut forced to close parks as crowds flock to enjoy spring weather
Connecticut was forced to close several parks over the weekends due to the crowds flocking to them amid spring weather, officials said. The state Department of Energy and Environmental Protection closed at least 11 parks Saturday after they became too crowded under social distancing guidelines implemented to stop the spread of coronavirus. “We have so many people coming out and enjoying the parks, which is on one hand fantastic and on another hand it is causing some difficulties,” Tom Tyler, who is the director of state parks, told NBC Connecticut. “And folks are in close proximity to one another if we didn’t reduce capacities at some locations and people weren’t really really diligent about social distancing.” Among the parks that reached capacity were Sleeping Giant State Park in Hamden, Wadsworth Falls State Park in Middletown and Talcott Mountain State Park in Simsbury. The park closures were temporary and they were expected to be reopened Sunday, officials said. “I kind of joke if you’ve heard of a state park before don’t go there, go someplace else. Find a new one,” Tyler said. With Post wires
3 May 13:39 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/connecticut-forced-to-close-parks-as-crowds-flock-to-enjoy-weather/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_medium=SocialFlowRating: 2.55
Don't expect to see fireworks this Victoria Day long weekend
With the May long weekend just a couple of weeks away, officials are issuing a reminder about fireworks. Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, fireworks cannot be set off in municipal parks, sports fields, laneways, or on school property. If you're thinking of letting them off in your backyard, it's not officially banned, but it is discouraged. There are a few reasons for that. "Private backyard firework displays [are discouraged] to respect physical distancing protocol, due to provincially-imposed limitations on gatherings of more than five people not part of the same household, as well as the possibility of tying up emergency resources, as well as the risks associated with gatherings," said The City of Waterloo in a release. Residents are asked to consider alternate plans, and keep celebrations inside. "This year, we are urging residents to keep their celebrations low key. Every year, there are firework related injuries, particularly among teens. We do not want to put additional pressure on emergency responders and hospitals," said City of Cambridge Fire Chief Neil Main in a release. Kitchener Mayor Berry Vrbanovic also issued a statement."It's difficult to accept that some of our cherished large public events and family gatherings cannot continue as planned this year. We look forward to the day when we can all come together once again and celebrate the events that make Kitchener such a wonderful and connected community."The community is also reminded that anyone selling fireworks needs a licence from their municipality. You can see full details from each of the tri-cities below.City of KitchenerCity of CambridgeCity of Waterloo
3 May 11:30 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/local-news/dont-expect-to-see-fireworks-this-victoria-day-long-weekend-2317061Rating: 0.30
Balmy weather presents a challenge as New Yorkers rush to parks
On the second day of May, New Yorkers were greeted with sunny skies and the warmest weekend so far this northern spring. People got up off their lounge, put on their shoes, donned their face coverings and left their cramped houses and apartments for the nearest park – desperate for fresh air and a little exercise. After weeks spent almost entirely indoors to avoid the coronavirus, they seemed to be drawn outside as much by the balmy weather as by their hopes that New York City was slowly, cautiously, starting to emerge from the crisis that has kept it locked down since mid-March. But in parks across the city, the police and other law enforcement officers were on hand, handing out masks, breaking up soccer games and reminding people to spread out. At times, the rules were difficult to pin down. Picnickers were let alone in some parks but told to move along in others. Across the Hudson River, New Jersey residents began returning to the state and county parks that reopened on Saturday after having been closed for nearly a month. But the announcement from Governor Philip Murphy of New Jersey on Friday that parks and golf courses would reopen came with a warning: restrictions could be reimposed if people did not practise social distancing or wear face coverings. In New York City, the epicentre of the crisis, parks have remained open, with the exception of playgrounds. Still, some officials this past week had feared that the sunny weekend – temperatures in the low 20s arrived after a cooler, rainy week – would lead to crowds in parks, risking a reversal of the hard-fought efforts to quell the outbreak. "The nice weather is very much a threat to us," Mayor Bill de Blasio said. With the number of new coronavirus cases in New York state continuing to decline from its peak in early April, talk has slowly turned to ways of easing the lockdown. Still, city health officials are continuing to urge New Yorkers to keep their outings to a minimum. The mayor, who on Friday had warned against sports and other group activities at the weekend, said most New Yorkers had been abiding by the guidelines. "People have heard that we need them to stay home; overwhelmingly they have," de Blasio said. "Even with good weather, they've gone out for a while and they came back home." New York state is still under an executive order from Governor Andrew Cuomo restricting any "non-essential gatherings of individuals of any size for any reason" until at least May 15. At Flushing Meadows-Corona Park in Queens, Cristian Guzman, 23, and his friends were about to start playing soccer when two deputies with the New York City Sheriff's Office pulled up. The deputies explained they were gathered too closely. Guzman and his teammates gave up on the idea of playing. In Spanish, he said it made him sad. It would have been his first game in six weeks, he said, but he had to respect the rules. Guzman worked at a restaurant that has closed. Around him in the park, other people sunbathed, walked dogs, flew kites, rode bikes and skateboards, and played table tennis and roller hockey. The deputies returned to their squad car and drove on, stopping mainly to hand out masks to park visitors. In some places, the authorities seemed most concerned with whether people were wearing face coverings. At Domino Park in Williamsburg, a masked park employee walked amid sunbathers and picnickers, pointing to his face and telling people to put their masks on. Eric Freeman, 27, a mixed martial arts fighter who lives in Greenpoint, Brooklyn, pulled the mask around his chin up over his mouth when he was confronted, only to pull it back down when the park employee was gone. "The mask is really annoying," he said, lifting a paper cup filled with what appeared to be pink lemonade. "How do you drink with a mask on?" But in Inwood Hill Park in Upper Manhattan, picnickers and families playing in a grassy field about noon were shooed along. "Basically, the officer told us we couldn't be stationary and we needed to be moving," Chris Carfizzi said as he, his wife and their three-year-old headed towards a paved path. They had been blowing bubbles and playing with a ball. "We're lucky we have the scooter," he said. Public health experts say parks are generally regarded as a relatively low-risk environment for transmission of a respiratory illness, such as the coronavirus. "There's no reason a family can't picnic in the park," said Jennifer Nuzzo, an associate professor in the department of epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. But she noted that it was not always possible to determine at a glance whether picnickers are from the same household or are part of a social gathering. To give New Yorkers more outdoor spaces, the city on Saturday closed off 11km of streets inside and near city parks to vehicular traffic – the first instalment of a planned 64km of closings. Most of the city's shopfronts remain shuttered, with non-essential businesses required to stay closed in New York, and public transit has become something to avoid if possible. But in some ways, Saturday served up a preview of what the city can expect as New Yorkers eye a return to public spaces, even as precautions remain in place to further slow the spread of the virus. "I believe with the warm weather people will come outside, and that's great," Cuomo said at a news briefing on Saturday in Queens. "Go for a walk, but just respect the social distance and wear a mask." In Central Park, Joe Corcoran, 35, who was out for a run acknowledged that the park seemed crammed – small clusters of people were spread out in Sheep Meadow's six hectares of grass. "I think people are trying to do their best to stay physically healthy, but also respect people's boundaries," said Corcoran, who lives on the Upper East Side. In New Jersey, which after New York has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases in the country, people were also eager to get outside. Just before 6am, Ralph Vazquez, 49, arrived at the southern entrance to Liberty State Park in Jersey City. He had his seven-metre Wellcraft boat in tow, with two friends seated inside the boat. "I'm going to catch some fish for all the days I wasn't out here," Vasquez said. "I'm going to catch stripers and blues. Whatever hits the pole." Minutes later, two park officers removed two lines of orange cones, pushed back a gate and took down an electric sign that flashed "state park closed." Vazquez's excitement grew as he waited to enter the lot for the boat launch. "Let me pass!" he said. "Come on! I'm ecstatic to be back!" The New York Times
3 May 05:06 • Australian Financial Review • https://www.afr.com/companies/healthcare-and-fitness/balmy-weather-presents-a-challenge-as-new-yorkers-rush-to-parks-20200503-p54pdgRating: 1.94
Manageable, Well-behaved Crowds Hit NJ Beach On 1st Day Back
US News Written By Associated Press Television News | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 03:38 IST From the weather to the schools of dolphins and the (mostly) well-behaved crowds, everything and everyone seemed to cooperate at a sprawling oceanfront park Saturday as New Jersey reopened its state parks to a populace itching to get sand between their toes after months of being cooped up due to the coronavirus outbreak. Island Beach State Park in Ocean County was among the parks to reopen, drawing several hundred people to a beach that routinely handles thousands during the summer. In the four hours that an Associated Press reporter watched the crowd, almost all of them complied with a requirement that they stay at least six feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus. That’s not to say everyone did, though: a small group of people wearing Rutgers T-shirts over their swimsuits reclined on towels six inches apart instead of six feet. And a few people saw friends on the beach, went up to them and hugged. But for the most part, the beachgoers did exactly as they were urged to do by state officials, keeping their distance while having fun in the sun. More than half wore masks, even as strong sunshine bore down on a 70-degree day. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was pleased with initial reports not only from the beachfront park, but from other state parks and some golf courses that also reopened on Saturday. “So far, go good,” he said during his daily briefing Saturday afternoon. The Democratic governor said evaluations of how well beach crowds complied with social distancing rules would go a long way toward deciding when and how the Jersey Shore’s famous beaches will reopen. “I really missed this,” said David Roebuck of Berkeley Township, who was among the first on the sand with his wife, Margie. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Christina and Theresa Erb of Toms River brought the kids to the beach, giving them a welcome opportunity to run around and burn off energy. “The kids were going crazy,” Christina Erb said. “They asked, ‘Why did they close nature?’” “This feels wonderful,” Theresa Erb added. “It feels like a little bit of normality is coming back.” At 10 a.m., there were 30 people on the sand at Bathing Area 1, the first of several beaches that visitors to the park encounter. By 11, there were 100, and by 2 p.m., several hundred. The park can accommodate about 1,200 cars. State officials said they planned to close it if capacity reached 50%. By late afternoon, several state parks had reached half their capacity and were closed to additional arrivals Dogs strained at the leash and sniffed at other dogs as they bounded through the sand. A pair of teenage boys tossed a football back and forth, with hundreds of yards of empty space all around them. Kids dug in the sand, and two large schools of dolphins swam by, delighting beachgoers.
3 May 03:38 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/us-news/manageable-well-behaved-crowds-hit-nj-beach-on-1st-day-back.htmlRating: 2.30
Manageable, well-behaved crowds hit NJ beach on 1st day back
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, N.J. — From the weather to the schools of dolphins and the (mostly) well-behaved crowds, everything and everyone seemed to co-operate at a sprawling oceanfront park Saturday as New Jersey reopened its state parks to a populace itching to get sand between their toes after months of being cooped up due to the coronavirus outbreak. Island Beach State Park in Ocean County was among the parks to reopen, drawing several hundred people to a beach that routinely handles thousands during the summer. In the four hours that an Associated Press reporter watched the crowd, almost all of them complied with a requirement that they stay at least six feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus. That’s not to say everyone did, though: a small group of people wearing Rutgers T-shirts over their swimsuits reclined on towels six inches apart instead of six feet. And a few people saw friends on the beach, went up to them and hugged. But for the most part, the beachgoers did exactly as they were urged to do by state officials, keeping their distance while having fun in the sun. More than half wore masks, even as strong sunshine bore down on a 70-degree day. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was pleased with initial reports not only from the beachfront park, but from other state parks and some golf courses that also reopened on Saturday. “So far, go good,” he said during his daily briefing Saturday afternoon. The Democratic governor said evaluations of how well beach crowds complied with social distancing rules would go a long way toward deciding when and how the Jersey Shore’s famous beaches will reopen. “I really missed this,” said David Roebuck of Berkeley Township, who was among the first on the sand with his wife, Margie. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Christina and Theresa Erb of Toms River brought the kids to the beach, giving them a welcome opportunity to run around and burn off energy. “The kids were going crazy,” Christina Erb said. “They asked, ‘Why did they close nature?’” “This feels wonderful,” Theresa Erb added. “It feels like a little bit of normality is coming back.” At 10 a.m., there were 30 people on the sand at Bathing Area 1, the first of several beaches that visitors to the park encounter. By 11, there were 100, and by 2 p.m., several hundred. The park can accommodate about 1,200 cars. State officials said they planned to close it if capacity reached 50%. By late afternoon, several state parks had reached half their capacity and were closed to additional arrivals Dogs strained at the leash and sniffed at other dogs as they bounded through the sand. A pair of teenage boys tossed a football back and forth, with hundreds of yards of empty space all around them. Kids dug in the sand, and two large schools of dolphins swam by, delighting beachgoers. ___ Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
2 May 20:44 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/02/manageable-well-behaved-crowds-hit-nj-beach-on-1st-day-back/Rating: 0.61
Manageable, well-behaved crowds hit NJ beach on 1st day back
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, N.J. — From the weather to the schools of dolphins and the (mostly) well-behaved crowds, everything and everyone seemed to co-operate at a sprawling oceanfront park Saturday as New Jersey reopened its state parks to a populace itching to get sand between their toes after months of being cooped up due to the coronavirus outbreak. Island Beach State Park in Ocean County was among the parks to reopen, drawing several hundred people to a beach that routinely handles thousands during the summer. In the four hours that an Associated Press reporter watched the crowd, almost all of them complied with a requirement that they stay at least six feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus. That’s not to say everyone did, though: a small group of people wearing Rutgers T-shirts over their swimsuits reclined on towels six inches apart instead of six feet. And a few people saw friends on the beach, went up to them and hugged. But for the most part, the beachgoers did exactly as they were urged to do by state officials, keeping their distance while having fun in the sun. More than half wore masks, even as strong sunshine bore down on a 70-degree day. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was pleased with initial reports not only from the beachfront park, but from other state parks and some golf courses that also reopened on Saturday. “So far, go good,” he said during his daily briefing Saturday afternoon. The Democratic governor said evaluations of how well beach crowds complied with social distancing rules would go a long way toward deciding when and how the Jersey Shore’s famous beaches will reopen. “I really missed this,” said David Roebuck of Berkeley Township, who was among the first on the sand with his wife, Margie. “Forty-six days in the house was enough,” she said. Christina and Theresa Erb of Toms River brought the kids to the beach, giving them a welcome opportunity to run around and burn off energy. “The kids were going crazy,” Christina Erb said. “They asked, ‘Why did they close nature?’” “This feels wonderful,” Theresa Erb added. “It feels like a little bit of normality is coming back.” At 10 a.m., there were 30 people on the sand at Bathing Area 1, the first of several beaches that visitors to the park encounter. By 11, there were 100, and by 2 p.m., several hundred. The park can accommodate about 1,200 cars. State officials said they planned to close it if capacity reached 50%. By late afternoon, several state parks had reached half their capacity and were closed to additional arrivals Dogs strained at the leash and sniffed at other dogs as they bounded through the sand. A pair of teenage boys tossed a football back and forth, with hundreds of yards of empty space all around them. Kids dug in the sand, and two large schools of dolphins swam by, delighting beachgoers. Follow Wayne Parry at http://twitter.com/WayneParryAC Wayne Parry, The Associated Press
2 May 09:44 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/manageable-well-behaved-crowds-hit-nj-beach-on-1st-day-back/Rating: 0.77
Manageable, well-behaved crowds hit NJ beach on 1st day back
ISLAND BEACH STATE PARK, N.J. (AP) - From the weather to the schools of dolphins and the (mostly) well-behaved crowds, everything and everyone seemed to cooperate at a sprawling oceanfront park Saturday as New Jersey reopened its state parks to a populace itching to get sand between their toes after months of being cooped up due to the coronavirus outbreak. Island Beach State Park in Ocean County was among the parks to reopen, drawing several hundred people to a beach that routinely handles thousands during the summer. In the four hours that an Associated Press reporter watched the crowd, almost all of them complied with a requirement that they stay at least six feet apart to prevent the spread of the virus. That’s not to say everyone did, though: a small group of people wearing Rutgers T-shirts over their swimsuits reclined on towels six inches apart instead of six feet. And a few people saw friends on the beach, went up to them and hugged. But for the most part, the beachgoers did exactly as they were urged to do by state officials, keeping their distance while having fun in the sun. More than half wore masks, even as strong sunshine bore down on a 70-degree day. New Jersey Gov. Phil Murphy said he was pleased with initial reports not only from the beachfront park, but from other state parks and some golf courses that also reopened on Saturday. “So far, go good,” he said during his daily briefing Saturday afternoon. The Democratic governor said evaluations of how well beach crowds complied with social distancing rules would go a long way toward deciding when and how the Jersey Shore’s famous beaches will reopen. “I really missed this,” said David Roebuck of Berkeley Township, who was among the first on the sand with his wife, Margie.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/manageable-well-behaved-crowds-hit-nj-beach-on-1st/Rating: 0.79
Lufthansa board hopeful of securing government bailout soon
3 May 15:04
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Lufthansa board hopeful of securing government bailout soon
BERLIN (Reuters) - Lufthansa is hopeful its bailout talks with the German government can be concluded soon, the airline’s board told staff in a letter seen by Reuters, adding that it is also considering alternatives such as creditor protection. Travel bans have forced the German group to ground 700 of its aircraft, leading to a 99% drop in passenger numbers and causing the group, which includes Swiss and Austrian Airlines, to lose about one million euros ($1.1 million) in liquidity reserves per hour. “We estimate that these talks can lead to a conclusion soon,” Chief Executive Carsten Spohr and board members wrote in the letter, adding that they are also checking alternative options but do not expect to need them. “We remain nevertheless convinced that we will not have to fall back on alternatives given the talks with Berlin.” Lufthansa is negotiating a 10 billion euro bailout that would result in the government taking a 25.1% stake in the airline, weekly paper Der Spiegel said on Friday. Of that, 5.5 billion euros would be in the form of non-voting capital, for which the government wants a coupon of 9%, the paper said. A further 3.5 billion euros in loans would be provided by state bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW), the paper said, adding that Belgium, Austria and Switzerland might contribute towards the bailout. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Lufthansa is negotiating a 9 billion euro bailout, with loans from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, citing a source close to the matter. The slump in travel due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to a sweeping restructuring of the airline industry, with other carriers also seeking state bailouts. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper at the weekend that “taxpayers can count on us not to conduct these talks naively.” ($1 = 0.9105 euros)
3 May 15:04 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-lufthansa-idUSKBN22F0MIRating: 4.04
Lufthansa hopeful on deal for German state aid
Europe's biggest airline group Lufthansa said Sunday it was close to a deal with the German government on state aid to ease the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The group, which warns it is bleeding cash and might have to declare insolvency, had appeared to be stalled in its bid for up to 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in aid, according to a report in the weekly Der Spiegel. But in a note from Lufthansa directors to staff seen by AFP, the company said it has held "intense and constructive exchanges" with the German government on the financial help. "In our view these discussions could be concluded in the near future," it said. "Support from the German state constitutes an essential step towards ensuring our future," it added, as Europe begins to ease measures taken to stem the spread of COVID-19. Like airlines worldwide, Lufthansa and its subsidiaries that include Swiss and Austrian Airlines have been essentially grounded and face an uncertain future once operations are fully up and running again. In April, chief executive Carsten Spohr said the group was carrying fewer than 3,000 passengers daily compared with a pre-pandemic average of around 350,000 a day. "We are losing about a million euros in liquidity reserves per hour. Day and night. Week by week," Spohr said. According to Der Spiegel, the German government is holding out for a stake of just over 25 percent in the group in exchange for financial aid, which would put Berlin in a position to block strategic decisions by Lufthansa management. No blank cheques The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which includes Finance Minister Olaf Scholz among its ranks, has warned Lufthansa it cannot expect a blank cheque from Berlin. "The state is not some idiot that will just hand over money and have no say after that," SPD leader Carsten Schneider told the daily Die Welt in comments to appear on Monday. In particular, he ruled out dividend payments to Lufthansa shareholders if the company received state aid. But Lufthansa directors have warned that without such aid they could declare insolvency to benefit from a grace period during which they could try to sort out the group's finances. That might mean job cuts, especially given that Spohr has said there are now 10,000 too many workers given the state of Lufthansa's operations. Around 700 of its roughly 760 aircraft are currently parked at airports and more than 80,000 of its 130,000 staff are on part-time work schemes. The director's letter to staff nonetheless voiced optimism, saying: "We are still convinced, in light of the talks with Berlin, that we will not have to go with alternative options." Swiss authorities have already agreed to guarantee loans of up to 1.2 billion euros to Lufthansa, while Austrian Airlines has asked the government in Vienna for 767 million euros in state aid. The group's supervisory board is to meet on Monday, and hold an online general assembly a day later.
3 May 17:28 • Tech Xplore • https://techxplore.com/news/2020-05-lufthansa-german-state-aid.htmlRating: 0.31
Lufthansa hopeful on deal for German state aid
BERLIN: Europe's biggest airline group Lufthansa said on Sunday (May 3) it was close to a deal with the German government on state aid to ease the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The group, which warns it is bleeding cash and might have to declare insolvency, had appeared to be stalled in its bid for up to 10 billion euros (US$11 billion) in aid, according to a report in the weekly Der Spiegel. But in a note from Lufthansa directors to staff seen by AFP, the company said it has held "intense and constructive exchanges" with the German government on the financial help. "In our view these discussions could be concluded in the near future," it said. "Support from the German state constitutes an essential step towards ensuring our future," it said, as Europe begins to ease measures taken to stem the spread of COVID-19. Like other airlines worldwide, Lufthansa and its subsidiaries that include Swiss and Austrian Airlines have been essentially grounded and face an uncertain future once their operations are fully up and running again. In April, chief executive Carsten Spohr said the group was carrying fewer than 3,000 passengers daily compared with a pre-pandemic average of around 350,000 a day. "We are losing about a million euros in liquidity reserves per hour. Day and night. Week by week," Spohr warned. According to Der Spiegel, the German government is holding out for a stake of just over 25 per cent in the group in exchange for financial aid, which would put Berlin in a position to block strategic decisions by Lufthansa management. NO BLANK CHEQUES The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which includes Finance Minister Olaf Scholz among its ranks, has warned Lufthansa it cannot expect a blank cheque from Berlin. "The state is not some idiot that will just hand over money and have no say after that," SPD leader Carsten Schneider told the daily Die Welt in comments to appear on Monday. In particular, he ruled out dividend payments to Lufthansa shareholders if the company received state aid. But Lufthansa directors have warned that without such aid they could declare insolvency to benefit from a grace period during which they could try to sort out the group's finances. That might mean job cuts, especially given that Spohr has said there are now 10,000 too many workers given the state of Lufthansa's operations. Around 700 of its roughly 760 aircraft are currently parked at airports and more than 80,000 of its 130,000 staff are on part-time work schemes. The director's letter to staff nonetheless voiced optimism, saying: "We are still convinced, in light of the talks with Berlin, that we will not have to go with alternative options." Swiss authorities have already agreed to guarantee loans of up to 1.2 billion euros to Lufthansa, while Austrian Airlines has asked the government in Vienna for 767 million euros in state aid. The group's supervisory board is to meet on Monday, and hold an online general assembly a day later.
3 May 23:00 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/lufthansa-hopeful-deal-german-state-aid-covid-19-coronavirus-12698362Rating: 3.25
Lufthansa hopeful on deal for German state aid
BERLIN, Germany – Europe's biggest airline group Lufthansa said on Sunday, May 3, it was close to a deal with the German government on state aid to ease the impact of the coronavirus crisis. The group, which warns it is bleeding cash and might have to declare insolvency, had appeared to be stalled in its bid for up to 10 billion euros ($11 billion) in aid, according to a report in the weekly Der Spiegel. But in a note from Lufthansa directors to staff seen by Agence France-Presse, the company said it has held "intense and constructive exchanges" with the German government on the financial help. "In our view these discussions could be concluded in the near future," it said. "Support from the German state constitutes an essential step towards ensuring our future," it said, as Europe begins to ease measures taken to stem the spread of COVID-19. Like airlines worldwide, Lufthansa and its subsidiaries that include Swiss and Austrian Airlines have been essentially grounded and face an uncertain future once their operations are fully up and running again. In April, chief executive Carsten Spohr said the group was carrying fewer than 3,000 passengers daily compared with a pre-pandemic average of around 350,000 a day. "We are losing about a million euros in liquidity reserves per hour. Day and night. Week by week," Spohr said. According to Der Spiegel, the German government is holding out for a stake of just over 25% in the group in exchange for financial aid, which would put Berlin in a position to block strategic decisions by Lufthansa management. No blank checks The Social Democratic Party (SPD), which includes Finance Minister Olaf Scholz among its ranks, has warned Lufthansa it cannot expect a blank check from Berlin. "The state is not some idiot that will just hand over money and have no say after that," SPD leader Carsten Schneider told the daily Die Welt in comments to appear on Monday, May 4. In particular, he ruled out dividend payments to Lufthansa shareholders if the company received state aid. But Lufthansa directors have warned that without such aid they could declare insolvency to benefit from a grace period during which they could try to sort out the group's finances. That might mean job cuts, especially given that Spohr has said there are now 10,000 too many workers given the state of Lufthansa's operations. Around 700 of its roughly 760 aircraft are currently parked at airports and more than 80,000 of its 130,000 staff are on part-time work schemes. The director's letter to staff nonetheless voiced optimism, saying, "We are still convinced, in light of the talks with Berlin, that we will not have to go with alternative options." Swiss authorities have already agreed to guarantee loans of up to 1.2 billion euros to Lufthansa, while Austrian Airlines has asked the government in Vienna for 767 million euros in state aid. The group's supervisory board is to meet on Monday, and hold an online general assembly a day later. – Rappler.com
3 May 15:55 • Rappler • https://www.rappler.com/business/259805-lufthansa-hopeful-deal-german-state-aid-coronavirusRating: 1.64
Lufthansa board hopeful of securing government bailout soon
BERLIN, May 3 — Lufthansa is hopeful its bailout talks with the German government can be concluded soon, the airline’s board told staff in a letter seen by Reuters, adding that it is also considering alternatives such as creditor protection. Travel bans have forced the German group to ground 700 of its aircraft, leading to a 99 per cent drop in passenger numbers and causing the group, which includes Swiss and Austrian Airlines, to lose about €1 million (RM4.7 million) in liquidity reserves per hour. “We estimate that these talks can lead to a conclusion soon,” Chief Executive Carsten Spohr and board members wrote in the letter, adding that they are also checking alternative options but do not expect to need them. “We remain nevertheless convinced that we will not have to fall back on alternatives given the talks with Berlin.” Lufthansa is negotiating a €10 billion bailout that would result in the government taking a 25.1 per cent stake in the airline, weekly paper Der Spiegel said on Friday. Of that, €5.5 billion would be in the form of non-voting capital, for which the government wants a coupon of 9 per cent, the paper said. A further €3.5 billion in loans would be provided by state bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW), the paper said, adding that Belgium, Austria and Switzerland might contribute towards the bailout. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Lufthansa is negotiating a €9 billion bailout, with loans from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, citing a source close to the matter. The slump in travel due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to a sweeping restructuring of the airline industry, with other carriers also seeking state bailouts. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper at the weekend that “taxpayers can count on us not to conduct these talks naively.” — Reuters
3 May 15:38 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2020/05/03/lufthansa-board-hopeful-of-securing-government-bailout-soon/1862705Rating: 1.42
Lufthansa board hopeful of securing government bailout soon
BERLIN (Reuters) - Lufthansa is hopeful its bailout talks with the German government can be concluded soon, the airline's board told staff in a letter seen by Reuters, adding that it is also considering alternatives such as creditor protection. Travel bans have forced the German group to ground 700 of its aircraft, leading to a 99% drop in passenger numbers and causing the group, which includes Swiss and Austrian Airlines, to lose about one million euros ($1.1 million) in liquidity reserves per hour. "We estimate that these talks can lead to a conclusion soon," Chief Executive Carsten Spohr and board members wrote in the letter, adding that they are also checking alternative options but do not expect to need them. "We remain nevertheless convinced that we will not have to fall back on alternatives given the talks with Berlin." Lufthansa is negotiating a 10 billion euro bailout that would result in the government taking a 25.1% stake in the airline, weekly paper Der Spiegel said on Friday. Of that, 5.5 billion euros would be in the form of non-voting capital, for which the government wants a coupon of 9%, the paper said. A further 3.5 billion euros in loans would be provided by state bank Kreditanstalt für Wiederaufbau (KFW), the paper said, adding that Belgium, Austria and Switzerland might contribute towards the bailout. Reuters reported on Wednesday that Lufthansa is negotiating a 9 billion euro bailout, with loans from Austria, Germany and Switzerland, citing a source close to the matter. The slump in travel due to the coronavirus pandemic has led to a sweeping restructuring of the airline industry, with other carriers also seeking state bailouts. Finance Minister Olaf Scholz told the Passauer Neue Presse newspaper at the weekend that "taxpayers can count on us not to conduct these talks naively." ($1 = 0.9105 euros)
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/lufthansa-board-hopeful-of-securing-government-bailout-soon-2159014Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none
3 May 19:24
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Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was “enormous evidence” that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz during his appearance on “This Week.” “We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset.” “But I think the whole world can see now,” Pompeo added. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren’t the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab.” Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider’s Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China’s only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it’s far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he’d seen evidence that gave him a “high degree of confidence” to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. “Yes I have,” Trump said, adding he was “not allowed to tell” anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising “consequences” if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday “the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts” and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus’s impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it’s not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. “It’s far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human,” Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post.
3 May 19:24 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-originated-in-a-chinese-lab-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was “enormous evidence” that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz during his appearance on “This Week.” “We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset.” “But I think the whole world can see now,” Pompeo added. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren’t the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab.” Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider’s Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China’s only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it’s far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he’d seen evidence that gave him a “high degree of confidence” to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. “Yes I have,” Trump said, adding he was “not allowed to tell” anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising “consequences” if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday “the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts” and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus’s impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analysed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it’s not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. “It’s far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human,” Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post.
3 May 16:50 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-originated-in-a-chinese-lab-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo says there’s ‘enormous evidence’ COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there’s none
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was “enormous evidence” that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz during his appearance on “This Week.” “We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset.” “But I think the whole world can see now,” Pompeo added. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren’t the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab.” Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider’s Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China’s only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it’s far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he’d seen evidence that gave him a “high degree of confidence” to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. “Yes I have,” Trump said, adding he was “not allowed to tell” anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising “consequences” if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday “the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts” and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus’s impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it’s not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. “It’s far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human,” Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post.
3 May 16:50 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-originated-in-a-chinese-lab-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was "enormous evidence" that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. "There's enormous evidence that that's where this began," Pompeo told ABC News' Martha Raddatz during his appearance on "This Week." "We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset." "But I think the whole world can see now," Pompeo added. "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren't the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab." Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider's Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China's only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it's far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. LoadingSomething is loading. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he'd seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. "Yes I have," Trump said, adding he was "not allowed to tell" anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising "consequences" if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday "the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts" and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus's impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it's not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. "It's far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human," Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 16:50 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-originated-in-a-chinese-lab-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Mike Pompeo: 'enormous evidence' coronavirus came from Chinese lab
The US secretary of state, Mike Pompeo, claimed on Sunday there is “enormous evidence” the coronavirus outbreak originated in a Chinese laboratory – but did not provide any of the alleged evidence. Pompeo’s claims, made in an interview with ABC’s This Week, represented an escalation in rhetoric. He had previously said the US was looking into the possibility the virus came from a lab in Wuhan, China. On Sunday, Pompeo said: “There is enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” later adding: “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan.” At one point, the secretary of state appeared confused over whether he was claiming the Sars-CoV-2 virus (which causes the Covid-19 disease) was deliberately engineered or escaped as the result of a lab accident. “Look, the best experts so far seem to think it was manmade. I have no reason to disbelieve that at this point,” he said. But when he was reminded that US intelligence had issued a formal statement noting the opposite – that the scientific consensus was that the virus was not manmade or genetically modified – Pompeo replied: “That’s right. I agree with that.” Donald Trump made a similar unsupported claim on Thursday, saying he was privy to evidence of the pandemic began in a Chinese lab but was not permitted to share it. On the same day, Pompeo told a radio interviewer: “We don’t know if it came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology. We don’t know if it emanated from the wet market or yet some other place. We don’t know those answers.” By Sunday afternoon, according to researchers at Johns Hopkins University, the US had confirmed 1,134,507 coronavirus cases and more than 66,000 deaths. Worldwide, there had been nearly 3.5m cases confirmed and more than 245,000 people had died. Beset by criticism of its response to the outbreak and management of the ensuing public health crisis, the Trump administration has sought to focus blame on China. Most epidemiologists say that while it is possible the outbreak started in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, where coronaviruses have been intensively studied, it is a far less likely scenario than the theory that it was transmitted naturally from bats through an intermediary animal, mutating along the way to become dangerous to humans. On Tuesday, the chairman of the US joint chiefs of staff, Gen Mark Milley, said “the weight of evidence” pointed to natural transmission but was not conclusive. Beijing has rejected the suggestion the virus could have escaped from a laboratory. But Chinese authorities have not allowed foreign experts, including investigators from the World Health Organization, to take part in the investigation into the origins of the virus. Nor have they shared samples taken from wild animals at the Wuhan livestock market where they claim the outbreak began. In 2018, US diplomats and scientists raised concerns in state department cables about safety standards and the Wuhan Institute of Virology. Analysis of the first 41 Covid-19 patients in medical journal the Lancet found that 27 had direct exposure to the Wuhan market. The same analysis found that the first known case of the illness did not. Pompeo has a patchy record on characterising US intelligence estimates. He repeatedly claimed there was no direct evidence linking the Saudi crown prince, Mohammed bin Salman, to the murder of journalist and dissident Jamal Khashoggi, contradicting substantial US evidence implicating him. He also repeatedly claimed there was evidence of an “imminent threat” to US embassies posed by the Iranian general Qassem Suleimani, who the US killed in a drone strike in Baghdad on 3 January. A formal letter justifying the strike sent by the White House to Congress in February made no mention of an imminent threat.
3 May 21:12 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/mike-pompeo-donald-trump-coronavirus-chinese-laboratoryRating: 5.39
Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was “enormous evidence” that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo told ABC News’ Martha Raddatz during his appearance on “This Week.” “We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset.” “But I think the whole world can see now,” Pompeo added. “Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren’t the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab.” Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider’s Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China’s only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it’s far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he’d seen evidence that gave him a “high degree of confidence” to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. “Yes I have,” Trump said, adding he was “not allowed to tell” anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising “consequences” if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday “the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts” and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus’s impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it’s not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. “It’s far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human,” Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post.
3 May 16:50 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/pompeo-enormous-evidence-covid-19-originated-in-a-chinese-lab-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo says there's 'enormous evidence' COVID-19 originated in a Chinese lab even though intelligence officials have said there's none
ANDREW HARNIK/POOL/AFP via Getty Images Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday claimed there was "enormous evidence" that COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus, originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, though there has been so far no public evidence to support such a theory. "There's enormous evidence that that's where this began," Pompeo told ABC News' Martha Raddatz during his appearance on "This Week." "We have said from the beginning, this virus originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset." "But I think the whole world can see now," Pompeo added. "Remember, China has a history of infecting the world and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These aren't the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures from a Chinese lab." Jonna Mazet, an epidemiologist at the University of California, Davis, who has worked with and trained Wuhan Institute of Virology researchers in the past, told Business Insider's Aylin Woodward that an accidental lab leak is extremely unlikely. The WIV houses China's only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory, and Mazet said that instead of an accident at the high-security lab, it's far more likely that the virus spilled over naturally from bats, jumping to humans via an intermediary animal host. Pompeo is not the first US official to make such a claim. At a White House press briefing on Thursday, President Donald Trump said the US was investigating the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which has studied coronaviruses that originate in bats. At that news conference, a reporter asked Trump whether he'd seen evidence that gave him a "high degree of confidence" to suggest the virus had originated in a Chinese lab. "Yes I have," Trump said, adding he was "not allowed to tell" anyone about the intelligence. Trump previously floated a similar theory on April 19, promising "consequences" if China was found to have created the novel coronavirus. Pompeo told Raddatz Sunday "the Chinese communist party has refused to cooperate with world health experts" and he could not answer whether he believed the theory that the virus was intentionally released by the Chinese government or whether he believed it to be mistakenly released during a lab accident. The president and other members of his party have continued to attempt to shift blame toward China for the virus's impact on the US, where it has so far killed at least 66,430 and infected some 1,134,673, according to data analyzed by Johns Hopkins University. US intelligence officials said there is no such evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab, according to reports from the Washington Post and New York Times. Experts told the Post that while a lab accident is possible, it's not entirely likely. One US official who spoke to the Post on the condition of anonymity said officials have been briefed that China could have initially downplayed the outbreak, but they had not seen evidence that COVID-19 was the result of accidental transmission in a Chinese lab. "It's far more likely that Mother Nature is just a step ahead of us and has created a novel pathogen, now able to move quite effectively from human to human," Jason Rao, a bio-security specialist and former senior policy adviser to President Barack Obama, told the Post. Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 16:50 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/mike-pompeo-says-theres-enormous-165005735.htmlRating: 0.30
US Secretary of State says there's 'enormous evidence' Covid came from Wuhan lab
The US Secretary of State said there is ‘enormous evidence’ that the coronavirus originated in a Wuhan lab that failed to contain the virus. Mike Pompeo told ABC’s ‘This Week’ on Sunday that the US has gathered evidence that supports a theory that coronavirus came from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, not a nearby wet market, which had previously been suspected to be where the virus may have originated. ‘There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began. We have said from the beginning, that this was a virus that originated in Wuhan, China,’ Pompeo said. ‘We took a lot of grief for that from the outset. But I think the whole world can see now.’ ‘Remember, China has a history of infecting the world, and they have a history of running sub-standard laboratories. These are not the first times that we have had the world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab,’ he continued. Pompeo’s explosive statement comes days after The Office of the Director of US National Intelligence Thursday that it was investigating the origin of the outbreak, which has killed over 68,000 Americans and at least 247,000 worldwide. US intelligence said it was looking into two possibilities: Whether the outbreak began because of exposure to wild animals or if it was because of a laboratory accident in Wuhan. The intelligence community recently concluded that the virus was ‘not man-made or genetically modified’ and Pompeo said Sunday that he has no reason to doubt the consensus. ‘I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said. I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong,’ he said. Last week, Trump said that he has seen evidence that gives him a ‘high degree of confidence’ that the outbreak began in the Wuhan Institute of Virology, which houses China’s only Biosafety-level-4 laboratory. ‘Yes I have,’ the president said, but added that he was ‘not allowed to tell’ anyone about the evidence. Trump has consistently insisted that China downplayed or concealed important information about the virus and demanded Beijing be held ‘accountable.’
3 May 19:39 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/us-secretary-state-says-enormous-evidence-coronavirus-came-wuhan-virus-lab-12649249/Rating: 2.18
‘Enormous evidence’ that Covid-19 originated in Wuhan lab, says Mike Pompeo
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that there was “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus pandemic originated in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. “There is enormous evidence that this is where it began,” he said on ABC’s “This Week.” But while highly critical of China’s handling of the matter, Pompeo declined to say whether he thought the virus had been intentionally released.
3 May 14:30 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/enormous-evidence-that-covid-19-originated-in-wuhan-lab-says-mike-pompeo/story-qexa1UwEPRvYIEw6nwVgeL.htmlRating: 0.30
Pompeo: 'Enormous Evidence' Coronavirus Originated in Wuhan Lab
Sunday on ABC’s “This Week” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said there was “enormous evidence” that coronavirus originated in the Wuhan lab and not a wet market, as some have suspected. Partial transcript as follows: Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
3 May 15:28 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/05/03/pompeo-enormous-evidence-coronavirus-originated-in-wuhan-lab/Rating: 0.30
Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch
3 May 10:53
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8 articles
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Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch
Beijing: Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China's methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China's progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week -- except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: "Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room." Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household's door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei's capital Wuhan. Her building's management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. "It's quite scary how you get used to such things," she told AFP. "Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out," Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. No human contact Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. "Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly," Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March -- just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced -- spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. "They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance," Poirot told AFP. "We all played the game without contesting." Read More4,100 women take on Oracle over unequal pay in class-action lawsuit Over 4,000 former and current women employees have accused Cloud giant Oracle of unequal pay in a class-action gender discrimination lawsuit. Read More'I'm cheering for you': Robot welcome at Tokyo quarantine "Since patients are infected with COVID-19, it is not possible to have a real person to interact with," said Kan Kiyota, marketing director of SoftBank, which makes the Pepper robot. Read MoreTwitter offers data to researchers studying virus "Public conversation can help the world learn faster, solve problems better and realize we're all in this together," Twitter CEO Jack Dorsey said.
3 May 10:53 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Robots-and-cameras-China-s-sci-fi-quarantine-watchRating: 3.14
Robots and cameras help enforce China's sci-fi quarantine
BEIJING: Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China’s methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China’s progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week – except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: “Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room.” Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household’s door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei’s capital Wuhan. Her building’s management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. “It’s quite scary how you get used to such things,” she told AFP. “Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out,” Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. No human contact Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. “Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly,” Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March – just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced – spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. “They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance,” Poirot told AFP. “We all played the game without contesting.”
3 May 10:42 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213152/8-robots-cameras-help-enforce-chinas-sci-fi-quarantine/Rating: 1.80
Robots and cameras: China’s sci-fi quarantine watch
Beijing, China | AFP | Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China’s methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China’s progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week — except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: “Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room.” Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household’s door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei’s capital Wuhan. Her building’s management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. “It’s quite scary how you get used to such things,” she told AFP. “Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out,” Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. – No human contact – Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. “Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly,” Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March — just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced — spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. “They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance,” Poirot told AFP. “We all played the game without contesting.” Share on: WhatsApp
3 May 11:00 • The Independent Uganda: • https://www.independent.co.ug/robots-and-cameras-chinas-sci-fi-quarantine-watch/Rating: 0.30
Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch
Beijing – Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China’s methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralyzed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China’s progress, travelers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week — except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimize contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: “Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room.” Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household’s door asking neighbors to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials said people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei’s capital Wuhan. Her building’s management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. “It’s quite scary how you get used to such things,” she said. “Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out,” Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicenter of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardized meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. “Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly,” Zhong said. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March — just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced — spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. “They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance,” Poirot said. “We all played the game without contesting.”
3 May 06:06 • The Japan Times • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/03/asia-pacific/robots-cameras-china-quarantine-coronavirus/Rating: 2.31
Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch
Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China's methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China's progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week -- except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: "Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room." Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household's door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei's capital Wuhan. Her building's management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. "It's quite scary how you get used to such things," she told AFP. "Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out," Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. - No human contact - Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. "Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly," Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March -- just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced -- spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. "They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance," Poirot told AFP. "We all played the game without contesting."
3 May 05:20 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/robots-and-cameras-china-s-sci-fi-quarantine-watch/article/571125Rating: 0.78
Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch
Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China's methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China's progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week -- except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: "Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room." Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household's door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei's capital Wuhan. Her building's management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. "It's quite scary how you get used to such things," she told AFP. "Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out," Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. "Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly," Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March -- just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced -- spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. "They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance," Poirot told AFP. "We all played the game without contesting." tjx/lth/ecl https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 05:23 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/robots-and-cameras-chinas-sci-fi-quarantine-watch/4ex3b9tRating: 0.51
Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine enforcement
Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China's progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week -- except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A three-foot-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. When the robot arrives at its destination, it dials the landline phone in the room and informs the occupant in an eerie, childlike voice: "Hello, this is your service robot. Your order has arrived outside your room." Its belly opens and the guest takes the delivery items before the robot turns and rolls away. Doctors in hazmat suits go from room to room daily reminding occupants, including an AFP journalist who had been in Hubei, to take their temperatures with the mercury thermometer provided at check-in, and to ask if any are experiencing symptoms. People under home quarantine elsewhere in the city have had silent electronic alarms installed on their doors. Officials put up a notice on each quarantined household's door asking neighbours to keep an eye on the confined inhabitants. In one Beijing residential compound, officials told AFP that people under home quarantine must inform community volunteers whenever they open their doors. Friederike Boege, a German journalist, began her second quarantine in Beijing this year on Sunday after returning from Hubei's capital Wuhan. Her building's management installed a camera in front of her door to monitor her movements. "It's quite scary how you get used to such things," she told AFP. "Apart from the camera I do believe that the guards and the cleaner on the compound would denunciate me if I were to go out," Boege said. During her previous quarantine experience in March after returning from a trip to Thailand, she was reported to building management by a cleaner for going downstairs to take out the trash. No human contact Total isolation has become a temporary norm for those under strict quarantine, without even a single trip to the grocery store or walk to break up the monotony. Joy Zhong, a 25-year-old media professional returning to Beijing from a work trip in the virus epicentre of Wuhan, spent three weeks without leaving a cramped room at another hotel in the Chinese capital. There, guests were not allowed to order their own food and were instead given standardised meals. Friends were allowed to bring packages to the front desk, which were then left outside hotel rooms by staff who avoided direct contact with guests. "Spending 21 days in a row without seeing a single person, it felt like time was passing extremely slowly," Zhong told AFP. Not all people under quarantine are as closely watched as those in Beijing, however. Charlotte Poirot, a French teacher who arrived in China in late March -- just before a ban on foreigners entering the country was introduced -- spent two weeks under quarantine at a hostel in the southeastern city Guangzhou. She was confined alone in a 10-bunk room, with meals delivered to her door and medical personnel coming to check her temperature multiple times a day. "They never locked the door and the (whole) process was based on reliance," Poirot told AFP. "We all played the game without contesting." (AFP)
3 May 07:56 • France 24 • https://www.france24.com/en/20200503-robots-and-cameras-china-s-sci-fi-quarantine-enforcementRating: 2.48
Covid-19 wrap | China's sci-fi coronavirus quarantine watch, Europe eases lockdowns, and Saudi stocks have a bad day
Keeping you up to date on the latest novel coronavirus (Covid-19) news from around the world. FOLLOW THE LIVE UPDATE | All the latest coronavirus and lockdown updates Robots and cameras: China's sci-fi quarantine watch Robots delivering meals, ghostly figures in hazmat suits and cameras pointed at front doors: China's methods to enforce coronavirus quarantines have looked like a sci-fi dystopia for legions of people. Authorities have taken drastic steps to ensure that people do not break isolation rules after China largely tamed the virus that had paralysed the country for months. With cases imported from abroad threatening to unravel China's progress, travellers arriving from overseas have been required to stay home or in designated hotels for 14 days. Beijing loosened the rule in the capital this week - except for those arriving from abroad and Hubei, the province where the virus first surfaced late last year. At one quarantine hotel in central Beijing, a guard sits at a desk on each floor to monitor all movements. The solitude is broken by one of the few visitors allowed near the rooms: A 1m-tall cylindrical robot that delivers water bottles, meals and packages to hotel guests. The robot rides the elevator and navigates hallways on its own to minimise contact between guests and human staff. - AFP Europe prepares for more lockdown easing as virus hopes rise Europe on Sunday prepared for a further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, after Spaniards flocked to the streets to jog, cycle and roller-skate for the first time after 48 days of confinement. More than 242 000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the contagion has been brought under control, parts of Europe and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure from populations wearying of captivity. - AFP Iran to reopen many mosques as lockdown eases: Rouhani Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said mosques would reopen across large parts of the country on Monday after being shuttered since early March over the novel coronavirus outbreak. Rouhani said 132 counties, or about one third of the administrative divisions, would "reopen their mosques as of tomorrow", speaking at a televised virus taskforce meeting. Maintaining "social distancing is more important than collective prayer", he added, arguing that Islam considers safety obligatory while praying in mosques is only recommended. - AFP Saudi stocks dive after finance minister vows 'painful' measures Saudi shares slumped 6.8% as trading opened on Sunday, a day after the finance minister announced "painful" measures to tackle the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic. Almost all the listed stocks on the Arab world's largest bourse were in the red just minutes after the start of trading. Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said late on Saturday that the kingdom would take "drastic measures" to face the double shock of the novel coronavirus and low oil prices. "Some of these measures could be painful," he said in an interview with Saudi-owned news channel Al-Arabiya. He said the world's leading crude exporter would borrow close to $60 billion this year to plug a huge budget deficit. Saudi Jadwa Investment, an independent think-tank, forecast Thursday that the kingdom would post a record $112 billion budget deficit this year. The International Monetary Fund in April projected that the Saudi economy would contract by 2.3% this year. Capital Economics, a London-based think-tank, said the contraction would be at least 5%. - AFP
3 May 12:00 • News24 • https://www.news24.com/World/News/covid-19-wrap-chinas-sci-fi-coronavirus-quarantine-watch-europe-eases-lockdowns-and-saudi-stocks-have-a-bad-day-20200503Rating: 2.83
Flypasts, showering petals, illuminating ships: How Armed forces thanked ‘Corona warriors’
3 May 14:56
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Flypasts, showering petals, illuminating ships: How Armed forces thanked ‘Corona warriors’
From Leh to Kochi and Mumbai to Guwahati, the Indian Air Force on Sunday carried out fly-pasts over major cities and towns as helicopters showered petals on hospitals across the country to express gratitude to healthcare professionals, who are at the forefront of the battle against the coronaviruspandemic. In keeping with Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat’s Friday announcement, jets like Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar conducted fly-pasts in Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Patna, Lucknow, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram. The Army’s military bands also performed outside leading hospitals dedicated to Covid-19 treatment. The Indian Navy also deployed its choppers to shower flower petals on coastal states and its ships were seen displaying thank you messages saluting the “Covid warriors”. The Eastern Naval Command, Western Naval Command and Southern Naval Command also illuminated a few warships in the evening docked at major ports. In Delhi, the exercise started with laying of wreath at the police memorial, honouring the personnel deployed for enforcement of the nationwide lockdown. A fleet of military jets, including Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar, flew over Rajpath and then orbited over the city for around 30 minutes from 11 am to express gratitude towards medical professionals and all frontline workers. Premier transport aircraft C-130 also carried out a separate fly-past over Delhi-NCR region. The aircraft flew at an approximate height of 500 metres to 1,000 metres keeping in mind the aerospace safety. Air Force choppers showered flower petals on dedicated Covid-19 hospitals such as Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, Sir Gangaram Hospital, Safdarjung Hospital and AIIMS. A fleet of IAF aircraft SU-30 carried out flypasts over Marine Drive and the Governor’s house in Mumbai, thanking the medical staff and sanitation workers in Maharashtra, the worst-affected state with more than 11,000 positive cases and over 500 deaths. An aircraft of the Indian Air Force dropped flowers on J J Hospital, KEM Hospital and Kasturba Gandhi Hospital. Of the total number of coronavirus patients in the state, 200 have been cured so far. The India Navy and the Coast Guard also flew their Chetak helicopters to shower flowers on the J J Hospital and naval medical hospital Asvini in the state capital. IAF aircraft rained petals on hospitals in Ahmedabad and conducted a flypast over the city and the Gujarat Assembly complex in Gandhinagar as a gesture of gratitude towards medics and doctors. The Indian Navy also saluted them by illuminating its vessels along the Gujarat coast in the early hours of Sunday. An IAF helicopter showered petals on the Civil Hospital and civic-run Sardar Vallabhbhai Hospital in Ahmedabad — both treating Covid patients. Track top deveopments in coronavirus situation in India An IAF band also arrived at the two hospitals and played the tune of “Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara”, a defence release said. The Sarang helicopter of the IAF flew past the Government Medical College Hospital and the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram as part the Army’s initiative to honour frontline workers battling coronavirus. The chopper hovered over a statue of ‘Mother and child’ at the medical college hospital and moved towards the main entrance to drop flower petals. It then left for General Hospital to honour the medics there. Southern Naval Command also displayed a message saluting the healthcare professionals. Indian Air Force (IAF) and the Indian Coast Guard (ICG) deployed their aircraft to paid an aerial salute to frontline personnel in war against Covid-19. An IAF chopper showered flower petals on the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and the Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Super Specialty Hospital in Chennai. Later, a Coast Guard helicopter carried out a similar activity honouring health workers at Chennai’s Government Stanley Medical College and Kilpauk Medical College In West Bengal too, the IAF showered flower petals on Chittaranjan Cancer Institute and Beliaghata ID hospital — both dealing with coronavirus patients — to express solidarity with the health staffers. Indian Navy’s INS Jalashwa saluted the corona warriors by displaying a ‘thank you’ message while sailing in Bay of Bengal. Armed forces acknowledged the efforts of “corona warriors” in Karnataka with Indian Air Force helicopters dropping flower petals on hospitals. IAF’s Mi-17 helicopter showered flower petals on doctors, nurses and staff at the Victoria Hospital, a designated Covid-19 hospital in Bengaluru. The workers in turn appreciated the efforts by clapping and several of them clicking photos. A similar activity was undertaken at the Command Hospital, defence officials told PTI. They said the INS Vikramaditya ship, which is at Anchorage off Karwar coast, will be illuminated at 7.30 pm and will remain lit till midnight.
3 May 14:56 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/indian-air-force-navy-army-coronavirus-covid-warriours-thank-you-flypast-6391648/Rating: 0.30
India honours coronavirus responders with fly-pasts showering petals on hospitals
By Sanjay Jha, ITV News, Delhi India entered its 40th day of a nationwide lockdown having suffered its biggest one-day rise in coronavirus cases, as a further 2,600 were confirmed on Sunday. Indian’s defence forces showed their support for frontline Covid-19 responders with a fly-past across the country by military aircraft, while helicopters showered hospitals treating coronavirus patients with petals, in a show of gratitude to doctors, medical staff and other health workers battling the pandemic. "We (wish to) convey our gratitude to each and every corona warrior and all the citizens of our nation," said India’s General Bipin Rawat, chief of defence staff. The helicopters of the Indian Air Force and navy showered flower petals on hospitals treating Covid-19 patients in most districts across India. Confirmed infections in India have neared the 40,000 mark and the death toll is now 1,301, including 83 deaths in the last 24 hours, health officials said. In the India capital city of New Delhi, a helicopter showered flowers over Lok Narayan Jai Prakash hospital one of the main hospital treating Covid-19 patients, as doctors and other medical workers in gowns and masks cheered on. “It is wonderful gesture on the part of armed forces to recognise our hard work,” said Dr. Balvinder Singh, Medical Superintendent of Delhi’s Safdarjung Hospital. “It would give message to people that doctors are doing a great work and showcase appreciation and support for the healthcare workers as first responders." The navy and Coast Guard moved ships in formations at sea and army bands will play tunes outside the hospitals where Covid-19 patients are admitted in an expression of gratitude to the corona warriors. Coronavirus: Everything you need to know
3 May 19:17 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-03/india-honours-coronavirus-responders-with-fly-pasts-showering-petals-on-hospitals/Rating: 0.88
Coronavirus: IAF chopper showers flower petals on Gandhi Hospital in Hyderabad
Expressing the gratitude of the Defence forces to the coronavirus frontline 'warriors', an Indian Air Force helicopter showered flower petals over the state-run Gandhi Hospital here on Sunday. It was part of the nation-wide thanksgiving effort by the armed forces to honour doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers battling coronavirus. At around 10.30 am, the Chetak helicopter hovered over the hospital and showered petals as doctors, nurses, paramedical, sanitation and other staff and police personnel assembled near the premises. The COVID-19 'warriors' were seen taking videos and photos from their mobile phones while some others clapped. The Gandhi Hospital is among the designated facilities in Telangana for treatment of COVID-19
3 May 11:16 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/south/coronavirus-iaf-chopper-showers-flower-petals-on-gandhi-hospital-in-hyderabad-832948.htmlRating: 2.25
West Bengal Govt Denies Permission To Indian Air Force To Shower Petals Over Dedicated Covid Hospitals In Kolkata
The Indian Air Force’s (IAF) plan for showering petals over two Kolkata hospitals engaged in fighting the coronavirus across the country on Sunday (3 May) morning was denied approval by the Mamata Banerjee-led West Bengal government, reportsHindustan Times. The exercise is a part of military initiative to show gratitude to the country’s Covid-19 warriors. The hospitals chosen from the city were the ID&BG hospital and the Eastern Command Hospital. It should be noted that the IAF helicopters are showering petals at hospitals across 23 locations in the country which include Delhi, Leh, Chandigarh, Dehradun, Mumbai, Jaipur, Dispur, Itanagar, Trivandrum and Chennai. "The helicopters are planned to carry out petal shower on Police War Memorial at 9 a.m. followed by Delhi hospitals involved in providing relief to patients of COVID-19 between 10-10.30 a.m.," the Air Force said in statement. In Delhi and the National Capital Region, the list of hospitals includes AIIMS, Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital, GTB Hospital, Loknayak Hospital, Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital, Safdarjang Hospital, Sri Ganga Ram Hospital, Baba Saheb Ambedkar Hospital, Max Saket, Rohini Hospital, Apollo Indraprastha Hospital and Army Hospital Research and Referral. "Fighter aircraft formations, comprising of the Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar will be flying over Rajpath, and will orbit over Delhi and will be visible to the residents of Delhi from their roof tops," the force said. In addition, C-130 transport aircraft will follow a similar route as the fighters covering the entire Delhi and NCR region. The aircraft flew at an approximate height of 500 meters to 1000 meters keeping safety in mind especially in respect of bird activity. More than 600 tons of medical supplies and a large number of people have been airlifted including doctors, para-medics and equipment for setting up COVID testing labs. "IAF personnel will continue to contribute towards fight against Corona. As a gratitude to all the Corona Warriors in India, IAF along with sister services is planning to salute these brave warriors of India in its own unique way," the IAF said. With IANS Inputs
3 May 11:51 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/west-bengal-govt-denies-permission-to-indian-air-force-to-shower-petals-over-dedicated-covid-hospitals-in-kolkataRating: 1.22
Floral tribute to hospitals
At 10.30 a.m. on Sunday, an Mi17 helicopter of the Indian Air Force flew over and showered flower petals over two top Bengaluru hospitals. The century-old State-run Victoria Hospital and defence healthcare hub, the Command Hospital, have been in the frontline of COVID-19 testing and treatment in Karnataka over the past two-odd months, the Ministry of Defence said. Doctors and healthcare personnel of the two hospitals came out to cheer back at the IAF, which has created support infrastructure and critical logistics during the battle against the pandemic. A moving IAF band performed at Victoria Hospital. The Command Hospital is a nodal centre to test for COVID-19 and has tested 852 of 856 samples to date. Around 3.15 p.m., IAF’s C-130 J transport plane flew past Vidhana Soudha. It was flying from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram. Across the country, the Armed Forces saluted COVID-19 warriors in different ways. In Karwar, where the Navy has a base, INS Vikramaditya was illuminated around 7.30 p.m. as a tribute. Brig. Shahnawaz, Deputy General Officer Commanding, HQ Karnataka & Ketala Sub Area, called on Chief Secretary T.M. Vijay Bhaskar. Senior Army personnel visited State officials, hospitals and police stations to express gratitude to the staff. They distributed hampers.
3 May 19:10 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/floral-tribute-to-hospitals/article31496534.eceRating: 0.30
With fighter jets and army bands, India's military thank health workers
NEW DELHI - India's air force flew aircraft low over more than a dozen cities on Sunday, part of a nationwide campaign by the armed forces to thank healthcare workers and other essential services personnel fighting the coronavirus outbreak. So far India has recorded nearly 40,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,300 deaths amid a weeks-long nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. In the southern city of Bengaluru, a helicopter showered flowers over Victoria Hospital, as doctors and other medical workers in hospital gowns and masks cheered on, local television showed. A military band played alongside. In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies. Later on Sunday, navy and coast guard ships will line up along more than 30 locations on the Indian coast, with some vessels lit up and firing flares. But the celebrations were dampened by news of the death of four Indian army personnel, including two officers, as well as a police official during a gun battle with militants in the northern Kashmir region on Saturday. Read MoreCycle power: Bikes emerge as a post-lockdown commuter option As countries seek to get their economies back on track after the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, bicycle use is being encouraged as a way to avoid unsafe crowding on trains and buses. Read MorePhilippines temporarily bars incoming flights to decongest quarantine facilities The Philippines barred incoming passenger flights from Sunday morning for one week to contain the spread of the coronavirus and help reduce pressure on quarantine facilities housing thousands of Filipino repatriates, officials said on Sunday. Read MoreIndia extends nationwide lockdown for two weeks from May 4 India will extend its nationwide lockdown by two weeks from May 4 but will ease restrictions in some areas to revive economic activity that’s been stalled since the stringent stay-at-home orders were put in place across the country on March 25.
3 May 10:23 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/With-fighter-jets-and-army-bands,-India-s-military-thank-health-workersRating: 3.14
Indian Air Force Conducts Flypast Over Dal Lake To Pay Tribute To Frontline Workers; Watch
General News Written By Manjiri Chitre | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 10:14 IST As India has entered its third lockdown phase, the Indian Air Force conducted the flypast over Srinagar's Dal Lake to pay a tribute to all the frontline workers at the forefront of battle against the deadly Coronavirus. Reportedly, IAF's fixed-wing and fighter aircraft will conduct flypasts from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and from Dibrugarh to Kutch. The IAF has also made elaborate arrangements to conduct aerial fly-pasts and shower flower petals on hospitals treating COVID-19 patients, claim reports. On Friday, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat and the three service chiefs — Navy Chief Admiral Karambir Singh, Army Chief Gen M M Naravane, and Air Chief Marshal RKS Bhadauria addressed the media and informed that the Armed Forces have planned a series of special activities on May 3 as a tribute to healthcare workers, law enforcement, delivery personnel, and media who are fighting against the Coronavirus pandemic. Read: 'No problem in dealing with COVID-19': Army Chief General Naravane as jawan recovers The flypasts in Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Patna, and Lucknow will take place above state assembly starting from 10.30 AM. Meanwhile, the Air Force fighter aircraft will do the aerial salute at Delhi's Rajpath, Red Fort, Sri Ganga Ram hospital, Army Research and Referral Hospital, Lotus Temple, Base Hospital (IA) and Connaught Place starting from 10:15 am-10:30 am. Mumbai as well, the aerial salute will start from 10:30 am. Read: No ceremonial border personnel meeting with Chinese army amid Covid outbreak Here is the detailed schedule of the Aerial Salute by the IAF: Read: Cyberabad Police books retired Army Major for communal 'fake news'; man claims 'satire' Read: Armed Forces to pay tribute to Covid warriors on Sunday; here's all that is scheduled
3 May 10:14 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/indian-air-forces-flypast-over-dal-lake-to-pay-tribute-to-frontline-w.htmlRating: 2.30
India’s defence forces honour COVID-19 warriors across India
Indian Air Force deployed its aircraft and fighter helicopters on Sunday to shower petals on hospitals treating coronavirus patients across India. According to the government, this was done to thank healthcare workers and others involved in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. Home Minister Amit Shah shared a photo of an Indian Navy warship thanking corona warriors by a ‘thank you’ sign on its deck. In the photos shared by Shah, one helicopter could be seen showering rose petals at a COVID-19 hospital, believed to be in Ahmedabad, which has reported close to 200 deaths. According to a statement by the defence ministry, an IAF band also arrived at the two hospitals and played the tune of Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara. A report by news agency PTI said that a group of IAF’s Sukhoi fighter jets (SU-30/3 fighter aircraft) carried out a fly-past over Ahmedabad city and the Legislative Assembly building in Gandhinagar in a formation at a low level, it said. In Karnataka, an Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter showered flower petals on doctors, nurses and staff at the Victoria Hospital, which has been designated a designated COVID-19 hospital. Fighter jets were also engaged in carrying out a flypast over the state assembly in Lucknow. Indian Air Force choppers were also deployed to fly over hospitals treating coronavirus patients in Jaipur as they showered petals as a tribute to corona warriors. Three Sukhoi-30 fighter jets flew over the state assembly to pay an aerial salute. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Friday had held an extraordinary press conference on Friday to announce that the defences forces will carry out a series of activities to thank corona warriors. He was joined by the chiefs of all three services.
3 May 09:38 • Janta Ka Reporter • http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/indias-defence-forces-honour-covid-19-warriors-across-india/289482/Rating: 0.38
IAF, Navy salute corona warriors across the country, honour them with flypast
New Delhi: The Indian Air Force and Indian Navy demonstrated a symbolic show of thanks to front-line workers battling the Covid-19 pandemic, as helicopters from the IAF and the Indian Navy fly over hospitals treating coronavirus patients showering flower petals as a tribute. Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat on Friday announced that the three services will carry out a series of activities to thank the “corona warriors”. The thanks-giving activities started with laying of wreaths at the national police memorial in Delhi to honour the police personnel deployed in the enforcement of the nationwide lockdown, officials said. Besides Delhi, the Indian Air Force is carrying out fly-pasts in several other cities including Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Patna and Lucknow, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Jaipur, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram, they said. Military bands are also playing “patriotic tunes” outside various civil hospitals treating coronavirus patients across the country. The Eastern Naval Command and the Western Naval Command are illuminating a number of ships at anchorage from 7.30 pm to midnight. A fleet of military jets on Sunday carried out a spectacular fly-past over the national capital as part of a nationwide exercise to express gratitude to lakhs of doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers engaged in fighting the coronavirus pandemic. The military jets, including Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar, flew over Rajpath, Delhi’s centrepiece boulevard, and then orbited over the city for around 30 minutes from 11 am. Premier transport aircraft C-130 also carried out a separate fly-past covering the Delhi and the NCR region. The aircraft flew at an approximate height of 500 metres to 1000 metres keeping aerospace safety in mind. At around 10 am, the Sarang helicopter of the IAF flew past the Government Medical College Hospital and the General Hospital in Thiruvananthapuram as part of the nation-wide initiative. It hovered over a statue of ‘motherand child’ at the medical college hospital and moved towards the main entrance showering petals. A Defence release said the “Indian Coast Guard will honour the front-line workers by illuminating the Coast Guard Ships (Dress Overall) at Shangumugom Area on May 2 and 3 from 6.15 p.m to 8.30 p.m.” An Indian Air Force helicopter showered flower petals at two hospitals in Bhopal on Sunday. The health staff members of the two hospitals, who were wearing the personal protecting equipment (PPE), cheered and clapped while looking at the aircraft in the sky. The MI17 helicopter of the IAF dropped petals at the government-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the private Chirayu Hospital in the Madhya Pradesh capital between 10 am and 10.30 am, an official said. Wing Commander Abhishek Yadav, who was the co- ordinating officer for the exercise, said, “Usually people thank the armed forces, but this time we paid our gratitude to people at the forefront of the battle against COVID-19.” He said the petal showering activity was accomplished under the guidance of Group Captain Shreepath Tokekar. “Four quintals of sanitised flowers were dropped in the exercise,” he added. On the occasion, an Army band played musical tunes on the Chirayu Hospital campus. Police and revenue officials in Bhopal also clapped to thank the frontline health workers. Honouring the corona warriors, Defence forces on Sunday showered flower petals on four government hospitals treating the Covid-19 patients in Chennai. An IAF chopper strew flower petals on the Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital and the Tamil Nadu Government Multi-Super Speciality Hospital at Omandurar Estate in the heart of the city. Later, an Indian Coast Guard helicopter carried out a similar activity honouring personnel at the Government Stanley Medical College and Kilpauk Medical College in the city. An Indian Air Force Mi-17 helicopter showered flower petals on doctors, nurses and staff at the Victoria Hospital, a designated Covid-19 hospital in Karnataka. The front-line workers too acknowledged the gesture by clapping and several of them clicking photos. “We are doing our duty, we know the danger of the disease, but we come here and do as its our duty. Such gesture, that too from the Armed forces is great, it will help us keep going,” a hospital staff said. The Airforce band also performed at the Victoria Hospital on the occasion. A similar activity was undertaken at the Command Hospital here as a mark of appreciation of those from the facility involved in testing of samples for Covid-19, Defence officials said. They said the INS Vikramaditya ship, which is at Anchorage off Karwar coast, will be illuminated at 7.30 PM. There will be a flypast by transport aircraftat C 130 J Hercules at 3.46 over Vidhana Soudha, the seat of state legislature and secretariat here, they added. Meanwhile, the Defence Public Relations Office here tweeted that bands from Madras Engineer Group (MEG), Parachute Regiment Training Centre (PRTC), Army Service Corps bands performed on Saturday thanking the corona warriors. An IAF helicopter on Sunday showered rose petals on doctors, nurses and other para-medical staff of King George’s Medical University (KGMU) and the Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute for Medical Sciences (SGPGI) in Lucknow. At around 10.15 am, two rounds of floral showering was conducted by a helicopter of the Indian Air Force over the area in front of the administrative building of KGMU. As the flowers were showered, doctors, nurses and other para-medical staff of KGMU clapped and chanted ‘Bharat Mata Ki Jai’ to express their happiness. Some of the doctors and nurses were overwhelmed by the gesture and became teary-eyed. Head of Department of Transfusion Medicine at KGMU, Tulika Chandra said, “It was an emotional and heart touching scene. There were tears in our eyes The feeling of tiredness, which grips us after spending 18 hours on duty disappeared with this honour and our motivational level increased. Vice-Chancellor of KGMU M L B Bhatt, while expressing happiness said, “The honour, which has been bestowed upon corona warriors today has made the doctors, nurses and para-medical staff very happy.” Meanwhile, director of Sanjay Gandhi Post Graduate Institute for Medical Sciences (SGPGI) R K Dhiman said, “This is a proud moment for all corona warriors. We feel that as if we are the jawans of the Indian Army who will take on the enemy in the battle field. He said the gesture has doubled the enthusiasm among the corona warriors at the SGPGI. ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
3 May 09:02 • ThePrint • https://theprint.in/india/iaf-navy-salute-corona-warriors-across-the-country-honour-them-with-flypast/413524/Rating: 1.95
Indian Armed Forces Express Gratitude Towards 'Corona Warriors' with Fly Pasts Even as Cases Grow
New Delhi (Sputnik): While expressing satisfaction with the work being carried out by medics and police to control the spread of COVID-19 in the country, the Indian government had extended the lockdown till 17 May. Meanwhile, the country has registered record 2,644 new cases and 83 deaths in last 24 hours. The Indian armed forces have carried out countrywide aerial flypasts and showered flower petals on hospitals on Sunday to express their gratitude to thousands of medics and other front-line workers engaged in fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. The Indian defence ministry said that Indian Air Force fighter jets have conducted flypasts in cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Patna and Lucknow. Fighter aircraft formations, comprising Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar, orbit over Delhi for around 30 minutes from 11 am. The aircraft fly at an approximate height of 500 metres to 1,000 metres, mostly in order to avoid hitting birds. Chief of Defence Staff Bipin Rawat and three service chiefs have also paid tribute at a police memorial in Delhi. In other cities, police chiefs and other officials also honoured the police personnel deployed to enforce the nationwide lockdown that began on 24 March. Later in the day, the Indian Navy will illuminate its naval ships from 19:30 to 23:59 local time in different locations with banners displaying "India Salutes Corona Warriors". The unprecedented event took place across the country after Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat announced on Friday that the three services will carry out a series of activities to thank the "corona warriors". The Indian health ministry said that total number of cases had climbed to 39,980 with biggest one-day jump of 2,644 since Saturday, 8:00 a.m. local time. The death toll also jumped, to 1,301 on Sunday. However, the Indian Council of Medical Research, the country's top bio-medical research body, has announced that one million people had been tested throughout the country on the 94th day of testing for COVID-19. This comes as the government has decided to restart the economic activities throughout the 80 percent of the country designated as being in the 'green' or 'orange' zone from 4 May. The country has classified its 733 districts into hotspots, non-hotspots, and non-infected (green) zones, based on whether or not confirmed COVID-19 cases have been reported there. According to the health ministry, there are only 130 hotspots in the country. There are around 284 districts in the country which are parts of orange zones — seen as potential hotspots. However, on this day of national gratitude, the Indian Army lost four personnel including two officers in a fierce gunbattle with terrorists in Handwara in north Kashmir; the raid also claimed the life of a local policeman. In an another incident, one Border Security Force soldier shot his senior officer and then shot himself in a BSF Unit on the Rajasthan-Pakistan border.
3 May 08:33 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/india/202005031079178473-indian-armed-forces-express-gratitude-towards-corona-warriors-with-flypasts-even-as-cases-grow/Rating: 3.96
With fighter jets and army bands, India's military thank health workers
NEW DELHI (Reuters) - India’s air force flew aircraft low over more than a dozen cities on Sunday, part of a nationwide campaign by the armed forces to thank healthcare workers and other essential services personnel fighting the coronavirus outbreak. So far India has recorded nearly 40,000 coronavirus cases and more than 1,300 deaths amid a weeks-long nationwide lockdown to contain the spread of the virus. In the southern city of Bengaluru, a helicopter showered flowers over Victoria Hospital, as doctors and other medical workers in hospital gowns and masks cheered on, local television showed. A military band played alongside. In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies. Later on Sunday, navy and coast guard ships will line up along more than 30 locations on the Indian coast, with some vessels lit up and firing flares. But the celebrations were dampened by news of the death of four Indian army personnel, including two officers, as well as a police official during a gun battle with militants in the northern Kashmir region on Saturday. The five were killed while freeing hostages in Kashmir’s Kupwara district, an Indian Army spokesman said. Two militants were also shot dead, he added.
3 May 07:51 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-india-flypast-idUSKBN22F05YRating: 4.04
Lockdown 3.0: Armed forces say 'Thank You' to corona warriors; check out latest visuals from different states
India's armed forces are expressing gratitude to lakhs of doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers engaged in fighting coronavirus; activities will go on for about 10 hours in different parts of country throughout day India's armed forces are expressing gratitude to lakhs of doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers engaged in fighting the coronavirus pandemic by conducting aerial fly-pasts, lighting up ships at sea and showering flower petals on hospitals. The activities will go on for about 10 hours in different parts of the country throughout the day. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat on Friday announced that the three services would carry out a series of activities to thank the "corona warriors". The thanks-giving activities started with laying of wreaths at the police memorial in Delhi and in several other cities in the early morning to honour the police personnel deployed for enforcement of the nationwide lockdown. It's being followed by fly-pasts by fighter jets and transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, covering a sizeable number of cities and towns across the country beginning 10 AM. Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Lockdown 3.0! 2,644 new cases in 24 hours; biggest 1-day spike; tally-37,776 Cities, where fighter jets of IAF will conduct fly-pasts, include Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Ahmedabad, Guwahati, Patna and Lucknow. Transport aircraft of the force will carry out similar drills in a number of cities including Srinagar, Chandigarh, Delhi, Jaipur, Bhopal, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Bengaluru, Coimbatore and Thiruvananthapuram. They said fighter aircraft formations, comprising Sukhoi-30 MKI, MiG-29 and Jaguar, will be flying over Rajpath, Delhi's centrepiece boulevard, and will orbit over the city for around 30 minutes from 10 AM. Also Read: Coronavirus in India: COVID-19 cases near 40,000; check state-wise tally, deaths, list of testing facilities Check out latest visuals coming in from different parts of the country Aircraft shower flowers on King George's Medical University in Lucknow. Aircraft flypast Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar. Air Force showers flower petals on Victoria Hospital, Bengaluru. IAF chopper showers flower petals on the Police War Memorial in Delhi. IAF chopper holds flypast over Government Hospital, Panchkula. Navy chopper showers flower petals on Goa Medical College in Panaji. With PTI and ANI inputs
3 May 05:17 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/lockdown-3-armed-forces-thank-you-corona-warriors-latest-visuals-from-states/story/402720.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=WEBRating: 2.10
Defence forces shower petals, play music to honour corona warriors
New Delhi, May 03: Chopper of the Indian Air Force showers flower petals on the Police War Memorial in Delhi in order to express gratitude and appreciation towards the police officials. It is to be noted that these corona warriors, during this time of crisis, are risking their own lives to protect everyone else. Flower petals were also showered by an Indian Air Force helicopter on two hospitals in honour of the front-lineworkers fighting the COVID-19 pandemic. At around 10 am, the Sarang helicopter of the IAF flew past the Government Medical College Hospital and the General Hospital here as part the nation-wide initiative by the armed forces to honour doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers battling coronavirus. It hovered over a statue of 'motherand child' at the medical college hospital and moved towards the main entrance showering petals. The lightweight chopper flew past over the hospital once again and left for the General Hospital to honour the COVID-19 warriors there. A Defence release said the "Indian Coast Guard will honour the front-line workers by illuminating the Coast Guard Ships (Dress Overall) at Shangumugom Area on May 2 and 3 from 6.15 p.m to 8.30 p.m." Aircraft of the Indian Air Force showered petals on hospitals in Ahmedabad and conducted a fly-past over the city and the Gujarat Assembly complex in Gandhinagar to thank healthcare workers and others involved in the fight against COVID-19 pandemic. An IAF helicopter showered petals on the civil hospital and the civic-run Sardar Vallabhbhai Hospital in Ahmedabad, where coronavirus positive patients are being treated, to express gratitude towards those engaged in the battle against the deadly disease. Personnel of the IAF band also arrived at the two hospitals and played the tune of "Saare Jahaan Se Achcha, Hindustan Hamara", a defence release said. Besides, the IAF's Sukhoi fighter jets (SU-30/3 fighter aircraft) carried out a fly-past over Ahmedabad city and the Legislative Assembly building in Gandhinagar in a formation at a low level, it said. This was part of the nationwide thanksgiving exercise by the armed forces to honour doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other frontline workers battling COVID-19 across the country. An Indian Air Force helicopter showered flower petals at two hospitals in Bhopal on Sunday as a mark of gratitude towards health workers who are at the forefront of the battle against coronavirus. The health staff members of the two hospitals, who were wearing the personal protecting equipment (PPE), cheered and clapped while looking at the aircraft in the sky. The MI17 helicopter of the IAF dropped petals at the government-run All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS) and the private Chirayu Hospital in the Madhya Pradesh capital between 10 am and 10.30 am, an official said. The Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat had earlier on Friday stated that the armed forces will carry out special operations across the country on May 3 to express gratitude to the "corona warriors" who have been working at the frontlines in the fight against the pandemic. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had also welcomed the announcement by CDS Rawat to have the three defence services show solidarity with 'corona warriors'.
3 May 05:07 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/india/iaf-chopper-showers-petals-on-delhis-police-war-memorial-to-thank-corona-warriors-3082021.htmlRating: 0.30
Armed forces salute corona warriors in thanksgiving events across India | Updates
Fly-pasts by fighter jets, aerial flower shower, performances by military bands at major hospitals and lighting up of warships marked the nation-wide mega exercise by the armed forces on Sunday to express gratitude to lakhs of doctors, paramedics and other front-line workers battling the coronavirus pandemic. Indian Air Force's combat jets and transport aircraft flew over various state capitals including Delhi, Mumbai, Jaipur, Guwahati, Patna, Lucknow, Srinagar, Chandigarh, Bhopal, Hyderabad, Bengaluru and Thiruvananthapuram to salute the corona warriors. Army's military bands also performed at leading hospitals treating coronavirus patients across the country. A large number of helicopters belonging to the IAF and the Indian Navy dropped flower petals over leading hospitals treating coronavirus patients across the country. Here's how the armed forces honoured India's 'corona warriors' in thanksgiving events across various states: Ships lit up at Mumbai anchorage, flare fires Indian Navy ships illuminated: Ships of the Eastern Naval Command illuminated at Visakhapatnam, Andhra Pradesh. Indian Coast Guard illuminates its ships to show solidarity with frontline workers for their contribution in the fight against Covid-19 in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala. Indian Navy ships of Southern Naval Command illuminated at The Anchorage in Ernakulam channel in Kochi, Kerala. Indian Navy ships fire flares: Indian Navy fires flares in the air as a mark of gratitude and appreciation for the frontline workers. Watch: Navy ships light up in Chennai: INS Sahyadri and INS Kamorta of the Indian Navy illuminated near Marina Beach in Tamil Nadu's Chennai to express gratitude towards medical professionals and all frontline workers. Navy 'punches' coronavirus: Indian Navy ship INS Vikramaditya symbolically punches coronavirus on its lit deck as armed forces pay tribute to the corona warriors. Watch: Jammu and Kashmir: The flypast began on Sunday morning with IAF aircraft seen flying over the Dal Lake in Srinagar. Chandigarh: After they took flight from Srinagar, the two the C-130J Super Hercules aircraft were photographed over Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. Floral tribute to police, security forces: At the same time, an Indian Air Force chopper showered flower petals on the Police War Memorial in New Delhi to pay tribute to police officers keeping the law and order across the country in this time of crisis. Haryana: Indian Air Force (IAF) choppers flew past the Panchkula Government hospital in Haryana while an Indian Army band performed underneath to express gratitude towards frontline workers. Goa: Navy choppers showered flower petals on the Goa Medical College in Panaji to thank frontline workers for their efforts towards battling the novel coronavirus outbreak. Flypast over Rajpath: The C-130 J Super Hercules aircraft conducted a flypast over Rajpath in Delhi at around 10:15 am on Sunday morning. Mumbai: Chetak helicopters of the Indian Navy and Coast Guard shower flower petals on medical staff and sanitation workers of Naval hospital Asvini at Colaba, Mumbai. The Indian Air Force's Su-30 aircraft flew past Marine Drive in Mumbai on Sunday morning in honour of the frontline workers working day and night to contain the Covid-19 outbreak in the city. Flower petals were also showered on hospitals KEM, KGH and JJ by Mi17 helicopter of IAF and Chetaks of Navy and Coast Guard. Uttar Pradesh: IAF choppers showered flowers over King George's Medical University in Lucknow, Uttar Pradesh as a tribute to frontline workers. IAF choppers flew past Kalinga Institute of Medical Sciences in Bhubaneswar, Odisha on Sunday morning as part of the armed forces' show of gratitude towards frontline workers. Karnataka: An IAF chopper showered flower petals over the Victoria Hospital in Bengaluru to honour the healthcare workers on the frontline in the fight against the novel coronavirus. Tamil Nadu: An IAF chopper flowered petals over The Rajiv Gandhi Government General Hospital in Chennai, Tamil Nadu as part of the tribute to frontline workers. Telangana: An IAF chopper flew over Hyderabad to pay tribute to frontline workers. INS Jalashwa thanks Corona Warriors: The crew of INS Jalashwa, currently deployed in the Bay of Bengal, also expressed their gratitude towards frontline workers putting their lives on the line in the fight against Covid-19. IAF's fighters flypast over Delhi: IAF's fighter planes conducted a flypast over Delhi on Sunday to pay tribute to frontline workers. Madhya Pradesh: An IAF chopper showered flower petals over the Chirayu Medical College and Hospital in Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh as part of the armed forces' tribute to Corona Warriors. Meghalaya: A chopper of the Indian Air Force showered petals over the Civil Hospital in Shillong on Sunday. Chhattisgarh: IAF also conducted a flypast over AIIMS-Raipur on Sunday. Kerala: Helicopters and surveillance aircraft of the Southern Naval Command at Kochi conducted a flypast over the General Hospital, Ernakulam. A Sarang Helicopter under the IAS' Southern Air Command flowered petals over the Trivandrum Medical College in Kerala. Bihar: An IAF chopper showered petals over Nalanda Medical College and Hospital (NMCH) in Patna on Sunday. Leh: IAF's Chinook helicopters showered flower petals over Leh in honour of frontline workers. Gujarat: In a mark of tribute for frontline workers battling Covid-19, IAF choppers showered flower petals over the Civil Hospital in Ahmedabad on Sunday. Assam: A Mi-17 helicopter conducted a flypast starting from Gopinath Bordoloi International Airport in Guwahati and showered flower petals on the COVID-19 warriors at Guwahati Medical College Hospital (GMCH) and Mahendra Mohan Choudhury hospital in Guwahati as a mark of aerial salute to the COVID-19 warriors. Rajasthan: IAF fighters conducted a flypast over the Sawai Mansingh hospital in Jaipur to express gratitude towards frontline workers. Floral tribute at AIIMS: An IAF chopper showered flower petals over AIIMS, RML hospital and LNJP hospital in New Delhi on Sunday. Indian Army band pays tribute: The Indian Army band was seen playing outside the Covid-19 quarantine centre in Delhi's Narela on Sunday morning as a mark of respect for all frontline workers risking their lives to fight off the novel coronavirus outbreak. Army band pays tribute: An Indian Army band paid tribute to frontline workers at the Military Hospital in Jalandhar on Sunday. West Bengal: A Mi-17 helicopter flew past the Command hospital in Kolkata on Sunday to express gratitude towards healthcare workers. Uttarakhand: IAF helicopters showered flower petals on the Doon Medical College in Dehradun. Navy band pays tribute: A Southern Naval Command band performed onboard a naval warship in the Ernakulam channel in Kochi on Sunday morning as a tribute to India's corona warriors. Defence Minister applauds salute of the armed forces: In a series of tweets, Defence Minister Rajnath Singh complimented the armed forces for carrying out the activities to show respects of the armed forces to the front-line people fighting the pandemic. "I thank the Armed Forces for their special initiatives like fly pasts, showering flower petals and several other performances to express gratitude towards medical professionals, police and other frontline warriors. The entire nation stands united in these challenging times," Singh said. He said the "frontline warriors" are doing commendable work in strengthening India's fight against COVID-19. Salute from sky to sea: The armed forces through various military gestures are saluting coronavirus warriors today. There are flypasts by fighter and transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force (IAF) at multiple locations as announced earlier by Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Bipin Rawat Rawat. These aircraft will cover cities starting from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and Dibrugarh to Kutch. Helicopters from the IAF and Indian Navy will fly over hospitals treating coronavirus patients and shower petals as a tribute to coronavirus warriors. While C-130 transport aircraft will fly over Rajpath, the fighter will fly between 10 am-11 am. This flying activity is combined with the training activity of the IAF and opportunity flight for transport aircraft and helicopters who are involved in moving supplies related to Covid-19 task. Flower petals will be dropped in Itanagar, Guwahati, Shillong and Kolkata, around 10:30 am. The Air Force band will be playing in Guwahati as well for paying tribute to the corona warriors. In Uttar Pradesh's Lucknow, the flower-petal showering will take place at KGMU and SGPGI Trauma Center between 10:15-10:30 am. Fighter aircraft will flypast over Vidhan Sabha in Lucknow around 12:20 pm. In the evening, Naval ships on the coasts of Mumbai, Porbandar, Karwar, Vizag, Chennai, Kochi and Port Blair will light up and flare fires in solidarity with the corona warriors. Indian Coast Guard ships will be seen at 24 places including Porbandar, Okha, Ratnagiri, Dahanu, Murud, Goa, New Mangalaore, Kavarati, Karaikal, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Nizamapatanam, Puducherry, Kakinada, Paradip, Gopalpur/Puri, Sagar Island, Port Blair, Diglipur, Mayabundur, Hut bay and Campbel Bay. CDS General Bipin Rawat had on Friday said the armed forces will express their gratitude to the coronavirus warriors through various military gestures on Sunday. General Bipin Rawat said the tri-services including Indian Army, Navy, and Air Force will organise various events for the doctors, nurses, police, media, delivery personnel, bank employees, government employees and local store owners as a mark of respect for them.
3 May 04:33 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/flypast-armed-forces-honor-frontline-workers-battling-coronavirus-surge-1673840-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
Here is how Indian Armed forces will honour COVID-19 warriors today
NEW DELHI: The Indian armed forces are set to conduct fly-pasts, play military bands, light up ships at sea and shower flower petals at hospitals treating COVID-19 patients across the country today to express gratitude to the people fighting the virus. "During the current crisis, it is the doctors, nurses, policemen, media, sanitation workers, delivery personnel, bank employees, government employees and local store owners who have put their lives on the line to ensure that we as a nation are protected and cared for adequately," said Army PRO Colonel Aman Anand. The nation will witness flypasts by fighter and transport aircraft of the Indian Air force at multiple locations. Col Anand said the aerial salute from the Armed Forces will be flown as low as 500 meters so that everyone is able to witness the same from the safety of their homes. The event will start on Sunday morning with a wreath-laying at the Police Memorial on behalf of all three Service Chiefs to pay respects for the sacrifice by police and paramilitary forces. These aircraft of the IAF will cover major towns from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and Dibrugarh to Kutch. The helicopters from IAF and IN will fly over hospitals treating corona patients and shower petals as a tribute to the corona warriors. Col Anand said military bands all over the country will visit various civil hospitals treating corona patients to express their gratitude by playing patriotic tunes. In the evening hours, Naval ships at sea on the coasts of Mumbai, Porbandar, Karwar, Vizag, Chennai, Kochi and Port Blair will light up and fire flares in solidarity with the efforts of our corona warriors. Indian Naval Aviation assets will shower petals by helicopters on hospitals treating corona patients at Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and Vizag between 10 am to 10:30 am. The Eastern Air Command will conduct petals drop in Itanagar, Guwahati, Shillong and Kolkata at 10:30 am. While Air Force will display a band performance in Guwahati. In Gujarat, South Western Air Command has planned petal drops over two hospitals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar which will be conducted from 9 am to 10 am. Trivandrum's two hospitals will witness showering of flower petals at 10 am by Air Force helicopter. Eastern Naval Command (ENC) will join the Armed Forces across the country to show solidarity of the frontline soldiers with the Corona Warriors on Sunday. Naval Officer-in-Charge in Andhra Pradesh will be visiting designated COVID hospital at Visakhapatnam and felicitate the medical fraternity for their efforts. This will be followed by a naval helicopter from INS Dega showering flower petals on the hospital treating COVID patients in the city. ENC will illuminate two ships at anchorage from 7:30 pm to midnight at Visakhapatnam coast. Navy officials said the Western Naval Command will illuminate five naval ships from 7:30 PM to 11:59 PM off Gateway of India in Mumbai. They would prominently display banners "India Salutes Corona Warriors". They will sound the ship's siren and fire a flare at 7: 30 PM at anchorage. Additionally, the Naval air stations at Goa would organise a human chain on the runway to honour the 'corona warriors'. Indian Coast Guard ships will be seen at 24 places some of which are i.e Porbandar, Okha, Ratnagiri, Dahanu, Murud, Goa, New Mangalore, Kavaratti, Karaikal, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Nizamapatanam, Puducherry, Kakinada, Paradip, Gopalpur/Puri, Sagar Island, Port Blair, Diglipur, Mayabundur, Hut bay and Campbel Bay. In Video: Watch: Indian Air Force's flypast over Srinagar's Dal Lake to pay tribute to Covid-19 Warriors
3 May 03:35 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/here-is-how-indian-armed-forces-will-honour-covid-19-warriors-today/articleshow/75513944.cmsRating: 0.30
Covid-19: CRPF headquarters sealed as employee tests positive; cases in India near 40,000
The CRPF headquarters in Delhi will be sealed as an employee tests positive for the coronavirus. The number of coronavirus cases in India rose to 39,980, according to the health ministry’s Sunday morning update. Covid-19 has killed 1,301 people in the country. The Indian Air Force on Sunday conducted fly-pasts and showered petals on hospital as part of the Armed Forces’ efforts to thank all the workers who are on the frontline of India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Army held band displays, while the Navy is expected to illuminate its ships at sea later tonight. This is the third major display of gratitude in the country, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first request to Indians to clap for health workers from and a second one to switch light candles and diyas from their balconies. Globally, the coronavirus has infected 34.26 lakh people and killed at least 2.43 lakh people, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. The national helpline number for the coronavirus is 011-23978046, and a toll-free number 1075. Here are the helpline numbers for states and the Union Territories. 2.10 pm: A bus driver of the Central Reserve Police Force has also tested positive for the coronavirus, reports PTI. The headquarters at Central Government Offices complex in South Delhi has been shut for sanitisation after the personal staff of a senior officer also tested positive. “One driver attached with CRPF headquarters has tested Covid-19 positive,” says a spokesperson. “The headquarters is closed for sanitisation till the task is completed.” 1.25 pm: The third phase of the coronavirus lockdown begins from Monday. Any individual who violates the lockdown measures will be prosecuted under the Disaster Management Act, 2005 and relevant provisions of the Indian Penal Code. Read more here: Covid-19 lockdown relaxed: Here’s a list of what is allowed and what remains prohibited from Monday 1.20 pm: Pakistan’s coronavirus tally reaches 19,103. As many as 440 people have died, PTI reports. 1.15 pm: New cases in more states: Haryana: 421 total cases, five deaths, Andhra Pradesh: 58 new cases, total rises to 1,583, toll now 33 1 pm: Here are some more visuals of the defence forces’ acts to thank “corona warriors”. 12.25 pm: Karnataka reports five new cases of the coronavirus between Saturday 5 pm and noon on Sunday. The total number of cases in the state rises to 606, while 25 people have died. 12.20 pm: The Indian Air Force is conducting fly-pasts and showering petals on hospital, while the Army is conducting band displays as part of the Armed Forces’ efforts to thank all the workers who are on the frontline of India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. The Navy is expected to illuminate its ships at sea. This is the third major display of gratitude in the country, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first request to Indians to clap for health workers from and a second one to switch light candles and diyas from their balconies. Here are some more visuals of the various displays from across India. 12.15 pm: The CRPF headquarters in Delhi will be sealed as an employee tests positive for the coronavirus, ANI reports. 12.10 pm: Representatives of the chiefs of the three Forces pay their tributes at the National Police Memorial in Delhi. 12.05 pm: Here are some visuals of the Armed Forces thanking frontline workers. 11.14 am: The Dalai Lama has called on every human being to come together in a “coordinated, global response” to the coronavirus, the Hindustan Times reports. “In this time of crisis, we face threats to our health and sadness for the family and friends we have lost,” the spiritual leader of Tibetan Buddhism says. “This crisis and its consequences serve as a warning that only by coming together in a coordinated, global response, will we meet the unprecedented magnitude of the challenges we face.” 11.11 pm: The United Arab Emirates has sent a plane carrying seven tonnes of medical supplies to India. “The UAE is committed to extending critical support to nations seeking to bolster their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic,” UAE Ambassador to India Dr Ahmed Abdul Rahman Albanna says. “UAE assistance to India comes in recognition of the profound and brotherly ties our two countries have shared throughout the years.” 11.09 am: The Shiv Sena has said that all political parties should stop playing communal politics in future and instead work towards bringing the economy back on track, PTI reports. The party says that it is clear from the discussion held between Congress leader Rahul Gandhi and former Reserve Bank of India Governor Raghuram Rajan that continuing the lockdown for an indefinite period will hurt the economy. 11.01 am: A migrant labourer who attempted to cycle home 1,200 km from Delhi to Bihar’s Khagaria has died in Uttar Pradesh’s Shahajahanpur district, NDTV reports. His autopsy has revealed chronic lung disease as the cause of death. 10.54 am: Navy chopper showers flower petals on Goa Medical College in Panaji to express gratitude towards medical professionals fighting. 10.53 am: A total of 10,46,450 samples have been tested as of 9 am on Sunday, says the Indian Council of Medical Research according to ANI. 10.50 am: Indian Air Force aircraft flypast over Rajpath to express gratitude towards medical professionals and all frontline workers in fighting Covid-19. 10.47 am: The Railways Ministry has published guidelines to operate special trains to take stranded people back to their home towns. It says the local state government authority must hand over tickets to passengers, collect the fare and give the amount to railways. 10.42 am: The Indian Air Force’s Su-30 aircraft flypast in Mumbai to express gratitude towards medical professionals and all frontline workers in fighting the coronavirus. 10.38 am: India’s former Chief Economic Advisor Arvind Subramanian says in an article in The Indian Express that the trade-off between saving lives and protecting livelihoods is different here, because of the lack of capacity to provide good healthcare facilities or the ability to enforce a stringent lockdown. Subramanian says India should prioritise preserving livelihoods. 10.33 am: The Meghalaya government has announced several relaxations in restrictions, including the functioning of offices in the state secretariat and directorates, PTI reports. Deputy Chief Minister Prestone Tyensong says curfew will be lifted in Shillong agglomeration with effect from Monday. 10.27 am: India’s richest shrine, the Tirupati Balaji temple in Andhra Pradesh, has laid off 1,300 contractual workers, News18 reports. 10.18 am: Congress leader Priyanka Gandhi has sought government audit of the PM-CARES fund, PTI reports. Gandhi says transparency will be good for the government and the public during the coronavirus crisis. 10.10 am: Jharkhand Chief Minister Hemant Soren has expressed his disappointment with the Railways’ decision to charge Rs 50 per passenger travelling in the special trains. “This is really sad. The central government should reconsider this decision,” Soren tweets. “n this hour of disaster, it is an injustice to the labour colleagues returning back home.” 10 am: An Indian Army band performs outside a hospital in Panchkula, Haryana to express their gratitude to frontline workers. 9.55 am: Rajasthan reports 31 new cases till 9 am on Sunday. The total number of cases in the state rise to 2,803. 9.45 am: A group of activists tracking the deaths during the ongoing nationwide lockdown say that more than 310 people died due to starvation, exhaustion, suicide, accidents and other non-virus related reasons. “News reports tracked during the ongoing lockdown suggest that more than 300 people died because of the lockdown: as a result of hunger, financial distress and exhaustion, due to police atrocities for lockdown violations, and inability to get timely medical attention,” the group of activists and academics said in a statement, according to The Hindu. “There have been a staggering number of suicides as well, caused by fear of infection, loneliness, lack of freedom of movement, and alcohol withdrawal during the lockdown.” 9.40 am: An IAF helicopter showers flower petals on the Police War Memorial to pay tribute to the police for their contribution in the fight against Covid-19. 9.35 am: British Prime Minister Boris Johnson says doctors gave him “litres and litres of oxygen” to keep him alive when he was in hospital with the coronavirus, The Sun reports. “It was a tough old moment, I won’t deny it,” Johnson says. “They had a strategy to deal with a ‘death of Stalin’-type scenario. I was not in particularly brilliant shape and I was aware there were contingency plans in place. The doctors had all sorts of arrangements for what to do if things went badly wrong. They gave me a face mask so I got litres and litres of oxygen and for a long time I had that and the little nose jobbie.” 9.30 am: China says it confirmed only two new coronavirus cases on Saturday, according to AFP. The country has 82,877 confirmed cases so far officially. Its official toll is 4,633. 9.27 am: India’s Covid-19 tally touches 39,980, according to the Centre’s update on Sunday morning. This includes 28,046 active cases, 1,301 deaths. More than 10,000 people have recovered. 9.19 am: National emergency measures in France will be extended till July 24. This will give the government power to impose restrictions to fight the virus. 9.17 am:Spain makes it compulsory to wear masks on public transport from Monday. The government has promised to distribute 13 million masks, at transport locations and to local authorities, BBC reports. The country has nearly 2.5 lakh cases and 25,100 deaths. 9.15 am: Ireland extends lockdown till May 18, The Guardian reports. The country will then introduce a phased exit over the next three months. Ireland has so far reported 1,286 deaths and 21,176 cases. 9.10 am: Here are the details of the aerial salute. 9.06 am: The IAF aircraft fly past Sukhna Lake in Chandigarh. The “two IAF C-130J Super Hercules special operations transport aircraft” took off in Srinagar and are expected to fly till Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, according to ANI. 9 am: Entrepreneurs and innovators across India have responded quickly to the challenge posed by the Covid-19 pandemic. A host of new innovations, some emerging from start-ups that have been incubated by universities, have appeared in recent weeks. Firms have developed hand sanitizer-dispensing robots and medical supply-delivering drones. Read more here: Indian startups are fighting Covid-19 with innovation 8.55 am: Indian Air Force jets fly past the Dal Lake in Srinagar to pay tribute to frontline workers fighting the coronavirus. 8.45 am: How will physical distancing and travel restrictions affect litfests after Covid-19? Here’s a prognostication of the future of the literature festival by the director of three such events. 8.35 am: The Covid-19 pandemic and resultant lockdown triggered vast movements of internal migrant workers across the length and breadth of the country, desperate to leave the urban areas where they work to reach their home villages. Only a few were able to make it back. The large majority of migrant workers remain stranded in cities and towns, where they have not been paid wages for previous work, forced to take unpaid leave, or removed from their jobs. In panic, they are calling numerous helplines, most of which remain unreachable, to ask for rations, wages or to let them return home. Read more here: In India’s post-Covid cities, circular migrants must be given their legitimate rights 8.25 am: To understand the spread of Covid-19, the pandemic is more usefully viewed as a series of distinct local epidemics. The way the virus has spread in different countries, and even in particular states or regions within them, has been quite varied. A New Zealand study has mapped the coronavirus epidemic curve for 25 countries and modelled how the spread of the virus has changed in response to the various lockdown measures. Read more here: In charts: Are stringent lockdown measures more effective in curbing Covid-19 spread? 8 am: The Bhopal district administration has decided to survey all survivors of the 1984 Union Carbide gas leak tragedy and identify patients at high risk for the coronavirus. The survivors have greater vulnerability to the disease, having suffered the poisonous effects of the gas. Read more here: Covid-19: All survivors of Bhopal gas tragedy to be surveyed, those at high risk will be tested 7.55 am:Lokpal member retired Justice AK Tripathi dies due to the coronavirus infection, NDTV reports. He was 62. He was admitted to the AIIMS in Delhi on April 2. His daughter and cook, also infected with Covid-19, have recovered. 7.52 am: Globally, the coronavirus has infected 34.26 lakh people and killed at least 2.43 lakh people, according to the Johns Hopkins tracker. 7.50 am: This is the third major display of gratitude in the country, following Prime Minister Narendra Modi’s first request to Indians to clap for health workers from and a second one to switch light candles and diyas from their balconies. 7.48 am: Ships of the Southern Naval Command rehearse for the “India Salutes Corona Warriors” campaign on Saturday, ANI reports. Four ships were illuminated at The Anchorage in Ernakulam channel in Kochi. India’s armed forces are expected to conduct fly-pasts, illuminate ships at sea, shower petals on hospitals and lay wreaths on memorials for police officers on Sunday to thank all the workers who are on the frontline of India’s fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Read more here: Covid-19: Armed forces to light up warships, conduct flypasts to thank frontline workers on Sunday 7.45 am: A train carrying students from Kota in Rajasthan reaches Ranchi in Jharkhand, ANI reports. 7.42 am: A special train carrying around 1,200 migrant workers left for Gorakhpur in UP from Bhiwandi in Maharashtra on Sunday morning, ANI reports. 7.40 am: Odisha reports two new cases in the last 24 hours, total rises to 159, ANI reports. One person has died. 7.38 am: US records 1,435 deaths in 24 hours, toll climbs to 66,224. The total number of cases in the country crosses 11 lakh, according to AFP. 7.35 am: More than 800 workers reach Lucknow on Sunday morning in a special train from Nashik in Maharashtra, PTI reports. This is the first special train to reach Uttar Pradesh with stranded migrant workers. 7.30 am: Here are the top updates from Saturday:
3 May 02:54 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/latest/960884/covid-19-armed-forces-set-to-thank-corona-warriors-today-cases-in-india-reach-37776Rating: 0.30
Flypasts to petal drops: How armed forces will thank Covid warriors today
The Indian armed forces have made elaborate arrangements to express gratitude to doctors, paramedics, sanitation staff and other front-line workers engaged in fighting the coronavirus pandemic by conducting aerial flypasts, light up naval ships and shower flower petals on hospitals on Sunday. On Friday, Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat announced that the three services will carry out a series of activities to thank the "corona warriors". "The nation stood together and showed resilience in dealing with the coronavirus pandemic. On behalf of armed forces, we want to thank all the corona warriors -- doctors, nurses, sanitation workers, police, home guards, delivery boys and media," he said. The event will start on Sunday morning with a wreath-laying at the Police Memorial in New Delhi on behalf of all three Service Chiefs to pay respects for the sacrifice by police and paramilitary forces. It will be followed by flypasts by fighter and transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force, covering a sizeable number of cities and towns across the country between 10 am to 11 am, officials told news agency PTI. "These aircraft will cover major towns starting from Srinagar to Thiruvananthapuram and Dibrugarh to Kutch. Helicopters from the IAF and Indian Navy will fly over hospitals treating coronavirus patients and shower petals as a tribute to the corona warriors," Army PRO Colonel Aman Anand said. He said some of the aircraft will be flown as low as 500 metres so that people can witness the flypasts from the safety of their homes. The Eastern Air Command will conduct petal drops in Itanagar, Guwahati, Shillong and Kolkata at 10:30 am. While Air Force will display a band performance in Guwahati. In Gujarat, South Western Air Command has planned petal drops over two hospitals in Ahmedabad and Gandhinagar which will be conducted from 9 am to 10 am. ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Over 1 mn RT-PCR tests conducted; total India cases 39699 Military bands will play "patriotic tunes" outside various civil hospitals treating coronavirus patients to express gratitude to doctors, nurses and paramedics, Col Anand added. Separately, Indian Navy helicopters would shower petals on hospitals treating coronavirus patients at Mumbai, Goa, Kochi and Vizag between 10 am to 10.30 am. Navy officials said the Western Naval Command will illuminate five naval ships from 7.30 pm to 11.59 pm off Gateway of India in Mumbai. They would display banners like "India Salutes Corona Warriors" and will sound the siren of the ships and fire flares at 7.30 pm at anchorage. Additionally, the Naval air stations at Goa would organise a human chain on the runway. The Eastern Naval Command will illuminate two ships at anchorage from 7.30 pm to midnight at Visakhapatnam coast. ALSO READ: Covid-19 Factoid: 2 of every 5 new cases last week were from Maharashtra Col Anand said Indian Coast Guard ships will be seen at 24 places, including in Porbandar, Okha, Ratnagiri, Dahanu, Murud, Goa, New Mangalaore, Kavarati, Karaikal, Chennai, Krishnapatnam, Nizamapatanam, Puducherry, Kakinada, Paradip, Sagar Island, Port Blair, Diglipur, Mayabundur, Hut bay and Campbel Bay. So far, coronavirus has infected 37,776 people in India and claimed the lives of 1,223 people, according to the Union Health Ministry. Gen Rawat's announcement about the special activities came shortly before the Union Home Ministry said the the current lockdown will be extended by another two weeks from Monday. The lockdown came into force on March 25 and was to end on April 14. It was first extended till May 3.
3 May 01:44 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/coronavirus-update-flypasts-to-petal-drops-how-armed-forces-will-thank-covid-warriors-today-120050300096_1.htmlRating: 0.30
SEE: Armed forces salute India's COVID-19 warriors
India's armed forces on Sunday exhibited their appreciation and gratitude towards all frontline workers including medical professionals, police and sanitation workers for their contribution in fight against COVID-19. Several activities like fly-pasts, flashing warship lights and other displays by the Indian army bands were included in Sunday’s spectacular show across the country. Here are some of the glimpses. A navy ship is illuminated to express gratitude towards the frontline workers for their contribution in India's fight against COVID-19 in Mumbai. Photograph: Mitesh Bhuvad/PTI Photo A team of Delhi Police conducts rounds of the All India Institute of Medical Sciences to thank medical professionals for their fight against the COVID-19. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo WATCH: INS Vikramaditya salutes corona warriors An Indian Air Force chopper showers flower petals on the Safdarjung Hospital in New Delhi to express gratitude towards medical professionals for their contribution in fight against COVID-19. Photograph: Vijay Verma/PTI Photo An Indian Navy helicopter showers flower petals on medics at INHS Asvini in Mumbai. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo Indian Air Force's Su-30 fighter aircraft fly over Mumbai to pay tribute to the frontline COVID-19 warriors. Photograph: Shashank Parade/PTI Photo WATCH: Chetak helicopter showers flower petals on Visakhapatnam hospital Air Force helicopter showering flower on RML in New Delhi during the nationwide lockdown imposed in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. Photograph: Atul Yadav/PTI Photo A medic shows flowers showered by an Indian Army helicopter on medical professional at Gauhati Medical College and Hospitals. Photograph: PTI Photo INS Jalashwa of Eastern Naval Command on a surveillance mission in the Bay of Bengal thanks coronavirus warriors. Photograph: @ProDefLko/Twitter WATCH: IAF's Su-30MKI fly over Mumbai to salute 'corona warriors' Three C-130 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force fly over the Rajpath to express gratitude towards all frontline workers. Photograph: Manvender Vashist/PTI Photo Three C-130 transport aircraft of the Indian Air Force fly over the Raisina Hill. Photograph: Subhav Shukla/PTI Photo WATCH: Indian Navy fire flares for COVID-19 warriors The gesture of thanks started with laying of flowers by representatives of the three services of armed forces at the police memorial in Delhi. Photograph: @SpokespersonMoD/Twitter COVID-19 warriors at KGMC Hospital in Lucknow wave back at IAF helicopter flying to shower petals. Photograph: @ProDefLko/Twitter WATCH: IAF's band performs as chopper salutes 'corona warriors' IAF's chopper flies over the Police War Memorial in New Delhi to shower flower petals to express gratitude and appreciation towards the police officials on duty amid pandemic. Photograph: @SpokespersonMoD/Twitter Personnel onboard INS Savitri of the Eastern Naval Command on a mission deployment, salute India's 'corona warriors'. Photograph: @ProDefLko/Twitter
3 May 00:00 • Rediff • https://www.rediff.com/news/report/pix-armed-forces-salute-covid-19-warriors/20200503.htmRating: 0.30
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic
3 May 20:55
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4 articles
Weight: 2.93
Importance: 2.93
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:53
Average US: 19.675
Weighted average US: 22.879632017417805
Average GB: 0.225
Weighted average GB: 0.5835492452601746
Average IN: 8.600000000000001
Weighted average IN: 6.763162612659305
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic
TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - David Elliot first thought of shooting an elk to help feed family and friends back in January when the United States reported its first novel coronavirus case. Elliot, emergency manager at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico, had always wanted to go big-game hunting and, with the pandemic spreading, there seemed no better time to try to fill his freezer with free-range, super-lean meat. So for the first time in his life, despite not owning a rifle or ever having hunted large animals, he put his name in for New Mexico’s annual elk permit draw. With some U.S. meat processors halting operations as workers fall ill, companies warning of shortages, and people having more time on their hands and possibly less money due to shutdowns and layoffs, he is among a growing number of Americans turning to hunting for food, according to state data and hunting groups. “I understand some people might be driven by like antlers or some sort of glory. I don’t want to do that,” said Elliot, 37, who received a prized permit to shoot a female elk in an area of Taos County where herds of the animal graze in vast plains studded with extinct volcanoes. Elliot plans to borrow a rifle and maybe even a horse to carry the elk back to his vehicle after the hunt in November. “I want to make sure it’s a clean, humane shot, as much as possible, and get a bunch of food.” Game and fish agencies from Minnesota to New Mexico have reported an increase in either hunting license sales, permit applications, or both this spring. Indiana saw a 28% jump in turkey license sales during the first week of the season as hunters likely had more time to get out into the woods, said Marty Benson, a spokesman for the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Firearm manufacturers have reported sales increases, and the FBI carried out 3.74 million background checks in March, a record for any month. That followed a decline of 255,000 in the number of hunters between 2016 and 2020, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service license data, a 2% fall, as fewer young people took up the activity, hunting advocates say. Hank Forester of Quality Deer Management Association expects a resurgence after many Americans saw empty meat shelves at the grocery store for the first time during March and April. “People are starting to consider self-reliance and where their food comes from,” said Forester of the hunter research and training group. “We’re all born hunters.” Teachers Brian Van Nevel and Nathaniel Evans get up at 4 a.m. to try to be first into the forests around Taos to hunt wild turkey. Evans, a middle-school teacher, has seen a lot more people stalking birds this year. A town councilor as well, he is hunting not just for food but to reconnect with himself at a time when he is guiding Taos’ response to the pandemic as well as teaching online classes. “Its been so important for me, being able to go out and kind of cleanse my mental card and just go and be present, you really have to be present, and quiet and listening,” said Evans, 38, who in April shot a 17-pound (7.7-kg) bird. Some states such as Washington and Illinois closed state lands as the virus spread, prompting the National Rifle Association to lobby governors to keep them open to allow people to hunt for food. Officials in Washington issued 10 poaching charges between March 25 and April 26 compared with three in the year-earlier period, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department reported. Nina Stafford, 42, a building contractor from Fayetteville, Georgia, killed her first deer in January. She described the experience as “thrilling, exciting and remorseful for the deer.” “The coronavirus has only made me want to go and do it more so that I don’t have that scared feeling of where’s my next meal going to come from,” said Stafford, who also grows vegetables and fruit. To be sure, stocks of species like wild turkey can only sustain so many hunters. Wildlife ecologists Michael Chamberlain and Brett Collier fear the turkey’s existing population decline will steepen this spring. Turkey hunter numbers in wildlife management areas in Georgia increased 47% this year from 2019, while turkeys killed during the first 23 days of the season rose 26%, despite no recent increase in bird numbers, the ecologists, respectively with the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, wrote in a report, citing state department of natural resources preliminary data. Not all states have reported an increase in hunting license applications, with both California and Florida seeing declines. Still, big game such as deer could see similar pressure in the autumn as hunters have more time to max out “bag limits,” which in the case of Georgia is 12 animals, the ecologists said. Elk hunts in most states are limited to a single animal per hunter who draws a permit in an annual lottery. Elliot sees no downside to paying $60 for a tag that could allow him to get close to 200 pounds (91 kg) of meat, if he can get a cow elk. “It’s not just because what’s going on in the world right now. Frankly I don’t make that much money, so like this is just a good idea anyway,” said Elliot.
3 May 20:55 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-hunting-idUSKBN22F0G4Rating: 4.04
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic
By Andrew Hay TAOS, N.M., May 3 (Reuters) - David Elliot first thought of shooting an elk to help feed family and friends back in January when the United States reported its first novel coronavirus case. Elliot, emergency manager at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico, had always wanted to go big-game hunting and, with the pandemic spreading, there seemed no better time to try to fill his freezer with free-range, super-lean meat. So for the first time in his life, despite not owning a rifle or ever having hunted large animals, he put his name in for New Mexico's annual elk permit draw. With some U.S. meat processors halting operations as workers fall ill, companies warning of shortages, and people having more time on their hands and possibly less money due to shutdowns and layoffs, he is among a growing number of Americans turning to hunting for food, according to state data and hunting groups. "I understand some people might be driven by like antlers or some sort of glory. I don't want to do that," said Elliot, 37, who received a prized permit to shoot a female elk in an area of Taos County where herds of the animal graze in vast plains studded with extinct volcanoes. Elliot plans to borrow a rifle and maybe even a horse to carry the elk back to his vehicle after the hunt in November. "I want to make sure it's a clean, humane shot, as much as possible, and get a bunch of food." Game and fish agencies from Minnesota to New Mexico have reported an increase in either hunting license sales, permit applications, or both this spring. Indiana saw a 28% jump in turkey license sales during the first week of the season as hunters likely had more time to get out into the woods, said Marty Benson, a spokesman for the state's Department of Natural Resources. Firearm manufacturers have reported sales increases, and the FBI carried out 3.74 million background checks in March, a record for any month. That followed a decline of 255,000 in the number of hunters between 2016 and 2020, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service license data, a 2% fall, as fewer young people took up the activity, hunting advocates say. Hank Forester of Quality Deer Management Association expects a resurgence after many Americans saw empty meat shelves at the grocery store for the first time during March and April. "People are starting to consider self-reliance and where their food comes from," said Forester of the hunter research and training group. "We're all born hunters." 'MENTAL CLEANSE' Teachers Brian Van Nevel and Nathaniel Evans get up at 4 a.m. to try to be first into the forests around Taos to hunt wild turkey. Evans, a middle-school teacher, has seen a lot more people stalking birds this year. A town councilor as well, he is hunting not just for food but to reconnect with himself at a time when he is guiding Taos' response to the pandemic as well as teaching online classes. "Its been so important for me, being able to go out and kind of cleanse my mental card and just go and be present, you really have to be present, and quiet and listening," said Evans, 38, who in April shot a 17-pound (7.7-kg) bird. Some states such as Washington and Illinois closed state lands as the virus spread, prompting the National Rifle Association to lobby governors to keep them open to allow people to hunt for food. Officials in Washington issued 10 poaching charges between March 25 and April 26 compared with three in the year-earlier period, the state's Fish and Wildlife Department reported. 'A GOOD IDEA' Nina Stafford, 42, a building contractor from Fayetteville, Georgia, killed her first deer in January. She described the experience as "thrilling, exciting and remorseful for the deer." "The coronavirus has only made me want to go and do it more so that I don't have that scared feeling of where's my next meal going to come from," said Stafford, who also grows vegetables and fruit. To be sure, stocks of species like wild turkey can only sustain so many hunters. Wildlife ecologists Michael Chamberlain and Brett Collier fear the turkey's existing population decline will steepen this spring. Turkey hunter numbers in wildlife management areas in Georgia increased 47% this year from 2019, while turkeys killed during the first 23 days of the season rose 26%, despite no recent increase in bird numbers, the ecologists, respectively with the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, wrote in a report, citing state department of natural resources preliminary data. Not all states have reported an increase in hunting license applications, with both California and Florida seeing declines. Still, big game such as deer could see similar pressure in the autumn as hunters have more time to max out "bag limits," which in the case of Georgia is 12 animals, the ecologists said. Elk hunts in most states are limited to a single animal per hunter who draws a permit in an annual lottery. Elliot sees no downside to paying $60 for a tag that could allow him to get close to 200 pounds (91 kg) of meat, if he can get a cow elk. "It's not just because what's going on in the world right now. Frankly I don't make that much money, so like this is just a good idea anyway," said Elliot. (Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney) © Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020. Click For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
3 May 20:53 • Successful Farming • https://www.agriculture.com/markets/newswire/update-1-facing-meat-shortages-some-americans-turn-to-hunting-during-pandemicRating: 0.30
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic
TAOS — David Elliot first thought of shooting an elk to help feed family and friends back in January when the United States reported its first novel coronavirus case. Elliot, emergency manager at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico, had always wanted to go big-game hunting and, with the pandemic spreading, there seemed no better time to try to fill his freezer with free-range, super-lean meat. So for the first time in his life, despite not owning a rifle or ever having hunted large animals, he put his name in for New Mexico’s annual elk permit draw. With some U.S. meat processors halting operations as workers fall ill, companies warning of shortages, and people having more time on their hands and possibly less money due to shutdowns and layoffs, he is among a growing number of Americans turning to hunting for food, according to state data and hunting groups. “I understand some people might be driven by like antlers or some sort of glory. I don’t want to do that,” said Elliot, 37, who received a prized permit to shoot a female elk in an area of Taos County where herds of the animal graze in vast plains studded with extinct volcanoes. Elliot plans to borrow a rifle and maybe even a horse to carry the elk back to his vehicle after the hunt in November. “I want to make sure it’s a clean, humane shot, as much as possible, and get a bunch of food.” Game and fish agencies from Minnesota to New Mexico have reported an increase in either hunting license sales, permit applications, or both this spring. Indiana saw a 28% jump in turkey license sales during the first week of the season as hunters likely had more time to get out into the woods, said Marty Benson, a spokesman for the state’s Department of Natural Resources. Firearm manufacturers have reported sales increases, and the FBI carried out 3.74 million background checks in March, a record for any month. That followed a decline of 255,000 in the number of hunters between 2016 and 2020, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service license data, a 2% fall, as fewer young people took up the activity, hunting advocates say. Hank Forester of Quality Deer Management Association expects a resurgence after many Americans saw empty meat shelves at the grocery store for the first time during March and April. “People are starting to consider self-reliance and where their food comes from,” said Forester of the hunter research and training group. “We’re all born hunters.” ‘MENTAL CLEANSE’ Teachers Brian Van Nevel and Nathaniel Evans get up at 4 a.m. to try to be first into the forests around Taos to hunt wild turkey. Evans, a middle-school teacher, has seen a lot more people stalking birds this year. A town councilor as well, he is hunting not just for food but to reconnect with himself at a time when he is guiding Taos’ response to the pandemic as well as teaching online classes. “Its been so important for me, being able to go out and kind of cleanse my mental card and just go and be present, you really have to be present, and quiet and listening,” said Evans, 38, who in April shot a 17-pound (7.7-kg) bird. Some states such as Washington and Illinois closed state lands as the virus spread, prompting the National Rifle Association to lobby governors to keep them open to allow people to hunt for food. Officials in Washington issued 10 poaching charges between March 25 and April 26 compared with three in the year-earlier period, the state’s Fish and Wildlife Department reported. ‘A GOOD IDEA’ Nina Stafford, 42, a building contractor from Fayetteville, Georgia, killed her first deer in January. She described the experience as “thrilling, exciting and remorseful for the deer.” “The coronavirus has only made me want to go and do it more so that I don’t have that scared feeling of where’s my next meal going to come from,” said Stafford, who also grows vegetables and fruit. To be sure, stocks of species like wild turkey can only sustain so many hunters. Wildlife ecologists Michael Chamberlain and Brett Collier fear the turkey’s existing population decline will steepen this spring. Turkey hunter numbers in wildlife management areas in Georgia increased 47% this year from 2019, while turkeys killed during the first 23 days of the season rose 26%, despite no recent increase in bird numbers, the ecologists, respectively with the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, wrote in a report, citing state department of natural resources preliminary data. Not all states have reported an increase in hunting license applications, with both California and Florida seeing declines. Still, big game such as deer could see similar pressure in the autumn as hunters have more time to max out “bag limits,” which in the case of Georgia is 12 animals, the ecologists said. Elk hunts in most states are limited to a single animal per hunter who draws a permit in an annual lottery. Elliot sees no downside to paying $60 for a tag that could allow him to get close to 200 pounds (91 kg) of meat, if he can get a cow elk. “It’s not just because what’s going on in the world right now. Frankly I don’t make that much money, so like this is just a good idea anyway,” said Elliot. (Reporting by Andrew Hay in Taos, New Mexico; Editing by Bill Tarrant, Daniel Wallis and Peter Cooney)
3 May 20:54 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/environment-pmn/facing-meat-shortages-some-americans-turn-to-hunting-during-pandemicRating: 1.59
Facing meat shortages, some Americans turn to hunting during pandemic
By Andrew Hay TAOS, N.M. (Reuters) - David Elliot first thought of shooting an elk to help feed family and friends back in January when the United States reported its first novel coronavirus case. Elliot, emergency manager at Holy Cross Hospital in Taos, New Mexico, had always wanted to go big-game hunting and, with the pandemic spreading, there seemed no better time to try to fill his freezer with free-range, super-lean meat. So for the first time in his life, despite not owning a rifle or ever having hunted large animals, he put his name in for New Mexico's annual elk permit draw. With some U.S. meat processors halting operations as workers fall ill, companies warning of shortages, and people having more time on their hands and possibly less money due to shutdowns and layoffs, he is among a growing number of Americans turning to hunting for food, according to state data and hunting groups. "I understand some people might be driven by like antlers or some sort of glory. I don't want to do that," said Elliot, 37, who received a prized permit to shoot a female elk in an area of Taos County where herds of the animal graze in vast plains studded with extinct volcanoes. Elliot plans to borrow a rifle and maybe even a horse to carry the elk back to his vehicle after the hunt in November. "I want to make sure it's a clean, humane shot, as much as possible, and get a bunch of food." Game and fish agencies from Minnesota to New Mexico have reported an increase in either hunting license sales, permit applications, or both this spring. Indiana saw a 28% jump in turkey license sales during the first week of the season as hunters likely had more time to get out into the woods, said Marty Benson, a spokesman for the state's Department of Natural Resources. Firearm manufacturers have reported sales increases, and the FBI carried out 3.74 million background checks in March, a record for any month. That followed a decline of 255,000 in the number of hunters between 2016 and 2020, based on U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service license data, a 2% fall, as fewer young people took up the activity, hunting advocates say. Hank Forester of Quality Deer Management Association expects a resurgence after many Americans saw empty meat shelves at the grocery store for the first time during March and April. "People are starting to consider self-reliance and where their food comes from," said Forester of the hunter research and training group. "We're all born hunters." 'MENTAL CLEANSE' Teachers Brian Van Nevel and Nathaniel Evans get up at 4 a.m. to try to be first into the forests around Taos to hunt wild turkey. Evans, a middle-school teacher, has seen a lot more people stalking birds this year. A town councilor as well, he is hunting not just for food but to reconnect with himself at a time when he is guiding Taos' response to the pandemic as well as teaching online classes. "Its been so important for me, being able to go out and kind of cleanse my mental card and just go and be present, you really have to be present, and quiet and listening," said Evans, 38, who in April shot a 17-pound (7.7-kg) bird. Some states such as Washington and Illinois closed state lands as the virus spread, prompting the National Rifle Association to lobby governors to keep them open to allow people to hunt for food. Officials in Washington issued 10 poaching charges between March 25 and April 26 compared with three in the year-earlier period, the state's Fish and Wildlife Department reported. 'A GOOD IDEA' Nina Stafford, 42, a building contractor from Fayetteville, Georgia, killed her first deer in January. She described the experience as "thrilling, exciting and remorseful for the deer." "The coronavirus has only made me want to go and do it more so that I don't have that scared feeling of where's my next meal going to come from," said Stafford, who also grows vegetables and fruit. To be sure, stocks of species like wild turkey can only sustain so many hunters. Wildlife ecologists Michael Chamberlain and Brett Collier fear the turkey's existing population decline will steepen this spring. Turkey hunter numbers in wildlife management areas in Georgia increased 47% this year from 2019, while turkeys killed during the first 23 days of the season rose 26%, despite no recent increase in bird numbers, the ecologists, respectively with the University of Georgia and Louisiana State University, wrote in a report, citing state department of natural resources preliminary data. Not all states have reported an increase in hunting license applications, with both California and Florida seeing declines. Still, big game such as deer could see similar pressure in the autumn as hunters have more time to max out "bag limits," which in the case of Georgia is 12 animals, the ecologists said. Elk hunts in most states are limited to a single animal per hunter who draws a permit in an annual lottery. Elliot sees no downside to paying $60 for a tag that could allow him to get close to 200 pounds (91 kg) of meat, if he can get a cow elk. "It's not just because what's going on in the world right now. Frankly I don't make that much money, so like this is just a good idea anyway," said Elliot.
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/commodities-news/americans-turn-to-hunting-for-food-renewal-during-pandemic-2158983Rating: 0.30
U.S. CDC reports 1,122,486 coronavirus cases, 65,735 deaths
3 May 22:03
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42 articles
Weight: 2.91
Importance: 2.91
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:54
Average US: 11.313333333333333
Weighted average US: 9.384366414334533
Average GB: 1.095
Weighted average GB: 2.168500356929195
Average IN: 13.985714285714288
Weighted average IN: 24.231984252911204
U.S. CDC reports 1,122,486 coronavirus cases, 65,735 deaths
(Reuters) - The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 1,122,486 U.S. cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 29,671 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,452 to 65,735. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on Saturday, compared with its count a day earlier. (bit.ly/2IVY1JT) The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states. The tally reported over the weekend is preliminary and will be updated on Monday.
3 May 22:03 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-cdc-idUSKBN22F0WDRating: 4.04
Gujarat: 28 die as state records 391 new cases in a day
Gujarat recorded the highest number of COVID-19 deaths in a single day—28—on Sunday and 391 new positive cases, taking the total cases in the state to 5,496. Within two days of being categorised as a green district, Devbhumi Dwarka Sunday registered three cases. With this, 31 out of 33 districts barring Amreli and Junagadh are affected by the virus. Click here for more Twenty-three people died in Ahmedabad alone. Of them, 21 died at Civil hospital and one each at the Sola Civil Hospital and the Ahmedabad Municipal Corporation-run SVP hospital. According to a state health bulletin, out of the 28 deaths, 4 were directly caused by COVID-19. The 24 others had co-morbidities such as asthma, lung, liver and heart ailments, hypertension, diabetes, kidney stone and mental disorders.
3 May 19:29 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-coronavirus-cases-deaths-6392335/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus | Gujarat records 374 fresh cases, 28 deaths
Gujarat recorded 374 fresh COVID-19 cases and 28 deaths on Sunday, taking the total number to 5,428 cases and 290 deaths. As many as 146 patients were discharged after recovery, taking the total number to 1,042. The State has ramped testing with the infection surging. So far, 80,060 samples have been tested, including 5,944 from 5 p.m. Saturday to 5 p.m. Sunday. The State’s fatality rate, 5.4%, remains above the national average. Its recovery rate stands at 19.2%, which is substantially below the national average. Gujarat is the second State after Maharashtra in the number of cases and deaths. The infection has spread to 31 of the 33 districts, but nearly 85% of the cases and deaths have occurred in the main cities of Ahmedabad, Surat, Vadodara and Rajkot. As the single biggest cluster in the State and the second largest cluster after Mumbai, Ahmedabad has reported 3,817 cases and 208 deaths so far. On Sunday, the city reported 274 cases and 23 deaths. The situation is alarming in the city as the fatality rate stands at 5.5% and the recovery rate a mere 14%. A total of 533 patients have recovered and been discharged from hospitals. The number of cases has only gone up despite the strict lockdown measures taken in the city, including two weeks of curfew in the containment zones and in the areas from where the high incidence has been reported. After Ahmedabad comes Surat, where 30 deaths have occurred and 686 cases have been reported and 156 patients have been discharged. Vadodara has reported 350 cases, 25 deaths and 146 cases of recovery. The government has decided to continue the lockdown measures in Ahmedabad, Surat, Rajkot and Vadodara, despite some relaxations allowed by the Ministry of Home Affairs from Monday. “There will not be any relaxation in the main cities, and except for shops selling essentials, everything else will remain shut,” said an official statement.
3 May 16:24 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coronavirus-gujarat-records-374-fresh-cases-28-deaths/article31495559.eceRating: 0.30
Bangladesh registers most virus cases in a day
DHAKA: Bangladesh on Sunday recorded 665 new coronavirus cases, its highest number of the outbreak, taking the total infections to 9,455. Two more people died of the virus in the last 24 hours, raising the national death toll to 177. The South Asian nation confirmed its first Covid-19 case on March 8, and the virus-link death on March 18. The rising number of cases is also because of an increase in the country’s testing capacity. Bangladesh now has 33 testing labs nationwide, and a total of 5,368 samples were examined today, Nasima Sultana of the Directorate General of Health Services, told a news conference. Virus among police personnel At least 854 police personnel have so far contracted the virus, with 113 in the past 24 hours, Bangladesh Police told Anadolu Agency. Five police personnel have died of the virus so far, whereas 315 are under treatment at isolation centres, 1,250 are under home quarantine while 57 law enforcers made a recovery, according to the data. Dhaka Metropolitan Police recorded the highest number of infections among the police, with 449 of its personnel testing positive. With the rise in cases, the police force is struggling. Some 200,000 members of the workforce are on the field to ensure people’s safety, and keep the situation in order during the nationwide lockdown, which started on March 26, and is in place till May 15.
3 May 14:43 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213230/3-bangladesh-registers-virus-cases-day/Rating: 1.80
3 more coronavirus deaths, 49 cases seen in Southern Nevada
Clark County had three more coronavirus deaths and 49 new cases as of Sunday morning, according to the Southern Nevada Health District. Its total number of cases rose to 4,274. Statewide, 112 new cases were reported overnight Saturday, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. The state’s total is 262 deaths and 5,426 positive cases. Also Sunday, Washoe County reported an additional 28 cases of COVID-19, for a total of 977, and no new deaths. Experts have predicted that the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases will rise as testing becomes more widely available. Many patients with mild to moderate symptoms have previously been told to self-quarantine at home without being tested to confirm that they actually have it so as more are tested, the number of cases is expected to rise. More than 45,000 Nevadans had been tested as of Sunday morning, with the largest number of positive cases coming from 50- to 59-year-olds. More than 1,000 residents in their 50s have tested positive, according to the Department of Health and Human Services.
3 May 17:41 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/politics-and-government/clark-county/3-more-coronavirus-deaths-49-cases-seen-in-southern-nevada-2020305/Rating: 0.30
158 New COVID-19 Cases Detected In UP; Total Count Rises To 2,645
General News Written By Press Trust Of India | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 20:54 IST The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 2,645 with 158 more people testing positive for the infection on Sunday, officials said. The virus has claimed 43 lives in the state so far. "The state has reported a total number of 2,645 coronavirus cases till now, of which 754 have recovered while 43 died. There are 1,848 active cases now," an official release issued here said. Coronavirus cases have so far been reported from 64 of the 75 districts in the state. Six among these 64 districts have no active case at present. Of the total cases in the state so far, 1,138 are linked to the Tablighi Jamaat. The maximum 14 deaths have been reported from Agra, followed by seven in Moradabad; six in Meerut; four in Kanpur; two in Firozabad and one each in Varanasi, Aligarh, Mathura, Shravasti, Ghaziabad, Amroha, Bareilly, Basti, Bulandshahar and Lucknow.
3 May 20:54 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/158-new-covid-19-cases-detected-in-up-total-count-2645.htmlRating: 2.30
With 441 new cases, city tally up to 8,800
Mumbai reported 441 new cases and 21 deaths on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases in the city up to 8,800. At least 343 citizens have succumbed to the virus till now. According to the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s (BMC) daily report, of the 21 deaths, 10 patients suffered from co-morbid diseases and seven had age-related issues. One patient who succumbed was below the age of 40, 11 were above 60 years old and nine were between 40 and 60 years of age. The BMC said of the 441 new cases, only 381 were Sunday’s cases while 60 were patients who tested positive in various labs on April 30 and May 1 and have been included in the tally now. Around 100 patients who recovered were discharged on Sunday. The BMC has advised citizens who test positive not to rush to big hospitals for admission if they do not have symptoms. “The Health Department will guide you to nearby COVID-19 care centres,” it said. Another BMC staffer succumbed to the virus on Saturday. Eight of his colleagues have also tested positive for COVID-19. The 49-year-old mukadam from F South ward’s solid waste management (SWM) department had gone on leave for about a week. The patient, who lived at Kasarwadi municipal chawl in Dadar, reportedly visited a local dispensary when he started developing symptoms. He was admitted to KEM Hospital on Friday night where he tested positive and passed away within 24 hours. His family has been quarantined and will be tested. An official from the ward said he did not work in a containment zone but on a garbage disposal truck. Concerns have been raised in the past about the disposal of used masks, gloves and other contaminated material along with regular garbage. The BMC had held a health camp for its staffers from the ward earlier this week where eight staffers from SWM department had tested positive. Since none of them have symptoms, they have been kept in COVID Care Centre 1, meant for asymptomatic positives. “Our staff has been given gloves and masks to wear while working with solid waste. Besides, biomedical waste is collected and disposed separately. He had gone on leave but did not inform us of symptoms,” said an official from the BMC. The health officer of the ward claimed that she had not been notified of the case. Milind Ranade of Kachra Vahtuk Shramik Sangh said, “In Parel, in the past when conservancy staffers would be asked to go into containment zones, they were not even given protective suits. It was only after we demanded it that they were allowed the suits. Now they are being asked to wash those themselves and reuse them.”
3 May 20:31 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/with-441-new-cases-city-tally-up-to-8800/article31496637.eceRating: 0.30
Eight succumb to coronavirus as 363 new cases detected in Sindh: Murad
KARACHI (Dunya News) – Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah on Sunday said that 214 more patients recovered from coronavirus and returned to their homes while 363 more positive cases emerged between Saturday and Sunday. "This is for the first time the recovery ratio seems to be encouraging but more local spread cases are still on the rise," he said in a statement issued from the CM House. About daily cases of Coronavirus, the chief minister said that 3032 tests were conducted against which 363 new cases or 11.9 percent of the tests were diagnosed positive. The health department has tested 64,052 samples so far and detected 7465 new cases of coronavirus which constitute 11.7 percent cases of the total tests, he said. Syed Murad Ali Shah said that eight patients succumbed to the virus taking the death toll to 130 which was 1.7 percent of the total patients. "This shows that our recovery ratio is comparatively better," he said. The chief minister said that 5780 patients were under treatment, including 4638 at home isolation, 615 at Isolation centres and 527 at different hospitals. He added that 76 patients were in critical condition and of them 17 were on ventilators. Sharing the data of Karachi, the CM Sindh said that out of 363 cases 231 belonged to the city. He said that 67 cases have been detected in district East, 55 South, 45 Central, 28 West, 21 Korangi and 15 Malir. He said that Larkana and Ghotki have produced more cases of local transmission. He disclosed that Larkana has 30 cases, Ghotki 21 cases, Hyderabad 13, Shaheed Benazirabad 13, Khairpur 10, Jacobabad nine, Sukkur eight, Matiari 2 and Dadu one. The chief minister said that the local spread was quite worrisome. "We have tried to contain it but people do not care and violate SOPs and ignore social distancing," he said and concluded that the epidemic could be defeated when everyone of us would take the responsibility of securing himself and his family.
3 May 21:38 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/543890-Eight-succumb-coronavirus-363-new-cases-detected-Sindh-CM-MuradRating: 1.71
U.S. CDC reports 1,122,486 coronavirus cases, 65,735 deaths
The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) on Sunday reported 1,122,486 U.S. cases of the new coronavirus, an increase of 29,671 cases from its previous count, and said the number of deaths had risen by 1,452 to 65,735. The CDC reported its tally of cases of the respiratory illness known as COVID-19, caused by the novel coronavirus, as of 4 p.m. EDT (2000 GMT) on Saturday, compared with its count a day earlier. (https://bit.ly/2IVY1JT) The CDC figures do not necessarily reflect cases reported by individual states. The tally reported over the weekend is preliminary and will be updated on Monday. (Reporting by Rama Venkat in Bengaluru; Editing by Peter Cooney)
3 May 22:00 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/u-s-cdc-reports-1122486-coronavirus-cases-65735-deathsRating: 0.94
22 policemen among infected as Punjab witnesses record daily COVID-19 cases
LAHORE: At least 22 security officials have been infected with coronavirus as 683 new confirmed cases of the novel disease emerged in Punjab on Sunday, taking the provincial tally to 7,494. According to the Primary and Healthcare Department, six more people died from the deadly virus during the past 24 hours, taking the death toll to 121 while 2,591 people have recovered thus far, however, 22 patients are currently in critical condition. It may be noted here that a total of 92,622 tests have been conducted in the province to date. About the infected policemen, seven of them belong to Gujranwala and 15 are in Daska. They had tested positive as the provincial authorities commenced COVID-19 tests of officials performing duties for the enforcement of lockdown measures. “The police department of Gujranwala initiated random tests of officials who are performing duties amid coronavirus lockdown. It emerged that 22 were infected with coronavirus while 109 tested negative,” said the regional police official (RPO). “The infected police officials also include station house officer (SHO),” said the assistant commissioner (AC) of Daska. It is pertinent to mention here that Punjab province has the highest number of COVID-19 infections across Pakistan.
3 May 18:51 • Pakistan Today • https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/05/03/22-policemen-among-infected-as-punjab-witnesses-record-daily-covid-19-cases/Rating: 0.87
Nigeria records 220 new cases Of coronavirus – Total, 2388
Nigeria has recorded 220 cases of coronavirus on Saturday evening, bringing the total confirmed infections so far in the country to 2388. It is yet the highest daily figure of the deadly virus that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced. According to the agency’s post on Twitter, Lagos took back the lead in number of cases on state-to-state basis, reporting 62 infections to beat Kano that led a day earlier. Abuja, the federal capital territory, was second on Saturday with 52, followed by Kaduna with 31. In all, 385 cases have been successfully treated and discharged, while 85 have so far died. Here is the list of the new cases nationwide: 62-Lagos52-FCT31-Kaduna13-Sokoto10-Kebbi9-Yobe6-Borno5-Edo5-Bauchi4-Gombe4-Enugu4-Oyo3-Zamfara2-Nasarawa2-Osun2-Ebonyi2-Kwara2-Kano2-Plateau
3 May 12:45 • LailasNews.com • https://lailasnews.com/nigeria-records-220-new-cases-of-coronavirus-total-2388/Rating: 1.27
Coronavirus in US: Thursday, Friday were deadliest 48 hours in country's fight against pandemic, WHO says
Thursday and Friday marked the deadliest 48 hours in the United States' fight against COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization. A total of 4,978 people died, according to the WHO's situation reports, which details the number of new and total COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide. In total, the country's confirmed approximately 3.4 million cases and more than 66,000 deaths, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University. ABC News medical contributor Dr. Todd Ellerin, the director of infectious diseases at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, said it's important to note that reported deaths lag behind initial exposure. Most of those infected with the coronavirus do not show symptoms until two to 14 days after exposure. "It's often not until their second week of symptoms that if things go bad, that's usually when you see it. When you look at mortality, that's often a week or two after ... so it's really not surprising that we're seeing these numbers," he said. Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically. But there are enormous pressures to ease lockdowns, since the weeks-long shutdown of businesses around the world has plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and has wiped out millions of jobs. And as the divide between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously continues, springtime temperatures climb are bringing people out of their homes. Beyond distancing, Dr. Ellerin said Americans can protect themselves from developing more severe forms of COVID-19 by minding their health. "Deaths are not equal. We have to be really careful in patients who are obese, patients who are smoking, and so if there's any that we can continue exercising, and there's no better time to try to lose weight and stop smoking," he said. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and those with health problems, it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, or death. The Associated Press contributed to this report.
3 May 13:14 • ABC7 New York • https://abc7ny.com/health/who-us-experiences-deadliest-48-hours-amid-covid-19-pandemic/6146863/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus in US: Thursday, Friday were deadliest 48 hours in country's fight against pandemic, WHO says
Thursday and Friday marked the deadliest 48 hours in the United States' fight against COVID-19, according to the World Health Organization.A total of 4,978 people died, according to the WHO's situation reports, which details the number of new and total COVID-19 cases and deaths worldwide. In total, the country's confirmed approximately 3.4 million cases and more than 66,000 deaths, according to a count by Johns Hopkins University.ABC News medical contributor Dr. Todd Ellerin, the director of infectious diseases at South Shore Hospital in Weymouth, Massachusetts, said it's important to note that reported deaths lag behind initial exposure. Most of those infected with the coronavirus do not show symptoms until two to 14 days after exposure."It's often not until their second week of symptoms that if things go bad, that's usually when you see it. When you look at mortality, that's often a week or two after ... so it's really not surprising that we're seeing these numbers," he said.Health experts warn that a second wave of infections could hit unless testing is expanded dramatically. But there are enormous pressures to ease lockdowns, since the weeks-long shutdown of businesses around the world has plunged the global economy into its deepest slump since the 1930s and has wiped out millions of jobs.And as the divide between those who want lockdowns to end and those who want to move more cautiously continues, springtime temperatures climb are bringing people out of their homes.Beyond distancing, Dr. Ellerin said Americans can protect themselves from developing more severe forms of COVID-19 by minding their health."Deaths are not equal. We have to be really careful in patients who are obese, patients who are smoking, and so if there's any that we can continue exercising, and there's no better time to try to lose weight and stop smoking," he said.For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For some, especially older adults and those with health problems, it can cause severe illness such as pneumonia, or death.The Associated Press contributed to this report.
3 May 13:14 • ABC7 Los Angeles • https://abc7.com/health/who-us-experiences-deadliest-48-hours-amid-covid-19-pandemic/6146863/Rating: 0.39
2 New Cases Of COVID-19
Today we have two new confirmed cases of COVID-19 to report and no new probable cases. Both of today’s cases can be linked to the St Margaret’s Hospital & Rest Home cluster in Auckland. Both cases are household contacts of an employee at the rest home. The total of confirmed and probable cases is 1,487. There are no additional deaths to report. New Zealand’s total number of confirmed cases is 1,136. This is the number we report to the World Health Organization and in many instances this is the number reported publicly by other countries. There were 4,634 tests completed yesterday, with a combined total to date of 150,223. Of our cases, 1,266 are reported as recovered – an increase of 3 on yesterday. 85% of all confirmed and probable cases are now considered as recovered. There are eight people in hospital, none in ICU. There are still 16 significant clusters. Three of these clusters are now considered closed as there is no longer transmission of the virus associated with the cluster. A COVID-19 cluster is considered closed after a total of 28 consecutive days – or two incubation periods for the virus – since its most recent report date of a reported case. The three closed clusters are the Wellington wedding cluster and the two clusters linked with group travel to the United States – one in Wellington and the other in Auckland. Alert Level 3 Almost a week into Level 3, the Director-General of Health has reinforced the need for people to continue to act in line with the Level 3 expectations. "It’s crucial that all New Zealanders stay vigilant and follow the guidelines of physical distancing, keeping to our bubbles, practicing good hand hygiene and if you’re unwell, staying away from others and seeking medical advice," says Dr Ashley Bloomfield. “Today’s numbers are encouraging but we can’t take them for granted. As I said last week, we all have a part to play. "We’re now nearly a week into Level 3 and while there could be some excuses early on, everyone should now be more familiar with the rules, both around increased retail activity and our own social interactions. “It’s been concerning to see some behaviours continue into the weekend and ultimately, this could slow a move to Level 2. “Continuing to be vigilant will be key in supporting a move down to Level 2 as soon as possible,” says Dr Bloomfield. One key message around physical distancing for businesses is to keep at least 1 metre between workers and 2 metres from customers or the public. Overall: stay home, save lives – this remains the number one rule for Alert Level 3. And of course, if you’re sick, you must stay home. Contact your GP or Healthline and ask about getting tested. ENDS © Scoop Media
3 May 13:03 • SCOOP • https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/GE2005/S00008/2-new-cases-of-covid-19.htmRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: India’s Total Case Count Nears 38,000 Mark; Death Toll Rises To 1,223, Says Health Ministry
The total number of Covid-19 cases in the country mounted to 37,776 on Saturday (2 May) evening, while 1,223 people have succumbed to the dreaded virus so far, the Union Health Ministry said. Of the total cases, 26, 535 are active while 10,017 people have recovered. Maharashtra remained the worst-hit state with its total number of cases rising to 11,506, followed by Gujarat, which has reported 4,721 cases so far, and Delhi with 3,738 cases, according to the Health Ministry data. Maharashtra has also recorded 485 deaths, the highest number of casualties among all the states, as per the ministry data. Other states which have jumped the 2,000-case mark are Madhya Pradesh (2,719), Rajasthan (2,666), Tamil Nadu (2,526) and Uttar Pradesh (2,455). Among other major states, Andhra Pradesh has reported 1,525 cases and 33 deaths, Bihar 471 cases and three deaths, Haryana 360 cases and four deaths, Jammu and Kashmir 639 cases and eight deaths, Karnataka 598 cases and 25 deaths and Kerala 498 cases and four deaths. States/UTs which have reported less than 10 cases are -- Tripura, Mizoram, Puducherry, Manipur, Goa and Arunachal Pradesh. On the global front, the total number of cases has crossed the 3 million mark while over 2 lakh people have died till now. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.)
3 May 09:27 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/coronavirus-indias-total-case-count-nears-38000-mark-death-toll-rises-to-1223-says-health-ministryRating: 1.22
Leading medic welcomes fall in Covid-19 ICU numbers
There has been a further fall in the number of people being treated with Covid-19 in intensive care units. The latest figure is 98, only the second time it has been less than 100 in the last month. The death toll in the Republic now stands at 1,286 and there are more than 21,000 confirmed cases. Dr Mary Favier, President of the Irish College of GPs, said the fall in ICU numbers is welcome. Dr Favier said: "If people spend time in intensive care, whether they have had a serious operation or something has happened to them, it's often only a couple of days, this (coronavirus) can be a couple of weeks. "So we'd expect there to be quite a substantial lag from the time people get the disease, to being admitted to hospital, to going into intensive care, to being discharged. "So it is very good that we are starting to see that line starting to come down, because it means that infections of, say, a month ago or six weeks ago were dropping." Wuhan evacuee wishes he had never left China to go back to UK
3 May 09:22 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/ireland/leading-medic-welcomes-fall-in-covid-19-icu-numbers-997404.htmlRating: 0.69
PH coronavirus cases top 9,000, death toll rises to 607
MANILA, Philippines – The number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines breached the 9,000 mark on Sunday, May 3. The Department of Health (DOH) confirmed 295 new cases of the virus in the country, bringing the total to 9,223. The death toll due to COVID-19 also rose to 607, after 4 new deaths were recorded. Meanwhile, 90 more patients have recovered from the virus, increasing the number of recoveries to 1,214. This is the highest reported single-day count for recoveries, so far. Lockdowns or enhanced community quarantine measures have been implemented or extended in areas most affected by the virus. If the situation eases, areas would be downgraded to the less stringent general community quarantine in the coming weeks. The government has also suspended for a week all flights to and from the country – with some exemptions like emergencies, cargo flights, and sweeper flights – starting Sunday "to help further mitigate the spread" of the virus. – Rappler.com
3 May 08:15 • Rappler • https://www.rappler.com/nation/259774-coronavirus-cases-philippines-may-3-2020Rating: 1.64
COVID-19: 85 dead in Abuja, 17 states
Kayode Oyero Fatalities recorded from the pandemic in Nigeria rose to 85 on Saturday night, The PUNCH reports. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control disclosed this in its daily COVID-19 update via Twitter. Also, according to the Centre’s COVID-19 Situation Dashboard on its website, COVID-19 deaths have been recorded in the Federal Capital Territory Abuja and 17 states. The total number of coronavirus deaths reported in Lagos State as of May 2, was 30, the highest in the country. Borno and Sokoto States followed with 11 and eight fatalities respectively while Kano and Katsina State have recorded six deaths each. Abuja, as well as Edo and Osun States, have recorded three deaths each. Also, two coronavirus patients have died in each of Ogun, Oyo, Delta, Akwa Ibom and Rivers States while Ekiti, Kaduna, Zamfara, Yobe and Jigawa States have also recorded one fatality each. The NCDC stated that the total number of confirmed infections in the country spilt over 2,300 on Saturday night while 351 recoveries have been reported.
3 May 05:32 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/breaking-covid-19-85-dead-in-abuja-17-states/Rating: 0.30
Two new cases of virus, number in hospital grows
There are just two new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand today. Both of today's new cases are linked to the St Margaret's Hospital & Rest Home cluster in Auckland. Both cases were household contacts of an employee at the rest home, the Ministry of Health said this afternoon. The total of confirmed and probable cases in this country is now 1487 - "85 per cent of all confirmed and probable cases are now considered as recovered". There are no more deaths. Eight patients remain in hospital, though none are in intensive care. This has increased on yesterday's numbers where there were only five people in hospital. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said today's case numbers were "encouraging" but there was no room for complacency.. "It's crucial that all New Zealanders stay vigilant and follow the guidelines of physical distancing, keeping to our bubbles, practicing good hand hygiene and if you're unwell, staying away from others and seeking medical advice," Bloomfield said. "Today's numbers are encouraging but we can't take them for granted. As I said last week, we all have a part to play. "We're now nearly a week into Level 3 and while there could be some excuses early on, everyone should now be more familiar with the rules, both around increased retail activity and our own social interactions. "It's been concerning to see some behaviours continue into the weekend and ultimately, this could slow a move to Level 2. "Continuing to be vigilant will be key in supporting a move down to Level 2 as soon as possible."
3 May 00:00 • Otago Daily Times Online News • https://www.odt.co.nz/news/national/two-new-cases-virus-number-hospital-growsRating: 0.40
Number COVID-19 patients in intensive care in Ireland drops below 100 for first time in over a month
THE NUMBER of COVID-19 patients in intensive care units across Ireland has dropped below 100 for the first time in over a month. According to the latest figures, 98 people are being treated for coronavirus in intensive care units. A further 184 people are being treated in ICUs for non-COVID-19 issues. That leaves Ireland with 1,400 general beds and 134 critical care beds available for use. The President of the Irish College of GPs, Dr Mary Favier, has welcomed the fall in ICU numbers. "If people spend time in intensive care, whether they have had a serious operation or something has happened to them, it's often only a couple of days, this (coronavirus) can be a couple of weeks,” Dr Favier said. "So we'd expect there to be quite a substantial lag from the time people get the disease, to being admitted to hospital, to going into intensive care, to being discharged. "So it is very good that we are starting to see that line starting to come down, because it means that infections of, say, a month ago or six weeks ago were dropping." There have been more than 21,000 confirmed cases of coronavirus across the Republic of Ireland. A total of 1,286 people across the country have so far died from the virus.
3 May 00:00 • The Irish Post • https://www.irishpost.com/news/number-covid-19-patients-intensive-care-ireland-drops-100-first-time-month-184536Rating: 0.30
UPDATED: Nigeria reports 220 new cases of coronavirus - Premium Times Nigeria
Nigeria confirmed additional 220 cases of coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the total confirmed infections so far in the country to 2388. It is yet the highest daily figure of the deadly virus that the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has announced. According to the agency’s post on Twitter, Lagos took back the lead in number of cases on state-to-state basis, reporting 62 infections to beat Kano that led a day earlier. Abuja, the federal capital territory, was second on Saturday with 52, followed by Kaduna with 31. In all, 385 cases have been successfully treated and discharged, while 85 have so far died. Here is the list of the new cases nationwide: 62-Lagos52-FCT31-Kaduna13-Sokoto10-Kebbi9-Yobe6-Borno5-Edo5-Bauchi4-Gombe4-Enugu4-Oyo3-Zamfara2-Nasarawa2-Osun2-Ebonyi2-Kwara2-Kano2-Plateau Nigeria has so far tested 16,588 persons since the beginning of the pandemic in the country. Of this figure, 2,388 have tested positive for the virus. A breakdown of the 2,388 cases shows that Lagos State has so far reported 1,068 cases, followed by Kano – 313, FCT – 266, Borno – 75, Gombe – 96, Bauchi – 53, Delta – 17, Oyo – 33, Zamfara – 12, Sokoto – 54, Ondo – 13, Nasarawa – 9, Kwara – 16, Edo – 52, Ekiti – 11, Borno – 69, Yobe – 13, Adamawa – 4, Niger – 3, Imo-2, Ebonyi – 5, Enugu – 8, Rivers – 14, Ogun – 56, Osun – 34, Katsina – 40, Kaduna – 66, Akwa Ibom – 16, Taraba – 8, Jigawa – 7, Kebbi–12, Bayelsa – 5, Abia – 2 and Plateau – 3. Benue and Anambra have one case each. The number of infected people in the country is expected to rise as the country has entered into the community transmission phase. The country has also increased its testing capacity. Meanwhile, Nigerians have been advised to take precautionary measures when leaving their houses by always using face masks and maintaining social distancing. Public gatherings are also banned indefinitely.
2 May 23:30 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/coronavirus/391107-nigeria-reports-220-new-cases-of-coronavirus.htmlRating: 0.30
Breaking: COVID-19: Lagos returns to table top, Kano bottom as 17 more die
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Lagos State returned to the top of the table in the number of persons infected by the Coronavirus Disease on Saturday. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control disclosed this late on Saturday on its Twitter handle. Out of the 220 cases reported by the NCDC for the day, Lagos State had 62, while the Federal Capital Territory recorded 52. Kaduna State, which had earlier in the day reported that 14 almajiris from Sokoto State tested positive, was with a total of 31 cases for the day. Sokoto, Kebbi, Yobe and Borno States had 13, 10, nine and six cases respectively. Edo and Bauchi States reported five cases each, with Gombe, Enugu and Oyo States having four each. While Zamfara State reported three cases each, Kano State was among those with two cases each, with others being Nasarawa, Osun, Ebonyi, Kwara, and Plateau States. Just like May 1, the country recorded 17 deaths on Saturday, bringing the number of deaths so far to 85. With a total of 2,388 confirmed cases of COVID19 in Nigeria so far, the country has also successfully treated and discharged 385 cases. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Yes, add me to your mailing list
2 May 23:13 • The Eagle Online • https://theeagleonline.com.ng/breaking-covid-19-lagos-returns-to-table-top-kano-bottom-as-17-more-die/Rating: 0.39
Nigeria records 17 new deaths, 220 fresh COVID-19 cases
The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has confirmed 220 new cases in 18 states and the federal capital territory. The agency announced this on its Twitter handle on Saturday night. The number of recovered patients increased from 351 to 385 while the number of fatalities increased from 68 to 85. According to the NCDC, two cases previously confirmed for Katsina on Friday were repeat tests, and as a result, Nigeria has recorded 2,388 cases in 34 states and the federal capital territory. Cross River and Kogi haven’t recorded any case of COVID-19. Although Osagie Ehanire, the minister of health, says nine out of ten COVID-19 patients will recover, there have been concerns about the availability of facilities to manage patients considering the increase in the number of cases. Speaking at the presidential task force on COVID-19 briefing on Friday, Ehanire appealed to the private sector to make available buildings to be used as isolation centres. “Bed spaces and isolation centres at state level need to match the increase and necessitates an appeal to all citizens, especially property and hotel owners, to recognise the imminent needs and the social responsibility of working with state governments to make facilities available for temporary use in emergency situations,” the minister said.
2 May 22:54 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/breaking-nigeria-records-17-deaths-220-new-covid-19-casesRating: 0.30
Mumbai Reports 547 Cases And 27 Deaths In A Day; Total COVID-19 Tally Rises To 8172
City News Written By Akhil Oka | Mumbai | Updated On: May 02, 2020 22:26 IST As per the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation, 547 fresh novel coronavirus cases were reported in Mumbai on Saturday till 6 pm. This includes 190 patients who tested positive in various labs between April 29 and 30. They have been added to Saturday's tally as their lab report was received in the day. Thus, there are 8,172 COVID-19 cases in Maharashtra's capital. Moreover, 27 persons died owing to COVID-19 taking Mumbai's death toll to 322. Around 20 of the deceased patients had co-morbidities. In a positive development, 137 individuals were discharged on Saturday. The total number of recovered persons stands at 1,704. Read: 'Covid Lockdown Was Essential': CM Uddhav Hints Extension For Maharashtra With relaxations The Maharashtra Public Health Department revealed that 790 new COVID-19 cases had been detected in the day leading to the state recording an overall tally of 12,296. On the other hand, the death toll has surged to 521 with 36 patients passing away on Saturday. A total of 2,000 persons have recovered from COVID-19. There are 844 containment zones in the state presently. Surveillance of 44.40 lakh individuals was undertaken by 10,513 surveillance squads. While 1,74,933 persons are in home quarantine, 12,623 others have been admitted to an institutional quarantine centre. Read: Maharashtra Reports 790 New COVID Cases & 36 Deaths As India Sees Sharpest Single Day Rise On Friday, the Central government announced the extension of the nationwide lockdown till May 17. The new guidelines for the post-May 3 lockdown period grant more relaxations for Red zones, Orange zones, and Green zones. Educational institutions, hospitality services, malls, gyms, shopping malls, religious places of worship, gatherings, etc. shall remain prohibited in all the zones. Maharashtra has also released the revised guidelines retaining the restrictions in all municipal corporations falling within the Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Malegaon Municipal Corporation, Pune Municipal Corporation, and Pimpri-Chinchwad Municipal Corporation. Read: Coronavirus Live Updates: India Sees Sharpest 1-day Spike With 2411 Cases; Tally At 37776 Read: Post-May 3 Lockdown Guidelines: MHA Clarifies Buses Will Not Ply In Orange Zones
2 May 22:26 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/city-news/mumbai-reports-547-cases-and-27-deaths-in-a-day.htmlRating: 2.30
24 New cases of Coronavirus confirmed, number shoots to 435- CAS Mwangangi
7 cases are from Kawangware, 10 Eastleigh, 5 Mombasa and 2 from Kuria West The Ministry of Health through Chief Administrative Secretary (CAS) Dr Mercy Mwangangi has confirmed 24 new cases of Coronavirus raising the number of those who have tested positive to 435. According to CAS Mwangangi, this is the highest number of positive cases to be recorded in Kenya since the first case of Covid-19 was reported. The 24 cases were recorded after testing 1196 samples in the last 24 hours. 7 of the cases are from Kawangware, 10 Eastleigh, 5 Mombasa and 2 from Kuria West in Migori County. At the same time, 2 more recoveries were confirmed bringing the number of those who have recovered from the novel Coronavirus to 152, with one person succumbing to the disease, raising COVID-19 deaths to 22.
2 May 12:45 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/24-more-test-positive-for-coronavirus-as-number-rises-to-435-cas-mwangangi/2dz0f6vRating: 0.51
62 new COVID-19 cases confirmed in Andhra Pradesh, tally rises to 1,525
the infection showed no signs of abating. In the last 24 hours, 38 patients got cured and discharged from hospitals in the state, taking the total to 441. The latest COVID-19 bulletin said the toll remained the same at 33. Kurnool, the major COVID-19 hotbed in AP, recorded 25 fresh cases in the last 24 hours ending 9 am on Saturday. The district now has a total of 436 cases, with 360 active following the discharge of 66 and death of 10 coronavirus patients. Krishna district, the other major hotspot, reported 12 new cases, taking the total to 258 while two cases were added in neighbouring Guntur, with a total of 308. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here Interestingly, Guntur topped the state inpatient discharges with 97, while it had eight casualties along with Krishna. Half of the 38 patients discharged in the last 24 hours were from Guntur, seven each from Krishna and West Godavari, two each from Anantapuramu and Chittoor and one from SPS Nellore. That has left a total of 1,051 active cases in the state now. The bulletin said 5,943 samples were tested in the last 24 hours, taking the aggregate to 1,08,403. Of that, 1,06,878 turned negative.
2 May 13:59 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/62-new-covid-19-cases-confirmed-in-andhra-pradesh-tally-rises-to-1525-832625.htmlRating: 2.25
Bangladesh records 5 more COVID-19 deaths, 552 new cases
Five more people have died from the coronavirus infection in the 24 hours to 8am Saturday, bringing the body count in Bangladesh to 175. The tally of infections jumped to 8,790 with 552 more cases confirmed from 5,827 samples tested in 31 laboratories in the country, DGHS Additional Director General Nasima Sultana said on Saturday. The latest fatalities, three men and two women, were all recorded in Dhaka, according to the health directorate. Three more patients were discharged from hospitals during that period, bringing the total number of recoveries to 177. The number of people in isolation also jumped by 168 in the last 24 hours to 1,632 people. Dhaka is the current epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in Bangladesh with 83.7 percent of all confirmed cases concentrated in the capital, according to government data. Of the remaining cases, 4.6 percent were reported in Chattogram, 3.71 percent in Mymensingh, 2.2 percent in Khulna, 1.8 percent in Rangpur, 1.69 percent in Barisal, 1.57 percent in Sylhet and 1.53 in Rajshahi. Globally, over 3.34 million people have been infected by the novel coronavirus and 238,796 have died, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December 2019.
2 May 12:52 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/02/bangladesh-records-5-more-covid-19-deaths-552-new-casesRating: 2.85
Coronavirus May 2 Highlights: Ahmedabad records highest one-day toll at 20; India counts 2,411 cases in 24 hrs
Coronavirus LIVE updates: Ahmedabad Saturday reported 20 coronavirus deaths — highest one-day count so far — taking the death toll in the district to 184, news agency PTI reported. The total number of cases in the district also jumped to 3,543 with 250 fresh cases being detected. With 4,721 confirmed cases and 236 deaths, Gujarat is trailing just behind Maharashtra, which has more than 11,000 cases and 485 deaths. In the last 24 hours, the number of coronavirus cases in India has risen by 2,411, taking the country’s tally to 37,776 cases, including 1,223 deaths and 10,017 recoveries. Retired Chief Justice of Chhatisgarh High Court and Lokpal member Ajay Kumar Tripathi (62) passed away at AIIMS trauma centre due to novel coronavirus Saturday. He was admitted to the hospital last month after having tested positive for Covid-19. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Narendra Modi held meetings with Home Minister Amit Shah and Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman to discuss a second stimulus package for sectors adversely affected by the nationwide lockdown, news agency PTI reported. A day after ‘Shramik Special’ trains began ferrying migrants back to their homes, a train with 847 migrant workers left for Lucknow from Nashik this morning. Kerala is scheduled to run two trains carrying migrants to Jharkhand while Gujarat would send the workers home in two more trains — one from Ahmedabad to Uttar Pradesh and the other from Surat to Odisha. (Track India’s state-wise cases, deaths and recoveries here) On the global front, the coronavirus has claimed over 238,000 lives and infected over 3.3 million people, according to a tally by John Hopkins University. The United States continues to be the worst-hit, with over 10,00,000 cases and over 64,000 deaths.
2 May 20:15 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-news-live-updates-india-lockdown-covid-19-tracker-corona-cases-deaths-toll-6389436/Rating: 0.30
Kwara records two new COVID-19 cases
Kindly Share This Story: Amidst preparation to monitor relaxation of the lockdown starting Monday, Kwara state on Saturday recorded two new positive cases of COVID-19. Recall that on Friday, the state government announced that it recorded three new cases, while announcing the relaxation of the lockdown. With the two fresh cases, it thus brought the total to 16 with two persons already discharged. Spokesman of the Technical Committee in the state, Rafiu Ajakaye, had said in a statement on Friday, “Dear Kwarans, we are not out of the wood. “Just today, Kwara has recorded three more new cases of COVID-19. That takes us to 14 confirmed cases in Kwara. Of these, 12 are active as we had earlier discharged two. All our cases are stable and in the best spirits. “We want to emphasise that one of the three new cases was imported while the remaining two are contacts of our earlier cases. “Aggressive contact tracing has since begun. This incident of another imported case explains why we are now deploying military personnel to man our borders while police and other security agencies maintain their hold internally.” Ajakaye in his reaction to the two newly recorded cases of Covid-19 on Saturday in an interview with Sunday Vanguard confirmed the development saying however that the two new cases were not recorded through Community transmission. He said, “Not through community transmission pls. They are from our previous cases and have always been under close watch before the test confirmed their status.” Vanguard News Nigeria. Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 20:44 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/kwara-records-two-new-covid-19-cases/Rating: 2.43
COVID-19: Cases with unknown source rise to 1,179 in Nigeria
Sodiq Oyeleke The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control says no fewer than 2,170 persons have contracted COVID-19 in the country. This, the NCDC said, was after 238 new cases were recorded in Nigeria on Friday. But of the total 2,170 confirmed COVID-19 cases, how 1179 patients contracted the disease in Nigeria is unknown, The PUNCH reports. This is according to the NCDC in its ‘COVID19Nigeria situation report for May 1st 2020’ published on Saturday. The report showed that 16,588 samples have been tested in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. It said that of the 2,170 that tested positive for the virus, 1, 289 (68 per cent) are males while 643 (33 per cent) are females. READ ALSO: Africa’s COVID-19 war: A mixed bag of wins and losses The data also showed people within age bracket 31-40 constituted 24 per cent of those infected. While giving the summary of the cases provenance, the report read, “travel history – 210 (11 per cent); contacts – 593 (27 per cent); no epidemiologic link – 1,179 (54 per cent) and incomplete – 188 (nine per cent).” According to the Centre for Disease Control, cases with no epidemiologic link have unknown sources as they are not contacts of any previous case. The data also showed that the NCDC had identified 9305 persons of interest among whom 9,237 (99 per cent) have exceeded follow up. However, the Nigerian disease control centre in its Week 15 Editorial titled, “Scaling up COVID-19 testing capacity in Nigeria”, said the cases with unknown sources were evidence of the existence of community transmission. Part of the report read, “The evolving transmission dynamics of the current coronavirus disease pandemic has continued to put the global public health system to test. In response to this, different countries across the world have devised diverse strategies to timely detect, isolate and successfully manage cases. “Currently, the need to conduct more testing is being advocated due to increased cases of community transmission.” The NCDC statistics also showed that Nigeria lost 28 patients to coronavirus-related complications in four days. It added, “On the 1st of May 2020, 238 new confirmed cases and ten deaths were recorded in Nigeria. No new state has reported a case in the last 24 hours. “Till date, 2,170 cases have been confirmed, 351 cases have been discharged and 68 deaths have been recorded in 34 states and the Federal Capital Territory. “The 238 new cases are reported from twenty-two states- Kano (92), FCT (36), Lagos (30), Gombe (16), Bauchi (10), Delta (8), Oyo (6), Zamfara (5), Sokoto (5), Ondo (4), Nasarawa (4), Kwara (3), Edo (3), Ekiti (3), Borno (3), Yobe (3), Adamawa (2), Niger (1), Imo (1), Ebonyi (1), Rivers (1), Enugu (1).”
2 May 17:06 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/covid-19-cases-with-unknown-source-rise-to-1179-in-ngeria/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus in Maharashtra: Dramatic Fall in Fresh Cases, 790 New Ones Reported Today
New Delhi: A day after it registered a record 1,008 coronavirus cases in a single day, the number of fresh cases in Maharashtra witnessed a sharp slide on Saturday, with the state registering 790 new cases, taking its overall COVID-19 tally to 12,296. Also Read - Coronavirus in Uttar Pradesh: 7 Labourers, Who Returned From Maharashtra, Test Positive The state also witnessed 36 casualties today, taking its death toll due to the Chinese-originated virus to 521. Also, 121 patients were discharged today, taking the total number of patients in the state, who have recovered, to 2,000. Maharashtra, notably, has the maximum coronavirus cases in the country. The COVID-19 tally in Mumbai alone, notably, spiked to 8,172, including a death toll of 322, with 547 new cases and 27 fatalities taking place in the state capital today. With 137 patients discharged today, the number of such patients in the city reached 1,704. The city, which is also the country’s financial capital, is the worst affected city in the country due to COVID-19. Meanwhile, Asia’s largest slum, Dharavi, which is one of the COVID-19 hotspots in the city, 89 cases today, taking the slum’s tally to 496, including 18 deaths. Also, earlier today, three constables posted at the personal residence of CM Uddhav Thackeray, who is now certain tosave his chair, tested positive for the infection. Overall, India’s current COVID-19 tally stands at 37,776, with a sharpest single-day spike of 2,411. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on India Latest News on India.com. Comments - Join the Discussion
2 May 15:44 • India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com • https://www.india.com/news/india/coronavirus-in-maharashtra-dramatic-fall-in-fresh-cases-790-new-ones-reported-today-4017774/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus live news - UK death toll passes 28,000 and testing latest
A total of 621 more people have died of coronavirus in the UK, with 454 of these people having died in hospitals after having been diagnosed with the virus. The Government’s official figures now include deaths in care homes and the wider community after the Department of Health began counting them on Wednesday. Previously, the Government only counted people who had died in hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus. Of the 739 deaths yesterday, 427 occurred in hospitals. Here, we bring you the live updates on the latest news, developments and guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic.
2 May 08:33 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/coronavirus-news-live-uk-death-toll-covid-19-testing-hospital-ppe-nhs-boris-johnson-12643358/Rating: 2.18
Coronavirus | Madhya Pradesh reports 73 new cases, six deaths
Madhya Pradesh on Saturday recorded 73 new COVID-19 cases, taking the tally to 2,788, the Directorate of Health Services said. Six persons were reported dead at hospitals across the State. While two died in Indore, one each died in Hoshangabad and Mandsaur. Two persons died in Ujjain, where the fatality rate touched 18% on the day. So far, 147 persons have been infected in the city and 27 have died. Meanwhile, 100 persons were discharged from hospitals on recovery. With this, 624, or 22.4%, of all the patients have been discharged in the State. Till May 2, at least 16.7% of the tests were conducted before a person infected with the novel coronavirus was identified. So far, 6% of those testing for the illness had tested positive, according to an analysis of the data released through the media bulletin. Until now, 41,460 of the samples have tested negative, while 2,330 have been rejected. The tests per million in the State stand at 558.6. At a review meeting, Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said there had been a remarkable improvement in the situation. “For the first time, the count of active cases has gone down. Besides, no new cases were detected in Bhopal on the day.” In Indore, the hardest-hit city, 32 persons tested positive, while the number of deaths touched 74 on Friday night, said Pravin Jadia, Chief Medical and Health Officer. “Most cases recently have come from older hotspots, which are already contained. So, the situation is under control,” he said. As for concerns about the immunisation programme, Dr. Jadia said that though it had been temporarily suspended, newborns were still being immunised. “We still have time... If we resume it now, it may lead to crowding at health centres and defeat the very purpose of social distancing,” he said. Dr. Jadia said at least 50% of the 1,545 people who tested positive were asymptomatic.
2 May 16:53 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coronavirus-madhya-pradesh-reports-73-new-cases-six-deaths/article31491011.eceRating: 0.30
Covid-19 pandemic: Maharashtra records highest single day jump in cases
Mumbai: With 1,008 new Covid-19 cases detected in Maharashtra on Friday, the state witnessed highest single day jump in 24 hours, taking the tally to 11,506. With 26 deaths, death toll rose to 485, the state health department said. However, 106 patients were discharged after recovery. The state health department stated, out of the total deaths, ten deaths were recorded in Pune city, five in Mumbai, three is Jalgaon district and one each Pune district, Sindhudurg, Bhiwandi, Thane, Nanded, Aurangabad and Parbhani during the day. Fifteen of 26 patients who died had high-risk comorbidities (existing health issues), the statement said When asked regarding the sudden surge in positive cases, the health officials said, intensive contact tracing, testing and quarantining of high-risk individuals have contributed to the consistently high numbers. Dr Anup Kumar Yadav, commissioner, (Family Welfare), and director, National Health Mission, Maharashtra said, “Its highly contagious ailments, so we are on our toes, but due to late contact tracing, several cases have been reported. It has been noted that people are hiding their contact tracing paths. All these things make the situation even more difficult. People should come forward and get themselves tested if major symptoms are noted.” He added, “There are various groups of people coming from the untraced population, but the good thing is that many of them are coming voluntarily for testing and our health officers realise that they are contacts of existing positive patients”. According to data analysis of positive patients by the Maharashtra Medical Education and Drugs Department (MEDD), 81 per cent of the state’s patients are asymptomatic. Notably, although the cases are rising, the mortality rate in Maharashtra is dipping.
2 May 07:09 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/nation/current-affairs/020520/covid-19-pandemic-maharashtra-records-highest-single-day-jump-in-case.htmlRating: 1.64
France says 218 more deaths from COVID-19, taking toll to 24,594
PARIS: The number of people who have died from coronavirus infection in France rose by 218 to 24,594 on Friday (May 1), while hospitalizations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the public health chief said on Friday. The death toll has increased 0.9 per cent compared with Thursday, a lower rate of increase than over the previous 24 hours. The number of people in hospital with the COVID-19 infection fell further to 25,887 from 26,283 on Thursday, and the number of people in intensive care fell to 3,878 from 4,019. Both numbers have been on a downward trend for more than two weeks. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
2 May 01:42 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid19-france-218-more-deaths-toll-12695524Rating: 3.25
Kenya Records Highest Number Of Coronavirus Cases As Toll Jumps To 435
Kenya has recorded 24 new Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in the last 24 hours total now stands at 435. This was confirmed by Health CAS Mercy Mwangangi through the daily COVID-19 briefings adding that 1195 samples have been tested in the last 24 hours. Out of the 24 new cases, 14 are female while 10 are male. Two more people have recovered bringing the total of recoveries to 152. Further, one more patient has succumbed to the deadly virus bringing the total fatalities to 22. Read: Kenya’s COVID-19 Cases Jump To 411 After 15 Persons Tested Positive The fatality is a 51-year-old woman from Mombasa who had underlying health conditions. The 24 new cases are distributed as follows: 7 from Kawangware, 10 from Eastleigh, 5 from Mombasa and 2 from Kuria West, Migori county. The cases in Kuria West, Migori had a history of travel from Tanzania. Read Also: Kenya’s COVID-19 Cases Hit 320 As 17 More Tested Positive According to the Health CAS, the surge in COVID-19 cases in Kawangware is worrying thus she called upon people to be more vigilant and adhere to the set directives to combat a further spread. Further, the CAS urged business owners to work hand in hand with the Health Ministry in enforcing the containment measures so as to regain a new normal. “The Ministry of Health is reviewing home-based care quarantine mechanisms and we shall soon be able to issue specific guidelines to how this will be undertaken,” said CAS Mercy Mwangangi.
2 May 12:53 • KahawaTungu • https://www.kahawatungu.com/kenya-records-highest-number-of-coronavirus-cases-as-toll-jumps-to-435/Rating: 0.41
NCDC announces 238 new coronavirus cases
- NCDC has reported 328 new cases of coronavirus - Kano state recorded the highest number with 92 new cases - With this, Nigeria now has 2170 confirmed cases of #COVID19 The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) has reported 238 cases of the novel coronavirus in Nigeria on Friday, May 1. The new cases are among the highest to be reported in the country by the government agency. According to the report, Kano state has the highest infections with 92 cases while Federal Capital Territory, Abuja followed with 36 infections. Lagos came third with 30 infections and followed by Gome which has 16 cases. Bauchi has 10 cases while Delta has 8. Oyo recorded 6 cases while Zamfara and Sokoto have 10 cases shared between them equally. Ondo and Nassarawa also record 4 cases each. Also, five states which include Kwara, Edo, Ekiti, Borno, Yobe all have 3 cases each. Only Adamawa has 2 infections. Just in: Jigawa records first COVID-19 death, confirmed cases rise to nine On the bottom of the list are 5 states of Niger, Imo, Ebonyi, Rivers, Enugu who shared 5 cases equally. With this, Nigeria now has 2170 confirmed cases of #COVID19, with 351 discharged and 68 deaths. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that the Presidential Task Force (PTF) says 5,000 frontline health workers responding to the Novel Coronavirus (COVID19), pandemic outbreak in the country will receive life insurance cover. Boss Mustapha, the secretary to the government of the Federation and PTF chairman on COVID-19, said this at the PTF daily briefing on COVID19 on Friday in Abuja. Mustapha said N112, 500, was fully paid by the Nigerian Insurance Industry in line with the principle of “No Premium No Cover” for the health workers. The SGF said the ministry of health in conjunction with other Ministries, Departments and Agencies and Health professional bodies have also signed an MOU for various allowances and incentives for frontline health workers. Nigeria records 1273 cases of coronavirus as 91 people test positive He noted that the financial commitments were in line with Federal Government’s unending support for the Frontline workers. Legit.ng had also reported that Nigeria's minister of health, Osagie Ehanire disclosed that most of those who have tested positive for coronavirus in the country are aged between 31 and 40 years. He disclosed this while he was speaking at the briefing of the presidential task force on COVID-19 in Abuja on Friday, April 24. Going further, he also disclosed that most deaths have occurred in older persons. “The high number of new cases is due to on-going community transmission and active case search. From our test statistics, the most affected age group among the positives is 31-40 years while the highest COVID-19 fatality rate is among the older generation above 50 years of age,” he said. “We have now deployed COVID-19 starter packs to all tertiary institutions and Federal Medical Centers to complement what was earlier sent to each State. The starter packs consist of medical consumables and disposables, to ensure that our frontline healthcare workers are protected,” he said. Breaking: Nigeria records 114 new cases of coronavirus, Lagos has 80 NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We have upgraded to serve you better God has given me the cure for Coronavirus - Primate Ayodele | Legit TV
2 May 12:32 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326135-ncdc-announces-238-coronavirus-cases.htmlRating: 0.30
New areas emerge as hotspots for ‘excess deaths’
New areas have emerged as hotspots for excess deaths during the coronavirus pandemic, according to new analysis of care home statistics by HSJ. The sustainability and transformation partnerships covering Hertfordshire and West Essex and Gloucestershire have not so far featured prominently in the hospital death statistics published by NHS England. But according to data published by the Office for National Statistics this week, these areas saw large spikes in the number of care home deaths from all causes in the middle of April. In an average week prior to the pandemic, care homes in Hertfordshire and West Essex would report around 57 deaths. But the figure for the week ending 17 April was 274, implying an excess of around 217 on the typical numbers. This represents 15 deaths per 100,000 population on an age-standardised basis, which was the highest number in England in that week. Covid-19 was recognised as a factor in only 102 deaths, suggesting it is likely to have been underreported, although residents may have died from other causes, perhaps indirectly caused by the covid response. Gloucestershire had an excess of 94 deaths, which equates to 13 per 100,000, the second highest rate outside of London, whose high levels of hospital deaths from the virus are well reported. Other areas with high numbers included London, Birmingham and Solihull, Greater Manchester, and Bedfordshire, Luton and Milton Keynes. There has been significant controversy over the amount of support the government and NHS have provided to the care sector. At the start of the outbreak, there were major concerns over patients being discharged from hospitals to care homes without having first being tested for covid-19. Richard Roberts, Cabinet member for adult care and health, said: “We know that giving certainty and leadership to our care sector is of fundamental importance. Six weeks ago we wrote to our care providers setting out a financial package which is one of the best in the country, with a dedicated helpline, website and daily emails to ensure everyone is up to date. “We have agreed a comprehensive plan of action with our NHS partners and public health to control and prevent the spread of this virus in our care homes and the wider care community.” Sarah Scott, director of public health at Gloucestershire County Council, said: “Residential and nursing homes are doing fantastic work, caring for the elderly and vulnerable during these unprecedented times. “As a health and care system, we are supporting homes to ensure they are taking all necessary steps, in line with the national guidance, to minimise risk to both their staff and residents.”
2 May 04:00 • HSJ • https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/new-areas-emerge-as-hotspots-for-excess-deaths/7027552.articleRating: 0.30
Number of confirmed cases of Covid-19 in ICU has fallen below 100
THE NUMBER OF confirmed cases of Covid-19 in ICU has fallen to below 100 for the first time since the end of March. While Health Minister Simon Harris welcomed the latest figure of 99, he said these were still people who were very sick and whose families were very worried. The peak of patients requiring ICU care occurred on 4 April, with 160 people in intensive care beds. The number of people in ICU is a figure Harris said health authorities will watch very carefully over the coming weeks. When asked what number admissions would have to reach for each phase of the roadmap plan released yesterday to kick in, Harris said he could not give a specific number that will guarantee that the country can move from one phase to the next. “As much as the number is important, it’s also the trend of the trajectory. He said the National Public Health Emergency Team (NPHET) will be looking for a certain figure to be sustained over a period of time of perhaps a week or two weeks. Harris listed the decision-making framework from the government plan, stating the following will feed into the lifting of restrictions and the phases: He said the increase in the number of the confirmed cases, the number of clusters and also testing will all be monitored. Yesterday, the Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan said there was no specific target of what figure they want to reach, stating that even 50 people in ICU due to Covid-19 is a quarter of the normal ICU capacity. He said the rate of change will be monitored. Earlier in the week, the Taoiseach said the number of patients in ICU with Covid-19 was not low enough to ease restrictions on 5 May. The minister confirmed today that 169,377 tests for Covid-19 had been completed. #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
2 May 16:20 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/icu-beds-5090357-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Six repatriated Almajiris from Kano, four others test positive for COVID-19
Bauchi state government has recorded 10 new cases of coronavirus which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 48. Among the new cases as confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) Friday night are 6 repatriated Almagiris from Kano which is a high risk state while the four others are contact of an infected returnee from Abuja state. Nation reports that the total number of active cases in the state is now 42 while 6 remain discharged so far. Chairman of the state Primary Health Care Development Agency, Dr Rilwan Mohammed, disclosed the new cases to the Nation in a Telephone interview. He said the new positive cases have being placed on admission adding that 34 males and 14 females comprises of the 48 confirmed cases. He said ” Yes we have ten new cases, 6 are repatriated Almajiris from Kano and the four others are the sons of a returnee who came from Abuja.There are seven Almajiris so far that are now positive for COVID-19 out of the 38 brought in from Kano . They have all being placed on admission.”
2 May 19:30 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/six-repatriated-almajiris-from-kano-four-others-test-positive-for-covid-19/Rating: 0.30
Virus fatality rate in KP far more than other provinces
PESHAWAR: As health authorities race to ratchet up their testing capabilities, the mounting number of Covid-19 fatalities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has left many of them to wonder whether the spread of the deadly virus is far more than what has been reported. KP reported a total of 161 coronavirus fatalities on Friday, including the 15 previously unreported and unconfirmed deaths that have now been added to the tally. These included suspected patients for whom swabs had been taken post-mortem but were reported after confirmation of the virus or their records were managed at the district level and were only now being added to KP’s database. Similarly, the figures for positive virus-afflicted patients also saw a jump of 68 previously unreported cases from the districts, taking the total number to 2,799. This puts the total mortality rate for KP at 5.75 per cent, more than double the national fatality rate from the deadly virus of 2.2pc and far more when compared with the reported deaths from other provinces. Peshawar, the capital of this northwestern province, has been the hardest hit, reporting 96 deaths since the reported onset of the virus in February, that’s 59.6pc of the total mortalities in KP. Even though, researchers are still trying to figure out how many of those fallen victim had come from outside of Peshawar. And if Peshawar’s confirmed fatalities from the virus are divided against the total confirmed positive cases of 1,009 since the outbreak of the pandemic in this part of the nook, the percentage comes to an alarming 9.5 deaths per one hundred patients per day. What is going on? Is there any possible explanation in this data-disparity between KP and other provinces, besides Azad Jammu and Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan? Are the provinces using a uniform data collection methodology for data or is KP using a more rigorous and transparent system? Do we know the actual spread of the virus? The bottom line: Are we being transparent? And while it would entirely depend on how data related to deaths from Covid-19 is collected and whether or not we take post-mortem swabs of the patients, these fatalities may give us a clue or two as to the spread and management of the deadly virus, according to health professionals. KP’s number-crunching statistician Health Minister Taimur Saleem Jhagra says it is the data which reflects the ground reality given the lack of testing capabilities all across Pakistan. According to the World Health Organisation, however, KP has the second lowest testing ratio after AJK, though the minister says its testing capacity has been scaled up to 1,500 per day and it is testing at a higher daily per population rate than Punjab. He insists that the fatality rate is not accurate measure, because the total actual number of cases is unknown even in more developed countries, while referring to the mortality rates in the United States, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy. But he also believes that if anything, greater number of deaths in KP indicates that the spread of the virus is far more than what testing capacity reveals, modelling done shows — anywhere from 30,000 to 60,000 depending on the transmission rate. Different theories are being propounded as to what could be the possible causes for the spread and by extension the fatalities of the pandemic in KP. One possible reason could be the provinces are following different reporting systems and data collection methodology and or some provinces are “fudging the numbers” to downplay the impact of the pandemic, health officials maintain. On KP’s part, it has established an Integrated Performance Management System to collate information from all districts, while analysts at the health department, some hired from the private sector, huddle to analyse the data and make future projection. “I don’t believe in ‘garbage-in, garbage-out’,” Mr Jhagra argues. The second plausible theory is KP’s widespread diaspora across Pakistan and globally. More than 60,000 international travelers, particularly from the Gulf and the Middle East with KP domicile returned to the province post-pandemic; arrived in the provincial capital and then moved to their respective districts, according to government officials. The problem was further accentuated by the arrival to KP of Tablighee Jamaat teams and Zaireen from Taftan with higher positive cases. This would also explain why the virus has afflicted more districts of KP — 33 of the 35 districts — than any other province. The remote northern districts of Kohistan Lower and Kolai Pallas are the only two districts that have so far remained unaffected or are probably unable to report any cases. Prof Dr Ziaul Haq, Dean Public Health, Khyber Medical University, says fatalities in KP had more to do with health-seeking behavior of its people leading to delayed hospitalisation. His research into the deaths occurred on account of Covid-19 led to a startling discovery that the median stay of the ill-fated patients at hospital was only one day. To add further to the burden of an already overburdened healthcare system in Peshawar, more and more patients from other districts head straight towards the provincial capital, thus missing crucial and timely medical intervention closer to home, he says. Stigmatisation of the Covid-19 patients and cultural sensitivities related to an honorable burial are some of the other factors keeping the patients away from reporting to hospitals, he maintains. One other major factor, says the professor, could be different treatment protocols being pursued by different hospitals, including some of the medical teaching hospitals, which are administratively ‘independent’ and, therefore, are not obliged to follow a standard protocol. In fact, it is not even known if the federal government is sharing any clinical advisory with the provinces for the treatment of Covid-19 patients while learning from global experiences or whether the provinces are sharing any standard treatment protocols with districts. Mixed messaging regarding the fatal threat of the pandemic, coupled with a lack of effective communication strategy to persuade people to stay home and observe social distancing and a somewhat faulty management system, are the other major contributing factors leading to the spread of the virus. Pakistan’s and KP’s mortality and infection figures are still far below the global toll the pandemic has taken, but health professionals warn that any complacency and yet-to-be-tested beliefs could have far more devastating consequences for the country with poor healthcare system and infrastructure. Published in Dawn, May 2nd, 2020
2 May 06:50 • DAWN.COM • https://www.dawn.com/news/1553905Rating: 2.87
With highest single-day spike of 1,008 cases, Maharashtra's COVID-19 tally reaches 11,506
MUMBAI: Maharashtra on Friday saw a record single-day increase of 1,008 in the number of coronavirus patients, which took the tally of cases in the state to 11,506. Twenty-six coronavirus patients died during the day, taking the death toll to 485, a state health department statement said. ALSO READ| Gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded closed as 91 more Punjab pilgrims test positive for COVID-19 106 patients were discharged upon recovery. Thus, 1,879 persons have been discharged from hospitals in the state so far. On Friday, ten deaths were reported from Pune city, five in Mumbai, three is Jalgaon district and one each in Pune, Sindhudurg, Bhiwandi, Thane, Nanded, Aurangabad and Parbhani districts so far. Besides, a patient who hailed from Uttar Pradesh died in Mumbai, the statement said, adding that 15 of the 26 patients who died had high-risk comorbidities. Out of 11,506 patients in the state, 9,081 were detected in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) including 7,812 in Mumbai city alone. Of 485 coronavirus deaths, 320 were reported in in the MMR including 295 in Mumbai alone. Currently 1,63,026 people are in home quarantine while 11,677 are in institutional quarantine. Coronavirus figures for Maharashtra so far are thus as follows: total cases 11,506, new cases 1,008, total deaths 485, recovered 1,879, number of tests conducted 1,53,125. FOLLOW COVID-19 LIVE UPDATES HERE Besides MMR, in Nashik division there are 365 positive cases, 1,456 in Pune division, 55 in Kolhapur division, 189 in Aurangabad division, 20 in Latur division, 169 in Akola division, 144 in Nagpur division, 20 in latur division.
2 May 00:31 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/02/with-highest-single-day-spike-of-1008-cases-maharashtras-covid-19-tally-reaches-11506-2138054.htmlRating: 2.04
Mississippi governor reconsiders reopening state after new spike in coronavirus cases, deaths
3 May 14:24
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Mississippi governor reconsiders reopening state after new spike in coronavirus cases, deaths
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves announced Friday he would hold off on further measures to gradually reopen the state after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases, and deaths, surged overnight. His decision came after the state health department recorded at least 397 new infections and at least 20 new fatalities within a 24-hour period. As of Sunday, Mississippi recorded a total of 7,441 confirmed coronavirus cases, with at least 291 deaths. "Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work," Reeves said at his COVID-19 news briefing Friday. "This was a large enough change to make me take a step back, and I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now.” CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE During the briefing, state health officer Dr. Thomas Dobbs reported that, as of Friday, 554 COVID-19 patients occupied Mississippi hospital beds. “This thing is not even remotely toward the end,” Dobbs said. “Don’t be surprised if we have rebounding cases and have to reverse course if people are not willing to do the simple things that are requested at this time.” Initially citing a low number of patients and medical resources being utilized, Reeves, a Republican, had allowed the state to transition into a safer-at-home order on April 27, permitting some nonessential businesses to reopen at 50 percent capacity. "The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend," Reeves said Friday. “We may still move forward with more reopenings soon. We believe what we’re considering represents safe steps. They wouldn’t recklessly put more people in harm’s way.” The governor is expected to announce an update to his plans to reopen the state by Monday, WREG-TV reported. Before the Friday spike in COVID-19 cases, Reeves was singing a different tune in an interview with Fox News on Thursday. The governor said he felt comfortable opening nonessential businesses given Mississippi had less than 100 people utilizing ventilators and fewer than 200 in intensive care unit beds. Across the state, there are approximately 4,500 hospital beds available, he added. TENNESSEE, MISSISSIPPI, MONTANA REOPEN SOME BUSINESSES FOLLOWING OTHER STATES EASING CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS “We always knew that we weren't going to be able to stop the spread of the virus, that we were trying to slow the spread to protect our health care system and we feel confident at this point that we have been able to do that,” Reeves told Fox News. Under the safer-at-home order, retail businesses could operate at 50 percent capacity for a two-week period provided they follow stringent public health guidelines that included implementing social distancing and providing hand sanitizer for customers. Elective medical and dental procedures were cleared to resume. Meanwhile, gyms, movie theaters and salons were required to remain closed. “You cannot shutter businesses for months and months and expect they're just going to come back and be ready to go because even with the massive amounts of federal help, people in our state – and I think people across the country – are hurting,” Reeves said Thursday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Given that more than 200,000 Mississippians have filed for unemployment, Reeves said other state officials needed to start taking the long-term economic impact this shutdown will bring more seriously. "We have a short-term public health crisis in this nation, but we also have a short-term economic crisis that every single day that the economy's not open is going to be harder on the backend. That is something that I think is lost on some people,” the governor said. Fox News' Teny Sahakian contributed to this report
3 May 14:24 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/us/mississippi-reeves-coronavirus-reopening-spike-cases-deathsRating: 3.32
Stormont executive to discuss phased pathway out of lockdown
THE Stormont executive is set to discuss a pathway out of lockdown, as a further 16 deaths were confirmed in the north over the weekend. The Department of Health recorded 11 Covid-19 -related deaths on Saturday and a further five today, bringing the total to 381. The figures are one of two sets currently being produced. Statistics agency Nisra said on Friday there had been 393 deaths up to April 24 according to information on death certificates. Sinn Féin communities minister Deirdre Hargey said that the executive would adopt a "phased approach" to easing lockdown restrictions. She said ministers are to meet on Monday, Wednesday and likely Thursday as part of intensive work evaluating the battle against coronavirus. Details will be published within the next two weeks. "As we start to ease those restrictions it's important that we don't do that too quick in that you reverse the good work that has been done up until now," she told the BBC. "We have to gradually introduce those slowly, adhering to the medical advice and looking at the modelling as we start to move through an easement process and indeed that has to be planned and managed." She said the lockdown will not be completely lifted and there will still be a "level of social distancing" to guard against a potential second wave of the virus. British Cabinet Office minister Michael Gove said Prime Minister Boris Johnson will also set out a plan for easing lockdown restrictions on Thursday. He said some social distancing measures will remain in place until a vaccine has been developed but ministers will seek to restore people's lives to "as close to normal as possible". The UK Covid-19 death toll now stands at 28,446 after 315 fatalities were added to the total yesterday. It also emerged that testing up to 9am on Sunday had fallen to 76,496 - a drop from 122,000 tests carried out on April 30. Transport secretary Grant Shapps admitted that fewer people would have died if more tests had been available earlier. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar revealed a five-stage plan to exit lockdown in the Republic last Friday. A further 19 people with Covid 19 died in the south yesterday, bringing the death toll to 1,303. Officials also said that 950 people are being treated in hospitals with either confirmed or suspected cases of the virus. Of those, 98 confirmed cases and 28 suspected cases are being treated in intensive care. HSE chief operations officer Anne O'Connor said the health service has not seen the kind of numbers it had originally feared. It has also emerged that it has a plan for private hospitals to carry out urgent procedures that are not coronavirus-related that may have been delayed due to the outbreak. "Our original intention for the use of the private hospitals was as part of our surge capacity and to give us extra capacity to meet the demand over Covid-19," HSE chief executive Paul Reid said.
3 May 20:52 • The Irish News • http://www.irishnews.com/news/northernirelandnews/2020/05/04/news/stormont-executive-to-discuss-phased-pathway-out-of-lockdown-1925123/Rating: 0.30
Mississippi's governor backtracked on ending the state's lockdown after the state saw its biggest increase in coronavirus deaths and cases
The Governor of Mississippi said he would backtrack on plans to partially end the state's coronavirus lockdown after seeing its largest single-day increase in both cases and deaths on Friday. Mississippi reported 397 new cases of coronavirus and 20 new deaths Friday, both of which were the highest daily numbers in the state since the virus first appeared there. By Saturday the number of new cases had fallen to 229, while there were 10 new deaths. The spike in cases caused the state's governor, Tate Reeves, to pull back on plans to allow some non-essential retailers to reopen under strict guidelines for their operation. "Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work," Reeves said in a briefing Friday. "This was a large enough change to make me take a step back," he said, referencing the large number of new cases. "I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now." Mississippi, the US' poorest state on a GDP per capita basis, has reported 7,441 cases of COVID-19, and 291 deaths, the state's department of health says. There have been some 1.1 million cases across the US, and around 66,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. LoadingSomething is loading. Mississippi was set to be one of a handful of states to begin easing lockdowns by reopening some non-essential businesses and allowing some workers to return to work. Reeves had planned a so-called "safer at home" initiative, whereby non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores and bookstores could reopen, while following strict guidelines. Those guidelines included lowering capacity, practicing social distancing, and ensuring high levels of hygiene. "The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend," Reeves said. He stressed his desire, "not to recklessly put people in harm's way." At a federal level, President Donald Trump has pushed for a reopening of some businesses after several weeks of lockdown, citing a desire to protect the US economy from the damage that a prolonged period of low activity would cause. The president has frequently yo-yo-ed between pushing for a reopening at the behest of business leaders, and urging caution amid advice from public health officials. Health officials warn that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to a second wave of new cases, much like was witnessed during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) warned this week that the most likely, and worst-case scenario going forward is a "one in which the first wave is followed by a larger wave in the fall or winter of 2020, and one or more smaller subsequent waves in 2021," Business Insider' Aylin Woodward reported Saturday. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 11:19 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/mississippi-governor-backs-down-on-reopening-after-biggest-covid-spike-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Mississippi’s governor backtracked on ending the state’s lockdown after the state saw its biggest increase in coronavirus deaths and cases
The Governor of Mississippi said he would backtrack on plans to partially end the state’s coronavirus lockdown after seeing its largest single-day increase in both cases and deaths on Friday. Mississippi reported 397 new cases of coronavirus and 20 new deaths Friday, both of which were the highest daily numbers in the state since the virus first appeared there. By Saturday the number of new cases had fallen to 229, while there were 10 new deaths. The spike in cases caused the state’s governor, Tate Reeves, to pull back on plans to allow some non-essential retailers to reopen under strict guidelines for their operation. “Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work,” Reeves said in a briefing Friday. “This was a large enough change to make me take a step back,” he said, referencing the large number of new cases. “I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now.” Mississippi, the US’ poorest state on a GDP per capita basis, has reported 7,441 cases of COVID-19, and 291 deaths, the state’s department of health says. There have been some 1.1 million cases across the US, and around 66,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Mississippi was set to be one of a handful of states to begin easing lockdowns by reopening some non-essential businesses and allowing some workers to return to work. Reeves had planned a so-called “safer at home” initiative, whereby non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores and bookstores could reopen, while following strict guidelines. Those guidelines included lowering capacity, practicing social distancing, and ensuring high levels of hygiene. “The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend,” Reeves said. He stressed his desire, “not to recklessly put people in harm’s way.” At a federal level, President Donald Trump has pushed for a reopening of some businesses after several weeks of lockdown, citing a desire to protect the US economy from the damage that a prolonged period of low activity would cause. The president has frequently yo-yo-ed between pushing for a reopening at the behest of business leaders, and urging caution amid advice from public health officials. Health officials warn that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to a second wave of new cases, much like was witnessed during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) warned this week that the most likely, and worst-case scenario going forward is a “one in which the first wave is followed by a larger wave in the fall or winter of 2020, and one or more smaller subsequent waves in 2021,” Business Insider’ Aylin Woodward reported Saturday.
3 May 11:19 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/mississippi-governor-backs-down-on-reopening-after-biggest-covid-spike-2020-5-2Rating: 0.30
Mississippi's governor backtracked on ending the state's lockdown after the state saw its biggest increase in coronavirus deaths and cases
The Governor of Mississippi said he would backtrack on plans to partially end the state’s coronavirus lockdown after seeing its largest single-day increase in both cases and deaths on Friday. Mississippi reported 397 new cases of coronavirus and 20 new deaths Friday, both of which were the highest daily numbers in the state since the virus first appeared there. By Saturday the number of new cases had fallen to 229, while there were 10 new deaths. The spike in cases caused the state’s governor, Tate Reeves, to pull back on plans to allow some non-essential retailers to reopen under strict guidelines for their operation. “Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work,”Reeves said in a briefing Friday. “This was a large enough change to make me take a step back,” he said, referencing the large number of new cases. “I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now.” Mississippi, the US’ poorest state on a GDP per capita basis, has reported 7,441 cases of COVID-19, and 291 deaths, the state’s department of health says. There have been some 1.1 million cases across the US, and around 66,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Mississippi was set to be one of a handful of states to begin easing lockdowns by reopening some non-essential businesses and allowing some workers to return to work. Reeves had planned a so-called “safer at home” initiative, whereby non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores and bookstores could reopen, while following strict guidelines. Those guidelines included lowering capacity, practicing social distancing, and ensuring high levels of hygiene. “The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend,” Reeves said. He stressed his desire, “not to recklessly put people in harm’s way.” At a federal level, President Donald Trump has pushed for a reopening of some businesses after several weeks of lockdown, citing a desire to protect the US economy from the damage that a prolonged period of low activity would cause. The president has frequently yo-yo-ed between pushing for a reopening at the behest of business leaders, and urging caution amid advice from public health officials. Health officials warn that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to a second wave of new cases, much like was witnessed during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. The Centre for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) warned this week that the most likely, and worst-case scenario going forward is a “one in which the first wave is followed by a larger wave in the fall or winter of 2020, and one or more smaller subsequent waves in 2021,” Business Insider’ Aylin Woodward reported Saturday.
3 May 11:19 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/mississippi-governor-backs-down-on-reopening-after-biggest-covid-spike-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Mississippi's governor backtracked on ending the state's lockdown after the state saw its biggest increase in coronavirus deaths and cases
Leah Mills/Reuters The Governor of Mississippi said he would backtrack on plans to partially end the state's coronavirus lockdown after seeing its largest single-day increase in both cases and deaths on Friday. Mississippi reported 397 new cases of coronavirus and 20 new deaths Friday, both of which were the highest daily numbers in the state since the virus first appeared there. By Saturday the number of new cases had fallen to 229, while there were 10 new deaths. The spike in cases caused the state's governor, Tate Reeves, to pull back on plans to allow some non-essential retailers to reopen under strict guidelines for their operation. "Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work," Reeves said in a briefing Friday. "This was a large enough change to make me take a step back," he said, referencing the large number of new cases. "I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now." Mississippi, the US' poorest state on a GDP per capita basis, has reported 7,441 cases of COVID-19, and 291 deaths, the state's department of health says. There have been some 1.1 million cases across the US, and around 66,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Mississippi was set to be one of a handful of states to begin easing lockdowns by reopening some non-essential businesses and allowing some workers to return to work. Reuters/Carlos Barria Reeves had planned a so-called "safer at home" initiative, whereby non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores and bookstores could reopen, while following strict guidelines. Those guidelines included lowering capacity, practicing social distancing, and ensuring high levels of hygiene. "The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend," Reeves said. He stressed his desire, "not to recklessly put people in harm's way." At a federal level, President Donald Trump has pushed for a reopening of some businesses after several weeks of lockdown, citing a desire to protect the US economy from the damage that a prolonged period of low activity would cause. The president has frequently yo-yo-ed between pushing for a reopening at the behest of business leaders, and urging caution amid advice from public health officials. Health officials warn that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to a second wave of new cases, much like was witnessed during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) warned this week that the most likely, and worst-case scenario going forward is a "one in which the first wave is followed by a larger wave in the fall or winter of 2020, and one or more smaller subsequent waves in 2021," Business Insider' Aylin Woodward reported Saturday. Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 11:19 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/mississippis-governor-backtracked-ending-states-111939581.htmlRating: 0.30
Mississippi's governor backtracked on ending the state's lockdown after the state saw its biggest increase in coronavirus deaths and cases, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The Governor of Mississippi said he would backtrack on plans to partially end the state’s coronavirus lockdown after seeing its largest single-day increase in both cases and deaths on Friday. Mississippi reported 397 new cases of coronavirus and 20 new deaths Friday, both of which were the highest daily numbers in the state since the virus first appeared there. By Saturday the number of new cases had fallen to 229, while there were 10 new deaths. The spike in cases caused the state’s governor, Tate Reeves, to pull back on plans to allow some non-essential retailers to reopen under strict guidelines for their operation. “Things can change quickly. We have to stay flexible. Today, I was prepared to announce further reopenings. That was the plan and I was excited to get more of our people back to work,” Reeves said in a briefing Friday. “This was a large enough change to make me take a step back,” he said, referencing the large number of new cases. “I have come to the conclusion that I must hold on for now.” Mississippi, the US’ poorest state on a GDP per capita basis, has reported 7,441 cases of COVID-19, and 291 deaths, the state’s department of health says. There have been some 1.1 million cases across the US, and around 66,000 deaths, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Mississippi was set to be one of a handful of states to begin easing lockdowns by reopening some non-essential businesses and allowing some workers to return to work. Reeves had planned a so-called “safer at home” initiative, whereby non-essential retail businesses like clothing stores and bookstores could reopen, while following strict guidelines. Those guidelines included lowering capacity, practicing social distancing, and ensuring high levels of hygiene. “The increase was a large enough change to make me take a step back, reexamine things and must hold on and reconsider at least over the weekend,” Reeves said. He stressed his desire, “not to recklessly put people in harm’s way.” At a federal level, President Donald Trump has pushed for a reopening of some businesses after several weeks of lockdown, citing a desire to protect the US economy from the damage that a prolonged period of low activity would cause. The president has frequently yo-yo-ed between pushing for a reopening at the behest of business leaders, and urging caution amid advice from public health officials. Health officials warn that reopening the economy too quickly could lead to a second wave of new cases, much like was witnessed during the Spanish Flu pandemic in 1918. The Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy (CIDRAP) warned this week that the most likely, and worst-case scenario going forward is a “one in which the first wave is followed by a larger wave in the fall or winter of 2020, and one or more smaller subsequent waves in 2021,” Business Insider’ Aylin Woodward reported Saturday.
3 May 11:19 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/mississippi-governor-backs-down-on-reopening-after-biggest-covid-spike-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus live news - Boris Johnson on Covid-19 battle as deaths pass 28,000
The coronavirus death toll in the UK is now close to 28,000 after 621 more deaths were confirmed on Saturday, with 454 of these people having died in hospitals after having been diagnosed with the virus. The Government’s official figures now include deaths in care homes and the wider community after the Department of Health began counting them on Wednesday. Meanwhile, Boris Johnson has spoken about his fight against the virus, admitting that doctors were ‘preparing to announce his death’ as his condition deteriorated. The Prime Minister said he was given ‘litres and litres of oxygen’ during his hospital battle. Here, we bring you the live updates on the latest news, developments and guidance on the Covid-19 pandemic.
3 May 08:46 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/coronavirus-news-live-uk-boris-johnson-covid-battle-uk-deaths-12647265/Rating: 2.18
One new COVID-19 case in Queensland, almost 95 per cent patients recovered
Queensland has one new novel coronavirus case on Sunday, taking the state total to 1035 and the final total for this week to six, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed. However, Health Minister Steven Miles said health authorities were unsure how the new patient, who lives in Brisbane's south, contracted the virus, with contact tracers working to track the source. "It is not as straight forward as some of the others … obviously we update that [Queensland Health] table with a source of infection every day and we hope that tomorrow [Monday] when we update it, we will have a source of infection [for this patient]," Mr Miles said on Sunday. In that updated total of 1035 cases, 976 of those patients have recovered, meaning Queensland's COVID-19 recovery rate sat at 94.3 per cent on Sunday. Nine Queenslanders remained in hospital with the novel coronavirus, all in the state's south-east, with four of those in intensive care units. Ms Palaszczuk posted on Twitter that 115,598 novel coronavirus tests have been conducted since the pandemic reached Queensland and the state's death toll remained at six. On Saturday, the first day of eased COVID-19 movement restrictions, Queensland police handed out 32 fines for breaching the health regulations. As of 11.59pm on Friday, Queenslanders could go for a drive, a recreational ride on their motorbike, jet ski or boat, have a picnic, visit an open national park, and shop for non-essential items. Activities must be done within a 50-kilometre radius of home. The outings were limited to members of the same household or an individual and one friend, and social distancing must be maintained. Also on Saturday, there was also one new COVID-19 case recorded in the state, but it came with an urgent health warning for Qantas flight QF614 from Melbourne to Brisbane on April 22. An infected traveller was on that flight, so Queensland Health authorities were urgently tracing people in rows 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Those passengers should contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately. "That Qantas flight was some time ago, so the level of concern is mitigated by the fact that that time has passed without necessarily seeing those cases from it," Mr Miles said on Sunday. "We can run down every single lead, we can chase down every potential contact ... People on that flight should not be unnecessarily concerned." Meanwhile, Mr Miles announced on Sunday that Queensland Health had purchased an extra 35 anaesthetic machines to continue to expand the state's ICU capacity. "We ordered these machines as part of our surge planning when we were planning for the worst … when we thought Brisbane and Queensland could look like New York City does today," he said. "We are incredibly fortunate that it doesn’t, but we are going to continue that planning."
3 May 01:34 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/queensland/one-new-covid-19-case-in-queensland-almost-95-per-cent-patients-recovered-20200503-p54pbh.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
One new COVID-19 case in Queensland, almost 95 per cent of patients recovered
Queensland has one new novel coronavirus case on Sunday, taking the state total to 1035 and this week's figure to six, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed. However, Health Minister Steven Miles said health authorities were unsure how the new patient, who lives in Brisbane's south, contracted the virus, with contact tracers working to track the source. "It is not as straight forward as some of the others … obviously we update that [Queensland Health] table with a source of infection every day and we hope that tomorrow [Monday] when we update it, we will have a source of infection [for this patient]," Mr Miles said on Sunday. In that updated total of 1035 cases, 976 of those patients have recovered, meaning Queensland's COVID-19 recovery rate sat at 94.3 per cent on Sunday. Nine Queenslanders remained in hospital with the novel coronavirus, all in the state's south-east, with four of those in intensive care units. Ms Palaszczuk posted on Twitter that 115,598 novel coronavirus tests had been conducted since the pandemic reached Queensland and the state's death toll remained at six. On Saturday, the first day of eased COVID-19 movement restrictions, Queensland police handed out 32 fines for breaching the health regulations. As of 11.59pm on Friday, Queenslanders could go for a drive, a recreational ride on their motorbike, jet ski or boat, have a picnic, visit an open national park, and shop for non-essential items. Activities must be done within a 50-kilometre radius of home. The outings were limited to members of the same household or an individual and one friend, and social distancing must be maintained. There was also one new COVID-19 case confirmed in the state on Saturday, which it came with an urgent health warning for Qantas flight QF614 from Melbourne to Brisbane on April 22. An infected traveller was on that flight, so Queensland Health authorities were urgently tracing people in rows 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Those passengers should contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately. "That Qantas flight was some time ago, so the level of concern is mitigated by the fact that that time has passed without necessarily seeing those cases from it," Mr Miles said on Sunday. "We can run down every single lead. We can chase down every potential contact ... People on that flight should not be unnecessarily concerned." Meanwhile, Mr Miles announced on Sunday that Queensland Health had purchased an extra 35 anaesthetic machines to continue to expand the state's ICU capacity. "We ordered these machines as part of our surge planning when we were planning for the worst … when we thought Brisbane and Queensland could look like New York City does today," he said. "We are incredibly fortunate that it doesn’t, but we are going to continue that planning."
3 May 00:24 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/one-new-covid-19-case-in-queensland-almost-95-per-cent-patients-recovered-20200503-p54pbh.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
One new COVID-19 case in Queensland, almost 95 per cent of patients recovered
Queensland has one new novel coronavirus case on Sunday, taking the state total to 1035 and this week's figure to six, Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has confirmed. However, Health Minister Steven Miles said health authorities were unsure how the new patient, who lives in Brisbane's south, contracted the virus, with contact tracers working to track the source. "It is not as straight forward as some of the others … obviously we update that [Queensland Health] table with a source of infection every day and we hope that tomorrow [Monday] when we update it, we will have a source of infection [for this patient]," Mr Miles said on Sunday. In that updated total of 1035 cases, 976 of those patients have recovered, meaning Queensland's COVID-19 recovery rate sat at 94.3 per cent on Sunday. Nine Queenslanders remained in hospital with the novel coronavirus, all in the state's south-east, with four of those in intensive care units. Ms Palaszczuk posted on Twitter that 115,598 novel coronavirus tests had been conducted since the pandemic reached Queensland and the state's death toll remained at six. On Saturday, the first day of eased COVID-19 movement restrictions, Queensland police handed out 32 fines for breaching the health regulations. As of 11.59pm on Friday, Queenslanders could go for a drive, a recreational ride on their motorbike, jet ski or boat, have a picnic, visit an open national park, and shop for non-essential items. Activities must be done within a 50-kilometre radius of home. The outings were limited to members of the same household or an individual and one friend, and social distancing must be maintained. There was also one new COVID-19 case confirmed in the state on Saturday, which it came with an urgent health warning for Qantas flight QF614 from Melbourne to Brisbane on April 22. An infected traveller was on that flight, so Queensland Health authorities were urgently tracing people in rows 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23. Those passengers should contact 13 HEALTH (13 43 25 84) immediately. "That Qantas flight was some time ago, so the level of concern is mitigated by the fact that that time has passed without necessarily seeing those cases from it," Mr Miles said on Sunday. "We can run down every single lead. We can chase down every potential contact ... People on that flight should not be unnecessarily concerned." Meanwhile, Mr Miles announced on Sunday that Queensland Health had purchased an extra 35 anaesthetic machines to continue to expand the state's ICU capacity. "We ordered these machines as part of our surge planning when we were planning for the worst … when we thought Brisbane and Queensland could look like New York City does today," he said. "We are incredibly fortunate that it doesn’t, but we are going to continue that planning."
3 May 00:24 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/one-new-covid-19-case-in-queensland-almost-95-per-cent-patients-recovered-20200503-p54pbh.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_queenslandRating: 0.86
Maharashtra Health Minister Rajesh Tope announces health insurance for all, Covid cases touch 12,296
MAHARASHTRA RECORDED the highest single day jump in its toll with 36 deaths due to coronavius (COVID-19) on Saturday. The toll crossed 500, touching 521. Across the state, 790 new cases were recorded. Mumbai recorded 547 fresh cases and 28 deaths, its highest number of deaths in a single day taking the count in the city to 322. The total patient count in the state now stands at 12,296 with Mumbai reporting 8,359 cases. As cases continue to surge and number of patients requiring hospitalisation increases, state Health Minister Rajesh Tope said all families in the state will be covered under Mahatma Jyotiba Phule Jan Arogya Yojana’s (MJPJAY) medical insurance cover up to Rs 1.5 lakh. “We have 1,000 hospitals empanelled under us. Any patient visiting these hospitals for surgeries listed under the insurance scheme will be treated cashless,” Tope told The Indian Express. The MJPJAY is a state-run insurance scheme that covers 2.25 crore families and provides medical cover of Rs 1.5 lakh. In its tender last year, the state government increased hospitals empanelled under the scheme from 492 to 1,000 and total procedures that patients can avail from 971 to 1,096. Tope said about 25 lakh more families are now included under the insurance scheme in addition to 2.25 crore. “We had already covered about 85 per cent of Maharashtra’s population under the scheme. Now remaining 15 per cent is also covered,” he said. With several private hospitals operating on skeletal basis, the health minister said district collectors have been instructed to take action against hospitals that refuse to treat patients. “There are still issues with some private hospitals in red zone districts. It is difficult for them to function normally. But collectors will ensure these hospitals open up,” Tope said. Across the state, there are 844 containment areas where movement has been restricted completely. Of 36 deaths reported in the state, 28 were in Mumbai, including one of a West Bengal resident. Three deaths were recorded in Pune, three in Amravati, and one each in Vasai and Auranagabad. At least 70 per cent of them had comorbidities leading to health complications after they got the infection. On Saturday, the count of those discharged had touched 2,000. The rate of those recovering and being discharged improved from 14 per cent until last week to 16 per cent on Saturday. The total number of people discharged in Mumbai are 1,704, 85 per cent of the total discharged in the state. As many as 56 coronavirus patients, including a three-year-old girl, were discharged after recovery at the same time from a civic-run hospital in Mira-Bhayandar township in Thane district after recovery, an official said. In Mumbai, at least 481 people with suspected symptoms were admitted on Saturday. The city’s toll has touched 322. India’s largest slum Dharavi saw the highest single-day jump with 89 fresh cases on Saturday. Dharavi now has 496 positive cases. Officials from the BMC said in the last six days, Dharavi recorded a significant 221 cases. They also said the rise in number of cases is because of active screening of people through fever clinics and extensive contact tracing of positive patients. The BMC is facing a challenge in the slum due to its dense population. Anticipating the rise in number of cases, the central government committee, which visited Dharavi, has suggested ramping up quarantine facilities. Civic officials said about 79,000 people have been screened at Dharavi, of which 2,500 people were screened this week. Of this, 1,920 were suspected to be positive and have been referred to institutional quarantine where they are also being tested. Pune toll crosses 100 The death toll in Pune district crossed 100 on Saturday. With four more deaths reported from the district, the toll is 103 now. Two of the deaths took place on Friday, but the reports confirming the virus came on Saturday. A total of 97 fresh cases were reported on Saturday and the number of patients with the infection has gone up to 1,912. ‘Be positive, build your immunity’ ‘Be positive, build your immunity and stay active’: this is the advice from a 52-year-old senior doctor at BJ Medical College and Sassoon General Hospital, who has recovered from COVID-19 and was discharged on Saturday. He was among the first physicians to have been detected with the virus, along with three other nurses, at Sassoon Hospital. All of them have recovered and been discharged, said hospital authorities. Amravati toll at 10 The toll in Amravati district has gone up to 10, with two deaths on April 27 and 30, reports of which were received days after the deaths. While one of the patients, a 55-year old man, died at home in the containment zone of Haiderpura on April 27, the other, a 50-year old man from Shirala village, died in Amravati Super Specialty Hospital on April 30, a day after he was admitted. While the report of the man from Haiderpura was received two days later, the Shirala villager’s report came on Saturday. Eight of the 10 deaths in the distinct have happened at home and one at a private hospital and one in a government hospital. “The deceased didn’t reveal their illnesses to our survey teams. So we came to know about them only after we tested their samples,” said Amravati Civil Surgeon Shyamsundar Nikam. The district’s cumulative positive case tally has risen to 53. With 10 deaths and four discharged patients, the district now has 39 active cases. The district had less than 15 cases about a week ago. Asked why Amravati still continued to be in the ‘orange’ zone, Divisional Commissioner Piyush Singh said, “About a week ago, the district had less than 15 cases. So the orange zone tag was an assessment based on that. Next Monday, it will be revised to red zone. But we are already treating the district as red zone.” Amravati’s death sequence had begun on April 4. But for a long time there were no casualties. On April 20, two deaths were reported. Next five deaths happened five days in a row and the last on April 30. Vidarbha’s overall toll now stands at 15. Nagpur has two, Akola two (including a suicide) and Buldana has one death. There were no fresh cases reported from Yavatmal on Saturday. The tally of cumulative and active in the district is 90 and 80, respectively. Yavatmal is the second-most affected district in Vidarbha after Nagpur. Buldana, too, reported no new cases. Akola has 40 cumulative and 37 active cases. Nagpur continues to lead in Vidarbha with 150 cumulative and 102 active cases. The city has had two deaths so far. Chandrapur recorded its first case late on Saturday with a 50-year old man from Krishna Nagar locality testing positive. This was informed by Collector Kunal Khemnar. The administration is sealing the area and is tracing the man’s contacts. Now, only Gadchiroli and Wardha are coronavirus-free districts in Vidarbha.
2 May 22:26 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/coronavirus-maharashtra-health-minister-rajesh-tope-announces-health-insurance-for-all-covid-cases-touch-12296-rajesh-tope-announces-health-insurance-for-all-covid-cases-touch-12296-6391119/Rating: 0.30
Quebec adds 114 more COVID-19 deaths on Saturday, bringing provincial tally to 2,136
MONTREAL — Quebec reported 114 more deaths linked to COVID-19 on Saturday ahead of the province's planned phased reopening set to begin Monday. The province now has 2,136 recorded deaths since the coronavirus pandemic hit the province. The Health Department said in a statement there were an additional 1,008 confirmed cases, bringing the number of those infected to 29,656. On Saturday, 1,738 COIVD-19 patients in the province were in hospital, with 222 of those requiring treatment in intensive care. The province's political and public health officials did not hold an availability on Saturday, but Premier Francois Legault had warned in his last public briefing Thursday that with more than 4,400 long-term care and seniors' homes residents infected with the novel coronavirus, the number of deaths would continue to rise. About 80 per cent of the province's deaths have occurred mainly in long-term care residences and seniors' homes. "Obviously, we will do everything to try to save as much as possible, but at some point we have to be realistic," Legault said. "It is certain that there will continue to be many deaths, unfortunately, in the coming days and weeks." Montreal and the surrounding region has been the epicentre of the province's COVID-19 cases and deaths. Of the number of confirmed cases, 14,559 cases are in Montreal, which has also accounted for 1,312 of the province's deaths — about 61 per cent. The City of Montreal announced Saturday it was extending a state of health emergency, in place since March 27, until May 5. Quebec has announced plans to gradually reopen daycares, elementary schools, retail businesses, construction and manufacturing gradually during the month of May — all with physical distancing rules in effect. The province announced plans Friday to ramp up testing to roughly 14,000 tests per day — 100,000 tests per week — in anticipation of the gradual resumption of activities. Authorities are staggering opening dates between the rest of the province and hard-hit greater Montreal. Quebec aims to open retail stores outside Montreal on Monday while those in the greater Montreal region are to reopen May 11, as long as they have their own dedicated entrance. Malls will remain closed and most stores will close Sundays in May with the exception of convenience stores, pharmacies, gas stations, restaurant take-out counters and grocery deliveries. The government has targeted May 11 as reopening day for elementary schools and daycares outside greater Montreal, with those in the city and surrounding area to open on May 19. Legault has said student attendance won't be mandatory and the province has ordered high schools, junior colleges and universities are to remain closed until September. The construction industry is to completely start up May 11, while manufacturing companies are to resume operations on that date with initial limits on the total number of employees who can work per shift. Legault has said that public health authorities will keep close tabs on the rates of infection and won't hesitate to order businesses closed should they lose control of the contagion. Roughly 500,000 of the 1.2 million Quebecers who lost their jobs will be able to start working again due to the measures. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2020. Sidhartha Banerjee, The Canadian Press
2 May 20:42 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/around-ontario/quebec-adds-114-more-covid-19-deaths-on-saturday-bringing-provincial-tally-to-2136-2319989Rating: 0.30
Birmingham trust to open “covid-free” hospital
A large West Midlands trust has announced it will open “a covid-free” elective hospital as the NHS begins to reintroduce care back into its hospitals. University Hospitals Birmingham said that while covid-19 still posed a significant risk to staff, it plans to use its Solihull Hospital site for mainstream elective inpatient activity from 1 June. The trust announced at the start of last month that it was suspending a “high proportion” of non-urgent cancer surgery and all non-urgent surgery. While the trust has seen its covid admissions and inpatient numbers plateau over the last 10 days it still had 150 per cent capacity in ITU. The trust has so far recorded 758 covid-19 deaths, the highest number in England. The trust has said the decision to create a covid-free site would mean the temporary removal of the minor injuries unit, acute medical unit and six medical inpatient wards. It said its clinical commissioning group was trying to find a replacement for its minor injuries unit, working with GP providers. From 8 May all its acute medical patients will move from the east Birmingham/Solihull region to the Heartlands hospitals near Small Heath. Staff would be given the option to remain working at Solihull or another UHB hospital during the changes. Covid cases would continue to be managed at Heartlands, Good Hope and the Queen Elizabeth hospitals. It said it would keep potential use of its Good Hope Hospital for elective care under close review. A trust spokesman added: “Whilst it seems that this will require some significant change to how the system currently operates, and won’t be without it challenges, it may present the local NHS with the opportunity to redesign local services, to meet the needs of patients better. “In partnership with the CCG, UHB has prepared plans to communicate and engage with the public and all relevant stakeholders, at appropriate times. This is in line with NHS England and NHS Improvement’s emergency service change protocol. Hospital bosses have warned that reintroducing care should be done cautiously and that a drive to restart elective procedures would be hampered by a lack of rapid testing and tracking of covid-19 positive patients.
2 May 04:00 • HSJ • https://www.hsj.co.uk/coronavirus/birmingham-trust-to-open-covid-free-hospital/7027551.articleRating: 0.30
Crowds force Connecticut officials to close state parks
Ninety-seven more people died in Connecticut from COVID-19 and the state’s total number of cases rose to more than 29,000, state officials reported Saturday. More than 100,000 people have been tested in the state, a number that could increase soon. Last week, state Epidemiologist Matthew Cartter said there could be 50,000 tests conducted in Connecticut per week by the end of May, compared to about 4,000 tests being done per week now. Testing currently has focused heavily on front-line health care workers and ICU patients, but Gov. Ned Lamont has said there will be an emphasis on testing food service workers and other front-line employees, those working in factories and residents living in congested areas. The highest number of cases in the state through Saturday, 2,491, has been reported in the city of Stamford, followed by Bridgeport with 2,099. Connecticut’s death toll rose to 2,436. The number of people hospitalized with COVID-19 fell by 41, to 1,551. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness. In other coronavirus-related developments around Connecticut: POPULAR PARKS Beautiful spring weather brought people out to Connecticut’s parks on Saturday, forcing state officials to close many that became too crowded under the state’s guidelines for social distancing.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/crowds-force-connecticut-officials-to-close-state-/Rating: 0.79
Fears over lack of support for coronavirus survivors left with lung damage
It is feared hundreds of those who have been seriously ill with the disease will need support packages similar to those offered to people living with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Demand for such support was already rising before the pandemic and campaigners have raised concerns about staffing required to support the number of patients expected to need help to manage serious lung conditions. The head of Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland has called for NHS Tayside to open discussions about introducing a support package currently only available to patients in Edinburgh and Glasgow. Prior to the pandemic, the number of people who have COPD in the area had already increased by 18% since 2011/12, to 11,517 people Campaigner Ian Baxter, 71, said the Scottish Government must ensure all health boards are properly funded to roll out support programmes. The retired police inspector from Forfar said: “They are going to have to pull their socks up and fund these programmes properly. “They will be crucial for patients and they will help save a fortune in the long run.” Mr Baxter said his own condition – not related to covid-19 – felt like “having to breathe through a straw” while doing everyday activities. Coronavirus survivors with lung damage will need help to enable them to manage their own conditions, he added. He said the programme he attended – led by a physiotherapist and respiratory nurse – changed his life. Jane-Claire Judson, chief executive at Chest Heart & Stroke Scotland, called for discussions with NHS Tayside on introducing its discharge and community support model ‘Hospital to Home’ to the area. North East region MSP Bill Bowman, Conservative, said NHS Tayside will have to start planning for rehabilitation support for people who have had severe cases of coronavirus. He said: “Thousands of people in Tayside, who are already in the high-risk category, would benefit from this treatment. “So NHS Tayside will need plans in place as soon as possible for breathing rehabilitation, so that patients who have had coronavirus can start their recovery.” James Chalmers, respiratory consultant with NHS Tayside, said: “NHS Tayside has a high prevalence of COPD in the community because of a longstanding and highly-organised community infrastructure for respiratory care which proactively screens patients with respiratory symptoms for COPD and other chest conditions. “Earlier diagnosis means earlier treatment and better outcomes and NHS Tayside is proud that admission rates, lengths of stay and other key outcome indicators for COPD are among the best in the country. “It is too early to know to what extent COVID-19 infection will lead to an increase in chronic lung disease but we agree this an important issue to address. This is the reason why NHS Tayside and the University of Dundee has initiated what will become a Scotland-wide project to follow-up patients with COVID-19 to identify the effects on lung function and symptoms. “Dr David Connell, respiratory consultant at Ninewells Hospital in his role as chairman of the British Thoracic Society Speciality Advisory group on respiratory infections is involved in planning a national pathway for follow-up care for covid patients, and follow-up including the appropriate x-rays and tests is already happening in Tayside for early detection and treatment of any complications.” A Scottish Government spokesperson said: “Although our efforts are currently concentrated on saving lives, we are also planning how our NHS can move forward after this crisis has passed. Caring for those who need ongoing help after covid-19 will be an important part of that. “We have been driving improvement in the diagnosis, care, treatment and support of people with respiratory conditions. We are developing a Respiratory Care Action Plan, which will set out priorities to support the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of respiratory conditions, including COPD. The plan is at consultation stage and we would encourage as many people as possible to respond. “Access to pulmonary rehabilitation is a key recommendation in national clinical guidelines that we expect NHS boards to follow, and it will form an important part of the plan. “The Scottish Government recently awarded £330,000 to Chest Heart and Stroke Scotland to grow its hospital and community discharge services for people living with lung conditions, including those affected by coronavirus.”
2 May 08:49 • The Courier • https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/local/dundee/1299787/fears-over-lack-of-support-for-coronavirus-survivors-left-with-lung-damage/Rating: 0.30
Over 1,000 new COVID-19 cases were reported in Quebec in past 24 hours
MONTREAL -- Public health officials announced Saturday that there are 1,008 new cases of COVID-19 in Quebec since Friday, and 114 more people have died in the province. The total number of deaths is now 2,136, and the total number of people infected is 29,656 up from 28,648 announced Friday. There are now 22 more people in the hospital for a total of 1,738. Just four more people were in intensive care for a total of 222. The Quebec government announced Friday that it would be ramping up testing to 14,000 per day, as the province moves to gradually reopen schools and workplaces in the coming weeks. Hotspots such as Montreal North will receive the most aggressive levels of testing, as will schools, daycares, and manufacturing plants where deconfinement is set to begin. Some 220,000 tests have been taken since the beginning of the pandemic. Of those, 199,037 tests have come back negative, and there are 1,002 still under investigation. LOTO-QUEBEC Loto-Québec announced on Saturday that it would allow businesses with a street entrance to sell lottery tickets again. The company will thus reopen its sales terminals in shops that have an outside entrance. However, the company added that the sale of lottery tickets at retailers located in shopping centres, including lottery stands, “remains suspended until further notice.” COVID-19 CASES IN QUEBECInfogram With reporting from The Canadian Press.
2 May 17:09 • Montreal • https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/over-1-000-new-covid-19-cases-were-reported-in-quebec-in-past-24-hours-1.4922143Rating: 0.30
Tiger King’s Carole Baskin tricked into giving first interview by pranksters posing as Jimmy Fallon
3 May 17:03
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Tiger King’s Carole Baskin tricked into giving first interview by pranksters posing as Jimmy Fallon
TIGER King's Carole Baskin's first interview since the popular show came out on Netflix in March premiered Sunday. The big cat activist thought she was exclusively talking to Jimmy Fallon when she was really talking to two YouTube pranksters. Josh Pieters and Archie Manners wanted to see if they could trick celebrities into giving them interviews. They do this by telling victims that they would be talking to a late-night show host, like James Corden or Jimmy Fallon. From this they were able to score an exclusive chat with Baskin by pretending to be Jimmy Fallon. In the fake interview, Carole revealed she “had to let go about half of our staff” because her sanctuary’s been closed amid the coronavirus pandemic. Though she said she and handful of volunteers are working “double-time” to care for the haven’s 55 exotic cats, she confessed she doesn’t know if they’ll “ever going to be able to do tours again.” Carole, who told Us Weekly she “isn’t angry” about the “fun prank,” was also persuaded to wear her flower crown while showing pictures of herself and her third husband, Howard Baskin. She told the outlet: “I was suspicious as we were doing it because the questions appeared taped, but had no idea it would turn out to be such a fun prank. “It gave us a very welcome good laugh. I appreciate their cleverness and that they created their video in a way that I don’t feel was in any way mean-spirited.” She used the interview with the YouTubers as an opportunity to talk about a proposed law aimed at stopping the exploitation and abuse of big cats in zoos. Josh talked to INSIDER about why he chose Carole and how he was able to get her to agree to a fake interview. He explained: "Here's a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show. "And we thought, why don't we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?" He then explained that they used a fake email address to reach Carole and tell her they were producing live segments for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Ultimately, she agreed to the interview. They then went through thousands of Jimmy Fallon clips where he uses the word "cat" and pieced them all together to make Carole believe she was actually talking to the late-night show host. Josh explained: "As you'll see in the video, Jimmy Fallon has interviewed people named Cat, he's interviewed the cast of 'Cats,' and he's actually interviewed a real cat. "So we had quite a lot of options for using the word cat. We tried our best to make it work with that." Of course, the way the two YouTubers landed the interview may seem a little shady and may have people wondering whether it's illegal or not. The 26-year-old had previously explained their methodology in another interview: "I think we always we always try to, not only from a creative point of view, but also from a slightly moral point of view, not completely dupe someone by breaking the law or doing something really wrong," Pieters said in a previous interview. "We always try to give people a bit of a chance." The interviewer admitted that they weren't really expecting it to work. He said: "Like all of our ideas, we really didn't expect it to work, and then it did work," he said. "I guess it's that trying to run an experiment and see if it works with not much hope of it working," he said. "And then when it does work, it's always quite fun to watch." Baskin is a "very interesting lady," Pieters said, and is excited to share the interview with the world. "We really did not expect it to work," he said. "We still can't really believe we managed to interview Carole Baskin." As most people know, Carole is one of the main characters in the docuseries Tiger King. She was Joe Exotic's enemy and spent years trying to shut down his zoo and cub petting operation. It was the Tiger King himself who first alleged that Carole murdered her first husband, Don Lewis. Carole, never officially a suspect, has vehemently protested her innocence over “lies and innuendos” in the Netflix series. The animal activist simply claimed that he had disappeared and made for dead, but new evidence shows he was actually murdered.
3 May 17:03 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/11539252/tiger-king-carole-baskin-first-interview-prank-youtubers/Rating: 2.72
YouTubers Trick Carole Baskin Into Thinking She Was Being Interviewed For ‘The Tonight Show’
When Netflix’s Tiger King blew up in March, the show’s stars scrambled to give interviews with anyone who’d listen. All except Carole Baskin. Now she’s given her first public interview since the docuseries aired, and it was all because two YouTubers pranked her into thinking they were producers for The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. Josh Pieters and Archie Manners came up with a plan to download clips from actual Jimmy Fallon interviews and put them into a soundboard on their iPad. They then reached out for a chat. “She said no, because the Tiger Queen hates Tiger King for making suggestions she was involved in her husband’s disappearance,” Pieters said. “So we emailed her again saying we wouldn’t talk about Tiger King, which was fine for us because we couldn’t make Jimmy Fallon talk about Tiger King. “We said we’d just talk about cats.” It turns out Fallon has interviewed Kat Dennings, the stars of the movie Cats, and Bob Irwin holding a cat, all of which were very useful as soundbite fodder. While there was nothing groundbreaking in the interview, we did learn a few tidbits about how Big Cat Rescue is coping during the pandemic. “We have so many cats depending on us, we don’t have a choice in the situation,” Baskin said. She said they’ve stockpiled around 9,000 kilos of frozen meat and still have volunteers on hand to look after the animals every day. “After COVID-19 I just don’t know if we’re ever going to be able to do tours again,” she added. The fact this stunt was pulled off so smoothly shouldn’t come as a surprise – these are the same guys who literally flew professional racist Katie Hopkins to Prague as part of an elaborate prank to get her to pose in front of a sign reading C. U. N. T. The boys have form. Image: YouTube / Josh Pieters & Archie Manners
3 May 22:50 • Pedestrian TV • https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/carole-baskin-youtube-interview-tonight-show-jimmy-fallon/Rating: 0.62
YouTubers trick Carole Baskin into first interview since Tiger King
YouTubers Josh Pieters and Archie Manners tricked Carole Baskin into giving her first interview since Tiger King after they convinced her that she was talking to Jimmy Fallon. The pair reassured her that they would not talk about Netflix or Tiger King and she joked that she didn't want to be referred to as 'that b**** Carole Baskin'. They tell her that she won't see the host as she speaks into the webcam while she even breaks out her signature "hey all you cool cats and kittens" phrase. They used a soundboard with generic questions and quotes from Fallon. Viewers were amazed that the pair managed to pull it off, as Baskin has shunned all media and interviews since the hit docuseries dropped on Netflix. She was unhappy with how she was portrayed and the episode which focused on the disappearance of her ex-husband Don Lewis. Baskin realised what had happened afterwards. Commenting on the video, she wrote: "This is the email I sent to my husband and daughter after the interview: 'Well that was weird. I couldn't see Fallon during the interview, and when they had his voice on the questions they didn't sound like it was specific to the topic. "'He'd just say things they could have recorded from any other interview; like - what are you doing during Quarantine? "'At the end he said: 'Miss you buddy,' so that really didn't sound like it was live from him to me. "'They did stick to the questions they gave us, so I just can't tell. This whole thing may have been a spoof and they said they won't broadcast till next week, and will let us know before they do, but I'm not holding my breath.'"
3 May 21:43 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/celebs/youtuber-tricks-carole-baskin-into-first-interview-since-tiger-king-366981Rating: 0.30
'Tiger King's' Carole Baskin Tricked Into Fake 'Tonight Show' Interview by YouTubers
Carole Baskin, who was featured in Netflix's popular Tiger King docu-series, has given few interviews since the show became a hit, citing her displeasure with the way the show portrayed her. But she recently fell victim to a prank by YouTubers pretending to be Jimmy Fallon interviewing her for The Tonight Show. Pranksters Josh Pieters and Archie Manners posted a video Sunday on their YouTube channel showing how they pranked Baskin. The duo pulled clips of Fallon asking various questions about cats that would not cause suspicion on Baskin's part. "Here's a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show. And we thought, why don't we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?" Pieters told Insider, adding it took multiple attempts to finally get Baskin on board. Baskin has previously said she doesn't like how Tiger King implied that she had a hand in her late husband's death. However, Pieters and Manners convinced her that "Jimmy Fallon" would ask only about her big cats. They told her she wouldn't be able to see Fallon during the interview, being conducted via Zoom, and explained how they handled moments where they were stuck without an appropriate audio clip of Fallon's voice. "There is often a moment where there isn't a clip that's suitable," Pieters told Insider. "But that's luckily where I have Archie on standby who can come in and act as the producer and say, 'Oh we've got a quick change there, Jimmy's just doing this,' or 'Jimmy's just doing his makeup,' and then it sort of explains why something sort of went wrong." During the interview, Baskin talked about how she's been taking care of her animals amid the coronavirus pandemic, noting she'd had to lay off half her staff "due to the loss of tourism revenue" and that volunteers are still helping take care of the cats, and also asked viewers to support the Big Cat Public Safety Act, one of her most passionate causes, which she also spoke about in the Netflix show. She also sent them several never-before-seen images. On Sunday, Baskin toldUs Weekly that she wasn't upset by the prank and thought something was amiss during the interview. "I was suspicious as we were doing it because the questions appeared taped. But had no idea it would turn out to be such a fun prank. It gave us a very welcome good laugh. I appreciate their cleverness and that they created their video in a way that I don’t feel was in any way mean-spirited," she said. Pieters and Manners previously pranked British pop star Craig David, TikToker Holly H, Love Island couple Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury and magician Julius Dein by using voice clips from James Corden. Watch their interview with Baskin below. Updated 5:03 p.m. Sunday, May 3: Added response from Baskin.
3 May 15:50 • The Hollywood Reporter • https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/tiger-kings-carole-baskin-tricked-fake-tonight-show-interview-1293024?utm_medium=facebookRating: 2.08
Carole Baskin Tricked Into Giving First Major TV Interview Since ‘Tiger King,’ Says ‘I Was Suspicious’
May 3, 2020 Kristine Lofgren Carole Baskin gave her first major interview since the Netflix series “Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness” hit televisions across the country. While the big cat advocate thought she was speaking with Jimmy Fallon, it turned out that she was actually chatting with two YouTubers who tricked her into spilling details about her experience filming the show. As Business Insider reports, Josh Pieters and Archie Manners reached out to Baskin to see if they could trick her into appearing in their video. Pieters conducted the interview, while Manners acted as a producer. They played clips of old television episodes of Jimmy Fallon’s show, The Tonight Show. With so many interviews taking place remotely because of the coronavirus pandemic, the two saw an opportunity to trick celebrities into conducting interviews. “Here’s a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show,” Pieters said. “And we thought, why don’t we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?” To their surprise, Baskins agreed. They compiled a bunch of clips of Fallon talking about cats in order to prepare for their interview. Baskin opened up about the challenges they’ve been facing at her big cat rescue in Citrus Park, Florida. She told them that she has been forced to lay off half her staff since they can no longer allow people to visit the park. She also talked about her choice of headwear – a type of lei – and urged people not to pay to see tiger cubs. Since the news of the fake interview hit the media outlets, Baskins opened up about being tricked into giving an interview. “I was suspicious as we were doing it because the questions appeared taped. But had no idea it would turn out to be such a fun prank. It gave us a very welcome good laugh. I appreciate their cleverness and that they created their video in a way that I don’t feel was in any way mean-spirited,” she told Us Weekly magazine. In the past, Baskins has said that she was upset with the way she was portrayed on the show, which spent an entire episode focused on the disappearance of her husband. She says that people who are focused on finding out what happened to her late husband missed the point.
3 May 23:50 • The Inquisitr • https://www.inquisitr.com/6032934/carole-baskin-tricked-jimmy-fallon/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29Rating: 0.30
YouTubers claim they tricked 'Tiger King' star Carole Baskin into first public interview since show's release
Two YouTubers have claimed they've tricked Carole Baskin, a star of Netflix's "Tiger King: Murder, Mayhem and Madness," into her first public interview since the show's release. The pair of Internet personalities -- Archie Manners and Josh Pieters -- shared a video online, detailing how they managed to score interviews with Baskin and several other celebrities by posing as staffers from various popular late-night talk shows, such as "The Tonight Show." 'TIGER KING': CAROLE, HOWARD BASKIN SAY THEY FEEL 'BETRAYAL' FROM FILMMAKERS, ARE GETTING DEATH THREATS The duo's video explained that they'd use audio clips from popular hosts such as Jimmy Fallon to trick stars into believing they were speaking with the famous comedians via audio. In their video, Manners and Pieters revealed that they posed as producers of Fallon's show when they asked to interview the big-cat enthusiast. [WARNING: The video below contains graphic language.] Baskin initially turned down the request, Manners and Pieters said, but eventually accepted after they promised not to speak about "Tiger King," which they explained "was fine with us because we couldn't make Jimmy Fallon talk about 'Tiger King.'" Manners and Pieters explained that they used clips of Fallon's interviews mentioning the word "cat," including interviews with Kat Dennings and cast members of the musical movie "Cats." Baskin spoke with the duo over Zoom, and they explained to her that while she cannot see Fallon, he could hear her, she would hear him and he would be asking her questions. 'TIGER KING': LAWYER FOR CAROLE BASKIN'S MISSING HUSBAND SAYS HE WAS STRANGLED, THROWN FROM PLANE The interview then began as the duo played an audio clip of Fallon greeting a guest. "I'm doing great," Baskin said. "My daughter, Jamie, suggested that I do this interview with you, so she says 'Hi,' and we are working every day with the cats at the sanctuary." The YouTubers played more clips of Fallon's voice, asking her who was quarantining with her, and what she's been doing. "Unfortunately, due to the loss of tourism revenue, we had to let go about half of our staff, and thankfully, all of our animal care is done by volunteers," Baskin said. "So, the animals are still getting their daily care, but it means all of us are having to work double-time to make sure that all that happens." Baskin further discussed life in quarantine while running the sanctuary. "Thankfully, we were able to fill up our freezers, we can store about 20,000 pounds of food at a time," she said. Baskin later added: "After COVID-19, I just don't know if we're ever going to be able to do tours again." AMANDA KNOX ON 'TIGER KING,' THE 'RUSH TO JUDGEMENT' OF CAROLE BASKIN: 'LET'S LET' HER 'HAVE HER DAY IN COURT' The YouTubers then convinced Baskin to don a flower crown and introduce several video clips while saying her catchphrase: "Hey all you cool cats and kittens, it's Carole at Big Cat Rescue." The video contained a montage of pictures that Manners and Pieters claimed the public hadn't seen. Fallon recently has been asking each of his guests if they'd like to spotlight a charity or cause during their remote appearances on his show, so the Internet personalities replayed a clip of the late-night host asking Baskin to do the same. "There is something you can do to end the abuse of big cats and to save them in the wild," the activist said. "That's to make the 'call of the wild,' and you can do that by testing the words 'cats,' C-A-T-S, to the number 5-2-8-8-6." Baskin continued, explaining that such a text message would alert a member of Congress and serve as support for the Big Cat Public Safety Act, a bill she's supported. They then concluded the interview with a clip of Fallon thanking a guest for joining him. "Tiger King" followed the rivalry between Baskin and fellow big cat enthusiast Joseph Maldonado-Passage -- better known as Joe Exotic -- and also examined rumors that Baskin was involved in the disappearance of her ex-husband. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Baskin and her husband, Howard, did previously speak to the Tampa Bay Times following the release of the series. Reps for Baskin did not immediately respond to Fox News' request for comment.
3 May 22:27 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/youtube-tiger-king-carole-baskin-tricked-first-public-interview-claimRating: 3.32
YouTubers tricked Carole Baskin into giving her first major interview since 'Tiger King' by pretending to be Jimmy Fallon
Carole Baskin has given her first official interview since the binge-watching phenomenon “Tiger King” dropped on Netflix in March, and got everyone wondering whether she really did murder her husband and feed him to the big cats at her sanctuary. But while she thought she was going to be chatting with late night host Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show,” she was actually being asked questions by Josh Pieters from his home in London, in his underwear, while his YouTube partner Archie Manners chaperoned the interview. Pieters has been posting a three-part series since Friday on his YouTube channel, which has just changed its name to “Josh Pieters and Archie Manners.” They wanted to know whether they could trick celebrities into thinking they were being interviewed on real late night TV shows by just using a Zoom call, some sound bites from old clips, and Manners pretending to be a producer. Spoiler alert: they could. When watching shows like “Good Morning Britain,” Pieters and Manners wondered whether the guests could always see who was interviewing them, Pieters told Insider in an exclusive interview. “From there came the idea of just playing the talent recordings of their interviewers and seeing if they would notice,” Pieters said. In the first two episodes, they spoke to UK pop star Craig David, TikToker Holly H,“Love Island” couple Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury, and magician Julius Dein with voice clips from James Corden. But they stepped things up a gear with the third video, which will air on Sunday night. “Here’s a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show,” Pieters told Insider. “And we thought, why don’t we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?” They sent Carole Baskin an email from their trusty fake-but-also-real production company Invisible Objects, saying they were producing the live segments for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They’d almost forgotten about it when she finally replied and agreed to the call. Pieters and Manners are a duo who have become well known and respected on YouTube for their social experiments. So far they have fooled the world with an Ed Sheeran lookalike, presented right-wing provocateur Katie Hopkins with a fake award, and sold microwave meals on Deliveroo, which earned them a reputation of having one of the “most underrated channels” on YouTube. Even by their standards, faking the presence of James Corden and Jimmy Fallon sounds nearly impossible. The strange times we are living through certainly helped. “I wouldn’t say it’s thanks to lockdown,” Pieters said. “It was just really interesting seeing people like Prince William and all these people you’d never imagined to see on Zoom, and Zoom becoming such a big thing.” Video calls are being used by talk shows all over the world right now, and there’s no real set way to do them. So as long as Manners put on a confident enough performance, there’s no reason to doubt Fallon or Corden were listening in too. “I think it’s also very hard when you are live on an interview with who you think is James Corden or Jimmy Fallon, to go, ‘Hold on a second, that’s not Jimmy Fallon,’ when it sounds like him,” Pieters told Insider. “You’d have to be pretty sure of yourself and pretty brave to stop the interview.” The interviews all went more smoothly than expected. Pieters said he’d been having nightmares of being really stuck and having nothing to say with the few clips in front of him, because it’s so hard imagining the direction the interview will go beforehand. “There is often a moment where there isn’t a clip that’s suitable,” he said. “But that’s luckily where I have Archie on standby who can come in and act as the producer and say, ‘Oh we’ve got a quick change there, Jimmy’s just doing this,’ or ‘Jimmy’s just doing his makeup,’ and then it sort of explains why something sort of went wrong.” The way they prepared for Baskin’s interview was by scouring Fallon’s older videos for relevant sound bites. “As you’ll see in the video, Jimmy Fallon has interviewed people named Cat, he’s interviewed the cast of ‘Cats,’ and he’s actually interviewed a real cat,” Pieters said. “So we had quite a lot of options for using the word cat. We tried our best to make it work with that.” The end result was the first major interview Baskin has given since “Tiger King” aired. “I think she did an interview for a local paper in Tampa where she’s from,” Pieters said. “But this was her first worldwide exclusive interview, which is just quite something.” Pieters and Manners try to answer the “questions you didn’t know you had.” They never try to completely trick anyone, because ultimately, lying and deceiving is a lot less interesting than what they actually pull off. “I think we always we always try to, not only from a creative point of view, but also from a slightly moral point of view, not completely dupe someone by breaking the law or doing something really wrong,” Pieters said in a previous interview. “We always try to give people a bit of a chance.” Pieters said their latest series was simply seeing whether playing recordings to someone could convincingly pose as a real interview. “Like all of our ideas, we really didn’t expect it to work, and then it did work,” he said. “I guess it’s that trying to run an experiment and see if it works with not much hope of it working,” he said. “And then when it does work, it’s always quite fun to watch.” Baskin is a “very interesting lady,” Pieters said, and is excited to share the interview with the world. “We really did not expect it to work,” he said. “We still can’t really believe we managed to interview Carole Baskin.” The video will go live at around 3 p.m. ET. Read more: A YouTuber got the inflammatory right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins to fly to Prague to pick up a fake award whose initials spelled out the C-word A YouTuber tricked influencers into thinking they’d been sent pieces of the moon, but it was actually just gravel A YouTuber tricked reality TV stars into endorsing a fake charity that he said taught underprivileged African children how to ski A YouTuber with almost 1 million subscribers sold microwave meals from his apartment on food-delivery app Deliveroo pretending to be a restaurant called ‘The Italian Stallion’ A YouTuber used an Ed Sheeran lookalike to trick influencers and tabloids into believing that the real singer was at the KSI vs Logan Paul fight
3 May 14:07 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/youtuber-tricks-carole-baskin-into-first-interview-since-tiger-king-2020-5Rating: 0.30
YouTubers tricked Carole Baskin into giving her first major interview since ‘Tiger King’ by pretending to be Jimmy Fallon
Carole Baskin has given her first official interview since the binge-watching phenomenon “Tiger King” dropped on Netflix in March, and got everyone wondering whether she really did murder her husband and feed him to the big cats at her sanctuary. But while she thought she was going to be chatting with late night host Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show,” she was actually being asked questions by Josh Pieters from his home in London, in his underwear, while his YouTube partner Archie Manners chaperoned the interview. Pieters has been posting a three-part series since Friday on his YouTube channel, which has just changed its name to “Josh Pieters and Archie Manners.” They wanted to know whether they could trick celebrities into thinking they were being interviewed on real late night TV shows by just using a Zoom call, some sound bites from old clips, and Manners pretending to be a producer. Spoiler alert: they could. When watching shows like “Good Morning Britain,” Pieters and Manners wondered whether the guests could always see who was interviewing them, Pieters told Insider in an exclusive interview. “From there came the idea of just playing the talent recordings of their interviewers and seeing if they would notice,” Pieters said. In the first two episodes, they spoke to UK pop star Craig David, TikToker Holly H, “Love Island” couple Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury, and magician Julius Dein with voice clips from James Corden. But they stepped things up a gear with the third video, which will air on Sunday night. “Here’s a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show,” Pieters told Insider. “And we thought, why don’t we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?” They sent Carole Baskin an email from their trusty fake-but-also-real production company Invisible Objects, saying they were producing the live segments for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They’d almost forgotten about it when she finally replied and agreed to the call. Pieters and Manners are a duo who have become well known and respected on YouTube for their social experiments. So far they have fooled the world with an Ed Sheeran lookalike, presented right-wing provocateur Katie Hopkins with a fake award, and sold microwave meals on Deliveroo, which earned them a reputation of having one of the “most underrated channels” on YouTube. Even by their standards, faking the presence of James Corden and Jimmy Fallon sounds nearly impossible. The strange times we are living through certainly helped. “I wouldn’t say it’s thanks to lockdown,” Pieters said. “It was just really interesting seeing people like Prince William and all these people you’d never imagined to see on Zoom, and Zoom becoming such a big thing.” Video calls are being used by talk shows all over the world right now, and there’s no real set way to do them. So as long as Manners put on a confident enough performance, there’s no reason to doubt Fallon or Corden were listening in too. “I think it’s also very hard when you are live on an interview with who you think is James Corden or Jimmy Fallon, to go, ‘Hold on a second, that’s not Jimmy Fallon,’ when it sounds like him,” Pieters told Insider. “You’d have to be pretty sure of yourself and pretty brave to stop the interview.” The interviews all went more smoothly than expected. Pieters said he’d been having nightmares of being really stuck and having nothing to say with the few clips in front of him, because it’s so hard imagining the direction the interview will go beforehand. “There is often a moment where there isn’t a clip that’s suitable,” he said. “But that’s luckily where I have Archie on standby who can come in and act as the producer and say, ‘Oh we’ve got a quick change there, Jimmy’s just doing this,’ or ‘Jimmy’s just doing his makeup,’ and then it sort of explains why something sort of went wrong.” The way they prepared for Baskin’s interview was by scouring Fallon’s older videos for relevant sound bites. “As you’ll see in the video, Jimmy Fallon has interviewed people named Cat, he’s interviewed the cast of ‘Cats,’ and he’s actually interviewed a real cat,” Pieters said. “So we had quite a lot of options for using the word cat. We tried our best to make it work with that.” The end result was the first major interview Baskin has given since “Tiger King” aired. “I think she did an interview for a local paper in Tampa where she’s from,” Pieters said. “But this was her first worldwide exclusive interview, which is just quite something.” Pieters and Manners try to answer the “questions you didn’t know you had.” They never try to completely trick anyone, because ultimately, lying and deceiving is a lot less interesting than what they actually pull off. “I think we always we always try to, not only from a creative point of view, but also from a slightly moral point of view, not completely dupe someone by breaking the law or doing something really wrong,” Pieters said in a previous interview. “We always try to give people a bit of a chance.” Pieters said their latest series was simply seeing whether playing recordings to someone could convincingly pose as a real interview. “Like all of our ideas, we really didn’t expect it to work, and then it did work,” he said. “I guess it’s that trying to run an experiment and see if it works with not much hope of it working … And then when it does work, it’s always quite fun to watch.” Baskin is a “very interesting lady,” Pieters said, and is excited to share the interview with the world. “We really did not expect it to work,” he said. “We still can’t really believe we managed to interview Carole Baskin.” Watch the full video, that went live on Pieters and Manners’ channel at around 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, below. Read more: A YouTuber got the inflammatory right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins to fly to Prague to pick up a fake award whose initials spelled out the C-word A YouTuber tricked influencers into thinking they’d been sent pieces of the moon, but it was actually just gravel A YouTuber tricked reality TV stars into endorsing a fake charity that he said taught underprivileged African children how to ski A YouTuber with almost 1 million subscribers sold microwave meals from his apartment on food-delivery app Deliveroo pretending to be a restaurant called ‘The Italian Stallion’ A YouTuber used an Ed Sheeran lookalike to trick influencers and tabloids into believing that the real singer was at the KSI vs Logan Paul fight
3 May 14:07 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/youtuber-tricks-carole-baskin-into-first-interview-since-tiger-king-2020-5Rating: 0.30
YouTubers tricked Carole Baskin into giving her first major interview since 'Tiger King' by pretending to be Jimmy Fallon, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Carole Baskin has given her first official interview since the binge-watching phenomenon “Tiger King” dropped on Netflix in March, and got everyone wondering whether she really did murder her husband and feed him to the big cats at her sanctuary. But while she thought she was going to be chatting with late night host Jimmy Fallon on “The Tonight Show,” she was actually being asked questions by Josh Pieters from his home in London, in his underwear, while his YouTube partner Archie Manners chaperoned the interview. Pieters has been posting a three-part series since Friday on his YouTube channel, which has just changed its name to “Josh Pieters and Archie Manners.” They wanted to know whether they could trick celebrities into thinking they were being interviewed on real late night TV shows by just using a Zoom call, some sound bites from old clips, and Manners pretending to be a producer. Spoiler alert: they could. When watching shows like “Good Morning Britain,” Pieters and Manners wondered whether the guests could always see who was interviewing them, Pieters told Insider in an exclusive interview. “From there came the idea of just playing the talent recordings of their interviewers and seeing if they would notice,” Pieters said. In the first two episodes, they spoke to UK pop star Craig David, TikToker Holly H, “Love Island” couple Molly-Mae and Tommy Fury, and magician Julius Dein with voice clips from James Corden. But they stepped things up a gear with the third video, which will air on Sunday night. “Here’s a chance where we could perhaps interview some high level talent because we are going under the guise of being a really famous show,” Pieters told Insider. “And we thought, why don’t we take a shot in the dark and go for the most exclusive, hard to reach person in the world, with absolutely no hope of it working?” They sent Carole Baskin an email from their trusty fake-but-also-real production company Invisible Objects, saying they were producing the live segments for “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.” They’d almost forgotten about it when she finally replied and agreed to the call. Pieters and Manners are a duo who have become well known and respected on YouTube for their social experiments. So far they have fooled the world with an Ed Sheeran lookalike, presented right-wing provocateur Katie Hopkins with a fake award, and sold microwave meals on Deliveroo, which earned them a reputation of having one of the “most underrated channels” on YouTube. Even by their standards, faking the presence of James Corden and Jimmy Fallon sounds nearly impossible. The strange times we are living through certainly helped. “I wouldn’t say it’s thanks to lockdown,” Pieters said. “It was just really interesting seeing people like Prince William and all these people you’d never imagined to see on Zoom, and Zoom becoming such a big thing.” Video calls are being used by talk shows all over the world right now, and there’s no real set way to do them. So as long as Manners put on a confident enough performance, there’s no reason to doubt Fallon or Corden were listening in too. “I think it’s also very hard when you are live on an interview with who you think is James Corden or Jimmy Fallon, to go, ‘Hold on a second, that’s not Jimmy Fallon,’ when it sounds like him,” Pieters told Insider. “You’d have to be pretty sure of yourself and pretty brave to stop the interview.” The interviews all went more smoothly than expected. Pieters said he’d been having nightmares of being really stuck and having nothing to say with the few clips in front of him, because it’s so hard imagining the direction the interview will go beforehand. “There is often a moment where there isn’t a clip that’s suitable,” he said. “But that’s luckily where I have Archie on standby who can come in and act as the producer and say, ‘Oh we’ve got a quick change there, Jimmy’s just doing this,’ or ‘Jimmy’s just doing his makeup,’ and then it sort of explains why something sort of went wrong.” The way they prepared for Baskin’s interview was by scouring Fallon’s older videos for relevant sound bites. “As you’ll see in the video, Jimmy Fallon has interviewed people named Cat, he’s interviewed the cast of ‘Cats,’ and he’s actually interviewed a real cat,” Pieters said. “So we had quite a lot of options for using the word cat. We tried our best to make it work with that.” The end result was the first major interview Baskin has given since “Tiger King” aired. “I think she did an interview for a local paper in Tampa where she’s from,” Pieters said. “But this was her first worldwide exclusive interview, which is just quite something.” Pieters and Manners try to answer the “questions you didn’t know you had.” They never try to completely trick anyone, because ultimately, lying and deceiving is a lot less interesting than what they actually pull off. “I think we always we always try to, not only from a creative point of view, but also from a slightly moral point of view, not completely dupe someone by breaking the law or doing something really wrong,” Pieters said in a previous interview. “We always try to give people a bit of a chance.” Pieters said their latest series was simply seeing whether playing recordings to someone could convincingly pose as a real interview. “Like all of our ideas, we really didn’t expect it to work, and then it did work,” he said. “I guess it’s that trying to run an experiment and see if it works with not much hope of it working … And then when it does work, it’s always quite fun to watch.” Baskin is a “very interesting lady,” Pieters said, and is excited to share the interview with the world. “We really did not expect it to work,” he said. “We still can’t really believe we managed to interview Carole Baskin.” Watch the full video, that went live on Pieters and Manners’ channel at around 2 p.m. ET on Sunday, below. Read more: A YouTuber got the inflammatory right-wing commentator Katie Hopkins to fly to Prague to pick up a fake award whose initials spelled out the C-word A YouTuber tricked influencers into thinking they’d been sent pieces of the moon, but it was actually just gravel A YouTuber tricked reality TV stars into endorsing a fake charity that he said taught underprivileged African children how to ski A YouTuber with almost 1 million subscribers sold microwave meals from his apartment on food-delivery app Deliveroo pretending to be a restaurant called ‘The Italian Stallion’ A YouTuber used an Ed Sheeran lookalike to trick influencers and tabloids into believing that the real singer was at the KSI vs Logan Paul fight
3 May 14:07 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/youtuber-tricks-carole-baskin-into-first-interview-since-tiger-king-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Carole Baskin thought she was talking to Jimmy Fallon on Zoom. She was pranked.
Carole Baskin has been mostly quiet since the world became obsessed with Netflix's documentary series Tiger King. Now, the documentary subject has given the world a rare peek into her life in coronavirus quarantine, but she was tricked into doing so. The Big Cat Rescue founder joined a Zoom call believing she was being interviewed by Jimmy Fallon to promote her animal sanctuary. Instead, she was talking to two YouTubers who had tricked her into thinking she was speaking with Fallon by posing as a casting company and playing sound bites of Fallon's voice. The YouTubers had clipped Fallon's soundbites from other videos. Fallon's continued to do The Tonight Show from home during quarantine, interviewing celebrities over video chat. Josh Pieters and Archie Manners are the self-styled pranksters behind the fake Tonight Show interview. They've tricked other minor celebrities before by posing as talkshow bookers. But the Baskin interview is notable since she has been so private since Tiger King debuted. Baskin, whose shown as the nemesis of Tiger King's main subject, Joe Exotic, has criticized the show for her portrayal. The former zoo owner and tiger breeder is currently serving a prison term for hiring a hitman to kill Baskin. Baskin may run an animal sanctuary, but the documentary doesn't paint her as a saint. It airs concerns about her animal habitats and chronicles her ex-husband's disappearance in 1997. Local police never accused Baskin of wrongdoing, but her ex's family and friends suggest foul play (and that she fed him to her tigers). She denies it all. Baskin tells the fake "casting company" she's doing the interview "for the cats," and uses it to promote the Big Cat Public Safety Act, potential legislation intended to stop the breeding of big cats in captivity. She only agreed to the interview if Tiger King and the ensuing controversy wouldn't be mentioned. She said her daughter her convinced her to talk to Fallon. No one was physically hurt by this prank, but it's likely a blow to Baskin's ego. It's tempting to look at pranking for clicks as harmless, if groan-worthy. However, a hunger for YouTube views has put people in harm's way as YouTubers have undertaken more and more risky and morally questionable "pranks" to make videos all in the name of virality. Check out the video to see what Baskin and her cool cats and kittens have been up to in quarantine.
3 May 22:14 • Mashable • https://mashable.com/video/carole-baskin-youtube-prank-jimmy-fallon-interview/?europe=trueRating: 2.28
What having Zoom prom is really like, according to 3 high schoolers who had their dances canceled due to the coronavirus
3 May 13:39
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What having Zoom prom is really like, according to 3 high schoolers who had their dances canceled due to the coronavirus
The coronavirus is canceling plans, grounding planes, and closing schools, but some high schoolers are determined not to miss out on prom. For people across the country, videoconferencing tool Zoom has emerged as a solution to singing and dancing with friends, and showing off a new outfit, while still maintaining social distancing guidance and preventing possible COVID-19 exposure. The US now has the largest coronavirus outbreak of any country, and a third of the world is under some kind of lockdown. Once schools closed, high school juniors and seniors realized that they'd miss out on some big milestones they'd been looking forward to for the year, like prom and graduation. One group of students in Japan gained attention for hosting virtual graduation in Minecraft, but being able to see each other and socialize is key to the prom experience. Here's what it's like to have a Zoom prom, according to teens who did it. 17-year-old Zain Gregg from Florida attended a Zoom prom for "theater kids" after his school's prom was cancelled, which he told Business Insider would have been a big deal for him and his friends. His friend Shelby and her parents threw a virtual Prom over Zoom, where friends could call in or get together from a safe distance outside. Their prom even had a photo booth for people to take pictures, while ensuring they maintained social distance. LoadingSomething is loading. Gregg told Business Insider that although it wasn't the typical prom experience, it was "a moment to feel like we were normal again." They chatted and played multiplayer games online, like Cards Against Humanity. We "all had a chance to laugh again and see each other, even if it wasn't in person. We're like that one big annoying family that has so many different members," he said of his friend group. Alyssa Calderon, a senior in high school, also attended a Zoom prom. Her prom was hosted by her school, though she told Business Insider that only about 80 people out of her 900-person class joined the call. Calderon said the best part of the event was being able to see her friends, but " the worst part was that we couldn't really dance and hang out with everyone like we used to. It really made me miss everyone." The idea of a Zoom prom came up soon after the regular prom was cancelled, and seniors were sad about missing one of their final milestones. Still, the Zoom prom couldn't really compare to the real thing, which Calderon attended last year. "It was quite awkward at first and no one really knew how to break the ice" she said. It got better, though; the host played music over her speakers so everyone could dance on their own, and later everyone sang karaoke, which Calderon said brought together members of the class who didn't ordinarily hang out together. Rylee Jasnowski in Kansas went to a Zoom prom organized by her English teacher. This version of a virtual prom was about each student getting to show off their outfit and have their moment in the spotlight. "The best part actually getting dressed up and putting on my dress and seeing other people in their dresses" Jasnowski said, though it was somewhat of a disappointing replacement for a night of dancing with friends and a fancy dinner. "My teacher gave everyone the spot light and we got to talk about and do a full view of our outfits," she told Business Insider. Instead of renting tuxes, some of the boys dressed up in cowboys hats or other costumes. Even girls who hadn't bought prom dresses came, with full hair and makeup. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 13:39 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/high-schoolers-throwing-prom-on-zoom-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 4.40
What having Zoom prom is really like, according to 3 high schoolers who had their dances canceled due to the coronavirus
The coronavirus is canceling plans, grounding planes, and closing schools, but some high schoolers are determined not to miss out on prom. For people across the country, videoconferencing tool Zoom has emerged as a solution to singing and dancing with friends, and showing off a new outfit, while still maintaining social distancing guidance and preventing possible COVID-19 exposure. The US now has the largest coronavirus outbreak of any country, and a third of the world is under some kind of lockdown. Once schools closed, high school juniors and seniors realized that they’d miss out on some big milestones they’d been looking forward to for the year, like prom and graduation. One group of students in Japan gained attention for hosting virtual graduation in Minecraft, but being able to see each other and socialize is key to the prom experience. Here’s what it’s like to have a Zoom prom, according to teens who did it. 17-year-old Zain Gregg from Florida attended a Zoom prom for “theater kids” after his school’s prom was cancelled, which he told Business Insider would have been a big deal for him and his friends. His friend Shelby and her parents threw a virtual Prom over Zoom, where friends could call in or get together from a safe distance outside. Their prom even had a photo booth for people to take pictures, while ensuring they maintained social distance. Gregg told Business Insider that although it wasn’t the typical prom experience, it was “a moment to feel like we were normal again.” They chatted and played multiplayer games online, like Cards Against Humanity. We “all had a chance to laugh again and see each other, even if it wasn’t in person. We’re like that one big annoying family that has so many different members,” he said of his friend group. Alyssa Calderon, a senior in high school, also attended a Zoom prom. Her prom was hosted by her school, though she told Business Insider that only about 80 people out of her 900-person class joined the call. Calderon said the best part of the event was being able to see her friends, but ” the worst part was that we couldn’t really dance and hang out with everyone like we used to. It really made me miss everyone.” The idea of a Zoom prom came up soon after the regular prom was cancelled, and seniors were sad about missing one of their final milestones. Still, the Zoom prom couldn’t really compare to the real thing, which Calderon attended last year. “It was quite awkward at first and no one really knew how to break the ice” she said. It got better, though; the host played music over her speakers so everyone could dance on their own, and later everyone sang karaoke, which Calderon said brought together members of the class who didn’t ordinarily hang out together. Rylee Jasnowski in Kansas went to a Zoom prom organized by her English teacher. This version of a virtual prom was about each student getting to show off their outfit and have their moment in the spotlight. “The best part actually getting dressed up and putting on my dress and seeing other people in their dresses” Jasnowski said, though it was somewhat of a disappointing replacement for a night of dancing with friends and a fancy dinner. “My teacher gave everyone the spot light and we got to talk about and do a full view of our outfits,” she told Business Insider. Instead of renting tuxes, some of the boys dressed up in cowboys hats or other costumes. Even girls who hadn’t bought prom dresses came, with full hair and makeup.
3 May 13:39 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/high-schoolers-throwing-prom-on-zoom-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 0.30
What having Zoom prom is really like, according to 3 high schoolers who had their dances cancelled due to the coronavirus
The coronavirus is cancelling plans, grounding planes, and closing schools, but some high schoolers are determined not to miss out on prom. For people across the country, videoconferencing tool Zoom has emerged as a solution to singing and dancing with friends, and showing off a new outfit, while still maintaining social distancing guidance and preventing possible COVID-19 exposure. The US now has the largest coronavirus outbreak of any country, and a third of the world is under some kind of lockdown. Once schools closed, high school juniors and seniors realised that they’d miss out on some big milestones they’d been looking forward to for the year, like prom and graduation. One group of students in Japan gained attention for hosting virtual graduation in Minecraft, but being able to see each other and socialise is key to the prom experience. Here’s what it’s like to have a Zoom prom, according to teens who did it. 17-year-old Zain Gregg from Florida attended a Zoom prom for “theatre kids” after his school’s prom was cancelled, which he told Business Insider would have been a big deal for him and his friends. His friend Shelby and her parents threw a virtual Prom over Zoom, where friends could call in or get together from a safe distance outside. Their prom even had a photo booth for people to take pictures, while ensuring they maintained social distance. Gregg told Business Insider that although it wasn’t the typical prom experience, it was “a moment to feel like we were normal again.” They chatted and played multiplayer games online, like Cards Against Humanity. We “all had a chance to laugh again and see each other, even if it wasn’t in person. We’re like that one big annoying family that has so many different members,” he said of his friend group. Alyssa Calderon, a senior in high school, also attended a Zoom prom. Her prom was hosted by her school, though she told Business Insider that only about 80 people out of her 900-person class joined the call. Calderon said the best part of the event was being able to see her friends, but ” the worst part was that we couldn’t really dance and hang out with everyone like we used to. It really made me miss everyone.” The idea of a Zoom prom came up soon after the regular prom was cancelled, and seniors were sad about missing one of their final milestones. Still, the Zoom prom couldn’t really compare to the real thing, which Calderon attended last year. “It was quite awkward at first and no one really knew how to break the ice” she said. It got better, though; the host played music over her speakers so everyone could dance on their own, and later everyone sang karaoke, which Calderon said brought together members of the class who didn’t ordinarily hang out together. Rylee Jasnowski in Kansas went to a Zoom prom organised by her English teacher. This version of a virtual prom was about each student getting to show off their outfit and have their moment in the spotlight. “The best part actually getting dressed up and putting on my dress and seeing other people in their dresses” Jasnowski said, though it was somewhat of a disappointing replacement for a night of dancing with friends and a fancy dinner. “My teacher gave everyone the spot light and we got to talk about and do a full view of our outfits,” she told Business Insider. Instead of renting tuxes, some of the boys dressed up in cowboys hats or other costumes. Even girls who hadn’t bought prom dresses came, with full hair and makeup.
3 May 13:39 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/high-schoolers-throwing-prom-on-zoom-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Las Vegas high school seniors adapt during coronavirus pandemic
Members of the class of 2020 thought they would spend spring like the seniors before them. They expected to be dancing at prom, pulling an all-nighter at Disneyland, playing their last season of sports and — most important — walking across the stage at graduation to accept diplomas in front of family and friends. But the COVID-19 pandemic thwarted those plans, and students have had to adjust to the possibility of missing the milestones that experts say are essential for closure during the transitional period of a student’s life. “They can take away prom and Disneyland, that’s whatever,” said Maeve Walsh, a senior at Bishop Gorman High School. “But I’ve worked so hard for the past four years to walk across that stage.” Chris Kearney, an education expert at UNLV, said it’s completely understandable for graduating seniors to be bummed. “They have every right to feel sad and disappointed about what’s going on,” he said. “That’s a natural reaction to losing a lot of key benchmarks and closure-based events, so I think they need to give themselves permission to feel that way.” Kearney encouraged seniors to make an effort to stay connected with their peers and try to get together to say their goodbyes while maintaining social distancing. But seniors at Bishop Gorman, a private Catholic school, wouldn’t give up on the traditional rite of passage. They started a petition to demand an in-person graduation ceremony instead of a virtual one. As of Friday, the petition had more than 3,500 signatures, including Walsh’s. Organizer Jake Gaughan, a football player at Bishop Gorman who will pursue a degree in entrepreneurship at Arizona State University, wrote in the petition that the class understood it might take months to organize an in-person ceremony but added that it would be worth the wait. “We just want the opportunity to receive our diplomas in the same way that our alumni parents did,” he wrote. Gaughan said the school sent out a survey to all seniors on April 23, after the petition was created, asking them whether they planned to participate in the online ceremonies and what idea or proposal they had for “a fun and exciting way” that the school could honor the seniors until they figured out a formal graduation plan. It also asked when — June, July, early August or homecoming weekend in the fall — they would be able to attend commencement if it were rescheduled. Bishop Gorman Principal Kevin Kiefer sent out a letter to seniors on Friday, saying that because the survey responses showed “a clear preference for delaying events now with the hopes that we can gather as a school community with our families for more traditional graduation events later in the summer,” the school will host a baccalaureate Mass on July 13, a senior barbecue and yearbook-signing party on July 14, and “commencement exercises” at the South Point on July 15. “We remind everyone that these plans are subject to meeting all requirements as outlined by our state and local government and health officials, as well as requirements of the Diocese of Las Vegas and the South Point,” Kiefer said in the letter. “With continued uncertainty about health and social distancing requirements, the number of guests may be limited at these events.” Seniors at the University of Nevada, Reno created a similar petition that gathered 16,420 signatures. The university announced it will allow 2020 spring graduates to come back and walk in the fall 2020 or spring 2021 commencement ceremonies. Nevada State High School, a public charter school, will host a drive-thru graduation ceremony that will allow students to drive up and get their diploma and a photo, celebrating with their classmates from a distance. Senior Brittney Tran said she’s grateful for the opportunity to have an in-person ceremony, even though it will look a bit different. “It definitely beats just walking to the mailbox to get our diplomas,” Tran said. “We’ll at least get to drive by and cheer for our friends as their name and college is read.” The Clark County School District had not issued an official plan for graduation ceremonies as of Friday. Superintendent Jesus Jara addressed the issue in a video message to students in early April, saying the district and site principals were working to find a way to honor seniors. “I don’t know when, I don’t know how, I don’t know what it’s going to look like, but what I can tell you is that we are going to find a way to recognize (you) for your phenomenal accomplishments,” Jara said in the video. Upperclassmen at Nevada State High have even more on their plates than most high school students. The school offers a dual-enrollment program, so juniors’ and seniors’ schedules consist of both high school and college classes. Tran said she will graduate with an associate degree along with a high school diploma before heading to the University of Colorado, Denver, to complete a biology degree. She said the school already had all its high school classes and lectures online, so the biggest hurdle was communication. She said the school isn’t lessening its criteria for graduating, but “senioritis” has been worsened by students’ inability to attend school in person. “Getting kids to respond during quarantine is really hard,” Tran said. “It affects our motivation to do anything.” The college classes are taken through the College of Southern Nevada, and Tran said the transition to online classes hasn’t been too bad, with the exception of labs. “We have to watch videos of people dissecting things instead of dissecting them ourselves,” she said. “We’re really missing that hands-on element.” Tran said she was supposed to have her orientation at the University of Colorado, Denver on April 10, but the event was moved online instead. She hasn’t visited the school yet and is nervous to schedule in-person classes because she’s not sure the campus will even be open in the fall. Eric Johnston is an English teacher at Green Valley High School, and his son is a senior there. He said the school district isn’t allowing students to get the caps, gowns and yearbooks that they’ve already purchased. “It’s just frustrating,” Johnston said. “It doesn’t seem that complicated. I don’t see why they can’t come up with a way to distribute them like they have with Chromebooks and food.” He said it’s been hard watching his son and the students he’s taught for years miss out on the milestones that come at the end of senior year, and he hopes the district will find a way to help them. “They’ve already lost out on so much,” Johnston said. “I just think it would be nice to figure out something to at least get them their caps and gowns.” Isabella Tollefson, one of the valedictorians at Las Vegas Academy of the Arts, agreed that the uncertainty has made it hard to plan for the fall, when she is to attend The George Washington University in Washington, D.C. “It’s kind of coming down to the wire, but then you feel hesitant to make these long-term decisions not even knowing what the immediate future holds,” she said. “So, like, while I like to think that schools will open back up in the fall and that there won’t be what they call, like, a second wave, I’m hesitant to pay $60,000 for online school, because when I go to college I imagine myself being there and experiencing the world.” Tollefson said the end of her senior year has been hard, losing out on life experiences she’d been anticipating for years. “It’s been pretty disheartening because I was really looking forward to doing all the things that the seniors get to do,” she said. “You kind of grow up imagining these things and seeing them in movies and TV shows, so not being able to experience them myself has been kind of a blow to my mental health and stuff.” Liberty High School senior Rylie Thacker qualified for regionals in track and field — just in time for the spring season to be canceled. She knew the rest of the year was in jeopardy when she saw people putting away all the track equipment before practice at the beginning of March. “Once they started canceling after-school activities, I had a feeling something big was coming,” she said. “Then that weekend they told us not to come back to school.” The class of 2020 has a right to be upset, Thacker said, but it’s hard to feel bad for herself when there are so many people in worse situations because of the coronavirus. Thacker’s mom, Summer, said she thinks students are handling the situation better than the parents. “The kids are resilient, and it’s good. That’s going to help them in their next steps in life,” she said. “But as parents, we look at it as, ‘Oh, my gosh, that was such a big step in our lives,’ and they’re the ones cheering us up.” Kearney, the UNLV education expert, said it’s important for parents to keep an eye out for mood changes in their children and to be sure to monitor what may have changed with their next steps. “If a student’s been accepted into a college, for example, have there been any changes with respect to course registration, orientation, financial aid, those kinds of things?” Kearney said. “Trying to get as much information about that to reduce some of the worry and ambiguity would be helpful.” Walsh said the end-of-year social traditions — a senior barbecue, even a senior prank — will be missed. “We didn’t get to bond before graduation like the classes before us, and it hits hard because we’re all going to different colleges,” Walsh said. “I talk to my friends every day about how different that last day would have been if we’d known.” Fellow Bishop Gorman senior Sloan Pyatt said losing the end of her final year “stinks.” “Many of us have been classmates since elementary school, and I’m probably never really going to talk to them or hang out with them the way we used to,” Pyatt said. “But it was kind of cool, because my last class on campus was held in the quad because the sewer line exploded, so that was a fun memory.” Related Las Vegas families celebrate graduations with front-yard signs Desert Oasis students celebrate senior prom with parade Senior athletes being honored despite shutdown
3 May 14:10 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/education/las-vegas-high-school-seniors-adapt-during-coronavirus-pandemic-2020225/Rating: 0.30
What having Zoom prom is really like, according to 3 high schoolers who had their dances canceled due to the coronavirus, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The coronavirus is canceling plans, grounding planes, and closing schools, but some high schoolers are determined not to miss out on prom. For people across the country, videoconferencing tool Zoom has emerged as a solution to singing and dancing with friends, and showing off a new outfit, while still maintaining social distancing guidance and preventing possible COVID-19 exposure. The US now has the largest coronavirus outbreak of any country, and a third of the world is under some kind of lockdown. Once schools closed, high school juniors and seniors realized that they’d miss out on some big milestones they’d been looking forward to for the year, like prom and graduation. One group of students in Japan gained attention for hosting virtual graduation in Minecraft, but being able to see each other and socialize is key to the prom experience. Here’s what it’s like to have a Zoom prom, according to teens who did it. 17-year-old Zain Gregg from Florida attended a Zoom prom for “theater kids” after his school’s prom was cancelled, which he told Business Insider would have been a big deal for him and his friends. His friend Shelby and her parents threw a virtual Prom over Zoom, where friends could call in or get together from a safe distance outside. Their prom even had a photo booth for people to take pictures, while ensuring they maintained social distance. Gregg told Business Insider that although it wasn’t the typical prom experience, it was “a moment to feel like we were normal again.” They chatted and played multiplayer games online, like Cards Against Humanity. We “all had a chance to laugh again and see each other, even if it wasn’t in person. We’re like that one big annoying family that has so many different members,” he said of his friend group. Alyssa Calderon, a senior in high school, also attended a Zoom prom. Her prom was hosted by her school, though she told Business Insider that only about 80 people out of her 900-person class joined the call. Calderon said the best part of the event was being able to see her friends, but ” the worst part was that we couldn’t really dance and hang out with everyone like we used to. It really made me miss everyone.” The idea of a Zoom prom came up soon after the regular prom was cancelled, and seniors were sad about missing one of their final milestones. Still, the Zoom prom couldn’t really compare to the real thing, which Calderon attended last year. “It was quite awkward at first and no one really knew how to break the ice” she said. It got better, though; the host played music over her speakers so everyone could dance on their own, and later everyone sang karaoke, which Calderon said brought together members of the class who didn’t ordinarily hang out together. Rylee Jasnowski in Kansas went to a Zoom prom organized by her English teacher. This version of a virtual prom was about each student getting to show off their outfit and have their moment in the spotlight. “The best part actually getting dressed up and putting on my dress and seeing other people in their dresses” Jasnowski said, though it was somewhat of a disappointing replacement for a night of dancing with friends and a fancy dinner. “My teacher gave everyone the spot light and we got to talk about and do a full view of our outfits,” she told Business Insider. Instead of renting tuxes, some of the boys dressed up in cowboys hats or other costumes. Even girls who hadn’t bought prom dresses came, with full hair and makeup.
3 May 13:39 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/high-schoolers-throwing-prom-on-zoom-coronavirus-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Despite canceled ceremony, SoCal high school seniors celebrate with drive-thru graduation
The Class of 2020 may not get to formally celebrate their graduation, but that didn't stop two Southern California high school seniors. Cheering family members and friends wearing masks drove past the home of sisters Oshinae Banage and Iesha Riggens to honor their accomplishment while maintaining physical distancing."It's amazing, it's great to feel that even though everything that's going on, we still have family that love and support us through this," said Riggens. Both teens are graduating from Manuel Dominguez High School in Compton. They would have received their diplomas next month, but like many others, the ceremony was canceled due to the coronavirus pandemic. "My family is very supportive and no matter what they don't let nothing stop us," said Banage. Much of that support comes from their foster mother, Sherrell Brown, a single woman who raised ten children."Without her, all of this wouldn't be happening. I'm blessed that she pushed me to still do what I need to do," said Riggens. Brown says her daughters worked hard to achieve all their goals. "I'm very proud of them because they strive, they strive to do great things," she said.
3 May 20:38 • ABC7 Los Angeles • https://abc7.com/education/socal-high-school-seniors-celebrate-with-drive-thru-graduation/6147333/Rating: 0.39
School principal delivers memories by taking portable stage to every graduating senior’s home
PLAQUEMINE, La. (WAFB) - High school senior moments are the memories everyone cherishes years later, but the coronavirus became the headline for the Class of 2020. It’s why the principal at MSA West in Plaquemine, Emily Martin, made it a point to give 73 graduating seniors some actual memories. “We know it’s important for kids to go through that process,” said Martin. “Any awards that kids normally get when they gather with their families over a meal at school, we decided we wanted to bring to them on their front doors.” But the school’s resource deputy, Troy Doiron, took the idea a few steps further. “How cool would it be if we did it on a portable stage?” said Doiron. “I’m trying to give them an experience that they are missing. They get to walk onto the stage and be presented with their awards that they are missing out on.” The idea he came up with was a stage built on a trailer that gave every senior the opportunity to “walk the stage.” Their presence was well-known as they hit the road escorted by deputies with lights and sirens driving through the neighborhoods of Iberville Parish. Between Thursday and Friday (April 30 and May 1), Martin, senior teachers in a car parade behind the trailer, and Iberville deputies delivered to every high school senior their awards and cap and gown one-by-one in exchange for huge smiles. “Because this young lady was especially outstanding, I am proud to present you with your graduation cap, a gold scholar metal, a Beta cord, a Magna Cum Laude medal, and a certificate for being the senior class vice president,” said Martin. “I didn’t expect none of that,” said Sha’Rika Arnold, a graduating senior. “I was hurt because parts of my senior year, I won’t get to accomplish, so I was hurt, but all the stuff they did for us, it’s kind of making up for it.” “To see the smile on her face, it meant everything to me,” said Arnold’s mom, Schandalita Allen. “It gave them something to remember, something to look back on, not just the fact that COVID-19 happened and ruined everything. They actually have memories to look back on.” “That was my stage,” said graduating senior, Taylor Duncan. “I was thinking my senior year is ruined, but with this parade and everything, it’s really nice to see all my teachers and everyone that I love very much.” The best part was that in spite of social distancing, their families got to watch from their yards. They decorated their homes and set up tables to help make it realistic and even more memorable. “We still want her to have that special moment as if she in front of an audience to receive the acknowledgment,” said Allen. “It makes the little annoying things about being the principal and educator like not matter at all and it’s just warm and fuzzy all the way,” said Martin. “It does make me feel tingly inside, but it gives me goosebumps just talking about it,” said Doiron. “I’ve grown attached to these seniors and the staff and I just want it to be memorable for them, so we’re going to make the best out of it that we can so that they can remember that even out of this bad stuff, we had something good.” You could say it was a mission accomplished that took the COVID-19 headlines and exchanged them for everlasting memories for the Class of 2020. “It meant that we are loved. It meant that people still care and that we are going to be okay,” said Arnold. Copyright 2020 WAFB. All rights reserved.
3 May 14:17 • KNOE 8 News • https://www.knoe.com/content/news/KNOE-570159131.htmlRating: 0.30
Facebook group honors Acadiana seniors, touches thousands
LAFAYETTE, LA. (AP) - With schools closed across Louisiana and the country due to COVID-19, seniors’ final semesters are not turning out like they thought. So an Acadiana mom started a Facebook group with a simple post about her graduating senior son, Seth. She wanted to recognize him and his big brother, Blake, who is graduating from college, along with everyone else in their shoes. “I thought, ‘What’s something that we can do to help kids have the best end of their senior year they can have?‘” Amanda Menard Hunt said. The “Greater Acadiana Area Adopt A Senior 2020″ group was born April 13. Ten days later it has more than 16,000 members, and about 2,000 high school and college graduates have been “adopted.” People from across the community and beyond have showered their adoptee with little gifts, from their favorite snacks to T-shirts and gift cards. Many of them know each other; some don’t. They’re sending envelopes in the mail and leaving baskets of goodies on doorsteps. “I didn’t expect it to grow like it did, but I love it,” Hunt said. “The outpouring of positivity is insane.” ‘IT’S AN OUTPOURING OF LOVE’ It’s grown into a movement, with local seniors adopting each other and more states following Hunt’s lead. She’s created about 12 similar groups for other states.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/facebook-group-honors-acadiana-seniors-touches-tho/Rating: 0.79
'More vital now:' Gay-straight alliances go virtual during COVID-19 pandemic
CALGARY - Lily Overacker and Laurell Pallot start each gay-straight alliance meeting with everyone introducing themselves, saying their pronouns and sharing highs and lows of the week. Except lately it's been through email chains instead of in-person for the Grade 12 students in Lacombe, Alta. Such school clubs are meant to provide safe spaces for LGBTQ students and their allies. Students, teachers and community groups are working to ensure that support is still available as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps kids out of school. "It's definitely harder because you want to be able to see those people and be around them," said Overacker, 18. "But I think we are making the best out of the situation that we can and focusing on making sure that kids still know that there's people there to support them." Overacker and Pallot want to hold a virtual end-of-year celebration for LGBTQ students. "We're thinking it'll be over Zoom and we want it to be Alberta-wide," said Pallot, 17. She said community groups could host multiple Zoom sessions simultaneously. "We'll have a Zoom room with a DJ and dancing and games and just multiple different ones that kids can choose." Pallot said the virtual prom is a way of "finding light in this situation," with the bonus of meeting new people before she goes away to college in the fall. Hilary Mutch, who co-ordinates a GSA network in southern Alberta through the Centre for Sexuality, said isolation is one of the biggest issues for LGBTQ youth at the best of times. "As much as possible, it's so important to think 'what are the things that we're doing to combat those feelings of isolation, lack of resources, lack of supports that people might be feeling at home, especially if their home isn't affirming or respectful of their identity?'" School divisions have approached holding GSAs during the shutdown in different ways, whether it's through email, group chats, video conferencing or social media. The Arc Foundation, which runs a program called SOGI 123 to make schools more inclusive, recently held a webinar to help educators run virtual GSAs. Scout Gray, SOGI 123's leader, said 140 people signed up — mostly in British Columbia, but some in Alberta. "Teachers are stretched real thin right now and they're taking the time to make sure these clubs are getting running, which shows that they're really dedicated and shows that there's a need." Gray added it's important to coach youth on privacy. For instance, if teens don't want everyone to know they're part of a GSA, they would need to think about whether having their face shown in a video chat window beamed into someone else's home is a good idea. "We want to make sure that ... they understand that things they put out on the internet could be recorded, could be used in other places," Gray said. If youth don't want their families knowing, they could participate by phone during a walk around the neighbourhood so no one overhears, Gray added. Mav Gilchrist, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student in St. Albert, Alta., has noticed some students choose their words carefully or mute their mics during their GSA's Google Meet chats. Gilchrist said efforts have been made to ensure names appearing in video chat windows reflect trans students' true gender identities, which isn't always the case when accounts are linked to school-issued email addresses. Gilchrist said not as many students have been participating as usual — possibly because of scheduling or unsupportive households. But Gilchrist said it's crucial the club keep going in some form. "More people are experiencing negativity within their unsupportive households because they're there constantly," Gilchrist said. "The support that GSAs provide was vital before — it is even more vital now." Renee LeClerc, a teacher supervisor for Gilchrist's GSA at Paul Kane High School, said students use the time to talk about whatever they want — whether that be baking, TV shows or anime. "We are very rarely focused on LGBTQ-specific issues for an entire meeting. It is almost always just things that teenagers talk about," she said. "We all just want to be in a place where we see ourselves reflected and supported." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2020
2 May 14:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-lgbtq-youth/cp393205816Rating: 0.30
'More vital now:' Gay-straight alliances go virtual during COVID-19 pandemic
CALGARY — Lily Overacker and Laurell Pallot start each gay-straight alliance meeting with everyone introducing themselves, saying their pronouns and sharing highs and lows of the week. Except lately it's been through email chains instead of in-person for the Grade 12 students in Lacombe, Alta. Such school clubs are meant to provide safe spaces for LGBTQ students and their allies. Students, teachers and community groups are working to ensure that support is still available as the COVID-19 pandemic keeps kids out of school. "It's definitely harder because you want to be able to see those people and be around them," said Overacker, 18. "But I think we are making the best out of the situation that we can and focusing on making sure that kids still know that there's people there to support them." Overacker and Pallot want to hold a virtual end-of-year celebration for LGBTQ students. "We're thinking it'll be over Zoom and we want it to be Alberta-wide," said Pallot, 17. She said community groups could host multiple Zoom sessions simultaneously. "We'll have a Zoom room with a DJ and dancing and games and just multiple different ones that kids can choose." Pallot said the virtual prom is a way of "finding light in this situation," with the bonus of meeting new people before she goes away to college in the fall. Hilary Mutch, who co-ordinates a GSA network in southern Alberta through the Centre for Sexuality, said isolation is one of the biggest issues for LGBTQ youth at the best of times. "As much as possible, it's so important to think 'what are the things that we're doing to combat those feelings of isolation, lack of resources, lack of supports that people might be feeling at home, especially if their home isn't affirming or respectful of their identity?'" School divisions have approached holding GSAs during the shutdown in different ways, whether it's through email, group chats, video conferencing or social media. The Arc Foundation, which runs a program called SOGI 123 to make schools more inclusive, recently held a webinar to help educators run virtual GSAs. Scout Gray, SOGI 123's leader, said 140 people signed up — mostly in British Columbia, but some in Alberta. "Teachers are stretched real thin right now and they're taking the time to make sure these clubs are getting running, which shows that they're really dedicated and shows that there's a need." Gray added it's important to coach youth on privacy. For instance, if teens don't want everyone to know they're part of a GSA, they would need to think about whether having their face shown in a video chat window beamed into someone else's home is a good idea. "We want to make sure that ... they understand that things they put out on the internet could be recorded, could be used in other places," Gray said. If youth don't want their families knowing, they could participate by phone during a walk around the neighbourhood so no one overhears, Gray added. Mav Gilchrist, a 17-year-old Grade 12 student in St. Albert, Alta., has noticed some students choose their words carefully or mute their mics during their GSA's Google Meet chats. Gilchrist said efforts have been made to ensure names appearing in video chat windows reflect trans students' true gender identities, which isn't always the case when accounts are linked to school-issued email addresses. Gilchrist said not as many students have been participating as usual — possibly because of scheduling or unsupportive households. But Gilchrist said it's crucial the club keep going in some form. "More people are experiencing negativity within their unsupportive households because they're there constantly," Gilchrist said. "The support that GSAs provide was vital before — it is even more vital now." Renee LeClerc, a teacher supervisor for Gilchrist's GSA at Paul Kane High School, said students use the time to talk about whatever they want — whether that be baking, TV shows or anime. "We are very rarely focused on LGBTQ-specific issues for an entire meeting. It is almost always just things that teenagers talk about," she said. "We all just want to be in a place where we see ourselves reflected and supported." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2020 Lauren Krugel, The Canadian Press
2 May 14:00 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/more-vital-now-gay-straight-alliances-go-virtual-during-covid-19-pandemic-2318982Rating: 0.30
ISIS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
3 May 13:29
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Weighted average IN: 6.2392284224618235
ISIS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD -- The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged co-ordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin -- the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group's defeat in 2017. In neighbouring Syria, ISIS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and UN experts that the group would stage a comeback after its "caliphate," which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. "It's a real threat," said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. "They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon." He said ISIS was benefiting from a "gap" between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for ISIS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. ISIS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. ISIS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. "Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week," said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said ISIS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader's strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when ISIS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country's nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. "They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs," he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can't operate in other parts run by government troops -- and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants' improved capabilities. "[ISIS] has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people," he said. ------ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Salar Salim contributed from Irbil, Iraq.
3 May 13:29 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/world/isis-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus-1.4922705Rating: 2.87
Daesh steps up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with COVID-19
Baghdad: The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched towards the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin - the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighbouring Syria, Daesh attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and UN experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a US troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilising and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said Daesh was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of Daesh fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for Daesh as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for US-allied Kurdish-led forces. Daesh fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir Al Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. Daesh is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorised to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50 per cent because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said Daesh attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new Daesh leader Abu Ibrahim Al Hashimi Al Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a US raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when Daesh fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian air strikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 Daesh gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30 per cent drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can’t operate in other parts run by government troops - and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “Daesh has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said.
3 May 13:44 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/mena/daesh-steps-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-covid-19-1.71306207Rating: 3.21
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD: The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq's northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin - the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group's defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its "caliphate," which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. "It's a real threat," said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. "They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon." He said IS was benefiting from a "gap" between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. "Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week," said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader's strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country's nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. "They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs," he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can't operate in other parts run by government troops - and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants' improved capabilities. "IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people," he said.
3 May 07:39 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus/articleshow/75515924.cmsRating: 0.30
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighbouring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its caliphate, which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. It’s a real threat, said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said IS was benefiting from a gap between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week, said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes.
3 May 06:58 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus/article31493731.eceRating: 0.30
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD — The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged co-ordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighbouring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can’t operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Salar Salim contributed from Irbil, Iraq. Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Bassem Mroue And Samya Kullab, The Associated Press
3 May 06:04 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus/Rating: 0.61
Yemen’s prime minister reviews COVID-19 measures in Taiz
BAGHDAD: The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan.Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months.The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Daesh group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, Daesh attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified.The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and UN experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year.In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a US troop drawdown.“It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said Daesh was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting.Intelligence reports say the number of Daesh fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000.In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for Daesh as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for US-allied Kurdish-led forces.Daesh fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir Ezzor to the east, bordering Iraq.Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said.Daesh is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media.Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said.Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police.The uptick also coincides with a pullout of US-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December.“Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media.Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said Daesh attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq.Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new Daesh leader Abu Ibrahim Al-Hashimi Al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a US raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength.In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when Daesh fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes.Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 Daesh gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war.Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production.Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers.He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals.The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can’t operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns.On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village.Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities.“IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said.
3 May 07:04 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668881/middle-eastRating: 1.72
ISIS Extremists Step Up as Iraq, Syria, Grapple With Coronavirus
The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group's defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, ISIS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon." He said ISIS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of ISIS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for ISIS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. ISIS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. ISIS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said ISIS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new ISIS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when ISIS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 ISIS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can't operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “ISIS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said.
3 May 11:31 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/isis/isis-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-coronavirus-1.8815956Rating: 1.13
IS extremists step up attacks as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD — The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group's defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon." He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can't operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said. © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
3 May 03:10 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virusRating: 2.09
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD (AP) - The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin - the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-v/Rating: 0.79
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD (AP) — The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged coordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighboring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Advertising Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Advertising Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can’t operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Advertising Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said. ___ Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Salar Salim contributed from Irbil, Iraq. BASSEM MROUEQASSIM ABDUL-ZAHRASAMYA KULLAB
2 May 23:04 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus/Rating: 0.74
IS extremists step up as Iraq, Syria, grapple with virus
BAGHDAD — The man wearing an explosive vest emerged from a car and calmly marched toward the gates of the intelligence building in Iraq’s northern city of Kirkuk. When he ignored their shouts to halt, guards opened fire, and he blew himself up, wounding three security personnel in the first week of Ramadan. Days later, a three-pronged co-ordinated attack killed 10 Iraqi militia fighters in the northern province of Salahaddin — the deadliest and most complex operation in many months. The assaults are the latest in a resurgence of attacks by the Islamic State group in northern Iraq. The first was a brazen suicide mission not seen in months. The second was among the most complex attacks since the group’s defeat in 2017. In neighbouring Syria, IS attacks on security forces, oil fields and civilian sites have also intensified. The renewed mayhem is a sign that the militant group is taking advantage of governments absorbed in tackling the coronavirus pandemic and the ensuing slide into economic chaos. The virus is compounding longtime concerns among security and U.N. experts that the group would stage a comeback after its “caliphate,” which once encompassed a third of Iraq and Syria, was brought down last year. In Iraq, militants also exploit security gaps at a time of an ongoing territorial dispute and a U.S. troop drawdown. “It’s a real threat,” said Qubad Talabani, deputy prime minister of the northern Kurdish region of Iraq. “They are mobilizing and killing us in the north and they will start hitting Baghdad soon.” He said IS was benefiting from a “gap” between Kurdish forces and federal armed forces caused by political infighting. Intelligence reports say the number of IS fighters in Iraq is believed to be 2,500-3,000. In northeast Syria, Kurdish-dominated police have become a more visible target for IS as they patrol the streets to implement anti-virus measures, said Mervan Qamishlo, a spokesman for U.S.-allied Kurdish-led forces. IS fighters in late March launched a campaign of attacks in government-held parts of Syria, from the central province of Homs all the way to Deir el-Zour to the east, bordering Iraq. Some 500 fighters, including some who had escaped from prison, recently slipped from Syria into Iraq, helping fuel the surge in violence there, Iraqi intelligence officials said. IS is shifting from local intimidation to more complex attacks, three Iraqi military officials and experts said. Operations previously focused on assassinations of local officials and less sophisticated attacks. Now the group is carrying out more IED attacks, shootings and ambushes of police and military. The officials spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to talk to the media. Multiple factors help the militants. The number of Iraqi military personnel on duty has dropped 50% because of virus prevention measures, the military officials said. Also, territorial disputes between Baghdad and authorities from the northern Kurdish autonomy zone have left parts of three provinces without law enforcement. The rugged landscape is difficult to police. The uptick also coincides with a pullout of U.S.-led coalition forces from bases in western Iraq, Nineveh and Kirkuk provinces in line with a drawdown conceived in December. “Before the emergence of the virus and before the American withdrawal, the operations were negligible, numbering only one operation per week,” said a senior intelligence official. Now, he said, security forces are seeing an average of 20 operations a month. He spoke on condition of anonymity because he was not authorized to brief the media. Coalition spokesman Col. Myles B. Caggins III said IS attacks were increasing in reaction to operations against its hideouts in the mountains and rural areas of north-central Iraq. Iraqi military officials believe the improved, organized nature of the attacks serves to cement the influence of new IS leader Abu Ibrahim al-Hashimi al-Quraishi, who was named after his predecessor was killed in a U.S. raid late last year. One military official said more operations are expected during Ramadan to demonstrate the new leader’s strength. In Syria, one of the most significant attacks occurred April 9, when IS fighters attacked government positions in and near the town of Sukhna. The government brought in reinforcements for a counterattack backed by Russian airstrikes. Two days of fighting left 32 troops and 26 IS gunmen dead, according to the Britain-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, which tracks the country’s nine-year war. Days later, the government said that because of the security situation in the desert several gas wells in the fields of Shaer and Hayan were damaged, leading to a 30% drop in electricity production. Back in Iraq, the green pastures of the northern village of Kujalo conceal a hidden enemy that keeps resident Nawzad up at night. His farming community lies in a disputed territory that has witnessed a sharp increase in attacks, including a nearby ambush earlier this month that killed two peshmerga officers. He said the militants have local collaborators. “They know everything about each farm in Kulajo and they know to whom each house belongs,” he said, asking to be identified only by his first name, fearing reprisals. The militants also receive shelter, supplies, food and transport from local sympathizers, said Kurdish Brig. Kamal Mahmoud. His peshmerga forces are based on part of the front lines there, but can’t operate in other parts run by government troops — and there, he said, the overstretched security forces control only main roads with no presence in villages and towns. On April 1, a federal police officer was killed, and a battalion commander and brigadier general wounded in a security operation in the Makhoul mountain range in Diyala. Two days later, an IED attack targeted a patrol of a commando regiment of the Diyala Operations Command in the outskirts of Maadan village. Sartip, a Kujalo resident, said he fears the militants’ improved capabilities. “IS has been carrying out attacks in Kurdish areas for a long time, but now they are more organized and have more people,” he said. Mroue reported from Beirut. Associated Press writer Salar Salim contributed from Irbil, Iraq. Qassim Abdul-Zahra, Bassem Mroue And Samya Kullab, The Associated Press
2 May 19:04 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/is-extremists-step-up-as-iraq-syria-grapple-with-virus/Rating: 0.77
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
3 May 14:29
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Weighted average IN: 2.2549203168993825
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were "devastatingly worrisome" as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on "Fox News Sunday" that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. "It's devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives," Birx told host Chris Wallace. "So we need to protect each other at the same time as we're voicing our discontent." LoadingSomething is loading. Birx's comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made "safer" if both customers and workers wore masks, but "we've made it clear that that's not a good phase one activity," referring to the White House's proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. "I think the president's made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia," Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump's slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasized during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have "gating criteria," including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning "phase one," which no state has currently. Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 14:29 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/birx-said-protesters-without-face-masks-is-devastatingly-worrisome-2020-5Rating: 4.40
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were “devastatingly worrisome” as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on “Fox News Sunday” that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” Birx told host Chris Wallace. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.” Birx’s comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made “safer” if both customers and workers wore masks, but “we’ve made it clear that that’s not a good phase one activity,” referring to the White House’s proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. “I think the president’s made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia,” Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump’s slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp‘s surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasised during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have “gating criteria,” including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning “phase one,” which no state has currently.
3 May 14:29 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/birx-said-protesters-without-face-masks-is-devastatingly-worrisome-2020-5Rating: 0.30
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were “devastatingly worrisome” as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on “Fox News Sunday” that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” Birx told host Chris Wallace. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.” Birx’s comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made “safer” if both customers and workers wore masks, but “we’ve made it clear that that’s not a good phase one activity,” referring to the White House’s proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. “I think the president’s made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia,” Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump’s slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp‘s surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasized during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have “gating criteria,” including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning “phase one,” which no state has currently.
3 May 16:42 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/birx-said-protesters-without-face-masks-is-devastatingly-worrisome-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
‘Devastatingly worrisome’: Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were “devastatingly worrisome” as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on “Fox News Sunday” that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” Birx told host Chris Wallace. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.” Birx’s comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made “safer” if both customers and workers wore masks, but “we’ve made it clear that that’s not a good phase one activity,” referring to the White House’s proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. “I think the president’s made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia,” Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump’s slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp‘s surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasized during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have “gating criteria,” including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning “phase one,” which no state has currently.
3 May 14:29 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/birx-said-protesters-without-face-masks-is-devastatingly-worrisome-2020-5Rating: 0.30
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home
Associated Press/Patrick Semansky White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were "devastatingly worrisome" as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on "Fox News Sunday" that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. "It's devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives," Birx told host Chris Wallace. "So we need to protect each other at the same time as we're voicing our discontent." Birx's comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made "safer" if both customers and workers wore masks, but "we've made it clear that that's not a good phase one activity," referring to the White House's proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. "I think the president's made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia," Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump's slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp's surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasized during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have "gating criteria," including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning "phase one," which no state has currently. Watch the latest video at foxnews.com Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 14:29 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/devastatingly-worrisome-birx-says-protesters-142950491.htmlRating: 0.30
'Devastatingly worrisome': Birx says protesters gathering without face masks or social distancing could unknowingly infect high-risk relatives at home, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Dr. Deborah Birx said protests against social distancing orders were “devastatingly worrisome” as demonstrators did not wear masks or practice social distancing while gathering in large groups. Dr. Birx said on “Fox News Sunday” that protestors who gather in groups with no protective practices could infect at-risk relatives at home after unknowingly being exposed to or carrying the virus. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” Birx told host Chris Wallace. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.” Birx’s comment comes after a weekend marked by protests in at least 10 states across the country as frustration continues to grow with the economic implications of ongoing lockdown orders. Wallace also asked Birx if reopening businesses like hair salons and barbershops were safe, which the public health expert said were made “safer” if both customers and workers wore masks, but “we’ve made it clear that that’s not a good phase one activity,” referring to the White House’s proposed plan for a gradual reopening of normal life. “I think the president’s made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia,” Birx added, pointing to President Donald Trump’s slam of Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp‘s surprise announcement that the state would lift coronavirus restrictions in late April. Birx also emphasized during the interview that reopening the country is based on federal guidelines that dictate states must have “gating criteria,” including a decline in cases or positive tests for a 14-day period before beginning “phase one,” which no state has currently.
3 May 14:29 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/birx-said-protesters-without-face-masks-is-devastatingly-worrisome-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Birx: 'Devastatingly worrisome' that stay-at-home protesters aren't practicing social distancing
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx on Sunday said it was “devastatingly worrisome” that those protesting at state Capitols against stay-at-home orders did not wear masks or practice social distancing, warning that they could unknowingly transmit the novel coronavirus to at-risk relatives. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives. So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent,” Birx said on “Fox News Sunday.” Protests took place in at least 10 states over the weekend, with demonstrators calling on their governors to reopen businesses. Hundreds of protesters, some of them armed, demonstrated at the Michigan Statehouse on Thursday, eventually crowding inside to demand Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) allow public life to resume. President Trumptweeted his support for those protesters, calling on Whitmer to “talk to them” and “make a deal.” Birx, asked by Fox News’s Chris Wallace about whether reopening businesses such hair salons was safe, said it was "safer" if both parties wore masks but added that "we’ve made it clear that that’s not a good phase one activity, and I think the president's made it clear when he discussed the case in Georgia." Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp (R) was one of the first governors to announce coronavirus restrictions would be lifted in late April, prompting pushback from both President Trump and Rep. Doug Collins (R-Ga.), a close Trump ally who is running for Sen. Kelly Loeffler’s (R-Ga.) Senate seat. Since then, a number of states have also opted to include salons in the first wave of businesses to be allowed to reopen, with some safety requirements. Asked by Wallace whether the U.S. was “past the peak” or “on the downslope” when it comes to infections, Birx noted that “every single metro area and every single outbreak across the country is different.” “We are encouraged that the New York and New Jersey metro areas are starting to see a decline after a long flat curve,” she said. Federal guidelines call on states to wait for a 14-day period of continually declining cases before moving to phase one and then each subsequent stage of reopening, which no state has met as of Sunday.
3 May 13:40 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/495846-birx-stay-at-home-protesters-not-social-distancing-isRating: 1.94
Shots fired by North Korea likely 'accidental': Pompeo
3 May 23:28
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10 articles
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Average IN: 11.66
Weighted average IN: 13.163983780995972
Shots fired by North Korea likely 'accidental': Pompeo
WASHINGTON: Shots fired by North Korea across its border with South Korea were likely "accidental," US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday (May 3) as speculation continues to swirl about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North and South Korea on Saturday exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since Apr 11. South Korea responded to shots fired from across the DMZ but no casualties were reported. "We think those are accidental. South Koreans did return fire. So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side," Pompeo said on ABC This Week. Pompeo declined to discuss whether he knows whether Kim has been gravely ill over the last few weeks - which ratcheted up speculation as Kim missed a celebration of his late grandfather - but said based on video footage of him from state television at a recent event, "It looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well." "We know there have been other extended periods of time where Chairman Kim's been out of public view as well, so it's not unprecedented," Pompeo said.
3 May 23:28 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/shots-fired-north-korea-likely-accidental-pompeo-12698334Rating: 3.25
Shots fired by North Korea 'accidental': Mike Pompeo
Shots fired by North Korea across its border with South Korea were likely "accidental," U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday as speculation continues to swirl about the health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. North and South Korea on Saturday exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. South Korea responded to shots fired from across the DMZ but no casualties were reported. "We think those are accidental. South Koreans did return fire. So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side," Pompeo said on ABC This Week. Pompeo declined to discuss whether he knows whether Kim has been gravely ill over the last few weeks - which ratcheted up speculation as Kim missed a celebration of his late grandfather - but said based on video footage of him from state television at a recent event, "It looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well." "We know there have been other extended periods of time where Chairman Kim's been out of public view as well, so it's not unprecedented," Pompeo said.
3 May 19:50 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/shots-fired-by-north-korea-accidental-mike-pompeo-833108.htmlRating: 2.25
Shots fired by North Korea across border with South Korea accidental - US
Shots fired by North Korea across its border with South Korea were likely accidental, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo says. North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post on Saturday (local time). The raising of tensions came a day after North Korean state media showed leader Kim Jong-un visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Kim Jong-un receives cheers in first public appearance in weeks - report Who might replace Kim Jong-un? South Korea responded to shots fired from across the DMZ but no casualties were reported. "We think those are accidental. South Koreans did return fire. So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side," Pompeo told the American Broadcasting Company on Sunday. Pompeo declined to discuss whether he knows if Kim has been gravely ill over the last few weeks. However he said based on video footage from state television at a recent event, "it looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well". "We know there have been other extended periods of time where Chairman Kim's been out of public view as well, so it's not unprecedented," Pompeo said. Reuters
3 May 17:34 • Newshub • https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/05/shots-fired-by-north-korea-across-border-with-south-korea-accidental-us.htmlRating: 1.12
North and South Korea trade shots along border area
Speaking during the same interview, Pompeo commented on the situation on the Korean Peninsula. The US State Secretary said that shots that were fired from North Korea towards the South in the demilitarized zone on Sunday were believed to be “accidental.” “Handful of shots came across from the north, we think those were accidental… South Koreans did return fire. There was no loss of life on either side,” he told ABC’s “This Week”. The incident comes following weeks of speculation in the media about the whereabouts and health of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. However, all the rumours were dispelled on 1 May when Kim reappeared in public at the opening of a new fertilizer plant in the city of Sunchon. Source: Sputnik
3 May 16:52 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/north-and-south-korea-trade-shots-along-border-area/Rating: 0.63
Shots fired from NKorea believed to be 'accidental': Pompeo
Washington: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said shots fired Sunday from North Korea towards the South in the DMZ that divides the peninsula were believed to have been "accidental." "Handful of shots came across from the north; we think those were accidental," he said on ABC's "This Week." "South Koreans did return fire. There was no loss of life on either side," he added. The border incident came a day after North Korean state media said Kim Jong Un had made his first public appearance after a nearly three-week unexplained absence from public view. Pompeo declined to comment on what the US knew about the North Korean leader's absence, or whether it was linked to a rumored health issue. "We have seen the same images from yesterday that the world saw. It looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well," he said. "Our mission remains the same, to convince the North Koreans to give up their nuclear weapons and create a brighter future for the North Korean people."
3 May 17:41 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Shots-fired-from-NKorea-believed-to-be-accidental-PompeoRating: 3.14
Pompeo says gunfire exchange between North, South Korea thought to be 'accidental'
Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said Sunday that the U.S. thinks the gunfire exchanged between North and South Korea was “accidental.” Pompeo told ABC’s “This Week” that he can confirm the initial reports that North Korea fired shots at a South Korean guard tower are “just about right” and that South Korea returned fire. “We think those are accidental,” he said, adding, “So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side.” A South Korean guard post reported that gunshots were fired at it from the North, Sunday morning local time, The Associated Press reported. South Korea responded after a warning with two shots. Early South Korean analysis indicated that the gunfire was not an intentional provocation. The gunfire exchange follows weeks of speculation about North Korean leader Kim Jong Un’s health status. He reappeared on Saturday after having not been seen in public since April 11. Pompeo said the U.S. did not know why the North Korean leader missed his late grandfather’s birthday celebration on April 15. “We know there have been other extended periods of time where Chairman Kim's been out of public view as well, so it's not unprecedented,” he said. The secretary of state told ABC he “just can’t say anything about” whether he thinks Kim was gravely ill during the period he was not in the public eye. Pompeo also reiterated Sunday the administration’s goal of negotiating with the communist country to give up their nuclear weapons.
3 May 15:13 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/sunday-talk-shows/495863-pompeo-says-koreas-gunfire-exchange-are-thought-to-be-accidentalRating: 1.94
Shots fired by forces on Korean border appear ‘accidental’: Pompeo
A volley of shots fired by forces on either side of the border between North and South Korea appear to have been “accidental,” Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday. “I’ve seen some of our internal information as well. We can confirm at least the initial reports that you’ve described are just about right, a handful of shots that came across from the North,” he said on ABC News’ “This Week.” “We think those are accidental. South Koreans did return fire. So far as we can tell, there was no loss of life on either side,” Pompeo said. The exchange of rounds, reported by South Korea’s military, came just days after North Korean media reported that its leader Kim Jong Un was seen publicly for the first time in weeks at a fertilizer factory near Pyongyang. For the first time since he assumed power in 2011, Kim had missed the commemoration of his late grandfather and North Korea’s founder Kim Il Sung on April 15, leading to speculation that he was seriously ill or dead. Pompeo said he couldn’t share any information about why Kim was out of the public eye during that period. “So there’s not much I can share with you other than we’ve seen the same images from yesterday that the world saw. It looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well,” he said. Pompeo also would not acknowledge whether Kim had become ill after contracting the coronavirus or had a cardiovascular problem.
3 May 19:40 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/mike-pompeo-shots-fired-by-forces-on-korean-border-accidental/?utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitter&utm_campaign=SocialFlowRating: 2.55
North Korea fires at South Korea as Kim Jong-un returns to public view
North Korean troops have fired at a South Korean guard post as fears grow that Kim Jong-un will mark his reappearance with violence. The South Koreans responded by shooting back twice. The flashpoint yesterday is the first gunfire across the border since 2017. Dictator Kim returned to public view on Saturday after an unexplained three-week absence. It is predicted North Korea’s leader will order threats towards the West and executions in his homeland to show he is still in charge. A security source told the Mirror: “His main fear comes from the North Korean elite but he’s also keen to placate the military and keep them on his side. “It is highly likely his border guards were told to open fire as a sign they have his support.” The source added more threats are expected. Choi Kang, of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies in Seoul, said about the gunfire: “Kim is trying to mute speculation that he may not have full control over the military.” But US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said the North Korean shots at its enemy were probably “accidental”. No injuries were reported. North Korean state footage released on Saturday showed Kim at the opening of a factory after weeks of rumours about his health . Mr Pompeo added: “It looks like Chairman Kim is alive and well.” The footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. South Korean news outlet Yonhap said the 36-year-old tyrant had not undergone surgery, despite reports that he had.
3 May 21:08 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/north-korea-fires-south-korea-21967554Rating: 2.39
North Korea's DMZ gunfire could be a message from Kim that he's still in charge of the military, expert says
Gunshots were fired Sunday morning from the North Korean side of the Demilitarized Zone, striking a guard post in South Korea. South Korea, which reported no casualties, responded by firing two shots toward North Korea. The two countries are technically still in a state of war since their 1950-53 conflict ended in truce rather than a peace treaty, and they've exchanged fire in similar fashion on occasion, but Seoul is reportedly perplexed by the timing of the latest incident. Choi Kang, the vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, has one theory — it shows who's in charge of Pyongyang's military. The gunfire comes one day after North Korea reported the first public appearance by its leader, Kim Jong Un, in three weeks, mostly squashing rumors that he was in ill heath or had died. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he's perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military," Choi told Reuters. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I'm healthy and I'm still in power.'" Read more at The New York Times and Reuters.
3 May 11:51 • The Week • https://theweek.com/speedreads/912436/north-koreas-dmz-gunfire-could-message-from-kim-that-hes-still-charge-military-expert-saysRating: 0.58
North and South Korea exchange gunfire across border at guard post
SEOUL — North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around the South’s guard post early on Sunday, raising tension a day after North Korean leader Kim Jong Un ended an almost three-week absence from public life with state media showing him visiting a factory. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea at 7:41 a.m. local time towards a guard post in South Korea that borders the North, the South’s joint chiefs of staffs said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, no injuries were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts, the country’s official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertilizer plant, the first report of his appearance since April 11. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim, Hyonhee Shin; Editing by Michael Perry)
3 May 03:47 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/politics-news-pmn/north-and-south-korea-exchange-gunfire-across-border-at-guard-postRating: 1.59
Chiefs reach deal with ex-Michigan QB Shea Patterson
3 May 17:48
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5 articles
Weight: 2.80
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Best date: 3 May 17:48
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Average GB: 1.16
Weighted average GB: 0.6161573088482066
Average IN: 2.16
Weighted average IN: 0.7402848905493618
Chiefs reach deal with ex-Michigan QB Shea Patterson
The Kansas City Chiefs added another developmental quarterback to serve as a backup to Patrick Mahomes by agreeing to contract terms with undrafted rookie Shea Patterson of Michigan, agent Bryan Ehrlich announced Sunday. The Chiefs also recently signed Jordan Ta'amu, who played with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL. Veteran Chad Henne recently re-signed with the Chiefs on a two-year contract and will enter the season as Mahomes' main backup. Ehrlich told The Detroit News that Patterson was "wading through the process ... making sure it was a good fit." "It took a little bit longer, but now he's got a home," he told the newspaper. Patterson and Ta'amu were teammates in 2017 at Ole Miss, a year before Patterson transferred to Michigan. Patterson threw for 8,800 yards in his four collegiate seasons, two at Ole Miss and two at Michigan, with 68 touchdown passes and 27 interceptions. He threw for 3,061 yards with 23 TDs and eight interceptions for the Wolverines in 2019.
3 May 17:48 • ESPN.com • https://www.espn.com/nfl/story/_/id/29128847/chiefs-reach-deal-ex-michigan-qb-shea-pattersonRating: 4.77
Chiefs reach deal with ex-Michigan QB Shea Patterson
The Kansas City Chiefs added another developmental quarterback to serve as a backup to Patrick Mahomes by agreeing to contract terms with undrafted rookie Shea Patterson of Michigan, agent Bryan Ehrlich announced Sunday. The Chiefs also recently signed Jordan Ta'amu, who played with the St. Louis BattleHawks of the XFL. Veteran Chad Henne recently re-signed with the Chiefs on a two-year contract and will enter the season as Mahomes' main backup. Ehrlich told The Detroit News that Patterson was "wading through the process ... making sure it was a good fit." "It took a little bit longer, but now he's got a home," he told the newspaper. Patterson and Ta'amu were teammates in 2017 at Ole Miss, a year before Patterson transferred to Michigan. Patterson threw for 8,800 yards in his four collegiate seasons, two at Ole Miss and two at Michigan, with 68 touchdown passes and 27 interceptions. He threw for 3,061 yards with 23 TDs and eight interceptions for the Wolverines in 2019.
3 May 17:48 • ESPN • https://www.espn.co.uk/nfl/story/_/id/29128847/chiefs-reach-deal-ex-michigan-qb-shea-pattersonRating: 0.82
Chiefs continue to build on defense, sign DE Taco Charlton
KANSAS CITY, Mo. — The Kansas City Chiefs have agreed to a contract with defensive end Taco Charlton, adding a former first-round pick who flamed out in Dallas and Miami but whose athleticism is a perfect match for coordinator Steve Spagnuolo’s defense. The 25-year-old Charlton was the 28th overall selection in the 2017 draft. He made seven starts for the Cowboys before sustaining a shoulder injury, and he was waived just two weeks into last season. The Dolphins signed Charlton and he made five starts and appeared in 10 games, but he was a healthy scratch the last four games of the regular season. The Dolphins waived him Thursday, and the Chiefs were able to sign him when he cleared waivers Friday. Charlton will compete for playing time within a rotation that includes starting defensive ends Frank Clark and Alex Okafor, backups Tanoh Kpassagnon and Breeland Speaks, and fifth-round draft pick Mike Danna.
3 May 02:46 • FOX Sports • https://www.foxsports.com/kansas-city/story/kansas-city-chiefs-continue-to-build-on-defense-sign-de-taco-charlton-050220Rating: 1.02
Former Cowboys First-Round Pick Reportedly Signs With New NFL Team
Late Friday night, a former first-round pick of the Dallas Cowboys reportedly inked a deal with a new NFL team. Earlier this week, the Miami Dolphins released defensive end Taco Charlton. He was a first-round pick of the Cowboys in 2017, but he fell out of favor after two mediocre seasons in Dallas. After getting cut by the Dolphins earlier this week, it didn’t take him long to find a new landing spot. According to a new report, Charlton is staying in the AFC and joining a contender. The former Michigan star reportedly agreed to a deal with the Kansas City Chiefs. According to Yahoo Sports insider Terez Paylor, the Chiefs signed Charlton to a one-year contract. In 10 games in Miami (five starts), Charlton recorded 21 tackles, a career-high five sacks and two forced fumbles. The former first-round pick had his best NFL season with the Dolphins, but even the 2019 campaign didn’t come without a few hiccups. He was a healthy scratch multiple times during the last few weeks of the season, despite his success on the field. That signified the writing on the wall for the former Wolverines pass rusher. Now he gets a fresh start with the Super Bowl-winning Kansas City Chiefs.
2 May 13:20 • The Spun • https://thespun.com/nfl/nfc-east/dallas-cowboys/former-cowboys-first-round-taco-charlton-chiefsRating: 0.30
Jaguars reportedly decline Leonard Fournette's fifth-year option
In the latest indication that Leonard Fournette's time with the Jacksonville Jaguars is nearing an end, the team reportedly declined to pick up the fifth-year option on the running back's rookie contract. Fournette, the fourth overall selection in the 2017 NFL Draft, is entering the final year of the contract and is due to make $4.17 million in 2020. NFL FREE AGENTS: Best available players at each position With his option declined, as per NFL Network, Fournette will become an unrestricted free agent following the conclusion of the 2020-21 league year. The Jaguars reportedly attempted to trade Fournette over the past month and the organization had discussions with the Buccaneers and Dolphins, but they were unable to complete a deal. After a disappointing 2018 during which he played in only eight games and ran for439 yards, Fournette rebounded with a career season in 2019. He rushed for 1,152 yards and had a team-best 76 receptions in 15 games while totaling 1,674 yards from scrimmage to rank sixth in the NFL.
2 May 01:18 • Sporting News • https://www.sportingnews.com/us/nfl/news/jacksonville-jaguars-decline-leonard-fournette-fifth-year-option/5lseookiz84f14oeip8ic0cngRating: 0.80
Coronavirus cases in Russia rise by record daily amount, mortality rate slows
3 May 18:06
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4 articles
Weight: 2.77
Importance: 2.77
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:06
Average US: 8.75
Weighted average US: 13.456282617358136
Average GB: 1.505
Weighted average GB: 1.4602919947529875
Average IN: 4.88
Weighted average IN: 6.270246257226903
Coronavirus cases in Russia rise by record daily amount, mortality rate slows
MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Sunday recorded its highest daily rise in confirmed coronavirus cases with 10,633 new cases, bringing the total to 134,687, with more than half of cases and deaths in Moscow. But the mortality rate has slowed in recent days and remains much lower, in relative terms, than many other countries. Russia has said its lower mortality rate was because the Russian outbreak occurred later than in many other countries which gave the authorities more time to prepare. Russia’s nationwide death toll rose to 1,280 on Sunday after 58 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said on its website. Russia has been in partial lockdown since the end of March to curb the spread of the virus. People in Moscow can leave home to visit the nearest food shop or chemist, walk their dog or throw out rubbish but need special passes for other activities. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide lockdown to remain in place until May 11 inclusive, when Russia finishes celebrating its Labour Day and World War Two Victory Day holidays. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents on Saturday to continue to strictly self-isolate over the long holidays. Sobyanin said there had been progress in expanding testing, allowing the authorities to treat those in need more quickly. But he said the number of critically ill patients was rising, albeit not as steeply as worst-case scenario projections. He said he thought 2% of Moscow, with a population of 12.7 million, had been infected, a much higher figure than official statistics show. “It is obvious that the threat is growing,” he said on his website. He told Rossiya-1 TV station that the Moscow authorities might cut the number of digital permits issued for travel across the city if the situation worsened. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia’s second-most senior official after Putin, told the president on Thursday he had tested positive for coronavirus and was temporarily stepping down to recover. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is now serving as acting prime minister in his absence. On Friday, another Russian cabinet member, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev, announced he had been diagnosed with the virus and would be treated in hospital. Dmitry Volkov, one of his deputies, also tested positive, the ministry said.
3 May 18:06 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-russia-idUSKBN22F07KRating: 4.04
Coronavirus cases in Russia rise by record daily amount, mortality rate slows
MOSCOW: Russia on Sunday recorded its highest daily rise in confirmed coronavirus cases with 10,633 new cases, bringing the total to 134,687, with more than half of cases and deaths in Moscow. But the mortality rate has slowed in recent days and remains much lower, in relative terms, than many other countries. Russia has said its lower mortality rate was because the Russian outbreak occurred later than in many other countries which gave the authorities more time to prepare. Russia’s nationwide death toll rose to 1,280 on Sunday after 58 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said on its website. Russia has been in partial lockdown since the end of March to curb the spread of the virus. People in Moscow can leave home to visit the nearest food shop or chemist, walk their dog or throw out rubbish but need special passes for other activities. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide lockdown to remain in place until May 11 inclusive, when Russia finishes celebrating its Labour Day and World War Two Victory Day holidays. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents on Saturday to continue to strictly self-isolate over the long holidays. Sobyanin said there had been progress in expanding testing, allowing the authorities to treat those in need more quickly. But he said the number of critically ill patients was rising, albeit not as steeply as worst-case scenario projections. He said he thought 2% of Moscow, with a population of 12.7 million, had been infected, a much higher figure than official statistics show. “It is obvious that the threat is growing,” he said on his website. He told Rossiya-1 TV station that the Moscow authorities might cut the number of digital permits issued for travel across the city if the situation worsened. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia’s second-most senior official after Putin, told the president on Thursday he had tested positive for coronavirus and was temporarily stepping down to recover. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is now serving as acting prime minister in his absence. On Friday, another Russian cabinet member, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev, announced he had been diagnosed with the virus and would be treated in hospital. Dmitry Volkov, one of his deputies, also tested positive, the ministry said.
3 May 18:26 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213363/3-coronavirus-cases-russia-rise-record-daily-amount-mortality-rate-slows/Rating: 1.80
COVID-19 cases in Russia rise by record daily amount, mortality rate slows
MOSCOW: Russia on Sunday (May 3) recorded its highest daily rise in confirmed COVID-19 cases with 10,633 new cases, bringing the total to 134,687, with more than half of cases and deaths in Moscow. But the mortality rate has slowed in recent days and remains much lower, in relative terms, than many other countries. Russia has said its lower mortality rate was because the Russian outbreak occurred later than in many other countries which gave the authorities more time to prepare. Russia's nationwide death toll rose to 1,280 on Sunday after 58 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said on its website. Russia has been in partial lockdown since the end of March to curb the spread of the virus. People in Moscow can leave home to visit the nearest food shop or chemist, walk their dog or throw out rubbish but need special passes for other activities. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide lockdown to remain in place until May 11 inclusive, when Russia finishes celebrating its Labour Day and World War Two Victory Day holidays. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents on Saturday to continue to strictly self-isolate over the long holidays. Sobyanin said there had been progress in expanding testing, allowing the authorities to treat those in need more quickly. But he said the number of critically ill patients was rising, albeit not as steeply as worst-case scenario projections. He said he thought 2per cent of Moscow, with a population of 12.7 million, had been infected, a much higher figure than official statistics show. "It is obvious that the threat is growing," he said on his website. He told Rossiya-1 TV station that the Moscow authorities might cut the number of digital permits issued for travel across the city if the situation worsened. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia's second-most senior official after Putin, told the president on Thursday he had tested positive for coronavirus and was temporarily stepping down to recover. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is now serving as acting prime minister in his absence. On Friday, another Russian cabinet member, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev, announced he had been diagnosed with the virus and would be treated in hospital. Dmitry Volkov, one of his deputies, also tested positive, the ministry said.
3 May 16:26 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-coronavirus-russia-record-daily-rise-12697918Rating: 3.25
Coronavirus cases in Russia rise by record daily amount, mortality rate slows
By Andrew Osborn and Vladimir Soldatkin MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia on Sunday recorded its highest daily rise in confirmed coronavirus cases with 10,633 new cases, bringing the total to 134,687, with more than half of cases and deaths in Moscow. But the mortality rate has slowed in recent days and remains much lower, in relative terms, than many other countries. Russia has said its lower mortality rate was because the Russian outbreak occurred later than in many other countries which gave the authorities more time to prepare. Russia's nationwide death toll rose to 1,280 on Sunday after 58 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said on its website. Russia has been in partial lockdown since the end of March to curb the spread of the virus. People in Moscow can leave home to visit the nearest food shop or chemist, walk their dog or throw out rubbish but need special passes for other activities. President Vladimir Putin has ordered the nationwide lockdown to remain in place until May 11 inclusive, when Russia finishes celebrating its Labour Day and World War Two Victory Day holidays. Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin urged residents on Saturday to continue to strictly self-isolate over the long holidays. Sobyanin said there had been progress in expanding testing, allowing the authorities to treat those in need more quickly. But he said the number of critically ill patients was rising, albeit not as steeply as worst-case scenario projections. He said he thought 2% of Moscow, with a population of 12.7 million, had been infected, a much higher figure than official statistics show. "It is obvious that the threat is growing," he said on his website. He told Rossiya-1 TV station that the Moscow authorities might cut the number of digital permits issued for travel across the city if the situation worsened. Prime Minister Mikhail Mishustin, Russia's second-most senior official after Putin, told the president on Thursday he had tested positive for coronavirus and was temporarily stepping down to recover. First Deputy Prime Minister Andrei Belousov is now serving as acting prime minister in his absence. On Friday, another Russian cabinet member, Construction Minister Vladimir Yakushev, announced he had been diagnosed with the virus and would be treated in hospital. Dmitry Volkov, one of his deputies, also tested positive, the ministry said. (Additional reporting by Gleb Stoyarov; Editing by Edmund Blair)
3 May 07:47 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/coronavirus-cases-russia-rise-record-074730993.htmlRating: 0.30
Seagate's One Touch 1TB portable SSD has dropped to a new low of $130
3 May 12:51
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3 articles
Weight: 2.76
Importance: 2.77
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 12:51
Average US: 32.766666666666666
Weighted average US: 32.13793529767802
Average GB: 2.5999999999999996
Weighted average GB: 2.5896655563851336
Average IN: 14.4
Weighted average IN: 14.621316043618487
Seagate's One Touch 1TB portable SSD has dropped to a new low of $130
The Seagate One Touch STJE1000402 1TB portable solid state drive is down to $129.99 at Newegg with code 93XPJ39. That's a great low price because the 1TB One Touch normally sells for around $160 or more. You can find it going for $165 at Staples right now. The One Touch has dropped to $140 at a few retailers like Best Buy, but Newegg is the only one offering an extra $10 off. That makes it the best place to go for this portable SSD today. Portable SSDs are usually priced at a premium just because they offer a significant upgrade over portable hard drives in terms of durability and speed, but if you don't want to pay that price and still need some portable storage, we've got you covered. Newegg also has the Seagate Expansion 2TB portable hard drive on sale for $55.99. That's more space and a much more affordable price. Sign up for ExpressVPN today and save 49% Super compact, lightweight, uses a textile design, and fits in the palm of your hand. Has transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s and a USB 3.0 connection. Use it for backup and synchronization. Works with Windows or Mac without reformatting. With coupon: 93XPJ39 In a perfect world, portable solid state drives would be just as inexpensive as portable hard drives. After all, the main feature of SSDs is they have no moving parts, which really makes them perfect for carrying data on the move. Hard drives are much more prone to failure when getting knocked around in your backpack or trampled on the subway. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Luckily this deal shaves some of that cost off the top and you get a really good product out of it. The One Touch is a mini SSD. It's super compact, very lightweight, and it can fit in the palm of your hand. It also has a nice textile design. It's also super high speed and connects via USB 3.0 with transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s. You can use this drive seamlessly with Windows or Mac, and you don't need to reformat it. It's compatible with Windows 7 or higher and Mac OS X 10.12 or higher. If you do want to use it with Mac's Time Machine, you'll need to reformat. Otherwise, you can just transfer media and data easily between operating systems. You'll also get a year subscription to Mylio Create and two months of Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. Seagate covers this with a 3-year warranty. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
3 May 12:51 • Android Central • https://www.androidcentral.com/seagates-one-touch-1tb-portable-ssd-has-dropped-new-low-130?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+androidcentral+%28Android+Central%29Rating: 1.90
Seagate's One Touch 1TB portable SSD has dropped to a new low of $130
The Seagate One Touch STJE1000402 1TB portable solid state drive is down to $129.99 at Newegg with code 93XPJ39. That's a great low price because the 1TB One Touch normally sells for around $160 or more. You can find it going for $165 at Staples right now. The One Touch has dropped to $140 at a few retailers like Best Buy, but Newegg is the only one offering an extra $10 off. That makes it the best place to go for this portable SSD today. Portable SSDs are usually priced at a premium just because they offer a significant upgrade over portable hard drives in terms of durability and speed, but if you don't want to pay that price and still need some portable storage, we've got you covered. Newegg also has the Seagate Expansion 2TB portable hard drive on sale for $55.99. That's more space and a much more affordable price. Best online learning tools for kids: ABCmouse, Reading IQ, & more Super compact, lightweight, uses a textile design, and fits in the palm of your hand. Has transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s and a USB 3.0 connection. Use it for backup and synchronization. Works with Windows or Mac without reformatting. With coupon: 93XPJ39 In a perfect world, portable solid state drives would be just as inexpensive as portable hard drives. After all, the main feature of SSDs is they have no moving parts, which really makes them perfect for carrying data on the move. Hard drives are much more prone to failure when getting knocked around in your backpack or trampled on the subway. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Luckily this deal shaves some of that cost off the top and you get a really good product out of it. The One Touch is a mini SSD. It's super compact, very lightweight, and it can fit in the palm of your hand. It also has a nice textile design. It's also super high speed and connects via USB 3.0 with transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s. You can use this drive seamlessly with Windows or Mac, and you don't need to reformat it. It's compatible with Windows 7 or higher and Mac OS X 10.12 or higher. If you do want to use it with Mac's Time Machine, you'll need to reformat. Otherwise, you can just transfer media and data easily between operating systems. You'll also get a year subscription to Mylio Create and two months of Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. Seagate covers this with a 3-year warranty. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more. LIVE PODCAST Join us for the latest Windows Central Video Podcast We're live with the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30pm ET, make sure you're there! All summer long Geoff Keighley announces Summer Game Fest, 4 months of news and more Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards and Opening Night Live at Gamescom, has announced a new four month event called Summer Game Fest. This event will feature news, demos and more from multiple publishers across the gaming industry. 🎓👩🎓👨🎓 Schools can broadcast graduations on Microsoft Teams for a limited time With many people staying inside during the graduation season, Microsoft is expanding Teams to accommodate. Schools will be able to live stream events, such as graduations, to up to 20,000 people. Buyers Guide These external monitors are a perfect addition to your Surface Book 2 Thinking about adding some screen real estate to your Surface Book 2? Check out these external monitors that will fill the need for high resolution, smooth gaming, or budget pricing.
3 May 12:52 • Windows Central • https://www.windowscentral.com/seagates-one-touch-1tb-portable-ssd-has-dropped-new-low-130?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wmexperts+%28Windows+Central%29Rating: 2.16
Seagate's One Touch 1TB portable SSD has dropped to a new low of $130
The Seagate One Touch STJE1000402 1TB portable solid state drive is down to $129.99 at Newegg with code 93XPJ39. That's a great low price because the 1TB One Touch normally sells for around $160 or more. You can find it going for $165 at Staples right now. The One Touch has dropped to $140 at a few retailers like Best Buy, but Newegg is the only one offering an extra $10 off. That makes it the best place to go for this portable SSD today. Portable SSDs are usually priced at a premium just because they offer a significant upgrade over portable hard drives in terms of durability and speed, but if you don't want to pay that price and still need some portable storage, we've got you covered. Newegg also has the Seagate Expansion 2TB portable hard drive on sale for $55.99. That's more space and a much more affordable price. Get an iPhone SE with Mint Mobile service for $30/mo Super compact, lightweight, uses a textile design, and fits in the palm of your hand. Has transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s and a USB 3.0 connection. Use it for backup and synchronization. Works with Windows or Mac without reformatting. With coupon: 93XPJ39 In a perfect world, portable solid state drives would be just as inexpensive as portable hard drives. After all, the main feature of SSDs is they have no moving parts, which really makes them perfect for carrying data on the move. Hard drives are much more prone to failure when getting knocked around in your backpack or trampled on the subway. Unfortunately, we're not there yet. Luckily this deal shaves some of that cost off the top and you get a really good product out of it. The One Touch is a mini SSD. It's super compact, very lightweight, and it can fit in the palm of your hand. It also has a nice textile design. It's also super high speed and connects via USB 3.0 with transfer speeds up to 400 MB/s. You can use this drive seamlessly with Windows or Mac, and you don't need to reformat it. It's compatible with Windows 7 or higher and Mac OS X 10.12 or higher. If you do want to use it with Mac's Time Machine, you'll need to reformat. Otherwise, you can just transfer media and data easily between operating systems. You'll also get a year subscription to Mylio Create and two months of Adobe Creative Cloud Photography Plan. Seagate covers this with a 3-year warranty. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more. Privacy U.S. Senators propose COVID-19 data privacy bill U.S. Senators have introduced a COVID-19 data privacy bill, designed to strike a balance between innovation, technology, and consumer privacy. I ❤️ Apple Arcade Gorgeous adventure game 'Neversong' is the latest to arrive on Apple Arcade Apple Arcade has gained another game, this time with the musical adventure game "Neversong" coming to iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple TV. 😎🎶📱 We review the rockin' Lucyd Loud Bluetooth-Enabled Sunglasses That's right, you can listen to music, access Siri, and talk on the phone with these unique Bluetooth headphones/sunglasses hybrid. All around protection Garmin Vivosmart travel cases you will love When you need to store your Garmin Vivosmart HR or HR+, you can go wrong with any of these cases. They are also pretty handy when you have to travel so you have somewhere to keep cables and accessories sorted.
3 May 12:52 • iMore • https://www.imore.com/seagates-one-touch-1tb-portable-ssd-has-dropped-new-low-130?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+TheIphoneBlog+%28iMore%29Rating: 1.49
North Korea's Kim did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
4 May 09:20
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11 articles
Weight: 2.74
Importance: 2.75
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 12:48
Average US: 10.045454545454545
Weighted average US: 13.384368062543158
Average GB: 0.7654545454545455
Weighted average GB: 0.7949881462696747
Average IN: 2.792727272727273
Weighted average IN: 3.433321027620041
North Korea's Kim did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Kim had had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. “Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery,” the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: “Yes.” North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea’s official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea’s JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The U.S.-led U.N. Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. “The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. “Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. “Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, ‘yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power’.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military.
4 May 09:20 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-northkorea-southorea-idUSKBN22F03NRating: 4.04
Kim Jong-un didn't have surgery while out of public eye - South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not undergo surgery during his almost three week absence from public life, South Korean news outlet Yonhap says, citing a senior government official. The news came as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire around the border on Sunday (local time). The South Korean official declined to provide reasons for believing that Kim did not undergo surgery, but said speculative reports that he may have had surgery, citing some differences in his leg movements, were not true, Yonhap reported. Kim Jong-un receives cheers in first public appearance in weeks - report Who might replace Kim Jong-un? Earlier on Sunday, North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around the South's guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea at 7.41am local time towards a guard post in South Korea that borders the North, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, no injuries were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim's leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. US President Donald Trump, who met Kim three times in 2018 and 2019 in unsuccessful attempts to persuade him to give up his nuclear weapons, tweeted on Saturday: "I, for one, am glad to see he is back, and well!" The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain at war. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation, as the area where it occurred was farmland, but declined to provide a clear conclusion about the incident. Choi Kang, vice president of the Asian Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the 'grey area' provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military," Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I'm healthy and I'm still in power'." Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting incident could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. "The Kim regime may be looking to raise morale of its frontline troops and to regain any negotiating leverage lost during the rumor-filled weeks of the leader's absence," said Easley. Reuters
3 May 17:54 • Newshub • https://www.newshub.co.nz/home/world/2020/05/kim-jong-un-didn-t-have-surgery-while-out-of-public-eye-south-korea.htmlRating: 1.12
Kim did not undergo any surgery, says Seoul
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Mr. Kim had had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. “Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery,” the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Mr. Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: “Yes.” North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Mr. Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Mr. Kim’s health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea’s official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Mr. Kim had attended the completion of a fertilizer plant. Mr. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Mr. Kims leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea’s JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The U.S.-led UN Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. “The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Mr. Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. “Yesterday, Mr. Kim was trying to show that he is perfectly healthy, and today, Mr. Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Mr. Choi said. “Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Mr. Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power'. Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military.
3 May 17:10 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/kim-did-not-undergo-any-surgery-says-seoul/article31495732.eceRating: 0.30
North Korea's Kim did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
SEOUL: North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Kim had had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. “Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery,” the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: “Yes.” North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea’s official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea’s JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The US-led UN Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. “The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. “Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. “Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, ‘yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power’.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military.
3 May 13:35 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213209/3-north-koreas-kim-not-surgery-south-says-shots-fired-dmz/Rating: 1.80
S.Korea says Kim Jong Un did not have surgery, as two Koreas exchange gunfire
SEOUL - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during his almost three week absence from public life, South Korean news outlet Yonhap said citing a senior government official, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire around the border on Sunday. The Soth Korean official declined to provide reasons for believing that Kim did not undergo surgery, but said speculative reports that he may have had surgery, citing some differences in his leg movements, is not true, Yonhap reported. Earlier on Sunday, North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around the South's guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea at 7:41 a.m. local time towards a guard post in South Korea that borders the North, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, no injuries were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain at war. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation, as the area where it ocurred was farmland, but declined to provide a clear conclusion about the incident. "In absence of vision (for the target) and in the fog, would there be an accurate provocation?" the official said. 'MESSAGE KIM STILL CONTROLS MILITARY' Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the 'grey area' provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power'.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting incident could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. "The Kim regime may be looking to raise morale of its frontline troops and to regain any negotiating leverage lost during the rumor-filled weeks of the leader's absence," said Easley. "South Korea and the United States should not take lightly such North Korean violations of existing military agreements." Read MoreAustralia fights virus clusters as parts of country ease restrictions "What I'm worried about is the unknown unknowns," Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said at a televised briefing, urging more people to get tested. Read MoreUK had contingency plan for PM Johnson's death as he battled COVID-19 -The Sun Johnson was admitted to a ward on April 5 and given oxygen via a face mask and a tube in his nose. "I was going through litres and litres of oxygen for a long time," he said. He was moved to intensive care on April 6. Read MoreMore people hit China roads in first major holiday since coronavirus easing The country recorded more than 23 million domestic tourists on May 1, according to China's culture and tourism ministry.
3 May 13:27 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/S.Korea-says-Kim-Jong-Un-did-not-have-surgery,-as-two-Koreas-exchange-gunfireRating: 3.14
North Korea’s Kim Jong-un did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
North Korean leader Kim Jong-un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Kim had had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. “Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery,” the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: “Yes.” North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South’s Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim’s health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea’s official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertilizer plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea’s JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The U.S.-led U.N. Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. “The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. “Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. “Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, ‘yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power’.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 12:48 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-north-koreas-kim-jong-un-did-not-have-surgery-south-says-as-shots/Rating: 2.18
North Korea's Kim did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarised Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Kim had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. "Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery," the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: "Yes." North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of UN Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and US President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The US-led UN Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. "The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asian Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power'.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military.
3 May 10:37 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/03/north-korea-s-kim-did-not-have-surgery-south-says-as-shots-fired-at-dmzRating: 2.85
S.Korea Says Kim Jong Un Did Not Have Surgery, as Two Koreas Exchange Gunfire
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during his almost three week absence from public life, South Korean news outlet Yonhap said citing a senior government official, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire around the border on Sunday. The South Korean official declined to provide reasons for believing that Kim did not undergo surgery, but said speculative reports that he may have had surgery, citing some differences in his leg movements, is not true, Yonhap reported. Earlier on Sunday, North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around the South's guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea at 7:41 a.m. local time towards a guard post in South Korea that borders the North, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, no injuries were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim's leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain at war. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation, as the area where it ocurred was farmland, but declined to provide a clear conclusion about the incident. "In absence of vision (for the target) and in the fog, would there be an accurate provocation?" the official said. 'MESSAGE KIM STILL CONTROLS MILITARY' Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the 'grey area' provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military," Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I'm healthy and I'm still in power'." Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting incident could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. "The Kim regime may be looking to raise morale of its frontline troops and to regain any negotiating leverage lost during the rumor-filled weeks of the leader's absence," said Easley. "South Korea and the United States should not take lightly such North Korean violations of existing military agreements."
3 May 07:42 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/north-and-south-korea-exchange-gunfire-across-border-at-guard-post-1.8816084Rating: 1.13
Kim Jong Un 'did not undergo surgery' — South Korea
North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during his three-week absence from public life, a South Korean news outlet reported on Sunday. News outlet Yonhap cited a senior government official, hours after the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the border. The South Korean official said speculative reports on whether the North Korean leader had undergone surgery were not true. "There were media reports speculating about Kim's surgery, citing a change in the way he walks," the official said, saying Seoul had adequate information to draw the conclusion without giving more details. Some news outlets cited some difference in his leg movement and a red mark on his arm in video footage released by North Korea on Saturday. The photographs and video, which could not be verified, were the first images of Kim seen since April 11. Rumors intensified after Kim missed the birthday celebration of his grandfather Kim Jong Sun on April 15, the most important day in North Korea's calendar. Read more: North Korea's Kim Jong Un appears in video after 21-day absence Gunfire exchange effort to 'mute speculation' The gunfire exchange on Sunday morning may be an effort for Kim to regain credibility after his long absence, some experts have suggested. Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, told Reuters news agency he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I'm healthy and I'm still in power'.” ed/aw (AFP, Reuters)
3 May 00:00 • Deutsche Welle • https://www.dw.com/en/kim-jong-un-did-not-undergo-surgery-south-korea/a-53316428Rating: 3.71
North Korea's Kim did not have surgery, South says, as shots fired at DMZ
By Cynthia Kim and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during almost three weeks of absence from public life, a South Korean official said on Sunday, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire at the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) separating the two sides. The government official declined to provide reasons, but said speculative reports that Kim had had an operation, citing some differences in his leg movements, were untrue. "Our assessment is that (Kim) did not undergo surgery," the official, who declined to be identified, told reporters. Asked if media reports of Kim having undergone a simple medical treatment were also untrue, the official simply said: "Yes." North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around a rural guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea towards a guard post in South Korea, the South's Joint Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, the JCS said. No casualties were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. Reclusive North Korea for years pursued nuclear and missile programmes in defiance of U.N. Security Council sanctions. Talks between North Korea and the United States, highlighted by three meetings between Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump, are at a standstill. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain still at war after their 1950-53 conflict ended in a truce, not a treaty. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation. The U.S.-led U.N. Command, which oversees affairs in the heavily fortified DMZ, said it was working with the JCS to assess the situation. "The UNC will conduct a thorough investigation tomorrow to determine if there was an Armistice Agreement violation, and will provide the report to the appropriate authorities once completed.” Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power'.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. (Reporting by Cynthia Kim, Hyonhee Shin, Josh Smith; Editing by Michael Perry and Nick Macfie)
3 May 03:06 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/north-south-korea-exchange-gunfire-030650711.htmlRating: 0.30
South Korea says Kim Jong Un did not have surgery, as two Koreas exchange gunfire
By Cynthia Kim and Hyonhee Shin SEOUL (Reuters) - North Korean leader Kim Jong Un did not undergo surgery during his almost three week absence from public life, South Korean news outlet Yonhap said citing a senior government official, as the two Koreas exchanged gunfire around the border on Sunday. The South Korean official declined to provide reasons for believing that Kim did not undergo surgery, but said speculative reports that he may have had surgery, citing some differences in his leg movements, is not true, Yonhap reported. Earlier on Sunday, North and South Korea exchanged gunfire around the South's guard post, raising tension a day after North Korean state media showed Kim visiting a factory, the first report of him making a public appearance since April 11. Multiple gunshots were fired from North Korea at 7:41 a.m. local time towards a guard post in South Korea that borders the North, the South's Joint (NASDAQ:JYNT) Chiefs of Staffs (JCS) said in a statement. South Korea responded by firing two shots towards North Korea, no injuries were reported. After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report on Saturday that Kim had attended the completion of a fertiliser plant. Kim was seen in photographs smiling and talking to aides at the ribbon-cutting ceremony and touring the plant. State TV footage showed Kim’s leg movements appearing stiff and jerky. The authenticity of the photos, published on the website of the official Rodong Sinmun newspaper, could not be verified. The exchange of gunshots on Sunday was the latest confrontation between the rival Koreas that technically remain at war. In a lengthy briefing held later on Sunday, an official at South Korea's JCS said the gunshots did not seem a planned provocation, as the area where it ocurred was farmland, but declined to provide a clear conclusion about the incident. "In absence of vision (for the target) and in the fog, would there be an accurate provocation?" the official said. 'MESSAGE KIM STILL CONTROLS MILITARY' Choi Kang, vice president of the Asan Institute for Policy Studies, said he believed the timing of the 'grey area' provocation shows it could have been planned to show that Kim was still in charge of the North Korean military. "Yesterday, Kim was trying to show he is perfectly healthy, and today, Kim is trying to mute all kinds of speculation that he may not have full control over the military,” Choi said. "Rather than going all the way by firing missiles and supervising a missile launch, Kim could be reminding us, 'yes I’m healthy and I’m still in power'.” Ewha University international affairs professor Leif-Eric Easley in Seoul said the shooting incident could be aimed at boosting morale in the North Korean military. "The Kim regime may be looking to raise morale of its frontline troops and to regain any negotiating leverage lost during the rumor-filled weeks of the leader's absence," said Easley. "South Korea and the United States should not take lightly such North Korean violations of existing military agreements."
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/world-news/north-and-south-korea-exchange-gunfire-across-boarder-at-guard-post-2158858Rating: 0.30
Dutch coronavirus cases rise 335 to 40,571 with 69 new deaths: health authorities
3 May 12:23
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3 articles
Weight: 2.72
Importance: 2.73
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 12:06
Average US: 15.799999999999999
Weighted average US: 19.85183468155285
Average GB: 0.3
Weighted average GB: 0.5155300834159258
Average IN: 4.466666666666667
Weighted average IN: 5.4952100967301405
Dutch coronavirus cases rise 335 to 40,571 with 69 new deaths: health authorities
THE HAGUE (Reuters) - The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 335 to 40,471, Dutch health authorities said on Sunday. The National Institute for Public Health reported 69 new deaths, taking total COVID-19 fatalities to 5,056. The authorities stress that the actual number of infections is likely higher because not all suspected COVID-19 patients are being tested.
3 May 12:23 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-netherlands-idUSKBN22F0IERating: 4.04
Dutch coronavirus cases rise 335 to 40,571 with 69 new deaths, say health authorities
THE HAGUE, May 3 — The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 335 to 40,471, Dutch health authorities said today. The National Institute for Public Health reported 69 new deaths, taking total Covid-19 fatalities to 5,056. The authorities stress that the actual number of infections is likely higher because not all suspected Covid-19 patients are being tested. — Reuters
3 May 13:51 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/dutch-coronavirus-cases-rise-335-to-40571-with-69-new-deaths-health-authori/1862695Rating: 1.42
Dutch coronavirus cases rise 335 to 40,571 with 69 new deaths -health authorities
THE HAGUE — The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 335 to 40,471, Dutch health authorities said on Sunday. The National Institute for Public Health reported 69 new deaths, taking total COVID-19 fatalities to 5,056. The authorities stress that the actual number of infections is likely higher because not all suspected COVID-19 patients are being tested. (Reporting by Stephanie van den Berg;Editing by Elaine Hardcastle)
3 May 12:06 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/dutch-coronavirus-cases-rise-335-to-40571-with-69-new-deaths-health-authoritiesRating: 1.59
It’s time to care for non-COVID patients as pandemic lessens, NY doctors say
3 May 22:10
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30 articles
Weight: 2.71
Importance: 2.71
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 21:26
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Weighted average IN: 24.473104670787617
It’s time to care for non-COVID patients as pandemic lessens, NY doctors say
A state group representing New York physicians is urging people to go to doctors’ offices for crucial medical care amid the pandemic — while a major health provider e-mailed its patients with the same message, too. “Please do not risk your health by delaying care,” NYU Langone Hospital wrote in a recent e-mail to its patients, emphasizing that its doctors are available for “essential” in-person appointments, testing and surgeries in “thoroughly cleaned and sanitized’’ locations. The Medical Society of the State of New York, an industry group for doctors, noted that physicians’ offices and hospitals have seen “massive drops in patient visits” that would have been unrelated to COVID-19 — and issued safety guidelines for members to boost public confidence in them as the contagion appears to be on the wane. The group insisted that “with proper safety precautions, a doctor’s office is one of the safest places for a patient. Reopening physician offices is an important step for New York state. “MSSNY recommends that all practices and facilities adopt comprehensive safety protocols including managing patient flow, limiting visitation, checking temperatures, remote check-in, etc,” it said. The coronavirus pandemic has all but shut down many medical practices, as people are wary of going to doctors’ offices and hospitals for fear of getting the contagion. The state Health Department also ordered hospitals to postpone elective surgeries and instead devote resources to care for a massive wave of infected and often very sick coronavirus patients admitted to their facilities. “The pandemic caused many other parts of the healthcare system to be idled in order to preserve resources and capacity in the system and limit opportunity for transmission or exposure to the virus,” the Medical Society said. “Physician practices and healthcare facilities have seen massive drops in patient visits, caused by a combination of shelter in place orders and patient fear. This may lead to much more complex problems in the future, as patients miss routine screenings and preventative care.” The Post reported last month that the number of patients refusing medical aid from city EMS ambulance crews skyrocketed during the pandemic, because of fear of going to hospitals filled with COVID-19 patients. The reopening of the healthcare system for non-COVID services will require a public-education campaign to persuade worried patients that it’s OK to see the doctor in the office or in another “healthcare setting,” the doctors’ group said. The re-openings will vary by location and depend on the severity of the virus in different regions of the state, the group added. There were 280 deaths caused by COVID-19 on Saturday, Gov. Andrew Cuomo reported during his press briefing Sunday. That’s down from a daily peak of 799 on April 8. NYU Langone hospital told patients its safe to seek care. “It’s understandable that there might be concern about coming to a doctor’s office or a hospital right now. Rest assured that we have put in place strict safety procedures to protect our patients,” NYU Langone said in its e-letter to patients. The medical provider said it has put in place infection control procedures to protect non-COVID patients during the pandemic. The note to patients said all NYU Langone staff have been tested for COVID-19 and wear masks and other protective equipment. All patients are screened for COVID-19 symptoms before arriving for their visit, it added, and all staff and patients are screened for COVID-19 symptoms at the entrance of its practices and given a temperature check with a “no-touch” thermometer. All patients are also required to wear a mask, and social-distancing measures “will be enforced” in waiting areas, NYU Langone said “All of our sites are thoroughly cleaned and sanitized throughout the day,” patients were told. The hospital stressed that it set up “strict procedures” for surgeries and that the operating room “is still the safest place to have a baby.” Mothers who had routine deliveries are discharged within 24 hours, the letter said. NYU Langone also stressed that it separates COVID from non-COVID patients at its four emergency rooms in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Long Island. The ERs all have “separate areas for patients coming in with COVID-19 symptoms,” the letter said. The hospital system said “video visits” are still an option for patients who do not need urgent care.
3 May 22:10 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/time-to-care-for-non-covid-patients-as-pandemic-lessens-ny-doctors/Rating: 2.55
21 new cases in Telangana
The number of COVID-19 cases in Telangana increased to 1082 as 21 more samples tested positive for coronavirus on Sunday. While 20 cases are from Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation, the remaining one is from Jagtial. Of the people admitted in isolation wards, 46 were discharged after recovery. Of the total 1082 cases reported till date, 508 are active cases, 545 were discharged, and 29 people suffering from the infectious disease have died. To put it the other way, 50.3 % of those who were admitted were discharged and 46.9 % are active cases. This is the first time the number of people who were discharged are higher than the active cases. More people are expected to be discharged in the coming days. State Health Minister Eatala Rajender said that they are seeking feedback from people when they are discharged from isolation facilities. The hospital authorities said they are acting on issues related to medical services or other facilities which are pointed out by the recovered. One of the COVID-19 patient who recovered includes a 68-year-old man who also suffered from diabetes. The patient was admitted with bilateral pneumonia, and respiratory problem. The State Health Minister’s office stated that the patient who was admitted in intensive care unit (ICU) was administered Hydroxychloroquine, Liponavir, Ritonavir. He was discharged after recovery. The number of districts with zero cases in the past 14 days increased to 17, which is addition of one more district from May 2.
3 May 16:37 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/21-new-cases-in-telangana/article31495615.eceRating: 0.30
More deaths confirmed at Nottingham hospitals after patients test positive for coronavirus
Five more patients have died in Nottingham hospitals after testing positive for Covid-19. Nottingham University Hospitals announced the deaths on Sunday, May 3, taking the trust's coronavirus death toll to 216. The patients were aged 81 to 89, and died on April 20 and May 1. There can be delays in deaths being reported by the hospital trust. This can be for a number of reasons including an individual being tested post-mortem or if there are difficulties in tracing and informing family members. Dr Keith Girling, Medical Director at Nottingham University Hospitals said: “Sadly we can confirm that a further five patients have died having tested positive for COVID-19. Regrettably that means that 216 COVID-19 positive patients we were caring for have sadly died since the beginning of March.” “The patients were aged 81 to 89, and died on the April 20 and May 1. “The families have been informed and our thoughts and condolences are with them at this difficult and distressing time.” There have been 527 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Nottingham and 1,134 in Nottinghamshire.
3 May 15:18 • NottinghamshireLive • https://www.nottinghampost.com/news/nottingham-news/more-deaths-confirmed-nottingham-hospitals-4100970Rating: 0.30
Six Doctors At NDMC-run Hospitals, 3 Others Test Positive For Coronavirus
General News Written By Press Trust Of India | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 21:58 IST Nine more people, including doctors and contacts of COVID-19 patients at NDMC-run hospitals, have tested positive for novel coronavirus, officials said on Sunday. Three doctors of Hindu Rao Hospital and as many doctors from Kasturba Hospital tested positive for COVID-19, an official of the North Delhi Municipal Corporation (NDMC). Husbands of two nurses working at the NDMC-run Hindu Rao Hospital tested positive for coronavirus, he said. A patient, who was referred by the OPD of Hindu Rao Hospital, was also found infected with the dreaded virus, the official said. The total number of staffers who have tested positive for coronavirus at the Hindu Rao Hospital stands at six. At Kasturba Hospital, two postgraduate students had tested positive for the virus within a span of one week. The tally of infected staffers at the hospital stands at five. All the COVID-19 confirmed cases have been put under quarantine, the official added. Meanwhile, the NDMC said it will take strict action against its employee who violated quarantine protocols and came to work. A lab technician did not inform NDMC officials that his wife had tested positive for coronavirus on April 28. "Instead of being in quarantine, he did not tell us and kept coming to work till May 2. His own report came on May 1, and he didn't inform the authorities," the official said. An ambulance was sent to pick up his family members who were yet to be tested for COVID-19, he said. "While we will help him and his family in view of their current distress, he is also liable for action for having failed to inform us as per law," the official added.
3 May 21:58 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/six-doctors-at-ndmc-run-hospitals-3-others-test-positive-for-coronavirus.htmlRating: 2.30
Osun records two new COVID-19 cases - The Nation Nigeria
The Osun government says it has recorded two new cases of coronavirus in the state. The Commissioner for Health, Dr Rafiu Isamotu, in a statement on Sunday in Osogbo, said that the new cases were confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) on Saturday night. Isamotu said that the cases were those of the wife and son of a coronavirus patient in Ile-ife, who died last week. “Last night, we received results of 53 samples we sent to the NCDC-accredited testing centre for evaluation, out of which two tested positive and 51 returned negative. “The two positive cases are wife and son of a previously confirmed case in Ife, who died last week. “They are currently receiving treatment at our isolation centre,” he said. With the development, Isamotu that the state now had 36 confirmed cases. The News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports that out of the 36 cases of COVID-19 in the state, 22 had been treated and discharged, while three had died. (NAN)
3 May 16:47 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/osun-records-two-new-covid-19-cases/Rating: 0.30
Cases of patients turned away by hospitals up fivefold over virus
TOKYO — Cases of hospitals in Japan turning away patients on ambulance transports, mostly because they are suspected of being infected with the new coronavirus, increased more than fivefold in April from a year earlier, according to a survey by Kyodo News. The survey underscores how the virus is also affecting the scene of emergency care, with medical facilities increasingly wary of in-hospital infections due to COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus, making it harder for general patients with such symptoms to get the proper treatment. The number of emergency cases in which medical institutions were asked four or more times whether they can accept patients with symptoms typical of COVID-19 such as fever and difficulty in breathing between April 1 and 27 jumped to 2,705 from 483 in the same period in 2019, according to the survey. Data were available from the Tokyo Fire Department and 31 prefectural capitals' fire departments out of the country's 47 prefectures. Fire departments are in charge of ambulance transport services in Japan. A similar survey conducted by the Ministry of Internal Affairs and Communications which covered patients with all sorts of symptoms showed that the figure in late April almost doubled from a year ago. According to the Kyodo News survey, 19 out of the 32 fire departments saw an increase in the number of such cases, with that of Tokyo at 1,733, an increase of more than eightfold from 207. Asked in a multiple-choice question about the reasons for patient rejection, 23 fire departments answered that the people were suspected of COVID-19 infection and six replied that there were not enough hospital beds available due to the virus outbreak. Nine said multiple medical facilities have stopped accepting urgent care patients, while 24 urged that the government strengthen safety measures to prevent rescue workers from being infected with the virus. © KYODO
3 May 21:26 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/national/cases-of-patients-turned-away-by-hospitals-up-fivefold-over-virusRating: 2.09
Wife, son of dead coronavirus patient test positive - Official
The wife and son of a coronavirus patient who died last week in Ife, Osun State, have been confirmed positive for the deadly disease. The duo were the cases confirmed by the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) in Osun on Saturday evening, PREMIUM TIMES learnt. According to a statement by the state’s commissioner for health, Rafiu Isamotu, on Sunday, the development brings the total number of confirmed cases in Osun to 36, ten of which are active. “Last night, we received results of 53 samples we sent to the NCDC accredited Testing Centre for evaluation, out of which two tested positive and 51 returned negative.” “The two positive cases are wife and son of a previously confirmed case in Ife, who died last week. They are currently receiving treatment at our isolation centre,” Mr Isamotu said.
3 May 17:30 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/coronavirus/391207-wife-son-of-dead-coronavirus-patient-test-positive-official.htmlRating: 0.30
Covid-19 patients in ICU falls below 700 for first time in 40 days; Many released from hospital
The number of patients from the Netherlands in intensive care for respiratory illness Covid-19 totaled 688 on Sunday, 20 fewer than the previous day. It was the 22nd straight daily decrease, according to patient coordination office LCPS. It was also over 51 percent lower than the peak total of patients on April 9, when 1,417 were in ICU for the coronavirus disease. "The number of COVID registrations outside the ICU is now also falling rapidly, down to 1,380 at the moment. This decrease offers room for expansion of non-COVID care in the coming week," the LCPS said. Intensive care capacity was below 100 percent in every region of the country, added Ernst Kuipers, the chair of the acute care network in the Netherlands. Saturday was also the first date since late March when the total number of ICU patients with or without Covid-19 was below normal capacity. The LCPS said another 382 patients without Covid-19 were also being treated in ICUs, and 28 of the Dutch Covid-19 patients were being cared for in Germany. Out of 2,812 total patients who required intensive care since the pandemic began, 720 have died, 695 have been discharged, and 652 were being treated in other departments, according to intensive care nonprofit organization NICE.
3 May 14:52 • NL Times • https://nltimes.nl/2020/05/03/covid-19-patients-icu-falls-700-first-time-40-days-many-released-hospitalRating: 0.33
Covid-19: Now, Telangana has more number of recoveries than active cases
Hyderabad: In a positive development for Telangana, the total number of recovered coronavirus patients became higher than those currently undergoing treatment. While 21 new more people tested positive for covid-19 on Sunday, taking the total to 1082 cases, 46 others had recovered. With that, the total recoveries in Telangana now stands at 545, while active cases are 508. According to a media bulletin from the state government, 20 of the 21 new cases detected were from the Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation (GHMC) area alone, while another was reported from Jagityal district. The capital city of Hyderabad has been the worst affected in the state, as it has the highest cases among all of the state’s 33 districts. Among those who were discharged on Sunday was a 69-year-old patient, who was admitted with bilateral pneumonitis and was also in the intensive care unit (ICU) for 14 days, before discharge. State health minister congratulated all the doctors and other medical care staff working in government hospitals given that over half of the covid-19 patients had been discharged. In Telangana, chief minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao (KCR) had extended the lockdown till 7 May, and the relaxation that other states in the country are implementing from 4 May will not apply. KCR is expected to conduct a review meeting in the next few days to decide the future course action for the state. On Sunday, about 1,000 migrant workers, mostly from northern India, took to the streets in protest at Toli Chowki in Hyderabad. The protestors were demanding that they be sent back home, as they were not able to earn money and were facing difficulties to survive in the city due to the ongoing lockdown imposed in the state to contain the coronavirus (covid-19) pandemic. The protest took place on the Toli Chowki main road in the afternoon, which comes under the Golconda police station limits in Hyderabad’s west zone. Even though the police arrived quickly on the scene, it was initially unable to contain the protestors from working, who finally settled in an area after which the police addressed them. “They all wanted to go back to go their home states. Not even one person was injured. We explained to them what is possible and what is not possible," said A. R. Srinivas, deputy commissioner of police (DCP), west zone, Hyderabad police. Meanwhile, in the neighbouring state of Andhra Pradesh, Covid-19 cases continued to mount as the state reported 58 new cases on Sunday, taking the state’s total cases to 1,583. Of the latest infections, 30 were from Kurnool district alone, where 466 people have been infected in AP, accounting for almost 30% of the state’s total covid-19 patients. AP has been detecting about 60 to 80 new coronavirus cases over the last week or so. On the same day, the AP government also announced that retail alcohol outlets can open from Monday (4 May) in both rural and urban areas, including in the red zones of the state, from 11 am to 7 pm daily. However, outlets in containment clusters/zones, and those situated in malls will not be permitted to run. According to a press release from the AP government on Sunday, all sales personnel in the retail alcohol outlets will have to function while following a set of guidelines, which include sale personnel wearing masks compulsorily, allowing only five inside at a time, displaying guidelines promptly outside the stores and also informing the local police in case excess customers gather in front of any shop. The release added that an outlet may be shut down temporarily in case such a situation arises.
3 May 17:00 • Livemint • https://www.livemint.com/news/india/covid-19-now-telangana-has-more-number-of-recoveries-than-active-cases-11588523960918.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Kaduna to pay daily incentives to frontline health workers
The Kaduna State Government has announced the payment of daily incentives to frontline health workers involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. The Kaduna State health commissioner, Amina Mohammed-Baloni, announced this in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES. The health workers will earn between N5,000 and N15,000 daily depending on the amount of risk they are exposed to. Kaduna, as of Sunday morning, has recorded 38 coronavirus cases, according to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control. Read the full statement by the health commissioner below. The Commissioner of Health, Dr, Amina Mohammed-Baloni has announced details of the Occupational Safety Incentive approved for health workers by the Kaduna State Government. She also confirmed that the state government is providing additional insurance coverage for death and disability for all the frontline health workers. The Occupational Safety Incentive, which takes effect from April 2020, is structured to enhance the pay of frontline health workers by adding three categories of compensation as follows: 1. High risk staff to receive a compensation of N15,000 per day; 2. Medium risk staff to receive N10,000 per day; 3. Low risk staff to receive N5,000 per day. This Occupational Safety Initiative would benefit frontline health workers. Together with insurance premiums, the incentives are payable from April 2020. The insurance package includes death benefit of N5m, disability benefit of N2.5m and Covid-19 infection cover of N100,000 daily for 10 days. This package has been enhanced from the initial set of benefits kindly donated by Leadway Assurance. KDSG is paying additional premiums to increase the assured sum for death and disability to the amounts stated above. The government has also approved a monthly incentive of 10% of net pay for other health workers in public hospitals and primary health centres. The Kaduna State Government wishes to acknowledge and commend its health workers for their dedication and professionalism in the efforts to contain and manage Covid-19. Malam Nasir El-Rufai has also paid personal tribute to the medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals who successfully treated him when he was infected by Covid-19. Dr. Amina Mohammed-BaloniCommissioner of Health2nd May 2020
3 May 12:54 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/coronavirus/391169-coronavirus-kaduna-to-pay-daily-incentives-to-frontline-health-workers.htmlRating: 0.30
Three more Shropshire coronavirus patients die as county death toll reaches 103
The number of coronavirus patients who have died in Shropshire hospitals has risen to 103 after three more deaths were announced today. Two more Covid-19 deaths were confirmed at the Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust (SaTH) and one more death was announced at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, near Oswestry. It means 103 people have now died in the county's hospitals after testing positive for coronavirus, with 92 of these dying at SaTH, six at the community health trust and five at the Orthopaedic Hospital in Gobowen. Four deaths were announced for the county on Saturday. There were three deaths confirmed at (SaTH) and one more at the Shropshire Community Health and Care NHS Trust. No new deaths were confirmed over the weekend in Powys, where nine coronavirus patients have died in hospital so far. The full UK death total, which includes deaths in hospitals, care homes and in the community is now 28,446 up from 28,131. The Government has only released daily figures for care home and community coronavirus deaths since Wednesday and these statistics are not broken down by local area. However data from the Office for National Statistics showed that 36 people died with the virus in Shropshire care homes in the space of two weeks.
3 May 14:09 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/health/coronavirus-covid19/2020/05/03/three-more-shropshire-coronavirus-patients-die-as-county-death-toll-reaches-103/Rating: 0.30
Risk of dengue and malaria looms large as rain sets in
While the governments and health authorities in India are busy tackling the COVID-19 pandemic, reports of dengue cases are rising across the country.Also Read - COVID-19 and diabetes: Controlling blood sugar is the key to fighting infections In Odisha’s Rayagada district, 49 people were recently found to be positive for dengue, according to Health Department sources. Total 139 blood samples from the district were sent for dengue test, out of which 49 were found to be positive for the infection. 42 of these samples were from Tikarpada village under Muniguda block of Rayagada district. All the infected people were admitted to the Muniguda Community Health Center (CHC) and Rayagada District Headquarters Hospital. Meanwhile, a medical camp has been set up at Tikarpada village to check further rise of dengue cases in the area.Also Read - Quarantined railways employee hangs self: Know how to keep suicidal thoughts away Cases of dengue and other vector-borne diseases are also reportedly rising in the state of Kerala following the intermittent summer rain. As many as 84 cases of dengue fever had been reported from various parts of Pathanamthitta district since January, District Medical Officer A.L. Sheeja recently told a national daily. The majority of these cases had been reported from Vechoochira, Naranammoozhy and Kuttoor.Also Read - Happy hypoxia: A mysterious COVID-19 symptom that has left doctors baffled In addition, 45 cases of leptospirosis were reported from the district since January, the DMO said. Leptospirosis is a blood infection caused by the bacteria Leptospira. Symptoms include headaches, muscle pains, fevers to severe bleeding in the lungs or meningitis. While the health authorities make all efforts to fight the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, it is also important to ensure cleanliness and effective sanitation to avert the outbreak of other epidemics – like dengue and malaria- during the monsoon season. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), India is among the 11 most malaria-affected countries in the world. India at present accounts for 3% of global malaria cases. According to National Vector Borne Disease Control Programme (NVBDCP), India reported more than 4.87 lakh cases of malaria, dengue and chikungunya last year. The WHO had in March warned that risk of dengue and malaria also looms large in India amidst the COVID-19 pandemic. Usually, malaria and dengue cases start increasing from May in the country and get worse after the monsoon during July and August. In view of the impending risk of vector-borne diseases, consumer goods industry and Indian health organizations had last month requested the government to include household insecticides in the list of essential goods so that they can start manufacture or supply of these products. Household insecticides include mosquito repellents, pesticide sprays, liquid vaporizers, which are meant to fight dengue, malaria and other VBDs. As India focuses on controlling the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, routine outdoor spraying of pesticides has taken a back seat. Typically, local authorities in cities and small towns start taking preventive measures, such as fogging, fumigation and awareness campaigns during the months of March and April every very year. But since the country is focusing on containing the COVID-19 outbreak, such preventive activities have been put on hold this year. This is posing a huge threat of vector-borne diseases such as dengue and malaria to the country amidst the COVID-19 pandemic.
3 May 07:22 • Thehealthsite • https://www.thehealthsite.com/diseases-conditions/dengue/dengue-malaria-cases-emerging-amidst-the-covid-19-threat-743378/Rating: 0.69
Virus-linked ambulance rejections by hospitals in Japan rose fivefold in April
The number of ambulance patients rejected by hospitals grew more than fivefold in April on infection fears driven by the coronavirus pandemic, a survey shows. The survey results released Saturday by Kyodo News underscore how the virus is affecting emergency medical care by causing in-hospital infections of COVID-19. The respiratory illness is making it harder for general patients with such symptoms to get proper treatment. From April 1 to 27, the number of emergency cases in which medical institutions were asked four or more times to accept patients with symptoms typical of COVID-19, such as fever and breathing difficulty, jumped to 2,705, compared with 483 in April 2019, the survey said. The ambulance data were provided by the Tokyo Fire Department and fire departments of 31 other prefectural capitals. A similar survey by the Internal Affairs and Communications Ministry that covered patients with all kinds of symptoms showed that the figure in late April almost doubled from a year ago. According to the Kyodo News survey, 19 out of the 32 fire departments saw an increase in such cases, with Tokyo’s listed at 1,733, up more than eightfold from 207 before. Asked in a multiple-choice question about why patients were rejected, 23 fire departments said patients were suspected of having COVID-19 and six said there weren’t enough hospital beds available due to the coronavirus. Nine said multiple medical facilities have stopped accepting urgent-care patients and 24 urged the government to strengthen safety measures to prevent rescuers from being infected with the virus.
3 May 04:54 • The Japan Times • https://www.japantimes.co.jp/news/2020/05/03/national/ambulance-rejections-hospitals-coronavirus/Rating: 2.31
LETTER: Misleading numbers surround coronavirus crisis
Why are new COVID-19 infections the primary reporting metric when it is well understood that, due to limited testing, infections are undercounted? Coronavirus infection numbers are directly proportional to the availability of testing – a situation that improves daily. So an increase in the infection count may give the false appearance that the COVID virus spread is worsening when it may be lessening — we don’t know for sure — and we’re just testing more. Medical experts tell us the vast majority of people who contract the virus experience flu-like symptoms and recover at home or have no symptoms at all. Therefore, focusing on the daily infection count isn’t as meaningful as measuring the hospitalization rate for the virus — a more accurate gauge of the virus’s impact. I hope hospitalization rates are declining — but I don’t know because that trend isn’t widely reported. Therefore, I’m concerned our policymakers’ decisions are influenced more by the knowingly inaccurate infection count that leads the daily news. The stakes — our health and the economy — are too high to get this wrong. Please add the COVID hospitalization rates to your reporting.
3 May 04:00 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/opinion/letters/letter-misleading-numbers-surround-coronavirus-crisis-2020149/Rating: 0.30
COVID-19: Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi asks officials to arrange ventilators in 20 districts
Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath on Saturday directed officials to make arrangements for ventilators in 20 districts of the state which do not have them in the next three days. He said training of doctors and paramedics should be continued along with private doctors and Ayush practitioners so that their services could be availed in COVID-19 hospitals as per the requirement, according to Chief Secretary Awanish Kumar Awasthi. Coronavirus positive children and those above 60 years should be treated in L2 or L3 COVID-19 hospitals, the chief minister instructed.
3 May 03:20 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/covid-19-uttar-pradesh-cm-yogi-asks-officials-to-arrange-ventilators-in-20-districts-832915.htmlRating: 2.25
For first time in a month, patients discharged from hospitals outnumber new COVID-19 positive patients in Madhya Pradesh
BHOPAL: In what could be termed as an encouraging development, for the first time in over a month, the number of patients recovered from COVID-19 infection outnumbered the new positive patients reported in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday. The state, which has been reeling under the killer onslaught of the deadly virus since over a month, reported 73 new positive cases of novel Coronavirus over the last 24 hours. With this the total number of positive cases stood at 2788 in the state on Saturday. On the other hand, as many as 100 hospitalised patients, who had tested negative for the killer virus, were discharged. According to the state health bulletin, as many as 624 patients were discharged from hospitals till Saturday. Out of these 624 patients discharged so far, maximum 229 patients have been discharged from hospitals in Indore, while 212 patients have been discharged from hospitals in Bhopal. Importantly, Indore and Bhopal are among the prime COVID-19 hotspots not only in MP, but also in the country. In Bhopal, while six new Coronavirus positive patients were reported on Saturday, the patients discharged on the same day was 26, which was over four times more than new positive cases reported in the day. The discharged patients, included a 12 days old baby girl, who tested positive along with her mother some days back. If the figures released by state government are factored, then the total number of patients discharged so far from hospitals in the state are 22% of the current positive patients headcount that stood at 2788 on Saturday. Meanwhile, six more deaths of hospitalised COVID-19 patients were reported over the last 24 hours, including two each in Indore and Ujjain, taking the total death count so far in the state to 151 that was 5.40% of 2788 positive cases reported so far.
3 May 00:09 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/03/for-first-time-in-a-month-patients-discharged-from-hospitals-outnumber-new-covid-19-positive-patien-2138439.htmlRating: 2.04
COVID-19: Kaduna to pay daily allowance to frontline health workers
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter The Kaduna State Government says it has concluded plans to offer daily allowance to health workers in the frontline of containing the novel Coronavirus in the state. The State Commissioner of Health, Dr. Amina Mohammed-Baloni, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna that Occupational Safety Incentive had been approved for health workers by the state government. Mohammed-Baloni also said the government had injected additional funds to raise the insurance claims payable to health workers in case of death, infection or disability. She said: “The Occupational Safety Incentive, which takes effect from April 2020, is structured to enhance the pay of frontline health workers by adding three categories of compensation as follows: “High risk staff to receive a compensation of N15,000 per day; Medium risk staff to receive N10,000 per day and Low risk staff to receive N5,000 per day. “This Occupational Safety Initiative would benefit frontline health workers. Together with insurance premiums, the incentives are payable from April 2020. “The insurance package includes, death benefit of N5 million, disability benefit of N2.5 million and COVID-19 infection cover of N100,000 daily for 10 days. “This package has been enhanced from the initial set of benefits kindly donated by Leadway Assurance. “KDSG is paying additional premiums to increase the assured sum for death and disability to the amounts stated above.” Mohammed-Baloni said the government had also approved a monthly incentive of 10 per cent of net pay for other health workers in public hospitals and primary health centres. She said: “The Kaduna State Government wishes to acknowledge and commend its health workers for their dedication and professionalism in the efforts to contain and manage COVID-19. “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has also paid personal tribute to the medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals who successfully treated him when he was infected by COVID-19. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Yes, add me to your mailing list
2 May 21:28 • The Eagle Online • https://theeagleonline.com.ng/covid-19-kaduna-to-pay-daily-allowance-to-frontline-health-workers/Rating: 0.39
AIIMS makes it mandatory for patients to wear masks in emergency, other patient-care areas
The AIIMS has made it mandatory for patients to wear masks while visiting the emergency or other patient-care areas in the hospital and will provide one to anybody who does not have a mask. The decision was taken at a meeting held under the chairmanship of the Director, AIIMS on Friday. "It has been decided that it has to be ensured that all patients coming to AIIMS OPD, emergency, in-patient wards or any other patient-care areas ought to be wearing face masks (cloth mask/surgical mask) till the time they are in the hospital. "If the patients are having and using their own masks, it is alright. But if the patients coming to any patient-care area is not wearing his/her own face mask, he or she would be provided with a triple-layer surgical mask or cloth mask at the point of first contact by the ANS/designated nursing officer, who will also advise the patient to ensure wearing it all times," the AIIMS administration said in a communique to the chiefs of all centres, heads of departments and other hospital officers. Coronavirus India LIVE Updates The administration asked the ANS/administrative in-charges of all patient-care areas in the hospital and all the centres to get the requisite quantity of triple-layer surgical masks issued from the store sections concerned and ensure its availability at all times. The Union health ministry had issued an advisory asking people to wear "homemade face covers", particularly when they step out of their residences. In the "Advisory on the use of Homemade Protective Cover for Face and Mouth", the government said using such masks will help in protecting the community at large and that certain countries have claimed benefits of homemade face masks for the general public. "It is suggested that such people who are not suffering from medical conditions or having breathing difficulties may use the handmade reusable face cover, particularly when they step out of their houses. This will help in protecting the community at large," it said. The death toll due to COVID-19 rose to 1,223 and the number of cases climbed to 37,776 in the country on Saturday, according to the Union health ministry. Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus pandemic here.Moneycontrol Ready ReckonerNow that payment deadlines have been relaxed due to COVID-19, the Moneycontrol Ready Reckoner will help keep your date with insurance premiums, tax-saving investments and EMIs, among others.Download a copy
2 May 00:00 • Moneycontrol • https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/india/aiims-makes-it-mandatory-for-patients-to-wear-masks-in-emergency-other-patient-care-areas-5215411.htmlRating: 0.30
COVID-19: Kaduna announces incentives, N5m insurance for health workers
Kindly Share This Story: Kaduna State Government has announced daily incentives payment and insurance coverage for death and disability to frontline health workers. The state’s Commissioner for Health, Dr. Amina Baloni, disclosed this in a statement on Saturday. According to Dr Baloni, high-risk staff will receive a compensation of N15,000 per day, while medium risk staff will receive N10,000 per day and low-risk staff will receive N5,000 per day. ALSO READ: Kaduna extends lockdown by 30 days In the statement: “The insurance package includes death benefit of N5 million, disability benefit of N2.5 million and COVID-19 infection cover of N100,000 daily for 10 days. “This package has been enhanced from the initial set of benefits kindly donated by Leadway Assurance. “Kaduna State Government is paying additional premiums to increase the assured sum for death and disability to the amounts stated above,” adding that the Occupational Safety Incentive takes effect from April 2020. The commissioner also commended health workers in the state for their dedication and professionalism in the efforts to contain and manage the COVID-19. Also, besides the incentives for Kaduna health workers, she stated that Governor Nasir El-Rufai “has also paid a personal tribute to the medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals, who successfully treated him when he was infected by COVID-19.” Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
2 May 20:01 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-kaduna-announces-incentives-n5m-insurance-for-health-workers/Rating: 2.43
Cancer treatment ongoing
Cancer treatments are continuing despite the unprecedented measures implemented in the province to battle COVID-19, BC Cancer said earlier this week. “Cancer journeys have not stopped and neither have we,” said Dr. Kim Nguyen Chi, vice-president and chief medical officer at BC Cancer in a statement from the organization. “You may see changes in the way we work, by the why we work has not changed; we are here to support patients and provide the best patient-centred care we can.” The organization said it has taken steps to prevent the risk of exposure to COVID-19 at all of its facilities, following guidelines set out by provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry. Both patients and staff are checked for symptoms upon arrival to the centres, according to the statement. BC Cancer has also “implemented an enhanced cleaning regime in all of our public and clinical areas.” Steps have also been taken to reduce the number of people in its six cancer centres, such as by mailing prescription medications to patients and conducting virtual appointments. According to BC Cancer, approximately 800 virtual visits take place across B.C. each day – about 70 per cent of all assessments performed by oncologists. Meanwhile, many cancer screening services for non-symptomatic people have been temporarily suspended to curb the spread of COVID-19, according to the statement. This allows the health system to focus on urgent and emergent care. However, BC Cancer says that anyone concerned about their breast, colon or cervical health should contact their primary care provider.
2 May 16:00 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/298945/Cancer-treatments-continuing-amidst-COVID-19-pandemicRating: 1.34
Changes implemented in mental health clinics
DIRECTOR of Mental Health Services in the Ministry of Health and Wellness Dr Kevin Goulbourne says changes have been implemented in mental health clinics islandwide to ensure the safety of staff and patients as the country grapples with COVID-19. In an interview with JIS News, Dr Goulbourne explained that the COVID-19 outbreak creates unprecedented challenges for the mental health teams and that these have to be carefully navigated for the best outcomes. “In dealing with our mental health patients, we have to bear in mind that they may have to attend to persons who have been exposed to COVID-19, so our teams have had to be properly trained in the correct usage of personal protective equipment,” he explained. “We have also had to train our team on how to do our clinics differently,” he said, adding that the triage process is done before patients enter to ensure that those individuals who may have a fever, a cough or other symptoms of COVID-19 are treated separately and do not mix with other patients who are waiting. According to Dr Goulbourne, the clinics are not currently operating at full capacity. He said people are scheduled to limit the number of patients on one day. He added that public mental health clinics have also been extending the time between appointments to prevent the patients from having to travel to and fro, while ensuring that they have enough medication to last them over the period of time. “We have also asked the relatives to play a key role in ensuring that the patients take their medication to prevent a relapse, which would create a challenge, as we now have fewer bed spaces within the system, so we're trying to keep our patients as stable as possible,” the mental health director explained. Dr Goulbourne pointed out that changes have also been made to the approach to home visits. “We have been trying to encourage our teams to make sure they call ahead where possible, to speak to either the patient or the patient's relatives to ensure that neither the patient nor anybody in the household has any signs or symptoms of COVID-19,” he informed. He explained that, in the event where a mental health patient is displaying symptoms of COVID-19, the mental health team would be accompanied by a team from public health to provide the necessary assistance, in case the person needs to be quarantined or isolated, if found to be positive. Dr Goulbourne advised that if mentally unstable individuals are seen on the road and deemed to be in need of care, concerned citizens can contact any public health department or the psychology team in that parish or region by calling the mental health suicide-prevention helpline 888 NEW LIFE (639-5433).
2 May 00:00 • Jamaica Observer • http://www.jamaicaobserver.com/news/changes-implemented-in-mental-health-clinics_193283?profile=1470Rating: 0.46
Concerns over fall in cancer referrals and operation cancellations during Covid-19 crisis
THERE IS A risk cancers are being missed during the Covid-19 crisis due to people not presenting to their doctors and appointments and operations being cancelled. Health Minister Simon said he spoke to a GP who has not seen a suspect cancer case in his own surgery for weeks. The doctor told the minister that this would be very unusual. “That is a cause for worry,” said the minister because it means people are not coming forward with concerns about their own health. “Cancer has not gone away,” he said. “We need to fix it. I need people in this country to know that we have capacity in the Irish health service,” said Harris, stating that non-Covid care is now being streamlined away from Covid-19 cases. “Please come forward, don’t feel that you are burden,” he added. His comments come as the Irish Cancer Society said it is concerned about a drop in suspected cancer cases being referred for investigation by GPs. New figures from the HSE show that the number of suspected cancer cases being referred for investigation by GPs through the HealthLink referral system has dropped by more than half. CEO of the Society, Averil Power said: “This information from the HSE is extremely worrying. It is crucial that people continue to seek medical advice if they are concerned about their health. “When it comes to cancer, early detection is key and can be the difference between life or death in some cases.” A number of TDs also raised concerns in the Dáil this week about patients having their appointments and operations cancelled. One patient concerned about skin cancer told TheJournal.ie that their appointment for a biopsy had been cancelled, with another stating that their operation to remove a tumor has been re-scheduled. Speaking in the Dáil on Thursday, Fianna Fáil TD Niamh Smyth said she knows of one young man who has a wife and four small kids waiting on an operation for a tumor in St. James’s Hospital. “He has been given no clarity on when that operation might happen. Are operations that were scheduled before this pandemic happened still scheduled? What are the implications?” she asked the Health Minister Simon Harris. Fianna Fáil’s Cathal Crowe said a constituent in Clare sent him a letter earlier in the week about her elderly husband suffering from advanced cancer. He had been due to undergo surgery at the Bon Secours Hospital Limerick at Barringtons in Limerick City. “The family is now being told, however, that due to Covid-19, the appointment cannot be carried out and that man now has to join many others on the public waiting list, a list that is not moving at the moment. This is causing major stress to the family and it is utterly unacceptable,” he said. Labour’s Aln Kelly said a Limerick consultant he knows said he generally diagnoses cancer eight times a week but has not done so for the last four weeks. “These people are walking around not knowing they have cancer. We have a lack of screening for bowel and cervical cancer. BreastCheck is not operating. We also know we have elevated mental health risks. On top of that are the socioeconomic impacts of maintaining restrictions. All of this needs to be considered and that is the Government’s role,” said Kelly. Harris said he is setting up of community assessment hubs to try and ensure that Covid patients can go to a community assessment hub and non-Covid patients can continue to go to a GP. “We have seen a significant drop-off in the numbers of people attending their GP and that is how cancers can be missed and referrals to hospitals not given. I am hoping those community assessment hubs will help,” he said. In a statement, the HSE said it is encouraging people with chronic or serious underlying health issues not to ignore their symptoms or delay consulting their GP while Covid-19 restrictions are in place. “We are advising patients to phone their GP first to discuss their symptoms. The GP can perform an assessment over the phone to work out the best treatment plan. Many problems can be resolved over the phone or by video consultation, such as prescription matters or referrals to other services.” In relation to the specific examples of treatment and appointments being delayed during the crisis, the HSE said it would encourage the people concerned to contact their treatment team for further guidance. “There has been a pause in some cancer services during the immediate Covid-19 crisis. This is to ensure the ongoing provision of critical care and, more importantly, to protect patients by reducing the risk of infection. We are awaiting guidance from NPHET regarding the resumption of services.” #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
2 May 18:00 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/cancer-covid-19-5088912-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Despite initiative from hospitals, not many takers for telemedicine
The lockdown, during which patients have been told to visit hospitals and clinics only in cases of emergency, has prompted several hospitals to start telemedicine consultations. However, the demand for telemedicine is still low and many patients are instead deferring consultations to the post-lockdown period. R. Ravindra, president, Private Hospitals and Nursing Homes’ Association (PHANA), Karnataka, said there was a need for the medical fraternity to promote telemedicine more aggressively. “Patients want to meet the doctor in person and want the doctor to physically examine them. But most lifestyle diseases and chronic ailments do not always require physical examination and can be treated via online consultation,” he said. He also urged patients not to put off getting advice from a doctor beyond a point. “We are seeing that many are delaying visits and are coming to hospitals in serious condition. Sometimes, simple interventions such as prescribing a drug will go a long way in ensuring that the patient’s health improves,” he said. Vikram Sreeram, MD, Mallige Hospital, said they started video consultations around three weeks ago. “We have seen only a small number of patients signing up for this. Our assessment is that patients are more comfortable with a face-to-face interaction with doctors,” he said. S. Murali, chief of Clinical Services and consultant neurologist at Manipal Hospitals, said that around a third of their regular patients are opting for telemedicine, but the trend is promising. “Telemedicine cannot be a replacement for personal consultation and is only complementary to it,” he said. “It is also ideal for the elderly, who are vulnerable and have been told to avoid stepping out.” Patients are not yet completely convinced about telemedicine. Shruthi Rao, a software professional, said she opted for an online consultation after she sprained her leg. Not very happy with her experience, she said, “Instead of opting for another telemedicine session, I will go personally and meet a doctor.” She admitted, however, that there were some benefits to telemedicine, including saving waiting time.
2 May 15:53 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/bangalore/despite-initiative-from-hospitals-not-many-takers-for-telemedicine/article31490661.eceRating: 0.30
Gujarat tally crosses 5,000 mark, records 26 deaths – highest in a day
The total number of COVID-19 positive cases in Gujarat crossed the 5,000 mark and the state also recorded highest number deaths in a single day – 26 – on Saturday. With 340 new cases being reported, total cases in the state stands at 5,105, while the death toll has reached 262. Around 1,000 cases have been reported in the state in the past three days. The testing capacity has also been on a rise, with 5,342 samples tested in 24 hours using the pooling technique, said Prinicipal Health Secretary Jayanti Ravi. As many as 160 people were discharged even as 36 remained critical and on ventilator support. “We will decide by Sunday the classification and categorisation of talukas within the Centre-notified districts as red, orange and green zone in the state,” said Ravi. Meanwhile, 3,954 private clinics and hospital OPD services have been resumed till now, across the state, said Ravi. Ahmedabad tally went to 3,565 with 252 new cases reported, even as 20 others died, with eight of them having no other ailment. The youngest of them was a 35-year-old man while the oldest being 75 years old. A 69-year-old man who died had liver and lung conditions and a 62-year-old deceased patient had brain-related complications. Two other men, both 66 years of age, died with one having hypertension and the other a diabetic patient. A 46-year-old hypertensive HIV positive man too succumbed as did two hypertensive and diabetic women aged 67 and 75 years. A 16-year old girl, the youngest to succumb in the day, was suffering from epilepsy. Three others had at least one serious underlying condition along with hypertension and diabetes, including a 78-year old man with heart condition, a 60-year old woman with kidney ailment and a 66-year old man with kidney and mental disorders. Two patients each died in designated private hospitals in Ahmedabad and Anand. Taking the death toll to 24, Vadodara saw three others die, including two hypertensive men aged 54 and 82 years, with the latter, who was also diabetic, having lung conditions. Another 63-year-old woman who died in Vadodara had no underlying condition. As many as 26 others tested positive in Vadodara, including a 41-year-old police driver, taking the district tally to 350. Kheda reported three new cases, including a 30-year-old man who works as a labourer in the Piplag vegetable market, taking the total to nine in the district. Anand reported its fifth death in a 54-year old hypertensive and diabetic woman while Surat saw two more hypertensive and diabetic patient succumb including a 62-year old man who also had cardiac conditions. On the other hand, Surat reported 17 new cases, taking the district tally to 661. Tapi, Valsad, Panchmahal and Dahod reported single cases each, while Botad added three new cases including a 52-year-old man with a travel history to Ahmedabad and Rajkot in the last week, taking the district tally to 27. According to Botad District Collector Vishal Gupta, the district has till now been successful in detecting mildly symptomatic cases. The district of Gandhinagar saw its highest single-day jump in new cases with 18 people testing positive, taking the district total to 67. Bhavnagar crossed 50 cases with six more testing positive.
2 May 18:46 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/gujarat-tally-crosses-5000-mark-records-26-deaths-highest-in-a-day-6390983/Rating: 0.30
Kaduna Government to pay daily allowance to COVID-19 frontline health workers
The Kaduna State Government says it has concluded plans to offer a daily allowance to health workers in the frontline of containing the novel Coronavirus in the state. The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, said in a statement issued to newsmen on Saturday in Kaduna, that Occupational Safety Incentive had been approved for health workers by the state government. She also said that the government had injected additional funds to raise the insurance claims payable to health workers in case of death, infection or disability. “The Occupational Safety Incentive, which takes effect from April 2020, is structured to enhance the pay of frontline health workers by adding three categories of compensation as follows: “High-risk staff to receive a compensation of N15,000 per day; Medium risk staff to receive N10,000 per day and Low-risk staff to receive N5,000 per day. “This Occupational Safety Initiative would benefit frontline health workers. Together with insurance premiums, the incentives are payable from April 2020. “The insurance package includes death benefit of N5 million, disability benefit of N2.5 million and Covid-19 infection cover of N100,000 daily for 10 days. “This package has been enhanced from the initial set of benefits kindly donated by Leadway Assurance.“KDSG is paying additional premiums to increase the assured sum for death and disability to the amounts stated above.” She said the government had also approved a monthly incentive of 10 per cent of net pay for other health workers in public hospitals and primary health centres. “The Kaduna State Government wishes to acknowledge and commend its health workers for their dedication and professionalism in the efforts to contain and manage Covid-19. “Malam Nasir El-Rufai has also paid a personal tribute to the medical professionals from the Ministry of Health, Barau Dikko Teaching Hospital and Ahmadu Bello University Teaching Hospitals who successfully treated him when he was infected by Covid-19.
2 May 20:27 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/kaduna-government-to-pay-daily-allowance-to-covid-19-frontline-health-workers/Rating: 0.30
Kaduna announces first COVID-19 death
Godwin Isenyo, Kaduna The Kaduna State Government said a patient died of coronavirus complications in the state. The State Commissioner of Health, Dr Amina Mohammed-Baloni, announced this via her Twitter handle on Saturday. She said the patient was a male retired civil servant, who recently returned from Kano State. The health commissioner said Kano has 28 active coronavirus cases. She stated, “The Kaduna State Ministry of Health has confirmed that the state has 28 active COVID-19 cases as it awaits more results from the 350 tests it has conducted. “The three patients that increased the number from 25 include two males and the first female COVID-19 case in the state. The female patient is a health worker who is not involved in the treatment of COVID-19 patients. “One of the two males was a retired civil servant with underlying medical conditions, who concealed his recent travel to Kano when he visited a public hospital and a private hospital. “He was eventually admitted at the isolation center with respiratory distress. “He died before his positive test result was released. He is the first Covid-19 fatality in Kaduna State. His family has been informed of his demise and he has since been buried according to the burial protocol of the NCDC.”
2 May 18:26 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/kaduna-announces-first-covid-19-death/Rating: 0.30
Man who ‘concealed travel history to Kano’ dies of COVID-19 in Kaduna
The Kaduna state government says it has recorded its first COVID-19 death. Amina Mohammed-Baloni, commissioner of health in the state, said the patient was one of the three cases that were confirmed on Thursday. She said the patient was a retired civil servant who had underlying health issues and also concealed his “recent” travel history to Kano state. She said he died before his test result came back positive. She said one of the confirmed cases also include a health worker who is not involved in the treatment of COVID-19 infections. Mohammed-Baloni said as of Friday, the state has 28 active COVID-19 cases and awaiting receipt of more results from the 350 tests it has conducted. “Testing of 167 almajiris from Kano has been completed, and the number of positive cases from this group may rise beyond the 21 recorded before we completed testing this category of persons,” she said. “The three patients that increased the number from 25 to 28 cases include two males and the first female Covid-19 case in the state. The female patient is a health worker who is not involved in the treatment of COVID-19 cases. “One of the two males was a retired civil servant male with underlying medical conditions, who concealed his recent travel to Kano when he visited a public hospital and a private hospital in Kaduna State “He died before his positive test result was released. He is the first COVID-19 fatality in Kaduna State. His family has been informed of his demise and he has since been buried according to the burial protocol of the NCDC. “Following this development, state health officials are decontaminating the two hospitals that the deceased visited. Staff who attended to him have been isolated, as have his family members.” She appealed to citizens who suspect that they have been exposed to COVID-19 to follow the safety protocol of isolating themselves at home while contacting health officials. “Concealing relevant information and engaging in conduct that exposes others to the risk of infection is a danger to the community and the well-being and lives of other citizens. Such conduct contravenes the provisions of the Quarantine Orders and could lead to prosecution,” she said. “Keeping safe from this pandemic is the personal responsibility of every citizen. All of us must take steps to protect ourselves and our households from COVID-19.”
2 May 17:17 • TheCable • https://www.thecable.ng/man-who-concealed-travel-history-to-kano-dies-of-covid-19-in-kadunaRating: 0.30
My husband has cancer but the government hasn't classified him as vulnerable
My husband has stage four kidney cancer. His treatment means he is vulnerable to coronavirus, on the ‘shielded patient list’ and needs to be in self-isolation for 12 weeks. At least we think he does. Despite clearly fitting into one of the government-defined ‘at-risk’ categories – he has cancer for which he is ‘getting a targeted treatment which can affect the immune system’ – my husband still hasn’t received an official letter. The government say it’s down to GP surgeries but according to our GP surgery, they are waiting on the government. Over four weeks after lockdown began, thousands of vulnerable people have still not received letters from the government telling them to self-isolate for 12 weeks and are left in the void. This is further fuelling uncertainty for those who believe their lives are at risk, while failing to protect others who may not know they need to be shielded. Read the latest updates: coronavirus news live Just six weeks ago my husband and I were sitting in the oncology waiting room, ready to hear the results of his latest scan. The good news was that his cancer was stable. The bad news: he was at high risk of complications due to Covid-19. Measures were put in place to limit his hospital visits and he was told to call immediately if he exhibited any symptoms. But since then, we’ve heard nothing. In addition to not receiving a letter or a text, my husband hasn’t even had any contact from his GP with self-isolation instructions. When my husband called the surgery, he was told he would get a letter and not to contact them about it. We took matters into our own hands after reading guidance and started shielding as a family, pulling the children out of school and locking down a week earlier than the government. Our young children, who are four and seven, still can’t grasp the concept of social distancing from their daddy for 12 weeks. So, what difference does a letter make in all this? Why does that thin bit of paper matter when there are bigger issues to worry about? When lockdown life is the norm for the foreseeable future? For me and my husband, it’s validation. It’s a sign that he is seen. It’s a reassurance that having a ‘pre-existing condition’ doesn’t just make my husband a statistic, a news headline – or expendable. On a more practical level it means that, as a family, we would be able to get on the priority list for coveted home delivery slots, cancel holidays on medical grounds, prove my husband’s status to employers and qualify for community aid. Due to many letters still remaining undelivered, the government have made it possible to self-register online as a clinically extremely vulnerable person. My husband has done this but has received nothing further. I’ve taken anxiety inducing trips to the supermarket, wracked with worry about bringing the virus home to our at-risk household. Unable to register for priority home delivery, the only way I got a slot was to wake up and log on in the middle of the night. We also have a holiday booked for the half term in May but if lockdown lifts, our travel insurers say we won’t be able to cancel it on medical grounds without any official correspondence. In many ways we’re lucky. Even without the luxury of a letter, we know my husband clearly has to shield and, in a sea of uncertainty, that’s one less thing to overthink. But what about people who aren’t so clearly categorised? The Motor Neurone Disease (MND) Association has written a letter to Health Secretary Matt Hancock expressing their alarm that people with MND have not been officially listed as extremely vulnerable, despite the disease frequently impacting the respiratory system. People with MND are being put at real risk. If individuals don’t have a good medical team or access to information, they may not even realise that their condition puts them at higher risk. 90 per cent of those in England and Wales who died of Covid-19 in March 2020 had pre-existing conditions. If the government can’t reach out to the most vulnerable in our society efficiently and quickly during this crisis, I worry about what chance they have to stay safe and economically active once restrictions are relaxed. And this is just the beginning for us and thousands more. What happens after the magical 12 weeks passes? How do we return to real life? We cannot hide my husband away forever. Yet there is no exit plan for the general population, let alone those most at risk. I am left feeling anxious, alone and unsupported as to how to best look after my husband. He is self-employed, so unless the government’s financial support is extended, it will be a choice between supporting our family and staying safe. There is no point setting up a programme that doesn’t deliver, only to supplement it with a self-registration system that doesn’t help. It is just creating more worry and confusion. Dealing with the uncertainty and emotional toll of cancer is hard enough, and now it feels like my husband has been forgotten. I hope the government are working hard behind the scenes and have a practical, tangible plan to support the most vulnerable and to help people like my husband. No, a letter won’t be a magic bullet but the least they can do is let us know that he’s been counted. Do you have a story you’d like to share? Get in touch by emailing rosy.edwards@metro.co.uk Share your views in the comments below
2 May 17:04 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/cancer-not-classified-vulnerable-12608990/Rating: 2.18
UIC joins Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes Registry
Health care workers at the University of Illinois Hospital and Health Sciences System, or UI Health, are now eligible to participate in a national registry of clinicians working on the frontlines of the COVID-19 pandemic. UI Health is part of the University of Illinois at Chicago, which is among the first institutions in the nation to participate in the Healthcare Worker Exposure Response and Outcomes Registry. The HERO Registry seeks to engage health care workers, understand their experiences and track their health outcomes related to the pandemic -; from COVID-19 infection to stress and burnout. Participant experiences and health outcomes will be tracked via surveys and opportunities, to participate in clinical trials. As part of the registry, health care workers at UI Health also will have the opportunity to participate in future COVID-19 clinical trials, such as an upcoming study of hydroxychloroquine's effectiveness in preventing coronavirus infections in health care workers. This study, the first for the HERO Registry, will enroll approximately 15,000 health care workers from participating institutions in the clinical trial to see if hydroxychloroquine performs better than placebo at preventing COVID-19. Bleasdale said that documenting the experiences of health care providers in real-time during the COVID-19 pandemic can provide invaluable information to public health departments, hospitals and infectious disease experts on how to prepare for future outbreaks or a second wave of the COVID-19 pandemic. The hydroxychloroquine study is expected to begin enrolling health care workers through the HERO registry on May 4. The HERO research program leverages PCORnet, the National Patient-Centered Clinical Research Network, and is funded by the Patient-Centered Outcomes Research Institute. Source: University of Illinois at Chicago
2 May 14:53 • News-Medical.net • https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200502/UIC-joins-Healthcare-Worker-Exposure-Response-and-Outcomes-Registry.aspxRating: 0.76
Wake Forest Baptist Health creates special respiratory isolation unit for COVID-19
In an effort to rapidly provide specialized care for patients with coronavirus-like symptoms while protecting the safety of health care workers, doctors at Wake Forest Baptist Health created a special respiratory isolation unit from an existing 24-bed medical-surgical unit in the hospital in Winston-Salem. The framework for this Person Under Investigation (PUI) unit was published in the April 13 issue of The Hospitalist, the official publication of the Society of Hospital Medicine. To accommodate patients from all specialties, the rooms were retrofitted with additional features such as dialysis access. In addition, specific medical teams were designated to provide patient care on the unit and trained in the proper ways to use and conserve personal protective equipment. Unit staff established a number of measures to minimize exposure risk to providers and other patients, such as limiting entry to patient rooms to only critical staff directly involved in patient care. Sunkara, medical director for the PUI unit, said that staff members were able to get the unit established within one week, even before the first case was detected on March 24 at Wake Forest Baptist, and he hopes this model will be useful to other institutions. Source: Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center
2 May 19:24 • News-Medical.net • https://www.news-medical.net/news/20200502/Wake-Forest-Baptist-Health-creates-special-respiratory-isolation-unit-for-COVID-19.aspxRating: 0.76
Oddjob’s lethal bowler hat from Goldfinger valued at £30,000
3 May 19:54
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5 articles
Weight: 2.70
Importance: 2.70
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 19:54
Average US: 12.9
Weighted average US: 22.879289937532214
Average GB: 32.56
Weighted average GB: 15.707710650931185
Average IN: 5.620000000000001
Weighted average IN: 3.836019640321127
Oddjob’s lethal bowler hat from Goldfinger valued at £30,000
A battered bowler hat from the James Bond film Goldfinger has been valued at up to £30,000 on the Antiques Roadshow. The steel-rimmed hat and weapon belonged to hitman Oddjob, played by Harold Sakata, in the 1964 film. The owner said he was a big 007 fan as a child and his brother-in-law, who was a driver for Aston Martin during the filming of Goldfinger, asked Pinewood Studios if they had any memorabilia. The studio gave him Oddjob’s bowler hat but removed the metal rim. “As a young lad, everybody wanted to throw the Oddjob hat, and if you look at it, everybody did throw the hat because it’s absolutely in pieces because it didn’t have the steel in it anymore, so therefore whenever it landed it damaged it,” the owner said. It was previously revealed that the hat appears on the BBC One show, leaving Antiques Roadshow expert Marc Allum “shaking with anticipation and excitement”. The Bond item was part of a collection of 007 memorabilia brought to Antiques Roadshow when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last summer.
3 May 19:54 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/lifeandstyle/2020/may/03/oddjobs-lethal-bowler-hat-from-goldfinger-valued-at-30000Rating: 5.39
Bowler hat from Goldfinger gets £30,000 valuation on Antiques Roadshow
A battered bowler hat from the James Bond film Goldfinger has been valued at up to £30,000 on the Antiques Roadshow. The steel-rimmed hat and weapon belonged to hitman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) in the 1964 film. The owner said he was a big 007 fan as a child and his brother-in-law, who was a driver for Aston Martin during the filming of Goldfinger, asked Pinewood Studios if they had any memorabilia. The studio gave him Oddjob’s bowler hat but removed the metal rim. “As a young lad, everybody wanted to throw the Oddjob hat, and if you look at it, everybody did throw the hat because it’s absolutely in pieces because it didn’t have the steel in it anymore, so therefore whenever it landed it damaged it,” the owner said. It was previously revealed that the hat appears on the BBC One show, leaving Roadshow expert Marc Allum “shaking with anticipation and excitement.” The Bond item was part of a collection of 007 memorabilia brought to Antiques Roadshow when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last summer.
3 May 19:17 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/entertainment/showbiz/2020/05/03/bowler-hat-from-goldfinger-gets-30000-valuation-on-antiques-roadshow/Rating: 0.30
Bowler hat from Goldfinger gets £30,000 valuation on Antiques Roadshow
A battered bowler hat from the James Bond film Goldfinger has been valued at up to £30,000 on the Antiques Roadshow. The steel-rimmed hat and weapon belonged to hitman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) in the 1964 film. The owner said he was a big 007 fan as a child and his brother-in-law, who was a driver for Aston Martin during the filming of Goldfinger, asked Pinewood Studios if they had any memorabilia. The studio gave him Oddjob’s bowler hat but removed the metal rim. “As a young lad, everybody wanted to throw the Oddjob hat, and if you look at it, everybody did throw the hat because it’s absolutely in pieces because it didn’t have the steel in it anymore, so therefore whenever it landed it damaged it,” the owner said. It was previously revealed that the hat appears on the BBC One show, leaving Roadshow expert Marc Allum “shaking with anticipation and excitement.” The Bond item was part of a collection of 007 memorabilia brought to Antiques Roadshow when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last summer.
3 May 19:15 • The Irish News • http://www.irishnews.com/magazine/entertainment/2020/05/03/news/bowler-hat-from-goldfinger-gets-30-000-valuation-on-antiques-roadshow-1925125/Rating: 0.30
Bowler hat from Goldfinger gets £30,000 valuation on Antiques Roadshow
James Bond memorabilia was brought to the BBC show when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales. A battered bowler hat from the James Bond film Goldfinger has been valued at up to £30,000 on the Antiques Roadshow. The steel-rimmed hat and weapon belonged to hitman Oddjob (Harold Sakata) in the 1964 film. The owner said he was a big 007 fan as a child and his brother-in-law, who was a driver for Aston Martin during the filming of Goldfinger, asked Pinewood Studios if they had any memorabilia. The studio gave him Oddjob’s bowler hat but removed the metal rim. “As a young lad, everybody wanted to throw the Oddjob hat, and if you look at it, everybody did throw the hat because it’s absolutely in pieces because it didn’t have the steel in it anymore, so therefore whenever it landed it damaged it,” the owner said. It was previously revealed that the hat appears on the BBC One show, leaving Roadshow expert Marc Allum “shaking with anticipation and excitement.” The Bond item was part of a collection of 007 memorabilia brought to Antiques Roadshow when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last summer.
3 May 19:16 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/entertainment/showbiz/2020/05/03/bowler-hat-from-goldfinger-gets-30000-valuation-on-antiques-roadshow/Rating: 0.30
Bowler hat that featured in Bond film Goldfinger valued at £30k on the Antiques Roadshow
The iconic bowler hat from the James Bond film Goldfinger has been valued at up to £30,000 on the Antiques Roadshow. The steel-rimmed hat and weapon belonged to hitman Oddjob, played by Harold Sakata, in the 1964 film. The Bond item was part of a collection of 007 memorabilia brought to Antiques Roadshow when it filmed at the National Botanic Garden of Wales last summer. The owner said he was a big 007 fan as a child and his brother-in-law, who was a driver for Aston Martin during the filming of Goldfinger, asked Pinewood Studios if they had any memorabilia. The studio gave him Oddjob's bowler hat but removed the metal rim. "As a young lad, everybody wanted to throw the Oddjob hat, and if you look at it, everybody did throw the hat because it's absolutely in pieces because it didn't have the steel in it anymore, so therefore whenever it landed it damaged it," the owner said. It was previously revealed that the hat appears on the BBC One show, leaving Roadshow expert Marc Allum "shaking with anticipation and excitement." A signed clapperboard for the new James Bond film went under the hammer in April. The piece of No Time To Die memorabilia – which was signed by stars including Daniel Craig, Naomie Harris, Lea Seydoux, Lashana Lynch and Ana De Armas – raised £13,000 for the NHS. The item was one of 61 lots sold by the Bonhams auction house in aid of the NHS Charities Covid-19 Urgent Appeal.
3 May 19:15 • Wales Online • https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/whats-on-news/bowler-hat-featured-bond-film-18192634Rating: 0.62
'Swastikas and nooses': governor slams 'racism' of Michigan lockdown protest
3 May 23:49
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'Swastikas and nooses': governor slams 'racism' of Michigan lockdown protest
Governor Gretchen Whitmer of Michigan issued a rebuke of the armed protesters who gathered inside the state capitol last week in defiance of statewide lockdown orders, saying the demonstrators embodied some of the “worst racism” of the nation’s history. “Some of the outrageousness of what happened at our capitol depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country,” Whitmer said during a Sunday interview on CNN’s State of the Union. Last week Donald Trump had said of the protesters: “These are very good people.” Hundreds of protesters, many not wearing protective face masks and some armed legally with “long guns”, gathered inside the statehouse in Lansing on Thursday as lawmakers debated the Democratic governor’s request to extend her emergency powers to combat the coronavirus pandemic. The tightly packed crowd attempted to enter the floor of the legislative chamber and were held back by a line of state police and capitol staff, according to video footage posted by local journalists. Whitmer highlighted that the number of protesters was relatively small but that the imagery some of them used was a disturbing reminder of ugly elements of America’s past. “We know that people are not all happy about having to take the stay-home posture,” Whitmer said on Sunday, “and you know what, I’m not either. But we have to listen to the public health experts and displays like the one we saw in our state capitol are not representative of who we are in Michigan. “There were swastikas and Confederate flags and nooses and people with assault rifles. That’s a small group of people when you think that this is a state of almost 10 million people, the vast majority of whom are doing the right thing.” Displaying the Confederate flag, or other symbols of the slave-owning south during the American civil war, is usually seen as racist. While some claim they are celebrating southern identity, it is widely seen as a racist symbol deeply offensive to black Americans. There is also an ongoing campaign to remove Confederate war statues from public display or rename streets and buildings which commemorate Confederate generals or politicians. Last week, the Democratic congresswoman Rashida Tlaib, who represents Michigan’s 13th congressional district, condemned the demonstrations at the state Capitol. “Black people get executed by police for just existing, while white people dressed like militia members carrying assault weapons are allowed to threaten State Legislators and staff,” Tlaib wrote in a tweet on Thursday. The protests continued to draw national attention on Friday when Trump once again threw his support behind the rightwing movement, saying Whitmer should “make a deal” with the demonstrators. “The governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire,” the president wrote on Twitter. “These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal.” When asked if it was appropriate for the president to express support for protests in which “long guns” were carried on Friday afternoon, the White House press secretary, Kayleigh McEnany, said the president supported the right to protest within the law and while following federal social distancing guidelines. “The president says that we must protest lawfully and act within the bounds of the law,” said McEnany. The staggering effects of the pandemic among Whitmer’s electorate in terms of both illness and unemployment have placed a nationwide focus on Michigan, which is certain to be a key battleground state in the upcoming presidential election. The state had long been regarded as a Democratic stronghold but went for Trump four years ago, helping to spring his surprise electoral victory.
3 May 23:49 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2020/may/03/michigan-gretchen-whitmer-lockdown-protest-racismRating: 5.39
Michigan gov. says protesters displayed ‘worst racism and awful parts’ of US history
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slammed the stay-at-home order protesters who stormed the state’s Capitol on Thursday, saying they represented the “worst racism and awful parts” of US history. “Some of the outrageousnesses of what happened at our Capitol depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country,” Whitmer said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” The Democratic governor said the group of armed demonstrators — which she said included people wielding “Confederate flags and nooses” in addition to other racist signs — were “not representative of who we are today.” “That’s a small group of people when you think of about the fact that this is a state of 10 million people, the vast majority of [whom] are doing the right thing,” she said. President Trump called on Whitmer in a tweet last week to negotiate with protesters. “The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal,” he wrote. But Whitmer doubled down Sunday on her defense of the statewide stay-at-home order, saying she was “working to protect your life.” She has extended the mandate last week to May 15, but eased some restrictions, including on motor boating, golfing and curbside pick-ups at businesses. “The fact of the matter is we are in the global pandemic. This is not something we negotiate ourselves out of and is a political matter, this is a public health crisis that has taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans,” she said. Michigan reported a total of 43,254 confirmed coronavirus cases and 4,025 deaths statewide as of Sunday afternoon, according to the latest figures from John Hopkins University.
3 May 19:29 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/gov-whitmer-protesters-displayed-worst-parts-of-us-history/Rating: 2.55
Michigan's Whitmer says armed protesters displayed 'worst racism and awful parts' of US history
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer slammed the protesters who gathered inside the state's Capitol building on Thursday to demand she rescind her stay-at-home orders, saying they represented the "worst racism and awful parts" of U.S. history. "There were swastikas and Confederate flags and nooses and people with assault rifles," Whitmer said Sunday on CNN's "State of the Union." "Some of the outrageousnesses of what happened at our capitol depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country." The Michigan governor, however, added that those people represented a small portion of the demonstrators at the state capital and that, for the most part, the protest was peaceful. "When you think about the fact that this is a state of almost 10 million people, the vast majority of whom are doing the right thing," she added, "the behavior you've seen in all of the clips is not representative of who we are in Michigan." CLICK HERE FOR THE LATEST ON THE CORONAVIRUS Holding American flags and handmade signs – and with some carrying firearms -- the demonstrators in Lansing first congregated shoulder-to-shoulder on Thursday outside before demanding to be let inside the building as lawmakers were poised to debate an extension of an emergency and disaster declaration. Some chanted "Let us in," The Detroit News reported. State Sen. Dayna Polehanki, a Democrat, tweeted a photo of what she described as armed demonstrators yelling above her. She said some of her colleagues were wearing "bullet proof vests" inside the House chamber. "Directly above me, men with rifles yelling at us. Some of my colleagues who own bullet proof vests are wearing them. I have never appreciated our Sergeants-at-Arms more than today. #mileg," she posted. Thursday's rally came as some people living in Michigan have continued to demand Whitmer roll back her stay-at-home order in an effort to reopen the state's economy and allow residents to resume daily activities. Last week, she extended the mandate through May 15, but loosened some restrictions beginning Friday. Residents will be allowed to travel between residences, but it will be "strongly discouraged." Whitmer said she would not be intimidated by political pressure to ease up her state’s stay-at-home orders amid the coronavirus pandemic. “The fact of the matter is we are in the global pandemic. This is not something we negotiate ourselves out of and is a political matter; this is a public health crisis that has taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans,” she said. “Whether you agree with me or not, I'm working to protect your life if you live in the state of Michigan,” Whitmer added. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP President Trump has come out in support of the protesters, calling them “very good people” in a tweet on Friday. “The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal,” Trump added. Fox News’ Louis Casiano contributed to this report.
3 May 15:06 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/politics/michigans-whitmer-says-armed-protesters-displayed-worst-racism-and-awful-parts-of-u-s-historyRating: 3.32
Whitmer says Michigan protests 'depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history'
Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D) said protests inside the state Capitol last week, featuring demonstrators with assault weapons, swastikas and Confederate flags, depicted some of the “worst racism and awful parts” of the nation’s history. “Some of the outrageousness of what happened at our Capitol depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country,” she said Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “The behavior you've seen in all of the clips is not representative of who we are in Michigan,” she added. The protesters were demonstrating against Whitmer’s statewide stay-at-home order put in place amid the coronavirus pandemic in an effort to mitigate the spread of the potentially fatal virus. President Trump tweeted Friday in defense of the protesters, calling them “very good people.” “The Governor of Michigan should give a little, and put out the fire. These are very good people, but they are angry. They want their lives back again, safely! See them, talk to them, make a deal,” Trump tweeted. Whitmer on Sunday doubled down on her defense of the stay-at-home order and suggested she won’t be swayed by political pressure to lift restrictions. “The fact of the matter is we are in the global pandemic. This is not something we negotiate ourselves out of and is a political matter. This is a public health crisis that has taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans,” she said. “Whether you agree with me or not, I'm working to protect your life if you live in the state of Michigan,” Whitmer added. Michigan reported a total of 43,207 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 4,020 deaths statewide as of Saturday.
3 May 14:13 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/495853-whitmer-says-michigan-protests-depicted-some-of-the-worst-racism-andRating: 1.94
Gov. Whitmer: Michigan Lockdown Protesters 'Depicted Some of the Worst Racism' in U.S. History
Sunday on CNN’s “State of the Union,” Gov. Gretchen Whitmer (D-MI) accused Michigan protesters last week of depicting “some of the worst racism” in America’s history. According to the Michigan governor, those protesting her coronavirus measures had “swastikas, Confederate flags, nooses.” Whitmer said, “We know that people are not all happy about having to take the stay-at-home posture, and you know what, I’m not either. The fact of the matter is we have to listen to epidemiologists and public health experts. Displays like the one we saw at the state capitol are not representative of who we are. There were swastikas, Confederate flags, nooses, people with assault rifles. That’s a small group of people. When you think about the fact that this is a state of almost 10 million people, the vast majority of whom are doing the right thing, that’s why we’ve seen our curve gets pushed down. We’ve saved lives in the process. We have to keep listening to the epidemiologists and experts and not listen to the partisan rhetoric, or these political rallies or tweets, for that matter. We have to keep doing the next right thing.” She added, “Some of the outrageousnesses of what happened at our capitol this week, you know, depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country. The Confederate flags and nooses, the swastikas, the, you know, behavior that you’ve seen in all of the clips, is not representative of who we are in Michigan. The fact of the matter is, I mean, we’re in a global pandemic. This isn’t something we just negotiate ourselves out of, as a political matter. This is a public health crisis that’s taken the lives of almost 70,000 Americans, has put 30 million people into unemployment.” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
3 May 13:56 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/05/03/gov-whitmer-michigan-lockdown-protesters-depicted-some-of-the-worst-racism-in-u-s-history/Rating: 0.30
Whitmer says 'racism' fueled protests over virus response
LANSING, Mich. (AP) - Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer on Sunday said gun-toting protesters who demonstrated inside the state Capitol in opposition to some of her moves to battle the coronavirus “depicted some of the worst racism” and “awful parts” of U.S. history. Whitmer made the assertion on CNN, before the release of the latest number of deaths in Michigan related to the coronavirus. Officials say the 29 new deaths, which increased the number to 4,049, was one of the lowest daily increases since the pandemic began in Michigan. Confirmed cases in Michigan rose by 547, bringing the total to 43,754. During the CNN appearance, Whitmer said the protests featured “Confederate Flags, and nooses,” as well as swastikas. Members of the Michigan Liberty Militia protested the state’s stay-at-home orders this week, some with weapons and tactical gear and their faces partially covered. “Some of the outrageousness of what happened at our capitol depicted some of the worst racism and awful parts of our history in this country,” she said. Some went to the Senate gallery, where a senator said armed men shouted at her. Whitmer said the protest wasn’t representative of Michigan and that she’s going to listen to facts and science to decide how to handle the pandemic. “Whether you agree with me or not, I’m working to protect your life if you live in the state of Michigan,” she said. ”I am going to continue to do my job regardless of what tweets come out or what polls come out or what people think makes sense.”
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/whitmer-says-racism-fueled-protests-over-virus-res/Rating: 0.79
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
3 May 18:23
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Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA -- Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation "when Parliament allows." The comments came during the prime minister's daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn't go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone's guess. "We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we're going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage," Trudeau said. "Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits." Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday's ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front "at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than" COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. "We've seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l'Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago," Trudeau said. "We've seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That's why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn't require legislation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 18:23 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/politics/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming-1.4922898Rating: 2.87
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation "when Parliament allows." The comments came during the prime minister's daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn't go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone's guess. "We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we're going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage," Trudeau said. "Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits." Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday's ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front "at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than" COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. "We've seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l'Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago," Trudeau said. "We've seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That's why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn't require legislation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 21:44 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/trudeau-rifles/cp47612952Rating: 0.30
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation "when Parliament allows." The comments came during the prime minister's daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn't go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone's guess. "We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we're going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage," Trudeau said. "Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits." Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday's ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front "at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than" COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. "We've seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l'Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago," Trudeau said. "We've seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That's why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn't require legislation." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press
3 May 21:44 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming-2320892Rating: 0.30
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans will move ahead but doesn't say when
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation “when Parliament allows.” The comments came during the prime minister’s daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn’t go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone’s guess. “We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we’re going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage,” Trudeau said. “Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits.” Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday’s ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front “at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than” COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. “We’ve seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l’Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago,” Trudeau said. “We’ve seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That’s why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn’t require legislation.”
3 May 23:14 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/news/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-comingRating: 1.59
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA - Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation “when Parliament allows.” The comments came during the prime minister's daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn't go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone's guess. “We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we're going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage,” Trudeau said. “Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits.” Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday's ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front “at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than” COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. “We've seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l'Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago,” Trudeau said. “We've seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That's why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn't require legislation.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 22:21 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming-1.4923046Rating: 1.66
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun ban is next
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation “when Parliament allows.” The comments came during the Prime Minister’s daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn’t go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Mr. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when that legislation will be introduced, however, appears to be anyone’s guess. “We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country, which is why we’re going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage,” Mr. Trudeau said. “Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits.” Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday’s ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front “at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than” COVID-19, Mr. Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual a week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the Prime Minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the previous election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Mr. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. “We’ve seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l’École Polytechnique 30 years ago,” Mr. Trudeau said. “We’ve seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That’s why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn’t require legislation.” Know what is happening in the halls of power with the day’s top political headlines and commentary as selected by Globe editors (subscribers only). Sign up today.
3 May 18:06 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/politics/article-trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming/Rating: 2.18
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation “when Parliament allows.” The comments came during the prime minister’s daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn’t go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. READ MORE: Feds ban more than 1,500 assault-style rifles in Canada Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone’s guess. “We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we’re going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage,” Trudeau said. “Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits.” Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday’s ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front “at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than” COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. READ MORE: Ontario’s premier takes aim at Trudeau government’s gun control measures Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. “We’ve seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l’Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago,” Trudeau said. “We’ve seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That’s why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn’t require legislation.” Lee Berthiaume, The Canadian Press
3 May 22:30 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming/Rating: 0.30
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government plans to move ahead with legislation letting municipalities ban handguns within their borders, though he isn’t giving a timeline. The Trudeau government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style rifles, saying the guns were designed for the battlefield, not hunting or sport shooting. The move has prompted criticism from both sides, with some like Ontario Premier Doug Ford saying it misses the mark by targeting legal gun owners while others say it doesn’t go far enough. Trudeau acknowledged during his annual daily COVID-19 news conference in Ottawa this morning that the federal government has more work to do when it comes to guns, which is why it still plans to introduce legislation on handguns. He also says the government will be looking to tighten up the border against gun smuggling and safe storage. As for the timing, Trudeau would only say that the federal government would introduce the relevant legislation when Parliament, which is sitting in person only one day a week and holding virtual sessions twice a week because of COVID-19, “allows it.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 18:28 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming/Rating: 0.77
Trudeau says legislation on municipal handgun bans coming
OTTAWA — Prime Minister Justin Trudeau says his government plans to move ahead with legislation letting municipalities ban handguns within their borders, though he isn’t giving a timeline. The Trudeau government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style rifles, saying the guns were designed for the battlefield, not hunting or sport shooting. The move has prompted criticism from both sides, with some like Ontario Premier Doug Ford saying it misses the mark by targeting legal gun owners while others say it doesn’t go far enough. Trudeau acknowledged during his annual daily COVID-19 news conference in Ottawa this morning that the federal government has more work to do when it comes to guns, which is why it still plans to introduce legislation on handguns. He also says the government will be looking to tighten up the border against gun smuggling and safe storage. As for the timing, Trudeau would only say that the federal government would introduce the relevant legislation when Parliament, which is sitting in person only one day a week and holding virtual sessions twice a week because of COVID-19, “allows it.” This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 17:28 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-coming/Rating: 0.61
City handgun bans coming
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau defended his assault-rifle ban on Sunday and promised to go even further by targeting handguns and tightening border security with new legislation introduced in the Parliament. Yet he stopped short of providing a timeline for when such measures would be introduced, saying only that the federal Liberal government would move forward with legislation "when Parliament allows." The comments came during the prime minister's daily COVID-19 news conference after the government on Friday outlawed a wide range of assault-style weapons. The ban did not require parliamentary approval and was instead published in regulations in the Canada Gazette. Some have said the ban doesn't go far enough and should include handguns while others have argued that it targets legal gun owners and that Ottawa should instead focus on the smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and stronger jail sentences. Trudeau acknowledged his government has more work to do when it comes to guns in Canada, which was why it was working on legislation that will deal with the border, gun storage and handguns. Exactly when will that legislation be introduced, however, appears to be anyone's guess. "We know there is more to do on strengthening gun control in this country which is why we're going to be moving forward when Parliament allows it with stronger measures around borders, stronger measures around safe storage," Trudeau said. "Measures around handguns to permit municipalities to ban handguns within their city limits." Legislation will also need to be introduced around a two-year amnesty and a buyback program that will allow the current owners of assault rifles covered by Friday's ban to receive compensation for turning in the designated firearms or keep them through a grandfathering process. The Liberal government will move forward on that front "at the first opportunity when the House turns its attention to things other than" COVID-19, Trudeau said. The House of Commons has limited its sitting to one in-person and two virtual per week due to the pandemic. The assault-rifle ban came only weeks after one of the deadliest mass shootings in Canadian history, when a man dressed as an RCMP officer killed 22 people in Nova Scotia on April 18 and 19. Police have indicated the man had two rifles and several handguns on his possession at the time. Some have accused the prime minister of using the tragedy to instigate a ban while Parliament is largely consumed with the COVID-19 pandemic, while others have questioned why the government waited so long. The Liberals promised in the last election campaign to ban assault rifles and introduce legislation allowing cities to ban handguns. Trudeau refused to apologize for the ban after Ontario Premier Doug Ford on Saturday said it targeted legal gun owners. He suggested Ottawa should instead focus on smuggling of illegal weapons at the border and strengthening jail sentences for gun crimes. "We've seen far too many mass shootings in which military-style-assault weapons were used to kill innocent Canadians. In Sainte-Foy. Recently in Nova Scotia. Back at l'Ecole Polytechnique 30 years ago," Trudeau said. "We've seen far too many cases in which these guns have caused devastation to families and communities. That's why it was time to ban them. This is something that we were able to do through regulations so it didn't require legislation."
3 May 15:00 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/298995/Trudeau-says-legislation-on-municipal-handgun-bans-comingRating: 1.34
What One Doctor’s Suicide Taught Us
3 May 23:01
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What One Doctor’s Suicide Taught Us
Just over a month ago, I got a call at 10:30 at night from a doctor friend who works in one of the busiest emergency rooms in New York City. She’d just returned from a brutal shift, a miserable slog of impossible intubations and fruitless C.P.R. One patient, more or less her age, died just minutes after she’d placed him on a ventilator. She was so stunned she burst into tears. My friend is not the type to burst into tears. She is generally a model of towering nerve. A few days later, she went to one of the walk-in mental health forums at her hospital, expecting to see a large group. Instead, she had the psychiatrist and psychologist all to herself. In hindsight, maybe it made sense. As an emergency physician, she explained to me, “You’re supposed to see things and move on.” Project confidence and toughness; plow forward. It’s the reason you’re not reading my friend’s name now. She knows what patients and colleagues expect. In the months and years ahead, we’re going to have to train ourselves to be especially attentive to the mental health needs of our first responders to this pandemic. In the aftermath of a disaster, they’re at a far greater risk for post-traumatic stress, substance abuse and major depression than the average civilian. Yet seeing themselves as vulnerable is disruptive — antithetical, even — to their self-concept. They’re the healers in this equation, not the ones who need to be healed. It wasn’t just my friend who taught this to me. Last week NBC ran an interview with the sister of Lorna M. Breen, the medical director of the emergency department at New York-Presbyterian Allen Hospital who died by suicide on April 26. “I know my sister felt like she couldn’t sit down,” she said. “She couldn’t stop working. And she certainly couldn’t tell anybody she was struggling.” One wouldn’t want to extrapolate too much from Breen’s case. Suicides can be idiosyncratic, individual, painfully mysterious; the data on the incidence of suicide in frontline workers is mixed. But it ought to be noted that Breen was the second American health worker to die by suicide in this pandemic — the first was a 24-year-old Staten Island E.M.T., on April 24 — and she did not have a known history of depression or suicidal ideation. Here are some facts about physicians that should put us all on notice. In general, doctors die by suicide at more than twice the rate of the general population, the highest of any profession. They also experience far more burnout. And the specialty with the highest levels of burnout? Emergency medicine. Some of the reasons for this are guessable. Emergency room doctors work far more grueling hours than most physicians and under more stressful circumstances, often seeing people on the very worst days of their lives. But when I phoned Dr. John R. Matheson, former president of the Washington State chapter of the American College of Emergency Physicians and founder of its Wellness Committee, he gave me a much more subtle, characterological explanation for why his subspecialty can be so depleting. “We tend to be perfectionists,” he said. “And disease processes aren’t always straightforward. When you’re a high achiever and you’re very driven and you can’t do what you want to do, it can be very disheartening.” Now introduce a novel, wantonly contagious virus into the already-chaotic emergency room, a virus that behaves in dumbfounding and pitiless ways. It’s your problem to solve. But you haven’t the tools to fix it — shift after shift, day after day, at a scale of suffering you’ve never witnessed. For people who are action-oriented and hellbent on finding solutions, this is a recipe for existential disaster. First responders are suffering from a crisis of utility. “We’re almost observers in this,” Matheson said. “We can put patients on oxygen. We can intubate them in the I.C.U. But we’re mainly trying to allow the body to heal on its own. Dealing with Covid largely means dealing with a feeling of helplessness.” Which explains my friend’s distress that night. She told me point-blank that she felt like a failure. “There’s no algorithm,” she kept repeating. “There’s no if-then.” But getting first responders to reckon with these feelings isn’t easy. It’s why my friend found herself alone with two therapists in a setting clearly intended for large groups. Last week, I phoned Dr. Craig L. Katz, a psychiatrist in the Mount Sinai Health System who’s helping to organize their eight hospitals’ mental health response for their workers. “It’s been hard getting them to come to us,” he told me. “We’ve had to go to them.” Dr. John Draper, the executive vice president of National Networks for Vibrant Emotional Health, told me that in the week after Sept. 11, their local New York City hotline, LifeNet, got more phone calls from health professionals offering to help than asking for it. That’s how they cope. “And guess what?” he said. “We’re hearing again from them now.” The solution, he said, may be that first responders find ways to counsel one another peer-to-peer, whether it’s online or over the phone. They know what they need to hear. As for the rest of us: He suggests we refrain from platitudes about their heroism. “They’re perfectionists,” he said. “They’re so aware of what they haven’t done or aren’t doing or might have missed. What’s better is to say: ‘I can only imagine how hard it is. I can only imagine it’s a sacrifice.’ ” For what it’s worth, here’s what helped my friend. You were trying to help. You did the right thing. It was the disease. Not you. [If you are having thoughts of suicide, call the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-8255 (TALK) or go to SpeakingOfSuicide.com/resources for a list of additional resources.] The Times is committed to publishing a diversity of letters to the editor. We’d like to hear what you think about this or any of our articles. Here are some tips. And here’s our email: letters@nytimes.com. Follow The New York Times Opinion section on Facebook, Twitter (@NYTopinion) and Instagram.
3 May 23:01 • NY Times • https://www.nytimes.com/2020/05/03/opinion/coronavirus-doctors-mental-health.htmlRating: 5.38
Mother's Sad Tale of Daughter Living With Rare Disease [VIDEO]
NTV's Grace Msalame, on Saturday night, May 2, tugged at the heartstrings of thousands of Kenyans, on the latest episode of her Unscripted Show. Msalame had travelled to Kerugoya to speak to Eunice Chebi - a mother of 6, whose entire life changed when her daughter, Carol, was diagnosed with Multiple sclerosis (MS) - a rare disabling disease of the brain and spinal cord (central nervous system). Trying her best not to just breakdown in tears, Eunice narrated her challenges over the last decade. "She was diagnosed back when she was in Form Three, she was 17 years old at the time (2007). I took her to Kenyatta National Hospital (KNH) where a neurologist told us that they could not determine her underlying condition prior to seeing Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) results. "KNH didn't have the equipment to carry this out so we were referred to Nairobi Hospital where we learned that the scan cost Ksh25,000," Eunice recalled. The former Telkom Kenya employee had been retrenched a year before her lastborn daughter fell sick and only had Ksh5,000 at the time. She finally raised the money but was advised to take her to a health centre in Jamhuri area, where the MRI scan was cheaper. The results confirmed the doctor's worst fears as it proved that Carol was suffering from MS, a disease that has changed both Carol and her mum's life forever. At first, Eunice could not understand the disease due to just how rare the condition is. The medication she was prescribed went for Ksh6,000 per dose, which contributed to her moving upcountry just to be able to survive. Despite her tears and sad tale, Eunice maintained that if asked to change anything, she would not change her daughter's path as she is a woman of faith who believes that all she has been through is for the glory of God. On her biggest challenge, she highlighted Carol's need for diapers as the most pressing concern, further adding that regular visits from a physiotherapist had also proven to be a difficult and expensive undertaking. Eunice revealed that they had acquired a special seat for Carol to aid her in relieving herself, but pointed out that diapers were necessary as she couldn't use the seat for more than an hour, as her feet often swell. Msalame then went into Eunice's house where she interviewed the jovial Carol, asking her to live out her dream of becoming a journalist by addressing the country. "Thank you mum and God bless you. I wish I could cook and feed myself," Carol said, leaving her mum and Msalame in tears. Amazingly, Carol went back and completed her secondary school studies and sat for her KCSE, going on to score a grade of C-Minus. Msalame, Carol and Eunice went on to sing out an emotional rendition of 'Lord I Need You', with the high-spirited girl maintaining that she was sure she would overcome her illness one day by God's grace.
3 May 06:35 • Kenyans.co.ke • https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/52774-mothers-sad-tale-daughter-living-rare-disease-videoRating: 1.04
'I died and came back': 12-year-old recovers from virus
COVINGTON, La. - As her desperately sick daughter was being airlifted to a hospital, Jennifer Daly was thinking about all the parts of life that still lay ahead for her 12-year-old and whether she’d ever experience them: Would she get to fall in love? Would she get the chance to get married and have her own children? Driving across the causeway that separates the family’s home north of Lake Pontchartrain from the New Orleans hospital where their daughter was taken — with what was later determined to be a coronavirus infection — she was forced to imagine a life without her Juliet. “She’s the sweetest girl. She’s the sweetest girl in the whole world. And she does not deserve this. And I was praying to God ... just please, please help, please help me,” said Jennifer, speaking from the family’s Covington home Thursday, with her husband Sean and their now-recovered daughter. As Juliet and her 5-year-old brother spar with each other using pool noodles, it’s hard to imagine that just last month Juliet was fighting for her life. At one point she had a heart attack and doctors had to perform CPR for two minutes before she came back. “I died and came back,” Juliet said. Her coronavirus journey didn’t start with many of the symptoms that have affected adults — breathing problems, for example. She had stomach pain and vomiting, and her mother, who’s a radiologist, thought maybe it was appendicitis or some type of stomach problem. But Juliet's lips were also turning blue and her limbs were cold. Juliet quickly ended up in the emergency room of the local hospital. There, she had a heart attack, underwent CPR, and was eventually airlifted to Ochsner Medical Center. Dr. Jake Kleinmahon was one of the doctors who was there to meet her and care for her over the next ten days. “Juliet came in as one of the sickest children we’ve taken care of with COVID-19,” said Kleinmahon. The top chamber of her heart was not working correctly with the bottom chamber, and she was developing “multisystem organ failure,” he said. Kleinmahon said children with coronavirus infections often have different symptoms than adults, such as the abdominal problems Juliet had, or rashes in other cases. He said many children also have another virus besides the coronavirus and that was the case with Juliet. For most people, the virus causes no, mild or moderate symptoms, but some suffer severe disease and even death. Juliet was on a ventilator for four days, during which she was sedated and then was eventually able to breathe on her own. She was discharged on April 15. The doctor said her heart function is now completely normal. Although she likely has a little trauma to her heart that should decrease over time, he expects she’ll have a “totally normal life.” When she regained consciousness, her parents said she immediately worried about missing school. Her mother said that when she told Juliet what had happened, her eyes got as big as saucers. “At first I was freaking out a lot,” Juliet said. And then she was worried about whether there were any lasting effects to her body. Jennifer said she and her husband hadn’t known anyone who’d even been infected with coronavirus until their daughter became so drastically ill. If they hadn’t gotten her to the hospital in time, they don’t know if she’d be alive today. She’s glad Juliet doesn’t remember those four days on a ventilator — days Jennifer will never forget.
2 May 04:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/i-died-and-came-back-12-year-old-recovers-from-virus/it72879Rating: 0.30
Was my baby girl struck by children’s coronavirus? KATE MANSEY thought her daughter was dead when she passed out... only for her to recover but develop a temperature and cough
They were 30 seconds of my life that must have aged me about ten years. My toddler had tried to climb the stairs and as she tumbled down the last couple of steps on her bottom, there was a thud and a cry. A normal part of learning to get about for a child of 20 months. I picked her up and dried her tears, but then the most unimaginable and unexpected thing happened: as Ivy tried to draw breath for her next wail, she passed out cold. Her head lolled back and she went floppy in my arms. I called her name, tried in vain to get her to respond and shouted for help. I can still hear the blood-curdling, pit-of-the-stomach sound of a woman screaming ‘My baby! My baby!’ which it later occurred to me must have been my own voice. I ran up the stairs cradling her and locked eyes with my husband – I’ve never seen him look so scared. We both thought our beautiful daughter must be dead. Yet within moments she had come back around and was hugging my husband’s neck, panting – an Easter Monday miracle. We rushed her to the A&E at King’s College Hospital, by which time I was sobbing uncontrollably with sheer relief that she would now get medical attention. I must have seemed deranged because by now, my little girl was toddling up to the nurses to show them her dolly, her temperature was fine and the consultant said perhaps it was just one of those things that happens to infants from time to time. They gave us lunch, kept us for three hours of observation and sent us home. It was only the next day when Ivy developed a temperature and a cough that I wished I had asked them to test her for Covid-19. For weeks beforehand my son, too, had been experiencing symptoms of the virus that I wouldn’t describe as ‘mild’. And when, last week, NHS leaders issued an urgent nationwide alert to doctors, warning of a more severe ‘coronavirus-related syndrome’ in children, I began to wonder: could this have been it? I know that other families have seen their children go down with unexpected and sometimes frightening symptoms in the past few weeks before bouncing back. Are children more seriously at risk than we have – so far – been told? The alert about the new syndrome came from doctors in London and elsewhere in the UK who had noticed a sudden spike in children admitted to intensive care with rashes, convulsions, cardiac inflammation and stomach pain. The suggestion is that in very rare cases, Covid-19 might cause a child’s immune system to overreact as it battles to fight off the virus. This can lead to a general inflammation of blood vessels similar to Kawasaki disease, a rare condition that usually affects under-fives. It can cause damage to internal organs. Given what we’d experienced, I began to investigate. At first, the statistics were encouraging. Children seemed largely untouched by the virus. Save for some tragic cases – last month a five-year-old became the UK’s youngest victim – the NHS guidance shows that children, if they do get coronavirus, seem to experience very mild symptoms. The chances that Ivy had been in danger seemed small. Children have so far accounted for only between one per cent and five per cent of diagnosed Covid-19 cases worldwide. Mostly they show milder signs of the disease, and deaths among the under-tens are rare. Great Ormond Street experts say about half of children have a fever, 40 per cent have a cough and fewer than ten per cent have gastrointestinal symptoms. But then came last week’s news that children could not only catch the virus, but that in some rare cases, the consequences are severe. For these children, the immune system, which remains immature right up to adolescence, can become its own worst enemy. Professor Russell Viner, president of the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), told me that UK medics were the first to spot the alarming – yet rare – phenomenon and have since discussed their findings with Italian and Spanish doctors who realise with hindsight that they, too, have seen such cases. ‘We’ve seen this in adults, too, though not this exact phenomenon,’ said Prof Viner. ‘The link to Covid-19 isn’t yet proven but we think it’s very likely. However, it’s important to realise that this is not a new mutation of the bug or something we’re worried is going to escalate. It’s an incredibly rare subset, and we know how to treat it.’ He added: ‘These findings are testimony to the way our doctors and researchers work together. It’s just what we’re good at.’ There have been 20 cases in the UK, according to the RCPCH, but with no one sign or symptom. Dr Mike Linney, paediatrician and registrar at the RCPCH, said: ‘All of these children were extremely unwell, with features suggestive of sepsis such as a persistently high temperature coupled with rapid breathing, cold hands and feet and sleepiness. ‘The other symptoms varied greatly in the different cases.’ It all rings a worrying bell for me. Not long before my daughter’s fainting spell, my five-year-old son suddenly fell ill. Ted woke in the night saying he was ‘not vewwy well’. He had started coughing the day before so, with coronavirus on my mind, I checked his temperature. It was normal, so I wondered whether he was just having a bad dream. Unusually clingy, he grabbed my arm and said: ‘Mummy, don’t leave me.’ Within 20 minutes his temperature rocketed to 40C and his little body (why do children always seem to look so much smaller when they’re poorly?) was shaking violently. He was still clinging on to me as I mouthed over his shoulder to my husband: ‘Oh God, this must be “it”.’ Ted vomited several times – the bathroom, his room, our room. Yet within 24 hours he seemed almost back to his usual self. Almost. But here’s the strangest thing: nearly two weeks later, he still wasn’t well and spiralled down again. This time, his fever lasted seven days and nights and his cough had returned with a vengeance. He complained of a sharp, persistent pain in his armpit and one in his tummy. He had diarrhoea, barely ate and would fall asleep sitting up in chairs. His breathing was laboured and I would go into his room every hour through the night to check on him. I made a couple of frantic calls to the GP surgery and had a phone call with a doctor and then, a few days later, a video call with another. Was I missing something? Tonsillitis? Appendicitis? Something that could be treated, I hoped. Their view was that this was coronavirus, and they said that if his breathing got worse I should call back or, if I was really worried, go to hospital. The boomerang nature of it shocked me but after a week of being so ill – far worse than last year’s chicken pox or his infant case of hand, foot and mouth disease – the colour gradually returned to his cheeks. Then, within days of the children being ill, I had the cough, too. There followed a week in bed for me with chest pains and a terrifying sensation that felt like drowning despite being on dry land. Did we all have coronavirus? None of us was tested, but I’d put money on it. Certainly, we need to know more about how this virus affects children and, in order for us to successfully emerge from lockdown, how they transmit it. My two are now completely better, thank goodness. But the biggest worry is that other parents will be lulled into a false sense of security and believe, like I did, that coronavirus is not a big deal for children. The fear is that some won’t seek help when it is needed. As any good doctor will tell you, parents know their child best. You know what ‘a bit under the weather’ looks like and that it’s a world away from ‘desperately poorly’. We must remember, too, that there are doctors there to help. As the dedicated team at King’s College Hospital said to me: ‘We’re open for business as usual.’
2 May 21:03 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8280849/Kate-Mansey-thought-daughter-dead-recover-develop-temperature-cough.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
‘I died and came back,’ says Louisiana girl, 12, who recovered from coronavirus | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
COVINGTON, LA. >> As her desperately sick daughter was being airlifted to a hospital, Jennifer Daly was thinking about all the parts of life that still lay ahead for her 12-year-old and whether she’d ever experience them: Would she get to fall in love? Would she get the chance to get married and have her own children? Driving across the causeway that separates the family’s home north of Lake Pontchartrain from the New Orleans hospital where their daughter was taken — with what was later determined to be a coronavirus infection — she was forced to imagine a life without her Juliet. “She’s the sweetest girl. She’s the sweetest girl in the whole world. And she does not deserve this. And I was praying to God … just please, please help, please help me,” said Jennifer, speaking from the family’s Covington home Thursday, with her husband Sean and their now-recovered daughter. As Juliet and her 5-year-old brother spar with each other using pool noodles, it’s hard to imagine that just last month Juliet was fighting for her life. At one point she had a heart attack and doctors had to perform CPR for two minutes before she came back. “I died and came back,” Juliet said. Her coronavirus journey didn’t start with many of the symptoms that have affected adults — breathing problems, for example. She had stomach pain and vomiting, and her mother, who’s a radiologist, thought maybe it was appendicitis or some type of stomach problem. But Juliet’s lips were also turning blue and her limbs were cold. Juliet quickly ended up in the emergency room of the local hospital. There, she had a heart attack, underwent CPR, and was eventually airlifted to Ochsner Medical Center. Dr. Jake Kleinmahon was one of the doctors who was there to meet her and care for her over the next 10 days. “Juliet came in as one of the sickest children we’ve taken care of with COVID-19,” said Kleinmahon. The top chamber of her heart was not working correctly with the bottom chamber, and she was developing “multisystem organ failure,” he said. Kleinmahon said children with coronavirus infections often have different symptoms than adults, such as the abdominal problems Juliet had, or rashes in other cases. He said many children also have another virus besides the coronavirus and that was the case with Juliet. For most people, the virus causes no, mild or moderate symptoms, but some suffer severe disease and even death. Juliet was on a ventilator for four days, during which she was sedated and then was eventually able to breathe on her own. She was discharged on April 15. The doctor said her heart function is now completely normal. Although she likely has a little trauma to her heart that should decrease over time, Kleinmahon expects she’ll have a “totally normal life.” When she regained consciousness, her parents said she immediately worried about missing school. Her mother said that when she told Juliet what had happened, her eyes got as big as saucers. “At first I was freaking out a lot,” Juliet said. And then she was worried about whether there were any lasting effects to her body. Jennifer said she and her husband hadn’t known anyone who’d even been infected with coronavirus until their daughter became so drastically ill. If they hadn’t gotten her to the hospital in time, they don’t know if she’d be alive today. She’s glad Juliet doesn’t remember those four days on a ventilator — days Jennifer will never forget. “All she remembers is daddy telling her she’s going to go to sleep. ‘They’re going to put a tube down your throat. You’re gonna go on a helicopter ride. You’re gonna wake up in a new hospital and mommy will be there’” said Jennifer. “Well, that’s what happened.”
2 May 16:27 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/02/breaking-news/i-died-and-came-back-says-12-year-old-girl-who-recovered-from-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
‘No final words, no I love you’ as family loses their rock to COVID-19
Maria Garcia-Rodelo was her family’s rock — always there for her husband and children. “I think that’s going to be the hardest thing, to adjust to not having her guide me in motherhood,” said her daughter, Lisa Garcia, 26. “My sisters and I wouldn’t be the women that we are if it weren’t for my mom. Every time I had a question, mom would be the first person I call.” The 52-year-old mother of seven passed away from COVID-19 on April 12, according to her family. Her family believe she contracted the virus at her job as a housekeeper for Embassy Suites. The hotel did not return multiple requests for comment. Aside from a diagnosis of osteoporosis, Garcia-Rodelo seemed healthy, her family members say. She took between two and three months off work to strengthen her bones and returned to her job in mid-February with a lighter workload. When nonessential businesses were ordered to close on March 18, the Garcia family was surprised the hotel stayed open, even though the order exempted hotels, and that Garcia-Rodelo continued working. “My mom was very hardworking. If they were short-staffed, my mom would be the one who would say, ‘I can stay. I’ll help out,’” Lisa Garcia said. After her shift on March 25, Garcia-Rodelo came home feeling sick, Lisa Garcia said. The last night Lisa Garcia saw her mother, she remembers Garcia-Rodelo saying her chest felt heavy and tight. The next morning, on March 29, Lisa Garcia called 911. “She said, ‘I can’t breathe, just call me an ambulance. I need to go now,’” Lisa Garcia said. “That was the last time any of us really saw her.” The family was not allowed to visit Garcia-Rodelo at Centennial Hospital, so Lisa Garcia and her oldest brother, Sergio, 34, took turns calling the hospital once in the morning and once at night for updates on her condition. Lisa Garcia was devastated she couldn’t be in the same room with her mother, much less the same building as her mother and offer support — especially since the family lived nearby. “Knowing she was a two-minute walk away and we couldn’t be there was heartbreaking,” she said. At first staff thought Garcia-Rodelo had pneumonia, but a positive test for the coronavirus confirmed the worst — it had started attacking her lungs. “Everything seemed to be OK. She was stable until the day she passed,” Sergio Garcia said. The last time Lisa Garcia spoke to her mother, she explained to her that doctors would sedate her to put her on a ventilator and under incubation. “The last thing I said to her was ‘Hey mom, they think you have the COVID but they are going to intubate you right away and clear your airways,” Lisa Garcia said. “I didn’t get to say I love you or anything like that to her.” On April 11, Garcia-Rodelo suffered cardiac arrest and staff admitted a few family members who were able to see her lying on a hospital bed through a small window in the door of the room. “There was no contact, no final words, no I love you,” Sergio Garcia said. After about two weeks of fighting for her life, Garcia-Rodelo died the following day on Easter Sunday. Though her life had ended, the coronavirus lingered and Garcia-Rodelo’s body still had to be buried. Staff at the funeral agency told the family they would have to wait two weeks before they could process her body. So, they chose to bury her the day after her birthday, May 8. Then the Garcias learned more bad news. There could only be 10 people at the funeral. “You’d think that at least we can give her the funeral she deserves with all the people that love her to say goodbye,” Lisa Garcia said. “She has seven kids; that alone is the whole funeral.” Shortly after their mother went to the hospital, their father, David Garcia, also started having issues breathing and was given an inhaler and medication. Lately, he has been doing better, according to Sergio Garcia. He was tested for the coronavirus but had not yet received the results. Garcia-Rodelo’s dedication to her family created her children’s happiest memories. When the Garcia children were younger, she would walk them to school every morning and when classes ended for the day, she was the first parent to arrive. As her children grew, she was there every step of the way. When Lisa Garcia gave birth to her son about two years ago, Garcia-Rodelo helped deliver him and wouldn’t leave her side until Lisa Garcia was discharged. She was so happy to have another grandchild. “I think she cried more than I did,” Lisa Garcia recalled. Rodelo-Garcia is survived by her husband, David; her seven children, Sergio; Misael, 27; Lisa; Pamela, 24; Eleazar, 22; Eliseo, 20; Rutilio, 18; and three grandchildren, Maya Victoria Garcia, 11; Levi Kenta Koch, 1’ and Emmy Veronica Garcia, 1. Lisa Garcia’s advice to others during the pandemic is to treat the coronavirus seriously. “People need to stop taking this as a joke,” she said. “For a lot of people, it’s not going to matter until you lose a loved one and you’re going to regret going out and having little social gatherings. People are dying and this is real. Just stay home.” Donations sought A GoFundMe has been started for the Garcia family to help them cover medical and funeral expenses. About $7,900 has been raised out of a $25,000 goal. To donate go to: www.gofundme.com/f/loving-mother-taken-too-soon-from-covid.
2 May 00:10 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/local/no-final-words-no-i-love-you-as-family-loses-their-rock-to-covid-19-2019448/Rating: 0.30
Afghanistan probes reports Iranian guards forced migrants into river
3 May 17:42
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Afghanistan probes reports Iranian guards forced migrants into river
HERAT, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan officials were hunting on Sunday for Afghan migrants in a river bordering Iran after reports that Iranian border guards tortured dozens and threw them into the water to keep them out of Iran. Authorities in western Herat province said they retrieved 12 bodies from the Harirud river and at least eight other people were missing. The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen an exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran, with many testing positive. Up to 2,000 Afghans cross the border from Iran, a coronavirus hotspot, into Herat each day. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry said on Saturday an inquiry had been launched. A senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans trying to enter Iran from Herat were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river on Saturday. Abbas Mousavi, a spokesman for Iran’s foreign ministry, said the “incident” took place on Afghan soil. “Border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran denied the occurrence of any events related to this on the soil of our country,” he said in a statement on Sunday. Abdul Ghani Noori, governor of Herat’s Gulran district, said dozens of Afghan migrant workers were thrown into the river by members of the Iranian army. “Iranian armymen used shovels and gunshots to injure Afghan workers and threw them in water,” Noori told Reuters, adding that some of the injured workers were being treated in a hospital. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants. “So far, five bodies have been transferred to the hospital. Of these bodies, it’s clear that four died due to drowning,” said Aref Jalali, head of the hospital. He added that two injured men were brought to the hospital on Sunday evening. The Taliban militant group, fighting to oust the Afghan government, said Iran should launch an investigation into the killings and “strictly punish the perpetrators”. “We have learnt that 57 Afghans on their way to the Islamic Republic of Iran for work were initially tortured by Iranian border guards and 23 of them later brutally martyred,” the Taliban said in a statement. Noor Mohammad said he was one of the Afghans caught by Iranian border guards as they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work. “After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river,” Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 people thrown into the river were dead. Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been killed by Iranian police guarding the 920-km (520-mile) border. As of Sunday, at least 541 coronavirus-infected people in Afghanistan were from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of cases Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat.
3 May 17:42 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-afghanistan-iran-migrants-idUSKBN22F0ASRating: 4.04
Afghanistan probes report Iranian border guards forced migrants into river, many drowned
HERAT (Reuters) - Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. Afghanistan s foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river. The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. "So far, 5 bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that 4 died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital. The Iranian consulate in Herat denied the allegations of torture and subsequent drowning of dozens of Afghan migrant workers by border police. "Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens," the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Iranian embassy officials in the Afghan capital Kabul were not immediately available for a comment. Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday when they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Herat. "After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river," Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead. "Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot," said Agha. Local Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920 kms (520 miles) long border. Herat s governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said, "Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts." The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19. Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Herat. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat.
3 May 17:30 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/543857-Afghanistan-probes-Iranian-border-guards-forced-migrants-river-drownedRating: 1.71
Afghanistan probes report Iranian border guards forced migrants into river, many drowned
Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. Afghanistan's foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Heart province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river. The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Doctors at Heart District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. "So far, 5 bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that 4 died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of Heart District Hospital. The Iranian consulate in Heart denied the allegations of torture and subsequent drowning of dozens of Afghan migrant workers by border police. "Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens," the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Iranian embassy officials in the Afghan capital Kabul were not immediately available for a comment. Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday when they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Heart. "After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river," Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead. "Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot," said Agha. Local Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920 kms (520 miles) long border. Herat's governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said, "Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts." The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19. Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Heart. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Heart province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Heart.
3 May 13:43 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/south-asia/2020/05/03/afghanistan-probes-report-iranian-border-guards-forced-migrants-into-river-many-drownedRating: 2.85
Afghanistan probes report Iran guards forced migrants into river
Afghanistan has begun retrieving bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. Afghanistan's foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested that at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into Harirud River. The Harirud River basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. "So far, five bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that four died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital. The Iranian consulate in Herat denied the allegations of torture and subsequent drowning of dozens of Afghan migrant workers by border police. "Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens," the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday as they tried to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Herat. "After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river," Mohammad told Reuters News Agency. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river had died. "Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot," said Agha. Local Afghan officials said it was not the first time Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920km (520 mile) long border. Herat Governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said: "Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts." The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19. Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Herat. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat.
3 May 10:08 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/afghanistan-probes-report-iran-guards-forced-migrants-river-200503092623834.htmlRating: 2.44
Afghanistan Probes Report of Iranian Border Guards Torturing, Killing Migrants
Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river. The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Doctors at Heart District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. “So far, five bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that four died due to drowning,” said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital. The Iranian consulate in Herat denied the allegations. “Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens,” the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Iranian embassy officials in the Afghan capital Kabul were not immediately available for a comment. Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday when they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Herat. “After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river,” Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead. “Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot,” said Agha. Local Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920 kms (520 miles) long border. Herat’s governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said, “Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts.” The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19. Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Herat. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat.
3 May 09:15 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2265241/afghanistan-probes-report-iranian-border-guards-torturing-killing-migrantsRating: 2.10
Afghanistan probes report Iranian border guards forced migrants into river, many drowned
HERAT — Afghan officials on Sunday launched a hunt to retrieve bodies of Afghan migrants from a river in a western province after reports that Iranian border guards tortured and threw Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. Afghanistan’s foreign ministry in a statement on Saturday said an inquiry had been launched and a senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from bordering Herat province were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river. The Harirud river basin is shared by Afghanistan, Iran and Turkmenistan. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. “So far, 5 bodies have been transferred to the hospital, of these bodies, its clear that 4 died due to drowning,” said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital. The Iranian consulate in Herat denied the allegations of torture and subsequent drowning of dozens of Afghan migrant workers by border police. “Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens,” the consulate said in a statement on Saturday. Iranian embassy officials in the Afghan capital Kabul were not immediately available for a comment. Noor Mohammad said he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on Saturday when they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work from Gulran District of Herat. “After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river,” Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead. “Iranian soldiers warned us that if we do not throw ourselves into the water, we will be shot,” said Agha. Local Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian police guarding the 920 kms (520 miles) long border. Herat’s governor Sayed Wahid Qatali in a tweet to Iranian officials said, “Our people are not just some names you threw into the river. One day we will settle accounts.” The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen a mass exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran with many testing positive for COVID-19. Up to 2,000 Afghans daily cross the border from Iran, a global coronavirus hotspot, into Herat. As of Sunday, at least 541 infected people are from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of positive cases found among Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat. (Additional reporting by Orooj Hakimi, Hamid Shalizi in Kabul, Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by Michael Perry)
3 May 09:07 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/politics-news-pmn/afghanistan-probes-report-iranian-border-guards-forced-migrants-into-river-many-drowned-2Rating: 1.59
Afghanistan Probes Reports Of Migrant Drownings By Iranian Border Guards
Afghan officials on May 3 launched an operation to locate and retrieve bodies of migrants from a river in western Herat Province after reports that Iranian border guards had thrown Afghans into the river to prevent their entry into Iran. In a statement on May 2, the Afghan Foreign Ministry said a probe had been launched into the reports. It was not immediately clear how many migrants had been involved in the alleged incident, which was denied by the Iranian consulate in the region. A senior official in the presidential administration said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans who were trying to enter Iran from Herat were beaten and pushed into the Harirud River. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of five Afghan migrants, some of whom had drowned. "Of these bodies, it's clear that four died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of Herat District Hospital. Provincial council member Ahmad Karokhi said that 12 people were able to swim to safety, adding that seven bodies have been recovered from the river in the Gulran district of Herat. Afghan citizen Noor Muhammad told Reuters he was one of 57 Afghan citizens who were caught by Iranian border guards on May 2 when they were trying to cross into Iran from the Gulran district. "After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud River," Mohammad told Reuters, adding that the group was in search of work. Another man from the group, Shir Agha, said he also survived but that at least 23 of the 57 people thrown by Iranian soldiers into the river were dead. The Iranian Consulate in Herat denied the allegations. "Iranian border guards have not arrested any Afghan citizens," the consulate said in a statement on May 2. Iranian Embassy officials in the Afghan capital, Kabul, were not immediately available for comment. Afghan officials in the area say this was not the first time that Afghans had been tortured and killed by Iranian security forces guarding the 920-kilometer border. The incident comes as the coronavirus outbreak has seen a mass return of Afghan migrants from Iran, one of the global pandemic hotspots, with many returnees testing positive for the virus. Decades of conflict, extreme poverty, and high rates of unemployment force thousands of Afghans to illegally cross the border to Iran every year. There are currently up to 1 million registered Afghan refugees in Iran, while the country hosts another 2 million undocumented Afghans, according to UN reports.
3 May 13:05 • Radio Free Europe / Radio Liberty • https://www.rferl.org/a/afghanistan-probes-reports-of-migrant-drownings-by-iranian-border-guards/30590305.htmlRating: 0.57
Afghanistan probes reports Iranian guards forced migrants into river
By Storay Karimi and Abdul Qadir Sediqi HERAT, Afghanistan/KABUL (Reuters) - Afghan officials were hunting on Sunday for Afghan migrants in a river bordering Iran after reports that Iranian border guards tortured dozens and threw them into the water to keep them out of Iran. Authorities in western Herat province said they retrieved 12 bodies from the Harirud river and at least eight other people were missing. The incident could trigger a diplomatic crisis between Iran and Afghanistan at a time when the coronavirus pandemic has seen an exodus of Afghan migrants from Iran, with many testing positive. Up to 2,000 Afghans cross the border from Iran, a coronavirus hotspot, into Herat each day. Afghanistan's foreign ministry said on Saturday an inquiry had been launched. A senior official in the presidential palace in Kabul said initial assessments suggested at least 70 Afghans trying to enter Iran from Herat were beaten and pushed into the Harirud river on Saturday. Abbas Mousavi, a spokesman for Iran's foreign ministry, said the "incident" took place on Afghan soil. "Border guards of the Islamic Republic of Iran denied the occurrence of any events related to this on the soil of our country," he said in a statement on Sunday. Abdul Ghani Noori, governor of Herat's Gulran district, said dozens of Afghan migrant workers were thrown into the river by members of the Iranian army. "Iranian armymen used shovels and gunshots to injure Afghan workers and threw them in water," Noori told Reuters, adding that some of the injured workers were being treated in a hospital. Doctors at Herat District Hospital said they had received the bodies of Afghan migrants. "So far, five bodies have been transferred to the hospital. Of these bodies, it's clear that four died due to drowning," said Aref Jalali, head of the hospital. He added that two injured men were brought to the hospital on Sunday evening. The Taliban militant group, fighting to oust the Afghan government, said Iran should launch an investigation into the killings and "strictly punish the perpetrators". "We have learnt that 57 Afghans on their way to the Islamic Republic of Iran for work were initially tortured by Iranian border guards and 23 of them later brutally martyred," the Taliban said in a statement. Noor Mohammad said he was one of the Afghans caught by Iranian border guards as they were trying to cross into Iran in search of work. "After being tortured, the Iranian soldiers threw all of us in the Harirud river," Mohammad told Reuters. Shir Agha, who said he also survived the violence, said at least 23 people thrown into the river were dead. Afghan officials that it was not the first time that Afghans had been killed by Iranian police guarding the 920-km (520-mile) border. As of Sunday, at least 541 coronavirus-infected people in Afghanistan were from Herat province, which recorded 13 deaths, with the majority of cases Afghan returnees from Iran, said Rafiq Shirzad, a health ministry spokesman in Herat. (Additional reporting by Orooj Hakimi, Hamid Shalizi in Kabul; Writing by Rupam Jain; Editing by Nick Macfie and Frances Kerry)
3 May 08:55 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/afghanistan-probes-report-iranian-border-085550131.htmlRating: 0.30
Zoom video app logins were put on sale on dark web
3 May 16:47
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10 articles
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Weighted average IN: 21.19175340551333
Zoom video app logins were put on sale on dark web
Hackers put more than half a million login details for the teleconferencing app Zoom on the dark web, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. The logins were put up for sale at 1 pence (1.25 cents) each and were discovered and bought by cybersecurity intelligence company Cyble, the paper said. Cyble purchased the logins from a Russian-speaking person on the Telegram messaging service, which allows anonymous messaging. Zoom Video Communications Inc. has seen global usage of its service surge during coronavirus shutdowns, but has come under increasing pressure over vulnerabilities in the app's software encryption. The company has been sued amid accusations it hid flaws in its app and has seen cases of online trolls sneak in and disrupt web meetings with profanity and pornography. Zoom's shares have more than doubled this year alongside its meteoric rise in popularity, but privacy and cybersecurity experts have expressed skepticism. From Elon Musk's SpaceX to New York City's Department of Education, agencies around the world have begun to ban usage of the app amid security concerns. It's common for web services to be targeted by activity which involves bad actors testing large numbers of already compromised credentials from other platforms to see if they've been re-used, a Zoom spokesperson said in a statement. Zoom also said it's hired multiple intelligence firms to find these password dumps and the tools used to create them, as well as a company that has shut down thousands of websites attempting to trick users into downloading malware or giving up their credentials. "We continue to investigate, are locking accounts we have found to be compromised, asking users to change their passwords to something more secure, and are looking at implementing additional technology solutions to bolster our efforts," the spokesperson said.
3 May 16:47 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/technology/media/zoom-video-app-logins-were-put-on-sale-on-dark-web-1.1588524848294Rating: 3.21
Zoom logins were put up for sale on dark web: Times
Hackers put more than half a million login details for the teleconferencing app Zoom on the dark web, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. The logins were put up for sale at 1 pence (1.25 cents) each and were discovered and bought by cybersecurity intelligence company Cyble, the paper said. Cyble bought the logins from a Russian-speaking person on the Telegram messaging service, which allows anonymous messaging. Zoom Video Communications Inc. has seen global usage of its service surge during coronavirus shutdowns, but has come under increasing pressure over vulnerabilities in the app’s software encryption. The company has been sued amid accusations it hid flaws in its app and has seen cases of online trolls sneak in and disrupt web meetings with profanity and pornography. Zoom’s shares have more than doubled this year alongside its meteoric rise in popularity, but privacy and cybersecurity experts have expressed skepticism. From Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla Inc. to New York City’s Department of Education, agencies around the world have begun to ban usage of the app amid security concerns. © 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
3 May 11:24 • Moneyweb • https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/tech/zoom-logins-were-put-up-for-sale-on-dark-web-times/Rating: 1.42
Zoom video app logins were put on sale on the dark web, says report
Hackers put more than half a million login details for the teleconferencing app Zoom on the dark web, The Sunday Times newspaper reported. The logins were put up for sale at 1 pence (1.25 cents) each and were discovered and bought by cybersecurity intelligence company Cyble, the paper said. Cyble bought the logins from a Russian-speaking person on the Telegram messaging service, which allows anonymous messaging. ALSO READ: Hotels offer guests 'pay now & check-in later' option to tide through Covid Zoom Video Communications has seen global usage of its service surge during coronavirus shutdowns, but has come under increasing pressure over vulnerabilities in the app’s software encryption. The company has been sued amid accusations it hid flaws in its app and has seen cases of online trolls sneak in and disrupt web meetings with profanity and pornography. Zoom’s shares have more than doubled this year alongside its meteoric rise in popularity, but privacy and cybersecurity experts have expressed scepticism. From Elon Musk’s SpaceX and Tesla. to New York City’s Department of Education, agencies around the world have begun to ban usage of the app amid security concerns.
3 May 18:14 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/technology/zoom-video-app-logins-were-put-on-sale-on-the-dark-web-says-report-120050301144_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Hacker sells 91 million Tokopedia accounts, cracked passwords shared
A hacker is selling a database containing the information of 91 million Tokopedia accounts on a dark web market for as little as $5,000. Other threat actors have already started to crack passwords and share them online. Tokopedia is Indonesia's largest online store, with 4,700 employees and over 90 million active users. This weekend, data breach monitoring and cybersecurity intelligence firm Under the Breach discovered that a hacker was offering the account information for 15 million Tokopedia users on an online hacker forum. To access this data, forum users would need to spend eight site 'credits', which costs approximately €2.13. The hacker claims that this data was a small subset of a more substantial 91 million user dump stolen from Tokopedia during a March 2020 hack. Soon after the smaller subset was released on the hacker forum, the same hacker began selling the full 91 million user database on an online criminal marketplace for as little $5,000. At the time of this writing, the database has been sold two times. From a sample of the leaked data shared with BleepingComputer by Under the Breach, the dump was for a PostgreSQL database that contains many fields for personal user data, but only a small subset actually contain information. The most serious of the exposed data consists of a user's email address, full name, birth date, and hashed user passwords. Some of the exposed accounts also have their mobile device's Mobile Station International Subscriber Directory Number (MSISDN) listed. In a statement, VP of Corporate Communications Tokopedia, Nuraini Razak has told BleepingComputer that they are currently conducting an investigation into do the data leak and are enhancing the security of their systems. "Tokopedia is working closely with several strategic partners, including the Ministry of Communication and Information Technology RI and National Cyber and Crypto Agency, to conduct a thorough investigation, while enhancing the security system in order to maintain user confidence. We would like to emphasize once again that Tokopedia is a business of trust. Therefore, the security of our users' data is Tokopedia's utmost priority." Under the Breach has told BleepingComputer that threat actors have already started to share over 200,000 user names and their associated dehashed, or cracked, passwords on hacking forums. These dehashed accounts are being shared for free to use who simply reply to the forum topic or who have upgraded accounts on the forum. Cybersecurity intelligence firm Cyble has also told BleepingCompter that they are aware of threat actors who claim to be selling a list of millions of Tokopedia usernames and their associated dehashed, or cracked, passwords for just $8,000. Cyble believes the database has been privately circulating since April, and now that it is publicly leaked, the threat actor decided to sell their dehashed account list before others release it. BleepingComputer has not been able to independently confirm if these are legitimate dehashed accounts or if the threat actor is trying to pull a money grab scam. Cyble has stated that they acquired the Tokopedia database and users can check if their account has been exposed via Cyble's data breach monitoring platform amibreached.com. All Tokopedia users should make the assumption that if their passwords is not dehashed already, it may be in the future, and should immediately change their password to a unique one only used at that site. For any other site that the same password was used, it should be changed to a unique one there as well. Finally, all users who were exposed by this data breach should be on the lookout for targeted phishing attacks that utilize the information from this data dump. Update 5/4/20: Added statement from Tokopedia
3 May 17:59 • BleepingComputer • https://www.bleepingcomputer.com/news/security/hacker-sells-91-million-tokopedia-accounts-cracked-passwords-shared/Rating: 1.68
Data breach jeopardizes more than 15 million Tokopedia users, report finds
Homegrown e-commerce unicorn Tokopedia has had its internal database breached by an as-yet unidentified party, resulting in a massive data leak that has affected millions of its users, according to a recent report by cybersecurity research collective Under the Breach. The group wrote on its official Twitter page @underthebreach that the hack occurred in March and affected personal information belonging to more than 15 million users. The full database – which reportedly includes 91 million records consisting of email addresses, password hashes (an encrypted form of users’ passwords) and names of Tokopedia users – has now been put up for sale on the dark web for US$5,000 by a member of data-exchange platform Raid Forums, the group said. Tokopedia spokesperson Nuraini Razak confirmed that a breach had taken place but claimed the company had ensured the security of its users’ personal data. “We have detected an attempt to steal data belonging to Tokopedia users. However, we have made sure that our users’ personal information, such as passwords, remain protected,” Nuraini said in a statement on Saturday. Nevertheless, she urged Tokopedia users to change their passwords to prevent data thieves from misusing their accounts despite the platform’s encryption measures. “Although passwords and other crucial user data remain encrypted, we still encourage Tokopedia users to change their passwords periodically to ensure their safety and security,” Nuraini said. Data related to payment methods stored on Tokopedia, such as credit cards, debit cards and e-wallet information, was not affected by the breach, she said, adding that the company was investigating the breach.
3 May 16:28 • The Jakarta Post • https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/03/data-breach-jeopardizes-more-than-15-million-tokopedia-users-report-finds.htmlRating: 1.40
Zoom Video App Logins Were Put on Sale on Dark Web: Times
Sign up here for our daily coronavirus newsletter on what you need to know, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis. Hackers put more than half a million login details for the teleconferencing app Zoom on the dark web, the Sunday Times newspaper reported. The logins were put up for sale at 1 pence (1.25 cents) each and were discovered and bought by cybersecurity intelligence company Cyble, the paper said. Cyble purchased the logins from a Russian-speaking person on the Telegram messaging service, which allows anonymous messaging. Zoom Video Communications Inc. has seen global usage of its service surge during coronavirus shutdowns, but has come under increasing pressure over vulnerabilities in the app’s software encryption. The company has been sued amid accusations it hid flaws in its app and has seen cases of online trolls sneak in and disrupt web meetings with profanity and pornography. Zoom Goes From Conferencing App to the Pandemic’s Social Network Zoom’s shares have more than doubled this year alongside its meteoric rise in popularity, but privacy and cybersecurity experts have expressed skepticism. From Elon Musk’s SpaceX to New York City’s Department of Education, agencies around the world have begun to ban usage of the app amid security concerns. It’s common for web services to be targeted by activity which involves bad actors testing large numbers of already compromised credentials from other platforms to see if they’ve been re-used, a Zoom spokesperson said in a statement. Zoom also said it’s hired multiple intelligence firms to find these password dumps and the tools used to create them, as well as a company that has shut down thousands of websites attempting to trick users into downloading malware or giving up their credentials. “We continue to investigate, are locking accounts we have found to be compromised, asking users to change their passwords to something more secure, and are looking at implementing additional technology solutions to bolster our efforts,” the spokesperson said. (Updates with Zoom comment from fifth paragraph.)
3 May 09:45 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/zoom-video-app-logins-were-put-up-for-sale-on-dark-web-timesRating: 4.04
Google Play Store Apps Infected by PhantomLance Backdoor Had Been Stealing Data Since 2016
A group of hackers has been using Google Play Store to distribute malware which has been used to steal private data since the end of 2016. Kaspersky Labs has shared a detailed report on PhantomLance Trojan backdoor, which is being called a sophisticated form of malware, which is not only harder to detect but also to investigate. Kaspersky shares that the malware can basically get access to all information on an infected smartphone: 11-inch iPad Pro for $699 is a Crazy Good Deal [Free Shipping Included] During investigation, the malware was found in popular apps and utilities that allow users to change fonts, remove advertisements and perform system cleanups. The developers behind these apps were able to bypass any security checks in Google Play Store by starting with non-malicious versions of their apps. Once the apps were published, they were able to add malicious features later onwards through updates, which went unchecked by Google Play Store. The developers were also able to create unique profiles on GitHub to act as credible development sources. The primary targets for PhantomLance have reportedly been users in Vietnam, however, the infected apps had been downloaded in other parts of the world too. The trojan has been linked to a group called OceanLotus, which has a history of similar malware attacks on desktop operating systems. These groups are often backed by high level officials and even governments. Even though Google has removed these apps from Play Store, they are still available online on various APK download websites, and other third-party stores. It seems that even if you only install apps from Google Play Store, you are still unsafe unless you check the authenticity of the developers. A quick Google search can reveal a lot of credible information about developers, and if something seems dubious from the search results, avoid such apps. The open nature of Android can also work against it as anyone can simply sign up to Play Store and publish a malicious app. Call of Duty: Modern Warfare Looks Rather Playable In Glitched Third-Person Camera This continues to be alarming for the world's most popular operating system, whether desktop or mobile. Android is used on 2.5 billion devices around the globe, and Google has repeatedlyfailed to provideadequate privacy and security safeguards to users for apps that are distributed through its official marketplace. If you are interested in the technical background of how the malware works and the investigation that went on behind the scenes by Kaspersky Labs, read their detailed report here.
3 May 16:12 • Wccftech • https://wccftech.com/google-play-store-apps-infected-by-phantomlance-backdoor-had-been-stealing-data-since-2016/Rating: 1.26
Le Figaro caught out in database exposure
As well as exposing data about its own staff, the leading French daily has also exposed least information relating to some 42,000 users, as Bleeping Computer has reported. The breach is significant in terms of news media. Le Figaro's site is the most visited news site in France with an audience of more than 23 million monthly unique visitors. The data exposed by this misconfigure could be used by fraudsters for identity theft and fraud, for credential phishing attacks. Due to the fact that there were no passwords on the server, the data was available to anyone who wanted to access it. The repercussions of this breach are beyond the initial exposure, according to Jumio CEO Robert Prigge, who provides comment for Digital Journal. According to Prigge: "The 7.4 billion personal records exposed by Le Figaro are certain to make it onto the dark web where they will be bought and sold for profit and combined with other available information to create a “fullz,” giving fraudsters everything they need to commit automated account takeover fraud." The significance of this, Prigge explains is that: "Cybercriminals can then use this data to access anything from bank accounts to social media apps, which are often used to unlock even more personal accounts. People frequently use the same password across accounts, making it even simpler for fraudsters to execute credential stuffing and access as many user accounts as possible with the same exposed password." In terms of the significant lessons to learn from this incident, Prigge notes: "While the database was not secured with a password, organizations should not be relying on passwords to keep personal records secure. Leveraging biometric authentication (using a person’s unique human traits to confirm identity) is a more secure way to confirm only an account owner can access their data."
2 May 20:41 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/tech-and-science/technology/le-figaro-caught-out-in-database-exposure/article/571103Rating: 0.78
Beware! Fake email campaign prowling in Indian cyberspace
Country's federal cybersecurity agency has alerted Internet users against an ongoing "fake" email campaign that claims to have recorded personal video of a user which could be published if a ransom amount in crypto-currency is not paid. The Computer Emergency Response Team of India (CERT-In), in the latest advisory, has said while there is "nothing to worry" about such emails, users should update or change their passwords, used to log in any of their social media or other online platforms, if they find them compromised. "In email extortion campaign, the scammers have sent numerous emails to people stating that their computers were hacked, a video was taken using their webcam and that they know their passwords," the advisory, also accessed by PTI, said. These emails are fake, scams, and nothing to worry about, it added. The CERT-In is the national technology arm to combat cyberattacks and guarding of the Indian cyberspace. The agency mentions the contents of a typical 'extortion' email in the advisory: Firstly, the scammer would try to grab the recipient's attention by writing their old password in the mail. After that, the scammer would craft a story containing computer jargons in order to convince the recipient that the scammer is a very skilled hacker. The story would state that the hacker had placed a malware on a porn website and while the user was watching the video, his webcam and display screen was hacked breaching all his contacts from messenger, FaceBook and email. The advisory states that this could be the "final step" before seeking the ransom. It adds that the scammer will then demand ransom in the form of Bitcoin (cryptocurrency). "Now, the scammer or cyber-criminal will give a deadline of 24 hours to comply and threaten to send videos to the relatives, co-workers etc of the user," it said. The CERT-In said the user's secret passcode mentioned in the fake email could be "actual passwords used by the recipient of the email in the past, but the attacker does not know them by hacking their account, but rather through leaked data breaches shared online." "Recipients should not send any payments to the scammers and if the passwords listed are in use or familiar, recipients are advised to change the password at any site that they are being used," it said.
2 May 14:14 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/beware-fake-email-campaign-prowling-in-indian-cyberspace-832629.htmlRating: 2.25
Hacker leaks 15 million records from Tokopedia, Indonesia's largest online store | ZDNet
The Tokopedia data has been published on a well-known hacking forum. A hacker has leaked on Friday the details of 15 million users registered on Tokopedia, Indonesia's largest online store.The hacker claims the data was obtained in an intrusion that took place in March 2020 and is just a small part of the site's entire user database that was obtained in the hack.The leaker said he was sharing the 15 million users sample in the hopes someone could help crack the user passwords, so they could be used to access user accounts.ZDNet has obtained a copy of the leaked file with the help of data breach monitoring service Under the Breach.The file was a PostgreSQL database dump, containing user information such as full names, emails, phone numbers, hashed passwords, dates of birth, and Tokopedia profile-related details (account creation date, last login, email activation codes, password reset codes, location details, messenger IDs, hobbies, education, about-me fields, and lots more). ZDNet has verified the authenticity of the leaked data against the official Tokopedia website.An email containing a request for comment sent to Tokopedia returned an error message, but the company has told Under The Breach in a private online conversation that they are investigating the incident. For the time being, Tokopedia users are advised to reset their account passwords.The hashed passwords that the hacker wasn't able to crack were secured with the SHA2-384 hashing algorithm, currently considered to be secure, although not infallible.The hacker also said the database didn't contain the "salt" random strings used to improve the security of the SHA2-384 hashing function. Without the salt strings, cracking the passwords would be a more time-consuming task, giving users enough time to change passwords in the coming days.Tokopedia has raised a total of $2.4 billion in funding over nine rounds, and is currently one of Indonesia's biggest tech unicorns.The website is similar to Amazon, allowing users to buy products from the site or set up stores and sell products themselves. The site is currently ranked in the Alexa Top 200 most popular sites on the internet, and it claims to have more than 90 million monthly active users and more than 7 million registered merchants.Updated on Sunday, May 3, to add that the hacker is now selling Tokopedia's entire user database on the Empire dark web marketplace. The hacker claims they're in possession of 91 million user accounts.
2 May 14:10 • ZDNet • https://www.zdnet.com/article/hacker-leaks-15-million-records-from-tokopedia-indonesias-largest-online-store/Rating: 2.21
Football: Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
3 May 19:12
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Weighted average IN: 2.3782184390262837
Football: Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
LONDON: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn't played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a Dec 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba told United's website. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. "We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. "For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club's fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba's presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. "My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising," Pogba said. "There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups."
3 May 19:12 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/pogba-using-lockdown-prepare-for-return-12698064Rating: 3.25
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
London: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn't played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba told United's website. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. "We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. "For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club's fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba's presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. "My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising," Pogba said. "There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups."
3 May 13:36 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woesRating: 3.14
Just want to come back playing football: Paul Pogba using Covid-19 lockdown to recover fitness
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn’t played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. “I have a little home gym in my house,” Pogba told United’s website. “I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy.” Pogba said he was keen to get back on the pitch. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don’t know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” The 27-year-old said he has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club’s fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba’s presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. “My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” Pogba said. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups.”
3 May 17:03 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960946/just-want-to-come-back-playing-football-paul-pogba-using-covid-19-lockdown-to-recover-fitnessRating: 0.30
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is working his way back to fitness. AFP/Paul ELLIS Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn’t played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. “I have a little home gym in my house,” Pogba told United’s website. “I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don’t know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. “For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club’s fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba’s presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. “My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” Pogba said. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups.”
3 May 11:51 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/sport/2278069/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woes/Rating: 1.26
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
Kindly Share This Story: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn’t played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. “I have a little home gym in my house,” Pogba told United’s website. “I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don’t know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. “For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club’s fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba’s presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. “My advice, first of all, is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” Pogba said. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups.” VANGUARD Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 11:20 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woes/Rating: 2.43
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
LONDON: Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn't played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. Explore Briefs "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba told United's website. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. "We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. "For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club's fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba's presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. "My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising," Pogba said. "There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups."
3 May 10:55 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/epl/top-stories/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woes/articleshow/75517891.cmsRating: 0.30
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn’t played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. “I have a little home gym in my house,” Pogba told United’s website. “I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don’t know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. “For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club’s fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba’s presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. “My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” Pogba said. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups.”
3 May 10:51 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/sport/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woes/Rating: 0.30
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return after injury woes
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogba had made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn't played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba told United's website. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. "We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. "For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club's fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba's presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. "My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising," Pogba said. "There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups." smg/mw https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 10:53 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/sports/football/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-after-injury-woes/dw1r35eRating: 0.51
Pogba aiming to hit the ground running when Premier League returns
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is determined to hit the ground running when football’s coronavirus suspension ends. A return to Premier League action in June is currently on the cards, ending what will have been a three-month absence of action for the English top flight. For injured players like Pogba, the wait has been even longer. The 27-year-old has managed just eight appearances during an injury-hit season and has yet to feature in 2020 due to an ankle issue. “I have a little home gym in my house,” Pogba, who is isolating in the north west, said. “I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don’t know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. “For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” Pogba has been in regular contact with his team-mates during the lockdown as they continue to the put the work in amid this unusual backdrop. “My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” he told the club’s website. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups. “For abdominals and core work, you don’t need weights and stuff like that. You just need the work.”
3 May 13:41 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/english-soccer/pogba-aiming-to-hit-the-ground-running-when-premier-league-returns-1.4243957Rating: 1.99
Paul Pogba provides new Manchester United injury update
Paul Pogba has revealed he is working hard on his fitness to be ready for when football makes a return. The Manchester United midfielder has missed big chunks of the season with separate ankle injuries, the second of which required surgery in January. His last United appearance came on Boxing Day against Newcastle, but Pogba hasn't started a game for Ole Gunnar Solskjaer's side since September. But with football currently on hold as the nation implements social distancing rules to limit the coronavirus pandemic, Pogba is working on his fitness and football skills alone. He is confident of being fit and ready to play a key role for United when the Premier League is back. “I have a little home gym in my house,“ Pogba told United's official website. ”I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. “We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this [pandemic] will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football.” Pogba also gave some fitness advice to those trying to stay in shape from home during the lockdown, with gyms around the country all closed at the time of writing. “My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising,” he added. “There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups. “For abdominals and core work, you don't need weights and stuff like that. You just need the work.”
3 May 11:29 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/paul-pogba-man-utd-injury-18191045Rating: 1.15
Pogba using lockdown to prepare for return from injury
Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba is using the coronavirus lockdown to step up his return to fitness after an injury-plagued season. Pogbahad made just eight appearances for United this season before the health crisis forced the suspension of the Premier League in March. The French World Cup winner hasn't played a single match in 2020 due to his persistent ankle problems. His last appearance came in a December 26 win over Newcastle, but Pogba has been keeping fit during the virus break and hopes to be ready if the Premier League can return in the summer. "I have a little home gym in my house," Pogba told United's website. "I can do some training, some running, some bike, go outside and do some things with the ball. I am just keeping busy and keeping healthy. We have got to stay motivated, there is no other choice. It is a period and we don't know until when it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this (pandemic) will stop. Main links "And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to come back playing football." Pogba, 27, has been in regular contact with his United team-mates during the lockdown as they follow the club's fitness regime from home. Linked with a move away from fifth-placed United earlier this season, Pogba's presence would boost their bid for Champions League qualification if matches can be played again eventually. "My advice first of all is to stay safe, stay at home and keep practising," Pogba said. "There is always a way to work, you can work with anything you have at home, you can still do sit-ups, push-ups."
3 May 00:00 • BeSoccer • https://www.besoccer.com/new/pogba-using-lockdown-to-prepare-for-return-from-injury-829585Rating: 1.07
People in the UK may have to cut down their social groups by 90% to stop coronavirus from spreading, scientists warn
3 May 16:10
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 16:10
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
People in the UK may have to cut down their social groups by 90% to stop coronavirus from spreading, scientists warn
The UK's social distancing measures may need to be in place for years, according to two new studies from scientists. Social contact in the UK may need to be dramatically reduced on a long-term basis, according to scientists who warned that the UK's scope for lifting the lockdown is extremely limited until the discovery of a vaccine. Two new studies found that Boris Johnson's government risks pushing the rate of transmission too high if social interaction is not severely limited for the foreseeable future. The studies, published by British academics, explored what would happen to the so-called R rate if the current social distancing measures, which the government introduced in March, were lifted. The R rate tracks how many people are infected, on average, for every one person who has the disease and keeping it below one is key to preventing a second peak of infections later this summer, scientists say. A new study by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and reported by the Telegraph newspaper, found that even in an "optimistic" scenario, social contact would have to be limited to around 5 to 10 people outside the home, workplace, and school. A second study reported by scientists at the University of Dundee concluded that people resuming more than 10% of their previous social activity would risk a second peak of the virus, the Telegraph reported. "Lockdown… can barely contain the disease's spread," the authors of the University of Dundee's study wrote. "Our data is more consistent with a need to adopting a 'new normal' that can provide the optimal balance between allowing economic activity while ensuring very substantial reductions in prior social contacts - 90 per cent reductions according to our best estimates." It came as Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, warned on Sunday that Britain would not return to "business as usual this month. He told Sky News: "I don't think we should expect us to go from this situation that we have at the moment of social distancing back to where we were in February - that's clearly not going to happen and I don't think anyone imagines that for one moment. "The most important thing is that the absolute focus of what the Prime Minister will be announcing later in the week is that what we do going forward doesn't undo the brilliant work people have been doing to get that R number below 1 - the all-critical reproduction rate doesn't come back up because that's when we'd see a second spike. "So no I'm afraid it is definitely not going to be business as usual but we do want to make sure that people understand where the route map lies." Shapps confirmed that the government would be piloting a contact-tracing smartphone app this month, which is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The app will alert people if they have potentially interacted with people infected with the coronavirus. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 16:10 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-the-end-of-socializing-as-we-know-it-study-warns-2020-5Rating: 4.40
People in the UK may have to cut down their social groups by 90% to stop coronavirus from spreading, scientists warn
The UK’s social distancing measures may need to be in place for years, according to two new studies from scientists. Social contact in the UK may need to be dramatically reduced on a long-term basis, according to scientists who warned that the UK’s scope for lifting the lockdown is extremely limited until the discovery of a vaccine. Two new studies found that Boris Johnson’s government risks pushing the rate of transmission too high if social interaction is not severely limited for the foreseeable future. The studies, published by British academics, explored what would happen to the so-called R rate if the current social distancing measures, which the government introduced in March, were lifted. The R rate tracks how many people are infected, on average, for every one person who has the disease and keeping it below one is key to preventing a second peak of infections later this summer, scientists say. A new study by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and reported by the Telegraph newspaper, found that even in an “optimistic” scenario, social contact would have to be limited to around 5 to 10 people outside the home, workplace, and school. A second study reported by scientists at the University of Dundee concluded that people resuming more than 10% of their previous social activity would risk a second peak of the virus, the Telegraph reported. “Lockdown… can barely contain the disease’s spread,” the authors of the University of Dundee’s study wrote. “Our data is more consistent with a need to adopting a ‘new normal’ that can provide the optimal balance between allowing economic activity while ensuring very substantial reductions in prior social contacts – 90 per cent reductions according to our best estimates.” It came as Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, warned on Sunday that Britain would not return to “business as usual this month. He told Sky News: “I don’t think we should expect us to go from this situation that we have at the moment of social distancing back to where we were in February – that’s clearly not going to happen and I don’t think anyone imagines that for one moment. “The most important thing is that the absolute focus of what the Prime Minister will be announcing later in the week is that what we do going forward doesn’t undo the brilliant work people have been doing to get that R number below 1 – the all-critical reproduction rate doesn’t come back up because that’s when we’d see a second spike. “So no I’m afraid it is definitely not going to be business as usual but we do want to make sure that people understand where the route map lies.” Shapps confirmed that the government would be piloting a contact-tracing smartphone app this month, which is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The app will alert people if they have potentially interacted with people infected with the coronavirus.
3 May 16:10 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/coronavirus-the-end-of-socializing-as-we-know-it-study-warns-2020-5Rating: 0.30
People in the UK may have to cut down their social groups by 90% to stop coronavirus from spreading, scientists warn
The UK’s social distancing measures may need to be in place for years, according to two new studies from scientists. Social contact in the UK may need to be dramatically reduced on a long-term basis, according to scientists who warned that the UK’s scope for lifting the lockdown is extremely limited until the discovery of a vaccine. Two new studies found that Boris Johnson’s government risks pushing the rate of transmission too high if social interaction is not severely limited for the foreseeable future. The studies, published by British academics, explored what would happen to the so-called R rate if the current social distancing measures, which the government introduced in March, were lifted. The R rate tracks how many people are infected, on average, for every one person who has the disease and keeping it below one is key to preventing a second peak of infections later this summer, scientists say. A new study by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and reported by the Telegraph newspaper, found that even in an “optimistic” scenario, social contact would have to be limited to around 5 to 10 people outside the home, workplace, and school. A second study reported by scientists at the University of Dundee concluded that people resuming more than 10% of their previous social activity would risk a second peak of the virus, the Telegraph reported. “Lockdown… can barely contain the disease’s spread,” the authors of the University of Dundee’s study wrote. “Our data is more consistent with a need to adopting a ‘new normal’ that can provide the optimal balance between allowing economic activity while ensuring very substantial reductions in prior social contacts – 90 per cent reductions according to our best estimates.” It came as Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, warned on Sunday that Britain would not return to “business as usual this month. He told Sky News: “I don’t think we should expect us to go from this situation that we have at the moment of social distancing back to where we were in February – that’s clearly not going to happen and I don’t think anyone imagines that for one moment. “The most important thing is that the absolute focus of what the Prime Minister will be announcing later in the week is that what we do going forward doesn’t undo the brilliant work people have been doing to get that R number below 1 – the all-critical reproduction rate doesn’t come back up because that’s when we’d see a second spike. “So no I’m afraid it is definitely not going to be business as usual but we do want to make sure that people understand where the route map lies.” Shapps confirmed that the government would be piloting a contact-tracing smartphone app this month, which is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The app will alert people if they have potentially interacted with people infected with the coronavirus.
3 May 16:10 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/coronavirus-the-end-of-socializing-as-we-know-it-study-warns-2020-5Rating: 0.30
People in the UK may have to cut down their social groups by 90% to stop coronavirus from spreading, scientists warn, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
The UK’s social distancing measures may need to be in place for years, according to two new studies from scientists. Social contact in the UK may need to be dramatically reduced on a long-term basis, according to scientists who warned that the UK’s scope for lifting the lockdown is extremely limited until the discovery of a vaccine. Two new studies found that Boris Johnson’s government risks pushing the rate of transmission too high if social interaction is not severely limited for the foreseeable future. The studies, published by British academics, explored what would happen to the so-called R rate if the current social distancing measures, which the government introduced in March, were lifted. The R rate tracks how many people are infected, on average, for every one person who has the disease and keeping it below one is key to preventing a second peak of infections later this summer, scientists say. A new study by scientists at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, and reported by the Telegraph newspaper, found that even in an “optimistic” scenario, social contact would have to be limited to around 5 to 10 people outside the home, workplace, and school. A second study reported by scientists at the University of Dundee concluded that people resuming more than 10% of their previous social activity would risk a second peak of the virus, the Telegraph reported. “Lockdown… can barely contain the disease’s spread,” the authors of the University of Dundee’s study wrote. “Our data is more consistent with a need to adopting a ‘new normal’ that can provide the optimal balance between allowing economic activity while ensuring very substantial reductions in prior social contacts – 90 per cent reductions according to our best estimates.” It came as Grant Shapps, the transport secretary, warned on Sunday that Britain would not return to “business as usual this month. He told Sky News: “I don’t think we should expect us to go from this situation that we have at the moment of social distancing back to where we were in February – that’s clearly not going to happen and I don’t think anyone imagines that for one moment. “The most important thing is that the absolute focus of what the Prime Minister will be announcing later in the week is that what we do going forward doesn’t undo the brilliant work people have been doing to get that R number below 1 – the all-critical reproduction rate doesn’t come back up because that’s when we’d see a second spike. “So no I’m afraid it is definitely not going to be business as usual but we do want to make sure that people understand where the route map lies.” Shapps confirmed that the government would be piloting a contact-tracing smartphone app this month, which is designed to limit the spread of COVID-19. The app will alert people if they have potentially interacted with people infected with the coronavirus.
3 May 16:10 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/coronavirus-the-end-of-socializing-as-we-know-it-study-warns-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Ohio Gov. DeWine said his order for shoppers to wear masks went 'too far'
3 May 22:32
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8 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 22:32
Average US: 29.35
Weighted average US: 53.34363757926934
Average GB: 0.3125
Weighted average GB: 0.4587551238327903
Average IN: 1.8875
Weighted average IN: 2.919192885187519
Ohio Gov. DeWine said his order for shoppers to wear masks went 'too far'
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order for the state’s retail customers to wear face masks was “too far” after he was criticised for it and walked back the rule one day after announcing it. DeWine said on ABC’s “This Week” that he was standing by orders that employees working during the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state would have a face mask but has since backed off ordering customers to also wear masks. “It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far,” DeWine told host Martha Raddatz. “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” Though he “pulled that back,” DeWine said he maintains that wearing masks in public “is highly recommended for most people unless you have a physical reason” because “it’s the kind thing to do” to prevent the chance of unknowingly infecting to retail workers. Raddatz then pointed to data collected by ABC showing a partisan divide along how Americans respond to the pandemic, specifically that Democrats are more concerned with contracting the virus while Republicans are twice as likely to eat at a restaurant, work out at a gym, and get a haircut. “Generally, Republicans are less inclined to have the government tell them what to do,” DeWine said. “That’s generally how I am.” Despite some standing orders for ongoing safety practices, DeWine said “we’re starting really pretty aggressively to phase business back in” as the state is set to begin reopening some businesses on May 4, along with some other states. The state’s manufacturing and construction businesses are set to start up on May 4 and retail stores are scheduled to open their doors on May 11. Ohio has recorded more than 19,000 coronavirus cases, and at least 1,000 deaths. Officials have pushed for businesses to begin reopening after a brief downward curve in new infections and deaths, even though it does not satisfy the federal guideline of a 14-day downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases.
3 May 22:32 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/gov-dewine-masks-order-for-ohio-went-too-far-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Ohio Gov. DeWine said his order for shoppers to wear masks went 'too far'
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order for the state's retail customers to wear face masks was "too far" after he was criticized for it and walked back the rule one day after announcing it. DeWine said on ABC's "This Week" that he was standing by orders that employees working during the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state would have a face mask but has since backed off ordering customers to also wear masks. "It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far," DeWine told host Martha Raddatz. "People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do." Though he "pulled that back," DeWine said he maintains that wearing masks in public "is highly recommended for most people unless you have a physical reason" because "it's the kind thing to do" to prevent the chance of unknowingly infecting to retail workers. Raddatz then pointed to data collected by ABC showing a partisan divide along how Americans respond to the pandemic, specifically that Democrats are more concerned with contracting the virus while Republicans are twice as likely to eat at a restaurant, work out at a gym, and get a haircut. "Generally, Republicans are less inclined to have the government tell them what to do," DeWine said. "That's generally how I am." Despite some standing orders for ongoing safety practices, DeWine said "we're starting really pretty aggressively to phase business back in" as the state is set to begin reopening some businesses on May 4, along with some other states. The state's manufacturing and construction businesses are set to start up on May 4 and retail stores are scheduled to open their doors on May 11. Ohio has recorded more than 19,000 coronavirus cases, and at least 1,000 deaths. Officials have pushed for businesses to begin reopening after a brief downward curve in new infections and deaths, even though it does not satisfy the federal guideline of a 14-day downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 22:32 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/gov-dewine-masks-order-for-ohio-went-too-far-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Ohio Gov. DeWine said his order for shoppers to wear masks went ‘too far’
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order for the state’s retail customers to wear face masks was “too far” after he was criticized for it and walked back the rule one day after announcing it. DeWine said on ABC’s “This Week” that he was standing by orders that employees working during the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state would have a face mask but has since backed off ordering customers to also wear masks. “It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far,” DeWine told host Martha Raddatz. “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” Though he “pulled that back,” DeWine said he maintains that wearing masks in public “is highly recommended for most people unless you have a physical reason” because “it’s the kind thing to do” to prevent the chance of unknowingly infecting to retail workers. Raddatz then pointed to data collected by ABC showing a partisan divide along how Americans respond to the pandemic, specifically that Democrats are more concerned with contracting the virus while Republicans are twice as likely to eat at a restaurant, work out at a gym, and get a haircut. “Generally, Republicans are less inclined to have the government tell them what to do,” DeWine said. “That’s generally how I am.” Despite some standing orders for ongoing safety practices, DeWine said “we’re starting really pretty aggressively to phase business back in” as the state is set to begin reopening some businesses on May 4, along with some other states. The state’s manufacturing and construction businesses are set to start up on May 4 and retail stores are scheduled to open their doors on May 11. Ohio has recorded more than 19,000 coronavirus cases, and at least 1,000 deaths. Officials have pushed for businesses to begin reopening after a brief downward curve in new infections and deaths, even though it does not satisfy the federal guideline of a 14-day downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases.
3 May 22:32 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/gov-dewine-masks-order-for-ohio-went-too-far-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Governor: Face covering order 'went too far,' was reversed
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An order for people to wear face coverings while in stores was reversed last week because it “went too far,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday. DeWine reversed the order Tuesday, calling it “a bridge too far” and saying face coverings were strongly recommended but would no longer be required. He repeated that language Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” saying, “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” “So my ability to communicate to the people of Ohio, frankly, I thought, was going to be really impeded and we would get hung up on the mandatory masks for someone going in as a customer and it just wasn’t going to work,” he said. “And so you got to know what you can do and what you can’t do.” On Friday, the Republican governor extended the state shutdown until May 29 while also allowing retail stores to expand their business earlier than expected. He spoke as Ohio COVID-19 deaths topped 1,000 for the first time and as dozens of protesters of Ohio’s stay-at-home orders returned to the statehouse. Construction companies, distributors, manufacturers and offices are allowed to reopen Monday, and retail businesses on May 12. Health care offices were allowed to reopen Friday. Bars and movie theatres remain closed, along with in-person dining at restaurants. Sporting events and concerts are still prohibited. The governor said reopening Ohio is a “balancing” act between bringing the economy back while protecting people and added that he will be prepared to take action should the situation worsen again. The governor earlier said multiple working groups were being formed to come up with the best and safest way to restart activities, including hair care, dining out, going to the gym, visiting libraries and participating in sporting events. “So when we open tomorrow in regard to a lot of businesses as well as office, it’s going to be based upon really best practices that were laid out by people in those businesses who do that,” he said Sunday. The Associated Press
3 May 19:41 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/governor-face-covering-order-went-too-far-was-reversed/Rating: 0.77
Governor: Face covering order 'went too far,' was reversed
COLUMBUS, Ohio — An order for people to wear face coverings while in stores was reversed last week because it “went too far,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday. DeWine reversed the order Tuesday, calling it “a bridge too far” and saying face coverings were strongly recommended but would no longer be required. He repeated that language Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” saying, “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” “So my ability to communicate to the people of Ohio, frankly, I thought, was going to be really impeded and we would get hung up on the mandatory masks for someone going in as a customer and it just wasn’t going to work,” he said. “And so you got to know what you can do and what you can’t do.” On Friday, the Republican governor extended the state shutdown until May 29 while also allowing retail stores to expand their business earlier than expected. He spoke as Ohio COVID-19 deaths topped 1,000 for the first time and as dozens of protesters of Ohio’s stay-at-home orders returned to the statehouse. Construction companies, distributors, manufacturers and offices are allowed to reopen Monday, and retail businesses on May 12. Health care offices were allowed to reopen Friday. Bars and movie theatres remain closed, along with in-person dining at restaurants. Sporting events and concerts are still prohibited. The governor said reopening Ohio is a “balancing” act between bringing the economy back while protecting people and added that he will be prepared to take action should the situation worsen again. The governor earlier said multiple working groups were being formed to come up with the best and safest way to restart activities, including hair care, dining out, going to the gym, visiting libraries and participating in sporting events. “So when we open tomorrow in regard to a lot of businesses as well as office, it’s going to be based upon really best practices that were laid out by people in those businesses who do that,” he said Sunday. The Associated Press
3 May 18:41 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/governor-face-covering-order-went-too-far-was-reversed/Rating: 0.61
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine says his face-mask order went ‘too far’
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order for face masks to be worn in stores went “too far,” saying that the government can’t control the public’s behavior. “It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far. People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do,” DeWine said on ABC’s “This Week.” The governor announced Tuesday that he was rescinding the order because some Ohioans found it “offensive.” He added Sunday that he believed discussions around the mask order were distracting from other initiatives to defeat coronavirus. “My ability to communicate to the people of Ohio frankly I thought was going to be really impeded and we were going to get hung up on the mandatory masks … You’ve got to know what you can and can’t do,” the Republican governor said. The governor said though he has walked back the order, he continues to recommend Ohioans wear face coverings in retail stores. “At the same time we pulled this back, I said this is highly recommended,” DeWine said. “When you go into a retail store, that is the kind thing to do because I worry and we should all worry about the folks who are stocking shelves in grocery stores, the people in the checkout line who work there all day. We’ve got to protect them.”
3 May 17:08 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/ohio-gov-mike-dewine-says-his-face-mask-order-went-too-far/Rating: 2.55
Ohio Gov. DeWine said his order for shoppers to wear masks went 'too far', Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday that his order for the state’s retail customers to wear face masks was “too far” after he was criticized for it and walked back the rule one day after announcing it. DeWine said on ABC’s “This Week” that he was standing by orders that employees working during the novel coronavirus pandemic in the state would have a face mask but has since backed off ordering customers to also wear masks. “It became clear to me that that was just a bridge too far,” DeWine told host Martha Raddatz. “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” Though he “pulled that back,” DeWine said he maintains that wearing masks in public “is highly recommended for most people unless you have a physical reason” because “it’s the kind thing to do” to prevent the chance of unknowingly infecting to retail workers. Raddatz then pointed to data collected by ABC showing a partisan divide along how Americans respond to the pandemic, specifically that Democrats are more concerned with contracting the virus while Republicans are twice as likely to eat at a restaurant, work out at a gym, and get a haircut. “Generally, Republicans are less inclined to have the government tell them what to do,” DeWine said. “That’s generally how I am.” Despite some standing orders for ongoing safety practices, DeWine said “we’re starting really pretty aggressively to phase business back in” as the state is set to begin reopening some businesses on May 4, along with some other states. The state’s manufacturing and construction businesses are set to start up on May 4 and retail stores are scheduled to open their doors on May 11. Ohio has recorded more than 19,000 coronavirus cases, and at least 1,000 deaths. Officials have pushed for businesses to begin reopening after a brief downward curve in new infections and deaths, even though it does not satisfy the federal guideline of a 14-day downward trend in the number of new coronavirus cases.
3 May 22:32 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/gov-dewine-masks-order-for-ohio-went-too-far-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Governor: Face covering order ‘went too far,’ was reversed
COLUMBUS, Ohio (AP) — An order for people to wear face coverings while in stores was reversed last week because it “went too far,” Ohio Gov. Mike DeWine said Sunday. DeWine reversed the order Tuesday, saying many Ohioans saw it as “one government mandate too far” and saying face coverings were strongly recommended but would no longer be required. He repeated that sentiment Sunday on ABC’s “This Week,” calling it “a bridge too far” and saying, “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do.” “So my ability to communicate to the people of Ohio, frankly, I thought, was going to be really impeded and we would get hung up on the mandatory masks for someone going in as a customer and it just wasn’t going to work,” he said. “And so you got to know what you can do and what you can’t do.” On Friday, the Republican governor extended the state shutdown until May 29 while also allowing retail stores to expand their business earlier than expected. He spoke as Ohio COVID-19 deaths topped 1,000 for the first time and as dozens of protesters of Ohio’s stay-at-home orders returned to the statehouse. Construction companies, distributors, manufacturers and offices are allowed to reopen Monday, and retail businesses on May 12. Health care offices were allowed to reopen Friday. Bars and movie theaters remain closed, along with in-person dining at restaurants. Sporting events and concerts are still prohibited. The governor said reopening Ohio is a “balancing” act between bringing the economy back while protecting people and added that he will be prepared to take action should the situation worsen again. Advertising The governor earlier said multiple working groups were being formed to come up with the best and safest way to restart activities, including hair care, dining out, going to the gym, visiting libraries and participating in sporting events. “So when we open tomorrow in regard to a lot of businesses as well as office, it’s going to be based upon really best practices that were laid out by people in those businesses who do that,” he said Sunday. Here are the latest coronavirus developments in Ohio: CASES Ohio state health officials say the number of confirmed and probable deaths associated with the coronavirus has now reached 1,038. The Ohio health department posted figures Sunday indicating 957 confirmed deaths and another 81 probable deaths associated with the virus. The department noted more than 19,000 confirmed cases of the virus and a probable total of more than 19,900. For most people, the virus causes mild or moderate symptoms that clear up in a couple of weeks. Older adults and people with existing health problems are at higher risk of more severe illness, including pneumonia, or death. ___ This story has been corrected to show that DeWine called the order “a bridge too far” on Sunday, not Tuesday. The Associated Press
3 May 11:40 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/governor-face-covering-order-went-too-far-was-reversed/Rating: 0.74
This chart shows just how many jobs can be done from home in other countries
3 May 14:33
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:33
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
This chart shows just how many jobs can be done from home in other countries
A lot of people find themselves working from home during the novel coronavirus. However, not every job can be done remotely, and the number further varies by country. A recent report by Jonathan I. Dingel and Brent Neiman from The University of Chicago analyzed the share of jobs that can be done at home in different countries. This builds off their previous research of which US cities have the highest share of occupations that can be done at home. To find the percentage of jobs that can be done at home around the world, Dingel and Neiman mapped the Standard Occupational Classification system from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to the International Labour Organization's International Standard Classification of Occupations. The researchers found these two codes didn't always map to one unique code, so they adjusted by a weighted average for each country. LoadingSomething is loading. It is important to note their classification of telework jobs was based on their US classification from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The researchers wrote "the nature of an occupation likely varies across economies with different income levels." Their results show that the lower a country's GDP per capita, the lower the share of jobs that can be done at home. The researchers note in the paper this means "developing economies and emerging markets may face an even greater challenge in continuing to work during periods of stringent social distancing." The following chart shows the share of jobs that can be done in 12 countries with the highest GDP per capita. Of these countries, Luxembourg had the highest share of jobs that can potentially be done at home at 53.4%. That is 11.8 percentage points higher than the share of jobs that can be done at home in the US, 41.6%. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 14:33 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/how-many-jobs-can-be-done-from-home-other-countries-2020-5Rating: 4.40
This chart shows just how many jobs can be done from home in other countries
A lot of people find themselves working from home during the novel coronavirus. However, not every job can be done remotely, and the number further varies by country. A recent report by Jonathan I. Dingel and Brent Neiman from The University of Chicago analyzed the share of jobs that can be done at home in different countries. This builds off their previous research of which US cities have the highest share of occupations that can be done at home. To find the percentage of jobs that can be done at home around the world, Dingel and Neiman mapped the Standard Occupational Classification system from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to the International Labour Organization’s International Standard Classification of Occupations. The researchers found these two codes didn’t always map to one unique code, so they adjusted by a weighted average for each country. It is important to note their classification of telework jobs was based on their US classification from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The researchers wrote “the nature of an occupation likely varies across economies with different income levels.” Their results show that the lower a country’s GDP per capita, the lower the share of jobs that can be done at home. The researchers note in the paper this means “developing economies and emerging markets may face an even greater challenge in continuing to work during periods of stringent social distancing.” The following chart shows the share of jobs that can be done in 12 countries with the highest GDP per capita. Of these countries, Luxembourg had the highest share of jobs that can potentially be done at home at 53.4%. That is 11.8 percentage points higher than the share of jobs that can be done at home in the US, 41.6%.
3 May 14:33 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/how-many-jobs-can-be-done-from-home-other-countries-2020-5Rating: 0.30
This chart shows just how many jobs can be done from home in other countries
A lot of people find themselves working from home during the novel coronavirus. However, not every job can be done remotely, and the number further varies by country. A recent report by Jonathan I. Dingel and Brent Neiman from The University of Chicago analysed the share of jobs that can be done at home in different countries. This builds off their previous research of which US cities have the highest share of occupations that can be done at home. To find the percentage of jobs that can be done at home around the world, Dingel and Neiman mapped the Standard Occupational Classification system from the US Bureau of Labour Statistics to the International Labour Organisation’s International Standard Classification of Occupations. The researchers found these two codes didn’t always map to one unique code, so they adjusted by a weighted average for each country. It is important to note their classification of telework jobs was based on their US classification from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The researchers wrote “the nature of an occupation likely varies across economies with different income levels.” Their results show that the lower a country’s GDP per capita, the lower the share of jobs that can be done at home. The researchers note in the paper this means “developing economies and emerging markets may face an even greater challenge in continuing to work during periods of stringent social distancing.” The following chart shows the share of jobs that can be done in 12 countries with the highest GDP per capita. Of these countries, Luxembourg had the highest share of jobs that can potentially be done at home at 53.4%. That is 11.8 percentage points higher than the share of jobs that can be done at home in the US, 41.6%.
3 May 14:33 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/how-many-jobs-can-be-done-from-home-other-countries-2020-5Rating: 0.30
This chart shows just how many jobs can be done from home in other countries, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
A lot of people find themselves working from home during the novel coronavirus. However, not every job can be done remotely, and the number further varies by country. A recent report by Jonathan I. Dingel and Brent Neiman from The University of Chicago analyzed the share of jobs that can be done at home in different countries. This builds off their previous research of which US cities have the highest share of occupations that can be done at home. To find the percentage of jobs that can be done at home around the world, Dingel and Neiman mapped the Standard Occupational Classification system from the US Bureau of Labor Statistics to the International Labour Organization’s International Standard Classification of Occupations. The researchers found these two codes didn’t always map to one unique code, so they adjusted by a weighted average for each country. It is important to note their classification of telework jobs was based on their US classification from the Occupational Information Network (O*NET). The researchers wrote “the nature of an occupation likely varies across economies with different income levels.” Their results show that the lower a country’s GDP per capita, the lower the share of jobs that can be done at home. The researchers note in the paper this means “developing economies and emerging markets may face an even greater challenge in continuing to work during periods of stringent social distancing.” The following chart shows the share of jobs that can be done in 12 countries with the highest GDP per capita. Of these countries, Luxembourg had the highest share of jobs that can potentially be done at home at 53.4%. That is 11.8 percentage points higher than the share of jobs that can be done at home in the US, 41.6%.
3 May 14:33 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/how-many-jobs-can-be-done-from-home-other-countries-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Comedy is dominating among movie and TV viewers as people look for laughs while social distancing
3 May 14:10
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:10
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
Comedy is dominating among movie and TV viewers as people look for laughs while social distancing
At-home audiences are looking for a good laugh as people practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The talent agency UTA's data group UTA IQ, along with the research firm SightX, conducted a representative survey of nearly 1,100 people across the US, ages 18 to 54, who had been social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak from April 4 to April 11. The survey found that 51% of respondents were watching comedy TV shows during the outbreak, the leading genre. Drama (39%), action/adventure (33%), and news (33%) followed among TV viewers. Family came in at 27%. "A third of people still rely on TV to get their news, and family-friendly content is important with so many children home 24/7," the survey said. The popularity of family television is good for Disney Plus, which was the streaming service with the highest level of "intent to add" among survey respondents, at 37%, followed by the Disney-operated Hulu at 33% and the upcoming HBO Max at 31%. HBO Max was the leading service among those that recently launched or are launching this year, such as the mobile-only Quibi and NBCUniversal's Peacock. The chart below breaks down each TV genre: The comedy genre also dominated among movie viewers, with 59% of respondents saying they were consuming comedy movies while home. This it notable considering comedies have struggled in theaters in recent years while blockbuster superhero movies dominate the box office. But only 24% of respondents said they were watching superhero/comic-book movies while social distancing, suggesting audiences prefer a spectacle on the big screen while comedies provide comfort at home.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/comedy-top-genre-for-at-home-tv-movie-viewers-survey-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Comedy is dominating among movie and TV viewers as people look for laughs while social distancing
At-home audiences are looking for a good laugh as people practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The talent agency UTA’s data group UTA IQ, along with the research firm SightX, conducted a representative survey of nearly 1,100 people across the US, ages 18 to 54, who had been social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak from April 4 to April 11. The survey found that 51% of respondents were watching comedy TV shows during the outbreak, the leading genre. Drama (39%), action/adventure (33%), and news (33%) followed among TV viewers. Family came in at 27%. “A third of people still rely on TV to get their news, and family-friendly content is important with so many children home 24/7,” the survey said. The popularity of family television is good for Disney Plus, which was the streaming service with the highest level of “intent to add” among survey respondents, at 37%, followed by the Disney-operated Hulu at 33% and the upcoming HBO Max at 31%. HBO Max was the leading service among those that recently launched or are launching this year, such as the mobile-only Quibi and NBCUniversal’s Peacock. The chart below breaks down each TV genre: The comedy genre also dominated among movie viewers, with 59% of respondents saying they were consuming comedy movies while home. This it notable considering comedies have struggled in theatres in recent years while blockbuster superhero movies dominate the box office. But only 24% of respondents said they were watching superhero/comic-book movies while social distancing, suggesting audiences prefer a spectacle on the big screen while comedies provide comfort at home.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/comedy-top-genre-for-at-home-tv-movie-viewers-survey-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Comedy is dominating among movie and TV viewers as people look for laughs while social distancing
At-home audiences are looking for a good laugh as people practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The talent agency UTA’s data group UTA IQ, along with the research firm SightX, conducted a representative survey of nearly 1,100 people across the US, ages 18 to 54, who had been social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak from April 4 to April 11. The survey found that 51% of respondents were watching comedy TV shows during the outbreak, the leading genre. Drama (39%), action/adventure (33%), and news (33%) followed among TV viewers. Family came in at 27%. “A third of people still rely on TV to get their news, and family-friendly content is important with so many children home 24/7,” the survey said. The popularity of family television is good for Disney Plus, which was the streaming service with the highest level of “intent to add” among survey respondents, at 37%, followed by the Disney-operated Hulu at 33% and the upcoming HBO Max at 31%. HBO Max was the leading service among those that recently launched or are launching this year, such as the mobile-only Quibi and NBCUniversal’s Peacock. The chart below breaks down each TV genre: The comedy genre also dominated among movie viewers, with 59% of respondents saying they were consuming comedy movies while home. This it notable considering comedies have struggled in theaters in recent years while blockbuster superhero movies dominate the box office. But only 24% of respondents said they were watching superhero/comic-book movies while social distancing, suggesting audiences prefer a spectacle on the big screen while comedies provide comfort at home.
3 May 14:10 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/comedy-top-genre-for-at-home-tv-movie-viewers-survey-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Comedy is dominating among movie and TV viewers as people look for laughs while social distancing, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
At-home audiences are looking for a good laugh as people practice social distancing during the coronavirus pandemic. The talent agency UTA’s data group UTA IQ, along with the research firm SightX, conducted a representative survey of nearly 1,100 people across the US, ages 18 to 54, who had been social distancing during the coronavirus outbreak from April 4 to April 11. The survey found that 51% of respondents were watching comedy TV shows during the outbreak, the leading genre. Drama (39%), action/adventure (33%), and news (33%) followed among TV viewers. Family came in at 27%. “A third of people still rely on TV to get their news, and family-friendly content is important with so many children home 24/7,” the survey said. The popularity of family television is good for Disney Plus, which was the streaming service with the highest level of “intent to add” among survey respondents, at 37%, followed by the Disney-operated Hulu at 33% and the upcoming HBO Max at 31%. HBO Max was the leading service among those that recently launched or are launching this year, such as the mobile-only Quibi and NBCUniversal’s Peacock. The chart below breaks down each TV genre: The comedy genre also dominated among movie viewers, with 59% of respondents saying they were consuming comedy movies while home. This it notable considering comedies have struggled in theaters in recent years while blockbuster superhero movies dominate the box office. But only 24% of respondents said they were watching superhero/comic-book movies while social distancing, suggesting audiences prefer a spectacle on the big screen while comedies provide comfort at home.
3 May 14:10 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/comedy-top-genre-for-at-home-tv-movie-viewers-survey-2020-5-2Rating: 0.30
Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists
3 May 14:00
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists
Organizers of anti-quarantine protests have been forced to flee Facebook as the platform has cracked down on coronavirus content. Business Insider has found that they're now organizing on another social network — one that's been a refuge for conspiracy theorists and others who have been exiled from mainstream online communities. Subscription-based social site MeWe has become host to groups with names that are explicit in their members' goals: there's Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine, Open Texas Now!, and #ReOpenFL, among others. These MeWe groups are iterations of those on Facebook with the same names. But ever since Facebook started to crack down on these organizational efforts and remove some of their content, members have been searching for a way to plan their rallies uninhibited by Facebook's moderators. While social networks have become a haven for the millions affected by stay-at-home measures, the platforms have also had to grapple with users organizing in-person events and protests that are in direct conflict with health and safety measures in place to curtail the virus's spread. Facebook now requires all events to explicitly tell attendees to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and has banned groups that encourage users to break state mandates. There are no similar guidelines on MeWe. More than 20 MeWe groups against state shelter-in-place orders have popped in the last week, Business Insider has found. Inside these groups, members rail against Facebook for censoring their movement and mock the state governors and health experts who talk about the dangers of re-opening the economy too quickly. And members of these MeWe groups are in recruitment mode, flooding feeds with urgent calls for members to invite everyone they know in anticipation of other platforms taking down protest content. It's a sign of the difficulties officials face in regulating behavior during a pandemic. For all of one social media site's adherence to guidelines, another can ignore or dismiss them. Indeed, many of the groups on MeWe explicitly oppose states' orders. Since its founding in 2012, MeWe has attracted 8 million members, spokesperson David Westreich told Business Insider. The platform operates under a freemium model, where users can access a limited number of features for free and pay for access more extensive ones. Groups operate similarly to Facebook Groups: They can be set public or private, and members can write posts and organize events. There's also a chat room for each group for instant messaging with other members. Although its size is only a fraction of Facebook's 2.5 billion monthly active users, MeWe presents itself as the antithesis to Facebook. It promotes a social platform with no ads, no sharing of user data, and no manipulation of what appears in your feed. "Unlike Facebook, MeWe respects its members as customers to serve and delight, not data to target or sell to advertisers, marketers, or politicians," Westreich told Business Insider. "MeWe members have total control of their data, news feeds, and privacy." MeWe also issues every user a Privacy Bill of Rights. MeWe's founder, Mark Weinstein, has said he started the site as a protection against what he calls Facebook's overreach on privacy and user rights, and that his site protects the privacy and rights of its users better. But MeWe's hands-off approach has attracted those who have been kicked off of Facebook and Twitter for violating their policies. While many of MeWe's groups are home to innocuous discussions of conservative values, some of MeWe's most popular groups revolve around extremist rhetoric. A group called "Stop Mandatory Vaccination Official" that has more than 13,000 members spreads dangerous falsehoods about vaccines. Another called "Wake the f--- up" prompts interested members to answer the prompt, "Who was really responsible for 9/11?" A group called "HERBAL SURVIVAL AND HOMESTEADING" falsely promotes plants as cures for coronavirus. In 2019, Rolling Stone discovered a number of groups on MeWe catering to conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, anti-vaxxers, and flat-Earthers. The report also found several examples of content violating MeWe's own community guidelines, which includes a ban on "unlawful, harmful, obscene, or pornographic content." Weinstein refuted Rolling Stone's report in January 2019. "MeWe's TOS is clear: haters, bullies, lawbreakers, and people promoting threats and violence are not welcome," he wrote on Medium. Even so, Business Insider found events on the platform that encouraged breaking shelter-in-place orders. Popular posts also spread bizarre conspiracy theories that blamed the coronavirus outbreak on Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and 5G technology. Business Insider shared with Westreich, the MeWe spokesperson, several examples of posts and events that appeared to encourage people to break state or local laws. Westreich said it was "likely" MeWe's moderators were already reviewing such content. However, none of the content has been taken down yet. "False information about anything is concerning at MeWe and so we take a systemic approach to the solution," Westreich said. "If you've found such content on MeWe, then it's likely it hasn't yet been reported to our Trust and Safety Team team or it may already be pending review." LoadingSomething is loading. 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3 May 14:00 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/anti-quarantine-protesters-mewe-facebook-groups-conspiracy-theorists-social-media-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists
Organizers of anti-quarantine protests have been forced to flee Facebook as the platform has cracked down on coronavirus content. Business Insider has found that they’re now organizing on another social network – one that’s been a refuge for conspiracy theorists and others who have been exiled from mainstream online communities. Subscription-based social site MeWe has become host to groups with names that are explicit in their members’ goals: there’s Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine, Open Texas Now!, and #ReOpenFL, among others. These MeWe groups are iterations of those on Facebook with the same names. But ever since Facebook started to crack down on these organizational efforts and remove some of their content, members have been searching for a way to plan their rallies uninhibited by Facebook’s moderators. While social networks have become a haven for the millions affected by stay-at-home measures, the platforms have also had to grapple with users organizing in-person events and protests that are in direct conflict with health and safety measures in place to curtail the virus’s spread. Facebook now requires all events to explicitly tell attendees to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and has banned groups that encourage users to break state mandates. There are no similar guidelines on MeWe. More than 20 MeWe groups against state shelter-in-place orders have popped in the last week, Business Insider has found. Inside these groups, members rail against Facebook for censoring their movement and mock the state governors and health experts who talk about the dangers of re-opening the economy too quickly. And members of these MeWe groups are in recruitment mode, flooding feeds with urgent calls for members to invite everyone they know in anticipation of other platforms taking down protest content. It’s a sign of the difficulties officials face in regulating behavior during a pandemic. For all of one social media site’s adherence to guidelines, another can ignore or dismiss them. Indeed, many of the groups on MeWe explicitly oppose states’ orders. Since its founding in 2012, MeWe has attracted 8 million members, spokesperson David Westreich told Business Insider. The platform operates under a freemium model, where users can access a limited number of features for free and pay for access more extensive ones. Groups operate similarly to Facebook Groups: They can be set public or private, and members can write posts and organize events. There’s also a chat room for each group for instant messaging with other members. Although its size is only a fraction of Facebook’s 2.5 billion monthly active users, MeWe presents itself as the antithesis to Facebook. It promotes a social platform with no ads, no sharing of user data, and no manipulation of what appears in your feed. “Unlike Facebook, MeWe respects its members as customers to serve and delight, not data to target or sell to advertisers, marketers, or politicians,” Westreich told Business Insider. “MeWe members have total control of their data, news feeds, and privacy.” MeWe also issues every user a Privacy Bill of Rights. MeWe’s founder, Mark Weinstein, has said he started the site as a protection against what he calls Facebook’s overreach on privacy and user rights, and that his site protects the privacy and rights of its users better. But MeWe’s hands-off approach has attracted those who have been kicked off of Facebook and Twitter for violating their policies. While many of MeWe’s groups are home to innocuous discussions of conservative values, some of MeWe’s most popular groups revolve around extremist rhetoric. A group called “Stop Mandatory Vaccination Official” that has more than 13,000 members spreads dangerous falsehoods about vaccines. Another called “Wake the f— up” prompts interested members to answer the prompt, “Who was really responsible for 9/11?” A group called “HERBAL SURVIVAL AND HOMESTEADING” falsely promotes plants as cures for coronavirus. In 2019, Rolling Stone discovered a number of groups on MeWe catering to conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, anti-vaxxers, and flat-Earthers. The report also found several examples of content violating MeWe’s own community guidelines, which includes a ban on “unlawful, harmful, obscene, or pornographic content.” Weinstein refuted Rolling Stone’s report in January 2019. “MeWe’s TOS is clear: haters, bullies, lawbreakers, and people promoting threats and violence are not welcome,” he wrote on Medium. Even so, Business Insider found events on the platform that encouraged breaking shelter-in-place orders. Popular posts also spread bizarre conspiracy theories that blamed the coronavirus outbreak on Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and 5G technology. Business Insider shared with Westreich, the MeWe spokesperson, several examples of posts and events that appeared to encourage people to break state or local laws. Westreich said it was “likely” MeWe’s moderators were already reviewing such content. However, none of the content has been taken down yet. “False information about anything is concerning at MeWe and so we take a systemic approach to the solution,” Westreich said. “If you’ve found such content on MeWe, then it’s likely it hasn’t yet been reported to our Trust and Safety Team team or it may already be pending review.”
3 May 14:00 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/anti-quarantine-protesters-mewe-facebook-groups-conspiracy-theorists-social-media-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists
Organisers of anti-quarantine protests have been forced to flee Facebook as the platform has cracked down on coronavirus content. Business Insider has found that they’re now organising on another social network – one that’s been a refuge for conspiracy theorists and others who have been exiled from mainstream online communities. Subscription-based social site MeWe has become host to groups with names that are explicit in their members’ goals: there’s Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine, Open Texas Now!, and #ReOpenFL, among others. These MeWe groups are iterations of those on Facebook with the same names. But ever since Facebook started to crack down on these organizational efforts and remove some of their content, members have been searching for a way to plan their rallies uninhibited by Facebook’s moderators. While social networks have become a haven for the millions affected by stay-at-home measures, the platforms have also had to grapple with users organising in-person events and protests that are in direct conflict with health and safety measures in place to curtail the virus’s spread. Facebook now requires all events to explicitly tell attendees to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and has banned groups that encourage users to break state mandates. There are no similar guidelines on MeWe. More than 20 MeWe groups against state shelter-in-place orders have popped in the last week, Business Insider has found. Inside these groups, members rail against Facebook for censoring their movement and mock the state governors and health experts who talk about the dangers of re-opening the economy too quickly. And members of these MeWe groups are in recruitment mode, flooding feeds with urgent calls for members to invite everyone they know in anticipation of other platforms taking down protest content. It’s a sign of the difficulties officials face in regulating behaviour during a pandemic. For all of one social media site’s adherence to guidelines, another can ignore or dismiss them. Indeed, many of the groups on MeWe explicitly oppose states’ orders. Since its founding in 2012, MeWe has attracted 8 million members, spokesperson David Westreich told Business Insider. The platform operates under a freemium model, where users can access a limited number of features for free and pay for access more extensive ones. Groups operate similarly to Facebook Groups: They can be set public or private, and members can write posts and organise events. There’s also a chat room for each group for instant messaging with other members. Although its size is only a fraction of Facebook’s 2.5 billion monthly active users, MeWe presents itself as the antithesis to Facebook. It promotes a social platform with no ads, no sharing of user data, and no manipulation of what appears in your feed. “Unlike Facebook, MeWe respects its members as customers to serve and delight, not data to target or sell to advertisers, marketers, or politicians,” Westreich told Business Insider. “MeWe members have total control of their data, news feeds, and privacy.” MeWe also issues every user a Privacy Bill of Rights. MeWe’s founder, Mark Weinstein, has said he started the site as a protection against what he calls Facebook’s overreach on privacy and user rights, and that his site protects the privacy and rights of its users better. But MeWe’s hands-off approach has attracted those who have been kicked off of Facebook and Twitter for violating their policies. While many of MeWe’s groups are home to innocuous discussions of conservative values, some of MeWe’s most popular groups revolve around extremist rhetoric. A group called “Stop Mandatory Vaccination Official” that has more than 13,000 members spreads dangerous falsehoods about vaccines. Another called “Wake the f— up” prompts interested members to answer the prompt, “Who was really responsible for 9/11?” A group called “HERBAL SURVIVAL AND HOMESTEADING” falsely promotes plants as cures for coronavirus. In 2019, Rolling Stone discovered a number of groups on MeWe catering to conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, anti-vaxxers, and flat-Earthers. The report also found several examples of content violating MeWe’s own community guidelines, which includes a ban on “unlawful, harmful, obscene, or pornographic content.” Weinstein refuted Rolling Stone’s report in January 2019. “MeWe’s TOS is clear: haters, bullies, lawbreakers, and people promoting threats and violence are not welcome,” he wrote on Medium. Even so, Business Insider found events on the platform that encouraged breaking shelter-in-place orders. Popular posts also spread bizarre conspiracy theories that blamed the coronavirus outbreak on Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and 5G technology. Business Insider shared with Westreich, the MeWe spokesperson, several examples of posts and events that appeared to encourage people to break state or local laws. Westreich said it was “likely” MeWe’s moderators were already reviewing such content. However, none of the content has been taken down yet. “False information about anything is concerning at MeWe and so we take a systemic approach to the solution,” Westreich said. “If you’ve found such content on MeWe, then it’s likely it hasn’t yet been reported to our Trust and Safety Team team or it may already be pending review.”
3 May 14:00 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/anti-quarantine-protesters-mewe-facebook-groups-conspiracy-theorists-social-media-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Anti-quarantine protesters are being kicked off Facebook and quickly finding refuge on a site loved by conspiracy theorists, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Organizers of anti-quarantine protests have been forced to flee Facebook as the platform has cracked down on coronavirus content. Business Insider has found that they’re now organizing on another social network – one that’s been a refuge for conspiracy theorists and others who have been exiled from mainstream online communities. Subscription-based social site MeWe has become host to groups with names that are explicit in their members’ goals: there’s Ohioans Against Excessive Quarantine, Open Texas Now!, and #ReOpenFL, among others. These MeWe groups are iterations of those on Facebook with the same names. But ever since Facebook started to crack down on these organizational efforts and remove some of their content, members have been searching for a way to plan their rallies uninhibited by Facebook’s moderators. While social networks have become a haven for the millions affected by stay-at-home measures, the platforms have also had to grapple with users organizing in-person events and protests that are in direct conflict with health and safety measures in place to curtail the virus’s spread. Facebook now requires all events to explicitly tell attendees to adhere to social distancing guidelines, and has banned groups that encourage users to break state mandates. There are no similar guidelines on MeWe. More than 20 MeWe groups against state shelter-in-place orders have popped in the last week, Business Insider has found. Inside these groups, members rail against Facebook for censoring their movement and mock the state governors and health experts who talk about the dangers of re-opening the economy too quickly. And members of these MeWe groups are in recruitment mode, flooding feeds with urgent calls for members to invite everyone they know in anticipation of other platforms taking down protest content. It’s a sign of the difficulties officials face in regulating behavior during a pandemic. For all of one social media site’s adherence to guidelines, another can ignore or dismiss them. Indeed, many of the groups on MeWe explicitly oppose states’ orders. Since its founding in 2012, MeWe has attracted 8 million members, spokesperson David Westreich told Business Insider. The platform operates under a freemium model, where users can access a limited number of features for free and pay for access more extensive ones. Groups operate similarly to Facebook Groups: They can be set public or private, and members can write posts and organize events. There’s also a chat room for each group for instant messaging with other members. Although its size is only a fraction of Facebook’s 2.5 billion monthly active users, MeWe presents itself as the antithesis to Facebook. It promotes a social platform with no ads, no sharing of user data, and no manipulation of what appears in your feed. “Unlike Facebook, MeWe respects its members as customers to serve and delight, not data to target or sell to advertisers, marketers, or politicians,” Westreich told Business Insider. “MeWe members have total control of their data, news feeds, and privacy.” MeWe also issues every user a Privacy Bill of Rights. MeWe’s founder, Mark Weinstein, has said he started the site as a protection against what he calls Facebook’s overreach on privacy and user rights, and that his site protects the privacy and rights of its users better. But MeWe’s hands-off approach has attracted those who have been kicked off of Facebook and Twitter for violating their policies. While many of MeWe’s groups are home to innocuous discussions of conservative values, some of MeWe’s most popular groups revolve around extremist rhetoric. A group called “Stop Mandatory Vaccination Official” that has more than 13,000 members spreads dangerous falsehoods about vaccines. Another called “Wake the f— up” prompts interested members to answer the prompt, “Who was really responsible for 9/11?” A group called “HERBAL SURVIVAL AND HOMESTEADING” falsely promotes plants as cures for coronavirus. In 2019, Rolling Stone discovered a number of groups on MeWe catering to conspiracy theorists, white supremacists, anti-vaxxers, and flat-Earthers. The report also found several examples of content violating MeWe’s own community guidelines, which includes a ban on “unlawful, harmful, obscene, or pornographic content.” Weinstein refuted Rolling Stone’s report in January 2019. “MeWe’s TOS is clear: haters, bullies, lawbreakers, and people promoting threats and violence are not welcome,” he wrote on Medium. Even so, Business Insider found events on the platform that encouraged breaking shelter-in-place orders. Popular posts also spread bizarre conspiracy theories that blamed the coronavirus outbreak on Microsoft cofounder Bill Gates and 5G technology. Business Insider shared with Westreich, the MeWe spokesperson, several examples of posts and events that appeared to encourage people to break state or local laws. Westreich said it was “likely” MeWe’s moderators were already reviewing such content. However, none of the content has been taken down yet. “False information about anything is concerning at MeWe and so we take a systemic approach to the solution,” Westreich said. “If you’ve found such content on MeWe, then it’s likely it hasn’t yet been reported to our Trust and Safety Team team or it may already be pending review.”
3 May 14:00 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/anti-quarantine-protesters-mewe-facebook-groups-conspiracy-theorists-social-media-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Consumers' focus shifts to packaged, high-value food items amid coronavirus lockdown 2.0
3 May 16:42
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14 articles
Weight: 2.65
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:35
Average US: 25.099999999999998
Weighted average US: 28.19421375197353
Average GB: 12.535714285714285
Weighted average GB: 9.248406592322942
Average IN: 10.357142857142856
Weighted average IN: 14.542163217765458
Consumers' focus shifts to packaged, high-value food items amid coronavirus lockdown 2.0
The second phase of the coronavirus lockdown saw a considerable shift in buying patterns of consumers from basic necessities to high-value items like snacks, processed food, packaged meat and frozen desserts, retailers said. Retailers such as Future Group, Metro and Lots Wholesale said they witnessed a spike in demand for packaged food products like biscuits and noodles, resulting in an increase in the average purchase value per customer. People also sought critical non-food products such as kitchen appliances, electrical goods, stationery and storage containers at Metro. "Yes, the second phase witnessed a growing demand for processed food, packaged meat and frozen desserts. People are working from home. Hence, snack items, biscuits and hot beverages are also in demand amongst customers," Metro Cash & Carry India MD and CEO Arvind Mediratta told PTI. As the restrictions started easing, customers saw they could get easy access to their daily essentials and so panic buying stopped, he added. "Initially, customers were unsure of what the trickle down effect of the lockdown would be. Consumers started becoming vigilant and began hoarding essential commodities. There was a sense of panic. "But gradually, everyone was made aware that all essential products will continue to be available and people will not face a shortage. Currently, there is less panic buying and more need base buying," he said. As most people are working from home, Metro is witnessing enquiries from customers for IT products such as computers, mouse, keyboard, chargers and other accessories. Future Group President Food & FMCG Kamaldeep Singh said in the first phase people were buying basic necessary items such as atta, pulses and sugar, but in the second phase they focussed more on food items like biscuits, noodles and pasta. "The definition of basic necessity has changed in couple of weeks from basic foods to snacking and munching items," he said. According to Singh, people are not willing to travel long distances, hence footfall of large format stores is down but sales of convenience stores like EasyDay have picked up considerably. Though people are not hoarding goods, they have cravings for snacks and other items as they are staying at home, he said. "In the second stage, people are buying products which can be cooked at home like pasta, noodles etc. Sales of frozen non-veg and home snacking and processed food have gone up to a large extent, such as French fries, baked items and ready-to-cook meals," he said. As restaurants are closed, people are cooking many dishes at home, Singh said, adding "the trend in the second phase has shifted from pure basic essentials to instant food and snacking items." Lots Wholesale Solutions Managing Director Tanit Chearavanont said the demand in the second phase is majorly coming from both the "food and non-food FMCG categories" as compared to commodities which had seen a spike in the initial phase of lockdown. "Overall, the average purchase value per customer has gone up," he said. "There is a marked difference between consumer behaviour between the first phase and the second phase of lockdown. The first phase of lockdown was fuelled by panic buy resulting in bulk purchase in categories like commodities and FMCG food products. Panic buying continued for an initial 7-10 days of lockdown, slowly giving way to consumer's confidence in the availability of essential goods," he said. Also, with the summer season kicking in, another category seeing major demand is insecticides, Chearavanont added. According to value fashion and lifestyle products retailer V-Mart Retail, now consumers are "trusting" their retailers and have faith that goods would remain available. "Though, we are not operating many stores but have observed a shift in the consumer buying pattern in the second phase of lockdown. Earlier, we had noticed panic buying by the customer, purchasing whatever they can do but now people are assured about availability. That trust has come and now people are purchasing as per their requirement," said V-Mart Retail Chairman and MD Lalit Agarwal. Meanwhile, several retailers have reported an increase in sales of their private labels, which filled the gaps as supply lines from other manufacturers were disrupted. Asked whether the trend is likely to continue, Singh said consumers in the lockdown period are brand agnostics. "Right now the consumer is not very brand conscious, he simply wants products," he said. According to Mediratta, due to the disruption in the supply chain, there were several FMCG companies that were not able to deliver their goods as their production was interrupted, leading to a shortage of branded goods such as instant noodles. "However, customers were not bothered even if favorite brands were not available and were happy to transition to a private label brand. This gave a lot of boost to private labels whose stocks were available locally and so their supply remained steady without hindrances," he said. The government first imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24 to curb the spread of coronavirus infections. On April 14, the lockdown was extended till May 3. The government has further extended the lockdown till May 17, but with considerable relaxations based on zones.
3 May 16:42 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/consumers-focus-shifts-to-packaged-high-value-food-items-amid-coronavirus-lockdown-20-833032.htmlRating: 2.25
Morrisons begins selling flour from in-store bakery following nationwide shortage
From banana bread to gooey brownies and sourdough, many of us have turned our hands to home baking as a way to fill our time while in lockdown. But, as most avid bakers will have come to learn, getting hold of the basic ingredients needed to make these tasty treats is not always easy. Flour – a key baking ingredient – has been flying off the shelves in recent weeks, with rising demand leaving many shops and supermarkets struggling to keep up with demand. As the flour industry attempts to fulfil orders for smaller bags, Morrisons has found a way to ensure its customers do not have to go without. This week, the supermarket has responded by decanting its own bakery flour into bags to sell in store daily. The small bags are being made up from the larger sacks used by the in-store bakeries, with customers paying 60p for a 1kg bag of plain, self-raising or white and wholemeal bread flour. It is also selling larger 16kg bags which cost £9, and 50g bag of bakery yeast for 20p. So far, Morrisons has sold more than 370 tonnes of flour to Britain’s bakers and more than 19,000 bags of yeast. Andy Clarke, bakery buying manager, at Morrisons said: “Listening to customers, we know baking is important right now to keep the family busy and entertain kids during the lockdown. “It felt like a no brainer to give customers the ingredients they need to bake at home during this very difficult time." Customers have been praising the supermarket on social media for making their shopping easier. “I went to the shops today and got flour and eggs. I felt like I'd won the lottery. Thanks to the @Morrisons staff for decanting flour from their sacks into paper bags. It's the little things that cheer you up,” one person wrote on Twitter. Another added: “There's enough to go around but not in small bags. Luckily, clever #Morrisons has come up with a solution. Hope other supermarkets follow.” Earlier this month, the National Association of British and Irish Millers (Nabim) said the industry was “working round the clock” to double production but was still struggling to meet demand. One flour mill in Oxfordshire said it had started running a 24-hour operation for the first time in its 25-year history to help get flour to shops. “It’s unprecedented,” Emily Munsey, who runs Wessex Mill with her father, told the BBC. “We’ve increased production about four-fold but we’re nowhere close to meeting the demand we’ve seen.” Alex Waugh, director general of Nabim, said the problem was not being able to mill enough flour, not that the industry lacked capacity to pack the flour into smaller bags for retailers.
3 May 15:14 • The Independent • https://www.independent.co.uk/life-style/food-and-drink/morrisons-buy-bags-flour-bread-baking-shortage-yeast-lockdown-a9496506.htmlRating: 2.71
Kroger, Costco to limit meat purchases in some states
(CNN) - The slowdown at meat processing plants from the coronavirus pandemic has led to a new wave of panic-shopping. This has led some grocery stores to impose limits on meat purchases. Kroger said it is limiting ground beef and pork purchases in some of its stores. Costco is limiting purchase of fresh beef, pork and poultry products to a total of three items per member. Other large grocers said they expect to be periodically out of stock on different types of cuts. In recent weeks, top meat suppliers have announced temporary closures as their workers fall ill with COVID-19. President Trump signed an executive order to compel meat plants to stay open during the crisis.
3 May 23:48 • WVLT • https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/Kroger-to-limit-beef-pork-purchases-in-some-states-570162011.htmlRating: 0.30
New apps emerge amid COVID-19 to tackle gripes with popular delivery services
When the weekend rolls around, Torontonians won’t have to miss the White Lily Diner’s thick-cut bacon, organic corn grits and toast smeared in rhubarb hibiscus jam just because the country has plunged into a pandemic. The east-end diner is selling its brunch staples and offering to drop them at customers’ doors, but the process won’t involve any of the familiar delivery apps whose couriers have become a fixture on busy streets in recent years. Instead of relying on Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes or DoorDash, White Lily is using a new entrant to the market: Tock To Go. “The biggest draw off the bat was probably just the fact that they’re so much less expensive,” said White Lily co-owner Ashley Lloyd, who laid off her entire staff when she closed the restaurant to dine-in meals amid COVID-19. “Restaurant margins are slim…I can understand people turning to (their delivery competitors), but honestly I don’t know how they do it.” Tock To Go is part of a new wave of food delivery companies hitting the Canadian market, hoping to attract vendors with features like lower commissions and fill the hole Foodora will leave behind when it shutters its Canadian operations in mid-May. READ MORE: Local restaurants feel squeezed by delivery apps’ commission fees The services — Ottawa’s Love Local Delivery, Vancouver’s From To, Toronto’s volunteer-run iRover and new delivery features on Montreal’s Eva — have been created to help out in a tough moment, when restaurants are barely scraping by — even as demand for food delivery surges. These services want to do things differently from the household names, so they have eliminated commission fees or offered rates well below the 10- to 30-per cent charged by Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash and others. Tock To Go, a Chicago-based service from restaurateur Nick Kokonas that evolved from his Tock reservation system, only takes a 3 per cent commission from restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto. Tock first appeared in the cities in 2018, but didn’t launch Tock to Go until the pandemic started. Tock to Go doesn’t have couriers to deliver meals. Instead, it asks customers to pre-order food, helping restaurants arrange their own delivery. “Ordering apps take up to 20 to 30 (per cent), which simply is not sustainable for restaurants,” Tock’s director of marketing Kyle Welter said in an email. “Tock allows each restaurant to specify the number of orders for any set time range, so the kitchen doesn’t get overwhelmed and they can responsibly manage the flow of customers.” Over in B.C., Brandon Grossutti from Gastown restaurant Pidgin will launch From To, a delivery service with a handful of Vancouver eateries, in May. In the weeks before restaurants in Canada closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Grossutti realized Pidgin would need a takeout option, so he signed up with Uber Eats and Burnaby-based Fantuan Delivery. “Then the reality of it hit. We did fairly well gross wise, but you see the checks coming in and…the first week was a lot of money out the door in commissions,” said Grossutti, who had to lay off workers “It’s a weirdly parasitic relationship where you have a parasite basically eating its hosts until it dies and it’s not a sustainable relationship.” Grossutti decided to put his software industry background to work. He made From To, which gives restaurants the ability to decide if they want to pay for, split with or pass on customers’ delivery costs. From To currently takes no commission. “We had talked at certain points about taking like 5 per cent, which would be much less than what’s out there, but we realized that during this time we need to make this sustainable because people are already losing money,” Grossutti said. The lower commissions don’t seem to have bothered rivals. “We welcome new competitors to the market, as it raises awareness of the industry and promotes even more traffic to restaurants to stimulate growth,” Winnipeg-bred SkipTheDishes said in an email to The Canadian Press. “It is natural for competitors to see value in this market and we’re confident in Skip’s position as Canada’s homegrown food delivery company.” READ MORE: B.C. to allow restaurants to hire laid-off servers to deliver alcohol SkipTheDishes is offering a 10.5 per cent commission deal to restaurants wanting to do their own deliveries but still use the platform and is expediting payments to all businesses using its services. Meanwhile, San Francisco-based Uber Eats is eliminating its fees on pickup orders and reducing its usual 30 per cent charges to 15 per cent for restaurants who choose to use their own delivery people. DoorDash, also headquartered in San Francisco, is waiving April commission fees for new, independent clients. Existing independent clients can have those fees waived on pickup orders, and 100,000 clients were added to DashPass — its subscription program which offers $0 delivery for consumers — for free. Harriet Clunie, the executive chef at European-style bistro Das Lokal, said that is not enough because the moves put the onus on restaurateurs to offset costs or hire their own delivery staff to take advantage of benefits. She banded together with other members of the Ottawa restaurant community to found Love Local Delivery, a service that launched in March and will courier food within 5 kilometres of restaurants for a flat $5 fee, or more for longer distances. There are no commission fees right now and the service focuses solely on independently-owned restaurants. While it might have to charge commission when it launches an app in the near future, Clunie said the service is committed to keeping that potential fee low. “It’s all people that are in the same boat and we’re trying to help everybody that’s struggling, restaurants or small businesses or drivers that are unemployed and just trying to make some money to feed the family,” she said. “It’s an approach that’s really trying to lift everybody up.” Tara Deschamps, The Canadian Press
3 May 16:15 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/new-apps-emerge-amid-covid-19-to-tackle-gripes-with-popular-delivery-services/Rating: 0.30
Kroger to limit beef, pork purchases in some states
(CNN) - The slowdown at meat processing plants from the coronavirus pandemic has led to a new wave of panic-shopping. This has led some grocery stores to impose limits on meat purchases. Kroger said it is limiting ground beef and pork purchases in some of its stores. Other large grocers said they expect to be periodically out of stock on different types of cuts. In recent weeks, top meat suppliers have announced temporary closures as their workers fall ill with COVID-19. President Trump signed an executive order to compel meat plants to stay open during the crisis. Copyright 2020 CNN. All rights reserved.
3 May 23:41 • Hawaii News Now • https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/05/03/kroger-limit-beef-pork-purchases-some-states/Rating: 0.30
New apps emerge amid COVID-19 to tackle gripes with popular delivery services
TORONTO -- When the weekend rolls around, Torontonians won't have to miss the White Lily Diner's thick-cut bacon, organic corn grits and toast smeared in rhubarb hibiscus jam just because the country has plunged into a pandemic. The east-end diner is selling its brunch staples and offering to drop them at customers' doors, but the process won't involve any of the familiar delivery apps whose couriers have become a fixture on busy streets in recent years. Instead of relying on Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes or DoorDash, White Lily is using a new entrant to the market: Tock To Go. "The biggest draw off the bat was probably just the fact that they're so much less expensive," said White Lily co-owner Ashley Lloyd, who laid off her entire staff when she closed the restaurant to dine-in meals amid COVID-19. "Restaurant margins are slim...I can understand people turning to (their delivery competitors), but honestly I don't know how they do it." Tock To Go is part of a new wave of food delivery companies hitting the Canadian market, hoping to attract vendors with features like lower commissions and fill the hole Foodora will leave behind when it shutters its Canadian operations in mid-May. The services -- Ottawa's Love Local Delivery, Vancouver's From To, Toronto's volunteer-run iRover and new delivery features on Montreal's Eva -- have been created to help out in a tough moment, when restaurants are barely scraping by -- even as demand for food delivery surges. These services want to do things differently from the household names, so they have eliminated commission fees or offered rates well below the 10- to 30-per cent charged by Uber Eats, SkipTheDishes, DoorDash and others. Tock To Go, a Chicago-based service from restaurateur Nick Kokonas that evolved from his Tock reservation system, only takes a 3 per cent commission from restaurants in Vancouver and Toronto. Tock first appeared in the cities in 2018, but didn't launch Tock to Go until the pandemic started. Tock to Go doesn't have couriers to deliver meals. Instead, it asks customers to pre-order food, helping restaurants arrange their own delivery. "Ordering apps take up to 20 to 30 (per cent), which simply is not sustainable for restaurants," Tock's director of marketing Kyle Welter said in an email. "Tock allows each restaurant to specify the number of orders for any set time range, so the kitchen doesn't get overwhelmed and they can responsibly manage the flow of customers." Over in B.C., Brandon Grossutti from Gastown restaurant Pidgin will launch From To, a delivery service with a handful of Vancouver eateries, in May. In the weeks before restaurants in Canada closed to stop the spread of COVID-19, Grossutti realized Pidgin would need a takeout option, so he signed up with Uber Eats and Burnaby-based Fantuan Delivery. "Then the reality of it hit. We did fairly well gross wise, but you see the checks coming in and...the first week was a lot of money out the door in commissions," said Grossutti, who had to lay off workers "It's a weirdly parasitic relationship where you have a parasite basically eating its hosts until it dies and it's not a sustainable relationship." Grossutti decided to put his software industry background to work. He made From To, which gives restaurants the ability to decide if they want to pay for, split with or pass on customers' delivery costs. From To currently takes no commission. "We had talked at certain points about taking like 5 per cent, which would be much less than what's out there, but we realized that during this time we need to make this sustainable because people are already losing money," Grossutti said. The lower commissions don't seem to have bothered rivals. "We welcome new competitors to the market, as it raises awareness of the industry and promotes even more traffic to restaurants to stimulate growth," Winnipeg-bred SkipTheDishes said in an email to The Canadian Press. "It is natural for competitors to see value in this market and we're confident in Skip's position as Canada's homegrown food delivery company." SkipTheDishes is offering a 10.5 per cent commission deal to restaurants wanting to do their own deliveries but still use the platform and is expediting payments to all businesses using its services. Meanwhile, San Francisco-based Uber Eats is eliminating its fees on pickup orders and reducing its usual 30 per cent charges to 15 per cent for restaurants who choose to use their own delivery people. DoorDash, also headquartered in San Francisco, is waiving April commission fees for new, independent clients. Existing independent clients can have those fees waived on pickup orders, and 100,000 clients were added to DashPass -- its subscription program which offers $0 delivery for consumers -- for free. Harriet Clunie, the executive chef at European-style bistro Das Lokal, said that is not enough because the moves put the onus on restaurateurs to offset costs or hire their own delivery staff to take advantage of benefits. She banded together with other members of the Ottawa restaurant community to found Love Local Delivery, a service that launched in March and will courier food within 5 kilometres of restaurants for a flat $5 fee, or more for longer distances. There are no commission fees right now and the service focuses solely on independently-owned restaurants. While it might have to charge commission when it launches an app in the near future, Clunie said the service is committed to keeping that potential fee low. "It's all people that are in the same boat and we're trying to help everybody that's struggling, restaurants or small businesses or drivers that are unemployed and just trying to make some money to feed the family," she said. "It's an approach that's really trying to lift everybody up." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 14:35 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/business/new-apps-emerge-amid-covid-19-to-tackle-gripes-with-popular-delivery-services-1.4922739Rating: 2.87
Beer and wine from Morrisons now being delivered to homes by Deliveroo in under 30minutes
Morrisons customers will be able to get beer and wine delivered to their doorsteps from this weekend while pubs and bars across the country remain closed. Red and white wine, beer and larger will be available to online shoppers at the same price as Morrisons supermarkets on the Deliveroo app. It comes after Morrisons and Deliveroo announced a partnership to help customers order essential household items to their door in as little as under 30 minutes. The Morrisons range on Deliveroo has now expanded from 75 to 110 items and include more summer foods such as fish fillets, British beef burgers, fruits and salads. A wider number of household essentials, such as washing detergent, is also be included. Joseph Sutton, online director at Morrisons, said: “When we listen to customers during the lockdown they would like us to supply more treats for the emerging summer and the longer days. Customise your news feed and get Bristol news personalised to you with our free app. Click here to find out more, or visit the Apple App Store or Google Play to download it for Android. BristolLive is running a unique nationwide survey aimed at capturing British life under lockdown. Help us record these historic times and tell us how the pandemic has affected your life - from food shopping to finances, home schooling to mental health. It only takes a few minutes and you'll be playing a part in how we look back on these times once the pandemic is over. Thank you. Click here to take the Great Big Lockdown Survey "We are continuing to play our full part in feeding the nation and our partnership with Deliveroo is proving a popular way for customers to receive their food and drink.” Ajay Lakhwani, vice president of new business at Deliveroo, said: "We are pleased to play our role in making sure households have access to everything they need and want as they keep safe at home. "The expansion of the Morrisons range on Deliveroo is great news for our customers across the country, who can now enjoy an even wider selection of delicious food and drink, straight to their doorstep in under 30 minutes.” Customers can order on the Deliveroo app or website, as normal, from a selection of items that include meat and Quorn, fruit and household essentials.
3 May 13:22 • BristolLive • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/deliveroo-morrisons-beer-wine-delivery-4100862Rating: 0.30
A bread & butter story: How kitchen items are reaching you through the lockdown
Baking powder to cornflakes, vegetables to chips, bread to eggs, milk to oil. The Indian Express follows the delivery chains running night and day across Mayur Vihar, East Delhi, which saw the Capital’s first coronavirus case, to see how items in your kitchen are reaching you through a lockdown Shampoo sales down, running out of Maggi At the ‘Home Needs Supermarket’ in Delhi’s Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Arunima, a government school teacher, has been browsing through shelves. She is looking for cocoa powder to bake a cake. “We have run out of cocoa powder,” Rashid, the cashier at the store, informs her, and offers the 34-year-old a bottle of Nutella instead. In the past two weeks, since a second lockdown was enforced across the country to check the spread of COVID-19, says owner Sumit Kumar, many of his customers have had to leave disappointed. “There has been a surge in demand for baking products such as vanilla essence, cocoa powder and baking soda, as well as ingredients for making pizzas. But we ran out of most of these items two weeks ago,” says Kumar. Established five years ago, the store’s stock of items such as Maggi and chips — also in high demand in lockdown — have dried up too. “We don’t have tissues and toilet paper either. We will run out of sanitary pads in a week,” says Kumar. “With salons shut though, the sale of razors and trimmers has picked up.” On March 2, a 45-year-old businessman in Mayur Vihar, East Delhi, became the Capital’s first COVID-19 case. Since then, there have been 201 cases in East Delhi, and 10 of its areas are containment zones — upsetting the area’s food supply network. Despite essential industries being allowed to continue operations under the lockdown, grocery stores such as Kumar’s, and several vendors linked to the supply chain, have been facing disruptions in procurement, distribution, and even demand. While the sale of non-perishable items such as wheat, rice, dal and sugar have increased by 20%, says Kumar, “they have become expensive for us to procure”. “Earlier, distributors gave us a 2% discount on grocery items, and we would pass on the benefits to customers. Now, there has been a 3% hike in prices. Fortunately, the sale of these products has increased, and people are buying in bulk. Price of cornflakes has increased by Rs 15, but there has been a surge in its demand too,” says Kumar. However, he says, the demand for otherwise fast-selling daily use products such as shampoo, face cream and deodorant has dropped, and the store has decided not to purchase new stock. “We get more customers now than earlier, but they are only buying a few items. Hand-sanitisers are our fastest-selling product,” he says. Nearly 300 customers visit his store now, compared to 100-200 earlier. Costs up, sales down for farmers, vegetable vendors Three kilometres away, in Mayur Vihar’s Yamuna Khadar area, a hailstorm has delayed farmer Chenpal Mandal’s trip to Ghazipur wholesale market. Around 1 am, when it ends, the 42-year-old finds that his coriander and spinach crops spread over five bighas have been destroyed. Left with just a quintal of cucumber now, he packs the produce in a sack, loads it on to a tempo that he has hired for Rs 500, and arrives at Ghazipur market around 2 am. Most of the vegetables and fruits supplied to grocers in Mayur Vihar are sourced from the 300 shops in Ghazipur market. While the vegetables come here from Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, and Haryana, a considerable portion is also supplied by farms in Delhi — the Yamuna floodplains, Burari and Najafgarh areas. The Ghazipur mandi opens for business at 10 pm, with trucks, tempos and wooden carts lining up outside through the day. When Mandal arrives at the market, about 50-60 farmers and buyers — without masks or gloves — are already queued up outside each shop, run by a ‘commission agent’. The agents have extra staff to ensure social distancing but their pleas go unheard. Mandal joins the queue, a gamcha around his face. To avoid overcrowding, the market has replicated the Azadpur mandi system, where three people tested positive for COVID-19 and a 57 year-old trader died. Only 1,000 vehicles are allowed inside at a time, between 6 am and 10 pm, with each batch getting four hours. The wholesalers are allowed between 10 pm and 6 am. It takes Mandal two hours to sell his cucumber. “Usually, we get Rs 1,000 for a quintal of cucumber. Today, I was paid only Rs 300. Now my family will have to wait another month, when we will harvest spinach,” says Mandal. Along with 15 members of his family, the 42-year-old cultivates onion, spinach, coriander, cucumber, brinjal, radish and cabbage on 16 bighas of land in the Yamuna floodplains. “Nuksaan ka koi hisab nahin (There is no limit to our losses),” he adds, about the lockdown. “I buy seeds from a seeds market in Laxmi Nagar (in East Delhi). This time, the cabbage seeds alone cost me Rs 60,000. To maintain a bigha, I have to spend Rs 10,000 over three months, and Rs 600 for operating a tractor. I already owe Rs 65,000 to commission agents and farmers,” he says. In shop after shop at the market, large piles of vegetables lie unsold. At one stall, with tomatoes from UP, Haryana and Bengaluru, the commission agent is selling a kilogram for Rs 5 — down from Rs 12 earlier. Another commission agent nearby is complaining about his unsold bottle gourd. Earlier, a 30 kg sack was sold for Rs 400. He is now willing to give it away for Rs 150. Read | Central Vista: Nod for new Parliament after nearly 1,300 objections “The farmers usually hand over their produce to commission agents, who sell it to the highest bidder. Now, if police do not allow people to visit the market, prices will drop. Vegetables start rotting and so are eventually sold at throwaway prices,” says Rajender Sharma, former chairman of the Agricultural Produce Market Committee, Azadpur. As Mandal begins the 6-km walk back home, with only Rs 300 in his pocket, he worries, “Police peet rahi hai, corona peet raha hai (Both police and coronavirus are hitting us). Who cares for farmers?” Read | Back-channel used to ‘urge’ Pak to release Kulbhushan Jadhav: Harish Salve At Bhagyawan Society in Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Inder Dev Sah is among the handful of vendors who has set up his cart on a Tuesday morning. “I have been selling vegetables to the 95 families in this apartment for five years. Today, I woke up at 5 am to go to Ghazipur mandi. It took me two hours to buy vegetables worth Rs 4,000. I crossed three police checkpoints,” he says. For the next three hours, he does not get any customers. Finally, around 11 am, a retired government officer stops by to purchase peas for Rs 15. Before the lockdown he would make Rs 400-500 every day. “Now it’s Rs 100-150.” Sah has been asked to leave the spot on several occasions by police. “But I return every day,” he smiles. “My son has a medical condition because of which he can’t walk. I have to work to pay for his medicines.” Problems in the breadline: manufacturer to godown, shop SOME distance from his shop, outside the ‘park wala market’ in Mayur Vihar Phase-1, Jitender Dwivedi is shouting into his phone: “Ten crates of brown bread, five crates of milk bread… need it now.” The 42-year-old delivers bread to shops in the area. “At 5 am, I take my tempo truck to a local godown in Trilokpuri and pick up 50 crates of bread. The godown owner pays me Rs 300 for a day’s work,” he says. Read | Four security personnel ‘trapped’ in house as J&K encounter on after 8 hours The bread godown, a kilometre away, operates from a 6×6 ft ground-floor room. Maina Devi (56), the owner, has been in the business for over 30 years, earning around Rs 1,200 a day selling 150 crates to shops in Trilokpuri and Mayur Vihar. “I have two rickshaws, a scooter and a tempo truck for delivery… While our bread supply has not been affected, I am concerned about my delivery boys. They go into areas which may have COVID-19 patients,” says Devi. She, in turn, sources her bread from a middleman, Mujahid, who buys it from a manufacturing unit in Samaypur Badli. “Earlier, I used to buy around 3,000 loaves. Now, since the demand is down, I buy 1,500 loaves, paying Rs 7 a loaf. At 8 every night I queue up outside the manufacturing unit and sometimes wait till 2 am. I then deliver the bread to around 15 small godowns in Trilokpuri area,” says Mujahid, 22. Read | Rush for seats as first train leaves from Surat, site of migrant unrest While both Devi and Mujahid deny any disruption in bread supply, Dwivedi warns of a shortage. Industry sources say that with most bread manufacturing units functioning with skeletal crews, and sourcing of raw material becoming tough, production is a challenge. “It takes eight hours to make a packet of bread. It’s a labour-intensive job which involves heating, cooling, moulding, and quality-testing. Furthermore, the raw materials comes from millers based in Haryana and UP, and ensuring drivers for transportation has been challenging,” says a official from Big Basket. Another official, who looks after bread supply at the online grocery portal, says the disruption is due to many factors. Read | Arvind Subramanian on Covid response: ‘We should be driven by need’ “For example, packaging. The plastic covers, which are manufactured in Bengaluru, are in short supply. We are even running low on the stock of ink used to print manufacturing dates. How can we send out bread packets without a manufacturing date?” he says. Hotels shut, poultries see egg sales plunge Between 6 am and 8 am, 70-year-old Ramjilal delivers 100 crates of eggs to grocery stores in Mayur Vihar Phase-1. “I can earn up to Rs 300 a day. In the past weeks, the supply of eggs has reduced considerably. I also keep getting batches of bad eggs. There are days I don’t make even Rs 100,” he says. Three km away, in New Ashok Nagar, Ramjilal’s supplier Sitaram lies on a bed with crates of eggs stacked around him. Opinion by P Chidambaram | Will never know how many people died, as no govt will admit to starvation deaths In a corner, a worker shifts rotten eggs to a crate, while a cashier gives salary to two drivers. These drivers bring Sitaram’s stock of eggs from Haryana’s Panipat every day, which may now be a problem due to the state sealing the border with Delhi. “I get 1,800 trays of eggs, each with 30 eggs. A tray costs Rs 102. My drivers leave for Panipat at 4.30 am and return around noon. The eggs are then supplied to areas in East Delhi,” says Sitaram. However, he too complains of rotten eggs, “sometimes more than 100 trays”. At the Panipat poultry farm, owner Raj Kumar is anxious about his debt of Rs 5 lakh. “I have been a poultry farmer for 40 years and own about one lakh chickens. I send out about 80,000 eggs daily. Now I am getting Re 1 for an egg, from Rs 4 earlier… No wholesaler comes. The hotels are shut and the demand is very low,” says Raj Kumar. Surinder Bhutani, general secretary of the Central Haryana Poultry Farmers’ Association, says transportation hurdles have hit the industry. “There are 2,000 poultry farms in Haryana. Our main customers are in South India. It has become difficult to transport eggs. Even if we get the eggs to the street vendors, their business is shut. In the last one year, the cost of chicken feed has also increased. Then, there is the cost of medicines for them, labour, trays. All poultry farmers have sustained heavy losses.” Mother Dairy at helm, milk flows smoothly Apart from the grocery stores that stock milk, most residents of Mayur Vihar depend on the neighbourhood’s 22 Mother Dairy outlets. At one such outlet, Anmol, 27, is making a list of the inventory. Her father has been running the milk booth since 2005. It is 12.30 pm, and the outlet has run out of its high-selling double-toned milk. “The fresh batch will come only in the evening,” she says, adding that while they had never seen anything like the lockdown, “the supply of milk has remained steady”. Read | Daily tests up from 4,300 to 75,000 since April 1 This is a fact attested to by most stores and milk booths, unlike in the case of other essential grocery items. “In the early days of the lockdown, there were some issues, but they were sorted out on a daily basis. One main concern was of drivers going hungry while covering longer routes. We have now ensured adequate ration on their journeys,” said a Mother Dairy spokesperson. The milk at Anmol’s booth is procured from a processing plant in the Patparganj industrial area. The plant gets its supply from 10 states, including Uttar Pradesh, Punjab, Haryana, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Andhra Pradesh. “The milk is procured through a network of pooling points in villages, where strict quality control is maintained, right from the milking of animals to the processing plants. The milk collected is chilled to below 4 degrees Celsius in our bulk coolers/milk chilling centres to ensure good quality of raw milk during transportation to Delhi,” the spokesperson added. Read | Finding doctors to certify them fit, obtaining clearances test migrants’ patience When it arrives in Delhi, the raw milk undergoes a series of tests at various stages of processing. As per Mother Dairy records, 50-55,000 litres of milk is delivered to the 22 Mother Dairy booths and nine milk distributors in Mayur Vihar every day. Trucks carrying token milk and pouch milk make 24 trips to the neighbourhood every day, and each truck carries between 1,500 and 8,000 litres of milk. Milk and cheese products at Sumit Kumar’s grocery store are sourced from a distributor based in Patparganj. In Mayur Vihar, about 90 people, including booth operators, distributors, salesmen and drivers are part of the Mother Dairy supply chain. At grocery store, now a daily trip to stock up on supplies Back at the Home Needs Supermarket, Sumit Kumar and his cashier Rashid are waiting for the day’s supply of cold drinks and pulses. Earlier, explains Kumar, distributors would take their order over the phone and deliver the stock to the store. But since the lockdown, with the supply chain disrupted, the burden of transportation has fallen on them. Amit Kumar, a distributor based in Patparganj, supplies to Kumar’s store Maggi, ketchup, cheese and milk products for infants, procuring the stock from wholesalers in Ludhiana, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. “There has been a 50% fall in my stock procurement. Many of my orders from other states have not arrived. Some of the trucks were turned away by police, while some orders could not be delivered due to staff shortage. Last week, I shut down my warehouse following an order by the district magistrate. I was unable to ensure social distancing among my staff. We are trying to deal with these issues to kickstart the supply again,” says Amit Kumar. So, for now, cashier Rashid heads out on his scooter to distributor godowns in Kondli to get items such as cocoa powder, Maggi, chips, soft drinks and toiletries for the shop, but most of them, he says, have run out of supplies. “I have to go every day, whereas earlier, the stocks sent by distributors would last over 15 days,” he adds. What has also changed in the lockdown, says Kumar, is that distributors have stopped giving goods on credit. “Earlier, I would pay them after the products were sold. Distributors have even stopped accepting cheques. I have to pay them in cash. This has also driven up prices,” he says. To avoid a burnout, Kumar recently hired a rickshaw-puller to deliver the supplies in the afternoon. Around 4 pm, the rickshaw-puller arrives, bringing with him 50 bottles of cold drinks and two sacks of dal. Paid Rs 30 for the delivery, he requests a helper at the store for an additional Rs 10. “Nahin. Abhi naukri hai, isi mein khush raho (No. You should be happy that you at least have a job),” the helper shoots back, going back into the store.
3 May 09:45 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/delhi/delhi-lockdown-essential-items-bread-butter-6390896/Rating: 0.30
The fast-food item people miss the most in lockdown might surprise you
With the UK on lockdown and the majority of fast-food chains closed, many of us are dreaming of our favourite fixes from KFC, McDonald's, Greggs and more. To help, many restaurants have been releasing their secret recipes and cooking tutorials so families can recreate their meals at home. McDonald's has released its McMuffin and Hash Brown recipes, while Greggs has released its Steak Bake, Chicken Bake and Sausage, Bean and Cheese Melt tutorials. Even supermarkets are getting in on it, Iceland is selling KFC fakeaways and Aldi is helping fans recreate fast-food favourites using affordable ingredients. New data from Breville has revealed the menu items from the above fast-food chains we miss the most, and the answer might surprise you. Despite KFC offering huge burgers, delicious gravy sides and more, it's the humble popcorn chicken from the branch people miss the most. According to Google statistics, the searches for KFC Popcorn Chicken soared in March as customers attempted to recreate it at home. Next was the McDonald's Big Mac, followed by the fast-food chain's McFlurry. The top ten foods the nation has been trying to recreate at home is below. To help foodies out, Breville has collated a selection of online recipes from bloggers and foodie sites and provided instruction and ingredients on how to make these at home. Go to their website to find out more.
3 May 07:00 • Wales Online • https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/fast-food-item-people-miss-18185174Rating: 0.62
Lockdown 2.0: Consumers' focus shifts to packaged, high-value food items
The second phase of the coronavirus lockdown saw a considerable shift in buying patterns of consumers from basic necessities to high-value items like snacks, processed food, packaged meat and frozen desserts, retailers said. Retailers such as Future Group, Metro and Lots Wholesale said they witnessed a spike in demand for packaged food products like biscuits and noodles, resulting in an increase in the average purchase value per customer. People also sought critical non-food products such as kitchen appliances, electrical goods, stationery and storage containers at Metro. "Yes, the second phase witnessed a growing demand for processed food, packaged meat and frozen desserts. People are working from home. Hence, snack items, biscuits and hot beverages are also in demand amongst customers," Metro Cash & Carry India MD and CEO Arvind Mediratta said. As the restrictions started easing, customers saw they could get easy access to their daily essentials and so panic buying stopped, he added. "Initially, customers were unsure of what the trickle-down effect of the lockdown would be. Consumers started becoming vigilant and began hoarding essential commodities. There was a sense of panic. "But gradually, everyone was made aware that all essential products will continue to be available and people will not face a shortage. Currently, there is less panic buying and more need-based buying," he said. As most people are working from home, Metro is witnessing enquiries from customers for IT products such as computers, mouse, keyboard, chargers and other accessories. Future Group President Food & FMCG Kamaldeep Singh said in the first phase people were buying basic necessary items such as atta, pulses and sugar, but in the second phase, they focussed more on food items like biscuits, noodles and pasta. "The definition of basic necessity has changed in a couple of weeks from basic foods to snacking and munching items," he said. According to Singh, people are not willing to travel long distances, hence footfall of large-format stores is down but sales of convenience stores like EasyDay have picked up considerably. Though people are not hoarding goods, they have cravings for snacks and other items as they are staying at home, he said. "In the second stage, people are buying products which can be cooked at home like pasta, noodles etc. Sales of frozen non-veg and home snacking and processed food have gone up to a large extent, such as French fries, baked items and ready-to-cook meals," he said. As restaurants are closed, people are cooking many dishes at home, Singh said, adding "the trend in the second phase has shifted from pure basic essentials to instant food and snacking items." Lots Wholesale Solutions Managing Director Tanit Chearavanont said the demand in the second phase is majorly coming from both the "food and non-food FMCG categories" as compared to commodities which had seen a spike in the initial phase of lockdown. "Overall, the average purchase value per customer has gone up," he said. "There is a marked difference between consumer behaviour between the first phase and the second phase of lockdown. The first phase of lockdown was fuelled by panic buy resulting in bulk purchase in categories like commodities and FMCG food products. Panic buying continued for an initial 7-10 days of lockdown, slowly giving way to consumer's confidence in the availability of essential goods," he said. Also, with the summer season kicking in, another category seeing major demand is insecticides, Chearavanont added. According to value fashion and lifestyle products retailer V-Mart Retail, now consumers are "trusting" their retailers and have faith that goods would remain available. "Though, we are not operating many stores but have observed a shift in the consumer buying pattern in the second phase of lockdown. Earlier, we had noticed panic buying by the customer, purchasing whatever they can do but now people are assured about availability. That trust has come and now people are purchasing as per their requirement," said V-Mart Retail Chairman and MD Lalit Agarwal. Meanwhile, several retailers have reported an increase in sales of their private labels, which filled the gaps as supply lines from other manufacturers were disrupted. Asked whether the trend is likely to continue, Singh said consumers in the lockdown period are brand agnostics. "Right now the consumer is not very brand conscious, he simply wants products," he said. According to Mediratta, due to the disruption in the supply chain, there were several FMCG companies that were not able to deliver their goods as their production was interrupted, leading to a shortage of branded goods such as instant noodles. "However, customers were not bothered even if favourite brands were not available and were happy to transition to a private label brand. This gave a lot of boost to private labels whose stocks were available locally and so their supply remained steady without hindrances," he said. The government first imposed a 21-day nationwide lockdown on March 24 to curb the spread of coronavirus infections. On April 14, the lockdown was extended till May 3. The government has further extended the lockdown till May 17, but with considerable relaxations based on zones.Moneycontrol Ready ReckonerNow that payment deadlines have been relaxed due to COVID-19, the Moneycontrol Ready Reckoner will help keep your date with insurance premiums, tax-saving investments and EMIs, among others.Download a copy
3 May 00:00 • Moneycontrol • https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/lockdown-2-0-consumers-focus-shifts-to-packaged-high-value-food-items-5216851.htmlRating: 0.30
Cheese on toast is Britain's favourite snack ahead of cheese and onion crisps and a bacon sandwich
Stuck at home, we’re said to be snacking twice as much as before lockdown. Now we know which is the nation’s favourite go-to light bite – cheese on toast. It topped a list of 15 of the country’s top snacks. A poll of 2,000 Britons put it in first place, with 22 per cent of the overall vote. Cheese and onion crisps was second on 21 per cent – with a bacon sarnie in third spot with 19 per cent, the poll by cash savings service Raisin.co.uk revealed.
2 May 23:40 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8281377/Cheese-toast-Britains-favourite-snack-ahead-cheese-onion-crisps-bacon-sandwich.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Bronx takeout joint a ‘beacon’ in Chinese takeout ‘darkness’ amid coronavirus
As many Chinese takeout joints “pu pu” staying open during the coronavirus crisis, there is a place in the Bronx keeping the wok fires burning. China Wang, on West 225th Street in Spuyten Duyvil, is doing a brisk take-out/delivery business, attracting customers craving the security of comfort food, with an egg roll on the side. The restaurant is able to stay open — unlike many others of its kind — because the family business is still getting regular food supplies, has a small staff — and a ravenous fan base, manager Long Chen said. “A lot of customers have my cellphone number and they ask, “Are you guys open?” CC Henriquez, 49, trekked all the way from the Upper West Side to satisfy her craving for her “favorite, chicken and broccoli.” New Jersey resident Mike Rivera, 50, a cable TV engineer on his lunch break, ordered shrimp and broccoli, shrimp fried rice and General Tso’s chicken. China Wang regular Zachary Miller, 50, said the eatery is just like home — with a lot more options. “This is all homemade, and if you want something substituted, they’ll do it. They’ve always been part of the community. They’re willing to help us. We want to help them,” he said. China Wang has only a few staffers and their temperatures are taken daily, to check for fever. Workers wear masks and there is a protective plexiglass at the counter. “People are terrified (of the virus) and don’t want to go to work. A lot of stores around here are closed. Even grocery stores,” Chen said. The bleak situation is not unique to Chinese restaurants, but the sheer number of takeout joints being taken out by the virus is concerning. On a recent Monday, China Wang was the only takeout spot among 50 Gothamist called to pick up the phone. Prior to the outbreak, some 270 restaurants operated in Manhattan’s Chinatown. That number has dwindled to just 40, according to Wellington Chen, executive director of the Chinatown Partnership Local Development Corporation. China Wang is “a beacon in our darkness. Everybody wants to be home, and safe,” he said.
2 May 20:16 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/02/china-wang-one-of-few-chinese-restaurants-open-in-nyc-amid-coronavirus/?utm_campaign=SocialFlow&utm_medium=SocialFlow&utm_source=NYPTwitterRating: 2.55
How to make a 'Meatball Marinara' at home with just four ingredients from Aldi
A few of our favourite fast food restaurants are already starting to reopen some of their stores around the country, including KFC and Greggs. While that is welcome news, others, like Subway, are yet to re-open. So we've had to resort to alternative methods in order to get our 'Footlong Fix' and that's how we came across this super-easy Meatball Marinana sub recipe. Here's what you're going to need, which is all available from Aldi : It'll cost you £3.11 in total, but will serve enough for two. It's worth remembering to stock up on any of those extras, such as salad or Jalapeños, that you would normally order on your sub too. Here's how to make it: Not bad for a make-at-home alternative, eh? The coronavirus outbreak has left many people across Greater Manchester struggling for access to food, basics and other support. Many of them are self-isolating, often in fragile health and alone. Public services have been working hard to find and help them, but we know they are over-stretched and working round the clock. So the Manchester Evening News and the Greater Manchester Mayor's Charity have launched Covaid-19 - a fundraiser aimed at supporting those who most need help, from elderly people with no support network to homeless families living in hotels. The money will be distributed via the mayor of Greater Manchester's charity. You can donate by visiting our JustGiving page here. If you fancy an even bigger challenge, why not try your hand at making this no-knead bread recipe or, even better, this giant Crunchie bar. Alternatively, here's the restaurants you can order delivery from if you want someone else to do the cooking for you. For more ideas and inspiration to pass the time and stay entertained during lockdown, visit our Stay In section.
2 May 18:27 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/make-meatball-mariana-sub-recipe-18173070Rating: 1.15
One of Wirral's most popular restaurants is delivering
One of Wirral’s most popular restaurants is operating a delivery service during the coronavirus lockdown. The Refreshment Rooms in Rock Ferry introduced its new delivery service in March after the government ordered bars, restaurants and clubs across the UK to close to prevent the spread of coronavirus. With two separate menus, one with hot food and another for chilled to be heated up at a later time, the service has already proven popular with fans of The Refreshment Rooms. The menu features dishes such as Coca Cola Ribs, Steak and Ale Pie, Scouse, Lasagna and even Chocolate Fudge Cake. Roast dinners are available on Sundays. The chilled menu is smaller and includes many of the same dishes which can be stores in the refrigerator and heated up later. In a notice on The Refreshment Rooms website, it says: “With the strange times we find ourselves in we are introducing a delivery service with a limited choice from our menu with items we feel will travel well - wherever possible we will use recyclable or biodegradable packaging so it needn’t cost the earth. “We will offer hot food delivery together with some options delivered chilled for consumption within 48 hours (these items will need refrigeration). “This will be a pre-paid, no contact delivery service only to help minimise any health issues for you and our staff. Orders will be left on the step and the driver will ring you to confirm delivery.” The delivery service is available to anyone within a four mile radius in Wirral, though the radius for the chilled menu is wider, and runs between 12pm and 4pm, Monday - Saturday. Delivery on Sundays operate on a callback system only. To order, phone lines are open from 11.30am daily for same day delivery, or a day in advance for the chilled menu. If ordering on Sundays, private message The Refreshment Rooms on Facebook with a name and phone number, and a member of the team will contact you to take your order and arrange delivery. The Refreshment Rooms is also offering NHS and emergency service workers 10% off on food deliveries.
2 May 14:19 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/food-drink-news/one-wirrals-most-popular-restaurants-18172887Rating: 0.83
Athletics: Duplantis, Lavillenie settle for tie in garden pole vault challenge
3 May 18:11
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9 articles
Weight: 2.64
Importance: 2.64
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:09
Average US: 24.95333333333333
Weighted average US: 29.436229273526898
Average GB: 14.685555555555556
Weighted average GB: 5.952178545824246
Average IN: 4.017777777777778
Weighted average IN: 5.171856621747306
Athletics: Duplantis, Lavillenie settle for tie in garden pole vault challenge
(Reuters) - Former Olympic pole vault champion Renaud Lavillenie of France and Sweden’s world record holder Mondo Duplantis shared the spoils in the Ultimate Garden Clash, despite competing in locations 8,000km apart during the COVID-19 lockdown. Along with American Sam Kendricks, the trio attempted to vault 5m as many times as they could in 30 minutes in a format they devised together, connected via a live video link streamed to fans on the social media channels of World Athletics. Kendricks attempted the challenge in Oxford, Mississippi, Duplantis was based in Lafayette, Louisiana while Lavillenie competed in his back garden in Clermont-Ferrand, France. Duplantis took an early lead before Lavillenie caught up while Kendricks tried to pace himself. By the end of 30 minutes, Lavillenie and Duplantis had both cleared the height 36 times while Kendricks only managed 26. “I’m done, I don’t want to take any risks. I’ll share the gold with Mondo,” Lavillenie said. “I was really missing the feeling I get competing. “It’s crazy but even doing this in my garden, I get the same feeling I’d get at a major championships. It was very exciting and I’m very happy to be a part of it. I’m not going to do it every week, but I’m happy to do it once a year.” Duplantis, who set the world record mark of 6.18m earlier this year, wanted to go on for three more minutes to break the tie but eventually decided to settle for the shared victory with the two-times Olympic medallist. “It was really fun being out there competing against those guys,” Duplantis said. “I had really missed competing. I didn’t think it was going to end in a tie, but that’s sports.” World Athletics president Sebastian Coe lauded the initiative and said he hoped there would be more such events during the lockdown. The global governing body said they were exploring the possibility of holding similar events in the future.
3 May 18:11 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-athletics-pole-vau-idUSKBN22F0S2Rating: 4.04
Pole vault event held in competitors' backyards
French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie hardly treated this like a garden-variety competition. It was for backyard bragging rights. So he raised his intensity. Lavillenie and Mondo Duplantis of Sweden shared the gold medal Sunday during a men's pole vault competition held in their own yards. Advertised as the "Ultimate Garden Clash,'' it was a rare sporting event contested during the coronavirus pandemic. Duplantis, a world record-holder, and Lavillenie, the 2012 Olympic champion, each cleared a height of 16 feet (4.9 meters) 36 times over a span of 30 minutes that was broadcast by World Athletics on its social media channels. Both had one miss. Sam Kendricks of the United States got the bronze by clearing the bar 26 times in a competition featuring three of the event's biggest names. It just might have been a preview of the Tokyo Games, which have been postponed to 2021. Lavillenie certainly took his concentration to another level. "It's crazy, but even doing this in my garden, I get the same feeling I'd get at a major championships," Lavillenie said. "It was very exciting, and I'm very happy to be a part of it.'' They tried to figure out a tiebreaker before electing to share the gold. Duplantis, 20, initially pushed for a three-minute playoffs format that was on the table, while Lavillenie, 33, nixed the plan. He was exhausted. Lavillenie did vault over his 36th successful bar just ahead of Duplantis. The event was split into two 15-minute sessions with a short halftime. "I will give you a rematch, Mondo,'' he playfully said at the end. The backyard idea was brought forth by Lavillenie, and the trio collaborated on the unique competition format because adjusting the bar wasn't practical without officials in place. Duplantis competed from his base in Lafayette, Louisiana, with his setup next to a garden wall. Kendricks was at his farm in Oxford, Mississippi, with his landing mat nestled between trees and near a fence where a horse occasionally was caught on the video feed. Then there was Lavillenie, who took part from Clermont-Ferrand, France. The family's trampoline was pushed to the side and there was a swingset in the background. Don't expect this to be a new pole-vaulting format, though. This was only for show. "I want to jump high,'' said Duplantis, the American-born vaulter who represents Sweden and broke Lavillenie's world record in February. "I want to jump a little higher.'' Still, it made for entertaining theater. "The general sense of this competition was just supposed to be fun,'' said Kendricks, the two-time world champion. "A way to eat up time on a Sunday and give a chance for everybody to watch.'' Among those watching was World Athletics president Sebastian Coe, who gave the competition high marks. "This is a brilliant initiative, great fun and really innovative,'' Coe said in a statement. "My thanks go to them, their families and the World Athletics team for bringing live athletics back during lockdown. I hope we can bring a few more events like this to bring to all athletics fans out there.'' It's already a hit among those in the track and field community. "I love this idea so much,'' 200-meter world champion sprinter Noah Lyles posted in a social media chat room for the event. "It's such a great new way to compete.'' Duplantis, Lavillenie and Kendricks treated it almost like a track meet as they tried to average a jump per minute. The routine was simple: Vault, walk back with the pole, take a very quick breather -- maybe a sip of water -- and vault again. Above all else, it was competition again. The outbreak of COVID-19 has the track and field season on hold. "I miss the feeling of competing," Duplantis said. "I miss the feeling of being out there with the guys. It was a really fun time. It was fun to get back into the competition gear again.''
3 May 18:09 • ESPN • https://www.espn.co.uk/olympics/story/_/id/29128913/pole-vault-event-held-competitors-backyardsRating: 0.82
Pole vault kings Duplantis, Lavillenie tie in back garden competition
Three of the best pole vaulters of all time went head-to-head in a competition on Sunday from their back gardens, as sport continued to find new ways of taking place despite the coronavirus pandemic. World record holder Armand Duplantis and former Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie cleared five metres 36 times in half an hour, while world champion Sam Kendricks managed 26 successful attempts. The event, livestreamed by World Athletics on social media and watched by around 20 000 people, saw Lavillenie competing from his home in Clermont-Ferrand, France, with Swedish star Duplantis in Lafayette, Louisiana and Kendricks in Oxford, Mississippi. The 20-year-old Duplantis wanted an extra three minutes to decide a winner, but Lavillenie, 33, said he was "done". "I was really missing the feeling I get competing," said Frenchman Lavillenie. "It's crazy but even doing this in my garden, I get the same feeling I'd get at a major championships. It was very exciting and I'm very happy to be a part of it. "I'm not going to do it every week, but I'm happy to do it once a year." Duplantis, who replaced Lavillenie as world record holder, let a halfway lead slip with a rare missed effort. "It was really fun being out there competing against those guys," he said. "I had really missed competing." World Athletics said it would look into holding more "Ultimate Garden Clashes" in the coming weeks, with much of the world still under lockdown due to the coronavirus pandemic. "This is a brilliant initiative, great fun and really innovative," said World Athletics president Sebastian Coe. "My thanks go to them, their families and the World Athletics team for bringing live athletics back during lockdown." Lavillenie and Duplantis will face off again remotely in Oslo on 11 June, with the Swede competing at the Bislett Stadium. The event replaces the traditional Diamond League competition, and will also feature a world-record attempt by Norwegian hurdles star Karsten Warholm. Earlier this week, the Lausanne Diamond League meeting organisers said they were looking at "other options" after announcing it would not be able to take place as planned on 20 August. Duplantis, who set a new world record of 6.18m in February, was the favourite to claim the Olympic title this year before the Tokyo Games were postponed until 2021. Brazil's Thiago Braz da Silva is the reigning men's Olympic pole vault champion after triumphing in front of his home fans in Rio de Janeiro four years ago.
3 May 19:31 • Sport • https://www.sport24.co.za/OtherSport/Athletics/pole-vault-kings-duplantis-lavillenie-tie-in-back-garden-competition-20200503Rating: 0.63
Pole vault pair share the spoils in garden challenge
Renaud Lavillenie opted to share victory with Armand Duplantis rather than head to a tie-break in pole vaulting’s ‘Ultimate Garden Clash’ – the latest innovation in at-home sporting entertainment. Former Olympic gold medallist Lavillenie, world record holder Duplantis and reigning world champion Sam Kendricks signed up for the three-way challenge set up by World Athletics in a bid to fill the vacuum of elite competition. The trio had two 15-minute rounds, split by a five-minute break, to clear a five-metre bar as many times as possible in their own gardens, with Lavillenie and Duplantis both level on 36 clearances. Kendricks boasted the only 100 per cent record but was left behind on 26. The idea of a three-minute ‘jump off’ was mooted to break the tie but Lavillenie, jumping at home in Clermont-Ferrand, was offered the chance to decide having completed his final effort marginally quicker. Visibly exhausted he opted to split the honour with his rival, noting with a smile: “We can share it, but I am the first winner and Mondo (Duplantis) is the second winner!” Louisiana-based Duplantis, the younger man by 13 years, was eager to go again but ultimately accepted his share of the spoils, adding “let’s share more sport like this, it’s fun.”
3 May 16:33 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/pole-vault-pair-share-the-spoils-in-garden-challenge/Rating: 0.30
Pole vault pair share the spoils in garden challenge
Renaud Lavillenie and Armand Duplantis tied in the innovative 30-minute contest. Renaud Lavillenie opted to share victory with Armand Duplantis rather than head to a tie-break in pole vaulting’s ‘Ultimate Garden Clash’ – the latest innovation in at-home sporting entertainment. Former Olympic gold medallist Lavillenie, world record holder Duplantis and reigning world champion Sam Kendricks signed up for the three-way challenge set up by World Athletics in a bid to fill the vacuum of elite competition. The trio had two 15-minute rounds, split by a five-minute break, to clear a five-metre bar as many times as possible in their own gardens, with Lavillenie and Duplantis both level on 36 clearances. Kendricks boasted the only 100 per cent record but was left behind on 26. The idea of a three-minute ‘jump off’ was mooted to break the tie but Lavillenie, jumping at home in Clermont-Ferrand, was offered the chance to decide having completed his final effort marginally quicker. Visibly exhausted he opted to split the honour with his rival, noting with a smile: “We can share it, but I am the first winner and Mondo (Duplantis) is the second winner!” Louisiana-based Duplantis, the younger man by 13 years, was eager to go again but ultimately accepted his share of the spoils, adding “let’s share more sport like this, it’s fun.”
3 May 16:33 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/pole-vault-pair-share-the-spoils-in-garden-challenge/Rating: 0.30
Duplantis, Lavillenie split gold in backyard pole-vaulting
French pole vaulter Renaud Lavillenie hardly treated this like a garden-variety competition. It was for backyard bragging rights. So he raised his intensity. Lavillenie and Mondo Duplantis of Sweden shared the gold medal Sunday during a men’s pole vault competition held in their own yards. Advertised as the “Ultimate Garden Clash,” it was a rare sporting event contested during the coronavirus pandemic. Duplantis, a world record-holder, and Lavillenie, the 2012 Olympic champion, each cleared a height of 16 feet (4.9 meters) 36 times over a span of 30 minutes that was broadcast by World Athletics on its social media channels. Both had one miss. Sam Kendricks of the United States got the bronze by clearing the bar 26 times in a competition featuring three of the event’s biggest names. It just might have been a preview of the Tokyo Games, which have been postponed to 2021. Lavillenie certainly took his concentration to another level. “It’s crazy, but even doing this in my garden, I get the same feeling I’d get at a major championships,” Lavillenie said. “It was very exciting and I’m very happy to be a part of it.” Advertising They tried to figure out a tiebreaker before electing to share the gold. The 20-year-old Duplantis initially pushed for a three-minute playoffs format that was on the table, while the 33-year-old Lavillenie nixed the plan. He was exhausted. Lavillenie did vault over his 36th successful bar just ahead of Duplantis. The event was split into two 15-minute sessions with a short halftime. “I will give you a rematch, Mondo,” he playfully said at the end. The backyard idea was brought forth by Lavillenie, and the trio collaborated on the unique competition format because adjusting the bar wasn’t practical without officials in place. Duplantis competed from his base in Lafayette, Louisiana, with his setup next to a garden wall. Kendricks was at his farm in Oxford, Mississippi, with his landing mat nestled between trees and near a fence where a horse occasionally was caught on the video feed. Then there was Lavillenie, who took part from Clermont-Ferrand, France. The family’s trampoline was pushed to the side and there was a swingset in the background. Advertising Don’t expect this to be a new pole-vaulting format, though. This was only for show. “I want to jump high,” said Duplantis, the American-born vaulter who represents Sweden and broke Lavillenie’s world record in February. “I want to jump a little higher.” Still, it made for entertaining theater. “The general sense of this competition was just supposed to be fun,” said Kendricks, the two-time world champion. “A way to eat up time on a Sunday and give a chance for everybody to watch.” Among those watching was World Athletics President Sebastian Coe, who gave the competition high marks. “This is a brilliant initiative, great fun and really innovative,” Coe said in a statement. “My thanks go to them, their families and the World Athletics team for bringing live athletics back during lockdown. I hope we can bring a few more events like this to bring to all athletics fans out there.” It’s already a hit among those in the track and field community. “I love this idea so much,” 200-meter world champion sprinter Noah Lyles posted in a social media chat room for the event. “It’s such a great new way to compete.” Duplantis, Lavillenie and Kendricks treated it almost like a track meet as they tried to average a jump per minute. The routine was simple: Vault, walk back with the pole, take a very quick breather — maybe a sip of water — and vault again. Above all else, it was competition again. The outbreak of COVID-19 has the track and field season on hold. “I miss the feeling of competing,” Duplantis said. “I miss the feeling of being out there with the guys. It was a really fun time. It was fun to get back into the competition gear again.” PAT GRAHAM
3 May 11:40 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/sports/duplantis-lavillenie-split-gold-in-backyard-pole-vaulting/Rating: 0.74
Pole vault rivals share the spoils in 'Ultimate Garden Clash'
Former Olympic gold medallist Lavillenie, world record holder Duplantis and reigning world champion Sam Kendricks signed up for the three-way challenge set up by World Athletics in a bid to fill the vacuum of elite competition. The trio had two 15-minute rounds, split by a five-minute break, to clear a five-metre bar as many times as possible in their own gardens, with Lavillenie and Duplantis both level on 36 clearances. Kendricks boasted the only 100 per cent record but was left behind on 26. The idea of a three-minute 'jump off' was mooted to break the tie but Lavillenie, jumping at home in Clermont-Ferrand, was offered the chance to decide having completed his final effort marginally quicker. Visibly exhausted he opted to split the honour with his rival, noting with a smile: "We can share it, but I am the first winner and Mondo (Duplantis) is the second winner!" Louisiana-based Duplantis, the younger man by 13 years, was eager to go again but ultimately accepted his share of the spoils, adding "let's share more sport like this, it's fun." ID:398330:
3 May 18:49 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/athletics/news/pole-vault-rivals-share-the-spoils-in-ultimate-garden-clash_398330.htmlRating: 0.38
Duplantis and Lavillenie share honours
Three of the best pole vaulters of all time went head-to-head from their back gardens in a competition on Sunday. World record holder Armand Duplantis and former Olympic champion Renaud Lavillenie cleared five metres 36 times in half an hour, while world champion Sam Kendricks managed 26 successful attempts. The event saw Lavillenie competing from his home in Clermont-Ferrand, France, Swedish star Duplantis in Lafayette, Louisiana and Kendricks in Oxford, Mississippi.
3 May 17:25 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/sport/duplantis-and-lavillenie-share-honours/article31495819.eceRating: 0.30
The Latest: Pole vaulters set bar in competition from homes
The Latest on the effects of the new coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: Mondo Duplantis of Sweden and Renaud Lavillenie of France tied for the gold medal Sunday during a men’s pole vault competition held in their own backyards. It was a rare sporting event held during the coronavirus pandemic. Duplantis and Lavillenie each cleared a height of 5 meters (16 feet) 36 times over a span of 30 minutes that was broadcast by World Athletics on its social media channels. Both had one miss. Sam Kendricks of the United States wound up third by clearing the bar 26 times. They tried to figure out a tiebreaker before electing to award double gold. The 20-year-old Duplantis initially pushed for a three-minute playoffs, while the 33-year-old Lavillenie nixed the plan. Lavillenie did clear his 36th bar seconds before Duplantis. The event was split into two 15-minute sessions with a short halftime. The trio collaborated on the unique competition format since adjusting the bar wasn’t practical without officials in place. Duplantis competed from his base in Lafayette, Louisiana. Kendricks was at his farm in Oxford, Mississippi, and Lavillenie took part from Clermont-Ferrand, France, as he pushed the family’s trampoline to the side in order to jump. It was billed as the “Ultimate Garden Clash” and could be a model for future track events. The outbreak of COVID-19 has led to the Tokyo Olympics being moved to 2021, along with the track and field season being put on hold.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/the-latest-some-serie-a-players-set-to-resume-prac/Rating: 0.79
Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell are betting traumatized Americans will flock to familiarity as restaurants reopen
3 May 13:00
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4 articles
Weight: 2.64
Importance: 2.65
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:00
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell are betting traumatized Americans will flock to familiarity as restaurants reopen
As states reopen for business during the coronavirus pandemic, fast-food giants are betting Americans seeking comfort will flock to old favorites. Executives of chains, including McDonald's, KFC, Taco Bell, and Checkers and Rally's, have all said that customers' desire for normalcy and familiarity will help boost sales as restaurants recover. David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands, said on Wednesday that the company's chains — which include Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell — stand out for their "convenience and normalcy, all of which are highly sought out in these uncertain times and beyond." Frances Allen, the CEO of Checkers and Rally's, told Business Insider in a webinar that she expects people are going to want to return to comfort food and comfort brands. "There is going to be this cocooning going on, a sort of a relief that we survived, but at the same time, wanting to embrace the things that give them comfort," Allen said. "And there's nothing like burgers and fries as comfort food. From a selfish point of view, we're also excited to be able to lean back into that." McDonald's CEO Chris Kempczinski said on a call with investors on Thursday that familiar brands thrived in grocery stores as people stayed home. Earlier in the week, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company was seeing impressive sales from large brands that customers trust. "I think that same dynamic is going to be at play as people start to come out looking for familiar brands," Kempczinski said Thursday. Fast-food companies, including McDonald's, Yum Brands, and Restaurant Brands International, that reported earnings this week said that sales are beginning to recover after plummeting in late March. Drive-thru business helped chains outperform the rest of the struggling restaurant business as customers sheltered-in-place across the US. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 13:00 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/mcdonalds-taco-bell-bet-customers-will-flock-to-familiarity-2020-4Rating: 4.40
Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell are betting traumatized Americans will flock to familiarity as restaurants reopen
As states reopen for business during the coronavirus pandemic, fast-food giants are betting Americans seeking comfort will flock to old favourites. Executives of chains, including McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Checkers and Rally’s, have all said that customers’ desire for normalcy and familiarity will help boost sales as restaurants recover. David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands, said on Wednesday that the company’s chains – which include Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell – stand out for their “convenience and normalcy, all of which are highly sought out in these uncertain times and beyond.” Frances Allen, the CEO of Checkers and Rally’s, told Business Insider in a webinar that she expects people are going to want to return to comfort food and comfort brands. “There is going to be this cocooning going on, a sort of a relief that we survived, but at the same time, wanting to embrace the things that give them comfort,” Allen said. “And there’s nothing like burgers and fries as comfort food. From a selfish point of view, we’re also excited to be able to lean back into that.” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on a call with investors on Thursday that familiar brands thrived in grocery stores as people stayed home. Earlier in the week, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company was seeing impressive sales from large brands that customers trust. “I think that same dynamic is going to be at play as people start to come out looking for familiar brands,” Kempczinski said Thursday. Fast-food companies, including McDonald’s, Yum Brands, and Restaurant Brands International, that reported earnings this week said that sales are beginning to recover after plummeting in late March. Drive-thru business helped chains outperform the rest of the struggling restaurant business as customers sheltered-in-place across the US.
3 May 13:00 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/mcdonalds-taco-bell-bet-customers-will-flock-to-familiarity-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Fast-food chains like McDonald’s and Taco Bell are betting traumatized Americans will flock to familiarity as restaurants reopen
As states reopen for business during the coronavirus pandemic, fast-food giants are betting Americans seeking comfort will flock to old favorites. Executives of chains, including McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Checkers and Rally’s, have all said that customers’ desire for normalcy and familiarity will help boost sales as restaurants recover. David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands, said on Wednesday that the company’s chains – which include Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell – stand out for their “convenience and normalcy, all of which are highly sought out in these uncertain times and beyond.” Frances Allen, the CEO of Checkers and Rally’s, told Business Insider in a webinar that she expects people are going to want to return to comfort food and comfort brands. “There is going to be this cocooning going on, a sort of a relief that we survived, but at the same time, wanting to embrace the things that give them comfort,” Allen said. “And there’s nothing like burgers and fries as comfort food. From a selfish point of view, we’re also excited to be able to lean back into that.” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on a call with investors on Thursday that familiar brands thrived in grocery stores as people stayed home. Earlier in the week, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company was seeing impressive sales from large brands that customers trust. “I think that same dynamic is going to be at play as people start to come out looking for familiar brands,” Kempczinski said Thursday. Fast-food companies, including McDonald’s, Yum Brands, and Restaurant Brands International, that reported earnings this week said that sales are beginning to recover after plummeting in late March. Drive-thru business helped chains outperform the rest of the struggling restaurant business as customers sheltered-in-place across the US.
3 May 13:00 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/mcdonalds-taco-bell-bet-customers-will-flock-to-familiarity-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Fast-food chains like McDonald's and Taco Bell are betting traumatized Americans will flock to familiarity as restaurants reopen, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
As states reopen for business during the coronavirus pandemic, fast-food giants are betting Americans seeking comfort will flock to old favorites. Executives of chains, including McDonald’s, KFC, Taco Bell, and Checkers and Rally’s, have all said that customers’ desire for normalcy and familiarity will help boost sales as restaurants recover. David Gibbs, the CEO of Yum Brands, said on Wednesday that the company’s chains – which include Pizza Hut, KFC, and Taco Bell – stand out for their “convenience and normalcy, all of which are highly sought out in these uncertain times and beyond.” Frances Allen, the CEO of Checkers and Rally’s, told Business Insider in a webinar that she expects people are going to want to return to comfort food and comfort brands. “There is going to be this cocooning going on, a sort of a relief that we survived, but at the same time, wanting to embrace the things that give them comfort,” Allen said. “And there’s nothing like burgers and fries as comfort food. From a selfish point of view, we’re also excited to be able to lean back into that.” McDonald’s CEO Chris Kempczinski said on a call with investors on Thursday that familiar brands thrived in grocery stores as people stayed home. Earlier in the week, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta said the company was seeing impressive sales from large brands that customers trust. “I think that same dynamic is going to be at play as people start to come out looking for familiar brands,” Kempczinski said Thursday. Fast-food companies, including McDonald’s, Yum Brands, and Restaurant Brands International, that reported earnings this week said that sales are beginning to recover after plummeting in late March. Drive-thru business helped chains outperform the rest of the struggling restaurant business as customers sheltered-in-place across the US.
3 May 13:00 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/mcdonalds-taco-bell-bet-customers-will-flock-to-familiarity-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Vienna Airport to offer coronavirus tests to avoid quarantine
3 May 12:37
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Vienna Airport to offer coronavirus tests to avoid quarantine
ZURICH (Reuters) - Vienna Airport will offer onsite coronavirus testing from Monday to enable passengers entering Austria to avoid having to be quarantined for 14 days. Passengers arriving at the airport have been required to present a health certificate showing a negative COVID-19 result which is no older than four days, or go into quarantine. From Monday passengers can have a molecular biological (polymerise chain reaction or PCR) COVID-19 test at the airport, and get the result in two to three hours, the airport said. “Air travel, whether business journeys or urgent trips...will thus become safer and easier,” it added on Sunday. Last month Emirates, in coordination with Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said it was the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers. Austrian quarantines that have already begun can be ended if the person is found to be clear of COVID-19, Vienna Airport said. The airport tests, which cost 190 euros ($209), can also be taken by passengers leaving Vienna to demonstrate their virus-free status at their destination. Vienna Airport is operating scheduled flights to Doha, Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lisbon, Minsk and Sofia, as well as charter flights and business trips. It has landing bans in force from flights from high risk areas. Austria has recorded 15,526 cases of the new coronavirus, and 598 deaths. It has started to loosen its seven-week lockdown, with shopping centres, larger shops and service providers including hairdressers reopening last week. ($1 = 0.9105 euros)
3 May 12:37 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-austria-airport-idUSKBN22F0IORating: 4.04
Vienna Airport to offer coronavirus tests to avoid quarantine
ZURICH — Vienna Airport will offer onsite coronavirus testing from Monday to enable passengers entering Austria to avoid having to be quarantined for 14 days. Passengers arriving at the airport have been required to present a health certificate showing a negative COVID-19 result which is no older than four days, or go into quarantine. From Monday passengers can have a molecular biological (polymerise chain reaction or PCR) COVID-19 test at the airport, and get the result in two to three hours, the airport said. “Air travel, whether business journeys or urgent trips…will thus become safer and easier,” it added on Sunday. Last month Emirates, in coordination with Dubai Health Authority (DHA), said it was the first airline to conduct on-site rapid COVID-19 tests for passengers. Austrian quarantines that have already begun can be ended if the person is found to be clear of COVID-19, Vienna Airport said. The airport tests, which cost 190 euros ($209), can also be taken by passengers leaving Vienna to demonstrate their virus-free status at their destination. Vienna Airport is operating scheduled flights to Doha, Dortmund, Duesseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lisbon, Minsk and Sofia, as well as charter flights and business trips. It has landing bans in force from flights from high risk areas. Austria has recorded 15,526 cases of the new coronavirus, and 598 deaths. It has started to loosen its seven-week lockdown, with shopping centers, larger shops and service providers including hairdressers reopening last week. ($1 = 0.9105 euros) (Reporting by John Revill; Editing by Alexander Smith)
3 May 12:30 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/vienna-airport-to-offer-coronavirus-tests-to-avoid-quarantineRating: 0.94
Germany’s TUI to test 3,000 cruise ship workers for virus
BERLIN, May 3 — Nearly 3,000 cruise ship workers quarantined aboard a liner will undergo tests for the novel coronavirus, German travel group TUI said today. “Mein Schiff 3” was being used to ferry 2,899 TUI employees and crew home with both cruises and the usual means of transport in much of Europe shut down by the pandemic. Problems began when the huge vessel docked at in the German North Sea port of Cuxhaven on April 28 with more than a dozen crew members showing flu-like symptoms. One of them then tested positive for the virus on Friday leading the company to quarantine everyone on board. A first wave of 229 tests on personnel who had been in contact with the infected crew member came back negative, TUI said. “All crew members will be tested during the day,” TUI spokesman Friedericke Groenemeyer told AFP. But what happens next remains unclear even if all the tests are returned negative. The TUI staff on the ship had been expected to travel on from Cuxhaven to their various countries under their own steam. “That poses a certain number of challenges with the general international situation and the travel restrictions,” the spokesman admitted. “It is very difficult to repatriate crew members safely to their respective countries.” There were no tourists aboard the ship although the saga recalled several massive outbreaks of the deadly virus aboard cruise liners packed with holiday-makers during the pandemic. On the Diamond Princess, which docked in Yokohama, Japan, officials quarantined everyone to try to limit infections, but more than 700 people contracted the virus and 13 died. TUI, the leader in global tourism, has agreed a €1.8 billion (RM8.6 billion) bridging loan from the German government to cushion the impact of Covid-19 on one of the hardest-hit economic sectors. — AFP
3 May 13:52 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/germanys-tui-to-test-3000-cruise-ship-workers-for-virus/1862696Rating: 1.42
Vienna airport offers arrivals Covid-19 test to avoid quarantine
Vienna airport is now offering coronavirus testing for arriving passengers, with the aim of avoiding 14 days of quarantine under Austria’s current entry rules. The molecular-biological Covid-19 test (also known as a PCR test) costs €190, and is carried out in a laboratory at Office Park 3 on the ground floor at Vienna Airport. The result is available within two to three hours, and those presenting negative will be provided with a medical certificate meaning they do not have to self-isolate for 14 days on arrival into the country. Current regulations mean that arriving travellers must either present a medical certificate not more than four days old showing a negative Covid-19 result, or begin quarantine. Vienna airport said that this meant its private service (provided by Confidence DNA Analysen GmbH) could also be used for passengers departing on short trips up to four days, to avoid quarantine on return to Austria. The airport said that the service meant that “flights are now safer and easier – regardless of whether they involve business trips or urgent trips with on-demand aircraft within the context of general aviation, in particular if they last no more than four days, as well as arrivals and departures on scheduled flights from and to currently available destinations and via the General Aviation Center”. It added that positive test results would be “immediately reported to public authorities, who will initiate appropriate steps to treat the affected person”. Travellers wishing to avail of the test should call (+43) 1 368 45 54, or email office@confidence.at. The airport said that travellers entering Austria from abroad can reserve an appointment in advance “and thus gain clarity promptly after arriving in Vienna as to whether or not they have to quarantine themselves”. In addition to the optional testing, all passengers are subject to temperature checks on arrival, and are required to wear face coverings when inside the terminal building. In addition various social distancing measures are in place including a limit on the number of passengers on boarding buses, and plexi-glass shields at check-in, boarding and information desks. Flag carrier and Vienna-based Austrian Airlines has grounded all flights until at least the end of May, but flights are currently operating between Vienna and Doha, Dortmund, Düsseldorf, Frankfurt, Hamburg, Lisbon, Minsk and Sofia. Note that entry by air into Austria is currently prohibited to third country nationals from states outside the Schengen area. viennaairport.com
3 May 00:00 • Business Traveller • https://www.businesstraveller.com/business-travel/2020/05/03/vienna-airport-offers-arrivals-covid-19-test-to-avoid-quarantine/Rating: 0.43
I've been covering the coronavirus for months. I'm telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine., Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
3 May 11:15
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5 articles
Weight: 2.64
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I've been covering the coronavirus for months. I'm telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine., Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
I’ve been covering the coronavirus pandemic since January. I’ve read a plethora of scientific research on the virus, watched governments’ differing responses, and talked with epidemiologists and doctors. Friends and family have recently started asking me when things will go back to normal. Every time, I brace myself for their disappointed silence. I’m about to tell them what they don’t want to hear: I think we’ll be tiptoeing through this pandemic for at least the next two years. The subsequent lockdowns we’re very likely to see may not be as stringent as this initial one, but the waves of death could get much worse – especially come fall. Here’s what I’m expecting. Absent a widely available vaccine, the coronavirus is not going to die out. The US – and much of the world – is far from the level of immunity its population would need to stifle the virus’ spread. That means it will likely circulate for years. According to a recent analysis from infectious-disease researchers at Harvard, “a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024.” The researchers also found that on-and-off social distancing measures could be necessary through 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals. So, for at least the next two years, public-health authorities will need to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. States that proceed carefully will partially lift lockdowns, allowing some businesses to reopen and lifting some restrictions on people’s movements. They will closely monitor the virus’s spread, and attempt to limit it as much as possible. Local governments will test residents en masse, ideally including people who have no symptoms. Armies of contact tracers will try to track down anybody who was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person. This, of course, is an optimistic future. In reality, things will likely get much worse in some parts of the country, because states will reopen without the right surveillance systems in place. As we proceed, epidemiologists will do their best to model the virus as it spreads (though good data depends on widespread testing), watching its trajectory creep towards the maximum capacity of local critical-care systems. When enough people get infected that forecasters predict a caseload that nearly overwhelms hospitals, governments will drop the hammer once again, closing businesses and schools and ordering residents back into their homes. “What happened in Wuhan could happen repeatedly to a city,” Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told me in March. “They can shut down for a month, but then when they reopen, they’re still going to have an epidemic starting again.” Many states have already chosen to reopen without the widespread testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies they need to avoid a devastating second wave of infections. That will mean that in mere months, an unmonitored – and therefore largely unseen – wave of infections could overwhelm their emergency rooms, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Georgia could be the first state to suffer those consequences. Gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors there resumed business on April 24. Theaters and restaurants followed three days later. Epidemiologists and computer scientists at Harvard and MIT forecasted the virus’s spread through Georgia, as The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday. The models showed that if the state resumes 50% of pre-pandemic interpersonal contact, it could see 1,604 to 4,236 deaths by June 15. By contrast, if the state had left its lockdown in place, the models showed that the death count would have grown to between 1,004 and 2,922. If Georgia resumes 100% of pre-pandemic activity, it could see 4,279 to 9,748 deaths by June 15, according to the forecast. Other states are planning to follow Georgia’s lead. Texas allowed theaters, malls, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity starting Friday, with more businesses to follow on May 18. Idaho and Montana are planning to open the doors to houses of worship. Oklahoma is reopening sports venues, among other businesses. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, has recommended the US conduct 500,000 to 700,000 tests per day nationwide before deeming it safe to reopen such businesses. That is the “bare minimum,” Jha recently told my colleague Dave Mosher. Other plans call for millions of tests per day. “If we don’t do this, we’re going to basically find ourselves with large numbers of cases and having to shut down again in two to two-and-a-half months.” Jha said. The COVID Tracking Project reported that 1.5 million tests were conducted nationwide last week, or just under 200,000 per day. “The states have basically decided they can’t, for the next round, can’t count on the federal government to help lead this. So they’re all taking their own state-based approach,” Jha said. “It does make me worry a lot about what’s going to happen in Kentucky and what’s going to happen in Georgia and Alabama and a lot of places that are poorer and don’t have the same kind of singular focus on, ‘How do we get ready for the fall season?'” Some evidence indicates the virus could come back with a vengeance in the fall. If it coincides with a bad flu season – which typically begins in October or November – that could spell disaster. “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post. “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.” That one-two punch to the critical care system could lead to more preventable deaths and necessitate even harsher lockdowns. “If we don’t get our act together, the chances that there will be another lockdown in the fall, and that it will be a long one, are very, very high,” Jha told The Atlantic. The real answer to my friends’ and family members’ question – when will this end? – hinges on the answer to another question: When will a vaccine be widely available? COVID-19 vaccine efforts are moving forward at record speed. Over 100 potential vaccines are currently in development, according to the World Health Organization. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have already begun human trials, and say their vaccine could be available for emergency use by the fall. Johnson & Johnson hopes to have its own ready for emergency use in early 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the development and distribution of a vaccine will take 12 to 18 months. Other experts say this timeline is too optimistic. The fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took four years. It’s also possible that there might never be an effective COVID-19 vaccine. The UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Whitty, told a Parliamentary committee on April 24 that there was “concerning” evidence suggesting that it may be impossible to stimulate immunity to the virus. “We cannot guarantee success,” Whitty said. “Vaccines are looked for, for every infectious disease. They are not found for all of them.” No vaccine has ever been approved for use against any other coronavirus. “If we could have a highly effective, very safe vaccine that is in plentiful supply, that we could give to everybody and everybody is immune, that would be amazing,” Dr. Lisa Winston, an epidemiologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told me a couple weeks ago. “If a genie came out of the wall and I could wish for something, that’s what I would wish for. And I’d wish for it today. But that’s not when it’s coming.” Dave Mosher contributed reporting.
3 May 11:15 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/coronavirus-two-year-prediction-recurring-lockdowns-no-vaccine-2020-4Rating: 0.30
I've been covering the coronavirus for months. I'm telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine.
I’ve been covering the coronavirus pandemic since January. I’ve read a plethora of scientific research on the virus, watched governments’ differing responses, and talked with epidemiologists and doctors. Friends and family have recently started asking me when things will go back to normal. Every time, I brace myself for their disappointed silence. I’m about to tell them what they don’t want to hear: I think we’ll be tiptoeing through this pandemic for at least the next two years. The subsequent lockdowns we’re very likely to see may not be as stringent as this initial one, but the waves of death could get much worse – especially come fall. Here’s what I’m expecting. Absent a widely available vaccine, the coronavirus is not going to die out. The US – and much of the world – is far from the level of immunity its population would need to stifle the virus’ spread. That means it will likely circulate for years. According to a recent analysis from infectious-disease researchers at Harvard, “a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024.” The researchers also found that on-and-off social distancing measures could be necessary through 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals. So, for at least the next two years, public-health authorities will need to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. States that proceed carefully will partially lift lockdowns, allowing some businesses to reopen and lifting some restrictions on people’s movements. They will closely monitor the virus’s spread, and attempt to limit it as much as possible. Local governments will test residents en masse, ideally including people who have no symptoms. Armies of contact tracers will try to track down anybody who was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person. This, of course, is an optimistic future. In reality, things will likely get much worse in some parts of the country, because states will reopen without the right surveillance systems in place. As we proceed, epidemiologists will do their best to model the virus as it spreads (though good data depends on widespread testing), watching its trajectory creep towards the maximum capacity of local critical-care systems. When enough people get infected that forecasters predict a caseload that nearly overwhelms hospitals, governments will drop the hammer once again, closing businesses and schools and ordering residents back into their homes. “What happened in Wuhan could happen repeatedly to a city,” Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told me in March. “They can shut down for a month, but then when they reopen, they’re still going to have an epidemic starting again.” Many states have already chosen to reopen without the widespread testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies they need to avoid a devastating second wave of infections. That will mean that in mere months, an unmonitored – and therefore largely unseen – wave of infections could overwhelm their emergency rooms, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Georgia could be the first state to suffer those consequences. Gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors there resumed business on April 24. Theatres and restaurants followed three days later. Epidemiologists and computer scientists at Harvard and MIT forecasted the virus’s spread through Georgia, as The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday. The models showed that if the state resumes 50% of pre-pandemic interpersonal contact, it could see 1,604 to 4,236 deaths by June 15. By contrast, if the state had left its lockdown in place, the models showed that the death count would have grown to between 1,004 and 2,922. If Georgia resumes 100% of pre-pandemic activity, it could see 4,279 to 9,748 deaths by June 15, according to the forecast. Other states are planning to follow Georgia’s lead. Texas allowed theatres, malls, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity starting Friday, with more businesses to follow on May 18. Idaho and Montana are planning to open the doors to houses of worship. Oklahoma is reopening sports venues, among other businesses. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, has recommended the US conduct 500,000 to 700,000 tests per day nationwide before deeming it safe to reopen such businesses. That is the “bare minimum,” Jha recently told my colleague Dave Mosher. Other plans call for millions of tests per day. “If we don’t do this, we’re going to basically find ourselves with large numbers of cases and having to shut down again in two to two-and-a-half months.” Jha said. The COVID Tracking Project reported that 1.5 million tests were conducted nationwide last week, or just under 200,000 per day. “The states have basically decided they can’t, for the next round, can’t count on the federal government to help lead this. So they’re all taking their own state-based approach,” Jha said. “It does make me worry a lot about what’s going to happen in Kentucky and what’s going to happen in Georgia and Alabama and a lot of places that are poorer and don’t have the same kind of singular focus on, ‘How do we get ready for the fall season?'” Some evidence indicates the virus could come back with a vengeance in the fall. If it coincides with a bad flu season – which typically begins in October or November – that could spell disaster. “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Robert Redfield, director of the US Centres for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post. “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.” That one-two punch to the critical care system could lead to more preventable deaths and necessitate even harsher lockdowns. “If we don’t get our act together, the chances that there will be another lockdown in the fall, and that it will be a long one, are very, very high,” Jha told The Atlantic. The real answer to my friends’ and family members’ question – when will this end? – hinges on the answer to another question: When will a vaccine be widely available? COVID-19 vaccine efforts are moving forward at record speed. Over 100 potential vaccines are currently in development, according to the World Health Organisation. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have already begun human trials, and say their vaccine could be available for emergency use by the fall. Johnson & Johnson hopes to have its own ready for emergency use in early 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the development and distribution of a vaccine will take 12 to 18 months. Other experts say this timeline is too optimistic. The fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took four years. It’s also possible that there might never be an effective COVID-19 vaccine. The UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Whitty, told a Parliamentary committee on April 24 that there was “concerning” evidence suggesting that it may be impossible to stimulate immunity to the virus. “We cannot guarantee success,” Whitty said. “Vaccines are looked for, for every infectious disease. They are not found for all of them.” No vaccine has ever been approved for use against any other coronavirus. “If we could have a highly effective, very safe vaccine that is in plentiful supply, that we could give to everybody and everybody is immune, that would be amazing,” Dr. Lisa Winston, an epidemiologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told me a couple weeks ago. “If a genie came out of the wall and I could wish for something, that’s what I would wish for. And I’d wish for it today. But that’s not when it’s coming.” Dave Mosher contributed reporting.
3 May 11:15 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/coronavirus-two-year-prediction-recurring-lockdowns-no-vaccine-2020-4Rating: 0.30
I've been covering the coronavirus for months. I'm telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine.
I’ve been covering the coronavirus pandemic since January. I’ve read a plethora of scientific research on the virus, watched governments’ differing responses, and talked with epidemiologists and doctors. Friends and family have recently started asking me when things will go back to normal. Every time, I brace myself for their disappointed silence. I’m about to tell them what they don’t want to hear: I think we’ll be tiptoeing through this pandemic for at least the next two years. The subsequent lockdowns we’re very likely to see may not be as stringent as this initial one, but the waves of death could get much worse – especially come fall. Here’s what I’m expecting. Foto: The streets of San Francisco are eerily empty a day after the city went into lockdown on March 16. Source: Josh Edelson/AFP via Getty Absent a widely available vaccine, the coronavirus is not going to die out. The US – and much of the world – is far from the level of immunity its population would need to stifle the virus’ spread. That means it will likely circulate for years. According to a recent analysis from infectious-disease researchers at Harvard, “a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024.” The researchers also found that on-and-off social distancing measures could be necessary through 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals. So, for at least the next two years, public-health authorities will need to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. States that proceed carefully will partially lift lockdowns, allowing some businesses to reopen and lifting some restrictions on people’s movements. They will closely monitor the virus’s spread, and attempt to limit it as much as possible. Local governments will test residents en masse, ideally including people who have no symptoms. Armies of contact tracers will try to track down anybody who was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person. This, of course, is an optimistic future. In reality, things will likely get much worse in some parts of the country, because states will reopen without the right surveillance systems in place. As we proceed, epidemiologists will do their best to model the virus as it spreads (though good data depends on widespread testing), watching its trajectory creep towards the maximum capacity of local critical-care systems. When enough people get infected that forecasters predict a caseload that nearly overwhelms hospitals, governments will drop the hammer once again, closing businesses and schools and ordering residents back into their homes. “What happened in Wuhan could happen repeatedly to a city,” Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told me in March. “They can shut down for a month, but then when they reopen, they’re still going to have an epidemic starting again.” Many states have already chosen to reopen without the widespread testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies they need to avoid a devastating second wave of infections. That will mean that in mere months, an unmonitored – and therefore largely unseen – wave of infections could overwhelm their emergency rooms, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Georgia could be the first state to suffer those consequences. Gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors there resumed business on April 24. Theaters and restaurants followed three days later. Epidemiologists and computer scientists at Harvard and MIT forecasted the virus’s spread through Georgia, as The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday. The models showed that if the state resumes 50% of pre-pandemic interpersonal contact, it could see 1,604 to 4,236 deaths by June 15. By contrast, if the state had left its lockdown in place, the models showed that the death count would have grown to between 1,004 and 2,922. If Georgia resumes 100% of pre-pandemic activity, it could see 4,279 to 9,748 deaths by June 15, according to the forecast. Other states are planning to follow Georgia’s lead. Texas allowed theaters, malls, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity starting Friday, with more businesses to follow on May 18. Idaho and Montana are planning to open the doors to houses of worship. Oklahoma is reopening sports venues, among other businesses. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, has recommended the US conduct 500,000 to 700,000 tests per day nationwide before deeming it safe to reopen such businesses. That is the “bare minimum,” Jha recently told my colleague Dave Mosher. Other plans call for millions of tests per day. “If we don’t do this, we’re going to basically find ourselves with large numbers of cases and having to shut down again in two to two-and-a-half months.” Jha said. The COVID Tracking Project reported that 1.5 million tests were conducted nationwide last week, or just under 200,000 per day. “The states have basically decided they can’t, for the next round, can’t count on the federal government to help lead this. So they’re all taking their own state-based approach,” Jha said. “It does make me worry a lot about what’s going to happen in Kentucky and what’s going to happen in Georgia and Alabama and a lot of places that are poorer and don’t have the same kind of singular focus on, ‘How do we get ready for the fall season?'” Some evidence indicates the virus could come back with a vengeance in the fall. If it coincides with a bad flu season – which typically begins in October or November – that could spell disaster. “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post. “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.” That one-two punch to the critical care system could lead to more preventable deaths and necessitate even harsher lockdowns. “If we don’t get our act together, the chances that there will be another lockdown in the fall, and that it will be a long one, are very, very high,” Jha told The Atlantic. The real answer to my friends’ and family members’ question – when will this end? – hinges on the answer to another question: When will a vaccine be widely available? COVID-19 vaccine efforts are moving forward at record speed. Over 100 potential vaccines are currently in development, according to the World Health Organization. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have already begun human trials, and say their vaccine could be available for emergency use by the fall. Johnson & Johnson hopes to have its own ready for emergency use in early 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the development and distribution of a vaccine will take 12 to 18 months. Other experts say this timeline is too optimistic. The fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took four years. It’s also possible that there might never be an effective COVID-19 vaccine. The UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Whitty, told a Parliamentary committee on April 24 that there was “concerning” evidence suggesting that it may be impossible to stimulate immunity to the virus. “We cannot guarantee success,” Whitty said. “Vaccines are looked for, for every infectious disease. They are not found for all of them.” No vaccine has ever been approved for use against any other coronavirus. “If we could have a highly effective, very safe vaccine that is in plentiful supply, that we could give to everybody and everybody is immune, that would be amazing,” Dr. Lisa Winston, an epidemiologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told me a couple weeks ago. “If a genie came out of the wall and I could wish for something, that’s what I would wish for. And I’d wish for it today. But that’s not when it’s coming.” Dave Mosher contributed reporting.
3 May 13:27 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/coronavirus-two-year-prediction-recurring-lockdowns-no-vaccine-2020-4/Rating: 0.30
I've been covering the coronavirus for months. I'm telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine.
I've been covering the coronavirus pandemic since January. I've read a plethora of scientific research on the virus, watched governments' differing responses, and talked with epidemiologists and doctors. Friends and family have recently started asking me when things will go back to normal. Every time, I brace myself for their disappointed silence. I'm about to tell them what they don't want to hear: I think we'll be tiptoeing through this pandemic for at least the next two years. The subsequent lockdowns we're very likely to see may not be as stringent as this initial one, but the waves of death could get much worse — especially come fall. Here's what I'm expecting. Absent a widely available vaccine, the coronavirus is not going to die out. The US — and much of the world — is far from the level of immunity its population would need to stifle the virus' spread. That means it will likely circulate for years. According to a recent analysis from infectious-disease researchers at Harvard, "a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024." The researchers also found that on-and-off social distancing measures could be necessary through 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals. So, for at least the next two years, public-health authorities will need to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. States that proceed carefully will partially lift lockdowns, allowing some businesses to reopen and lifting some restrictions on people's movements. They will closely monitor the virus's spread, and attempt to limit it as much as possible. Local governments will test residents en masse, ideally including people who have no symptoms. Armies of contact tracers will try to track down anybody who was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person. This, of course, is an optimistic future. In reality, things will likely get much worse in some parts of the country, because states will reopen without the right surveillance systems in place. As we proceed, epidemiologists will do their best to model the virus as it spreads (though good data depends on widespread testing), watching its trajectory creep towards the maximum capacity of local critical-care systems. When enough people get infected that forecasters predict a caseload that nearly overwhelms hospitals, governments will drop the hammer once again, closing businesses and schools and ordering residents back into their homes. "What happened in Wuhan could happen repeatedly to a city," Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told me in March. "They can shut down for a month, but then when they reopen, they're still going to have an epidemic starting again." Many states have already chosen to reopen without the widespread testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies they need to avoid a devastating second wave of infections. That will mean that in mere months, an unmonitored — and therefore largely unseen — wave of infections could overwhelm their emergency rooms, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Georgia could be the first state to suffer those consequences. Gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors there resumed business on April 24. Theaters and restaurants followed three days later. Epidemiologists and computer scientists at Harvard and MIT forecasted the virus's spread through Georgia, as The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday. The models showed that if the state resumes 50% of pre-pandemic interpersonal contact, it could see 1,604 to 4,236 deaths by June 15. By contrast, if the state had left its lockdown in place, the models showed that the death count would have grown to between 1,004 and 2,922. If Georgia resumes 100% of pre-pandemic activity, it could see 4,279 to 9,748 deaths by June 15, according to the forecast. LoadingSomething is loading. Other states are planning to follow Georgia's lead. Texas allowed theaters, malls, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity starting Friday, with more businesses to follow on May 18. Idaho and Montana are planning to open the doors to houses of worship. Oklahoma is reopening sports venues, among other businesses. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, has recommended the US conduct 500,000 to 700,000 tests per day nationwide before deeming it safe to reopen such businesses. That is the "bare minimum," Jha recently told my colleague Dave Mosher. Other plans call for millions of tests per day. "If we don't do this, we're going to basically find ourselves with large numbers of cases and having to shut down again in two to two-and-a-half months." Jha said. The COVID Tracking Project reported that 1.5 million tests were conducted nationwide last week, or just under 200,000 per day. "The states have basically decided they can't, for the next round, can't count on the federal government to help lead this. So they're all taking their own state-based approach," Jha said. "It does make me worry a lot about what's going to happen in Kentucky and what's going to happen in Georgia and Alabama and a lot of places that are poorer and don't have the same kind of singular focus on, 'How do we get ready for the fall season?'" Some evidence indicates the virus could come back with a vengeance in the fall. If it coincides with a bad flu season — which typically begins in October or November — that could spell disaster. "There's a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through," Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post. "We're going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time." That one-two punch to the critical care system could lead to more preventable deaths and necessitate even harsher lockdowns. "If we don't get our act together, the chances that there will be another lockdown in the fall, and that it will be a long one, are very, very high," Jha told The Atlantic. The real answer to my friends' and family members' question — when will this end? — hinges on the answer to another question: When will a vaccine be widely available? COVID-19 vaccine efforts are moving forward at record speed. Over 100 potential vaccines are currently in development, according to the World Health Organization. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have already begun human trials, and say their vaccine could be available for emergency use by the fall. Johnson & Johnson hopes to have its own ready for emergency use in early 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the development and distribution of a vaccine will take 12 to 18 months. Other experts say this timeline is too optimistic. The fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took four years. It's also possible that there might never be an effective COVID-19 vaccine. The UK's Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Whitty, told a Parliamentary committee on April 24 that there was "concerning" evidence suggesting that it may be impossible to stimulate immunity to the virus. "We cannot guarantee success," Whitty said. "Vaccines are looked for, for every infectious disease. They are not found for all of them." No vaccine has ever been approved for use against any other coronavirus. "If we could have a highly effective, very safe vaccine that is in plentiful supply, that we could give to everybody and everybody is immune, that would be amazing," Dr. Lisa Winston, an epidemiologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told me a couple weeks ago. "If a genie came out of the wall and I could wish for something, that's what I would wish for. And I'd wish for it today. But that's not when it's coming." Dave Mosher contributed reporting. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 11:15 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-two-year-prediction-recurring-lockdowns-no-vaccine-2020-4Rating: 4.40
I’ve been covering the coronavirus for months. I’m telling my family to expect rounds of lockdowns over the next 2 years, and probably no vaccine.
I’ve been covering the coronavirus pandemic since January. I’ve read a plethora of scientific research on the virus, watched governments’ differing responses, and talked with epidemiologists and doctors. Friends and family have recently started asking me when things will go back to normal. Every time, I brace myself for their disappointed silence. I’m about to tell them what they don’t want to hear: I think we’ll be tiptoeing through this pandemic for at least the next two years. The subsequent lockdowns we’re very likely to see may not be as stringent as this initial one, but the waves of death could get much worse – especially come fall. Here’s what I’m expecting. Absent a widely available vaccine, the coronavirus is not going to die out. The US – and much of the world – is far from the level of immunity its population would need to stifle the virus’ spread. That means it will likely circulate for years. According to a recent analysis from infectious-disease researchers at Harvard, “a resurgence in contagion could be possible as late as 2024.” The researchers also found that on-and-off social distancing measures could be necessary through 2022 to avoid overwhelming hospitals. So, for at least the next two years, public-health authorities will need to play a high-stakes game of cat and mouse. States that proceed carefully will partially lift lockdowns, allowing some businesses to reopen and lifting some restrictions on people’s movements. They will closely monitor the virus’s spread, and attempt to limit it as much as possible. Local governments will test residents en masse, ideally including people who have no symptoms. Armies of contact tracers will try to track down anybody who was exposed to a coronavirus-positive person. This, of course, is an optimistic future. In reality, things will likely get much worse in some parts of the country, because states will reopen without the right surveillance systems in place. As we proceed, epidemiologists will do their best to model the virus as it spreads (though good data depends on widespread testing), watching its trajectory creep towards the maximum capacity of local critical-care systems. When enough people get infected that forecasters predict a caseload that nearly overwhelms hospitals, governments will drop the hammer once again, closing businesses and schools and ordering residents back into their homes. “What happened in Wuhan could happen repeatedly to a city,” Dr. Ben Cowling, an epidemiologist at the University of Hong Kong who researches influenza transmission and control measures, told me in March. “They can shut down for a month, but then when they reopen, they’re still going to have an epidemic starting again.” Many states have already chosen to reopen without the widespread testing, contact tracing, and isolation policies they need to avoid a devastating second wave of infections. That will mean that in mere months, an unmonitored – and therefore largely unseen – wave of infections could overwhelm their emergency rooms, leading to thousands of unnecessary deaths. Georgia could be the first state to suffer those consequences. Gyms, barbershops, hair and nail salons, spas, and tattoo parlors there resumed business on April 24. Theaters and restaurants followed three days later. Epidemiologists and computer scientists at Harvard and MIT forecasted the virus’s spread through Georgia, as The Daily Beast reported on Tuesday. The models showed that if the state resumes 50% of pre-pandemic interpersonal contact, it could see 1,604 to 4,236 deaths by June 15. By contrast, if the state had left its lockdown in place, the models showed that the death count would have grown to between 1,004 and 2,922. If Georgia resumes 100% of pre-pandemic activity, it could see 4,279 to 9,748 deaths by June 15, according to the forecast. Other states are planning to follow Georgia’s lead. Texas allowed theaters, malls, and restaurants to reopen at limited capacity starting Friday, with more businesses to follow on May 18. Idaho and Montana are planning to open the doors to houses of worship. Oklahoma is reopening sports venues, among other businesses. Dr. Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute, has recommended the US conduct 500,000 to 700,000 tests per day nationwide before deeming it safe to reopen such businesses. That is the “bare minimum,” Jha recently told my colleague Dave Mosher. Other plans call for millions of tests per day. “If we don’t do this, we’re going to basically find ourselves with large numbers of cases and having to shut down again in two to two-and-a-half months.” Jha said. The COVID Tracking Project reported that 1.5 million tests were conducted nationwide last week, or just under 200,000 per day. “The states have basically decided they can’t, for the next round, can’t count on the federal government to help lead this. So they’re all taking their own state-based approach,” Jha said. “It does make me worry a lot about what’s going to happen in Kentucky and what’s going to happen in Georgia and Alabama and a lot of places that are poorer and don’t have the same kind of singular focus on, ‘How do we get ready for the fall season?'” Some evidence indicates the virus could come back with a vengeance in the fall. If it coincides with a bad flu season – which typically begins in October or November – that could spell disaster. “There’s a possibility that the assault of the virus on our nation next winter will actually be even more difficult than the one we just went through,” Robert Redfield, director of the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, told The Washington Post. “We’re going to have the flu epidemic and the coronavirus epidemic at the same time.” That one-two punch to the critical care system could lead to more preventable deaths and necessitate even harsher lockdowns. “If we don’t get our act together, the chances that there will be another lockdown in the fall, and that it will be a long one, are very, very high,” Jha told The Atlantic. The real answer to my friends’ and family members’ question – when will this end? – hinges on the answer to another question: When will a vaccine be widely available? COVID-19 vaccine efforts are moving forward at record speed. Over 100 potential vaccines are currently in development, according to the World Health Organization. Pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and BioNTech have already begun human trials, and say their vaccine could be available for emergency use by the fall. Johnson & Johnson hopes to have its own ready for emergency use in early 2021. Dr. Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, has estimated that the development and distribution of a vaccine will take 12 to 18 months. Other experts say this timeline is too optimistic. The fastest vaccine ever developed, for mumps, took four years. It’s also possible that there might never be an effective COVID-19 vaccine. The UK’s Chief Medical Officer, Christopher Whitty, told a Parliamentary committee on April 24 that there was “concerning” evidence suggesting that it may be impossible to stimulate immunity to the virus. “We cannot guarantee success,” Whitty said. “Vaccines are looked for, for every infectious disease. They are not found for all of them.” No vaccine has ever been approved for use against any other coronavirus. “If we could have a highly effective, very safe vaccine that is in plentiful supply, that we could give to everybody and everybody is immune, that would be amazing,” Dr. Lisa Winston, an epidemiologist at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital, told me a couple weeks ago. “If a genie came out of the wall and I could wish for something, that’s what I would wish for. And I’d wish for it today. But that’s not when it’s coming.” Dave Mosher contributed reporting.
3 May 11:15 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/coronavirus-two-year-prediction-recurring-lockdowns-no-vaccine-2020-4Rating: 0.30
UK chafes at COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
3 May 19:13
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UK chafes at COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
LONDON (Reuters) - The British government sought on Sunday to deflect questions over a coronavirus death toll that is Europe’s second worst after Italy, with officials saying it would take a long time before the full picture became clear. Deaths rose to 28,446 as of May 2 - just short of Italy - increasing pressure on the government which has been accused of acting too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Cabinet minister Michael Gove, leading a daily coronavirus briefing, sidestepped a question on whether many lives could have been saved if mass testing had been rolled out earlier. “This government, like all governments, will have made mistakes, but it will be impossible to determine exactly which were the areas of greatest concern until some time in the future, when we have all the information that we need,” he said. Only the United States has suffered more deaths than Italy and Britain. Ministers dislike comparisons of the headline death toll, saying that excess mortality - the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year - is a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 17. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on death certificates to the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Analysis by media including Sky News and the Financial Times suggests those figures are worse than other European countries including Italy. However, the medical director of England’s health service, Stephen Powis, said during the briefing it would be some time before international comparisons of excess deaths could be made. Earlier, the UK National Statistician Ian Diamond also cautioned against relying on rankings. “I’m not saying that we’re at the bottom of any potential league table - it’s almost impossible to calculate a league table - but I’m not prepared to say that we’re heading for the top,” he told BBC News. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on April 27 after a life-threatening, month-long battle with COVID-19, is due to announce later this week how the government plans to ease a lockdown since March 23 that has battered the economy. Businesses have been clamouring for information. Gove said a new system to impede any new outbreak by identifying people infected and warning those who had come close to them to self-isolate would be trialled this week on the Isle of Wight, off the southern English coast. Addressing complaints by some health and care workers that they were still not being provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), Gove said French and German doctors had protested about similar problems. “That doesn’t take away for a second from our responsibility to do even better, but it does mean I think that people recognise that this is a global challenge,” he said.
3 May 19:13 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-idUSKBN22F0J6Rating: 4.04
UK chafes at Covid-19 death toll comparison with Italy
LONDON, May 4 — The British government sought yesterday to deflect questions over a coronavirus death toll that is Europe's second worst after Italy, with officials saying it would take a long time before the full picture became clear. Deaths rose to 28,446 as of May 2 — just short of Italy — increasing pressure on the government which has been accused of acting too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Cabinet minister Michael Gove, leading a daily coronavirus briefing, sidestepped a question on whether many lives could have been saved if mass testing had been rolled out earlier. “This government, like all governments, will have made mistakes, but it will be impossible to determine exactly which were the areas of greatest concern until some time in the future, when we have all the information that we need,” he said. Only the United States has suffered more deaths than Italy and Britain. Ministers dislike comparisons of the headline death toll, saying that excess mortality — the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year — is a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 17. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on death certificates to the Covid-19 respiratory disease. Coronavirus 'leagues' Analysis by media including Sky News and the Financial Times suggests those figures are worse than other European countries including Italy. However, the medical director of England's health service, Stephen Powis, said during the briefing it would be some time before international comparisons of excess deaths could be made. Earlier, the UK National Statistician Ian Diamond also cautioned against relying on rankings. “I'm not saying that we're at the bottom of any potential league table — it's almost impossible to calculate a league table — but I'm not prepared to say that we're heading for the top,” he told BBC News. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on April 27 after a life-threatening, month-long battle with Covid-19, is due to announce later this week how the government plans to ease a lockdown since March 23 that has battered the economy. Businesses have been clamouring for information. Gove said a new system to impede any new outbreak by identifying people infected and warning those who had come close to them to self-isolate would be trialled this week on the Isle of Wight, off the southern English coast. Addressing complaints by some health and care workers that they were still not being provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), Gove said French and German doctors had protested about similar problems. “That doesn't take away for a second from our responsibility to do even better, but it does mean I think that people recognise that this is a global challenge,” he said. — Reuters
3 May 22:55 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/04/uk-chafes-at-covid-19-death-toll-comparison-with-italy/1862720Rating: 1.42
U.K. chafes at COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
The British government sought on Sunday to deflect questions over a coronavirus death toll that is Europe's second worst after Italy, with officials saying it would take a long time before the full picture became clear. Deaths rose to 28,446 as of May 2 — just short of Italy — increasing pressure on the government which has been accused of acting too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Cabinet minister Michael Gove, leading a daily COVID-19 briefing, sidestepped a question on whether many lives could have been saved if mass testing had been rolled out earlier. “This government, like all governments, will have made mistakes, but it will be impossible to determine exactly which were the areas of greatest concern until some time in the future, when we have all the information that we need,” he said. Only the United States has suffered more deaths than Italy and Britain. Ministers dislike comparisons of the headline death toll, saying that excess mortality — the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year — is a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 17. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on death certificates to the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Analysis by media including Sky News and the Financial Times suggests those figures are worse than other European countries including Italy. However, the medical director of England's health service, Stephen Powis, said during the briefing it would be some time before international comparisons of excess deaths could be made. Earlier, the U.K. National Statistician Ian Diamond also cautioned against relying on rankings. “I'm not saying that we're at the bottom of any potential league table - it's almost impossible to calculate a league table - but I'm not prepared to say that we're heading for the top,” he told BBC News. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on April 27 after a life-threatening, month-long battle with COVID-19, is due to announce later this week how the government plans to ease a lockdown since March 23 that has battered the economy. Businesses have been clamouring for information. Mr. Gove said a new system to impede any new outbreak by identifying people infected and warning those who had come close to them to self-isolate would be trialled this week on the Isle of Wight, off the southern English coast. Addressing complaints by some health and care workers that they were still not being provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), Mr. Gove said French and German doctors had protested about similar problems. “That doesn't take away for a second from our responsibility to do even better, but it does mean I think that people recognise that this is a global challenge,” he said.
3 May 23:00 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/uk-chafes-at-covid-19-death-toll-comparison-with-italy/article31496771.eceRating: 0.30
UK chafes at COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
LONDON — The British government sought on Sunday to deflect questions over a coronavirus death toll that is Europe's second worst after Italy, with officials saying it would take a long time before the full picture became clear. Deaths rose to 28,446 as of May 2 - just short of Italy - increasing pressure on the government which has been accused of acting too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Cabinet minister Michael Gove, leading a daily coronavirus briefing, sidestepped a question on whether many lives could have been saved if mass testing had been rolled out earlier. "This government, like all governments, will have made mistakes, but it will be impossible to determine exactly which were the areas of greatest concern until some time in the future, when we have all the information that we need," he said. Only the United States has suffered more deaths than Italy and Britain. Ministers dislike comparisons of the headline death toll, saying that excess mortality - the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year - is a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to April 17. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on death certificates to the COVID-19 respiratory disease. Analysis by media including Sky News and the Financial Times suggests those figures are worse than other European countries including Italy. However, the medical director of England's health service, Stephen Powis, said during the briefing it would be some time before international comparisons of excess deaths could be made. Earlier, the UK National Statistician Ian Diamond also cautioned against relying on rankings. "I'm not saying that we're at the bottom of any potential league table - it's almost impossible to calculate a league table - but I'm not prepared to say that we're heading for the top," he told BBC News. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who returned to work on April 27 after a life-threatening, month-long battle with COVID-19, is due to announce later this week how the government plans to ease a lockdown since March 23 that has battered the economy. Businesses have been clamoring for information. Gove said a new system to impede any new outbreak by identifying people infected and warning those who had come close to them to self-isolate would be trialed this week on the Isle of Wight, off the southern English coast. Addressing complaints by some health and care workers that they were still not being provided with sufficient personal protective equipment (PPE), Gove said French and German doctors had protested about similar problems. "That doesn't take away for a second from our responsibility to do even better, but it does mean I think that people recognize that this is a global challenge," he said. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.
3 May 21:00 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-1-uk-chafes-at-covid-19-death-toll-comparison-with-italyRating: 2.09
UK pushes back against COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
LONDON: Facing questions over why Britain's death toll from COVID-19 was now the second-worst in Europe after Italy, a British minister said on Sunday (May 3) that people should not jump to conclusions and the full picture was not yet clear. The death toll was 28,131 as of May 1, just short of the Italian total, increasing pressure on the conservative government which has been accused by the opposition of having acted too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Ministers have rejected comparisons of the headline death toll with that of other countries, saying that excess mortality - the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year - was a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to Apr 17. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on the death certificates to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Analysis by media including Sky News and the Financial Times suggests those figures are worse than in other European countries. Appearing on Sky News on Sunday, transport minister Grant Shapps rejected a suggestion that the evidence on excess mortality showed the government's response to the outbreak had failed. "You need to look at that over a much longer period of time. So we'll have to look back over a year I'm afraid, not to be evasive but we just won't have that information," Shapps said. "It's much more complex than you're making it sound." He said some impacts of the outbreak would not be known for a long time and that differences in the age and health profiles of nations, as well as population size and density, were among many factors that would have to be taken into account. "You have to look at the whole picture and that information simply isn't available as yet," he said. "We shouldn't look at the raw data and jump to conclusions." COMPARISONS "UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT" The UK National Statistician, Ian Diamond, also cautioned against relying on any "league table" of worst-affected countries. "I'm not saying that we're at the bottom of any potential league table, it's almost impossible to calculate a league table, but I'm not prepared to say that we're heading for the top," he said during an interview on BBC News. Diamond, the head of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which collates excess deaths numbers, said it was "unbelievably difficult" to make international comparisons. He said the way Britain was counting and reporting its coronavirus-related deaths was the most transparent, because the ONS was including deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate even if the person had not been tested. In some other countries, only people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus before they died are included in the official statistics. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 21:39 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/uk-pushes-back-against-covid-19-death-toll-comparison-with-italy-12698270Rating: 3.25
UK pushes back against COVID-19 death toll comparison with Italy
LONDON - Facing questions over why Britain’s death toll from the new coronavirus was now the second-worst in Europe after Italy, a British minister said on Sunday people should not jump to conclusions and the full picture was not yet clear. The death toll was 28,131 as of 1 May, just short of the Italian total, increasing pressure on the conservative government which has been accused by the opposition of having acted too slowly in the early stages of the outbreak. Ministers have rejected comparisons of the headline death toll with that of other countries, saying that excess mortality — the number of deaths from all causes that exceed the average for the time of year — was a more meaningful metric. The most recent available data showed there were almost 12,000 excess deaths in England and Wales in the week to 17 April. Of these, just under 9,000 were linked on the death certificates to COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the new coronavirus. Analysis by media including Sky News and the _Financial Times _suggests those figures are worse than in other European countries. Appearing on Sky News on Sunday, transport minister Grant Shapps rejected a suggestion that the evidence on excess mortality showed the government’s response to the outbreak had failed. “You need to look at that over a much longer period of time. So we’ll have to look back over a year I’m afraid, not to be evasive but we just won’t have that information,” Shapps said. “It’s much more complex than you’re making it sound.” He said some impacts of the outbreak would not be known for a long time and that differences in the age and health profiles of nations, as well as population size and density, were among many factors that would have to be taken into account. “You have to look at the whole picture and that information simply isn’t available as yet,” he said. “We shouldn’t look at the raw data and jump to conclusions.” COMPARISONS “UNBELIEVABLY DIFFICULT” The UK National Statistician, Ian Diamond, also cautioned against relying on any “league table” of worst-affected countries. “I’m not saying that we’re at the bottom of any potential league table, it’s almost impossible to calculate a league table, but I’m not prepared to say that we’re heading for the top,” he said during an interview on BBC News. Diamond, the head of the Office of National Statistics (ONS) which collates excess deaths numbers, said it was “unbelievably difficult” to make international comparisons. He said the way Britain was counting and reporting its coronavirus-related deaths was the most transparent, because the ONS was including deaths where COVID-19 was mentioned on the death certificate even if the person had not been tested. In some other countries, only people who had tested positive for the new coronavirus before they died are included in the official statistics.
3 May 00:00 • ewn.co.za • https://ewn.co.za/2020/05/03/uk-pushes-back-against-covid-19-death-toll-comparison-with-italyRating: 1.68
Pot Job Seekers Surge as Sector Is Still Hiring: Cannabis Weekly
3 May 14:00
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5 articles
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Pot Job Seekers Surge as Sector Is Still Hiring: Cannabis Weekly
Unlike many industries, the cannabis sector is still hiring during the pandemic. Yet the number of open positions has dwindled as layoffs become more common and many of the jobs that do exist are temporary. Vangst, which runs the Gigs site for temporary pot jobs and recently launched a platform for full-time positions, is filling about 600 jobs a week. That’s a slight decrease from pre-Covid 19 levels earlier this year, mostly because companies are employing fewer in-store staff as they switch to delivery or curbside pickup. Meanwhile, the number of job candidates on the platform surged by 300% between March and April, according to Karson Humiston, founder and chief executive officer of Vangst. “We’ve seen a huge uptick in candidates, and we’re seeing a large number of candidates coming from hospitality and retail,” Humiston said in a phone interview. “When our clients do pick up hiring again, they’re going to have access to a really strong talent pool.” Of the temporary jobs that are being filled on Vangst’s Gigs platform, about half are replacements for employees who are unable to work and the other half are for normal seasonal work related to harvests or packaging, she said. The cannabis sector employed 243,700 people at the beginning of 2020, up 15% from the prior year and nearly double the number of jobs in 2017, according to data from cannabis information firm Leafly. However, that number has been shrinking as companies that grew too fast and are now dealing with pandemic-related disruptions cut back. Canopy Growth Corp. said Wednesday that it’s cutting 200 jobs in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., about 5% of its total workforce. That’s on top of 500 positions that were eliminated in early March when it closed two facilities in British Columbia. “When you have the largest cannabis company in the world laying off 700 people, that’s a signal of what’s going on in the broader market,” Humiston said. “We were already seeing that on the full-time side of our business and then Covid-19 came and exacerbated it.” Not everyone is cutting back, however. Trulieve Cannabis Corp., one of the largest U.S. cannabis companies by market value, has hired around 250 people since the pandemic started and still has about 150 open positions. The Florida-based company has doubled the number of vehicles in its delivery fleet and saw its call center volume spike from 25,000 calls a week to 65,000 as customers adapted to the new realities of pandemic shopping. It’s been hiring employees for both segments of the business, as well as for its dispensaries, said CEO Kim Rivers. At first Trulieve was hiring to replace people who had to take time off, but “at this point it really is actual hiring, adding to the workforce,” Rivers said in a phone interview. Despite the pandemic, Trulieve opened a new dispensary in Titusville, Florida on April 18 and plans to open another one in the next week or so. Rivers said it remains to be seen whether the pandemic-related expansion remains in place once things return to normal, but she’s hopeful Trulieve will be able to keep the employees it’s hired. “We prefer to not lose folks who have experience within the company, and there may be other roles that folks could shift into as well because we are continuing to grow,” she said. WEDNESDAY 5/6 THURSDAY 5/7 FRIDAY 5/8 Canopy Growth Cuts 200 Jobs in Canada, U.S. and U.K. Linton’s Newest Cannabis Company Seeks $150 Million in IPO Cannabis Firm Curaleaf Taps Ex-FINRA Official to Lead Compliance
3 May 14:00 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/pot-job-seekers-surge-as-sector-is-still-hiring-cannabis-weeklyRating: 4.04
Pot job seekers surge as sector is still hiring
Unlike many industries, the cannabis sector is still hiring during the pandemic. Yet the number of open positions has dwindled as layoffs become more common and many of the jobs that do exist are temporary. Vangst, which runs the Gigs site for temporary pot jobs and recently launched a platform for full-time positions, is filling about 600 jobs a week. That’s a slight decrease from pre-COVID 19 levels earlier this year, mostly because companies are employing fewer in-store staff as they switch to delivery or curbside pickup. Meanwhile, the number of job candidates on the platform surged by 300% between March and April, according to Karson Humiston, founder and chief executive officer of Vangst. “We’ve seen a huge uptick in candidates, and we’re seeing a large number of candidates coming from hospitality and retail,” Humiston said in a phone interview. “When our clients do pick up hiring again, they’re going to have access to a really strong talent pool.” Of the temporary jobs that are being filled on Vangst’s Gigs platform, about half are replacements for employees who are unable to work and the other half are for normal seasonal work related to harvests or packaging, she said. The cannabis sector employed 243,700 people at the beginning of 2020, up 15 per cent from the prior year and nearly double the number of jobs in 2017, according to data from cannabis information firm Leafly. However, that number has been shrinking as companies that grew too fast and are now dealing with pandemic-related disruptions cut back. Canopy Growth Corp. said Wednesday that it’s cutting 200 jobs in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., about five per cent of its total workforce. That’s on top of 500 positions that were eliminated in early March when it closed two facilities in British Columbia. “When you have the largest cannabis company in the world laying off 700 people, that’s a signal of what’s going on in the broader market,” Humiston said. “We were already seeing that on the full-time side of our business and then Covid-19 came and exacerbated it.” Not everyone is cutting back, however. Trulieve Cannabis Corp., one of the largest U.S. cannabis companies by market value, has hired around 250 people since the pandemic started and still has about 150 open positions. The Florida-based company has doubled the number of vehicles in its delivery fleet and saw its call center volume spike from 25,000 calls a week to 65,000 as customers adapted to the new realities of pandemic shopping. It’s been hiring employees for both segments of the business, as well as for its dispensaries, said CEO Kim Rivers. At first Trulieve was hiring to replace people who had to take time off, but “at this point it really is actual hiring, adding to the workforce,” Rivers said in a phone interview. Despite the pandemic, Trulieve opened a new dispensary in Titusville, Florida on April 18 and plans to open another one in the next week or so. Rivers said it remains to be seen whether the pandemic-related expansion remains in place once things return to normal, but she’s hopeful Trulieve will be able to keep the employees it’s hired. “We prefer to not lose folks who have experience within the company, and there may be other roles that folks could shift into as well because we are continuing to grow,” she said. Events This Week WEDNESDAY 5/6 THURSDAY 5/7 FRIDAY 5/8
3 May 15:01 • BNN • https://www.bnnbloomberg.ca/pot-job-seekers-surge-as-sector-is-still-hiring-cannabis-weekly-1.1430767Rating: 1.34
Pot Job Seekers Surge as Sector Is Still Hiring: Cannabis Weekly
(Bloomberg) — Unlike many industries, the cannabis sector is still hiring during the pandemic. Yet the number of open positions has dwindled as layoffs become more common and many of the jobs that do exist are temporary. Vangst, which runs the Gigs site for temporary pot jobs and recently launched a platform for full-time positions, is filling about 600 jobs a week. That’s a slight decrease from pre-Covid 19 levels earlier this year, mostly because companies are employing fewer in-store staff as they switch to delivery or curbside pickup. Meanwhile, the number of job candidates on the platform surged by 300% between March and April, according to Karson Humiston, founder and chief executive officer of Vangst. “We’ve seen a huge uptick in candidates, and we’re seeing a large number of candidates coming from hospitality and retail,” Humiston said in a phone interview. “When our clients do pick up hiring again, they’re going to have access to a really strong talent pool.” Of the temporary jobs that are being filled on Vangst’s Gigs platform, about half are replacements for employees who are unable to work and the other half are for normal seasonal work related to harvests or packaging, she said. The cannabis sector employed 243,700 people at the beginning of 2020, up 15% from the prior year and nearly double the number of jobs in 2017, according to data from cannabis information firm Leafly. However, that number has been shrinking as companies that grew too fast and are now dealing with pandemic-related disruptions cut back. Canopy Growth Corp. said Wednesday that it’s cutting 200 jobs in Canada, the U.S. and the U.K., about 5% of its total workforce. That’s on top of 500 positions that were eliminated in early March when it closed two facilities in British Columbia. “When you have the largest cannabis company in the world laying off 700 people, that’s a signal of what’s going on in the broader market,” Humiston said. “We were already seeing that on the full-time side of our business and then Covid-19 came and exacerbated it.” Not everyone is cutting back, however. Trulieve Cannabis Corp., one of the largest U.S. cannabis companies by market value, has hired around 250 people since the pandemic started and still has about 150 open positions. The Florida-based company has doubled the number of vehicles in its delivery fleet and saw its call center volume spike from 25,000 calls a week to 65,000 as customers adapted to the new realities of pandemic shopping. It’s been hiring employees for both segments of the business, as well as for its dispensaries, said CEO Kim Rivers. At first Trulieve was hiring to replace people who had to take time off, but “at this point it really is actual hiring, adding to the workforce,” Rivers said in a phone interview. Despite the pandemic, Trulieve opened a new dispensary in Titusville, Florida on April 18 and plans to open another one in the next week or so. Rivers said it remains to be seen whether the pandemic-related expansion remains in place once things return to normal, but she’s hopeful Trulieve will be able to keep the employees it’s hired. “We prefer to not lose folks who have experience within the company, and there may be other roles that folks could shift into as well because we are continuing to grow,” she said. Events This Week WEDNESDAY 5/6 Scotts Miracle-Gro Co. reports second-quarter results pre-marketInnovative Industrial Properties Inc. reports first-quarter results after the market close THURSDAY 5/7 22nd Century Group Inc. reports pre-marketFlower One Holdings Inc. releases post-market FRIDAY 5/8 Cronos Group Inc. and CV Sciences Inc. report pre-market Last Week’s Top Stories Canopy Growth Cuts 200 Jobs in Canada, U.S. and U.K. Linton’s Newest Cannabis Company Seeks $150 Million in IPO Cannabis Firm Curaleaf Taps Ex-FINRA Official to Lead Compliance ©2020 Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg.com
3 May 15:00 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/pot-job-seekers-surge-as-sector-is-still-hiring-cannabis-weeklyRating: 0.94
Work-from-home job offers for women rise amid COVID-19 crisis
Amid the lockdown to curb COVID-19pandemic, more and more companies are offering work-from-home jobs for women, says a report. As per the report by online career platform JobsForHer, work-for-home jobs posted on its platform saw 30 per cent rise in March 2020 as compared to the same month last year. This is a time when working from home is the new normal. The number of women looking to start or restart their careers has also risen dramatically in recent times, said JobsForHer Founder and CEO Neha Bagaria. Read| What you do to land jobs in corona-hit economy The rise has been particularly noted in metro cities including Delh- NCR, Bengaluru , Chennai, Mumbai, Hyderabad and Pune, it added. With work-from-home becoming the norm for a majority of the workforce, several companies are posting remote working jobs, offering opportunities for women who are looking to begin their career or make a comeback, it said. The platform saw that certain job roles such as journalist, editor, content writing, tele calling, customer services, QA testing were the ones that women professionals majorly applied for. Read| Hacks to pick the right internship and translate it into a job JobsForHer also observed that education, IT, recruitment, Internet or e-commerce and advertising and PR are some of the most popular industries for women while searching for jobs. Amazon, SQUADRUN, Ufaber EduTech, Multibhashi and OneHourLearning are some of the companies in which women were applying for work-from-home jobs, it added. Overall, there was 50 per cent increase in the number of applications from job seekers in March this year compared to the year-ago month. Women today are highly motivated and despite the world almost coming to a halt, they are still pursuing opportunities. The work-from-home comes as a blessing for those women who have prior familial commitments, Bagaria added.
3 May 08:20 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/jobs/work-from-home-job-offers-for-women-rise-amid-covid-19-crisis-6389271/Rating: 0.30
Reopening the Economy Too Soon Could Negatively Impact Latinx Essential Workers
Hispanic and Latinx communities like my own have become part of the backbone carrying us through this pandemic. In America, Hispanics and Latinxs disproportionately work in retail and service industries — overwhelmingly the industries deemed essential during a pandemic. These are also the most front-facing consumer jobs. In fact, Black and brown people make up 75 percent of the front-line workers in New York City, according to a study from Scott M. Stringer, the city's comptroller. They are delivering food and manning the cash register at your local chain pharmacy. Keep in mind, these aren't jobs that typically come with healthcare plans or 401(k) options. With the good news that New York is officially on the downside of its peak in daily coronavirus deaths, reopening America feels inevitable. But should we jump to it right away? Reopening the economy too soon can negatively impact Hispanic and Latinx workers (and their families) who are already stretched thin. Many of our homes have multiple generations living under one roof. My tias, Mayra and Monica, and younger cousins, for example, cared for my tata into his later years in a single-family home. Hispanic and Latinx workers come home from work to children, parents, and grandparents. Because of overexposure, even more of these essential workers and their family members — especially those who are at higher risk — could suffer as a result of reopening too soon. My pregnant sister, Anna, is working through the pandemic as a receptionist for a company that mounts TVs in Hoover, AL. On one hand, I love that she will have health insurance when the baby comes. On the other hand, who considers home theater installation an essential service right now? Some states have already started pulling back on self-isolation measures. Georgia is easing social distancing, including opening gyms and nail salons. Florida reopened its beaches. It is our responsibility to care for each other during a pandemic. This means making choices about what we buy and how we buy it, prioritizing what we think is essential in a non-pandemic situation vs. what really is essential. It also means donating to charities, causes, and organizations that are supporting those suffering the most during this time if your situation allows it. Now is the time to tip heavily. Volunteer (virtually) instead of watching a movie. There are things to do and places to give to if you want to keep busy while the world continues to fight this virus. We can't be reckless with human life just because we need a haircut. We will bounce back from this eventually. We will reopen and rebuild. If you really care about the economy, protect the people who are keeping life afloat during this time by staying at home as much as possible. We can't stimulate the economy if we are dead. Consider the health of our healthcare professionals, grocery store clerks, and food delivery workers and their families. Let's protect our community.
2 May 21:00 • POPSUGAR Latina • https://www.popsugar.com/latina/reopening-economy-can-affect-latinx-essential-workers-47416381Rating: 1.91
Adidas is using AI and 3D printing to cope with a plunge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic
3 May 11:27
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4 articles
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Adidas is using AI and 3D printing to cope with a plunge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic
German sportswear giant Adidas plans to bolster its lagging performance by shifting strategy to focus on its digital platform.The fitness brand reported a 19% sales decline this week as more than 70% of its global stores remained closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Over an earnings call with company executives, Adidas zeroed in on plans for "digital acceleration" and said it would pivot to a greater focus on its digital presence now that it has limited capacity to operate out of physical stores. Business Insider got some insights from Adidas into what its revamped digital focus involves: Adidas also says it is investing in its digital retail infrastructure, and is reaping the benefits during the coronavirus as its online stores, as well of those of partner retailers, are open all the time. Its physical stores and other sporting-goods retailers remain closed in most parts of the world. The brand's ecommerce sales saw the highest growth rate on record last year, a jump of 34%. That spurt accelerated even further as sales for ecommerce grew by 35% in currency-neutral terms with 55% growth in March this year.The firm aims to support this trend by connecting experts from its retail teams, mobile-fitness app Runtastic, and the IT team, all working towards building up ecommerce. Adidas is also extending partnership programs with digital pure players — companies that only run virtually — such as Zalando, Asos, Zappos, and Tmall. As well as focusing more heavily on ecommerce, Adidas is also promoting heavily products that are selling well while people are stuck at home. The brand is increasingly promoting products like the Adilette Slides — a favorite among consumers working from home — as they have enjoyed high demand on the brand's channels. Adilette sales went up by a 'triple-digit percentage' rate in April, the company said. For its sports apps "adidas Running" and "adidas Training", the brand has been offering free premium access since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, hundreds of thousands of athletes have used more than 250 training videos, workouts and training plans to continue keeping fit from home. Adidas has also focused its marketing investments and efforts towards digital and social media channels and an increase in digital storytelling under the hashtag "#hometeam." Over the past few weeks, the brand has shared inspiring home stories from the daily lives of numerous brand ambassadors around the world who demonstrate creative ways to "make the most of time at home and, of course, to continue to exercise." LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 11:27 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/adidas-ai-3d-printing-coronavirus-sales-plunge-2020-4Rating: 4.40
Adidas is using AI and 3D printing to cope with a plunge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic
German sportswear giant Adidas plans to bolster its lagging performance by shifting strategy to focus on its digital platform. The fitness brand reported a 19% sales decline this week as more than 70% of its global stores remained closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Over an earnings call with company executives, Adidas zeroed in on plans for “digital acceleration” and said it would pivot to a greater focus on its digital presence now that it has limited capacity to operate out of physical stores. Business Insider got some insights from Adidas into what its revamped digital focus involves: Adidas also says it is investing in its digital retail infrastructure, and is reaping the benefits during the coronavirus as its online stores, as well of those of partner retailers, are open all the time. Its physical stores and other sporting-goods retailers remain closed in most parts of the world. The brand’s ecommerce sales saw the highest growth rate on record last year, a jump of 34%. That spurt accelerated even further as sales for ecommerce grew by 35% in currency-neutral terms with 55% growth in March this year. The firm aims to support this trend by connecting experts from its retail teams, mobile-fitness app Runtastic, and the IT team, all working towards building up ecommerce. Adidas is also extending partnership programs with digital pure players – companies that only run virtually – such as Zalando, Asos, Zappos, and Tmall. As well as focusing more heavily on ecommerce, Adidas is also promoting heavily products that are selling well while people are stuck at home. The brand is increasingly promoting products like the Adilette Slides – a favourite among consumers working from home – as they have enjoyed high demand on the brand’s channels. Adilette sales went up by a ‘triple-digit percentage’ rate in April, the company said. For its sports apps “adidas Running” and “adidas Training”, the brand has been offering free premium access since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, hundreds of thousands of athletes have used more than 250 training videos, workouts and training plans to continue keeping fit from home. Adidas has also focused its marketing investments and efforts towards digital and social media channels and an increase in digital storytelling under the hashtag “#hometeam.” Over the past few weeks, the brand has shared inspiring home stories from the daily lives of numerous brand ambassadors around the world who demonstrate creative ways to make the most of time at home and, of course, to continue to exercise.”
3 May 11:27 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/adidas-ai-3d-printing-coronavirus-sales-plunge-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Adidas is using AI and 3D printing to cope with a plunge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic
German sportswear giant Adidas plans to bolster its lagging performance by shifting strategy to focus on its digital platform. The fitness brand reported a 19% sales decline this week as more than 70% of its global stores remained closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Over an earnings call with company executives, Adidas zeroed in on plans for “digital acceleration” and said it would pivot to a greater focus on its digital presence now that it has limited capacity to operate out of physical stores. Business Insider got some insights from Adidas into what its revamped digital focus involves: Adidas also says it is investing in its digital retail infrastructure, and is reaping the benefits during the coronavirus as its online stores, as well of those of partner retailers, are open all the time. Its physical stores and other sporting-goods retailers remain closed in most parts of the world. The brand’s ecommerce sales saw the highest growth rate on record last year, a jump of 34%. That spurt accelerated even further as sales for ecommerce grew by 35% in currency-neutral terms with 55% growth in March this year. The firm aims to support this trend by connecting experts from its retail teams, mobile-fitness app Runtastic, and the IT team, all working towards building up ecommerce. Adidas is also extending partnership programs with digital pure players – companies that only run virtually – such as Zalando, Asos, Zappos, and Tmall. As well as focusing more heavily on ecommerce, Adidas is also promoting heavily products that are selling well while people are stuck at home. The brand is increasingly promoting products like the Adilette Slides – a favorite among consumers working from home – as they have enjoyed high demand on the brand’s channels. Adilette sales went up by a ‘triple-digit percentage’ rate in April, the company said. For its sports apps “adidas Running” and “adidas Training”, the brand has been offering free premium access since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, hundreds of thousands of athletes have used more than 250 training videos, workouts and training plans to continue keeping fit from home. Adidas has also focused its marketing investments and efforts towards digital and social media channels and an increase in digital storytelling under the hashtag “#hometeam.” Over the past few weeks, the brand has shared inspiring home stories from the daily lives of numerous brand ambassadors around the world who demonstrate creative ways to “make the most of time at home and, of course, to continue to exercise.”
3 May 11:27 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/adidas-ai-3d-printing-coronavirus-sales-plunge-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Adidas is using AI and 3D printing to cope with a plunge in sales during the coronavirus pandemic, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
German sportswear giant Adidas plans to bolster its lagging performance by shifting strategy to focus on its digital platform. The fitness brand reported a 19% sales decline this week as more than 70% of its global stores remained closed during the coronavirus pandemic. Over an earnings call with company executives, Adidas zeroed in on plans for “digital acceleration” and said it would pivot to a greater focus on its digital presence now that it has limited capacity to operate out of physical stores. Business Insider got some insights from Adidas into what its revamped digital focus involves: Adidas also says it is investing in its digital retail infrastructure, and is reaping the benefits during the coronavirus as its online stores, as well of those of partner retailers, are open all the time. Its physical stores and other sporting-goods retailers remain closed in most parts of the world. The brand’s ecommerce sales saw the highest growth rate on record last year, a jump of 34%. That spurt accelerated even further as sales for ecommerce grew by 35% in currency-neutral terms with 55% growth in March this year. The firm aims to support this trend by connecting experts from its retail teams, mobile-fitness app Runtastic, and the IT team, all working towards building up ecommerce. Adidas is also extending partnership programs with digital pure players – companies that only run virtually – such as Zalando, Asos, Zappos, and Tmall. As well as focusing more heavily on ecommerce, Adidas is also promoting heavily products that are selling well while people are stuck at home. The brand is increasingly promoting products like the Adilette Slides – a favorite among consumers working from home – as they have enjoyed high demand on the brand’s channels. Adilette sales went up by a ‘triple-digit percentage’ rate in April, the company said. For its sports apps “adidas Running” and “adidas Training”, the brand has been offering free premium access since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. Since then, hundreds of thousands of athletes have used more than 250 training videos, workouts and training plans to continue keeping fit from home. Adidas has also focused its marketing investments and efforts towards digital and social media channels and an increase in digital storytelling under the hashtag “#hometeam.” Over the past few weeks, the brand has shared inspiring home stories from the daily lives of numerous brand ambassadors around the world who demonstrate creative ways to “make the most of time at home and, of course, to continue to exercise.”
3 May 11:27 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/adidas-ai-3d-printing-coronavirus-sales-plunge-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they'd rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can't
3 May 19:46
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14 articles
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Weighted average IN: 4.091596834911364
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they'd rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can't
Starbucks on Sunday ended catastrophe pay for most of its workers and begin to re-open stores it had closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said they fear it's too soon for Starbucks to ask its workforce to return to stores and end catastrophe pay for workers who feel unsafe going back to work. As Business Insider previously reported, the company plans to open 90% of its stores by June 1. Most locations will not allow customers inside, with customers picking up their orders at the door, at drive-thrus, or via delivery. The locations that allow customers inside will remove all furniture and mandate customers to practice social distancing while picking up their orders, the company said. On March 20, the company announced locations without drive-thrus would temporarily close. At the time, Starbucks began offering "catastrophe pay," which allowed employees — called "partners" — unable or unwilling to work to continue receiving their pay and benefits during the pandemic. While catastrophe pay ended for most employees Sunday, it continues to be available to certain Starbucks workers, including those who test positive for COVID-19, "those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients," according to a letter written by Rossann Williams, the company's North American president. Williams said the company would similarly provide catastrophe pay throughout the month of May for employees "navigating childcare challenges." "There will be some partners who just aren't ready to return to a service role," Williams wrote in the April 16 letter to partners. "So, we must show our genuine empathy for those who need to make the personal decision to leave Starbucks. We will always be grateful for their service to our company and we will support them the best way we can as they make personal decisions to care for themselves." Ashley Krug, a Starbucks barista who works at a store in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, told Business Insider her Starbucks location closed not long after catastrophe pay was instituted because most of her coworkers felt unsafe continuing to work amid the pandemic — even after her cafe transitioned to drive-thru only. Her location is re-opening on Monday, she told Insider. Krug, 27, said she's the primary caretaker for her 75-year-old grandmother — "nana" — who has stage four Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an obstruction of airflow into her lungs. COPD also puts her grandmother at high risk for the most severe symptoms of the highly contagious disease, including death. "This is the only place I have to stay," Krug told Business Insider of the home she shares with her grandmother, adding that she feels "even bumping elbows with my coworkers" would put her "vulnerable" grandmother at risk if she returned to work. "No matter how much I showered or how much I bleached, when I came home, I couldn't escape that inevitable feeling that I could have been exposed to someone," she added of the final days she worked at her Starbucks store in March. A spokesperson for the company, Reggie Borges, told Business Insider, "Partner and customer health and safety are our top priorities." "So if at any moment there's a situation where we don't feel like we can manage that, we'll close the stores," he said. Borges pointed to a series of changes in Starbucks stores as part of its "modify and adapt" plan to re-open closed company-owned Starbucks locations, and keep its workers and customers safe. Modifications include mandated facial coverings for partners, installed plexiglass at drive-thru windows, and "wellness checks" for employees before every shift. While Borges stressed the company was keeping lobbies at all company-owned locations closed to protect its partners and customers, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said Sunday in an interview with Yahoo News it would consider opening cafes to "limited seating" in "communities where we see the number of COVID cases continue to decline." Borges told Business Insider Sunday that Johnson was speaking about decisions that could be made "down the road" and said all lobbies would remain closed for the time being. Despite changes implemented by the company to protect workers and customers amid its re-opening, Krug said she doesn't know if she'd be able to shake anxieties that she could infect her grandmother if she returned to work. Krug said her manager told her she would not qualify for continued catastrophe pay after May 3 if she chose not to return to work, despite living with someone who the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. She was told the best the company could offer her was a 30-day unpaid leave, protecting her employment with the company should she decide she's comfortable to return to work in June. She's not sure she will be. "That's great because that gives me job security, but what if the situation hasn't cleared, and I'm not comfortable or able to do that?" Krug said. Veronica, 21, who works at a Starbucks location in California and asked only her first name be used out of fear of "retaliation," told Business Insider she moved back into her family home at the start of the pandemic under one condition from her family: she had to stop leaving the house, which included going to work at Starbucks. While Veronica said she initially understood the company's decision to require her to return to work, she disagreed with Starbucks' decision to end catastrophe pay when her county became one of a handful in California to extend a stay-at-home order through the end of May. Veronica, who lives with her father, stepmom, her grandmother, and two younger siblings, said she told her manager she "would not be able to return to work until my county lifted the shelter-in-place." "I was still scheduled for work even though the shelter-in-place had not been lifted. I let her know that I wouldn't be able to return to work, and she told me there would be no way I could qualify for catastrophe pay unless I was homeschooling a child, or unless I lived in a house with a healthcare worker that was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients," Veronica told Business Insider. Like Krug, Veronica said she was told her best bet was the 30-day leave from the company. Her store manager also recommended she apply for the Starbucks CUP Fund, an employee-funded program that offers grants to Starbucks partners in need, she said. The maximum amount currently awarded through this program is $500 — a payout far less than the money she'd typically earn during a month working at her cafe, she noted. Veronica said her manager had initially proposed she use either sick or vacation leave to remain at home if she was uncomfortable going into work, though, she said, her manager later told her she wouldn't be able to use her sick paid leave to stay home — a contradiction to what employees had been told via letter last month. Starbucks employees who remain uncomfortable working at a cafe after May 3 "will have the option to utilize their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates)," read the letter from the Starbucks' North American president. "I would rather be able to collect unemployment and comply with and protect the needs of my family," Veronica said. As Business Insider previously reported, some people are earning more while collecting unemployment — the result of a temporary federal $600 weekly boost set to expire in July — than they were at their jobs. Meanwhile, others who are currently employed during the pandemic have argued the system is unfair and have asked employers to lay them off so they can collect unemployment. While some employees who have been mandated to take unpaid leave — and were not laid off during the pandemic— can still qualify for unemployment benefits, unemployment eligibility requires that an employer offered zero hours for an employee to work. When asked whether the company would consider firing or laying off partners so they could apply for unemployment benefits, Borges told Business Insider the company would consider doing so. None of the Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said this was presented as a possibility. "I think we're working with every single partner who has issues and concerns and we will find different ways to support them," Borges said. "In no way, shape, or form are we saying we aren't going to let a partner go if that partner doesn't want to work. We want to do what's best for those partners and want to explore all the options that work best for them." He added: "Whatever that partner wants to do. We want to explore any or all of the options." Veronica said she was told by her manager she was ineligible for unemployment while on her 30-day leave from the company. "It's unpaid leave, and because it's voluntary I do not qualify for any unemployment," Veronica said. "When I talked to my district manager, he said that the company is not laying people off because they are allowing people back to work, so they don't have a reason to lay people off. But that leaves me still having to contribute to my household — to feed everyone — and I still have bills that aren't stopping. I don't have an income." Krug agreed that termination from Starbucks could help her collect unemployment benefits and protect her grandmother, but she doesn't think it's likely. "It takes pretty extreme situations to be fired [from Starbucks], and I have never heard of anyone being laid off," she said. "I'm going to be forced to quit at that point, and I don't believe that I will be able to get unemployment at that point either." Kevin Martin, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks store in New Hampshire told Business Insider he felt the company's messaging to employees has been unclear. "I think it's just requiring us to put our lives in danger for something as silly as just coffee, and the people who create these rules have the luxury of being able to work from home and not be in close proximity of hundreds of people a day," he told Business Insider. "Usually, we find out pretty last minute regarding new policies, and especially in a time like this, you'd think they'd be giving us much more consistent updates," said Martin, who says he's worked with the company for over two years. Borges stressed that Starbucks let partners know it was expecting them to return to work and was ending catastrophe pay on April 16 — nearly two weeks before they would be expected to return. "Some of my coworkers have told me they are hesitantly going back because they really don't want to, but they needed the benefits provided by Starbucks," Martin said, adding that he believed was "privileged" to be able to make the decision to remain on unpaid leave from the company. He added: "It's tough because I know other people I work with are going to be seriously affected and would hate to see something happen to any of them or their family members because they're now being forced to be exposed to the general public." Krug agreed the response from the company to the pandemic had been a bit puzzling. "It's been very confusing and I do feel like the statement the company put out at first was kind and reassuring, but I think it just helped them save face because eventually, it was just like 'well, get back to work or don't eat.'" "We've all been home for a month," a barista who works at a Starbucks location in Vermont and asked to remain anonymous in fear of "definitely put a target on my back," told Business Insider. "It's not that we don't want to work. There's a huge population of Starbucks workers who are getting a little stir crazy — who want something to do. None of my coworkers are like 'we don't want to work.' We want to work. We don't want to just be opening because our company is just trying to turn a profit, which it does feel like that." Most of the workers at her store signed a letter addressed to their district and store manager saying they would not return to work on May 6, which was the planned re-opening date for their location. They said they would not consider returning to work until at least May 15, when the stay-at-home order in Vermont is lifted. On Saturday, the US faced its single deadliest day so far amid the pandemic, as businesses including Starbucks begin to re-open stores and states across the country relax stay-at-home orders, even as death tolls continue to rise from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Currently, Starbucks plans to phase out catastrophe pay in June when the company expects to "return to [its] normal operations, pay, and benefits," according to Williams' April 16 letter. "Service Pay," which gives a temporary $3 an hour raise to Starbucks partners who work during the pandemic, will also end in June. Krug doesn't know if she will feel safe enough to return to work after her leave ends. "I do feel like I made the right decision to protect my nana, and I'm glad the company was there to support me with that at first, but now, unless some kind of miracle happens within the next couple of weeks, I'm going to be losing my job." LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 19:46 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/starbucks-workers-afraid-to-work-will-go-without-pay-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they'd rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can't
Starbucks on Sunday ended catastrophe pay for most of its workers and begin to re-open stores it had closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said they fear it’s too soon for Starbucks to ask its workforce to return to stores and end catastrophe pay for workers who feel unsafe going back to work. As Business Insider previously reported, the company plans to open 90% of its stores by June 1. Most locations will not allow customers inside, with customers picking up their orders at the door, at drive-thrus, or via delivery. The locations that allow customers inside will remove all furniture and mandate customers to practice social distancing while picking up their orders, the company said. On March 20, the company announced locations without drive-thrus would temporarily close. At the time, Starbucks began offering “catastrophe pay,” which allowed employees – called “partners” – unable or unwilling to work to continue receiving their pay and benefits during the pandemic. While catastrophe pay ended for most employees Sunday, it continues to be available to certain Starbucks workers, including those who test positive for COVID-19, “those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients,” according to a letter written by Rossann Williams, the company’s North American president. Williams said the company would similarly provide catastrophe pay throughout the month of May for employees “navigating childcare challenges.” “There will be some partners who just aren’t ready to return to a service role,” Williams wrote in the April 16 letter to partners. “So, we must show our genuine empathy for those who need to make the personal decision to leave Starbucks. We will always be grateful for their service to our company and we will support them the best way we can as they make personal decisions to care for themselves.” Ashley Krug, a Starbucks barista who works at a store in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, told Business Insider her Starbucks location closed not long after catastrophe pay was instituted because most of her coworkers felt unsafe continuing to work amid the pandemic – even after her cafe transitioned to drive-thru only. Her location is re-opening on Monday, she told Insider. Krug, 27, said she’s the primary caretaker for her 75-year-old grandmother – “nana” – who has stage four Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an obstruction of airflow into her lungs. COPD also puts her grandmother at high risk for the most severe symptoms of the highly contagious disease, including death. “This is the only place I have to stay,” Krug told Business Insider of the home she shares with her grandmother, adding that she feels “even bumping elbows with my coworkers” would put her “vulnerable” grandmother at risk if she returned to work. “No matter how much I showered or how much I bleached, when I came home, I couldn’t escape that inevitable feeling that I could have been exposed to someone,” she added of the final days she worked at her Starbucks store in March. A spokesperson for the company, Reggie Borges, told Business Insider, “Partner and customer health and safety are our top priorities.” “So if at any moment there’s a situation where we don’t feel like we can manage that, we’ll close the stores,” he said. Borges pointed to a series of changes in Starbucks stores as part of its “modify and adapt” plan to re-open closed company-owned Starbucks locations, and keep its workers and customers safe. Modifications include mandated facial coverings for partners, installed plexiglass at drive-thru windows, and “wellness checks” for employees before every shift. While Borges stressed the company was keeping lobbies at all company-owned locations closed to protect its partners and customers, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said Sunday in an interview with Yahoo News it would consider opening cafes to “limited seating” in “communities where we see the number of COVID cases continue to decline.” Borges told Business Insider Sunday that Johnson was speaking about decisions that could be made “down the road” and said all lobbies would remain closed for the time being. Despite changes implemented by the company to protect workers and customers amid its re-opening, Krug said she doesn’t know if she’d be able to shake anxieties that she could infect her grandmother if she returned to work. Krug said her manager told her she would not qualify for continued catastrophe pay after May 3 if she chose not to return to work, despite living with someone who the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. She was told the best the company could offer her was a 30-day unpaid leave, protecting her employment with the company should she decide she’s comfortable to return to work in June. She’s not sure she will be. “That’s great because that gives me job security, but what if the situation hasn’t cleared, and I’m not comfortable or able to do that?” Krug said. Veronica, 21, who works at a Starbucks location in California and asked only her first name be used out of fear of “retaliation,” told Business Insider she moved back into her family home at the start of the pandemic under one condition from her family: she had to stop leaving the house, which included going to work at Starbucks. While Veronica said she initially understood the company’s decision to require her to return to work, she disagreed with Starbucks’ decision to end catastrophe pay when her county became one of a handful in California to extend a stay-at-home order through the end of May. Veronica, who lives with her father, stepmom, her grandmother, and two younger siblings, said she told her manager she “would not be able to return to work until my county lifted the shelter-in-place.” “I was still scheduled for work even though the shelter-in-place had not been lifted. I let her know that I wouldn’t be able to return to work, and she told me there would be no way I could qualify for catastrophe pay unless I was homeschooling a child, or unless I lived in a house with a healthcare worker that was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients,” Veronica told Business Insider. Like Krug, Veronica said she was told her best bet was the 30-day leave from the company. Her store manager also recommended she apply for the Starbucks CUP Fund, an employee-funded program that offers grants to Starbucks partners in need, she said. The maximum amount currently awarded through this program is $US500 – a payout far less than the money she’d typically earn during a month working at her cafe, she noted. Veronica said her manager had initially proposed she use either sick or vacation leave to remain at home if she was uncomfortable going into work, though, she said, her manager later told her she wouldn’t be able to use her sick paid leave to stay home – a contradiction to what employees had been told via letter last month. Starbucks employees who remain uncomfortable working at a cafe after May 3 “will have the option to utilise their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates),” read the letter from the Starbucks’ North American president. “I would rather be able to collect unemployment and comply with and protect the needs of my family,” Veronica said. As Business Insider previously reported, some people are earning more while collecting unemployment – the result of a temporary federal $US600 weekly boost set to expire in July – than they were at their jobs. Meanwhile, others who are currently employed during the pandemic have argued the system is unfair and have asked employers to lay them off so they can collect unemployment. While some employees who have been mandated to take unpaid leave – and were not laid off during the pandemic- can still qualify for unemployment benefits, unemployment eligibility requires that an employer offered zero hours for an employee to work. When asked whether the company would consider firing or laying off partners so they could apply for unemployment benefits, Borges told Business Insider the company would consider doing so. None of the Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said this was presented as a possibility. “I think we’re working with every single partner who has issues and concerns and we will find different ways to support them,” Borges said. “In no way, shape, or form are we saying we aren’t going to let a partner go if that partner doesn’t want to work. We want to do what’s best for those partners and want to explore all the options that work best for them.” He added: “Whatever that partner wants to do. We want to explore any or all of the options.” Veronica said she was told by her manager she was ineligible for unemployment while on her 30-day leave from the company. “It’s unpaid leave, and because it’s voluntary I do not qualify for any unemployment,” Veronica said. “When I talked to my district manager, he said that the company is not laying people off because they are allowing people back to work, so they don’t have a reason to lay people off. But that leaves me still having to contribute to my household – to feed everyone – and I still have bills that aren’t stopping. I don’t have an income.” Krug agreed that termination from Starbucks could help her collect unemployment benefits and protect her grandmother, but she doesn’t think it’s likely. “It takes pretty extreme situations to be fired [from Starbucks], and I have never heard of anyone being laid off,” she said. “I’m going to be forced to quit at that point, and I don’t believe that I will be able to get unemployment at that point either.” Kevin Martin, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks store in New Hampshire told Business Insider he felt the company’s messaging to employees has been unclear. “I think it’s just requiring us to put our lives in danger for something as silly as just coffee, and the people who create these rules have the luxury of being able to work from home and not be in close proximity of hundreds of people a day,” he told Business Insider. “Usually, we find out pretty last minute regarding new policies, and especially in a time like this, you’d think they’d be giving us much more consistent updates,” said Martin, who says he’s worked with the company for over two years. Borges stressed that Starbucks let partners know it was expecting them to return to work and was ending catastrophe pay on April 16 – nearly two weeks before they would be expected to return. “Some of my coworkers have told me they are hesitantly going back because they really don’t want to, but they needed the benefits provided by Starbucks,” Martin said, adding that he believed was “privileged” to be able to make the decision to remain on unpaid leave from the company. He added: “It’s tough because I know other people I work with are going to be seriously affected and would hate to see something happen to any of them or their family members because they’re now being forced to be exposed to the general public.” Krug agreed the response from the company to the pandemic had been a bit puzzling. “It’s been very confusing and I do feel like the statement the company put out at first was kind and reassuring, but I think it just helped them save face because eventually, it was just like ‘well, get back to work or don’t eat.'” “We’ve all been home for a month,” a barista who works at a Starbucks location in Vermont and asked to remain anonymous in fear of “definitely put a target on my back,” told Business Insider. “It’s not that we don’t want to work. There’s a huge population of Starbucks workers who are getting a little stir crazy – who want something to do. None of my coworkers are like ‘we don’t want to work.’ We want to work. We don’t want to just be opening because our company is just trying to turn a profit, which it does feel like that.” Most of the workers at her store signed a letter addressed to their district and store manager saying they would not return to work on May 6, which was the planned re-opening date for their location. They said they would not consider returning to work until at least May 15, when the stay-at-home order in Vermont is lifted. On Saturday, the US faced its single deadliest day so far amid the pandemic, as businesses including Starbucks begin to re-open stores and states across the country relax stay-at-home orders, even as death tolls continue to rise from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Currently, Starbucks plans to phase out catastrophe pay in June when the company expects to “return to [its] normal operations, pay, and benefits,” according to Williams’ April 16 letter. “Service Pay,” which gives a temporary $US3 an hour raise to Starbucks partners who work during the pandemic, will also end in June. Krug doesn’t know if she will feel safe enough to return to work after her leave ends. “I do feel like I made the right decision to protect my nana, and I’m glad the company was there to support me with that at first, but now, unless some kind of miracle happens within the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be losing my job.”
3 May 19:41 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/starbucks-workers-afraid-to-work-will-go-without-pay-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they'd rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can't
Starbucks on Sunday ended catastrophe pay for most of its workers and begin to re-open stores it had closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said they fear it’s too soon for Starbucks to ask its workforce to return to stores and end catastrophe pay for workers who feel unsafe going back to work. As Business Insider previously reported, the company plans to open 90% of its stores by June 1. Most locations will not allow customers inside, with customers picking up their orders at the door, at drive-thrus, or via delivery. The locations that allow customers inside will remove all furniture and mandate customers to practice social distancing while picking up their orders, the company said. On March 20, the company announced locations without drive-thrus would temporarily close. At the time, Starbucks began offering “catastrophe pay,” which allowed employees – called “partners” – unable or unwilling to work to continue receiving their pay and benefits during the pandemic. While catastrophe pay ended for most employees Sunday, it continues to be available to certain Starbucks workers, including those who test positive for COVID-19, “those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients,” according to a letter written by Rossann Williams, the company’s North American president. Williams said the company would similarly provide catastrophe pay throughout the month of May for employees “navigating childcare challenges.” “There will be some partners who just aren’t ready to return to a service role,” Williams wrote in the April 16 letter to partners. “So, we must show our genuine empathy for those who need to make the personal decision to leave Starbucks. We will always be grateful for their service to our company and we will support them the best way we can as they make personal decisions to care for themselves.” Ashley Krug, a Starbucks barista who works at a store in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, told Business Insider her Starbucks location closed not long after catastrophe pay was instituted because most of her coworkers felt unsafe continuing to work amid the pandemic – even after her cafe transitioned to drive-thru only. Her location is re-opening on Monday, she told Insider. Krug, 27, said she’s the primary caretaker for her 75-year-old grandmother – “nana” – who has stage four Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an obstruction of airflow into her lungs. COPD also puts her grandmother at high risk for the most severe symptoms of the highly contagious disease, including death. “This is the only place I have to stay,” Krug told Business Insider of the home she shares with her grandmother, adding that she feels “even bumping elbows with my coworkers” would put her “vulnerable” grandmother at risk if she returned to work. “No matter how much I showered or how much I bleached, when I came home, I couldn’t escape that inevitable feeling that I could have been exposed to someone,” she added of the final days she worked at her Starbucks store in March. A spokesperson for the company, Reggie Borges, told Business Insider, “Partner and customer health and safety are our top priorities.” “So if at any moment there’s a situation where we don’t feel like we can manage that, we’ll close the stores,” he said. Borges pointed to a series of changes in Starbucks stores as part of its “modify and adapt” plan to re-open closed company-owned Starbucks locations, and keep its workers and customers safe. Modifications include mandated facial coverings for partners, installed plexiglass at drive-thru windows, and “wellness checks” for employees before every shift. While Borges stressed the company was keeping lobbies at all company-owned locations closed to protect its partners and customers, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said Sunday in an interview with Yahoo News it would consider opening cafes to “limited seating” in “communities where we see the number of COVID cases continue to decline.” Borges told Business Insider Sunday that Johnson was speaking about decisions that could be made “down the road” and said all lobbies would remain closed for the time being. Despite changes implemented by the company to protect workers and customers amid its re-opening, Krug said she doesn’t know if she’d be able to shake anxieties that she could infect her grandmother if she returned to work. Krug said her manager told her she would not qualify for continued catastrophe pay after May 3 if she chose not to return to work, despite living with someone who the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. She was told the best the company could offer her was a 30-day unpaid leave, protecting her employment with the company should she decide she’s comfortable to return to work in June. She’s not sure she will be. “That’s great because that gives me job security, but what if the situation hasn’t cleared, and I’m not comfortable or able to do that?” Krug said. Veronica, 21, who works at a Starbucks location in California and asked only her first name be used out of fear of “retaliation,” told Business Insider she moved back into her family home at the start of the pandemic under one condition from her family: she had to stop leaving the house, which included going to work at Starbucks. While Veronica said she initially understood the company’s decision to require her to return to work, she disagreed with Starbucks’ decision to end catastrophe pay when her county became one of a handful in California to extend a stay-at-home order through the end of May. Veronica, who lives with her father, stepmom, her grandmother, and two younger siblings, said she told her manager she “would not be able to return to work until my county lifted the shelter-in-place.” “I was still scheduled for work even though the shelter-in-place had not been lifted. I let her know that I wouldn’t be able to return to work, and she told me there would be no way I could qualify for catastrophe pay unless I was homeschooling a child, or unless I lived in a house with a healthcare worker that was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients,” Veronica told Business Insider. Like Krug, Veronica said she was told her best bet was the 30-day leave from the company. Her store manager also recommended she apply for the Starbucks CUP Fund, an employee-funded program that offers grants to Starbucks partners in need, she said. The maximum amount currently awarded through this program is $500 – a payout far less than the money she’d typically earn during a month working at her cafe, she noted. Veronica said her manager had initially proposed she use either sick or vacation leave to remain at home if she was uncomfortable going into work, though, she said, her manager later told her she wouldn’t be able to use her sick paid leave to stay home – a contradiction to what employees had been told via letter last month. Starbucks employees who remain uncomfortable working at a cafe after May 3 “will have the option to utilize their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates),” read the letter from the Starbucks’ North American president. “I would rather be able to collect unemployment and comply with and protect the needs of my family,” Veronica said. As Business Insider previously reported, some people are earning more while collecting unemployment – the result of a temporary federal $600 weekly boost set to expire in July – than they were at their jobs. Meanwhile, others who are currently employed during the pandemic have argued the system is unfair and have asked employers to lay them off so they can collect unemployment. While some employees who have been mandated to take unpaid leave – and were not laid off during the pandemic- can still qualify for unemployment benefits, unemployment eligibility requires that an employer offered zero hours for an employee to work. When asked whether the company would consider firing or laying off partners so they could apply for unemployment benefits, Borges told Business Insider the company would consider doing so. None of the Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said this was presented as a possibility. “I think we’re working with every single partner who has issues and concerns and we will find different ways to support them,” Borges said. “In no way, shape, or form are we saying we aren’t going to let a partner go if that partner doesn’t want to work. We want to do what’s best for those partners and want to explore all the options that work best for them.” He added: “Whatever that partner wants to do. We want to explore any or all of the options.” Veronica said she was told by her manager she was ineligible for unemployment while on her 30-day leave from the company. “It’s unpaid leave, and because it’s voluntary I do not qualify for any unemployment,” Veronica said. “When I talked to my district manager, he said that the company is not laying people off because they are allowing people back to work, so they don’t have a reason to lay people off. But that leaves me still having to contribute to my household – to feed everyone – and I still have bills that aren’t stopping. I don’t have an income.” Krug agreed that termination from Starbucks could help her collect unemployment benefits and protect her grandmother, but she doesn’t think it’s likely. “It takes pretty extreme situations to be fired [from Starbucks], and I have never heard of anyone being laid off,” she said. “I’m going to be forced to quit at that point, and I don’t believe that I will be able to get unemployment at that point either.” Kevin Martin, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks store in New Hampshire told Business Insider he felt the company’s messaging to employees has been unclear. “I think it’s just requiring us to put our lives in danger for something as silly as just coffee, and the people who create these rules have the luxury of being able to work from home and not be in close proximity of hundreds of people a day,” he told Business Insider. “Usually, we find out pretty last minute regarding new policies, and especially in a time like this, you’d think they’d be giving us much more consistent updates,” said Martin, who says he’s worked with the company for over two years. Borges stressed that Starbucks let partners know it was expecting them to return to work and was ending catastrophe pay on April 16 – nearly two weeks before they would be expected to return. “Some of my coworkers have told me they are hesitantly going back because they really don’t want to, but they needed the benefits provided by Starbucks,” Martin said, adding that he believed was “privileged” to be able to make the decision to remain on unpaid leave from the company. He added: “It’s tough because I know other people I work with are going to be seriously affected and would hate to see something happen to any of them or their family members because they’re now being forced to be exposed to the general public.” Krug agreed the response from the company to the pandemic had been a bit puzzling. “It’s been very confusing and I do feel like the statement the company put out at first was kind and reassuring, but I think it just helped them save face because eventually, it was just like ‘well, get back to work or don’t eat.'” “We’ve all been home for a month,” a barista who works at a Starbucks location in Vermont and asked to remain anonymous in fear of “definitely put a target on my back,” told Business Insider. “It’s not that we don’t want to work. There’s a huge population of Starbucks workers who are getting a little stir crazy – who want something to do. None of my coworkers are like ‘we don’t want to work.’ We want to work. We don’t want to just be opening because our company is just trying to turn a profit, which it does feel like that.” Most of the workers at her store signed a letter addressed to their district and store manager saying they would not return to work on May 6, which was the planned re-opening date for their location. They said they would not consider returning to work until at least May 15, when the stay-at-home order in Vermont is lifted. On Saturday, the US faced its single deadliest day so far amid the pandemic, as businesses including Starbucks begin to re-open stores and states across the country relax stay-at-home orders, even as death tolls continue to rise from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Currently, Starbucks plans to phase out catastrophe pay in June when the company expects to “return to [its] normal operations, pay, and benefits,” according to Williams’ April 16 letter. “Service Pay,” which gives a temporary $3 an hour raise to Starbucks partners who work during the pandemic, will also end in June. Krug doesn’t know if she will feel safe enough to return to work after her leave ends. “I do feel like I made the right decision to protect my nana, and I’m glad the company was there to support me with that at first, but now, unless some kind of miracle happens within the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be losing my job.”
3 May 22:05 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/starbucks-workers-afraid-to-work-will-go-without-pay-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they’d rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can’t
Starbucks on Sunday ended catastrophe pay for most of its workers and begin to re-open stores it had closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said they fear it’s too soon for Starbucks to ask its workforce to return to stores and end catastrophe pay for workers who feel unsafe going back to work. As Business Insider previously reported, the company plans to open 90% of its stores by June 1. Most locations will not allow customers inside, with customers picking up their orders at the door, at drive-thrus, or via delivery. The locations that allow customers inside will remove all furniture and mandate customers to practice social distancing while picking up their orders, the company said. On March 20, the company announced locations without drive-thrus would temporarily close. At the time, Starbucks began offering “catastrophe pay,” which allowed employees – called “partners” – unable or unwilling to work to continue receiving their pay and benefits during the pandemic. While catastrophe pay ended for most employees Sunday, it continues to be available to certain Starbucks workers, including those who test positive for COVID-19, “those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients,” according to a letter written by Rossann Williams, the company’s North American president. Williams said the company would similarly provide catastrophe pay throughout the month of May for employees “navigating childcare challenges.” “There will be some partners who just aren’t ready to return to a service role,” Williams wrote in the April 16 letter to partners. “So, we must show our genuine empathy for those who need to make the personal decision to leave Starbucks. We will always be grateful for their service to our company and we will support them the best way we can as they make personal decisions to care for themselves.” Ashley Krug, a Starbucks barista who works at a store in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, told Business Insider her Starbucks location closed not long after catastrophe pay was instituted because most of her coworkers felt unsafe continuing to work amid the pandemic – even after her cafe transitioned to drive-thru only. Her location is re-opening on Monday, she told Insider. Krug, 27, said she’s the primary caretaker for her 75-year-old grandmother – “nana” – who has stage four Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an obstruction of airflow into her lungs. COPD also puts her grandmother at high risk for the most severe symptoms of the highly contagious disease, including death. “This is the only place I have to stay,” Krug told Business Insider of the home she shares with her grandmother, adding that she feels “even bumping elbows with my coworkers” would put her “vulnerable” grandmother at risk if she returned to work. “No matter how much I showered or how much I bleached, when I came home, I couldn’t escape that inevitable feeling that I could have been exposed to someone,” she added of the final days she worked at her Starbucks store in March. A spokesperson for the company, Reggie Borges, told Business Insider, “Partner and customer health and safety are our top priorities.” “So if at any moment there’s a situation where we don’t feel like we can manage that, we’ll close the stores,” he said. Borges pointed to a series of changes in Starbucks stores as part of its “modify and adapt” plan to re-open closed company-owned Starbucks locations, and keep its workers and customers safe. Modifications include mandated facial coverings for partners, installed plexiglass at drive-thru windows, and “wellness checks” for employees before every shift. While Borges stressed the company was keeping lobbies at all company-owned locations closed to protect its partners and customers, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said Sunday in an interview with Yahoo News it would consider opening cafes to “limited seating” in “communities where we see the number of COVID cases continue to decline.” Borges told Business Insider Sunday that Johnson was speaking about decisions that could be made “down the road” and said all lobbies would remain closed for the time being. Despite changes implemented by the company to protect workers and customers amid its re-opening, Krug said she doesn’t know if she’d be able to shake anxieties that she could infect her grandmother if she returned to work. Krug said her manager told her she would not qualify for continued catastrophe pay after May 3 if she chose not to return to work, despite living with someone who the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. She was told the best the company could offer her was a 30-day unpaid leave, protecting her employment with the company should she decide she’s comfortable to return to work in June. She’s not sure she will be. “That’s great because that gives me job security, but what if the situation hasn’t cleared, and I’m not comfortable or able to do that?” Krug said. Veronica, 21, who works at a Starbucks location in California and asked only her first name be used out of fear of “retaliation,” told Business Insider she moved back into her family home at the start of the pandemic under one condition from her family: she had to stop leaving the house, which included going to work at Starbucks. While Veronica said she initially understood the company’s decision to require her to return to work, she disagreed with Starbucks’ decision to end catastrophe pay when her county became one of a handful in California to extend a stay-at-home order through the end of May. Veronica, who lives with her father, stepmom, her grandmother, and two younger siblings, said she told her manager she “would not be able to return to work until my county lifted the shelter-in-place.” “I was still scheduled for work even though the shelter-in-place had not been lifted. I let her know that I wouldn’t be able to return to work, and she told me there would be no way I could qualify for catastrophe pay unless I was homeschooling a child, or unless I lived in a house with a healthcare worker that was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients,” Veronica told Business Insider. Like Krug, Veronica said she was told her best bet was the 30-day leave from the company. Her store manager also recommended she apply for the Starbucks CUP Fund, an employee-funded program that offers grants to Starbucks partners in need, she said. The maximum amount currently awarded through this program is $500 – a payout far less than the money she’d typically earn during a month working at her cafe, she noted. Veronica said her manager had initially proposed she use either sick or vacation leave to remain at home if she was uncomfortable going into work, though, she said, her manager later told her she wouldn’t be able to use her sick paid leave to stay home – a contradiction to what employees had been told via letter last month. Starbucks employees who remain uncomfortable working at a cafe after May 3 “will have the option to utilize their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates),” read the letter from the Starbucks’ North American president. “I would rather be able to collect unemployment and comply with and protect the needs of my family,” Veronica said. As Business Insider previously reported, some people are earning more while collecting unemployment – the result of a temporary federal $600 weekly boost set to expire in July – than they were at their jobs. Meanwhile, others who are currently employed during the pandemic have argued the system is unfair and have asked employers to lay them off so they can collect unemployment. While some employees who have been mandated to take unpaid leave – and were not laid off during the pandemic- can still qualify for unemployment benefits, unemployment eligibility requires that an employer offered zero hours for an employee to work. When asked whether the company would consider firing or laying off partners so they could apply for unemployment benefits, Borges told Business Insider the company would consider doing so. None of the Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said this was presented as a possibility. “I think we’re working with every single partner who has issues and concerns and we will find different ways to support them,” Borges said. “In no way, shape, or form are we saying we aren’t going to let a partner go if that partner doesn’t want to work. We want to do what’s best for those partners and want to explore all the options that work best for them.” He added: “Whatever that partner wants to do. We want to explore any or all of the options.” Veronica said she was told by her manager she was ineligible for unemployment while on her 30-day leave from the company. “It’s unpaid leave, and because it’s voluntary I do not qualify for any unemployment,” Veronica said. “When I talked to my district manager, he said that the company is not laying people off because they are allowing people back to work, so they don’t have a reason to lay people off. But that leaves me still having to contribute to my household – to feed everyone – and I still have bills that aren’t stopping. I don’t have an income.” Krug agreed that termination from Starbucks could help her collect unemployment benefits and protect her grandmother, but she doesn’t think it’s likely. “It takes pretty extreme situations to be fired [from Starbucks], and I have never heard of anyone being laid off,” she said. “I’m going to be forced to quit at that point, and I don’t believe that I will be able to get unemployment at that point either.” Kevin Martin, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks store in New Hampshire told Business Insider he felt the company’s messaging to employees has been unclear. “I think it’s just requiring us to put our lives in danger for something as silly as just coffee, and the people who create these rules have the luxury of being able to work from home and not be in close proximity of hundreds of people a day,” he told Business Insider. “Usually, we find out pretty last minute regarding new policies, and especially in a time like this, you’d think they’d be giving us much more consistent updates,” said Martin, who says he’s worked with the company for over two years. Borges stressed that Starbucks let partners know it was expecting them to return to work and was ending catastrophe pay on April 16 – nearly two weeks before they would be expected to return. “Some of my coworkers have told me they are hesitantly going back because they really don’t want to, but they needed the benefits provided by Starbucks,” Martin said, adding that he believed was “privileged” to be able to make the decision to remain on unpaid leave from the company. He added: “It’s tough because I know other people I work with are going to be seriously affected and would hate to see something happen to any of them or their family members because they’re now being forced to be exposed to the general public.” Krug agreed the response from the company to the pandemic had been a bit puzzling. “It’s been very confusing and I do feel like the statement the company put out at first was kind and reassuring, but I think it just helped them save face because eventually, it was just like ‘well, get back to work or don’t eat.'” “We’ve all been home for a month,” a barista who works at a Starbucks location in Vermont and asked to remain anonymous in fear of “definitely put a target on my back,” told Business Insider. “It’s not that we don’t want to work. There’s a huge population of Starbucks workers who are getting a little stir crazy – who want something to do. None of my coworkers are like ‘we don’t want to work.’ We want to work. We don’t want to just be opening because our company is just trying to turn a profit, which it does feel like that.” Most of the workers at her store signed a letter addressed to their district and store manager saying they would not return to work on May 6, which was the planned re-opening date for their location. They said they would not consider returning to work until at least May 15, when the stay-at-home order in Vermont is lifted. On Saturday, the US faced its single deadliest day so far amid the pandemic, as businesses including Starbucks begin to re-open stores and states across the country relax stay-at-home orders, even as death tolls continue to rise from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Currently, Starbucks plans to phase out catastrophe pay in June when the company expects to “return to [its] normal operations, pay, and benefits,” according to Williams’ April 16 letter. “Service Pay,” which gives a temporary $3 an hour raise to Starbucks partners who work during the pandemic, will also end in June. Krug doesn’t know if she will feel safe enough to return to work after her leave ends. “I do feel like I made the right decision to protect my nana, and I’m glad the company was there to support me with that at first, but now, unless some kind of miracle happens within the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be losing my job.”
3 May 19:46 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/starbucks-workers-afraid-to-work-will-go-without-pay-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Starbucks stores are reopening, but fearful employees say they'd rather collect unemployment than risk their health returning to work — except they can't, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Starbucks on Sunday ended catastrophe pay for most of its workers and begin to re-open stores it had closed in March due to the COVID-19 pandemic. But Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said they fear it’s too soon for Starbucks to ask its workforce to return to stores and end catastrophe pay for workers who feel unsafe going back to work. As Business Insider previously reported, the company plans to open 90% of its stores by June 1. Most locations will not allow customers inside, with customers picking up their orders at the door, at drive-thrus, or via delivery. The locations that allow customers inside will remove all furniture and mandate customers to practice social distancing while picking up their orders, the company said. On March 20, the company announced locations without drive-thrus would temporarily close. At the time, Starbucks began offering “catastrophe pay,” which allowed employees – called “partners” – unable or unwilling to work to continue receiving their pay and benefits during the pandemic. While catastrophe pay ended for most employees Sunday, it continues to be available to certain Starbucks workers, including those who test positive for COVID-19, “those partners whom the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19, or partners who live with a health care worker who works with COVID-19 patients,” according to a letter written by Rossann Williams, the company’s North American president. Williams said the company would similarly provide catastrophe pay throughout the month of May for employees “navigating childcare challenges.” “There will be some partners who just aren’t ready to return to a service role,” Williams wrote in the April 16 letter to partners. “So, we must show our genuine empathy for those who need to make the personal decision to leave Starbucks. We will always be grateful for their service to our company and we will support them the best way we can as they make personal decisions to care for themselves.” Ashley Krug, a Starbucks barista who works at a store in a suburb of Cleveland, Ohio, told Business Insider her Starbucks location closed not long after catastrophe pay was instituted because most of her coworkers felt unsafe continuing to work amid the pandemic – even after her cafe transitioned to drive-thru only. Her location is re-opening on Monday, she told Insider. Krug, 27, said she’s the primary caretaker for her 75-year-old grandmother – “nana” – who has stage four Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), which causes an obstruction of airflow into her lungs. COPD also puts her grandmother at high risk for the most severe symptoms of the highly contagious disease, including death. “This is the only place I have to stay,” Krug told Business Insider of the home she shares with her grandmother, adding that she feels “even bumping elbows with my coworkers” would put her “vulnerable” grandmother at risk if she returned to work. “No matter how much I showered or how much I bleached, when I came home, I couldn’t escape that inevitable feeling that I could have been exposed to someone,” she added of the final days she worked at her Starbucks store in March. A spokesperson for the company, Reggie Borges, told Business Insider, “Partner and customer health and safety are our top priorities.” “So if at any moment there’s a situation where we don’t feel like we can manage that, we’ll close the stores,” he said. Borges pointed to a series of changes in Starbucks stores as part of its “modify and adapt” plan to re-open closed company-owned Starbucks locations, and keep its workers and customers safe. Modifications include mandated facial coverings for partners, installed plexiglass at drive-thru windows, and “wellness checks” for employees before every shift. While Borges stressed the company was keeping lobbies at all company-owned locations closed to protect its partners and customers, Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson said Sunday in an interview with Yahoo News it would consider opening cafes to “limited seating” in “communities where we see the number of COVID cases continue to decline.” Borges told Business Insider Sunday that Johnson was speaking about decisions that could be made “down the road” and said all lobbies would remain closed for the time being. Despite changes implemented by the company to protect workers and customers amid its re-opening, Krug said she doesn’t know if she’d be able to shake anxieties that she could infect her grandmother if she returned to work. Krug said her manager told her she would not qualify for continued catastrophe pay after May 3 if she chose not to return to work, despite living with someone who the CDC has identified as at higher risk for severe illness from COVID-19. She was told the best the company could offer her was a 30-day unpaid leave, protecting her employment with the company should she decide she’s comfortable to return to work in June. She’s not sure she will be. “That’s great because that gives me job security, but what if the situation hasn’t cleared, and I’m not comfortable or able to do that?” Krug said. Veronica, 21, who works at a Starbucks location in California and asked only her first name be used out of fear of “retaliation,” told Business Insider she moved back into her family home at the start of the pandemic under one condition from her family: she had to stop leaving the house, which included going to work at Starbucks. While Veronica said she initially understood the company’s decision to require her to return to work, she disagreed with Starbucks’ decision to end catastrophe pay when her county became one of a handful in California to extend a stay-at-home order through the end of May. Veronica, who lives with her father, stepmom, her grandmother, and two younger siblings, said she told her manager she “would not be able to return to work until my county lifted the shelter-in-place.” “I was still scheduled for work even though the shelter-in-place had not been lifted. I let her know that I wouldn’t be able to return to work, and she told me there would be no way I could qualify for catastrophe pay unless I was homeschooling a child, or unless I lived in a house with a healthcare worker that was in direct contact with COVID-19 patients,” Veronica told Business Insider. Like Krug, Veronica said she was told her best bet was the 30-day leave from the company. Her store manager also recommended she apply for the Starbucks CUP Fund, an employee-funded program that offers grants to Starbucks partners in need, she said. The maximum amount currently awarded through this program is $500 – a payout far less than the money she’d typically earn during a month working at her cafe, she noted. Veronica said her manager had initially proposed she use either sick or vacation leave to remain at home if she was uncomfortable going into work, though, she said, her manager later told her she wouldn’t be able to use her sick paid leave to stay home – a contradiction to what employees had been told via letter last month. Starbucks employees who remain uncomfortable working at a cafe after May 3 “will have the option to utilize their remaining vacation or sick leave, apply for unpaid leave, or evaluate eligibility for assistance based on the CARES Act (or any state mandates),” read the letter from the Starbucks’ North American president. “I would rather be able to collect unemployment and comply with and protect the needs of my family,” Veronica said. As Business Insider previously reported, some people are earning more while collecting unemployment – the result of a temporary federal $600 weekly boost set to expire in July – than they were at their jobs. Meanwhile, others who are currently employed during the pandemic have argued the system is unfair and have asked employers to lay them off so they can collect unemployment. While some employees who have been mandated to take unpaid leave – and were not laid off during the pandemic- can still qualify for unemployment benefits, unemployment eligibility requires that an employer offered zero hours for an employee to work. When asked whether the company would consider firing or laying off partners so they could apply for unemployment benefits, Borges told Business Insider the company would consider doing so. None of the Starbucks employees who spoke with Business Insider said this was presented as a possibility. “I think we’re working with every single partner who has issues and concerns and we will find different ways to support them,” Borges said. “In no way, shape, or form are we saying we aren’t going to let a partner go if that partner doesn’t want to work. We want to do what’s best for those partners and want to explore all the options that work best for them.” He added: “Whatever that partner wants to do. We want to explore any or all of the options.” Veronica said she was told by her manager she was ineligible for unemployment while on her 30-day leave from the company. “It’s unpaid leave, and because it’s voluntary I do not qualify for any unemployment,” Veronica said. “When I talked to my district manager, he said that the company is not laying people off because they are allowing people back to work, so they don’t have a reason to lay people off. But that leaves me still having to contribute to my household – to feed everyone – and I still have bills that aren’t stopping. I don’t have an income.” Krug agreed that termination from Starbucks could help her collect unemployment benefits and protect her grandmother, but she doesn’t think it’s likely. “It takes pretty extreme situations to be fired [from Starbucks], and I have never heard of anyone being laid off,” she said. “I’m going to be forced to quit at that point, and I don’t believe that I will be able to get unemployment at that point either.” Kevin Martin, a shift supervisor at a Starbucks store in New Hampshire told Business Insider he felt the company’s messaging to employees has been unclear. “I think it’s just requiring us to put our lives in danger for something as silly as just coffee, and the people who create these rules have the luxury of being able to work from home and not be in close proximity of hundreds of people a day,” he told Business Insider. “Usually, we find out pretty last minute regarding new policies, and especially in a time like this, you’d think they’d be giving us much more consistent updates,” said Martin, who says he’s worked with the company for over two years. Borges stressed that Starbucks let partners know it was expecting them to return to work and was ending catastrophe pay on April 16 – nearly two weeks before they would be expected to return. “Some of my coworkers have told me they are hesitantly going back because they really don’t want to, but they needed the benefits provided by Starbucks,” Martin said, adding that he believed was “privileged” to be able to make the decision to remain on unpaid leave from the company. He added: “It’s tough because I know other people I work with are going to be seriously affected and would hate to see something happen to any of them or their family members because they’re now being forced to be exposed to the general public.” Krug agreed the response from the company to the pandemic had been a bit puzzling. “It’s been very confusing and I do feel like the statement the company put out at first was kind and reassuring, but I think it just helped them save face because eventually, it was just like ‘well, get back to work or don’t eat.'” “We’ve all been home for a month,” a barista who works at a Starbucks location in Vermont and asked to remain anonymous in fear of “definitely put a target on my back,” told Business Insider. “It’s not that we don’t want to work. There’s a huge population of Starbucks workers who are getting a little stir crazy – who want something to do. None of my coworkers are like ‘we don’t want to work.’ We want to work. We don’t want to just be opening because our company is just trying to turn a profit, which it does feel like that.” Most of the workers at her store signed a letter addressed to their district and store manager saying they would not return to work on May 6, which was the planned re-opening date for their location. They said they would not consider returning to work until at least May 15, when the stay-at-home order in Vermont is lifted. On Saturday, the US faced its single deadliest day so far amid the pandemic, as businesses including Starbucks begin to re-open stores and states across the country relax stay-at-home orders, even as death tolls continue to rise from the disease caused by the novel coronavirus. Currently, Starbucks plans to phase out catastrophe pay in June when the company expects to “return to [its] normal operations, pay, and benefits,” according to Williams’ April 16 letter. “Service Pay,” which gives a temporary $3 an hour raise to Starbucks partners who work during the pandemic, will also end in June. Krug doesn’t know if she will feel safe enough to return to work after her leave ends. “I do feel like I made the right decision to protect my nana, and I’m glad the company was there to support me with that at first, but now, unless some kind of miracle happens within the next couple of weeks, I’m going to be losing my job.”
3 May 19:46 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/starbucks-workers-afraid-to-work-will-go-without-pay-2020-5Rating: 0.30
CMCO: McDonald’s to uphold dine-in ban, continue delivery and drive-thru services
KUALA LUMPUR, May 3 — McDonald’s Malaysia has banned dine-ins in all of its outlets nationwide, despite a government announcement permitting eat-ins at all eateries beginning tomorrow. In a statement on its website, the popular fast-food chain said that the decision was made taking into concern the safety of its patrons. “Keeping dine-in closed, to keep you safe. “Only McDelivery, drive-thru, and takeaway available. Till 10PM. For now,” the notice said. In his Labour Day address, Prime Minister Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin announced that almost all economic sectors can reopen tomorrow, subject to strict conditions. He then used the example of Pak Salleh, to illustrate how the new normal for businesses should look like. Muhyiddin said restaurant owners must make sure there is at least a two-metre distance between tables. This, he said, is important, so staff can move around freely. “Pak Salleh must also place a notice on each table restricting the number of customers per table. If it’s a small table maybe limit to one person and for the bigger ones maybe three to four people. “Then he must make a line of at least one metre apart at the pay counter to make sure customers keep their distance. Provide ample hand sanitisers and soap at the hand wash areas and buy disinfectants for the tables. “Once the customer leaves, the staff must immediately clean the tables,” said Muhyiddin. Apart from that, Muhyiddin said Pak Salleh and his staff must wear face masks at all times. He said the employers must provide these face masks for their staff. He also insisted on temperature checks on customers before they are allowed to enter the premises. He said that restaurants must also jot down the names and phone numbers of all customers who visit them. “They must take note of the time and date the customers come in. This is very important as in case there is a positive case involving one of the customers we can trace the other customers who were there at the same time,” said Muhyiddin.
3 May 07:29 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/03/cmco-mcdonalds-to-uphold-dine-in-ban-continue-delivery-and-drive-thru-s/1862584Rating: 1.42
McDonald's release details of limited menu available when stores reopen next week
McDonald’s may once again be on offer across parts of Scotland after the fast food giant announced it will be opening 15 stores UK wide later this month. A statement on Friday confirmed the chain is set to open to stores on May 13, but locations are still to be confirmed next week. It comes after bosses said they were carrying out 'operational tests' to ensure the safety of staff and customers whilst the coronavirus pandemic continues. Now McDonald's have released details of the limited menu which will be on offer at the 15 stores. Similar plans have also been unveiled at other restaurants including TGI Friday’s, Burger King and KFC with some sites opening for deliveries. Paul Pomroy, McDonald’s chief executive officer for the UK and Ireland, said: “When we return it will be different as we all adjust to this new normal. “I want to apologise in advance if our first wave of reopened restaurants does not serve your area. “Rest assured, we are working hard to reopen more restaurants, but I am adamant this must be at the right pace with the wellbeing of our employees, suppliers and customers front of mind. “Slowly, but safely, we will return to towns and cities across the UK and Ireland, and thank you for your continued support as we work through this crisis.” McDonald’s have also confirmed what will be on the menu when stores reopen – but sadly some favourite products are missing. The following items will be on McDonald's limited menu when stores reopen: Big Mac Quarter Pounder With Cheese McChicken Sandwich Hamburger Cheeseburger Double Cheeseburger Chicken McNuggets Chicken Selects 20 McNugget Sharebox Fliet-O-Fish McDonald's Fries Mozzarella Dippers Apple and Grape Fruit Bag Maltesers McFlurry Smarties McFlurry Oreo McFlurry Buxton Mineral Water (still) Coca-Cola Classic Diet Coke Sprite Zero Fanta Orange Oasis Coca-Cola Zero Tropicana Orange Juice Robinsons Fruit Shoot Flat White Tea Regular Espresso Latte Cappucino Black Coffee White Coffee Amongst the missing items are milkshakes, Chicken Legends, and most notably, Maccies breakfast. Manchester Evening News reported how some of the missing menu favourites had left fans devastated. One said: "No double quarter pounder with cheese? This breaks my heart, @McDonaldsUK. Breaks it big time!" "No Milkshakes ?? The very foundation of what Croc built the business on - SHAKES!" exclaimed another upset shopper. Somebody else added: "No mac muffin? that's all I wanted." If you’re after a Chicken Legend meal with a milkshake you could be in for a long wait.
2 May 21:37 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/mcdonalds-release-details-limited-menu-21964931Rating: 0.35
Rakuten launches takeout support service for restaurants
TOKYO — Rakuten Inc says it will launch a new takeout support service, Rakuten Realtime Takeout, on May 7. The service makes it possible for customers to pre-order and pay for products from restaurants, cafes and other eateries. Rakuten is accepting applications to introduce this service from business customers nationwide. In response to the spread of COVID-19, initial fees and monthly usage fees for this service will be made free of charge for a limited time, until Oct 31 (excluding credit card transaction and related fees.) Rakuten Realtime Takeout enables users to select products available for takeout from eateries in their neighborhoods via their smartphone or computer website, and complete pre-order and payment using their Rakuten ID, making it possible to pick up orders in real time without waiting inside the restaurant. Users will also be able to earn Rakuten Points according to the purchase amount and use earned points when paying. For the launch, this service will be available at 187 eateries in Tokyo located near Shibuya Station and Gotanda Station, with plans to expand to eateries nationwide. The restaurant industry has experienced a marked increase in demand for eateries to provide takeout services due to the COVID-19 pandemic. In response to this new societal need, Rakuten will also lend smartphones for registering products and managing orders free of charge to interested business owners starting in mid-May. Based on the financial condition of the restaurant, Rakuten will also provide the revenue earned via Rakuten Realtime Takeout to the business as early as the week following the customer transaction. © Japan Today
2 May 21:00 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/business/rakuten-launches-takeout-support-service-for-restaurantsRating: 2.09
Homebase reopening all 164 stores tomorrow with strict social distancing measures
Homebase is reopening all its outlets from tomorrow with strict social distancing measures in place. The DIY retail business will open the shutters on all 164 of its stores across the country after they were closed in March. While Homebase is considered an "essential retailer" and therefore could have stayed open, the decision was made to shut to protect staff. Last week Homebase opened 20 stores as a trial, with 50 following on Wednesday once that had proved succesful. From tomorrow all Homebases will be back up and running. Chief executive, Damian McGloughlin, said a lot of hard work had gone in to ensure it could “safely welcome customers back through our doors”. Some key services will not be offered such as kitchen design appointments and key cutting. The reserve and collect services, as well as carpet cleaner hire, will also not be running. Homebase opens at 10am on Sunday and closes at 4pm. On weekdays and Saturdays it stays open for an hour longer. Homebase is not the only DIY store which is welcoming customers back inside. B&Q has fully reopened all 288 of its retail stores The company has gradually opened the doors of its sites across the country, with its final two outlets reopening on Thursday. In the world of food plenty of shops are planning their return. Pret a Manger has reopened 30 outlets for deliver only while Nandos, Burger King, KFC and Wagamama are all lifting the shutters.
2 May 11:24 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/homebase-reopening-164-stores-tomorrow-21962372Rating: 2.39
Loto-Quebec to reopen some retail lottery sale terminals beginning Monday
MONTREAL — Quebec's lottery corporation says it will begin reopening some lottery terminals on Monday after shutting them down due to fears surrounding the novel coronavirus. Loto-Quebec announced on March 20 that it would suspend sales of lottery products at retailers and in kiosks and disconnected its network of sales terminals, moving sales online only. In a statement, the Crown corporation says it will reopen sales terminals and resume lottery ticket sales at retailers that have an outdoor entrance beginning Monday. Sales at retailers inside shopping centres — including kiosks — remain suspended until further notice. The province has announced a gradual opening of retail stores, but malls remain closed. Quebec aims to open retail stores outside Montreal by Montreal while those in the greater Montreal region are to reopen May 11. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 2, 2020. The Canadian Press
2 May 16:19 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/around-ontario/loto-quebec-to-reopen-some-retail-lottery-sale-terminals-beginning-monday-2319329Rating: 0.30
McDonald's to reopen 15 outlets in UK this month, fast food fans relieved
REUTERS: McDonald's said it would reopen 15 restaurants in the United Kingdom this month, only for delivery, leaving some fast food fans cheering. The company said it would announce the locations of the restaurants next week, with plans to open them on May 13. The new restaurants will employ stringent social distancing measures, including having perspex screens and floor markings to separate employees working in close quarters and temperature tests on arrival, McDonald's Chief Executive Officer for UK and Ireland, Paul Pomroy said in a statement. The restaurants will have a limited menu and would not be serving its popular breakfast items to reduce complexities that arise in kitchens on changing menus from breakfast to lunch. "When we return it will be different as we all adjust to this new normal," Pomroy said, adding that the company was working hard towards opening more restaurants but at the "right pace" with the wellbeing of employees, suppliers and customers being front of mind. The news comes just three days after the world's largest restaurant chain denied a report that it would reopen some outlets in May, but confirmed that it was testing out a new restaurant model where social distancing measures were properly enforced. It also follows moves by rivals such as KFC, Burger King and Pret-a-Manger, which reopened some locations for delivery in late-April. However, on Thursday, bakery chain Greggs reversed its decision to reopen about 20 outlets after it stoked a social media frenzy, which led to fears of overcrowding. McDonald's UK restaurants closed on Mar 24, with social media rife with images of long snaking lines of people queuing outside of restaurants trying to score their last Big Mac ahead of a three-week lockdown, that has since been extended. On Friday, McDonald's UK's tweet about the reopening had already garnered nearly 2,000 likes, with users anxious to know if their neighbourhood outlet would be one of the 15 reopening. "How do we know which ones are opening?", Twitter user Joanne of Birmingham, UK asked, while there were several other questions related to the opening locations in London. Though some were disappointed that the limited offering didn't offer breakfast items, some were happy that they were just reopening. "(It's) Better than nothing, don't moan about it," Twitter user Claire Willicombe (@bearthegooner) tweeted in response.
2 May 00:35 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/mcdonald-s-to-reopen-15-outlets-in-uk-this-month--fast-food-fans-relieved-12695432Rating: 3.25
McDonald’s Malaysia will not open for dine-in customers on 4th May
McDonald’s has announced that it won’t be accepting dine-in customers despite the government’s recent announcement that restaurants may reopen for dine-in under the new conditional movement control order (CMCO). For now, the fast-food chain is only serving customers via drive-thru, take-away and delivery. According to its Facebook page, McDonald’s is keeping its dine-in areas closed as the safety of Malaysians is still their main priority. However, the good news is that its operating hours is now extended up to 10pm depending on the state. Apart from McDonald’s, homegrown burger chain myBurgerLab has also announced earlier that they are not opening up for dine-in customers this coming Monday. In its Facebook post, the restaurant explained that now is not the right time as the risk is still high despite the implementation of regulations. It added that they are simply not ready yet and they have a duty to take care of their team and its customers. MyBurgerLab is still operating and they are accepting takeaway and deliveries at its restaurants. Under the new CMCO, restaurants are permitted to reopen for dine-in customers starting 4th May as long as it adheres to the standard operating procedures set by the National Security Council. This includes reduced seating per table with social distancing measures and it is also required to record every customer’s details for contact tracing. Restaurant operators are also required to adhere to stringent sanitisation processes. [ SOURCE ]
2 May 16:52 • SoyaCincau.com • https://www.soyacincau.com/2020/05/03/mcdonalds-malaysia-will-not-open-for-dine-in-customers-on-4th-may/?utm_term=Autofeed&utm_medium=Social&utm_source=TwitterRating: 0.59
The restaurants available on Uber Eats right now
From 1 May, restaurants and fast food outlets are allowed to operate in South Africa. Only deliveries are permitted, however, and operating hours are restricted to 09:00 to 19:00. The move to allow restaurants to open is part of the country moving from level 5 to level 4 on the new COVID-19 alert system. These restrictions mean food delivery services like Uber Eats may be in high demand. Many restaurants told MyBroadband they are excited to start operating again and are now open for business. Not all restaurants have been able to open, however, due to their “sit-down” dining model – and their lack of sales from takeaway orders. Restaurants have stated that the national curfew which begins at 20:00 each evening means they would also need to shut down early to clean and allow staff to return home on time – often during peak trading hours. To see which restaurants were open and trading for deliveries, MyBroadband used the Uber Eats app. The app was used between 16:00 and 17:00 today – Saturday, 2 May – with several delivery addresses tested. It must be noted that the tables below only show the restaurants which were trading on Uber Eats in these specific areas between 16:00 and 17:00. The lists are also based on well-known and popular brands. In Cape Town, for example, dozens of restaurants were operating on Uber Eats – but were not included in the list.
2 May 00:00 • MyBroadband • https://mybroadband.co.za/news/trending/350396-the-restaurants-available-on-uber-eats-right-now.htmlRating: 1.91
Which KFC stores have re-opened across the UK?
Chicken fans, rejoice for KFC are planning to re-open branches for delivery. The coronavirus pandemic and resulting lockdown has led to many eateries closing their doors for a time, but KFC previously announced that they will be re-opening the doors of some of their branches. These restaurants will be open for delivery only – to maintain social distancing measures – and with a limited menu. If you want to get your chicken fix, here’s what we know about what branches KFC have said they’re re-opening. At the time of writing, a representative for KFC has confirmed that the following branches have reopened: The eatery has also promised to open a total of 100 of their restaurants by 4 May. Since KFC will be adding to that number, the easiest way to see if a KFC near you is open for business is to check apps like Deliveroo, Just Eat, or Uber Eats. On the subject of re-opening these branches, KFC have said: ‘We’re re-opening our restaurants in a responsible way, with stringent processes and hygiene measures in place. We’ll be serving a limited menu to help the smaller kitchen teams maintain social distancing. ‘Opening these restaurants will mean that we can continue donating food to NHS and key workers – we’ll be delivering 10,000 meals a week from these restaurants in partnership with Deliveroo.’ KFC’s website also states: ‘If you’re not near one of the lucky hundred, never fear – we’re working hard to reopen more over the coming weeks, so we’ll keep you posted.’ Follow Metro across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Share your views in the comments below.
2 May 13:25 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/which-kfc-stores-are-re-opening-across-uk-12639314/Rating: 2.18
Japan's Abe to consult with experts to extend state of emergency until May 31: NHK
3 May 09:26
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6 articles
Weight: 2.57
Importance: 2.82
Age penalty: 0.91
Best date: 3 May 09:26
Average US: 5.9833333333333325
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Weighted average GB: 0.2929601174463502
Average IN: 2.0
Weighted average IN: 3.0152538334527277
Japan's Abe to consult with experts to extend state of emergency until May 31: NHK
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, will consult with experts at a meeting on Monday to extend the national state of emergency until May 31, broadcaster NHK reported on Sunday. The government will also discuss further action on how to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic that has infected 15,589 people and killed 530 in the country. Japan is expected to declare the extension of the state of emergency after the meeting, and Abe will hold a news conference in the evening to address the nation about the pandemic. The current state of emergency is set to expire on Wednesday, the last day of a week-long national holiday. Japan’s economy minister said earlier the country could also ease some of the current coronavirus-related curbs on economic activity by allowing places such as parks and museums to reopen, provided proper preventive measures were in place.
3 May 09:26 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-emergency-ab-idUSKBN22F0C7Rating: 4.04
NHK: Japan’s Abe to consult with experts to extend state of emergency until May 31
TOKYO, May 3 — Japan’s prime minister, Shinzo Abe, will consult with experts at a meeting on Monday to extend the national state of emergency until May 31, broadcaster NHK reported today. The government will also discuss further action on how to prevent the spread of the novel coronavirus epidemic that has infected 15,589 people and killed 530 in the country. Japan is expected to declare the extension of the state of emergency after the meeting, and Abe will hold a news conference in the evening to address the nation about the pandemic. The current state of emergency is set to expire on Wednesday, the last day of a week-long national holiday. Japan’s economy minister said earlier the country could also ease some of the current coronavirus-related curbs on economic activity by allowing places such as parks and museums to reopen, provided proper preventive measures were in place. — Reuters
3 May 09:46 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/nhk-japans-abe-to-consult-with-experts-to-extend-state-of-emergency-until-m/1862622Rating: 1.42
Japan’s Abe to extend national state of emergency
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe plans to extend the national state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak until May 31. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike confirmed in a live-streamed video on Sunday that Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura told her the government will extend the emergency status until the end of the month. Abe on Thursday signaled it would be difficult to lift the emergency on May 6 as originally planned, citing severe conditions in the health-care system. The extension means regional governors, who are largely in favor of keeping the measures, will continue to be empowered to direct businesses to close and to urge private citizens to stay in their homes. The number of new confirmed coronavirus cases in the world’s third-largest economy is on a downward trend, raising hopes that the government measures have had some effect. Experts have warned of the risks of letting the guard down too soon, while limited testing makes it hard to assess the true scale of infections. Japan had about 14,800 Covid-19 cases as of Sunday, the lowest official tally among Group of Seven leading democracies. Tokyo, the nation’s worst-hit region, announced 160 new cases on May 2, compared with a peak of 201 two weeks earlier. More than 4,000 people are infected in the capital. “It would be difficult to return to our previous lives on May 7,” Abe told reporters Thursday. “We need to prepare for something of a protracted battle.” He said he would consult experts about the length of the extension and announce it ahead of time to allow time for preparation. © 2020 Bloomberg L.P.
3 May 11:15 • Moneyweb • https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/international/japans-abe-to-extend-national-state-of-emergency/Rating: 1.42
Gov't to set guidelines on economic restart on Monday
TOKYO — A set of guidelines on how to restart economic activities amid the coronavirus epidemic for certain areas of the country will be made public next week around the time an extension of the current nationwide state of emergency will be decided, a Japanese minister said Saturday. The guidelines will cover areas other than the 13 prefectures that have already been singled out by the government for stepped-up measures against the virus. The 13 are Tokyo, Kanagawa, Saitama, Chiba, Osaka, Hyogo, Fukuoka, Hokkaido, Ibaraki, Ishikawa, Gifu, Aichi and Kyoto. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Friday he will make a final decision Monday on extension of the state of emergency by about a month, following recommendations by a government panel to keep the restrictions in place for a while. The initial state of emergency was declared on Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures on April 7, after which it was expanded on April 16 to cover the rest of the country. The declaration has resulted in business suspensions, and the government has been pushing for a reduction in person-to-person contact and more teleworking. Economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who is in charge of issues related to the state of emergency, spoke about the guidelines during a Saturday teleconference with Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike and Osaka Gov Hirofumi Yoshimura. In a press conference afterward, Nishimura said, "We have to do it for the long stretch," referring to efforts to curb the spread of the pneumonia-causing virus. At the same time, he said reopening economic activities in stages is possible, if the new cases of coronavirus infections are few and there are no problems in the regional health care systems. According to a draft obtained by Kyodo News on the government's basic policy on the virus, while the use of facilities in the 13 prefectures will remain in place, restrictions for the other areas with few infection cases will be eased based on the situation on the ground. It will likely lead some shops to resume operations. The draft on the policy, which will be revised Monday, also says classes will resume in phases, taking into account the situation of infections in the regions. Meanwhile, the government will continue asking the public to avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact with others, and ask people not to go out of their prefectures, according to the draft. Nishimura also urged the various sectors to take the initiative to create their own guidelines based on the government's basic ones. Also on Saturday, the Osaka prefectural government decided at a coronavirus countermeasures task force meeting that it will decide on whether requests for business suspensions and calls to refrain from going out could be eased, based on the number of virus infections in the prefecture as of May 15. On Friday, Yoshimura said he intends to create his prefecture's own guidelines that could help businesses to restart. © KYODO
2 May 21:32 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/politics/Gov%27t-to-set-guidelines-on-economic-restart-on-MondayRating: 2.09
Japan to release plans on Monday for restarting economy hit by Covid-19
Japan will release details on Monday of its plan to restart economic activity hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Saturday. The 34 prefectures that aren’t designated as “special alert” will see a partial easing of restriction requests once the spread of the virus comes under better control, Nishimura said in a video conference with the governors of Tokyo and Osaka. The 13 prefectures that do have that status can expect a more concrete explanation on Monday, he said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday he is leaning toward extending the country’s national virus emergency into June with a final decision on any such move likely on Monday. Japan has 14,305 confirmed coronavirus cases and 455 deaths from the disease, far below levels seen in the US and parts of Europe. The country’s state of emergency, which enables regional governors to instruct businesses to close down and ask people to stay at home as far as possible, was initially set to end May 6. ALSO READ: UK to publish work plans once curbs are lifted as firms press for support Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura asked Nishimura for the national government to swiftly put support measures into law, including assistance for businesses’ rent payments. They also asked that regional administrations be given more power to seek cooperation on responding to the pandemic. Nishimura said Saturday that the government has begun the process for getting special approval for the antiviral drug Remdesivir. Health Minister Katsunobu Kato said in a separate briefing that related ordinances are being revised as part of this process. “I’ve given orders so that the environment is there to enable the drug to be approved in around a week’s time,” Kato told reporters.
2 May 14:41 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/international/japan-to-release-plans-on-monday-for-restarting-economy-hit-by-covid-19-120050200976_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Japan will detail plans on Monday for restarting its economy
Japan will release details on Monday of its plan to restart economic activity hit by the coronavirus pandemic, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said Saturday. The 34 prefectures that aren’t designated as "special alert” will see a partial easing of restriction requests once spread of the virus comes under better control, Nishimura said in a video conference with the governors of Tokyo and Osaka. The 13 prefectures that do have that status can expect a more concrete explanation on Monday, he said. Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said yesterday he is leaning toward extending the country’s national virus emergency into June with a final decision on any such move likely on Monday. Japan has confirmed 14,305 people as infected with the coronavirus and 455 deaths, far below levels seen in the U.S. and parts of Europe. The state of emergency, which enables regional governors to instruct businesses to close down and ask people to stay at home as far as possible, was initially set to end May 6. Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike and Osaka Governor Hirofumi Yoshimura asked Nishimura for the national government to swiftly put support measures into law, including assistance for businesses’ rent payments. They also asked that regional governments be given more power to seek cooperation on responding to the pandemic.
2 May 11:13 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/02/05/2020/Japan-will-detail-plans-on-Monday-for-restarting-its-economyRating: 3.14
US says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
3 May 23:18
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7 articles
Weight: 2.56
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Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 23:18
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Weighted average GB: 0.3524724746407009
Average IN: 5.121428571428571
Weighted average IN: 4.672396225914413
US says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
WASHINGTON, May 4 — US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo yesterday said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fuelling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 245,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. 'History of infecting the world' China denies the claims, and the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the “wide scientific consensus that the Covid-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories.” Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: We'll hold those responsible accountable.” Pressure from demonstrators US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 67,000, and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown today, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators — some carrying weapons — who have rallied against the restrictions. In New York, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. But dozens of New Yorkers were fined for violating social distancing guidelines as they flocked to beaches and parks in balmy weekend weather. 'Rules are not clear' Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy — which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 — is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from today will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day that Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. “On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors,” said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. “On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do.” Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing today, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said yesterday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government's plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus — social distancing and masks in public — and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow — the epicentre of the contagion in Russia — urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. Prepare for 'bad scenarios' European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise €7.5 billion (RM35.35 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for Covid-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. The head of the maker of remdesivir, an anti-viral shown to reduce recovery times in patients, said Sunday it was exporting the drug and making it available in the US through the government. In Asia, South Korea — once the second worst-hit nation on the planet — said yesterday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they “follow disinfection measures.” Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting yesterday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest Covid-19 outbreak. — AFP
3 May 23:18 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/04/us-says-evidence-virus-came-from-china-lab-as-europe-eases-lockdown/1862727Rating: 1.42
US says 'evidence' coronavirus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
WASHINGTON: US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday (May 3) said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 245,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. 'HISTORY OF INFECTING THE WORLD' China denies the claims and even the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the "wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories." Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." PRESSURE FROM DEMONSTRATORS US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centrepiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 67,000, and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators - some armed - who have rallied against the restrictions. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. But dozens of New Yorkers were fined for violating social distancing guidelines as they flocked to beaches and parks in balmy weekend weather. 'RULES ARE NOT CLEAR' Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy - which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on Mar 10 - is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said on Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government's plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public - and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow - the epicenter of the contagion in Russia - urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. PREPARE FOR 'BAD SCENARIOS' European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros (US$8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. The head of the maker of remdesivir, an anti-viral shown to reduce recovery times in patients, said on Sunday it was exporting the drug and making it available in the US through the government. In Asia, South Korea - once the second worst-hit nation on the planet - said on Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 23:50 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/evidence-covid-19-coronavirus-china-lab-europe-eases-lockdown-12698348Rating: 3.25
US says ‘evidence’ virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said “enormous evidence” showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo’s comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China’s management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. Trump, without giving details, said Thursday he had seen evidence the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source, appearing to echo speculation fueled by US right-wing radio commentators about a secret lab. - ‘History of infecting the world’ - China denies the claims and even the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the “wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories.” Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.” - Pressure from demonstrators - US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China’s handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 66,000 and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the restrictions. There are signs the pandemic is slowing in some parts of the United States. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. - ‘Rules are not clear’ - Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy -- which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 -- is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. “On the one hand, we’re super excited for the reopening, we’re already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors,” said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. “On the other hand, it’s disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we’re not sure if just using common sense will do.” Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country’s football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own “roadmap” to ease the lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was “past the peak” of the outbreak. But with health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing restrictions to revive businesses against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicenter of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. - Prepare for ‘bad scenarios’ - European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. In Asia, South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they “follow disinfection measures”. Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen “calmly and gradually”, it should also prepare for “bad scenarios”. burs-pm/txw
3 May 18:31 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-says-evidence-virus-came-from-china-lab-as-europe-eases-lockdown/story-OI5e4IN9aslu5NoJDgWiEP.htmlRating: 0.30
US says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. Trump, without giving details, said Thursday he had seen evidence the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source, appearing to echo speculation fueled by US right-wing radio commentators about a secret lab. China denies the claims and even the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the "wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories." Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 66,000 and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the restrictions. There are signs the pandemic is slowing in some parts of the United States. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy -- which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 -- is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own "roadmap" to ease the lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak. But with health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing restrictions to revive businesses against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicenter of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. - Prepare for 'bad scenarios' - European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. In Asia, South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". burs-pm/txw https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 16:48 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/us-says-evidence-virus-came-from-china-lab-as-europe-eases-lockdown/vpxed0fRating: 0.51
US says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 245,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, claims to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. - 'History of infecting the world' - China denies the claims, and the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made. But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. He did not however present evidence to back up his claim. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories," he said. Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." - Pressure from demonstrators - US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 67,600, with 1,450 recorded over the 24-hours late Sunday. Trump, speaking at a live TV event, promised an early coronavirus vaccine and an "incredible" future for the country as he sought to relaunch his disrupted election campaign. Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other US states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some carrying weapons -- who have rallied against the restrictions. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. But dozens of New Yorkers were fined for violating social distancing guidelines as they flocked to beaches and parks in balmy weekend weather. In Brazil, President Jair Bolsonaro railed against the country's lockdown in a speech to thousands of anti-confinement demonstrators, even as the national death toll rose above 7,000. - 'Rules are not clear' - Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy -- which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 -- is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Starting Monday Italians will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city center were mostly empty on the last day that Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus -- social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicenter of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. - Prepare for 'bad scenarios' - European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. In Asia, South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures." Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. burs/bgs/ch
3 May 16:40 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/us-says-evidence-virus-came-from-china-lab-as-europe-eases-lockdown/article/571138Rating: 0.78
U.S. says 'evidence' virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
WASHINGTON, USA – US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo on Sunday, May 3, said "enormous evidence" showed the new coronavirus originated in a lab in China, further fueling tensions with Beijing over its handling of the outbreak. Pompeo's comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. (READ: Spaniards flock outdoors as European countries ease lockdowns) More than 245,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China's management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. 'History of infecting the world' China denies the claims, and the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the "wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified." But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing "significant" and "enormous" evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. "I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories." Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to "a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk." "President Trump is very clear: we'll hold those responsible accountable." Pressure from demonstrators US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China's handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 67,000, and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators – some carrying weapons – who have rallied against the restrictions. (READ: Armed U.S. protesters enter Michigan capitol to demand lockdown end) In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. But dozens of New Yorkers were fined for violating social distancing guidelines as they flocked to beaches and parks in balmy weekend weather. 'Rules are not clear' Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy – which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 – is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day that Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing Monday, while Slovenia, Poland, and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government said the easing of coronavirus lockdown measures was likely to be gradual, as it announced a further rise in the overall death toll. Prime Minister Boris Johnson was expected to unveil the government's plans in coming days, after announcing the country had passed the peak of the virus. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus – social distancing and masks in public – and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow – the epicenter of the contagion in Russia – urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. Prepare for 'bad scenarios' European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. The head of the maker of remdesivir, an anti-viral shown to reduce recovery times in patients, said Sunday it was exporting the drug and making it available in the US through the government. In Asia, South Korea – once the second worst-hit nation on the planet – said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures." Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons, and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced that mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. – Rappler.com
3 May 23:44 • Rappler • https://www.rappler.com/world/global-affairs/259808-us-evidence-coronavirus-china-lab-europe-eases-lockdownRating: 1.64
US says ‘evidence’ virus came from China lab as Europe eases lockdown
Chinese officials have dismissed speculation the virus first emerged in a lab in Wuhan. AFP/STR Pompeo’s comments came as Europe and parts of the United States prepared to cautiously lift virus lockdowns as signs emerge that the deadly pandemic is ebbing and governments look to restart their battered economies. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. US President Donald Trump, increasingly critical of China’s management of the first outbreak in the city of Wuhan in December, last week claimed to have proof it started in a Chinese laboratory. Scientists believe the virus jumped from animals to humans, after emerging in China, possibly from a market in Wuhan selling exotic animals for meat. Trump, without giving details, said Thursday he had seen evidence the Wuhan Institute of Virology was the source, appearing to echo speculation fueled by US right-wing radio commentators about a secret lab. – ‘History of infecting the world’ – China denies the claims and even the US Director of National Intelligence office has said analysts are still examining the exact origin of the outbreak. Pompeo, a former CIA chief, told the ABC he agreed with a statement from the US intelligence community about the “wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not man-made or genetically modified.” But Pompeo went further than Trump, citing “significant” and “enormous” evidence that the virus originated in a Wuhan lab. “I think the whole world can see now, remember, China has a history of infecting the world and running substandard laboratories.” Pompeo said early Chinese efforts to downplay the coronavirus amounted to “a classic Communist disinformation effort. That created enormous risk.” “President Trump is very clear: we’ll hold those responsible accountable.” – Pressure from demonstrators – US news reports say Trump has tasked US spies to find out more about the origins of the virus, as he makes China’s handling of the pandemic a centerpiece of his campaign for the November presidential election. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world at more 66,000 and Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain, with tens of millions left jobless. Florida is set to ease its lockdown Monday, as other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators — some armed — who have rallied against the restrictions. There are signs the pandemic is slowing in some parts of the United States. In New York, the epicenter of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close as virus cases decline. – ‘Rules are not clear’ – Across the Atlantic, European nations prepared for cautious easing of restrictions. Hard-hit Italy — which reported its lowest daily toll since stay-at-home orders were imposed on March 10 — is set to follow Spain in allowing people outside. Italians from Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion over the rules. Romans were doing aerobics on rooftop terraces and exercising indoors while squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 meters of their homes. “On the one hand, we’re super excited for the reopening, we’re already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors,” said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. “On the other hand, it’s disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we’re not sure if just using common sense will do.” Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths. Elsewhere, Germany will continue its easing Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, an influential German minister said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country’s football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own “roadmap” to ease the lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was “past the peak” of the outbreak. But with health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing restrictions to revive businesses against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus – social distancing and masks in public — and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow — the epicenter of the contagion in Russia — urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. – Prepare for ‘bad scenarios’ – European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. The race is on to find a viable vaccine or treatment with several countries involved in trials. In Asia, South Korea — once the second worst-hit nation on the planet — said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they “follow disinfection measures”. Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts caution that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen “calmly and gradually”, it should also prepare for “bad scenarios”. burs-pm/txw
3 May 20:51 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/news/news-world/2278211/us-says-evidence-virus-came-from-china-lab-as-europe-eases-lockdown/Rating: 1.26
Mother and daughter suffering from COVID-19 warn people to take it seriously
3 May 19:39
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10 articles
Weight: 2.56
Importance: 2.70
Age penalty: 0.95
Best date: 3 May 10:00
Average US: 24.99
Weighted average US: 20.44068543116019
Average GB: 16.53
Weighted average GB: 24.70001934264477
Average IN: 3.94
Weighted average IN: 2.5887921145770676
Mother and daughter suffering from COVID-19 warn people to take it seriously
COLUMBIA, S.C. (WIS) - Elizabeth Ann Sherrill says she doesn’t have time to worry about her bills piling up. She hasn’t been at work for more than three weeks, but she’s barely been able to get out of bed. She has been battling what she describes as the worst sickness of her life -- COVID-19. On Friday, after two full weeks of being sick, she went to the hospital because it became too painful for her to breathe. “I feel like I am going to die with every breath I take,” she said. She said didn’t even take the time to get tested until her 9-year-old daughter came down with a 104-degree fever and they both were tested. Their results came up positive. Sherrill said the hospital told her there was nothing extra they could do for her or her daughter at that time, so they recommended Sherrill manage her and her daughter’s symptoms at home. She said her daughter fears for her own health and her mom’s well-being -- and she’s worried about what she is hearing on the news. “That is the worst feeling a mother can possibly feel,” she said. “It scared the living daylights out of me…this whole thing has been a living nightmare.” It wasn’t long before the 9-year-old’s father got sick too. “Obviously no one wants to bring food to be around us, and I can’t say I blame them,” she said. Sherrill says she is just doing the best she can for now and is praying this goes away quickly. However, when she saw images of people on beaches and heard Gov. Henry McMaster will lift his “stay home or work” order and allow some restaurants to begin outdoor dining, she wanted to make sure people understood how awful this virus can feel for people of all ages. “This is about a hundred times worse than the flu,” she said. “I’m just really scared. This stuff is real. And people that don’t have it, there are quick to say, ‘Oh it’s no big deal, it’s going to go away. People get the flu.’ This is not like the flu. I’m telling you. I have never in my 53 years felt this bad.” She has a pre-existing condition but said she never expected this to happen to her. Anytime she hears people speaking about COVID-19 in a casual tone, she gets angry. “It is not over; I went from feeling better to now I feel totally worse. I feel like I’m on death’s door-knocking right now," she said through heavy breaths. “If you get it, God help you.” As for her own health, she asks only for prayers and for people to listen to her warnings. “It’s not worth going to the beach, it’s not worth going to socialize with your friends," she said. “And those that will get it will be saying the same thing.”
3 May 19:39 • WBTV • https://www.wbtv.com/2020/05/03/mother-daughter-suffering-covid-warn-people-take-it-seriously/Rating: 0.30
Expecting a baby in the middle of a pandemic
The Covid-19 outbreak has exacerbated the fears of expecting mothers. Muireann Davis, whose second baby is due in August, talks to Helen O’Callaghan about how the virus has brought new worries and about how she battled and beat post-natal depression after her first baby. Pregnant and due in August, Muireann Davis was meant to attend ante-natal groups for women who had previously suffered post-natal depression (PND), as she had after the birth of her first child. But the groups aren’t happening now. Covid-19 has seen to that. “I’ll just have to plough on and stay indoors,” says the Limerick-based 33-year-old, whose son, Finn, is 22 months. When Muireann found she was pregnant this time, she wondered if she was in way over her head. “I’m fine now, but at the start I had a feeling of, ‘Oh, God! How am I going to cope? What was I thinking’?” Immediately after Muireann had Finn, in July 2018, she “just wasn’t right”. She and her husband, Luke, had been trying for a baby for two years, but after a traumatic birth that involved a grade-three tear and significant blood loss, Muireann wasn’t feeling the way she’d assumed she would. “I wasn’t feeling utter joy at bringing home my newborn baby. I had wanted him for so long and I couldn’t understand why I wasn’t feeling over the moon,” Muireann says. Instead, she felt she wasn’t bonding with little Finn and she was scared to be on her own with him. “I was just so anxious. I was a wreck, crying all the time. I was good when Luke was there, but when he went back to work, I was so scared. I was worried about keeping Finn alive. What if something happened? Would I be able to manage? Of course, I’m well-able and I was then, too, but my mindset wasn’t the same,” Muireann says, recalling a day when her mother took the baby to give Muireann a chance to sleep. “But I just sat there, crying. I couldn’t switch off. My mind was in overdrive.” Muireann had heard at ante-natal class about watching out for low mood on day three post-birth. “I felt every day was day three for me. My friends with babies said the blues are normal, but that my blues were going on an awful lot of the time,” she says. Thanks to a concerned public health nurse (PHN), who “called over a lot and who could tell I wasn’t right”, and thanks to a free counselling service at the maternity hospital in Limerick to which her GP referred her — she saw a psychiatrist for a year — Muireann was diagnosed with PND and has emerged from its dark tunnel. “I’m much more aware now, so I’d know if things took a turn, and the psychiatrist says I can ring him if I need,” she says. But — as it has for other expecting mothers — Covid-19 has brought worry and uncertainty. “You hear stories about husbands not let into the labour ward. I’m worried this will happen, when I come to have my baby. I dread that I’ll be on my own,” Muireann says. Dr Krysia Lynch, chairperson of the Association for Improvements in the Maternity Services (AIMS), says potential Covid-19 restrictions for who is present during labour/birth are causing anxiety for expecting mothers. “Some hospitals are saying partners can come from the get-go — business as usual. At the other extreme, one unit in Ireland isn’t allowing partners in if the mother’s having a C-section, and for normal delivery partners will be phoned to come in 30 minutes before the birth. And you have everything in between on the spectrum,” Dr Lynch says. Dr Lynch says that the best midwife can’t replace the woman’s partner, the person with whom she has planned this baby. “Her partner has been with her every step of the nine months. This is the person who’s going to be parenting this baby alongside her,” Dr Lynch says. Aside from offering emotional support, partners are also women’s pain-coping mechanism. “In ante-natal class, the partner will have been taught massage techniques, how to keep the mum fed and hydrated, what positions might help her, how to encourage her with her breathing. And, suddenly, now, a woman going into this intense environment doesn’t have that,” Dr Lynch says. If the partner isn’t there to advocate for her, to be the woman’s voice when she’s intensely in labour — about birth approaches they’d decided on pre-labour — there will be a rise in the rate of medical intervention, which won’t be good for mothers or for babies, Dr Lynch says. But Covid-19 is impacting pregnant women in other ways. Concerned for their welfare, most expectant mothers are cocooning. “They’re not going to Tesco or walking in the park,” Dr Lynch says. The hospital — for ante-natal visits — might be the only place they’re going. “They’re going into a hospital environment — where you’d feel anxious anyway — and they know there are germs. “And their partner’s not with them, but waiting outside. Certainly, there’s an element of ante-natal anxiety existing at this Covid-19 time,” Dr Lynch says, adding that research shows a correlation between ante-natal anxiety and PND. “Mums anxious before labour are more likely to be anxious and depressed after the birth.” And the net that would usually catch women afflicted with PND isn’t now as strong as it would have been. “Public health nurses screen every new mum they meet for potential perinatal mental health problems. They’d be indirectly asking: ‘How are you feeling in yourself? How are things going?’ They might knock on the mum’s door, say they were in the area and thought they’d pop in to see how she’s doing. These visits aren’t happening now. Some women are getting one PHN visit, some not even that,” Dr Lynch says. Any woman who has concerns at the ante-natal stage, or if they’ve had a difficult birth experience, should contact support@aimsireland.com. “We will email or phone them back. They will be supported,” Dr Lynch says. Can a spray of your favourite perfume really help us through lockdown? To mark World Maternal Mental Health Day this Wednesday, the BabyDoc Club parenting community has launched #Askheragain. The campaign aims to raise awareness of just how common mental health issues are for women who are pregnant or in the first year of motherhood, also known as the perinatal period. #Askheragain reminds partners/family members/friends/professionals to keep asking a pregnant or new mum how they’re feeling and coping during this uniquely vulnerable time. In a survey of more than 1,800 mothers in BabyDoc Club’s digital parenting community, incidence of maternal mental health struggles surpassed the global average of one in five, with results somewhat elevated due to Covid-19: 55% of mums experienced ‘baby blues’ in first three months of motherhood (low moods occurring about two days after birth, lasting about two weeks) 35% experienced perinatal depression while pregnant/in the first 12 months of motherhood (diagnosed when symptoms persist for more than a month) 39% said their maternal mental wellbeing was never assessed or addressed by medical professionals they met during pregnancy/as a new mum Most common symptoms included: tearful (80%), low mood (79%), feeling overwhelmed/anxious (66%), negative body image (53%), believing they weren’t a good enough mother (51%), sleep difficulties (43%), feeling angry at self/partner/baby (41%). Fifty-five percent found it hard to ask for help, a further 33% blamed themselves for not coping, and 17% felt asking for help was a sign of weakness. Laura Erskine, parenting expert with BabyDoc Club, says depression in the perinatal period mustn’t be underestimated. “It’s up to all of us to talk more about the challenges we face when coping with the emotional, physical, and hormonal changes that becoming a mother involves. From the time a woman becomes pregnant to her child’s first birthday, she is uniquely vulnerable.” BabyDoc Club has partnered with national parenting helpline Parentline during the #Askheragain campaign and encourages people to donate €4 to Parentline — text ‘PARENT’ to 50300. Real-life mum stories are included in an eGuide for #Askheragain campaign this week — free to download at https://www.babydocclub.ie/. Follow BabyDoc Club on www.facebook.com/BabyDocClubIRL/ and www.instagram.com/babydocclubirl/. Wish List: perfect prints and ravishing retro-chic
3 May 16:01 • Irishexaminer • https://www.irishexaminer.com/breakingnews/lifestyle/healthandlife/expecting-a-baby-in-the-middle-of-a-pandemic-997439.htmlRating: 0.69
Pamela McCrory had a zest for life before Covid-19 cut it short
Pamela McCrory was the kind of person who made everyone better just by knowing her. She had a strong work ethic, a giddy laugh and a generous and caring heart. McCrory, 56, died April 18 from Covid-19 after seemingly being on the upswing from the novel coronavirus she came down with two weeks earlier. Things took a turn for the worse that afternoon, and she died early that evening shortly after being taken by ambulance from her South Buffalo home to Mercy Hospital. "The ambulance asked if she wanted to go to the hospital and she said yes," her husband, William, said. "And that was the last time I saw her." The former Pamela Janusz was born in Jamestown and grew up in Cheektowaga. Shortly after graduating from West Seneca East, where she played intramural basketball, she got a job at Sisters Hospital washing pots and pans. She later became dietary supervisor, a job she held for 30 of her 38 years at the hospital. "Pam was a very strong and stable person, someone you could really rely on," said Karen Ostrum, director of food and nutrition services at Sisters Hospital. "She was well respected by the people she worked with, and never asked someone to do something she wouldn't do herself. She really looked out for other people, and they recognized that in her. "She wanted nothing more than to be happy, and she really took pleasure in very small things. She also tried to find humor in almost anything," Ostrum said. William McCrory, her husband of 38 years, said his wife took care of "everything," including tending to their daughter Gabrielle, who turned 18 the day her mother died. "I would hand her my check after keeping my cut for my own spending, and she did the rest," McCrory said. "She cooked, she cleaned, shopped, worked her own full-time job, ran my daughter around to her sports stuff, doctors appointments, you name it. She did everything." The couple, who spent most of their years together in South Buffalo, worked together on several occasions to raise money for disabled American veterans. "I can't stress enough that she would give the shirt off her back for whatever she got involved in," McCrory said. "She would do anything for anybody, and she loved that kid beyond belief," he said of their daughter. Pamela McCrory loved animals and owned multiple cats and dogs over the years, as well as a horse. She also enjoyed cooking. "We didn't have basic meals," William McCrory said. "It was all kinds of stuff. She wanted to try everything."
3 May 18:27 • The Buffalo News • https://buffalonews.com/2020/05/03/pamela-mccrory-had-a-zest-for-life-before-covid-19-cut-it-short/Rating: 0.30
'I was alone': how giving birth is changing during the pandemic
Cristal Brown thought she would give birth with her mom and boyfriend by her side, and then draw her newborn close to breastfeed. “That’s how I pictured it,” Brown said. “And it went totally the opposite. I was alone.” When the time finally arrived to induce labor, Manhattan hospitals were already limiting visitors because of the coronavirus pandemic. After Brown tested positive for Covid-19, her partner was forced to leave. Pre-eclampsia and a bacterial infection eventually pushed her into having an invasive C-section. After her baby was born, she had to stay 6ft away from him and couldn’t hold him before he was whisked out of the room. Brown was isolated except when hospital staff checked her vital signs or redressed her incision. The closest she got to her baby boy for 36 hours were photos on her phone. “I just wanted to take my son and go home,” Brown said. Maternal care in the US, already flawed compared to similarly well-off countries, has been derailed because of the global coronavirus pandemic. Prenatal visits have transitioned to a combination of telehealth and in-person appointments where only the pregnant person is allowed to be physically present. Maternity units are also limiting visitors, usually to one, though some hospitals in Covid-19 hotspots have not allowed any. These changes have made deliveries difficult for all expecting mothers, regardless of a Covid-19 diagnosis,race or ethnicity. But evenunder “normal” circumstances, black mothers face a terrifying prospect as they navigate US hospitals, historically influenced by systemic racism and implicit biases, experts say. Add a global pandemic that’s overwhelming the country’s healthcare institutions, and advocates warn the outcome could be disastrous. “Black women aren’t trusted. They aren’t trusted to know and understand their own bodies,” said Nia Martin-Robinson, director of black leadership and engagement at Planned Parenthood Federation of America. “The impact of Covid-19 on a lot of health systems is gonna further exacerbate maternal health complications, especially when it comes to labor and delivery,” said Angela D Aina, interim executive director of Black Mamas Matter Alliance. Specialists in maternal health fear that women will suffer and die, and that recent strides will regress, as a result of the outbreak. They also recognize the parallels between Covid-19 and maternal mortality, both of which have worse impacts on people of color. “What you see for both black maternal mortality and for Covid-19 is that difference … in who is seen as valuable shows up so quickly,” said Dr Joia Crear-Perry, president of the National Birth Equity Collaborative. Black Americans have shouldered a disproportionate burden from coronavirus thus far, representing 34% of fatalities but only around 13% of the population in states that have released racial breakdowns of their data, according to Johns Hopkins University. It’s the continuation of a pernicious trend in healthcare: for years now, black women have carried the lion’s share of pregnancy-related tragedies. In 2018, black women died of maternal causes at 2.5 times the rate of white women and 3.1 times the rate of Hispanic women, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC); multi-year reports have shown even wider chasms. These racial inequities exist across socio-economic status and education levels, research suggests. “We know that black women who are healthy, who have done what the medical community might consider to be all of the right things, are still black women who are dying,” said Martin-Robinson. Experts told the Guardian how an already lethal situation is devolving even further as expectant mothers have had their agency stripped away and their support systems pushed out of the birthing room in the name of safety. They focused especially on the confusion and fear in New York City, the US’s Covid-19 center, where black women were already nearly eight times more likely than their white counterparts to suffer a pregnancy-related death. “I think where these two public health crises intersect is that they are impacting the same communities, they are thriving on the same forms of discrimination,” said Pilar Herrero, a senior staff attorney at the Center for Reproductive Rights. “And there are pregnant women of color who … were already at risk of dying from a preventable maternal death, who now might also be exposed to the Covid-19 infection, or might not get the care that they need because resources have been reallocated.” Mothers are already suffering the consequences. Amber Rose Isaac, a 26-year-old black, Puerto Rican New Yorker, died on 21 April during an emergency C-section. Her platelet counts — which help blood clot — had been falling since February, but the condition went largely unmonitored because her doctor’s visits had been replaced with Zoom conference calls. “All of this was 100% preventable. All of it,” said Bruce McIntyre III, Isaac’s partner. “I feel like she would have got more attentive care if she was a white mother, to be completely honest with you.” Denise Bolds, a doula who supports mothers during childbirth, warned that, because hospitals have limited staff and want to cut down exposure to Covid-19, doctors may rush toward operations such as C-sections. “It’s really changing how women are giving birth,” Bolds said. “It’s becoming more clinical. It’s becoming more controlled. And women are losing their autonomy.” Preliminary evidence suggestspregnancy does not appear to increase the risk of contracting or getting seriously ill from Covid-19. But the virus has created a tremendous sense of uncertainty around pregnancy. It has also overwhelmed medical staff who don’t have enough personal protective equipment (PPE) or testing, “placing the human rights of health workers and the human rights of pregnant people in tension with one another in ways that really could have been avoided”, Herrero said. “Where we see discrimination already pre-Covid, now it’s not only strongly enforced but exacerbated,” said Jennie Joseph, a midwife and health advocate in Florida. “You’re stressed already, you’re at your wits’ end, you’re tired out, you’re scared as well. You’re gonna go to your kneejerk, which is you’re gonna think about things in the way that is simplest, quickest, easiest.” There’s no worldwide consensus around whether women who test positive for coronavirus or show related symptoms can safely touch their newborn and breastfeed directly. So far, the virus hasn’t been found in breastmilk or amniotic fluid, but hospitals are still separating mothers such as Brown from their newborns in case they’re contagious. The World Health Organization has said mothers should be able to hold their babies skin-to-skin, breastfeed with proper hygiene and stay in the same room, regardless of a Covid-19 diagnosis. But the American Academy of Pediatrics has recommended temporary separation between mother and baby, or at least maintaining a 6ft distance. “We really are building this rocket ship while it’s flying,” said Melissa A Simon, a physician and professor at the Northwestern University Feinberg school of medicine. “So in general, most of us believe we should err on the side of caution and not have that newborn and mom contact when the mom just was diagnosed with Covid.”
3 May 10:00 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/world/2020/may/03/giving-birth-coronavirus-pandemic-hospitalsRating: 5.39
Irish GP trying for baby had life saved when doctor found ovarian cancer
A young woman has told how a chance cancer diagnosis while she was trying to conceive saved her life. Serena O’Connell went from doctor to patient after she was told in March 2017 a cyst had stopped her from starting a family but cancer which had spread through her abdomen. Serena, who is a GP in Galway, said she had felt tired and had lost a bit of weight before being told of her diagnosis but had put it down to long working hours. She told the Irish Sunday Mirror had it not have been for a doctor probing why she couldn’t conceive she may never have known she had cancer. Serena said: “My husband Fergus and I had been married a year and we were trying for a baby and nothing was happening. “We went to see a fertility expert in Galway who done a scan and thought perhaps I had an ovarian cyst or something. “He brought me in to have a look with keyhole surgery and when I came from the operation I was told I had cancer and it had spread significantly through the abdomen. “I ended up being brought back in two weeks later to have surgery as it had spread to the my lining of my bladder, the bowel, there were tumour deposits on my diaphragm just below the lungs, you could say that I was riddled. “They operated and took away both ovaries, the uterus, they removed a section of bowel and re-joined it again, they scrubbed down the bladder, my diaphragm, everywhere. "After the epidural wore off the pain was horrific. I remember wondering how the human body could endure such pain and still remain conscious, it was horrific.” Motorbike enthusiast Serena was just 34 when she got the diagnosis and after the surgery she felt bereft. She added: “I remember lying on the bed in recovery, I couldn’t look at anyone, I was just looking up at the ceiling and tears were flowing down my face.” This Friday marks World Ovarian Cancer Day. It’s the fourth most common cancer in Ireland with 272 women losing their lives to it each year. Symptoms include persistent pelvic and tummy pain, abdominal bloating and feeling full quickly. Serena said: “Had I not have tried to have a baby I wouldn’t have even known I had cancer. I would have been terminally ill before I knew. “I was at stage 3B when they were doing the surgery, had I got to stage four it would have been terminal.” OvaCare, an organisation set up to help women who have had ovarian cancer, says it’s important women don’t ignore the signs of the illness. According to consultant gynaecological Dr Michael O’Leary, early diagnosis and treatment are vital. He said: “Women with a family history of breast or ovarian cancer should be particularly vigilant. Talk to your GP, describe new symptoms which are not going away and mention any family history. GPs are there to help you.”
3 May 06:00 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/lifestyle/health/irish-gp-trying-baby-life-21963973Rating: 0.56
The Veronicas’ Lisa Origliasso Reveals She Suffered A “Heartbreaking” Ectopic Pregnancy
Lisa Origliasso of The Veronicas has taken to her Instagram stories to reveal that she recently suffered an ectopic pregnancy, saying that she now hopes she can bring awareness to the “heartbreaking” journey faced by many women and couples. She said that she took several pregnancy tests last month, and when all came back positive, she hid them in a pot plant for partner Logan Huffman to find. “We cried, laughed and held on to each-other in pure excitement that we were going to be starting a great journey,” she said. The couple spent the next two weeks thinking of baby names, but Origliasso said that the joy turned to confusion when she began to experience irregular bleeding, and so she immediately booked a doctor’s appointment to find out what was going on. She said that her doctor then sent her to the emergency room to undergo blood tests and an ultrasound for a possible ectopic pregnancy. She had never heard of this, and said: At the time, it was determined that she had likely suffered a miscarriage, but follow-up blood tests and ultrasounds confirmed it to be an ectopic pregnancy, at which point Origliasso says she required “urgent medical attention to stop it from becoming critical.” Reflecting on the experience, she said that: She went on to say that “inevitably, I know one day we will have a family” but she says she felt compelled to speak out so that if her story “makes one woman feel less alone, then that to me is worth it.” Image: Getty Images / Mark Metcalfe
3 May 05:15 • Pedestrian TV • https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/lisa-origliasso-instagram-pregnancy/Rating: 0.62
Heartbroken mum had just four precious hours were her baby boy before he died
A mum who was left devastated when her baby died at only four hours old says she will never forget the feeling that "her whole world stopped". Cassie Hylans and her partner Steven Hale, from Burton, were delighted when they found out they were expecting Freddie-Philip back in 2016, but that happiness was short-lived when doctors explained that Cassie had passed on a genetic condition she has, to her unborn child The 27-year-old who lives in Stapenhill, was given the news at her 20 week scan but said she refused all the options her doctors gave her, in the hope of meeting her baby boy. She said: "We were so excited, but when I had my 20-week scan I found out that I have a genetic condition called Kallman Syndrome, which has a 50 per cent chance of being passed on to boys. "It meant that I had no fluid (around him) and Freddie-Philip's kidneys were covered in cysts. They gave me lots of options, which I refused. "We knew he wouldn’t survive but at the end of the day he was still my baby and I was growing him. I wanted to see his face and give him a cuddle. He was ours." When cleaner Cassie gave birth to Freddie-Philip on November 29 she and her family spent "four precious hours" with their bundle of joy. She said: "He was born breathing, so we had four hours of unexpected precious time with him. "I gave birth on the normal labour ward and we took tonnes of pictures, had cuddles with him and the vicar came and gave him a blessing. We still talk to her to this day. "The nurses were amazing and gave us two teddies and a keepsake memory box with his handprints and footprints in. It was really special." Cassie and her family were supported by staff at the Snowdrop Suite, a special unit for bereaved parents at Burton’s Queen’s Hospital. Cassie said: "My mum and partner were there with me the whole way through and I can’t remember that much because it was all a blur. "We could spend as much time with him as we wanted the nurses left us to it and we were at the end of the labour ward so we didn’t have to see new mums walking around with their babies. "As he took his last breath my partner dropped to his knees and screamed. It was the hardest thing you could ever go through. "It was so surreal just watching it happen and not being able to do anything to help keep him alive." The pair were able to keep Freddie-Philip with them in a special cuddle cot, but when the time came to return home, the new parents were devastated. Cassie said: "It was so hard to go home. Everything was normal and his bedroom was fully kitted out waiting for him. "Going there without him in our arms was heartbreaking and it was like our world had stopped." Cassie said the tragedy did not put the couple off having another child and when they got pregnant with Bobby, they were "so happy." She said: "The pregnancy was fine, but he only has one kidney. "I was overwhelmed when Bobby was born. I felt heartbroken that he would never get to meet his big brother and he was the spitting image of Freddie-Philip. "November will always be a very bittersweet month for me as Bobby was born at the start and Freddie was born at the end." Cassie is full of praise for the midwives who cared for her following Freddie-Philip's death and said they were still welcome to access support at the Snowdrop Suite. She said: "That time was so precious and without the staff at the hospital and the specialist suite we would not have been able to make such special memories. "Baby loss awareness is so important and it should not be a taboo subject. I would rather people talk about it then ignore that it happened. "Freddie-Philip was still here. He is still a person. He is my son."
3 May 05:00 • Derbyshire Live • https://www.derbytelegraph.co.uk/burton/baby-loss-stillborn-snowdrop-suite-3414108Rating: 0.30
Caseworker cares for Chinese couple's baby born to surrogate
RIVERVIEW, Fla. — Katie Faust says her career as a surrogate pregnancy case manager is more of a calling than a job. That might seem cliche, but she backs it up. Faust was laid off recently due to the coronavirus’ negative impact on her industry. But the Riverview resident chose to stick with her clients, working for free. And when coronavirus-related travel restrictions kept clients from picking up their newborn at the hospital, Faust did it for them. She flew to California and then drove back home to Riverview with the baby. The parents live in China, so it might be a while before they can unite with their baby. Until then, Faust and her husband, Brandon, will look after the newborn, along with their three children, all of whom are self-isolating at home. “We are prepared to take care of her for as long as we need to and keep her completely comfortable,” Faust, 26, said. “It is very important that everyone comes together right now and helps one another out during this worldwide crisis.” Faust’s Chinese clients used gestational surrogacy, when the parents’ sperm and the egg are combined outside the mother’s body and transferred to the surrogate. There are “absolutely no genetic ties between the surrogate and baby she delivered,” Faust said. Out of respect for her clients’ privacy, Faust would not share either their name or their baby’s. It is common for Chinese couples to seek surrogate mothers in the United States, said Bill Houghton, founder of the Las Vegas-based Sensible Surrogacy, an independent surrogacy agency. He has worked with Faust in the past, but neither he nor his company is connected to the Chinese client. “When China ended its one-child policy, there were suddenly millions of couples who wanted a second child but were often past the appropriate age,” he said. Surrogacy in China is “technically illegal but the government opened up a path to citizenship and family rights for surrogacy births. The result was Chinese couples flocking to the U.S. in droves to hire surrogates.” Faust has been a case manager for five years, guiding parents and surrogates — located around the world — through the process and serving as their go-between. But the spread of the coronavirus has hurt the surrogate industry. Families planning such a pregnancy or in the beginning stages have put it on hold, Houghton said. “Couples are worried about the health of their pregnancy,” he said. That’s why Faust said the California-based Global Surrogacy Inc. laid her off. But, she added, she requested and was permitted to continue working with her clients. The Tampa Bay Times could not reach Global Surrogacy via email or phone. “I’m not doing this for the money,” Faust said. “I am doing this for the family so they can have the comfort of knowing their baby is getting the love and support she needs.” She was informed on April 17 that the surrogate mother for the Chinese couple had gone into labour. The parents can’t travel here because of restrictions in both countries. It was bad enough that they couldn’t be there when their daughter was born, Faust said, but without a legal guardian the child would have gone “into state foster care. I would never let that happen.” The Chinese parents had already bestowed temporary guardianship onto Faust. She then flew to California with her entire family, picked up the newborn at a Victorville hospital that she would not name, rented a car and drove home because “it is not safe for a newborn to fly,” Faust said. “She is doing wonderful. She is a very content and easy baby and all of my other children are adapting and doing great.” The unknown: when the parents can meet their new baby. “It’s heartbreaking,” Faust said. “But I am in touch with them all day, every day, sending them updates and pictures. I’m grateful I am able to take care of their precious baby. Some people say we are crazy to add to our family during this time. But it felt right for us to do this.” Paul Guzzo, The Tampa Bay Times, The Associated Press
2 May 20:02 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/caseworker-cares-for-chinese-couples-baby-born-to-surrogate/Rating: 0.77
'I gave birth at home during lockdown and it couldn't have worked out better'
It wasn’t how she planned it, but an unexpected home birth worked out better than Kimberley Warwick could have expected. The solicitor from Alltwen in the Swansea Valley had been expecting to be taken into the maternity unit at Singleton Hospital late last month, when she was due to give birth to her second son. Casting a shadow over the big moment, however, were the strict coronavirus restrictions in the hospital's delivery theatre, which meant her husband Steven, a Tata worker, would not be allowed by her side. But the sudden arrival of baby Leo meant the 35-year-old had no choice but give birth at home, with her proud husband by her side. “I didn’t get the chance to go into hospital because it all happened so quickly”, she said. “We were going to go to hospital for the birth, but Steven would not have been able to support me by my side, because of the new rules. I was worried about that leading up to it, because I did not want to be on my own. “We were at home with our other son, Luis, when I started having contractions in the afternoon, and I knew something was happening. I called the midwife, who told me to stay put, and by the time she got here she told me that the birth was going to have to be here. I had no pain relief. There were two community midwives with us, but they only have gas and air with them. “It was a bit different from my first birth, which was planned and involved an induced epidural. It was just so quick. Once full-blown labour began it probably only took about twenty minutes. Leo arrived just before 8pm, and the midwives were gone by ten, and it was just the four of us”. Happily, mother and baby have been fine following the birth on April 24, with baby Leo weighing 6lb 7oz. Kim added: “Steven would not have been able to be with me at the birth if I’d gone to hospital, so that was the best outcome. It was amazing the way it turned out”.
2 May 15:44 • Wales Online • https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/local-news/i-gave-birth-home-during-18189551Rating: 0.62
Karina LeBlanc: 'Holding my baby again was better than a World Cup game'
"When I did finally get to hold her, it was better than any World Cup or Olympic game." Former Canada goalkeeper Karina LeBlanc has spoken of the emotions she experienced when forced to stay away from her newborn daughter for two weeks. The 40-year-old was admitted to hospital with breathing difficulties a week after her daughter Paris was born. Doctors then told her she needed to self-isolate because of concerns she had contracted coronavirus while being treated. “I could not see, hold, touch anything with my baby for two more weeks and that was the hardest part for me as I’d just given birth and all I wanted to do was hold her,” she told BBC World Service's Sporthour. LeBlanc, who retired in 2015 after making 110 appearances during her 18-year international career, spent several days in hospital after being diagnosed with fluid on the lungs and high blood pressure. “The drive to the hospital was difficult as Paris was holding my finger like babies do and every reality and false reality was racing through my mind,” said LeBlanc, who played at five World Cups won Olympic bronze at London 2012. “I was looking at her and thinking ‘is this it?'” LeBlanc was forced to rely on seeing her daughter “through glass” in a door and “face-timed her 40 times a day” as a way to get through the separation. During that time, she also took part in a video call with team-mates to help pass the time, where they avoided talking about LeBlanc being apart from her baby. “But one of the players came on the chat late and was like ‘wait, where’s the baby?’ and we all ended up laughing,“ she added. “As athletes we know the worst thing is having a bad game, as a goalie messing up a goal, but one of the things I came to realise was that it was just a game and this is life and death. “Once you give birth to a child, you fall in love in a way you never knew existed.”
2 May 14:37 • BBC Sport • https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52516124Rating: 4.85
U.S. processes over $500 billion in small business loans to stem coronavirus fallout
3 May 16:27
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11 articles
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Weighted average GB: 0.3477534560778573
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Weighted average IN: 19.446484192277484
U.S. processes over $500 billion in small business loans to stem coronavirus fallout
(Reuters) - The United States has made over $500 billion in loans to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and about $145 billion remains in the congressionally approved fund, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Treasury Department said Sunday. The SBA has processed about 2.2 million loans worth more than $175 billion since Congress last month authorized more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, part of almost $3 trillion in spending to fight the heavy economic toll of the pandemic, which has thrown about 30 million Americans out of work. The second round of funding was launched on Monday, allowing lenders to issue forgivable, government-guaranteed loans to small businesses shuttered by the outbreak. The average loan size in the second round of the PPP loan processing has been $79,000, according to the statement released on Sunday. The U.S. government’s $660 billion small business rescue program has stumbled on missing paperwork, technology failure, and the misdirection of funds to big corporations. It also faces the hurdle of forgiving those hastily arranged loans. The latest data released by the government does not address complaints around the transparency of the program. For example, it not include a breakdown of industries that have received loans. The pandemic, which has killed more than 66,000 people in the United States, has shuttered wide swaths of American life, closing many businesses and schools and leaving hundreds of millions largely sheltering at home. Over the past week some U.S. states have begun to allow some businesses to reopen.
3 May 16:27 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-stimulus-idUSKBN22F0KXRating: 4.04
Feds warn small businesses of potential coronavirus SBA loan fraud
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. Federal officials on Friday warned small businesses to be alert for scammers looking to take advantage of federal aid for entrepreneurs struggling during the coronavirus pandemic. The $2 trillion CARES act, passed by Congress in March, set aside $349 billion worth of loans for small businesses. Under the program, small businesses may apply for loans through the Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBA did not initiate loans, nor did it require information already provided in the application. The feds warned entrepreneurs that anyone asking for money was “not legitimate, nor are emails that end in anything but ‘.gov’.” SAN FRANCISCO POLICE CHIEF NIXES OFFICERS’ ‘THIN BLUE LINE’ CORONAVIRUS MASKS “Those who prey on others look for opportunities like the various loans provided to small businesses. United States Attorneys and our respective law enforcement partners, like the FBI, are on the lookout for those predators. We strongly encourage those who become aware of such scams to report it to the authorities so we can take action,” said U.S. Attorney for the Northern District of West Virginia Bill Powell. Eugene Kowel, the acting special agent in charge for the FBI in Pittsburgh, urged companies to use backup and malware-detection systems and to train employees “to be skeptical of emails, attachments and websites they don’t recognize.” CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The warning came amid a general uptick in criminal scams related to the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, the FBI put out an alert warning that the pandemic was providing criminals with illicit opportunities at “breathtaking” speed.
3 May 23:11 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/politics/coronavirus-small-businesses-potential-sba-loan-fraud-fbiRating: 3.32
US processes over US$500b in small business loans to stem coronavirus fallout
WASHINGTON, May 4 — The United States has made over US$500 billion (RM2.15 trillion) in loans to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and about US$145 billion remains in the congressionally approved fund, the US Small Business Administration and Treasury Department said yesterday. The SBA has processed about 2.2 million loans worth more than US$175 billion since Congress last month authorised more funding for the Paycheck Protection Programme, part of almost US$3 trillion in spending to fight the heavy economic toll of the pandemic, which has thrown about 30 million Americans out of work. The second round of funding was launched today, allowing lenders to issue forgivable, government-guaranteed loans to small businesses shuttered by the outbreak. The average loan size in the second round of the PPP loan processing has been US$79,000, according to the statement released yesterday. The US government’s US$660 billion small business rescue programme has stumbled on missing paperwork, technology failure, and the misdirection of funds to big corporations. It also faces the hurdle of forgiving those hastily arranged loans. The latest data released by the government does not address complaints around the transparency of the program. For example, it not include a breakdown of industries that have received loans. The pandemic, which has killed more than 66,000 people in the United States, has shuttered wide swaths of American life, closing many businesses and schools and leaving hundreds of millions largely sheltering at home. Over the past week some US states have begun to allow some businesses to reopen. — Reuters
3 May 23:09 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2020/05/04/us-processes-over-us500b-in-small-business-loans-to-stem-coronavirus-fallou/1862726Rating: 1.42
U.S. processes over $500 billion in small business loans to stem coronavirus fallout
The United States has made over $500 billion in loans to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and about $145 billion (115.98 billion pounds) remains in the congressionally approved fund, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Treasury Department said Sunday. The SBA has processed about 2.2 million loans worth more than $175 billion since Congress last month authorized more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, part of almost $3 trillion in spending to fight the heavy economic toll of the pandemic, which has thrown about 30 million Americans out of work. The second round of funding was launched on Monday, allowing lenders to issue forgivable, government-guaranteed loans to small businesses shuttered by the outbreak. The average loan size in the second round of the PPP loan processing has been $79,000, according to the statement released on Sunday. The U.S. government’s $660 billion small business rescue program has stumbled on missing paperwork, technology failure, and the misdirection of funds to big corporations. It also faces the hurdle of forgiving those hastily arranged loans. The latest data released by the government does not address complaints around the transparency of the program. For example, it not include a breakdown of industries that have received loans. The pandemic, which has killed more than 66,000 people in the United States, has shuttered wide swaths of American life, closing many businesses and schools and leaving hundreds of millions largely sheltering at home. Over the past week some U.S. states have begun to allow some businesses to reopen. Be smart with your money. Get the latest investing insights delivered right to your inbox three times a week, with the Globe Investor newsletter. Sign up today.
3 May 17:32 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/business/international-business/us-business/article-us-processes-over-500-billion-in-small-business-loans-to-stem/Rating: 2.18
I-T dept cautions people against phishing e-mails promising refund
The Income Tax (I-T) department on Sunday asked taxpayers to beware of phishing e-mails promising refund. “Taxpayers Beware! Please do not click on any fake link which promises to give refund. These are phishing messages and are not sent by the income tax department,” the department said in a tweet. According to the latest data, between April 8 and April 20, the department issued nearly 14 lakh refunds worth over ₹9,000 crore to various taxpayers, including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, proprietors, firms, corporate, start-ups, and MSMEs. On April 8, the Finance Ministry said it will fast-track issuance of pending income tax refunds up to ₹5 lakh which will benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers, to provide relief to individuals and businesses hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.
3 May 20:20 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/i-t-dept-cautions-people-against-phishing-e-mails-promising-refund/article31496498.eceRating: 0.30
U.S. processes over $500 billion in small business loans to stem coronavirus fallout
(Reuters) - The United States has made over $500 billion in loans to small businesses hit hard by the coronavirus pandemic, and about $145 billion remains in the congressionally approved fund, the U.S. Small Business Administration and Treasury Department said Sunday. The SBA has processed about 2.2 million loans worth more than $175 billion since Congress last month authorized more funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, part of almost $3 trillion in spending to fight the heavy economic toll of the pandemic, which has thrown about 30 million Americans out of work. The second round of funding was launched on Monday, allowing lenders to issue forgivable, government-guaranteed loans to small businesses shuttered by the outbreak. The average loan size in the second round of the PPP loan processing has been $79,000, according to the statement released on Sunday. The U.S. government's $660 billion small business rescue program has stumbled on missing paperwork, technology failure, and the misdirection of funds to big corporations. It also faces the hurdle of forgiving those hastily arranged loans. The latest data released by the government does not address complaints around the transparency of the program. For example, it not include a breakdown of industries that have received loans. The pandemic, which has killed more than 66,000 people in the United States, has shuttered wide swaths of American life, closing many businesses and schools and leaving hundreds of millions largely sheltering at home. Over the past week some U.S. states have begun to allow some businesses to reopen. (Reporting by Kanishka Singh in Bengaluru and Howard Schneider in Washington; Editing by Lisa Shumaker)
3 May 14:04 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/u-processes-over-500-billion-140429083.htmlRating: 0.30
Trump aides say business-loan plan working, ‘pause’ comes next
The Trump administration on Sunday termed the second phase of an emergency job-saving program a success, with more than $175 billion in loans already issued to smaller companies and more likely after a “pause.” The two phases of the so-called Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) have provided a total of $669 billion, including $320 billion in the latest tranche. The program aims to preserve jobs threatened by the coronavirus pandemic, which has paralyzed much of the US economy. The number of individual loans issued under the second phase 2.2 million so far exceeds the number issued in the first phase, according to a joint statement from Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Jovita Carranza, administrator of the federal Small Business Administration (SBA). The PPP relief funds, part of a larger package of emergency relief measures worth more than $2.7 trillion, aim to help keep the huge network of small and medium-sized businesses afloat until confinement measures linked to the pandemic are more widely eased. Some 30 million people in the US, a record, have applied for unemployment benefits since the beginning of the COVID-19 crisis. “It’s going to be very difficult in the months ahead,” White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on CNN. “The economy is still in a terrible contractionary phase, tremendous hardships everywhere.” But he insisted he was optimistic, pointing to forecasts of “a very strong second-half economic rebound,” possibly followed next year by “one of the fastest growth rebounds in American history.” ‘A pause’ He said the federal effort to shore up smaller and medium-sized businesses had been “an extremely popular and effective program,” and that “there may well be additional legislation.” As Congress and the administration study next steps, Kudlow added, “There’s kind of a pause period right now” of perhaps a few weeks. The administration and congressional leaders of both parties are already in talks on a next round of economic support, but their priorities diverge on several points. Trump would like to see the next round include tax breaks for workers and for the sports and entertainment industries, Kudlow said. The president also wants to see new spending for infrastructure upgrades across the country. But Democrats want greater oversight over the vast spending programs and oppose Trump’s efforts to insist states ban so-called sanctuary cities that provide protections for undocumented immigrants. The Trump administration has also been sharply criticized for funneling billions of dollars in the PPP’s first phase to large corporations that in principle should not have qualified for the conditional loans. Mnuchin and Carranza noted in their statement that the average loan provided in the second phase has been $79,000, indicating the money is going, as intended, to smaller companies. They said that since the first phase launched on April 3, the SBA has processed more than 3.8 million loans for a total of more than $500 billion.
3 May 19:39 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/world/trump-aides-say-business-loan-plan-working-pause-comes-next/Rating: 0.30
Taxpayers beware of phishing e-mails promising refund
New Delhi: The Income Tax Department on Sunday asked taxpayers to beware of phishing e-mails promising refund. "Taxpayers Beware! Please do not click on any fake link which promises to give refund. These are phishing messages and are not sent by the income tax department," the department said in a tweet. According to the latest data, between 8-20 April, the department issued nearly 14 lakh refunds involving an amount of over Rs 9,000 crore to various taxpayers including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, proprietors, firms, corporate, start-ups, and MSMEs. On 8 April, the finance ministry said it will fast-track issuance of pending income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh which will benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers, to provide relief to individuals and businesses hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.
3 May 13:53 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/business/in-other-news/030520/taxpayers-beware-of-phishing-e-mails-promising-refund.htmlRating: 1.64
Small Firms Still in Dark on Loan Forgiveness as Clock Ticks
U.S. Small Business and Coronavirus:What you need to knowNewFollow this Storyi Sign up here for our daily coronavirus newsletter on what you need to know, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis. Small businesses that struggled to get loans from a government pandemic relief program still don’t know how much they may have to repay after the government missed a deadline to give specific guidance. The U.S. Small Business Administration was supposed to clarify by April 26 how loans it approved as part of the Trump administration’s multitrillion-dollar coronavirus stimulus package can be spent and still qualify to become grants. Companies and lenders say they need more guidance on how to calculate the amount that’s eligible for forgiveness and what documentation is required to support the claims. That could leave small firms on the hook to repay loan proceeds they thought would be a grant. As a result, some business owners are holding onto the loans and may even return them, according to interviews with small business groups, lenders and borrowers. The Paycheck Protection Program was designed as a lifeline for small firms, many of which were shuttered due to stay-at-home orders, have no revenue coming in, and may be forced to close for good. Time is short, since the funds must be spent within eight weeks after they’re received to qualify for forgiveness. Every day of uncertainty means making decisions is more difficult, the groups and business owners said. “As soon as they got the money, they’re calling and saying, ‘OK, how do I spend this to make sure I get this forgiven, because I don’t want to mess this up,’” said Kimberly Rayer, a partner at Starfield & Smith in Pennsylvania, who advises lenders on SBA loan programs. “Borrowers are concerned, they would like to make sure that they don’t have to pay this money back.” The uncertainty about how loans will be forgiven is just the latest stumbling block in the SBA’s chaotic effort to funnel about $670 billion to small firms across the country to counter the devastating effects of Covid-19 on their operations. The initiative was intended to keep them afloat and keep employees on payrolls to be ready to reopen. The initial round of $349 billion in funding ran out on April 16 in just 13 days after 1.66 million firms were approved for loans. The program relaunched April 27 with an additional $320 billion, and the SBA and Treasury Department reported on Sunday that 2.2 million loans totaling $175.7 billion from more than 5,400 lenders have been processed, with an average loan size of $79,000 -- much lower than the $206,000 average in the first round. The totals, through May 1, mean less than half the additional funding remains available. The new data show that disparities in approvals among states in the first round of funding have been largely eliminated and suggest more smaller firms are getting loans. The program provides loans of as much as $10 million to small businesses affected by the outbreak. The law says borrowers don’t have to repay the loans if the money is spent on payroll plus mortgage interest, rent and utilities. An initial rule issued by SBA and Treasury said 75% of the proceeds must be spent on payroll and 25% on the approved expenses. The amount forgiven is reduced if owners cut jobs or wages, and any amount that’s not forgiven must be repaid at 1% interest in two years, with the first payment deferred for six months. Business owners don’t have enough guidance about how they’re spending the money to ensure they’ll avoid having to repay it, said Holly Wade, director of research and policy analysis for the National Federation of Independent Business. Questions include whether expenses incurred during the eight weeks but paid later would qualify. They’d also like more flexibility about how the proceeds can be used and still qualify for forgiveness. Small business and industry groups are lobbying Congress and the Trump administration for changes. “There’s just many questions where we don’t have an answer, and small business owners are concerned,” Wade said. Congress said in the legislation creating the program that the SBA was to issue guidance and regulations for loan forgiveness “not later than 30 days after the date of enactment of this act,” which would have been April 26. Almost a week on, the agency hasn’t said when it will issue the guidance and didn’t comment for this report. For more: Trump’s Rural Base Fared Better Than Coastal Cities in SBA Loans The program was designed to have banks disburse loans to small businesses that SBA would guarantee, to get money into the hands of those in need as quickly as possible. Lenders can apply to have the agency reimburse them for the portions of loans that are forgiven, starting seven weeks after money is disbursed. Lenders also want more guidance because they make the initial assessment about loan forgiveness, said Paul Merski of the Independent Community Bankers of America. The SBA and Treasury should produce a calculator to help lenders and borrowers determine loan forgiveness and simplify the process, he said. The rollout of the small business relief program last month had numerous problems. SBA’s lending platform was quickly overwhelmed, and guidance to borrowers and banks -- which has changed dozens of times since it launched April 3 -- sowed confusion and caused banks to hold back on processing applications initially. Large firms and national chains swooped in, picking up millions of dollars in loans and leaving many mom-and-pop businesses shut out. Almost 320 public companies received loans totaling $1.12 billion, according to data compiled by FactSquared. After the Trump administration warned large firms with access to other capital about taking loans and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said all loans of more than $2 million would be reviewed for criminal liability, 29 companies had returned loans worth $183 million as of May 1, data show. Texas hotelier Monty Bennett, a major donor to President Donald Trump whose companies are among the biggest known recipients of loans that total about $70 million, according to regulatory filings, said Saturday he’ll return the money. James Cummings, who runs 22 Great Clips franchises across North Carolina, said he received a loan for his hair salons toward the end of April, but is holding on to it until he gets more details on how the forgiveness will work. He’s hoping that the government will allow more flexibility in how he spends it. Cummings said he needs to “be able to use this money when we reopen, or we’re literally going to have to pay it all back, every dime.” The salon operator is among small business owners that are finding themselves caught in an additional bind: even with a loan, they can’t pay their employees as much as the workers could get from unemployment benefits, but they can’t use more of the money to cover other expenses while waiting to reopen. Many restaurants and other small business owners also say eight weeks of federal coronavirus relief won’t be enough, especially if they’re not ready to reopen during that time. Industry groups including the National Restaurant Association are seeking a number of changes, including an extension of the period when owners can use the loan and have it forgiven. Advocates also want more flexibility to the rule on how the proceeds can be spent, but Mnuchin has defended the terms because the intent of the law was to keep workers employed. Clara Osterhage, who owns hair salons in Ohio and other states, got her loan funds on April 26, but doesn’t know when she’ll be able to reopen and whether she can rehire workers. She said she needs more clarity about the rules and may end up having to return the money rather than having to repay with interest a two-year loan she can’t afford. “It’s incredibly concerning,” Osterhage said. “I don’t know the rules of the game, and I have no control.” (An earlier version corrected loan amounts associated with Monty Bennett.) — With assistance by Ben Brody (Updates with latest loan data in eight paragraph.)
3 May 10:00 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/small-firms-still-in-dark-on-sba-loan-forgiveness-as-clock-ticksRating: 4.04
I-T department warns against fake refund messages
Amid the ongoing financial crisis during the coronavirus lockdown, the I-T department has fast-tracked the process of issuing all pending income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh The income tax (I-T) department has asked taxpayers to be cautious with alerts they receive for income tax refunds as they can be phishing messages to trick assessees. A typical fake message, looks similar to an official message from the department and reads like this: "Due to Covid-19 outbreak, central govt. has decided to provide tax refund to ALL taxpayers, in order to provide them financial ease during lockdown. Click below to claim your refund. (Phishing web link)". Taxpayers have been warned in an advisory that the department has not sent any such communication. "The department would like to advise tax payers, not to click or entertain any such communication that they receive. Please note, that these are phishing messages and not sent by the income tax department," it said. Coronavirus lockdown: 78% people want ecommerce sites to sell non-essential items too, shows survey Amid the ongoing financial crisis during the coronavirus lockdown, the I-T department has fast-tracked the process of issuing all pending income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh. Till April 21, nearly 14 lakh refunds worth over Rs 9,000 crore have been issued to various taxpayers. "Taxpayers Beware! Please do not click on any fake link which promises to give refund. These are phishing messages and are not sent by the Income Tax Department," the I-T department said in a tweet today. To avoid any fake transaction, the department has also been sending emails to taxpayers advising them to make a confirmation before processing their refunds. All such confirmations should be carried out only on the income tax department's official e-filing portal, the advisory said. Coronavirus crisis: Man held for making liquor from hand sanitiser
3 May 09:39 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/i-t-department-warns-against-fake-refund-messages/story/402740.htmlRating: 2.10
IT dept cautions people against phishing e-mails promising refund
The income tax department on Sunday asked taxpayers to beware of phishing e-mails promising refund. "Taxpayers Beware! Please do not click on any fake link which promises to give refund. These are phishing messages and are not sent by the income tax department," the department said in a tweet. According to the latest data, between April 8 and 20, the department issued nearly 14 lakh refunds involving an amount of over Rs 9,000 crore to various taxpayers including individuals, Hindu Undivided Families, proprietors, firms, corporate, start-ups, and MSMEs. On April 8, the finance ministry said it will fast-track issuance of pending income tax refunds up to Rs 5 lakh which will benefit around 14 lakh taxpayers, to provide relief to individuals and businesses hit by the COVID-19 outbreak.
3 May 07:54 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/economy/finance/it-dept-cautions-people-against-phishing-e-mails-promising-refund/articleshow/75516087.cmsRating: 0.30
Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule
3 May 20:01
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8 articles
Weight: 2.53
Importance: 2.53
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:01
Average US: 37.725
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Weighted average GB: 0.30130085604962037
Average IN: 1.1625
Weighted average IN: 2.2518037462607032
Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule
Residents of Stillwater, Oklahoma — home to Oklahoma State University — did not react well to an order that went into effect on May 1 requiring the use of face masks in stores and restaurants. Within three hours of enforcing the order, store employees reported verbal abuse and threats of physical violence, including one threat involving a firearm. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Will Joyce released an amended order strongly encouraging, but not requiring, the use of face masks. LoadingSomething is loading. In a statement, City Manager Norman McNickle called the incidents "unfortunate and distressing." "The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact," he said, noting that both the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Oklahoma State Department of Health recommend the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. McNickle also said that many of the people objecting to the order believe being required to wear face masks is unconstitutional. "No law or court supports this view," he said. As part of Oklahoma's gradual reopening strategy, personal care businesses such as hair salons were allowed to reopen across the state beginning April 24, and restaurant dining rooms were allowed to open on May 1 as long as they adhered to social distancing and sanitation protocols. Featured Health Articles:- Telehealth Industry Explained- Value-Based Care Explained- Senior Care & Assisted Living Market- Smart Medical Devices & Wearable Tech- AI in Healthcare- Remote Patient Monitoring Explained - AI in Medical Diagnosis Systems Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 20:01 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/stillwater-oklahoma-order-requiring-face-mask-use-overturned-violence-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule
Residents of Stillwater, Oklahoma – home to Oklahoma State University – did not react well to an order that went into effect on May 1 requiring the use of face masks in stores and restaurants. Within three hours of enforcing the order, store employees reported verbal abuse and threats of physical violence, including one threat involving a firearm. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Will Joyce released an amended order strongly encouraging, but not requiring, the use of face masks. In a statement, City Manager Norman McNickle called the incidents “unfortunate and distressing.” “The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact,” he said, noting that both the Centres for Disease Control & Prevention and Oklahoma State Department of Health recommend the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. McNickle also said that many of the people objecting to the order believe being required to wear face masks is unconstitutional. “No law or court supports this view,” he said. As part of Oklahoma’s gradual reopening strategy, personal care businesses such as hair salons were allowed to reopen across the state beginning April 24, and restaurant dining rooms were allowed to open on May 1 as long as they adhered to social distancing and sanitation protocols.
3 May 20:01 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/stillwater-oklahoma-order-requiring-face-mask-use-overturned-violence-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule
Residents of Stillwater, Oklahoma – home to Oklahoma State University – did not react well to an order that went into effect on May 1 requiring the use of face masks in stores and restaurants. Within three hours of enforcing the order, store employees reported verbal abuse and threats of physical violence, including one threat involving a firearm. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Will Joyce released an amended order strongly encouraging, but not requiring, the use of face masks. In a statement, City Manager Norman McNickle called the incidents “unfortunate and distressing.” “The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact,” he said, noting that both the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Oklahoma State Department of Health recommend the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. McNickle also said that many of the people objecting to the order believe being required to wear face masks is unconstitutional. “No law or court supports this view,” he said. As part of Oklahoma’s gradual reopening strategy, personal care businesses such as hair salons were allowed to reopen across the state beginning April 24, and restaurant dining rooms were allowed to open on May 1 as long as they adhered to social distancing and sanitation protocols.
3 May 22:06 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/stillwater-oklahoma-order-requiring-face-mask-use-overturned-violence-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
Oklahoma city immediately dropped its face mask order after residents threatened violence against employees who were enforcing the rule
Residents of Stillwater, Oklahoma – home to Oklahoma State University – did not react well to an order that went into effect on May 1 requiring the use of face masks in stores and restaurants. Within three hours of enforcing the order, store employees reported verbal abuse and threats of physical violence, including one threat involving a firearm. Shortly thereafter, Mayor Will Joyce released an amended order strongly encouraging, but not requiring, the use of face masks. In a statement, City Manager Norman McNickle called the incidents “unfortunate and distressing.” “The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact,” he said, noting that both the Centers for Disease Control & Prevention and Oklahoma State Department of Health recommend the use of masks to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. McNickle also said that many of the people objecting to the order believe being required to wear face masks is unconstitutional. “No law or court supports this view,” he said. As part of Oklahoma’s gradual reopening strategy, personal care businesses such as hair salons were allowed to reopen across the state beginning April 24, and restaurant dining rooms were allowed to open on May 1 as long as they adhered to social distancing and sanitation protocols.
3 May 20:01 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/stillwater-oklahoma-order-requiring-face-mask-use-overturned-violence-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Citing Violent Threats Against Business Employees, Oklahoma Mayor Ends Mandatory Face Mask Order
On Friday, as Oklahoma began easing restrictions set in place to prevent the spread of COVID-19, one city abruptly ended an order that business patrons wear face coverings, citing threats against employees. As of Friday, Oklahoma joined other states in beginning to permit some places, including restaurants and gyms, to reopen, although people continue to be diagnosed with COVID-19 in the state. Just hours after implementing the face covering emergency order on May 1, Stillwater, Okla., Mayor Will Joyce announced that the order was amended to ask businesses to “encourage, but not require, patrons to cover their faces” to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. Stillwater City Manager Norman McNickle said in statement that soon after the city started requiring patrons to put on masks before entering spaces like restaurants and stores, “store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse. In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm.” “This has occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of COVID-19,” McNickle said. Mayor Joyce, who had previously voiced concern that it might be too soon to open businesses in Stillwater, wrote on Twitter that although he was prepared for some people to object to the order, he did not anticipate that there would be “physical confrontations with employees and threatening phone calls to city hall.” “I hate that our businesses and their employees had to deal with abuse today, and I apologize for putting them in that position,” said Joyce. “I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies, but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me. I issued a revised order this afternoon to correct this problem, and we will continue to reevaluate our approach to face coverings.” He also criticized people who had responded aggressively to the rule, noting, “We should all get used to the idea of wearing a face covering to protect one another.” “To the people who resort to threats and intimidation when asked to take a simple step to protect your community: shame on you. Our freedom as Americans comes with responsibilities, too,” Joyce wrote. In the city’s statement, McNickle criticized people with the “mistaken belief” that requiring face masks is unconstitutional, saying, “No law or court supports this view.” He noted that a lawsuit against Guthrie, Oklahoma’s order was dismissed by the United States District Court for the Western District of Oklahoma. “It is further distressing that these people, while exercising their believed rights, put others at risk,” said McNickle. “As mentioned, there is clear medical evidence the face coverings prevent COVID-19 spread; they are recommended by both the CDC and the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact. And, an unprotected person who contracts the virus can infect their own loved ones and others.”
3 May 15:29 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/citing-violent-threats-against-business-152933894.htmlRating: 0.30
Oklahoma city amends coronavirus mask order following physical confrontations after reopening
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. A city in Oklahoma has lifted a coronavirus mask requirement following reports of physical confrontations — and a threat of violence involving a gun -- at reopened stores and restaurants. It happened Friday in Stillwater following the reopening of certain businesses forced to close to contain the spread of the virus. OKLAHOMA MALL OPENS WITH SHOPPERS IN FACE MASKS AND SOCIAL DISTANCING “In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse," City Manager Norman McNickle said. “In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm." Now Stillwater said the mask requirement applies only to the employees of those establishments. A business owner can ask his or her customers to wear a mask. The original order was in effect only a few hours. “I knew there would be some objections, but I did not expect physical confrontations with employees and threatening phone calls to city hall,” Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce tweeted. “I hate that our businesses and their employees had to deal with abuse today, and I apologize for putting them in that position.” NASCAR STARS RACING AT OKLAHOMA TRACK THIS WEEKEND AS CORONAVIRUS RESTRICTIONS ARE EASED “I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies, but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me,” Joyce said. “I issued a revised order this afternoon to correct this problem, and we will continue to reevaluate our approach to face coverings. CLICK HERE FOR MORE CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE McNickle said that many of those who objected “cite the mistaken belief the requirement is unconstitutional, and under their theory, one cannot be forced to wear a mask.” He said no law or court supports that view. “It is further distressing that these people, while exercising their believed rights, put others at risk,” he said. “As mentioned, there is clear medical evidence the face coverings prevent COVID-19 spread; they are recommended by both the CDC and the Oklahoma State Department of Health. The wearing of face coverings is little inconvenience to protect both the wearer and anyone with whom they have contact. And, an unprotected person who contracts the virus can infect their own loved ones and others." CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP Oklahoma has reported at least 3,851 coronavirus cases and 238 deaths.
3 May 15:37 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/us/oklahoma-city-amends-coronavirus-mask-order-following-physical-confrontations-after-reopeningRating: 3.32
Oklahoma city ends face mask rule for customers after threats of violence
An Oklahoma city walked back an emergency declaration requiring customers to wear face masks inside businesses after threats of violence were hurled at store employees. Officials in Stillwater announced the change Friday, less than 24 hours after the rule went into effect at stores and restaurants. “In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” City Manager Norman McNickle said in a statement. “In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm.” No further details were provided about the alleged threats of violence. Stillwater Mayor Will Joyce said on Twitter that he didn’t expect the declaration to provoke a violent reaction. “I knew there would be some objections, but I did not expect physical confrontations with employees and threatening phone calls to city hall,” Joyce wrote. “I hate that our businesses and their employees had to deal with abuse today, and I apologize for putting them in that position.” He said that face masks still “strongly recommended” for residents when around other people — and will continue to be required for workers at public-facing businesses. “We must find common ground and work together to deal with the circumstances our society is facing,” Joyce tweeted. “Whether or not we agree on the details, we have to find ways to cooperate in the task before us.”
3 May 12:40 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/oklahoma-city-ends-face-mask-rule-after-threats-of-violence/Rating: 2.55
City Ends Requirement for Customers to Wear Masks, Says Employees Were Threatened with Violence
The city of Stillwater, Oklahoma just eased up on requirements to wear face masks amid the COVID-19 pandemic. Officials don’t apologize for it, but say it became too much to handle because store employees have been threatened. “I am not the kind of person who backs down from bullies, but I also will not send someone else to fight the battle for me,” Mayor Will Joycewrote in a tweet Friday. “I issued a revised order this afternoon to correct this problem, and we will continue to reevaluate our approach to face coverings.” A proclamation issued Thursday moved for the reopening of “non-essential” businesses. This was in part contingent on customers being told to wear masks while inside the premises, Well, city officials now report a spate of hostile blowblack. “I knew there would be some objections, but I did not expect physical confrontations with employees and threatening phone calls to city hall,” Joyce wrote. “I hate that our businesses and their employees had to deal with abuse today, and I apologize for putting them in that position.” City Manager Norman McNickle said one incident included the threat of gun use. “In the short time beginning on May 1, 2020, that face coverings have been required for entry into stores/restaurants, store employees have been threatened with physical violence and showered with verbal abuse,” he said in a statement. “In addition, there has been one threat of violence using a firearm. This has occurred in three short hours and in the face of clear medical evidence that face coverings helps contain the spread of COVID-19.” McNickle said people were put in danger. “We cannot, in clear conscience, put our local business community in harm’s way, nor can the police be everywhere,” the city manager wrote. “Accordingly, we will now be asking our local stores and business to encourage, but not require, patrons to cover their faces. Of course, each business can choose to adopt a more stringent approach, and we ask everyone to respect and abide by such decisions.” [Screengrab via Oklahoma State Athletics]
3 May 12:13 • Law & Crime • https://lawandcrime.com/covid-19-pandemic/city-ends-requirement-for-customers-to-wear-masks-says-employees-were-threatened-with-violence/Rating: 0.30
The future of the office, how we'll shop and pay, and Masa Son's biggest challenge
3 May 13:33
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.53
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The future of the office, how we'll shop and pay, and Masa Son's biggest challenge
Hello! As the curve flattens in many parts of the world and the movement to reopen the economy gains steam, I keep finding myself thinking about this seating plan. As Holly Secon reported this week, 44% of workers on one floor of a South Korean call center got the coronavirus. The desks colored blue show where employees with confirmed cases sat. For some of you, that seating plan might look a little like your bank of desks at the office. It certainly looks like mine. A number of Business Insider reporters this week delved in to what a return to work might look like, and how offices will have to be reconfigured to make a return possible: There are other questions beyond whether we'll go back to the office, when, and what it might look like. How will we shop? How will we pay? What felt normal in February — queueing for Chipotle in a packed restaurant and paying by bank card — now feels anachronistic. Where did it all go wrong for Masayoshi Son? From Dakin Campbell's story: In 2017, Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank, upended the tech establishment with the creation of the $100 billion Vision Fund, the largest venture-capital fund in history. Over the next two years, it would deploy $75 billion across 88 investments, with Son holding an outsized voice on the three-person investment committee. Son earned a reputation among some venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who saw him pressuring founders into taking more money than they needed, elbowing aside coinvestors, and warping markets by seemingly pushing for growth at all costs. Venture capitalists kept investing alongside him, and founders took the money as valuations rose. The fund earned some wins, selling a stake in India e-commerce company Flipkart to Walmart and making money on an investment in publicly-traded chipmaker Nvidia. But as more than one company with billions of dollars in Vision Fund cash and no profits began to crater last year, the Silicon Valley community quickly turned against him. You can read the full story here: Masa Son is facing one of his biggest challenges yet as the SoftBank Vision Fund racks up billions in losses. 12 insiders reveal where it all went wrong. Lastly, if you didn't catch the first installment of Starting Up, Business Insider's interview show, you should check out Drake Baer's conversation with Slack cofounder and CTO Cal Henderson. Below are headlines on some of the stories you might have missed from the past week. Stay safe, everyone. -- Matt
3 May 13:33 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/top-business-stories-this-week-the-office-payments-masa-son-2020-5Rating: 4.40
The future of the office, how we'll shop and pay, and Masa Son's biggest challenge
Hello! As the curve flattens in many parts of the world and the movement to reopen the economy gains steam, I keep finding myself thinking about this seating plan. As Holly Secon reported this week, 44% of workers on one floor of a South Korean call center got the coronavirus. The desks colored blue show where employees with confirmed cases sat. For some of you, that seating plan might look a little like your bank of desks at the office. It certainly looks like mine. A number of Business Insider reporters this week delved in to what a return to work might look like, and how offices will have to be reconfigured to make a return possible: There are other questions beyond whether we’ll go back to the office, when, and what it might look like. How will be shop? How will we pay? What felt normal in February – queueing for Chipotle in a packed restaurant and paying by bank card – now feels anachronistic. Where did it all go wrong for Masayoshi Son? From Dakin Campbell’s story: In 2017, Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank, upended the tech establishment with the creation of the $100 billion Vision Fund, the largest venture-capital fund in history. Over the next two years, it would deploy $75 billion across 88 investments, with Son holding an outsized voice on the three-person investment committee. Son earned a reputation among some venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who saw him pressuring founders into taking more money than they needed, elbowing aside coinvestors, and warping markets by seemingly pushing for growth at all costs. Venture capitalists kept investing alongside him, and founders took the money as valuations rose. The fund earned some wins, selling a stake in India e-commerce company Flipkart to Walmart and making money on an investment in publicly-traded chipmaker Nvidia. But as more than one company with billions of dollars in Vision Fund cash and no profits began to crater last year, the Silicon Valley community quickly turned against him. You can read the full story here: Masa Son is facing one of his biggest challenges yet as the SoftBank Vision Fund racks up billions in losses. 12 insiders reveal where it all went wrong. Lastly, if you didn’t catch the first installment of Starting Up, Business Insider’s interview show, you should check out Drake Baer’s conversation with Slack cofounder and CTO Cal Henderson. Below are headlines on some of the stories you might have missed from the past week. Stay safe, everyone. — Matt
3 May 15:47 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/top-business-stories-this-week-the-office-payments-masa-son-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
The future of the office, how we'll shop and pay, and Masa Son's biggest challenge
Hello! As the curve flattens in many parts of the world and the movement to reopen the economy gains steam, I keep finding myself thinking about this seating plan. As Holly Secon reported this week, 44% of workers on one floor of a South Korean call centre got the coronavirus. The desks coloured blue show where employees with confirmed cases sat. For some of you, that seating plan might look a little like your bank of desks at the office. It certainly looks like mine. A number of Business Insider reporters this week delved in to what a return to work might look like, and how offices will have to be reconfigured to make a return possible: There are other questions beyond whether we’ll go back to the office, when, and what it might look like. How will we shop? How will we pay? What felt normal in February – queueing for Chipotle in a packed restaurant and paying by bank card – now feels anachronistic. Where did it all go wrong for Masayoshi Son? From Dakin Campbell’s story: In 2017, Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank, upended the tech establishment with the creation of the $US100 billion Vision Fund, the largest venture-capital fund in history. Over the next two years, it would deploy $US75 billion across 88 investments, with Son holding an outsized voice on the three-person investment committee. Son earned a reputation among some venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who saw him pressuring founders into taking more money than they needed, elbowing aside coinvestors, and warping markets by seemingly pushing for growth at all costs. Venture capitalists kept investing alongside him, and founders took the money as valuations rose. The fund earned some wins, selling a stake in India e-commerce company Flipkart to Walmart and making money on an investment in publicly-traded chipmaker Nvidia. But as more than one company with billions of dollars in Vision Fund cash and no profits began to crater last year, the Silicon Valley community quickly turned against him. You can read the full story here: Masa Son is facing one of his biggest challenges yet as the SoftBank Vision Fund racks up billions in losses. 12 insiders reveal where it all went wrong. Lastly, if you didn’t catch the first instalment of Starting Up, Business Insider’s interview show, you should check out Drake Baer’s conversation with Slack cofounder and CTO Cal Henderson. Below are headlines on some of the stories you might have missed from the past week. Stay safe, everyone. — Matt
3 May 13:33 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/top-business-stories-this-week-the-office-payments-masa-son-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The future of the office, how we'll shop and pay, and Masa Son's biggest challenge, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Hello! As the curve flattens in many parts of the world and the movement to reopen the economy gains steam, I keep finding myself thinking about this seating plan. As Holly Secon reported this week, 44% of workers on one floor of a South Korean call center got the coronavirus. The desks colored blue show where employees with confirmed cases sat. For some of you, that seating plan might look a little like your bank of desks at the office. It certainly looks like mine. A number of Business Insider reporters this week delved in to what a return to work might look like, and how offices will have to be reconfigured to make a return possible: There are other questions beyond whether we’ll go back to the office, when, and what it might look like. How will we shop? How will we pay? What felt normal in February – queueing for Chipotle in a packed restaurant and paying by bank card – now feels anachronistic. Where did it all go wrong for Masayoshi Son? From Dakin Campbell’s story: In 2017, Son, the founder and CEO of SoftBank, upended the tech establishment with the creation of the $100 billion Vision Fund, the largest venture-capital fund in history. Over the next two years, it would deploy $75 billion across 88 investments, with Son holding an outsized voice on the three-person investment committee. Son earned a reputation among some venture capitalists and entrepreneurs who saw him pressuring founders into taking more money than they needed, elbowing aside coinvestors, and warping markets by seemingly pushing for growth at all costs. Venture capitalists kept investing alongside him, and founders took the money as valuations rose. The fund earned some wins, selling a stake in India e-commerce company Flipkart to Walmart and making money on an investment in publicly-traded chipmaker Nvidia. But as more than one company with billions of dollars in Vision Fund cash and no profits began to crater last year, the Silicon Valley community quickly turned against him. You can read the full story here: Masa Son is facing one of his biggest challenges yet as the SoftBank Vision Fund racks up billions in losses. 12 insiders reveal where it all went wrong. Lastly, if you didn’t catch the first installment of Starting Up, Business Insider’s interview show, you should check out Drake Baer’s conversation with Slack cofounder and CTO Cal Henderson. Below are headlines on some of the stories you might have missed from the past week. Stay safe, everyone. — Matt
3 May 13:33 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/top-business-stories-this-week-the-office-payments-masa-son-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Mysterious strokes among young COVID-19 patients may reveal how 'a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before,' a doctor says
3 May 17:15
•
3 articles
Weight: 2.50
Importance: 2.50
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 17:15
Average US: 19.733333333333334
Weighted average US: 52.09786007755312
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Weighted average GB: 0.35201256809157516
Average IN: 1.1333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 2.9921068287783883
Mysterious strokes among young COVID-19 patients may reveal how 'a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before,' a doctor says
Four people in their 30s and 40s were recently admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with life-threatening strokes. Their cases were united by a common theme: All of them had COVID-19. "Large-vessel strokes in young patients are exceedingly rare," Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai who published a new report about the cases, told Business Insider. "They'd need a past history concerning strokes. But these patients had minimal past medical histories and all came in within two weeks." The patients, four men and one woman, were hospitalized between March 23 and April 7. In Oxley's paper, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, he and his colleagues wrote that "every two weeks over the previous 12 months, our service has treated, on average, 0.73 patients younger than 50 years of age with large-vessel stroke." So the recent handful of stroke cases stood out. "What if we're now learning that a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before?" Oxley said. Large-vessel strokes are caused by a blood clot that travels from the body into an artery in the brain. The new report describes how this happened in each of the five recent New York cases. The only woman in the study, a 33-year-old, had no prior medical history, the paper says. She experienced a COVID-19-related cough, headache, and chills in the week prior to her stroke. Then, over a period of 28 hours, her speech became slow and slurred as her jaw muscles shut down. Her left arm and leg became weak and numb. At Mount Sinai, Oxley and his colleagues found a blood clot in her brain's carotid artery. They used a "clot-busting" drug to break it up over the next 10 days. The four male patients, meanwhile, had similar stories. All of them experienced numbness, slowed speech, and temporary paralysis before they went to the hospital, where doctors removed the life-threatening clots. The men ranged in age from 37 to 49; two had mild coronavirus symptoms while the other two reported none at all. Only one had suffered a stroke before. Oxley said that since first speaking out about these stroke cases, he's been flooded with emails from other coronavirus patients describing minor strokes. A 31-year-old man messaged him on Sunday, describing a sudden onset of speech disturbance and numbness, Oxley said. The patient went to the hospital, and an MRI revealed he'd had a stroke in his thalamus. "I was just dumbfounded by this story of a patient who had never had a past history of stroke," Oxley said. He added that strokes have also been observed in older COVID-19 patients, but the new trend is reason for additional concern because it involves people in their 30s and 40s without severe symptoms. (Overall, nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65.) Oxley and J. Mocco, another Mount Sinai neurosurgeon, think the link between COVID-19 and the increase in strokes they're seeing has to do with blood clots. Experts have reported blood clots appearing in various parts of coronavirus patients' bodies, including the lungs. Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who was diagnosed with coronavirus, had to have his right leg amputated after clots formed. "It's very striking how much this disease causes clots to form," Mocco told Reuters. Coronaviruses in general have also been known to cause neurological issues like strokes, according to a February study. Roughly 2% of patients in Singapore who contracted SARS (also a coronavirus) had strokes. A study on COVID-19 patients at three hospitals in Wuhan, China — which is not yet peer-reviewed — found that of 214 patients, 36% had neurological symptoms. That included impaired consciousness and acute cerebrovascular diseases like strokes. Scientists aren't yet sure why COVID-19 causes clots, but Oxley said they might be the result of blood vessels' reaction to being invaded by the virus. The new coronavirus attacks via a specific cell receptor called ACE2, which can be found throughout the body, including in our guts, lungs, hearts, and even noses. According to Oxley, the virus can also bind to ACE2 receptors in the walls of our blood vessels. That leads the vessels to become inflamed, which can cause clotting. Then once a clot has formed, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Not everyone's blood-vessel walls have the same level of ACE2 receptors, though. That characteristic is linked to a patient's genetics, rather than their age, Oxley said. That might explain why blood clots appear in patients across age brackets. Oxley said COVID-19 is teaching his colleagues about a previously unexplored link between viruses, inflammation, and strokes. "There are other viruses we're going to learn about in the future that may be connected to strokes in the same way," he said. LoadingSomething is loading. Featured Health Articles:- Telehealth Industry Explained- Value-Based Care Explained- Senior Care & Assisted Living Market- Smart Medical Devices & Wearable Tech- AI in Healthcare- Remote Patient Monitoring Explained - AI in Medical Diagnosis Systems Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 17:15 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/coronavirus-causes-strokes-inflammation-in-blood-vessels-clots-2020-4Rating: 4.40
Mysterious strokes among young COVID-19 patients may reveal how ‘a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before,’ a doctor says
Four people in their 30s and 40s were recently admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with life-threatening strokes. Their cases were united by a common theme: All of them had COVID-19. “Large-vessel strokes in young patients are exceedingly rare,” Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai who published a new report about the cases, told Business Insider. “They’d need a past history concerning strokes. But these patients had minimal past medical histories and all came in within two weeks.” The patients, four men and one woman, were hospitalized between March 23 and April 7. In Oxley’s paper, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, he and his colleagues wrote that “every two weeks over the previous 12 months, our service has treated, on average, 0.73 patients younger than 50 years of age with large-vessel stroke.” So the recent handful of stroke cases stood out. “What if we’re now learning that a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before?” Oxley said. Large-vessel strokes are caused by a blood clot that travels from the body into an artery in the brain. The new report describes how this happened in each of the five recent New York cases. The only woman in the study, a 33-year-old, had no prior medical history, the paper says. She experienced a COVID-19-related cough, headache, and chills in the week prior to her stroke. Then, over a period of 28 hours, her speech became slow and slurred as her jaw muscles shut down. Her left arm and leg became weak and numb. At Mount Sinai, Oxley and his colleagues found a blood clot in her brain’s carotid artery. They used a “clot-busting” drug to break it up over the next 10 days. The four male patients, meanwhile, had similar stories. All of them experienced numbness, slowed speech, and temporary paralysis before they went to the hospital, where doctors removed the life-threatening clots. The men ranged in age from 37 to 49; two had mild coronavirus symptoms while the other two reported none at all. Only one had suffered a stroke before. Oxley said that since first speaking out about these stroke cases, he’s been flooded with emails from other coronavirus patients describing minor strokes. A 31-year-old man messaged him on Sunday, describing a sudden onset of speech disturbance and numbness, Oxley said. The patient went to the hospital, and an MRI revealed he’d had a stroke in his thalamus. “I was just dumbfounded by this story of a patient who had never had a past history of stroke,” Oxley said. He added that strokes have also been observed in older COVID-19 patients, but the new trend is reason for additional concern because it involves people in their 30s and 40s without severe symptoms. (Overall, nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65.) Oxley and J. Mocco, another Mount Sinai neurosurgeon, think the link between COVID-19 and the increase in strokes they’re seeing has to do with blood clots. Experts have reported blood clots appearing in various parts of coronavirus patients’ bodies, including the lungs. Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who was diagnosed with coronavirus, had to have his right leg amputated after clots formed. “It’s very striking how much this disease causes clots to form,” Mocco told Reuters. Coronaviruses in general have also been known to cause neurological issues like strokes, according to a February study. Roughly 2% of patients in Singapore who contracted SARS (also a coronavirus) had strokes. A study on COVID-19 patients at three hospitals in Wuhan, China – which is not yet peer-reviewed – found that of 214 patients, 36% had neurological symptoms. That included impaired consciousness and acute cerebrovascular diseases like strokes. Scientists aren’t yet sure why COVID-19 causes clots, but Oxley said they might be the result of blood vessels’ reaction to being invaded by the virus. The new coronavirus attacks via a specific cell receptor called ACE2, which can be found throughout the body, including in our guts, lungs, hearts, and even noses. According to Oxley, the virus can also bind to ACE2 receptors in the walls of our blood vessels. That leads the vessels to become inflamed, which can cause clotting. Then once a clot has formed, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Not everyone’s blood-vessel walls have the same level of ACE2 receptors, though. That characteristic is linked to a patient’s genetics, rather than their age, Oxley said. That might explain why blood clots appear in patients across age brackets. Oxley said COVID-19 is teaching his colleagues about a previously unexplored link between viruses, inflammation, and strokes. “There are other viruses we’re going to learn about in the future that may be connected to strokes in the same way,” he said.
3 May 17:15 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/coronavirus-causes-strokes-inflammation-in-blood-vessels-clots-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Mysterious strokes among young COVID-19 patients may reveal how 'a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before,' a doctor says, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Four people in their 30s and 40s were recently admitted to Mount Sinai Hospital in New York City with life-threatening strokes. Their cases were united by a common theme: All of them had COVID-19. “Large-vessel strokes in young patients are exceedingly rare,” Thomas Oxley, a neurosurgeon at Mount Sinai who published a new report about the cases, told Business Insider. “They’d need a past history concerning strokes. But these patients had minimal past medical histories and all came in within two weeks.” The patients, four men and one woman, were hospitalized between March 23 and April 7. In Oxley’s paper, published Wednesday in the New England Journal of Medicine, he and his colleagues wrote that “every two weeks over the previous 12 months, our service has treated, on average, 0.73 patients younger than 50 years of age with large-vessel stroke.” So the recent handful of stroke cases stood out. “What if we’re now learning that a virus can cause strokes in ways we never knew before?” Oxley said. Large-vessel strokes are caused by a blood clot that travels from the body into an artery in the brain. The new report describes how this happened in each of the five recent New York cases. The only woman in the study, a 33-year-old, had no prior medical history, the paper says. She experienced a COVID-19-related cough, headache, and chills in the week prior to her stroke. Then, over a period of 28 hours, her speech became slow and slurred as her jaw muscles shut down. Her left arm and leg became weak and numb. At Mount Sinai, Oxley and his colleagues found a blood clot in her brain’s carotid artery. They used a “clot-busting” drug to break it up over the next 10 days. The four male patients, meanwhile, had similar stories. All of them experienced numbness, slowed speech, and temporary paralysis before they went to the hospital, where doctors removed the life-threatening clots. The men ranged in age from 37 to 49; two had mild coronavirus symptoms while the other two reported none at all. Only one had suffered a stroke before. Oxley said that since first speaking out about these stroke cases, he’s been flooded with emails from other coronavirus patients describing minor strokes. A 31-year-old man messaged him on Sunday, describing a sudden onset of speech disturbance and numbness, Oxley said. The patient went to the hospital, and an MRI revealed he’d had a stroke in his thalamus. “I was just dumbfounded by this story of a patient who had never had a past history of stroke,” Oxley said. He added that strokes have also been observed in older COVID-19 patients, but the new trend is reason for additional concern because it involves people in their 30s and 40s without severe symptoms. (Overall, nearly three-quarters of all strokes occur in people over the age of 65.) Oxley and J. Mocco, another Mount Sinai neurosurgeon, think the link between COVID-19 and the increase in strokes they’re seeing has to do with blood clots. Experts have reported blood clots appearing in various parts of coronavirus patients’ bodies, including the lungs. Broadway actor Nick Cordero, who was diagnosed with coronavirus, had to have his right leg amputated after clots formed. “It’s very striking how much this disease causes clots to form,” Mocco told Reuters. Coronaviruses in general have also been known to cause neurological issues like strokes, according to a February study. Roughly 2% of patients in Singapore who contracted SARS (also a coronavirus) had strokes. A study on COVID-19 patients at three hospitals in Wuhan, China – which is not yet peer-reviewed – found that of 214 patients, 36% had neurological symptoms. That included impaired consciousness and acute cerebrovascular diseases like strokes. Scientists aren’t yet sure why COVID-19 causes clots, but Oxley said they might be the result of blood vessels’ reaction to being invaded by the virus. The new coronavirus attacks via a specific cell receptor called ACE2, which can be found throughout the body, including in our guts, lungs, hearts, and even noses. According to Oxley, the virus can also bind to ACE2 receptors in the walls of our blood vessels. That leads the vessels to become inflamed, which can cause clotting. Then once a clot has formed, it can travel to the brain and cause a stroke. Not everyone’s blood-vessel walls have the same level of ACE2 receptors, though. That characteristic is linked to a patient’s genetics, rather than their age, Oxley said. That might explain why blood clots appear in patients across age brackets. Oxley said COVID-19 is teaching his colleagues about a previously unexplored link between viruses, inflammation, and strokes. “There are other viruses we’re going to learn about in the future that may be connected to strokes in the same way,” he said.
3 May 17:15 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/coronavirus-causes-strokes-inflammation-in-blood-vessels-clots-2020-4Rating: 0.30
The top 5 new TV shows premiering in May
3 May 18:58
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3 articles
Weight: 2.50
Importance: 2.50
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Best date: 3 May 18:58
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Weighted average GB: 0.35201256809157516
Average IN: 1.1333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 2.9921068287783883
The top 5 new TV shows premiering in May
Steve Carell will return to TV comedy with “Space Force,” which debuts this month on Netflix. It’s among the most anticipated new shows of the month. Every month, Business Insider runs down the five most anticipated new shows using data from television-tracking app TV Time, derived from its millions of users around the world who use the app to track and react to what they’re watching. May also sees the premiere of DC’s “Stargirl,” which will stream on DC Universe and air on the CW network the next day, and TNT’s “Snowpiercer,” which is based on “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 sci-fi thriller of the same name. Below are the five most anticipated new shows of May: Description: “From Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) comes Upload, a new sci-fi comedy. In the near future, people who are near death can be ‘uploaded’ into virtual reality environments. Cash-strapped Nora works customer service for the luxurious ‘Lakeview’ digital afterlife. When party-boy/coder Nathan’s car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into Nora’s VR world.” Description: “A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military’s newest agency – Space Force – ready for lift-off.” Description: “In post-World War II Hollywood, an ambitious group of aspiring actors and filmmakers will do almost anything to make their showbiz dreams come true.” Description: “Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel series and film of the same name.” Description: “DC’s Stargirl follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines DC’s Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series. “
3 May 18:58 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/top-new-tv-shows-premiering-in-may-stargirl-space-force-2020-5Rating: 0.30
The top 5 new TV shows premiering in May
Steve Carell will return to TV comedy with "Space Force," which debuts this month on Netflix. It's among the most anticipated new shows of the month. Every month, Business Insider runs down the five most anticipated new shows using data from television-tracking app TV Time, derived from its millions of users around the world who use the app to track and react to what they're watching. May also sees the premiere of DC's "Stargirl," which will stream on DC Universe and air on the CW network the next day, and TNT's "Snowpiercer," which is based on "Parasite" director Bong Joon-ho's 2013 sci-fi thriller of the same name. Below are the five most anticipated new shows of May: Description: "From Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) comes Upload, a new sci-fi comedy. In the near future, people who are near death can be 'uploaded' into virtual reality environments. Cash-strapped Nora works customer service for the luxurious 'Lakeview' digital afterlife. When party-boy/coder Nathan's car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into Nora's VR world." Description: "A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military's newest agency — Space Force — ready for lift-off." Description: "In post-World War II Hollywood, an ambitious group of aspiring actors and filmmakers will do almost anything to make their showbiz dreams come true." Description: "Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel series and film of the same name." Description: "DC's Stargirl follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines DC's Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series. " Disclosure: Mathias Döpfner, CEO of Business Insider's parent company, Axel Springer, is a Netflix board member.
3 May 18:58 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/top-new-tv-shows-premiering-in-may-stargirl-space-force-2020-5Rating: 4.40
The top 5 new TV shows premiering in May, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Steve Carell will return to TV comedy with “Space Force,” which debuts this month on Netflix. It’s among the most anticipated new shows of the month. Every month, Business Insider runs down the five most anticipated new shows using data from television-tracking app TV Time, derived from its millions of users around the world who use the app to track and react to what they’re watching. May also sees the premiere of DC’s “Stargirl,” which will stream on DC Universe and air on the CW network the next day, and TNT’s “Snowpiercer,” which is based on “Parasite” director Bong Joon-ho’s 2013 sci-fi thriller of the same name. Below are the five most anticipated new shows of May: Description: “From Greg Daniels (The Office, Parks and Recreation) comes Upload, a new sci-fi comedy. In the near future, people who are near death can be ‘uploaded’ into virtual reality environments. Cash-strapped Nora works customer service for the luxurious ‘Lakeview’ digital afterlife. When party-boy/coder Nathan’s car crashes, his girlfriend uploads him into Nora’s VR world.” Description: “A four-star general begrudgingly teams up with an eccentric scientist to get the U.S. military’s newest agency – Space Force – ready for lift-off.” Description: “In post-World War II Hollywood, an ambitious group of aspiring actors and filmmakers will do almost anything to make their showbiz dreams come true.” Description: “Set more than seven years after the world has become a frozen wasteland, Snowpiercer centers on the remnants of humanity who inhabit a perpetually moving train, with 1001 cars, that circles the globe. Class warfare, social injustice and the politics of survival play out in this riveting television adaptation based on the critically acclaimed graphic novel series and film of the same name.” Description: “DC’s Stargirl follows high school sophomore Courtney Whitmore as she inspires an unlikely group of young heroes to stop the villains of the past. This new drama reimagines DC’s Stargirl and the very first superhero team, the Justice Society of America, in an unpredictable series. “
3 May 18:58 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/top-new-tv-shows-premiering-in-may-stargirl-space-force-2020-5Rating: 0.30
This $650,000 pop-top RV built on a medium-duty truck platform can fit 2 queen beds — see inside 'Pangea'
3 May 12:16
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3 articles
Weight: 2.49
Importance: 2.50
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Best date: 3 May 12:16
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Weighted average GB: 0.35201256809157516
Average IN: 1.1333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 2.9921068287783883
This $650,000 pop-top RV built on a medium-duty truck platform can fit 2 queen beds — see inside 'Pangea'
Global Expedition Vehicles, which specializes in custom overlanding vehicles, created the Pangea RV that can be built on medium-duty trucks from brands like Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Trucks. The Pangea has amenities that can be found in any non-mobile home, such as a kitchen, a dining area, a bathroom, and several beds. But unlike traditional homes, the roof of the Pangea can be hydraulically lifted, giving the tiny home a 10-foot interior height and access to the lofted beds. In total, the tiny home on wheels is 8 feet wide and 17 feet long, although customers can request the length to be extended up to 25 feet. The interior dimensions of the tiny home falls just a bit shorter with a length of 16.3 feet, width of 7.3 feet, and height of 6.3 feet from the floor to the bottom of the lofted bed. This isn't the only build from Missouri-based Global Expedition Vehicles: the company has at least nine other builds — not including custom designs — including the UXV-MAX which, along with the Pangea, starts at $650,000.
3 May 12:16 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/global-expedition-vehicles-pop-top-rv-pangea-two-queen-beds-2020-4Rating: 4.40
This $650,000 pop-top RV built on a medium-duty truck platform can fit 2 queen beds — see inside ‘Pangea’
Global Expedition Vehicles, which specializes in custom overlanding vehicles, created the Pangea RV that can be built on medium-duty trucks from brands like Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Trucks. The Pangea has amenities that can be found in any non-mobile home, such as a kitchen, a dining area, a bathroom, and several beds. But unlike traditional homes, the roof of the Pangea can be hydraulically lifted, giving the tiny home a 10-foot interior height and access to the lofted beds. In total, the tiny home on wheels is 8 feet wide and 17 feet long, although customers can request the length to be extended up to 25 feet. The interior dimensions of the tiny home falls just a bit shorter with a length of 16.3 feet, width of 7.3 feet, and height of 6.3 feet from the floor to the bottom of the lofted bed. This isn’t the only build from Missouri-based Global Expedition Vehicles: the company has at least nine other builds – not including custom designs – including the UXV-MAX which, along with the Pangea, starts at $650,000.
3 May 12:16 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/global-expedition-vehicles-pop-top-rv-pangea-two-queen-beds-2020-4-2Rating: 0.30
This $650,000 pop-top RV built on a medium-duty truck platform can fit 2 queen beds — see inside 'Pangea', Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Global Expedition Vehicles, which specializes in custom overlanding vehicles, created the Pangea RV that can be built on medium-duty trucks from brands like Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner Trucks. The Pangea has amenities that can be found in any non-mobile home, such as a kitchen, a dining area, a bathroom, and several beds. But unlike traditional homes, the roof of the Pangea can be hydraulically lifted, giving the tiny home a 10-foot interior height and access to the lofted beds. In total, the tiny home on wheels is 8 feet wide and 17 feet long, although customers can request the length to be extended up to 25 feet. The interior dimensions of the tiny home falls just a bit shorter with a length of 16.3 feet, width of 7.3 feet, and height of 6.3 feet from the floor to the bottom of the lofted bed. This isn’t the only build from Missouri-based Global Expedition Vehicles: the company has at least nine other builds – not including custom designs – including the UXV-MAX which, along with the Pangea, starts at $650,000.
3 May 12:16 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/global-expedition-vehicles-pop-top-rv-pangea-two-queen-beds-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Fines for breaching lockdown 'could double and go up to £3,200 for serial offenders'
3 May 05:56
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4 articles
Weight: 2.49
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Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:49
Average US: 18.325
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Average IN: 5.074999999999999
Weighted average IN: 6.1346487413614
Fines for breaching lockdown 'could double and go up to £3,200 for serial offenders'
Brits could be fined up to £3,200 for repeatedly flouting lockdown rules, under new proposals. The Government is considering raising the penalty for defying social distancing advice to £100 for a first offence, with the amount doubling with each further breach, according to the Daily Telegraph. Under current rules aimed at slowing the spread of coronavirus, police can issue on-the-spot fines of £60 if someone ignores the lockdown. But under a toughening of measures, this amount would nearly double, rising to £200 for a second offence and increasing with each further violation to a maximum of £3,200 for a sixth offence. Anyone who refuses to pay may be jailed, the paper goes on to say. For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, read our liveblog here As the UK's coronavirus case numbers pass their peak, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has vowed to reveal a "roadmap" for how the country will gradually get back to work and school. While it is hoped that some social distancing measures can be relaxed from May 26, others are expected to be tightened in an effort to stifle the number of new Covid-19 infections. The Government says it is vital to avoid a catastrophic second wave of cases - and that it is crucial to keep the 'R' rate of people a patient goes on to infect under 1. It comes after police handed out more than 9,000 fines to people breaching lockdown rules in England and Wales in just four weeks, a rate of one every five minutes. Of these, 400 were issued to repeat offenders in the four weeks to April 27 - with one fined a shocking six times. Earlier today, people protesting the coronavirus lockdown were seen hugging in front of the Metropolitan Police's headquarters. A group of about 20 people gathered outside the central London police station Scotland Yard. They huddled together while holding their signs, declining to follow government guidelines urging people to stay two metres apart from each other. Members of the protest can be seen being spoken to by police officers. Speaking to the Telegraph, a Whitehall source said: "In the next phase of our fight against coronavirus, some of the social distancing measures will be relaxed, others will be toughened up. "Hand in hand with the new rules will come tougher enforcement powers for the police to crack down on the small minority who break the rules – and stop them putting everyone else at greater risk. "We will send a clear signal to the small minority of those breaching the rules that they will not get away with it by increasing the starting point for fines to £100."
3 May 05:56 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/fines-breaching-lockdown-could-double-21965612Rating: 2.39
Lockdown rule-breakers face doubling of fines as government proposes £100 for first offence while sixth time offenders could rack up fines totalling £6,300
Covidiots who continually flout lockdown laws could face fines of more than £3,000 under new government proposals. Government chiefs are considering increasing fines up to a maximum of £3,200 for repeat offenders, and £100 for first time rule-breakers. The move is part of a crackdown on those breaking strict lockdown laws, which were put in place in March to help slow the spread of coronavirus. The eye-watering maximum fine would be for an offender caught for a sixth time, with fines set to double for each repeat offence. It means a sixth time offender would accumulate fines totalling £6,300. The move comes as some Britons continue to flout the rules, with more than 9,000 fines issued throughout England and Wales in the four weeks to April 27. Police handed out 400 fixed penalty notices to repeat offenders in the four weeks to April 27 in England and Wales, while one person was even fined six times, the Sunday Telegraph reports. Last month, Minister for the Cabinet Office Michael Gove revealed to MPs that more than 3,200 fines had been issued to people between March 27 and April 13. A Whitehall source told the paper said: 'In the next phase of our fight against coronavirus, some of the social distancing measures will be relaxed, others will be toughened up. 'Hand in hand with the new rules will come tougher enforcement powers for the police to crack down on the small minority who break the rules - and stop them putting everyone else at greater risk.' Downing Street has previously said ramping up the fines was an option but such a course would only be taken if people repeatedly ignored or disregarded the current penalties. Officers have been told to use their common sense when dealing with gatherings, with fines only used if warnings and persuasion prove ineffective. But while the vast majority of the country has abided by the rules, some covidiots have continued to act out. Today, police in Glastonbury Market Place broke up a Free Love Cannabis protest. Last week, dozens of revellers posed for a picture during a group drinking session in breach of lockdown rules - while shoppers queued outside reopened DIY stores and motorists returned to the streets of London on Monday. Around 30 people gathered for an outdoor party last weekend in Coatbridge, Lanarkshire. One of the group joked online that they were 'away for a social distance swally' and that she would 'probs be in the cells for 4'. Last week, a group of covidiots left behind empty vodka bottles and beer cans after an unauthorised party at a beauty spot' at Whitfield Valley Nature reserve in Staffordshire. Yesterday, in Basingstoke, Hampshire, groups of people defied government rules by gathering for an anti-lockdown 'protest'. The protesters held a demonstration in a children's park and have vowed to meet every week to take a stand against lockdown measures, claiming coronavirus deaths have been exaggerated. And in London, a protest by 5G conspiracy theorists saw a group of people take part in a 'group hug' outside the Metropolitan Police's headquarters, New Scotland Yard. The group, which included young children, held up signs which included the slogans 'my body, my choice', 'we do not consent' and 'no more lockdown'. One man was arrested on suspicion of failing to comply with the direction of a police constable and assault on police. He was taken into custody yesterday. Since Britain was put into lockdown in March, the public is only supposed to go outside for essential shopping/medical appointments or taking part in one hour's exercise. Key workers are allowed to commute to and from work. The rules were put in place to slow the spread of coronavirus, which has infected more than 180,000 people across the UK. The government announced 621 more people had died from coronavirus yesterday, bringing the total number of deaths to 28,131.
3 May 11:49 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282021/Lockdown-rule-breakers-face-doubling-fines-government-proposes-100-offence.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Coronavirus lockdown fines could nearly DOUBLE to £100 for first breach and £3,200 for repeat offenders
CORONAVIRUS lockdown fines could nearly DOUBLE to £100 for the first breach and then £3,200 for repeat offenders. It comes after 400 fixed penalty notices were dished out by cops for consistent rule breakers in four weeks to April 27 in England Wales. Ministers hope the new tougher stance will convince a hard core to finally abide by the lockdown measures, the Telegraph reports. Despite the majority of Brits doing as they are told startling figures emerged last month that showed police were dishing out fines at a rate of every five minutes. A total of 9,176 fines were issued in England and Wales in just four weeks with more than a third being for young people between 18 and 24 and another 31 per cent going to those aged 25-34. According to the National Police Chiefs’ Council (NPCC), almost 400 of the penalties were issued to repeat offenders. One person was even fined six times. Under the new no-nonsense regime a fine will start at £100 then double for a repeat offence. A third offence would see a £400 fine, a fourth £800, then £1,600 and finally a sixth offence would cost £3,200. This would mean that a consistent rule flouter would end up footing a bill of £6,300. Failing to pay the penalty could result in a court date and prison time. A Whitehall source said: “In the next phase of our fight against coronavirus some of the social distancing measures will be relaxed, others will be toughened up. “Hand in hand with the new rules will come tougher enforcement powers for the police to crack down on the small minority who break the rules – and stop them putting everyone else at greater risk.” Authorities had previously given police the ability to slap Brits with £60 fines, if they failed to comply after officers engaged with them. NPCC Chair Martin Hewitt said: “As the latest provisional figures on the number of fines issued show, the vast majority of people continue to do the right thing, staying at home in order to protect the NHS and help save lives." In London crowds have been dispersed for having picnics or playing football in parks, while in Hove, Sussex, a couple were charged under the new Coronavirus Act for having a barbecue on the beach. However, a top cop has warned against "overzealous" policing during the lockdown. Assistant commissioner Neil Basu said he feared some extreme reactions from forces could lead to a backlash from the public. He added that police forces must keep “the trust and confidence of the public” while “policing by consent”. And Derbyshire Police was forced to defend sharing footage of people rambling in the Curbar Edge area of the Peak District, saying travelling to remote areas for exercise did not count as "essential travel". Lockdown measures announced by Boris Johnson in March mean people should only leave their homes if they are travelling to work as a key worker, getting vital food supplies, a daily dose of exercise or ensuring the welfare of relatives.
3 May 13:25 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/news/11538089/coronavirus-lockdown-fines-double/Rating: 2.72
Fines for breaching coronavirus lockdown could nearly double for rule-breakers
Fines for breaching coronavirus lockdown rules could be increased to £100 for a first offence and soar to £3,200 for serial offenders, under proposals being considered by ministers. It is hoped doubling the fine each time a person who repeatedly flouts rules to stay at home will give police greater powers to punish those ignoring warnings they could be spreading the coronavirus and putting lives at risk as well as stretching NHS resources. The move comes after it emerged a hard core of people breaking the lockdown rules resulted in 400 fixed penalty notices being handed out by police to repeat offenders in the four weeks to April 27 in England and Wales. One person was even fined six times. Police have been issuing fixed penalties at a rate one of every five minutes to those breaking rules. More than 9,000 fines were issued throughout England and Wales during the same four week period. The problem with breaching stay at home rules was illustrated starkly yesterday in London when a group of protesters opposed to the lockdown began hugging outside New Scotland Yard in Westminster. One of the placards among the handful of demonstrators read ‘My body. My Choice. We do not consent.” Police encourage the group to go home, however one man was arrested for failing to comply with the request and assault on an officer. It is also hoped the near doubling of the first fine from £60 to £100 will help combat the increasing likelihood more people will be tempted to try to breach the rules as good weather moves in for the summer months. The possible toughening of the enforcement regime would see fines start at £100 and double for a repeat offence. Consequently a second offence would mean a £200 fine, a third £400, a fourth £800, then £1,600 and finally a sixth offence would cost £3,200. It would mean the offender would end up £6,300 out of pocket. Anyone who fails to pay the fine can be jailed. Police are expected to also have power to arrest serial offenders who breach the social distancing rules and endanger public health. A Whitehall source said: “In the next phase of our fight against coronavirus some of the social distancing measures will be relaxed, others will be toughened up. “Hand in hand with the new rules will come tougher enforcement powers for the police to crack down on the small minority who break the rules – and stop them putting everyone else at greater risk.” However, it is understood there are no plans yet to relax the current social distancing rules, with the Government insisting the lockdown will not be lifted until its five key tests have been met. The source added: “We are hugely grateful for the vast majority of people who have followed the detailed guidance, and stayed at home.” He added that when the rules are changed it will be even more “critical” that people adhere to them to keep the R value - the number of people someone with Covid-19 infects - under one to avoid a dangerous second peak. “We will send a clear signal to the small minority of those breaching the rules that they will not get away with it by increasing the starting point for fines to £100,” he said. A senior government source said: "Thanks to the enormous sacrifices of the British people we have succeeded in protecting the NHS from being overwhelmed. "The vast majority of people have followed the rules, but in the next phase of our fight it will be even more critical that a small minority of rule-breakers do not put the rest of us at risk. "That is why we will give the police tougher powers to stamp down hard on rule-breakers."
2 May 19:01 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/fines-breaching-coronavirus-lockdown-could-190144655.htmlRating: 0.30
Japan indicates could ease some coronavirus-related curbs
3 May 16:50
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4 articles
Weight: 2.48
Importance: 2.72
Age penalty: 0.91
Best date: 3 May 09:27
Average US: 8.025
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Weighted average GB: 0.44634504441778244
Average IN: 3.4499999999999997
Weighted average IN: 3.939579598438604
Japan indicates could ease some coronavirus-related curbs
TOKYO: Japan could ease some of the current coronavirus-related curbs on economic activity by allowing places such as parks and museums to reopen, provided proper preventive measures were in place, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Sunday (May 3). The remarks come a day before the government is set to announce the extension of its state of emergency after struggling to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected 15,589 people and killed 530 in the country. "As long as the proper preventive measures are in place, it could be possible to ease some of the current restrictions on economic activities," Nishimura said at a news conference held on Sunday morning. Places like parks, museums, art galleries, and libraries could reopen even in the 13 prefectures where the coronavirus has spread rapidly, if they take steps to disinfect their premises and ensure visitors maintain their distance, he added. Further details on how restrictions might be eased would be discussed at an expert's meeting on Monday, Nishimura said. The government-issued state of emergency in Japan is set to expire on Wednesday, the last day of a week-long national holiday. The government is preparing to extend the state of emergency for another month. Under the state of emergency, the government has asked people to stay at home, avoid unnecessary outings, and refrain from going to crowded areas.
3 May 16:50 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/japan-indicates-ease-covid-19-curbs-12697912Rating: 3.25
Abe looks to extend state of emergency through May 31
TOKYO — Prime Minister Shinzo Abe is set to extend Japan's state of emergency by around a month through May 31 amid fears that further spread of the novel coronavirus could flood hospitals with patients, a government official said Sunday. Abe is expected to announce the extension Monday. The declaration, originally set to expire Wednesday following a one-month period, has led local governments to ask residents to stay home as much as possible and some businesses to shut to prevent the spread of the virus. But another senior official said the government is also planning to allow the reopening of parks, museums, libraries and some other public facilities, even in areas with a relatively high number of coronavirus infections. As part of efforts to deal with public weariness with the prolonged state of emergency, economic revitalization minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said at a press conference that the government will permit those facilities to restart if sufficient measures to prevent the spread of the virus are put in place. The number of infections reported in Japan has topped 15,000, including around 4,600 in Tokyo. The virus has killed over 500 across the country. The government will release a set of guidelines on how to resume social activities on Monday. The planned reopening of public facilities will be allowed in Tokyo, Osaka, Kyoto, Hokkaido, Fukuoka and eight other prefectures that the government has singled out for taking stepped-up measures against the virus, according to Nishimura, who is in charge of issues related to the state of emergency. When he met with the press, Nishimura also said the government is considering using the Regional Economy Vitalization Corp of Japan, a public-private investment fund, to financially support troubled midsized firms in non-urban areas. "About 1 trillion yen ($9.3 billion) has been prepared (by the fund) for the whole country. If necessary, we will also think about increasing this amount," Nishimura said. He also said the government is considering increasing the current subsidy of up to 8,330 yen per day provided to companies for each employee taking days off due to the spread of the virus. On a TV program, Nishimura said that if realized, the increased amount will be paid for all days taken off since the subsidy program was introduced in early April. In addition, he said the government plans to disclose numerical targets for when to lift the state of emergency. On Friday, a government panel recommended that requests be kept in place for a while for people to stay at home and some businesses to close as the number of infections has not fallen sharply since Abe initially declared the state of emergency on April 7 for Tokyo, Osaka and five other prefectures. On April 16, Abe expanded it to cover the rest of the country, urging the public to avoid closed spaces, crowded places and close contact with other people. The state of emergency was originally scheduled to end Wednesday, the last day of the Golden Week holiday period. © KYODO
3 May 21:02 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/politics/japan-to-allow-reopening-of-museums-after-virus-emergency-extendedRating: 2.09
Japan indicates could ease some coronavirus-related curbs
Tokyo - Japan could ease some of the current coronavirus-related curbs on economic activity by allowing places such as parks and museums to reopen, provided proper preventive measures were in place, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Sunday. The remarks come a day before the government is set to announce the extension of its state of emergency after struggling to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected 15,589 people and killed 530 in the country. "As long as the proper preventive measures are in place, it could be possible to ease some of the current restrictions on economic activities," Nishimura said at a news conference held on Sunday morning. Places like parks, museums, art galleries, and libraries could reopen even in the 13 prefectures where the coronavirus has spread rapidly, if they take steps to disinfect their premises and ensure visitors maintain their distance, he added. Further details on how restrictions might be eased would be discussed at an expert's meeting on Monday, Nishimura said. The government-issued state of emergency in Japan is set to expire on Wednesday, the last day of a week-long national holiday. The government is preparing to extend the state of emergency for another month. Under the state of emergency, the government has asked people to stay at home, avoid unnecessary outings, and refrain from going to crowded areas. Read MoreWith fighter jets and army bands, India's military thank health workers In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies. Read MoreCycle power: Bikes emerge as a post-lockdown commuter option As countries seek to get their economies back on track after the devastation wrought by the coronavirus pandemic, bicycle use is being encouraged as a way to avoid unsafe crowding on trains and buses. Read MorePhilippines temporarily bars incoming flights to decongest quarantine facilities The Philippines barred incoming passenger flights from Sunday morning for one week to contain the spread of the coronavirus and help reduce pressure on quarantine facilities housing thousands of Filipino repatriates, officials said on Sunday.
3 May 10:42 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Japan-indicates-could-ease-some-coronavirus-related-curbsRating: 3.14
Japan indicates could ease some coronavirus-related curbs
TOKYO (Reuters) - Japan could ease some of the current coronavirus-related curbs on economic activity by allowing places such as parks and museums to reopen, provided proper preventive measures were in place, Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura said on Sunday. The remarks come a day before the government is set to announce the extension of its state of emergency after struggling to suppress the spread of the novel coronavirus that has infected 15,589 people and killed 530 in the country. “As long as the proper preventive measures are in place, it could be possible to ease some of the current restrictions on economic activities,” Nishimura said at a news conference held on Sunday morning. Places like parks, museums, art galleries, and libraries could reopen even in the 13 prefectures where the coronavirus has spread rapidly, if they take steps to disinfect their premises and ensure visitors maintain their distance, he added. Further details on how restrictions might be eased would be discussed at an expert’s meeting on Monday, Nishimura said. The government-issued state of emergency in Japan is set to expire on Wednesday, the last day of a week-long national holiday. The government is preparing to extend the state of emergency for another month. Under the state of emergency, the government has asked people to stay at home, avoid unnecessary outings, and refrain from going to crowded areas.
3 May 09:27 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-japan-emergency-idUSKBN22F07IRating: 4.04
Dining out in China has drastically changed since lockdown restrictions have lifted, and it offers a glimpse into what may lie ahead for Australian restaurants
3 May 22:00
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.48
Importance: 2.50
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 12:00
Average US: 14.8
Weighted average US: 49.14965304172502
Average GB: 0.1
Weighted average GB: 0.3320922502819258
Average IN: 0.85
Weighted average IN: 2.822784127396369
Dining out in China has drastically changed since lockdown restrictions have lifted, and it offers a glimpse into what may lie ahead for Australian restaurants
As normal life slowly resumes in China, the rest of the world is looking toward the east for pointers on what day-to-day life will look like elsewhere after the lockdown restrictions are lifted. This includes how consumers will dine out in the future and what restaurants need to do to make the experience safe for both customers and workers. Photographs taken in cities across China and Hong Kong reveal how drastically different it is to eat out now that businesses are reopening. Temperature checks, caps on restaurant capacity, and social distancing markers have become the norm in many places, for example. Here’s what might lie ahead for the Australia: Limits on restaurant capacity are likely to become commonplace as more eateries open up again across the world. In Hong Kong, restaurants are required by the government order to keep the capacity below 50% and restrict groups to four people only, for example. Restaurant owners who don’t play by the rules risk being fined as much HK$50,000 ($US6,450) or face six months in jail. Hong Kong restauranteurs are also required to keep a 1.5-metre space or more between each table to minimise crowding. It’s likely that similar restrictions would come to Australia, building on from social distancing markers that are currently being used in stores to keep shoppers at a safe distance. In Hong Kong, temperature checks for both workers and customers are mandatory on arrival and at the point of leaving the restaurant. Temperature checks are already becoming more common in the US and other countries as restaurants reopen. In China, the government is using software, run on Alipay and WeChat’s platforms, to track people’s movements and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Anyone that wants to travel around is required to fill out a health survey on the app, which depending on their health status and travel history, will then generate a colour code – Green, Yellow, or Red. These codes dictate whether a person can travel freely, should stay at home and isolate, or is required to stay in quarantine. And increasingly, malls, cafes, and restaurants in China are requiring customers to show their codes on the app before they are able to enter these areas. Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep, which owns a string of popular restaurants in the city, recently released a set of guidelines advising its 1,000 person team on how to deal with the pandemic. These guidelines have been published publically for other restaurants to use too. As part of these, the restaurant chain has made it mandatory for any customers to sign a health declaration form before they are able to dine. In this form, they are asked to confirm that they haven’t tested positive from the virus in the past 14 days, experienced any symptoms in that time, been in direct contact with anyone who is known to be carrying the virus, or have travelled outside of Hong Kong. It also asks them to leave their contact details so if there’s a confirmed case in the restaurant, the owners are able to inform anyone who has visited during that time. “If guests decline to complete the form do not be afraid to turn them away,” the company wrote, adding that they turned away more than 50 people in one night. “They may be upset in the moment, but it is absolutely the right thing to do to protect your team and your guests. It feels uncomfortable because we are in the business of hospitality but we have to understand the reality of the new world we exist in,” it said. Acrylic barriers have been a fixture at some restaurants in Asia from the start of the pandemic and continue to be. These screens are becoming more prevalent at registers in grocery stores across Australia and could catch on in restaurants also as they start to reopen. Rigorous hygiene routines will be vital in encouraging customers to come back into restaurants. “Guests are very sensitive to hygiene, and anything that even looks messy will translate to unclean in their minds, so everyone’s uniforms, hair, nails, any surfaces guests can see, it all needs to be tidy and spotless, now more than ever,” Black Sheep Restaurants wrote in its guidelines. Black Sheep Restaurants cofounder Syed Asim Hussain said that employees are required to wash their hands and sanitize the tables used by customers every 30 minutes; every 10 days, they also do a deep clean. Under Hong Kong regulation, restaurants are also required to make hand sanitizer available to both guests and workers. It’s highly likely that this could become the norm in the Australia too.Experts also say we could see similar measures rolled out to retail stores with pop-up hand sanitiser stations becoming more prevalent. Masked servers and diners have become the norm in Asia. In Hong Kong, customers are required to wear a mask in a restaurant when they are not eating or drinking. In some parts of the US, which are lifting lockdown restrictions, masks are mandatory for restaurant workers. This could also become the case in Australia. The U.S. National Restaurant Association, which represents over 380,000 restaurants in the US, published a set of guidelines in April to give restaurants guidance about reopening and recommended that masks be worn even if they are not mandated by local governments.
3 May 22:00 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/what-american-restaurants-can-learn-from-chinas-example-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Dining out in China has drastically changed since lockdown restrictions have lifted, and it offers a glimpse into what lies ahead for US restaurants
As normal life slowly resumes in China, the rest of the world is looking toward the east for pointers on what day-to-day life will look like elsewhere after the lockdown restrictions are lifted. This includes how consumers will dine out in the future and what restaurants need to do to make the experience safe for both customers and workers. Photographs taken in cities across China and Hong Kong reveal how drastically different it is to eat out now that businesses are reopening. Temperature checks, caps on restaurant capacity, and social distancing markers have become the norm in many places, for example. Here's what might lie ahead for the US: Limits on restaurant capacity are likely to become commonplace as more eateries open up again in the US. In Hong Kong, restaurants are required by the government order to keep the capacity below 50% and restrict groups to four people only, for example. Restaurant owners who don't play by the rules risk being fined as much HK$50,000 ($6,450) or face six months in jail. Hong Kong restauranteurs are also required to keep a 1.5-meter space or more between each table to minimize crowding. It's likely that similar restrictions would come to the US, building on from social distancing markers that are currently being used in stores to keep shoppers at a safe distance. In Hong Kong, temperature checks for both workers and customers are mandatory on arrival and at the point of leaving the restaurant. Temperature checks are already becoming more common in the US as restaurants reopen but haven't been mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In China, the government is using software, run on Alipay and WeChat's platforms, to track people's movements and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Anyone that wants to travel around is required to fill out a health survey on the app, which depending on their health status and travel history, will then generate a color code – Green, Yellow, or Red. These codes dictate whether a person can travel freely, should stay at home and isolate, or is required to stay in quarantine. And increasingly, malls, cafes, and restaurants in China are requiring customers to show their codes on the app before they are able to enter these areas. Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep, which owns a string of popular restaurants in the city, recently released a set of guidelines advising its 1,000 person team on how to deal with the pandemic. These guidelines have been published publically for other restaurants to use too. As part of these, the restaurant chain has made it mandatory for any customers to sign a health declaration form before they are able to dine. In this form, they are asked to confirm that they haven't tested positive from the virus in the past 14 days, experienced any symptoms in that time, been in direct contact with anyone who is known to be carrying the virus, or have traveled outside of Hong Kong. It also asks them to leave their contact details so if there's a confirmed case in the restaurant, the owners are able to inform anyone who has visited during that time. "If guests decline to complete the form do not be afraid to turn them away," the company wrote, adding that they turned away more than 50 people in one night. "They may be upset in the moment, but it is absolutely the right thing to do to protect your team and your guests. It feels uncomfortable because we are in the business of hospitality but we have to understand the reality of the new world we exist in," it said. Acrylic barriers have been a fixture at some restaurants in Asia from the start of the pandemic and continue to be. These screens are becoming more prevalent at registers in grocery stores in the US and could catch on in restaurants also as they start to reopen. Rigorous hygiene routines will be vital in encouraging customers to come back into restaurants. "Guests are very sensitive to hygiene, and anything that even looks messy will translate to unclean in their minds, so everyone's uniforms, hair, nails, any surfaces guests can see, it all needs to be tidy and spotless, now more than ever," Black Sheep Restaurants wrote in its guidelines. Black Sheep Restaurants cofounder Syed Asim Hussain said that employees are required to wash their hands and sanitize the tables used by customers every 30 minutes; every 10 days, they also do a deep clean. Under Hong Kong regulation, restaurants are also required to make hand sanitizer available to both guests and workers. It's highly likely that this could become the norm in the US too. Experts also say we could see similar measures rolled out to retail stores with pop-up hand sanitizer stations becoming more prevalent in the US. Masked servers and diners have become the norm in Asia. In Hong Kong, customers are required to wear a mask in a restaurant when they are not eating or drinking. In some parts of the US, which are lifting lockdown restrictions, masks are mandatory for restaurant workers. The National Restaurant Association, which represents over 380,000 restaurants in the US, published a set of guidelines in April to give restaurants guidance about reopening and recommended that masks be worn even if they are not mandated by local governments. LoadingSomething is loading. Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 12:00 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/what-american-restaurants-can-learn-from-chinas-example-2020-4Rating: 4.40
Dining out in China has drastically changed since lockdown restrictions have lifted, and it offers a glimpse into what lies ahead for US restaurants
As normal life slowly resumes in China, the rest of the world is looking toward the east for pointers on what day-to-day life will look like elsewhere after the lockdown restrictions are lifted. This includes how consumers will dine out in the future and what restaurants need to do to make the experience safe for both customers and workers. Photographs taken in cities across China and Hong Kong reveal how drastically different it is to eat out now that businesses are reopening. Temperature checks, caps on restaurant capacity, and social distancing markers have become the norm in many places, for example. Here’s what might lie ahead for the US: Limits on restaurant capacity are likely to become commonplace as more eateries open up again in the US. In Hong Kong, restaurants are required by the government order to keep the capacity below 50% and restrict groups to four people only, for example. Restaurant owners who don’t play by the rules risk being fined as much HK$50,000 ($6,450) or face six months in jail. Hong Kong restauranteurs are also required to keep a 1.5-meter space or more between each table to minimize crowding. It’s likely that similar restrictions would come to the US, building on from social distancing markers that are currently being used in stores to keep shoppers at a safe distance. In Hong Kong, temperature checks for both workers and customers are mandatory on arrival and at the point of leaving the restaurant. Temperature checks are already becoming more common in the US as restaurants reopen but haven’t been mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. In China, the government is using software, run on Alipay and WeChat’s platforms, to track people’s movements and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Anyone that wants to travel around is required to fill out a health survey on the app, which depending on their health status and travel history, will then generate a color code – Green, Yellow, or Red. These codes dictate whether a person can travel freely, should stay at home and isolate, or is required to stay in quarantine. And increasingly, malls, cafes, and restaurants in China are requiring customers to show their codes on the app before they are able to enter these areas. Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep, which owns a string of popular restaurants in the city, recently released a set of guidelines advising its 1,000 person team on how to deal with the pandemic. These guidelines have been published publically for other restaurants to use too. As part of these, the restaurant chain has made it mandatory for any customers to sign a health declaration form before they are able to dine. In this form, they are asked to confirm that they haven’t tested positive from the virus in the past 14 days, experienced any symptoms in that time, been in direct contact with anyone who is known to be carrying the virus, or have traveled outside of Hong Kong. It also asks them to leave their contact details so if there’s a confirmed case in the restaurant, the owners are able to inform anyone who has visited during that time. “If guests decline to complete the form do not be afraid to turn them away,” the company wrote, adding that they turned away more than 50 people in one night. “They may be upset in the moment, but it is absolutely the right thing to do to protect your team and your guests. It feels uncomfortable because we are in the business of hospitality but we have to understand the reality of the new world we exist in,” it said. Acrylic barriers have been a fixture at some restaurants in Asia from the start of the pandemic and continue to be. These screens are becoming more prevalent at registers in grocery stores in the US and could catch on in restaurants also as they start to reopen. Rigorous hygiene routines will be vital in encouraging customers to come back into restaurants. “Guests are very sensitive to hygiene, and anything that even looks messy will translate to unclean in their minds, so everyone’s uniforms, hair, nails, any surfaces guests can see, it all needs to be tidy and spotless, now more than ever,” Black Sheep Restaurants wrote in its guidelines. Black Sheep Restaurants cofounder Syed Asim Hussain said that employees are required to wash their hands and sanitize the tables used by customers every 30 minutes; every 10 days, they also do a deep clean. Under Hong Kong regulation, restaurants are also required to make hand sanitizer available to both guests and workers. It’s highly likely that this could become the norm in the US too. Experts also say we could see similar measures rolled out to retail stores with pop-up hand sanitizer stations becoming more prevalent in the US. Masked servers and diners have become the norm in Asia. In Hong Kong, customers are required to wear a mask in a restaurant when they are not eating or drinking. In some parts of the US, which are lifting lockdown restrictions, masks are mandatory for restaurant workers. The National Restaurant Association, which represents over 380,000 restaurants in the US, published a set of guidelines in April to give restaurants guidance about reopening and recommended that masks be worn even if they are not mandated by local governments.
3 May 12:00 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/what-american-restaurants-can-learn-from-chinas-example-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Dining out in China has drastically changed since lockdown restrictions have lifted, and it offers a glimpse into what lies ahead for US restaurants, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
As normal life slowly resumes in China, the rest of the world is looking toward the east for pointers on what day-to-day life will look like elsewhere after the lockdown restrictions are lifted. This includes how consumers will dine out in the future and what restaurants need to do to make the experience safe for both customers and workers. Photographs taken in cities across China and Hong Kong reveal how drastically different it is to eat out now that businesses are reopening. Temperature checks, caps on restaurant capacity, and social distancing markers have become the norm in many places, for example. Here’s what might lie ahead for the US: Limits on restaurant capacity are likely to become commonplace as more eateries open up again in the US. In Hong Kong, restaurants are required by the government order to keep the capacity below 50% and restrict groups to four people only, for example. Restaurant owners who don’t play by the rules risk being fined as much HK$50,000 ($6,450) or face six months in jail. Hong Kong restauranteurs are also required to keep a 1.5-meter space or more between each table to minimize crowding. It’s likely that similar restrictions would come to the US, building on from social distancing markers that are currently being used in stores to keep shoppers at a safe distance. captionA guard wearing a facemask amid concerns over the spread of the COVID-19 novel coronavirus, holds a thermal gun to check the body temperature of visitors at the entrance of a restaurant area in Shanghai. In Hong Kong, temperature checks for both workers and customers are mandatory on arrival and at the point of leaving the restaurant. Temperature checks are already becoming more common in the US as restaurants reopen but haven’t been mandated by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. captionManagement staff check QR codes on the mobile phones of people entering a shopping mall at its entrance in Wuhan. In China, the government is using software, run on Alipay and WeChat’s platforms, to track people’s movements and prevent the spread of coronavirus. Anyone that wants to travel around is required to fill out a health survey on the app, which depending on their health status and travel history, will then generate a color code – Green, Yellow, or Red. These codes dictate whether a person can travel freely, should stay at home and isolate, or is required to stay in quarantine. And increasingly, malls, cafes, and restaurants in China are requiring customers to show their codes on the app before they are able to enter these areas. Hong Kong restaurant group Black Sheep, which owns a string of popular restaurants in the city, recently released a set of guidelines advising its 1,000 person team on how to deal with the pandemic. These guidelines have been published publically for other restaurants to use too. As part of these, the restaurant chain has made it mandatory for any customers to sign a health declaration form before they are able to dine. In this form, they are asked to confirm that they haven’t tested positive from the virus in the past 14 days, experienced any symptoms in that time, been in direct contact with anyone who is known to be carrying the virus, or have traveled outside of Hong Kong. It also asks them to leave their contact details so if there’s a confirmed case in the restaurant, the owners are able to inform anyone who has visited during that time. “If guests decline to complete the form do not be afraid to turn them away,” the company wrote, adding that they turned away more than 50 people in one night. “They may be upset in the moment, but it is absolutely the right thing to do to protect your team and your guests. It feels uncomfortable because we are in the business of hospitality but we have to understand the reality of the new world we exist in,” it said. Acrylic barriers have been a fixture at some restaurants in Asia from the start of the pandemic and continue to be. These screens are becoming more prevalent at registers in grocery stores in the US and could catch on in restaurants also as they start to reopen. Rigorous hygiene routines will be vital in encouraging customers to come back into restaurants. “Guests are very sensitive to hygiene, and anything that even looks messy will translate to unclean in their minds, so everyone’s uniforms, hair, nails, any surfaces guests can see, it all needs to be tidy and spotless, now more than ever,” Black Sheep Restaurants wrote in its guidelines. Black Sheep Restaurants cofounder Syed Asim Hussain said that employees are required to wash their hands and sanitize the tables used by customers every 30 minutes; every 10 days, they also do a deep clean. Under Hong Kong regulation, restaurants are also required to make hand sanitizer available to both guests and workers. It’s highly likely that this could become the norm in the US too. Experts also say we could see similar measures rolled out to retail stores with pop-up hand sanitizer stations becoming more prevalent in the US. Masked servers and diners have become the norm in Asia. In Hong Kong, customers are required to wear a mask in a restaurant when they are not eating or drinking. In some parts of the US, which are lifting lockdown restrictions, masks are mandatory for restaurant workers. The National Restaurant Association, which represents over 380,000 restaurants in the US, published a set of guidelines in April to give restaurants guidance about reopening and recommended that masks be worn even if they are not mandated by local governments.
3 May 12:00 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/what-american-restaurants-can-learn-from-chinas-example-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Gay and bisexual men excluded from coronavirus blood plasma trial
3 May 13:41
•
3 articles
Weight: 2.46
Importance: 2.47
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 12:14
Average US: 20.366666666666667
Weighted average US: 27.496893687531777
Average GB: 34.93333333333333
Weighted average GB: 21.415132782851785
Average IN: 5.266666666666667
Weighted average IN: 5.509959069682639
Gay and bisexual men excluded from coronavirus blood plasma trial
Gay and bisexual men have been told they cannot take part in a blood trial which experts hope could serve as a potential coronavirus treatment. People who have recovered from Covid-19 have been encouraged to donate their blood plasmas, which will then be transfused to infected patients at London’s Guy’s and St Thomas’s Hospital. It is hoped the process, called convalescent plasma, will help patients whose immune systems are not producing sufficient antibodies to fight the novel virus. But any man who has had sex with another man in the last three months is excluded from the trial, which echoes current guidance on giving blood. Critical care manager Andy Roberts, who had tested positive for Covid-19, said he was told he could not take part as he is in a same-sex relationship. After a 20 minute call with an operator, Mr Roberts said he was quizzed on his sexuality before being turned down. For all the latest news and updates on Coronavirus, click here. For our Coronavirus live blog click here. His long-term partner, Keith Ward, said the rules were discriminatory against the LGBT+ community and that the situation made him ‘feel very angry’. He told ITV News: ‘We have been together in a monogamous relationship for more than 30 years and I previously didn’t know of this outrageous three-month rule. ‘It only goes to show that in the UK being gay is still thought as a form of contamination, so if you’re straight and sleep with a different person every weekend it’s safer according to [the rules].’ Current guidelines set by the NHS Blood and Transplant service says ‘men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of acquiring certain infections through sex’ and they still apply to those who have used protection. The official Give blood website states: ‘Gay and bisexual men are not automatically prevented from giving blood. ‘However, all men must wait 3 months after having oral or anal sex with another man before donating. ‘This rule applies to every man, regardless of their sexual orientation, whether they’re in a stable relationship or whether they use protection such as condoms or pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP)’. So far, more than 6,500 people have signed up to donate to the plasma trial. Although it is not yet known how many antibodies build up in people who have beaten Covid-19, there have been some promising signs of immunity with patients who have retained antibodies long after recovering. If the treatment proves to be effective, NHS Blood and Transplant will begin a national programme to deliver up to 10,000 units of convalescent plasma per week to the NHS, enough to treat 5,000 patients each week. But Director of Policy at Stonewall, Laura Russell, told ITV the donor guidelines were ‘really upsetting’ for gay and bi men who want to help in finding a Covid-19 treatment. She insisted the decision on who can donate blood or a plasma ‘should be based on individual risk assessments, not on people’s sexual orientation’. A spokesperson for the NHS Blood and Transplant service said the trial will initially be run using the current donor selection guidelines but will ‘keep this under review’. It acknowledged ‘this deferral can feel disappointing if you want to save lives’ but said the three-month guidelines are in place to ‘protect the health of the donor and the recipient’. The spokesperson added: ‘Separately to the convalescent plasma trial, we are working with LGBT+ groups to explore whether we might be able to introduce a more individualised risk assessment for blood donation.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
3 May 13:41 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/gay-bisexual-men-excluded-coronavirus-blood-plasma-trial-12648096/Rating: 2.18
Gay and bisexual men are BANNED from Covid blood plasma trials: Volunteer who was turned down despite being in monogamous relationship for 30 years
Gay and bisexual men are not being allowed to take part in a blood plasma trial to help in the battle against coronavirus. The NHS is looking for plasma donors from recovered patients to used in the trial by doctors at London's Guy's and St Thomas' hospital. Earlier today it was reported that 6,500 people have already registered interest in taking part. But under rules that enraged potential donors, gay and bisexual men will be barred from donating unless they had already abstained from sex for three months. Critical care manager Andy Roberts told ITV News that although he had tested positive for coronavirus and has since recovered, he was turned down for the trial. During a phone call with someone working on the trial, the married NHS worker was asked about his sexuality before being told he was not allowed. Keith Ward, his partner of more than three decades, said Mr Roberts being barred from the trial just because he is a gay man made him 'angry'. 'We have been together in a monogamous relationship for more than 30 years and I previously didn’t know of this outrageous three month rule,' he said. 'It only goes to show that in the UK being gay is still thought as a form of contamination, so if you’re straight and sleep with a different person every weekend it’s safer according to the rules.' General blood donation guidelines stipulate gay and bisexual men are not permitted to donate blood unless they have abstained from oral or anal sex with another man for three months. The time limit was reduced from 12 months in 2017. There is no exception given to married gay men or those in monogamous relationships. The NHS Blood and Transplant service told MailOnline that the decision to use current donor selection guidelines are to 'protect donors and recipients'. The Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs (SaBTO) makes recommendations to the Department of Health which decides on guidelines which NHSBT follow. So the guidelines mentioned are Department of Health guidelines which we implement. Any reporting needs to be clear on this please. An NHS Blood and Transplant spokesperson said: 'We will initially be using the current donor selection guidelines although we will keep this under review. 'The guidelines are there to protect the health of the donor and the recipient. Under the current guidelines, men must wait three months after having oral or anal sex with another man. 'We appreciate this deferral can feel disappointing if you want to save lives. 'Separately to the convalescent plasma trial, we are working with LGBT+ groups to explore whether we might be able to introduce a more individualised risk assessment for blood donation.' For those who are permitted to take part in the trial, the donations have been collected and transfusions will begin in 'the coming weeks', the hospital's Biomedical Research Centre said. It is hoped the potential treatment, known as convalescent plasma, will help patients whose bodies are not producing sufficient antibodies to fight the virus. The hospital says if the trials prove the treatment to be effective, NHS Blood and Transplant will begin a national programme to deliver up to 10,000 units of convalescent plasma per week to the NHS, enough to treat 5,000 patients each week.
3 May 12:14 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8281957/Gay-bisexual-men-turned-away-Covid-19-blood-plasma-trials.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Gay and bisexual men to be excluded from Covid-19 plasma trial
Gay and bisexual men have been told they cannot donate their plasma to a trial hoping to provide a treatment for Covid-19. Doctors at London's Guy's and St Thomas's Hospital are aiming to use the plasma from recovered coronavirus patients to treat others with the disease. It is hoped that the possible treatment, known as convalescent plasma, will help Covid-19 patients whose bodies are not producing enough antibodies to fight the disease. But any man who has had sex with another man within the past three months is excluded from donating their plasma, in line with the current rules for donating blood. Those guidelines explain that "men who have sex with men are at an increased risk of acquiring certain infections through sex", which could be passed on during a transfusion. Critical care manager Andy Roberts told ITV News that he was turned down for the plasma trial, after testing positive for Covid-19. He says that at the end of a 20 minute phone call with an operator working on the trial he was asked about his sexuality and subsequently told that he could not donate plasma due to being in a same-sex relationship. Mr Roberts' partner Keith Ward told ITV News: "It makes me feel very angry. "We have been together in a monogamous relationship for more than 30 years and I previously didn’t know of this outrageous three month rule. "It only goes to show that in the UK being gay is still thought as a form of contamination, so if you’re straight and sleep with a different person every weekend it’s safer according to [the rules]." The guidelines around donating blood are set by the Department of Health on the recommendation of the Advisory Committee on the Safety of Blood, Tissues and Organs. They are implemented by the NHS Blood and Transplant service, which told ITV News that in relation to the plasma trial: “We will initially be using the current donor selection guidelines although we will keep this under review." A spokesperson added: "The guidelines are there to protect the health of the donor and the recipient. "Under the current guidelines, men must wait three months after having oral or anal sex with another man. We appreciate this deferral can feel disappointing if you want to save lives. "Separately to the convalescent plasma trial, we are working with LGBT+ groups to explore whether we might be able to introduce a more individualised risk assessment for blood donation.” Laura Russell, Director of Policy at Stonewall, said: “It's really upsetting that gay and bi men who want to help in the fight against coronavirus are being prevented from doing so. The decision on whether people should be able to give blood or plasma should be based on individual risk assessments, not on people's sexual orientation.” Coronavirus: Everything you need to know
2 May 17:50 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-02/gay-and-bisexual-men-to-be-excluded-from-covid-19-plasma-trial/Rating: 0.88
Trump's lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a 'tell-all' book about the president
3 May 09:28
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5 articles
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Trump's lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a 'tell-all' book about the president
Michael Cohen, who was Donald Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, is planning to expose their private dealings in a 'tell-all' book. The Daily Beast reported Friday that in an attempt to suppress the revelations, lawyers for the Trump Organization last week sent Cohen, who is in prison, a cease and desist letter. Charles Harder, the attorney representing the company, said that Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement when he joined the Trump Organization that prohibits him from disclosing certain information about the president, his family, and the company, ABC News reported. A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: "A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he's said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It'll be an insider's look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years." The friend added that it would not break lawyer-client privilege. It had been reported that Cohen had been set from release from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic, and was likely to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. The former attorney, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as well as making false statements to Congress, was said to have secured an early release from prison as officials look to lessen the possible spread of the virus in prisons. The New Yorker is serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, located about 75 miles northwest of New York City, and is scheduled for release in November 2021. He was said to be preparing for release on May 1 to serve the rest of his sentence at home, but this weekend he remains in jail. According to the Daily Beast, President Trump was "seething" when he heard of the plan to free his former confidant.
3 May 09:28 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/trump-michael-cohen-lawyers-demand-stop-writing-book-2020-5Rating: 4.40
Trump's lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a 'tell-all' book about the president
Michael Cohen, who was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer for more than a decade, is planning to expose their private dealings in a ‘tell-all’ book. The Daily Beast reported Friday that in an attempt to suppress the revelations, lawyers for the Trump Organization last week sent Cohen, who is in prison, a cease and desist letter. Charles Harder, the attorney representing the company, said that Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement when he joined the Trump Organization that prohibits him from disclosing certain information about the president, his family, and the company, ABC News reported. A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: “A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he’s said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It’ll be an insider’s look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years.” The friend added that it would not break lawyer-client privilege. It had been reported that Cohen had been set from release from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic, and was likely to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. The former attorney, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as well as making false statements to Congress, was said to have secured an early release from prison as officials look to lessen the possible spread of the virus in prisons. The New Yorker is serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, located about 75 miles northwest of New York City, and is scheduled for release in November 2021. He was said to be preparing for release on May 1 to serve the rest of his sentence at home, but this weekend he remains in jail. According to the Daily Beast, President Trump was “seething” when he heard of the plan to free his former confidant.
3 May 11:30 • Business Insider Nederland • https://www.businessinsider.nl/trump-michael-cohen-lawyers-demand-stop-writing-book-2020-5/Rating: 0.30
Trump’s lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a ‘tell-all’ book about the president
Michael Cohen, who was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer for more than a decade, is planning to expose their private dealings in a ‘tell-all’ book. The Daily Beast reported Friday that in an attempt to suppress the revelations, lawyers for the Trump Organization last week sent Cohen, who is in prison, a cease and desist letter. Charles Harder, the attorney representing the company, said that Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement when he joined the Trump Organization that prohibits him from disclosing certain information about the president, his family, and the company, ABC News reported. A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: “A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he’s said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It’ll be an insider’s look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years.” The friend added that it would not break lawyer-client privilege. It had been reported that Cohen had been set from release from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic, and was likely to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. The former attorney, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as well as making false statements to Congress, was said to have secured an early release from prison as officials look to lessen the possible spread of the virus in prisons. The New Yorker is serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, located about 75 miles northwest of New York City, and is scheduled for release in November 2021. He was said to be preparing for release on May 1 to serve the rest of his sentence at home, but this weekend he remains in jail. According to the Daily Beast, President Trump was “seething” when he heard of the plan to free his former confidant.
3 May 09:28 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/trump-michael-cohen-lawyers-demand-stop-writing-book-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Trump's lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a 'tell-all' book about the president
Michael Cohen, who was Donald Trump’s personal lawyer for more than a decade, is planning to expose their private dealings in a ‘tell-all’ book. The Daily Beast reported Friday that in an attempt to suppress the revelations, lawyers for the Trump Organisation last week sent Cohen, who is in prison, a cease and desist letter. Charles Harder, the attorney representing the company, said that Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement when he joined the Trump Organisation that prohibits him from disclosing certain information about the president, his family, and the company,ABC News reported. A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: “A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he’s said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It will be an insider’s look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years.” The friend added that it would not break lawyer-client privilege. It had been reported that Cohen had been set from release from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic, and was likely to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. The former attorney, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as well as making false statements to Congress, was said to have secured an early release from prison as officials look to lessen the possible spread of the virus in prisons. The New Yorker is serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, located about 75 miles northwest of New York City, and is scheduled for release in November 2021. He was said to be preparing for release on May 1 to serve the rest of his sentence at home, but this weekend he remains in jail. According to the Daily Beast, President Trump was “seething” when he heard of the plan to free his former confidant.
3 May 09:28 • Business Insider Australia • https://www.businessinsider.com.au/trump-michael-cohen-lawyers-demand-stop-writing-book-2020-5Rating: 0.30
Trump's lawyers have reportedly demanded that Michael Cohen stop writing a 'tell-all' book about the president
Yana Paskova/Getty Images Michael Cohen, who was Donald Trump's personal lawyer for more than a decade, is planning to expose their private dealings in a 'tell-all' book. The Daily Beast reported Friday that in an attempt to suppress the revelations, lawyers for the Trump Organization last week sent Cohen, who is in prison, a cease and desist letter. Charles Harder, the attorney representing the company, said that Cohen signed a non-disclosure agreement when he joined the Trump Organization that prohibits him from disclosing certain information about the president, his family, and the company, ABC News reported. A friend of Cohen told the Daily Beast: "A lot of [the book] will be about looking at things he's said and done with women and other [politically incorrect] things. It'll be an insider's look about what it was like to be alongside the president for 12 years." The friend added that it would not break lawyer-client privilege. It had been reported that Cohen had been set from release from prison amid the coronavirus pandemic, and was likely to be allowed to serve his sentence under house arrest. The former attorney, who pleaded guilty in 2018 to tax evasion, bank fraud, and campaign-finance violations as well as making false statements to Congress, was said to have secured an early release from prison as officials look to lessen the possible spread of the virus in prisons. The New Yorker is serving a three-year sentence at a federal prison in Otisville, New York, located about 75 miles northwest of New York City, and is scheduled for release in November 2021. He was said to be preparing for release on May 1 to serve the rest of his sentence at home, but this weekend he remains in jail. According to the Daily Beast, President Trump was "seething" when he heard of the plan to free his former confidant. Read the original article on Business Insider
3 May 09:28 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/trumps-lawyers-reportedly-demanded-michael-092806468.htmlRating: 0.30
Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket: Ganguly on COVID-19 pandemic
3 May 13:16
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7 articles
Weight: 2.45
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Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket: Ganguly on COVID-19 pandemic
NEW DELHI: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. "This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well - the batsman has very little margin of error," Ganguly said while speaking on '100 Hours 100 Stars', an initiative started by Fever Network. "So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match," he added. A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. "This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together," he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. "I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic," he said. "This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don't know how, when and where it came from - we all were unprepared for this," he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a big scared of what's unfolding because of the disease. "People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared," he said. "People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it's a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible," he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: "Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. "If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations," he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. "It's been a month into the lockdown. I didn't mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn't get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. "For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. "I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself," he said.
3 May 13:16 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/sport/cricket/2020/may/03/current-situation-is-like-test-match-on-dangerous-wicket-ganguly-on-covid-19-pandemic-2138607.htmlRating: 2.04
Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket: Sourav Ganguly on Covid-19 pandemic
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the Covid-19pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. “This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well – the batsman has very little margin of error,” Ganguly said while speaking on ‘100 Hours 100 Stars’, an initiative started by Fever Network. “So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match,” he added. A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. “This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together,” he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. “I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic,” he said. “This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don’t know how, when and where it came from – we all were unprepared for this,” he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a big scared of what’s unfolding because of the disease. “People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared,” he said. “People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible,” he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: “Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. “If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations,” he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. “It’s been a month into the lockdown. I didn’t mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn’t get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. “For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. “I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself,” he said.
3 May 06:32 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/sourav-ganguly-on-covid-19-pandemic-current-situation-is-like-test-match-on-dangerous-wicket-6391534/Rating: 0.30
Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket: Ganguly on COVID-19 pandemic
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. “This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well - the batsman has very little margin of error,” Ganguly said while speaking on ‘100 Hours 100 Stars’, an initiative started by Fever Network. “So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match,” he added. A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. “This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together,” he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. Also read: IPL 2020 postponed indefinitely “I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic,” he said. “This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don’t know how, when and where it came from - we all were unprepared for this,” he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a big scared of what’s unfolding because of the disease. “People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared,” he said. “People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible,” he added. He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: “Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left.” “If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations,” he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. “It’s been a month into the lockdown. I didn’t mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn’t get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself,” he said.
3 May 06:31 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/current-situation-is-like-test-match-on-dangerous-wicket-ganguly-on-covid-19-pandemic/article31493696.eceRating: 0.30
We all were unprepared for this: Sourav Ganguly concerned by the threat posed by Covid-19 pandemic
BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused by the Covid-19 pandemic and has equated the crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. “This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well – the batsman has very little margin of error,” Ganguly said while speaking on ‘100 Hours 100 Stars’, an initiative started by Fever Network. “So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match. This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together,” he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. “I am really upset about the current situation because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic,” he said. “This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don’t know how, when, and where it came from – we all were unprepared for this,” he added. Read:Nothing is in favour of any kind of sport: BCCI chief Ganguly on chances of having IPL 2020 Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a bit scared of what’s unfolding because of the disease. “People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared,” he said. “People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible,” he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Also Read:Sourav Ganguly helps ISKCON feed 10,000 people daily Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: “Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real-life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. “If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These situations make you alert and aware of real-life situations,” he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. “It’s been a month into the lockdown. I didn’t mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn’t get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling to work every day. “For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother, and my brother. “I have got time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself,” he said.
3 May 07:24 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960904/we-all-were-unprepared-for-this-sourav-ganguly-concerned-by-the-threat-posed-by-covid-19-pandemicRating: 0.30
Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket, Sourav Ganguly says
New Delhi: The Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) President Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the Covid-19 pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. “This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well — the batsman has very little margin of error,” Ganguly said while speaking on ‘100 Hours 100 Stars’, an initiative started by Fever Network. “So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match,” he added. A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. “This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together,” he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. “I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic,” he said. “This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don’t know how, when and where it came from — we all were unprepared for this,” he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a bit scared of what’s unfolding because of the disease. “People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared,” he said. “People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it’s a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible,” he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: “Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. “If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations,” he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. “It’s been a month into the lockdown. I didn’t mind it. Earlier, I wouldn’t get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. “For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. “I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself,” he said.
3 May 13:29 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/current-situation-is-like-test-match-on-dangerous-wicket-sourav-ganguly-says-1.71304783Rating: 3.21
Current situation is like Test match on dangerous wicket: Sourav Ganguly on COVID-19 pandemic
NEW DELHI: BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. "This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well - the batsman has very little margin of error," Ganguly said while speaking on '100 Hours 100 Stars', an initiative started by Fever Network. "So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match," he added. Explore Briefs A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. "This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together," he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. "I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic," he said. "This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don't know how, when and where it came from - we all were unprepared for this," he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a big scared of what's unfolding because of the disease. "People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared," he said. "People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it's a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible," he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: "Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. "If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations," he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. "It's been a month into the lockdown. I didn't mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn't get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. "For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. "I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself," he said.
3 May 05:14 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/situation-upsets-me-want-this-to-end-quickly-sourav-ganguly-on-covid-19/articleshow/75514593.cmsRating: 0.30
Ongoing situation like 'Test match on dangerous wicket': Sourav Ganguly oncoronavirus pandemic
'This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well - the batsman has very little margin of error,' Ganguly said BCCI president Sourav Ganguly is deeply saddened and intimidated by the devastation caused because of the COVID-19 pandemic and has equated the unprecedented crisis to playing a Test match on a dangerous wicket. The decorated former player opened up on life under lockdown due to the novel coronavirus pandemic that has claimed over 2.40 lakh lives across the world while infecting more than 34 lakh people. "This situation is a Test match on a very dangerous wicket. The ball is seaming and spinning as well - the batsman has very little margin of error," Ganguly said while speaking on '100 Hours 100 Stars', an initiative started by Fever Network. "So, the batsman has to score runs and keep his wicket safe with this little margin of error, and win this Test match," he added. A winner of innumerable fierce battles during his playing days when there was no dearth of fearsome fast bowlers and quality spinners, Ganguly was tempted to draw a parallel between the tough moments in the sport and the health crisis. "This is very difficult, but we hope that we will win this match together," he added. Ganguly expressed his sadness at the number of lives lost in the pandemic and the irreparable damage that it has caused. "I am really upset seeing the current situation, because so many people are suffering outside. We are still struggling to understand how to stop this pandemic," he said. "This atmosphere all over the world has really bothered me. We don't know how, when and where it came from - we all were unprepared for this," he added. Not just upset, Ganguly conceded he cannot help feeling a big scared of what's unfolding because of the disease. "People are being affected by this so much. There have been so many deaths. This situation upsets me, and I also feel scared," he said. "People come to my house to deliver groceries, food, so I feel a little scared as well. So it's a mixed feeling. I just want this to end as quickly as possible," he added, He said cricket has taught him to face tough situations in life and the importance of staying alert at all times. Asked how he keeps himself positive, the former captain said: "Cricket has taught me a lot. I faced real life, high-pressure situations. You have to make runs and there is just one ball left. "If you make one wrong move, one wrong footwork, you will not get another chance. These kind of situations make you alert and aware about real life situations," he said. The BCCI chief, though, also added that he is getting to spend a lot of time with his family after a long time. "It's been a month into the lockdown. I didn't mind it earlier. Earlier, I wouldn't get time at home like this. My lifestyle involved travelling for work everyday. "For the past 30-32 days, I have been at home with my family, spending time with my wife, daughter, my mother and my brother. "I have got a time like this after long, so I am enjoying myself," he said. Also read: Coronavirus India Live Updates: Lockdown 3.0! Highest 1-day jump with 2,644 cases; IAF salutes corona heroes Also read: China mocks US' response to coronavirus in short animation 'Once Upon a Virus' Also read: Coronavirus India: Lockdown guidelines for Red, Green and Orange zones
3 May 08:58 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/latest/trends/ongoing-situation-like-test-match-on-dangerous-wicket-sourav-ganguly-oncoronavirus-pandemic/story/402734.htmlRating: 2.10
Younger adults are getting seriously sick and ending up in the hospital because of the coronavirus, and it's alarming doctors
3 May 10:45
•
6 articles
Weight: 2.44
Importance: 2.50
Age penalty: 0.97
Best date: 3 May 10:45
Average US: 10.433333333333334
Weighted average US: 26.304498191068387
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Weighted average IN: 19.752092220108093
Younger adults are getting seriously sick and ending up in the hospital because of the coronavirus, and it's alarming doctors
When Dr. Anar Yukhayev's patient told him she'd developed a fever after a recent trip to Italy, he ran out of the room and grabbed a mask for each of them. By that point, the 31-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist had been face-to-face with her for 20 minutes. It was the first week of March, when reports of the novel coronavirus were starting to emerge in the New York City area. Westchester County, north of the city, was already seeing a cluster of cases. Yukhayev works at Katz Women's Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on the border of Queens and Nassau County in New York. The following week, he started to feel off, with back and muscle aches. Then, he spiked a fever. He got tested March 13, two days after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic. The state by that point had hundreds of confirmed cases. By the following week, he was so sick that his colleagues were thinking about putting him on a ventilator. Yukhayev's experience of getting severely ill is common in hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Patients ages 30 to 59 made up roughly a third of hospital admissions evaluated by Northwell Health, the health system Yukhayev's is a part of, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The shock of finding otherwise healthy people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s in the hospital severely ill with COVID-19 has been a common refrain in Business Insider's conversations with doctors on the front lines. Other viral outbreaks, especially the flu, tend to hit the youngest and oldest Americans the hardest. Yukhayev told Business Insider he was so short of breath he could get only a few words out. "I heard a gurgle, a crackle of water in my lungs every time I took a breath," Yukhayev said. He said he couldn't get out of bed, didn't have an appetite, and had a fever. He was admitted to the hospital and given azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and an oxygen mask to help him breathe. Six days after he was tested, shortly after his doctors had entered him into a clinical trial for a Regeneron drug, Yukhayev was still getting worse. His doctors told him his next step would be to be put on a ventilator. "That was my worst fear," Yukhayev said. He spent the next day in the intensive-care unit, where the doctors continued to monitor him. Then, he started to get better. LoadingSomething is loading. On March 26, he was discharged, after spending nine days in the hospital. Stories of young people getting sick and even dying from the novel coronavirus are becoming common. A 38-year-old Ironman athlete in Minnesota nearly died from COVID-19 and as of mid-April still needed oxygen to help him breathe. David Lat, a 44-year-old marathon runner, was hospitalized in Manhattan for 17 days, six of which he spent on ventilator support to help him breathe. The virus almost killed a 47-year-old New Jersey doctor, who was running 16 to 20 miles a week before getting sick. As of April 12, adults ages 18 to 44 accounted for roughly 11% of all New York hospital admissions, while those ages 45 to 64 accounted for 27%. To be sure, a look at hospitalization rates from March shows that rates of hospitalization per 100,000 people were highest among older Americans, especially those 75 and up. But in a hospital on Long Island, the ICU has patients in their 20s, Dr. Dixie Harris, an ICU doctor who flew out from Utah to help with the crisis, said. It's somewhat unusual to care for so many young people, and doctors feel extra pressure to find ways to help them recover, she said. "For someone in their 40s, 50s, you want to try everything you can to get them to survive," Harris said. In Newark, New Jersey, an intensive-care doctor told Business Insider in March that in the ICU of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center he had young patients in their 20s and 30s on ventilators. One day in March, an emergency-room nurse at New York University said she had to intubate two patients in their 30s. "We've started to see a little more infection in really sick presentations in younger patients than we would've thought," Dr. Thomas Maddox, who serves as the chair of the science and quality committee of the American College of Cardiology, told Business Insider. Younger patients are often outfitted with a non-rebreather mask in the ER, and given "just oxygen and oxygen and oxygen," Dr. Cleavon Gilman, an ER physician, told Business Insider's Hilary Brueck. A week after being discharged, Yukhayev was back in the hospital — this time to care for a patient who had tested positive for the coronavirus and was about to have her baby via cesarean section. Yukhayev performed the procedure, which took about an hour, and it was uneventful, he said. After, however, he was still short of breath, a problem made worse by the need to wear extra protective gear in the operating room. Returning to the hospital where just a week ago he was a patient was surreal, Yukhayev said. In the hallways, he said, he ran into healthcare workers who had taken care of him who were happy to see him better. Knowing he wasn't fully recovered, Yukhayev took a few more days off before returning to work on April 13, a month after initially being tested. "I'm better than I was before I got sick," Yukhayev said. "After that you get a new experience of not taking life for granted." Featured Health Articles:- Telehealth Industry Explained- Value-Based Care Explained- Senior Care & Assisted Living Market- Smart Medical Devices & Wearable Tech- AI in Healthcare- Remote Patient Monitoring Explained - AI in Medical Diagnosis Systems Do you have a personal experience with the coronavirus you'd like to share? Or a tip on how your town or community is handling the pandemic? Please email covidtips@businessinsider.com and tell us your story. Get the latest coronavirus business & economic impact analysis from Business Insider Intelligence on how COVID-19 is affecting industries.
3 May 10:45 • Business Insider • https://www.businessinsider.com/non-elderly-americans-are-getting-severely-ill-with-covid-19-2020-4Rating: 4.40
Younger adults are getting seriously sick and ending up in the hospital because of the coronavirus, and it’s alarming doctors
When Dr. Anar Yukhayev’s patient told him she’d developed a fever after a recent trip to Italy, he ran out of the room and grabbed a mask for each of them. By that point, the 31-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist had been face-to-face with her for 20 minutes. It was the first week of March, when reports of the novel coronavirus were starting to emerge in the New York City area. Westchester county, north of the city, was already seeing a cluster of cases. Yukhayev works at Katz Women’s Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on the border of Queens and Nassau County in New York. The following week, he started to feel off, with back and muscle aches. Then, he spiked a fever. He got tested on March 13, two days after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic. The state by that point had hundreds of confirmed cases. By the following week, he was so sick that his colleagues were thinking about putting him on a ventilator. Yukhayev’s experience of getting severely ill is common in hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Patients between 30 and 59 made up roughly a third of hospital admissions evaluated by Northwell Health, the health system Yukhayev’s a part of, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The shock of finding otherwise healthy people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, in the hospital severely ill with COVID-19 has been a common refrain in Business Insider’s conversations with doctors on the front lines. Other viral outbreaks, especially the flu, tend to hit the youngest and oldest Americans the hardest. Yukhayev told BI he was so short of breath he could only get a few words out. “I heard a gurgle, a crackle of water in my lungs every time I took a breath,” Yukhayev said. He said he couldn’t get out of bed, didn’t have an appetite, and had a fever. He was admitted to the hospital and given azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and an oxygen mask to help him breathe. Six days after he was tested, shortly after his doctors had entered him into a clinical trial for a Regeneron drug, Yukhayev was still getting worse. His doctors told him his next step would be to be put on a ventilator. “That was my worst fear,” Yukhayev said. He spent the next day in the intensive care unit, where the doctors continued to monitor him. Then, he started to get better. On March 26, he was discharged, after spending 9 days in the hospital. Stories of young people getting sick and even dying from the coronavirus are becoming commonplace. A 38-year-old Ironman athlete in Minnesota nearly died from COVID-19 and as of mid-April still needed oxygen to help him breathe. David Lat, a 44-year-old marathon runner was hospitalized in Manhattan for 17 days, six of which he spent on ventilator support to help him breathe. The virus almost killed a 47-year-old New Jersey doctor, who was running 16-20 miles a week before getting sick. As of April 12, adults between 18 and 44 accounted for roughly 11% of all New York hospital admissions, while those between 45 and 64 accounted for 27%.. To be sure, a look at hospitalization rates from March showed that rates of hospitalization per 100,000 people were highest among older Americans, especially those 75 and up. In a hospital on Long Island, the ICU has patients in their 20s, Dr. Dixie Harris, an ICU doctor who flew out from Utah to help with the crisis, said. It’s somewhat unusual to care for so many young people, and doctors feel extra pressure to find ways to help them recover, she said. “For someone in their 40s, 50s, you want to try every thing you can to get them to survive,” Harris said. In Newark, New Jersey, an intensive-care doctor told Business Insider in March that in the ICU of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center he had young patients in their 20s and 30s on ventilators. One day in March, an ER nurse at NYU said she had to intubate two patients in their 30s. “We’ve started to see a little more infection in really sick presentations in younger patients than we would’ve thought,” Dr. Thomas Maddox, who serves as chair of the science and quality committee of the American College of Cardiology, told Business Insider. Younger patients are often outfitted with a non-rebreather mask in the ER, and given “just oxygen and oxygen and oxygen,” emergency room physician Dr. Cleavon Gilman told Business Insider’s Hilary Brueck. A week after being discharged, Yukhayev was back in the hospital – this time to care for a patient who had tested positive for the coronavirus and was about to have her baby via a C-section. Yukhayev performed the procedure, which took about an hour, and it was uneventful, he said. After, however, he was still short of breath, a problem made worse by the need to wear extra protective gear in the operating room. Returning to the hospital where he was a week ago a patient was a surreal experience, Yukhayev said. In the hallways, he ran into healthcare workers who had taken care of him who were happy to see him better. Knowing he wasn’t fully recovered, Yukhayev took a few more days off before returning to work on April 13, a month after initially being tested. “I’m better than I was before I got sick,” Yukhayev said. “After that you get a new experience of not taking life for granted.”
3 May 10:45 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/non-elderly-americans-are-getting-severely-ill-with-covid-19-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Younger adults are getting seriously sick and ending up in the hospital because of the coronavirus, and it's alarming doctors, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
When Dr. Anar Yukhayev’s patient told him she’d developed a fever after a recent trip to Italy, he ran out of the room and grabbed a mask for each of them. By that point, the 31-year-old obstetrician-gynecologist had been face-to-face with her for 20 minutes. It was the first week of March, when reports of the novel coronavirus were starting to emerge in the New York City area. Westchester county, north of the city, was already seeing a cluster of cases. Yukhayev works at Katz Women’s Hospital at Long Island Jewish Medical Center on the border of Queens and Nassau County in New York. The following week, he started to feel off, with back and muscle aches. Then, he spiked a fever. He got tested on March 13, two days after the World Health Organization declared the novel coronavirus a pandemic. The state by that point had hundreds of confirmed cases. By the following week, he was so sick that his colleagues were thinking about putting him on a ventilator. Yukhayev’s experience of getting severely ill is common in hospitals overwhelmed with COVID-19 patients. Patients between 30 and 59 made up roughly a third of hospital admissions evaluated by Northwell Health, the health system Yukhayev’s a part of, according to an article in the Journal of the American Medical Association. The shock of finding otherwise healthy people in their 30s, 40s, and 50s, in the hospital severely ill with COVID-19 has been a common refrain in Business Insider’s conversations with doctors on the front lines. Other viral outbreaks, especially the flu, tend to hit the youngest and oldest Americans the hardest. Yukhayev told BI he was so short of breath he could only get a few words out. “I heard a gurgle, a crackle of water in my lungs every time I took a breath,” Yukhayev said. He said he couldn’t get out of bed, didn’t have an appetite, and had a fever. He was admitted to the hospital and given azithromycin, hydroxychloroquine, and an oxygen mask to help him breathe. Six days after he was tested, shortly after his doctors had entered him into a clinical trial for a Regeneron drug, Yukhayev was still getting worse. His doctors told him his next step would be to be put on a ventilator. “That was my worst fear,” Yukhayev said. He spent the next day in the intensive care unit, where the doctors continued to monitor him. Then, he started to get better. On March 26, he was discharged, after spending 9 days in the hospital. Stories of young people getting sick and even dying from the coronavirus are becoming commonplace. A 38-year-old Ironman athlete in Minnesota nearly died from COVID-19 and as of mid-April still needed oxygen to help him breathe. David Lat, a 44-year-old marathon runner was hospitalized in Manhattan for 17 days, six of which he spent on ventilator support to help him breathe. The virus almost killed a 47-year-old New Jersey doctor, who was running 16-20 miles a week before getting sick. As of April 12, adults between 18 and 44 accounted for roughly 11% of all New York hospital admissions, while those between 45 and 64 accounted for 27%.. To be sure, a look at hospitalization rates from March showed that rates of hospitalization per 100,000 people were highest among older Americans, especially those 75 and up. In a hospital on Long Island, the ICU has patients in their 20s, Dr. Dixie Harris, an ICU doctor who flew out from Utah to help with the crisis, said. It’s somewhat unusual to care for so many young people, and doctors feel extra pressure to find ways to help them recover, she said. “For someone in their 40s, 50s, you want to try every thing you can to get them to survive,” Harris said. In Newark, New Jersey, an intensive-care doctor told Business Insider in March that in the ICU of Newark Beth Israel Medical Center he had young patients in their 20s and 30s on ventilators. One day in March, an ER nurse at NYU said she had to intubate two patients in their 30s. “We’ve started to see a little more infection in really sick presentations in younger patients than we would’ve thought,” Dr. Thomas Maddox, who serves as chair of the science and quality committee of the American College of Cardiology, told Business Insider. Younger patients are often outfitted with a non-rebreather mask in the ER, and given “just oxygen and oxygen and oxygen,” emergency room physician Dr. Cleavon Gilman told Business Insider’s Hilary Brueck. A week after being discharged, Yukhayev was back in the hospital – this time to care for a patient who had tested positive for the coronavirus and was about to have her baby via a C-section. Yukhayev performed the procedure, which took about an hour, and it was uneventful, he said. After, however, he was still short of breath, a problem made worse by the need to wear extra protective gear in the operating room. Returning to the hospital where he was a week ago a patient was a surreal experience, Yukhayev said. In the hallways, he ran into healthcare workers who had taken care of him who were happy to see him better. Knowing he wasn’t fully recovered, Yukhayev took a few more days off before returning to work on April 13, a month after initially being tested. “I’m better than I was before I got sick,” Yukhayev said. “After that you get a new experience of not taking life for granted.”
3 May 10:45 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/non-elderly-americans-are-getting-severely-ill-with-covid-19-2020-4Rating: 0.30
Frontline warriors among those who tested positive in Hindupur
Seven new COVID19 positive cases emerged from Hindupur town on Sunday, including a 63-year-old male who tested positive for the infection posthumously. Some among those who tested positive on Sunday were frontline COVID warriors. While one of them, a 35-year-old male, used to make public announcements in red zones, a 48-year-old woman was working as an ANM in Thyagaraja Nagar in Hindupur. With the seven new cases, the tally has gone up to 78. Out of the six patients undergoing treatment, there are three women aged between 45 and 55, and three men aged 35, 65 and 23. While the cases reported so far were of primary or secondary contacts, samples tested on Saturday showed two cases coming from new areas - Basavannahalli (Hindupur rural mandal) and Model Colony (Hindupur town). District Collector Gandham Chandrudu on Sunday held a meeting with officers at Hindupur Municipal Office and said that the administration would be supportive of the private medical practitioners treating COVID patients by extending ₹50 lakh insurance for all doctors engaged in the service. He also promised to give them PPE kits and N95 masks by Monday evening and arrange accommodation in the Lepakshi Guest House after they begin treatment of the patients. The Collector also held a meeting with religious heads of the Muslim community till early hours of Sunday and prevailed upon them to convince everyone to hold prayers at their own houses maintaining social distance.
3 May 17:57 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/andhra-pradesh/frontline-warriors-among-those-who-tested-positive-in-hindupur/article31496070.eceRating: 0.30
Fresh cases and 'normal' burial of a COVID-19 victim sends Tumakuru into a tizzy
TUMAKURU: With two new COVID19 cases and with reports of those who took part in the funeral of a 73-year-old COVID-19 victim (Patient Number 535) held without any precautions being awaited, Tumakuru is understandably worried. The district now faces the threat of slipping into the red zone - from the orange zone it currently is in. On Saturday, the neighbors of the 73-year-old victim and his wife, herself a patient, tested positive. The duo - a forty-year-old man and his 29-year-old wife - are now in isolation at a designated hospital. They were asymptomatic when they tested positive for COVID-19 and are now under treatment. Their children, aged eight and six, have also been isolated. ALSO READ | Coronavirus deaths in India might have passed 1,000, but low toll puzzles experts It was on March 27 that a sixty-three-year-old from Sira, who had attended a Tablighi Jamat in Nizamuddin in New Delhi had died at a hospital here. The man's 13-year-old son, who had also contracted the virus, recovered at the Indira Gandhi hospital in Bengaluru. After the district was free from active cases for almost a month, a fresh case surfaced when a cleric from Surat in Gujarat residing at a mosque here tested positive on April 24. It was during the random collection of the samples of people from outside the state staying here that the case was discovered. But it was the death of Patient 535 on April 26 that triggered panic as not only his wife but also two of the neighbours contracted the virus as we reported earlier. Meanwhile, due to a communication gap, as district in-charge minister J C Madhuswami himself admitted on Friday, the body of the deceased person (Patient 535) was handed over to relatives even before the test results arrived. So, his being COVID positive was discovered only three days after his 'normal' burial held without following the protocol. The district health officer Dr Chandrika informed that the collection of samples of the primary contacts of the deceased and the other positive cases, as also of persons with a history of chronic diseases including asthma has begun in the two containment zones - the Poor House Colony and the KHB colony. ALSO SEE:
2 May 19:31 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/karnataka/2020/may/02/fresh-cases-and-normal-burial-of-a-covid-19-victim-sends-tumakuru-into-a-tizzy-2138352.htmlRating: 2.04
Teknaf doctor tests positive for COVID-19, house locked down
A doctor in Cox’s Bazar’s Teknaf has been diagnosed with the coronavirus after returning home to Chattogram. She admitted herself to Chittagong General Hospital after testing positive for the virus on Friday, Chattogram Civil Surgeon Dr Sheikh Fazle Rabbi told bdnews24.com. The doctor works as a gynaecology consultant in Teknaf Upazila Health Complex under the International Organization for Migration (IMO). Her husband is also a physician practising in Cox's Bazar. However, his test result came back negative. The doctor's house has since been placed under lockdown, said OC Md Mohsin of Chattogram Kotwali police station. Bangladesh reported its first cases of the coronavirus on Mar 8. More than 8,000 people have since been infected by the virus and 170 have died. As many as 73 people have tested positive for the coronavirus so far in Chattogram district, said Dr Fazle Rabbi.
2 May 12:24 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/bangladesh/2020/05/02/teknaf-doctor-tests-positive-for-covid-19-house-locked-downRating: 2.85
Pipe-laying vessel reaches Baltic as Russia's Nord Stream 2 target looms
3 May 14:18
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5 articles
Weight: 2.43
Importance: 2.44
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:57
Average US: 19.1
Weighted average US: 21.128863357838206
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Weighted average GB: 0.4208252431431653
Average IN: 5.0
Weighted average IN: 5.510975214024215
Pipe-laying vessel reaches Baltic as Russia's Nord Stream 2 target looms
MOSCOW (Reuters) - A special pipe-laying vessel that could be used by Russia to complete construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany has arrived in the Baltic Sea, a Reuters witness said on Sunday. The arrival of the Academic Cherskiy suggests that the pipeline project remains a priority for Moscow despite U.S. sanctions on Russia. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was designed by Moscow to increase gas supplies via the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer. Russia’s energy ministry said in December that the pipeline was expected to be launched before the end of 2020. Footage taken by Reuters from the coast showed the Academic Cherskiy idle in a bay near the Kaliningrad region, which is separated from Russia’s mainland and is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The Academic Cherskiy, which Russian gas company Gazprom bought in 2016, was in the Russian Pacific port of Nakhodka in December when the United States imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2. The United States says the pipeline would make the continent too reliant for energy on Russia, leaving it in Moscow’s political grip. Washington has touted exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to provide Europe with alternatives to gas pipelined from Russia. As a result of the sanctions, the Swiss-Dutch company Allseas, which was laying the pipeline, suspended work on it. Russia then said it was preparing to use an alternative vessel for the project, as 160-km (100-mile) stretch near the Danish island of Bornholm has not yet been completed. Russia did not name the vessel at the time but said it was docked at a port in its far east. Another vessel that could potentially be used was in another location at the time, pointing to the use of the Academic Cherskiy. It would take less than two days for the Academic Cherskiy to reach the Bornholm area from the Kaliningrad region if it started heading that way, according to a Reuters estimate.
3 May 14:18 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-russia-nord-stream-vessel-idUSKBN22F0LHRating: 4.04
Russian Ship That Could Finish Nord Stream 2 Link Reaches Baltic
A Russian pipe-laying ship that could help finish the Nord Stream 2 gas link to Europe has anchored at the Baltic Sea port of Kaliningrad after sailing for three months from the Pacific. The Akademik Cherskiy, which has changed destinations several times on its way, recently signaled it was set to arrive in Kaliningrad on Sunday, tanker tracking data show. Late last year, Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak mentioned that vessel as an option to complete the pipeline that will bring Russian gas to Germany via the Baltic Sea. Why World Frets About Russia’s Nord Stream 2 Pipeline: QuickTake The pipeline, one of the key export projects for Russia’s Gazprom PJSC, was just weeks away from completion when U.S. sanctions stopped work last year. There’s a small section in Denmark’s waters still to be completed. Even as the U.S. imposed a ban on completion of construction, Gazprom Chief Executive Officer Alexey Miller said Russia has the means to build the remaining section on its own, without specifying how. It’s not clear whether the Akademik Cherskiy is part of the solution. Novak said last year exports via the link would start by end-2020. The line would feed as much as 55 billion cubic meters per year of natural gas from fields in Siberia directly into Germany, circumventing the current main transport corridor through Ukraine. U.S. President Donald Trump has said Europe should cut its reliance on Russian gas and instead buy liquefied fuel from America.
3 May 10:30 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/russian-ship-that-could-finish-nord-stream-2-link-reaches-balticRating: 4.04
Pipe-laying vessel reaches Baltic as Russia's Nord Stream 2 target looms
MOSCOW — A special pipe-laying vessel that could be used by Russia to complete construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany has arrived in the Baltic Sea, a Reuters witness said on Sunday. The arrival of the Academic Cherskiy suggests that the pipeline project remains a priority for Moscow despite U.S. sanctions on Russia. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was designed by Moscow to increase gas supplies via the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer. Russia’s energy ministry said in December that the pipeline was expected to be launched before the end of 2020. Footage taken by Reuters from the coast showed the Academic Cherskiy idle in a bay near the Kaliningrad region, which is separated from Russia’s mainland and is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The Academic Cherskiy, which Russian gas company Gazprom bought in 2016, was in the Russian Pacific port of Nakhodka in December when the United States imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2. The United States says the pipeline would make the continent too reliant for energy on Russia, leaving it in Moscow’s political grip. Washington has touted exports of U.S. liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to provide Europe with alternatives to gas pipelined from Russia. As a result of the sanctions, the Swiss-Dutch company Allseas, which was laying the pipeline, suspended work on it. Russia then said it was preparing to use an alternative vessel for the project, as 160-km (100-mile) stretch near the Danish island of Bornholm has not yet been completed. Russia did not name the vessel at the time but said it was docked at a port in its far east. Another vessel that could potentially be used was in another location at the time, pointing to the use of the Academic Cherskiy. It would take less than two days for the Academic Cherskiy to reach the Bornholm area from the Kaliningrad region if it started heading that way, according to a Reuters estimate. (Reporting by Vitaly Nevar; writing by Polina Devitt; editing by Timothy Heritage)
3 May 13:57 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/pipe-laying-vessel-reaches-baltic-as-russias-nord-stream-2-target-loomsRating: 0.94
Pipe-laying vessel reaches Baltic as Russia’s Nord Stream 2 target looms
MOSCOW, May 3 — A special pipe-laying vessel that could be used by Russia to complete construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline to Germany has arrived in the Baltic Sea, a Reuters witness said today. The arrival of the Academic Cherskiy suggests that the pipeline project remains a priority for Moscow despite US sanctions on Russia. The Nord Stream 2 pipeline was designed by Moscow to increase gas supplies via the Baltic Sea to Germany, Russia’s biggest energy customer. Russia’s energy ministry said in December that the pipeline was expected to be launched before the end of 2020. Footage taken by Reuters from the coast showed the Academic Cherskiy idle in a bay near the Kaliningrad region, which is separated from Russia’s mainland and is sandwiched between Poland and Lithuania. The Academic Cherskiy, which Russian gas company Gazprom bought in 2016, was in the Russian Pacific port of Nakhodka in December when the United States imposed sanctions on Nord Stream 2. The United States says the pipeline would make the continent too reliant for energy on Russia, leaving it in Moscow’s political grip. Washington has touted exports of US liquefied natural gas, or LNG, to provide Europe with alternatives to gas pipelined from Russia. As a result of the sanctions, the Swiss-Dutch company Allseas, which was laying the pipeline, suspended work on it. Russia then said it was preparing to use an alternative vessel for the project, as 160-km (100-mile) stretch near the Danish island of Bornholm has not yet been completed. Russia did not name the vessel at the time but said it was docked at a port in its far east. Another vessel that could potentially be used was in another location at the time, pointing to the use of the Academic Cherskiy. It would take less than two days for the Academic Cherskiy to reach the Bornholm area from the Kaliningrad region if it started heading that way, according to a Reuters estimate. — Reuters
3 May 15:55 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2020/05/03/pipe-laying-vessel-reaches-baltic-as-russias-nord-stream-2-target-looms/1862709Rating: 1.42
Nord Stream 2 Pipe-Laying Ship Approaches Russia's Kaliningrad - Report
The Russian pipe-laying vessel Akademik Cherskiy, which Moscow earlier said is capable of completing the construction of the Nord Stream 2 gas pipeline, has arrived at the port city of Kaliningrad, the ship-tracking website Marine Traffic said. It added that the ship docked on Saturday evening. Earlier this week, the Akademik Cherskiy, which has been operated by Gazprom Fleet since 2016, entered the pipeline construction zone not far from the Danish island of Bornholm and headed towards Kaliningrad. In February, the pipe-laying ship made its way from the Russian port of Nakhodka to Singapore, and since then has changed its course multiple times. It took the ship 83 days to reach Kaliningrad. In late 2019, the US adopted the National Defence Authorisation Act for 2020 which outlined sanctions against companies involved in the implementation of the Nord Stream 2 project. Almost immediately, the Swiss-based offshore contractor Allseas Group suspended work on the project amid the risk of US sanctions. Commenting on the situation with the Nord Stream 2 project in December 2019, Russia's Energy Minister Alexander Novak said that the use of the Akademik Cherskiy ship remained one of several options to finish the construction of the pipeline, adding that it would take some time to carry out additional preparations for the mission. Russian President Vladimir Putin said that it was possible to complete the Nord Stream 2 construction without foreign companies' assistance, though this would require extra time. According to him, the pipeline will be operational no later than the first quarter of 2021. Nord Stream 2 is a joint venture between Russian energy giant Gazprom and five European companies, including France's ENGIE, Austria's OMV, the UK-Dutch company Royal Dutch Shell, and Germany's Uniper and Wintershall. The 1,198-km (745-mile) twin gas pipeline is expected to carry up to 55 billion cubic metres of natural gas per year from Russia to Germany, bypassing the existing route via Ukraine and Poland. The US has been seeking to undermine the construction of the pipeline, threatening every company involved with sanctions. Moscow has repeatedly called against politicising the Nord Stream 2 project, emphasizing its purely economic purpose.
3 May 17:26 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/europe/202005031079183423-nord-stream-2-pipe-laying-ship-approaches-russias-kaliningrad---report/Rating: 3.96
Italy starts slow return to normality, fears resurgence of coronavirus
5 May 10:51
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Italy starts slow return to normality, fears resurgence of coronavirus
ROME (Reuters) - Grandparents hugged their grandchildren, toddlers rushed excitedly through parks and factories revived their long-stalled production lines as Italy started the slow process of unwinding Europe’s longest coronavirus lockdown. Nearly two months after ordering Italians to stay home in an effort to slow one of the worst outbreaks of the new coronavirus in the world, the government on Monday cautiously eased a few restrictions, while keeping many others in place. Despite more than 29,000 Italians dying of COVID-19 since the outbreak emerged on Feb. 21, some people have nonetheless complained that the rollback is too timid, while others worry that complacency will lead to a fresh wave of infections. Many are simply overjoyed to get some of their old life back. “I woke up at 5.30 a.m. I was so excited,” said Maria Antonietta Galluzzo, a grandmother taking her 3-year-old grandson for a walk in Rome’s Villa Borghese park — the first time they had seen each other in eight weeks. The unkempt grass towered above the boy’s head and the air was full of the sound of lawnmowers as park staff began to restore some order to one of Italy’s most elegant gardens. “He has grown by this much,” she said, holding up three horizontal fingers to show the spurt. “It is wonderful.” Under the new rules, 4.5 million Italians can clock back in, construction work can resume and relatives can reunite. More importantly for some, cafes were allowed to reopen for takeaways, with customers sipping their coffees on the pavement. “This is my first proper coffee for eight weeks,” said Riccardo Monti, the CEO of an e-commerce company. “Perhaps it is the thing I missed most. The bar is the focal point of our social life so to see them closed was a trauma.” While some old rituals returned, many curbs stayed in place to try to prevent a resurgence of COVID-19 in the country with the world’s second highest death toll after the United States. There were 195 new deaths on Monday, up from 174 the day before and twice as many as the daily tally on March 9, when Italy’s lockdown began. Friends are still barred from meeting up, the cause of much grumbling on social media, most shops must stay shut until May 18, and schools, cinemas and theatres remain closed indefinitely. Despite facing the worst recession since World War Two, the government has said it can only lift restrictions gradually. Well over a thousand new cases of the highly infectious coronavirus are still being reported daily. In a reminder of the risks involved in easing the lockdown, 14 out of 60 people randomly stopped by police at they entered Naples by car from the north on Monday tested positive, Corriere della Sera daily reported. None of them had symptoms. “If we want to avoid painful backward steps now more than ever, we need cooperation, a sense of responsibility, respect for the rules by all,” Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said in an interview with the same newspaper. A continuous hum of cars, buses and motorbikes pointed to an increase in early morning commuting, but traffic was noticeably lighter than before the virus struck and those out appeared to be following the guidelines on social distancing. “Common sense is prevailing in this beginning phase,” said Massimo Improta, a police officer in Rome. “We have not seen people without masks, we are not seeing gatherings.” Gianluca Martucci joined the ranks of those returning to work for the first time since March 12, pulling up the shutters on a small warehouse in the backstreets of Rome. “It is good to be back, but the world has totally changed,” he said. The company he works for normally organises weddings and corporate events, but these have long since been cancelled. The firm is adjusting by offering a catering service. Although he was happy to see business resume, Martucci was anxious that infections might spread again. “The government has been very wise so far, but I worry that we might be starting up a little too soon,” he said. “I don’t know if the country could survive a second wave.”
5 May 10:51 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-italy-idUSKBN22F0KTRating: 4.04
Coronavirus | Hard-hit Italy prepares to lift lockdown
European nations on Sunday prepared for further cautious easing of COVID-19 restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside after weeks of confinement. More than 2,43,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the U.S. have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 m of their homes. “On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can't wait to see them,” said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. “On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do.” Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries, including automobile sector and construction, have already restarted work. But Italy’s 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany’s Minister for the Interior and Sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country’s football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own “roadmap” to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was “past the peak” of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow — the epicentre of the contagion in Russia — urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise €7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they “follow disinfection measures”. Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Mr. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen “calmly and gradually”, it should also prepare for “bad scenarios”. U.S. leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are also signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the U.S. outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said on Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America's prison population -- the world's largest at 2.3 million -- with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. “Things are beyond breaking point at this facility,” said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. “Right now it's hell.”
3 May 17:15 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-hard-hit-italy-prepares-to-lift-lockdown/article31495758.eceRating: 0.30
Europe prepares to ease lockdowns as pandemic shows signs of ebbing
ROME: European nations on Sunday (May 3) prepared for further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside after weeks of confinement. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can't wait to see them," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." 'PAST THE PEAK' Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries including automobile sector and construction have already restarted work. But Italy's 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany's minister for the interior and sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own "roadmap" to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow - the epicentre of the contagion in Russia - urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. PREPARE FOR 'BAD SCENARIOS' European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros (US$8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea - once the second worst-hit nation on the planet - said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". 'BEYOND BREAKING POINT' US leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators - some armed - who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America's prison population - the world's largest at 2.3 million - with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. "Things are beyond breaking point at this facility," said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. "Right now it's hell."
3 May 21:47 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/europe-prepares-to-ease-lockdowns-as-pandemic-shows-signs-of-12698260Rating: 3.25
Europe prepares to ease lockdowns as signs pandemic ebbing
ROME — European nations on Sunday prepared for further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside after weeks of confinement. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organizing various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can't wait to see them," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries including automobile sector and construction have already restarted work. But Italy's 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany's minister for the interior and sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own "roadmap" to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicentre of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". U.S. leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America's prison population -- the world's largest at 2.3 million -- with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. "Things are beyond breaking point at this facility," said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. "Right now it's hell." © 2020 AFP
3 May 21:15 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/europe-prepares-to-ease-lockdowns-as-signs-pandemic-ebbingRating: 2.09
Europe prepares to ease lockdowns as signs pandemic ebbing
Italy will follow Spain this week in allowing people out to exercise more as virus curbs are eased. AFP/PAU BARRENA More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. “On the one hand, we’re super excited for the reopening, we’re already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can’t wait to see them,” said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. “On the other hand, it’s disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we’re not sure if just using common sense will do.” – ‘Past the peak’ – Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries including automobile sector and construction have already restarted work. But Italy’s 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany’s minister for the interior and sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country’s football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own “roadmap” to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was “past the peak” of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus – social distancing and masks in public — and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow — the epicentre of the contagion in Russia — urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. – Prepare for ‘bad scenarios’ – European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy’s Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany’s Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea — once the second worst-hit nation on the planet — said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they “follow disinfection measures”. Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East’s deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen “calmly and gradually”, it should also prepare for “bad scenarios”. – ‘Beyond breaking point’ – US leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators — some armed — who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America’s prison population — the world’s largest at 2.3 million — with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. “Things are beyond breaking point at this facility,” said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. “Right now it’s hell.” burs-pm/txw
3 May 20:53 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/news/news-world/2278087/europe-prepares-to-ease-lockdowns-as-signs-pandemic-ebbing/Rating: 1.26
Europe prepares to ease lockdowns as signs pandemic ebbing
European nations on Sunday prepared for further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside after weeks of confinement. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can't wait to see them," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries including automobile sector and construction have already restarted work. But Italy's 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany's minister for the interior and sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own "roadmap" to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicentre of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. - Prepare for 'bad scenarios' - European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". US leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America's prison population -- the world's largest at 2.3 million -- with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. "Things are beyond breaking point at this facility," said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. "Right now it's hell." burs-pm/txw https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 12:43 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/europe-prepares-to-ease-lockdowns-as-signs-pandemic-ebbing/8cfg4dfRating: 0.51
Europe prepares to ease lockdowns as signs pandemic ebbing
European nations on Sunday prepared for further cautious easing of coronavirus restrictions following signs the pandemic may be slowing, with hard-hit Italy set to follow Spain in allowing people outside after weeks of confinement. More than 243,000 people have been killed and 3.4 million infected worldwide by the virus, which has left half of humanity under some form of lockdown and pushed the global economy towards its worst downturn since the Great Depression. With signs that the spread of the disease is coming under control, parts of Europe, Asia and the United States have begun to lift restrictions to try to inject life into economies crippled by weeks of closures and ease the pressure on populations weary of confinement. After a two-month lockdown, Italians on Monday will be allowed to stroll in parks and visit relatives. Restaurants can open for takeaways and wholesale stores can resume business, but there was some confusion about the extent of the easing. Romans were doing aerobics on their rooftop terraces and exercising indoors on Sunday and the squares in the city centre were mostly empty on the last day Italians were obliged to remain within 200 metres of their homes. "On the one hand, we're super excited for the reopening, we're already organising various activities the kids will be able to do with their grandparents outdoors, workshops in the garden, that sort of thing. The kids can't wait to see them," said Rome resident Marghe Lodoli, who has three children. "On the other hand, it's disorientating. The rules are not clear, and we're not sure if just using common sense will do." - 'Past the peak' - Italian authorities have said some preventative measures are still needed in a country that has the second-highest number of virus deaths in the world after the United States. Several industries including automobile sector and construction have already restarted work. But Italy's 20 regions have imposed their own regulations, leading to some confusion over what people can and cannot do. Veneto and Calabria lifted their lockdowns early and allowed bars and restaurants to open with outdoor tables. Elsewhere in Europe, Germany will continue its easing on Monday, while Slovenia, Poland and Hungary will allow public spaces and businesses to partially reopen. In another sign of life returning, Germany's minister for the interior and sport said Sunday he supports a resumption of the country's football season this month as long as teams respect hygiene conditions. The British government will unveil its own "roadmap" to ease the country out of lockdown this week, after Prime Minister Boris Johnson said the country was "past the peak" of the outbreak. With health experts warning the disease could hit hard once again, governments are trying to balance easing up restrictions to help battered economies against the risk of fresh outbreaks. Despite moves to ease curbs across the globe, more than 4.6 billion people are still on some form of lockdown or obligation to stay confined at home. Most governments are sticking to measures to control the spread of the virus - social distancing and masks in public -- and more testing to try to track infections even as they relax curbs on movement. Face masks will be mandatory on public transport starting Monday in Spain, where people were allowed to go outdoors to exercise and walk freely on Saturday after a 48-day lockdown. Even as some European countries gradually lift restrictions, officials in Moscow -- the epicentre of the contagion in Russia -- urged residents to stay home. With cases increasing by several thousand each day, Russia is now the European country registering the most new infections. - Prepare for 'bad scenarios' - European leaders are backing an initiative from Brussels to raise 7.5 billion euros ($8.3 billion) to tackle the pandemic and raise funds for efforts to find a vaccine for COVID-19, the disease caused by coronavirus. Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel gave their support in an open letter in weekend newspapers. With pressure growing on governments worldwide to balance public health requirements with the need to ease intense economic pain, some nations in Asia announced similar easing measures. South Korea -- once the second worst-hit nation on the planet -- said Sunday it would ease a ban on some gatherings and events as long as they "follow disinfection measures". Thailand allowed businesses such as restaurants, hair salons and outdoor markets to reopen so long as social distancing was maintained and temperature checks carried out. But experts have cautioned that many countries are still not through the worst. The Philippines suspended all flights into and out of the country for a week starting Sunday in a bid to ease pressure on its congested quarantine facilities. Iranian President Hassan Rouhani announced mosques would reopen across large parts of the Islamic Republic, after they were closed in early March to try to contain the Middle East's deadliest COVID-19 outbreak. Rouhani warned, however, that while Iran would reopen "calmly and gradually", it should also prepare for "bad scenarios". - 'Beyond breaking point' - US leaders face immense pressure to ease virus measures as the economy has been hammered with tens of millions left jobless. The United States has the most coronavirus deaths in the world and President Donald Trump is keen for a turnaround to help reduce the economic pain. Florida is set to ease its lockdown on Monday, as authorities in other states wrestle with pressure from demonstrators -- some armed -- who have rallied against the lockdowns. There are signs that the pandemic is slowing down in some parts of the United States. In New York City, the epicentre of the US outbreak, an emergency field hospital erected in Central Park is set to close, the Christian charity running it said Saturday, as virus cases decline in the city. But authorities are wary of letting their guard down too fast, with fears the virus could wreak havoc in the most vulnerable communities in the United States. A massive wave of infections is sweeping through America's prison population -- the world's largest at 2.3 million -- with coronavirus deaths on the rise in jails and penitentiaries across the country. Riots over inadequate protection and slow responses by authorities have already broken out in prisons in Washington state and Kansas. "Things are beyond breaking point at this facility," said Brian Miller, an officer at Marion prison in Ohio. "Right now it's hell." burs-pm/txw
3 May 12:40 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/europe-prepares-to-ease-lockdowns-as-signs-pandemic-ebbing/article/571132Rating: 0.78
Hope, worry and confusion surround easing of Italy’s coronavirus lockdown
Weary of Europe’s longest coronavirus lockdown, Italians have had Monday circled in their diaries for a month since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte first suggested it could be the date life returned to something nearing normal. Now their excitement is muted by the knowledge that in the end many of the restrictions of the past eight weeks will remain in place, while confusion reigns over those that will be lifted. With almost 29,000 deaths from COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged on Feb. 21, Italy has the world’s second highest toll after the United States. Moreover, the daily tally of fatalities and new infections have slowed more gradually than the government hoped, prompting Mr. Conte to adopt a slowly-slowly approach to ending the lockdown, which will be constantly adjusted depending on contagion trends. “We are still in the full throes of the pandemic,” the Prime Minister said in an interview with La Stampa newspaper on Sunday, stressing the so-called “Phase 2” of the lockdown “must not be seen as a signal that we’re all free” and things can return to normal. People will be able to leave their homes more freely and more workplaces will be allowed to reopen provided they can meet social distancing rules, but most shops will stay shut until May 18 and restaurants and bars can only offer take-out. Schools, cinemas, theatres, museums and hairdressers remain shut, to be reopened at staggered future dates. Parks will reopen on Monday and Italians can run and do other outdoor activities so long as they stay two metres apart. Masks will be obligatory in all closed spaces, to be bought at pharmacies at a subsidized price of half a euro (75 cents) each. The easing of the lockdown has been blighted by a lack of clarity over exactly what activities will be allowed from Monday, and even whose houses people will be able to visit. The confusion was only worsened by guidelines issued by the government over the weekend, which quickly became the butt of widespread criticism and mockery on social media. These spelled out that visits to even distant relatives will be allowed, including the children of cousins, or the cousins of spouses, as well as visits to anyone with whom one has “a stable bond of affection.” However they did not say whether friendship counted as a stable bond of affection, until an off-the-record message to media outlets from the Prime Minister’s office explained that visits to friends are still not permitted. A sense of confusion has also stemmed from Italy’s devolved power structure in which some regional authorities, led by the centre-right opposition, have threatened to flout the rules and go it alone in reopening activities. Mr. Conte said that “Phase 2” would include more testing to see who has the virus, with five million kits sent to the regions in the next two months. In addition, from this week some 150,000 blood tests will be carried out to get an idea of how many Italians have already developed antibodies. He also set out some of the contents of a 55-billion-euro stimulus package to be adopted in the next few days, including more cash for workers temporarily sent home, special payouts for grounded seasonal and domestic workers, and vouchers for families to pay for babysitters. Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 13:50 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/world/article-italys-coronavirus-lockdown-easing-spells-hope-worry-and-confusion/Rating: 2.18
Italy's lockdown easing spells hope, worry and confusion
ROME (Reuters) - Weary of Europe s longest coronavirus lockdown, Italians have had Monday circled in their diaries for a month since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte first suggested it could be the date life returned to something nearing normal. Now their excitement is muted by the knowledge that in the end many of the restrictions of the past eight weeks will remain in place, while confusion reigns over those that will be lifted. With almost 29,000 deaths from COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged on Feb. 21, Italy has the world s second highest toll after the United States. Moreover, the daily tally of fatalities and new infections have slowed more gradually than the government hoped, prompting Conte to adopt a slowly-slowly approach to ending the lockdown, which will be constantly adjusted depending on contagion trends. "We are still in the full throes of the pandemic," he said in an interview with La Stampa newspaper on Sunday, stressing the so-called "phase 2" of the lockdown "must not be seen as a signal that we re all free" and things can return to normal. People will be able to leave their homes more freely and more workplaces will be allowed to reopen provided they can meet social distancing rules, but most shops will stay shut until May 18 and restaurants and bars can only offer take-aways. Schools, cinemas, theatres, museums and hairdressers remain shut, to be reopened at staggered future dates. Parks will reopen on Monday and Italians can run and do other outdoor activities so long as they stay two metres apart. Masks will be obligatory in all closed spaces, to be bought at pharmacies at a subsidised price of 0.5 euros ($0.55) each. The easing of the lockdown has been blighted by a lack of clarity over exactly what activities will be allowed from Monday, and even whose houses people will be able to visit. CONFUSION The confusion was only worsened by guidelines issued by the government over the weekend, which quickly became the butt of widespread criticism and mockery on social media. These spelled out that visits to even distant relatives will be allowed, including the children of cousins, or the cousins of spouses, as well as visits to anyone with whom one has "a stable bond of affection". However they did not say whether friendship counted as a stable bond of affection, until an off-the-record message to media outlets from the prime minister s office explained that visits to friends are still not permitted. A sense of confusion has also stemmed from Italy s devolved power structure in which some regional authorities, led by the centre-right opposition, have threatened to flout the rules and go it alone in reopening activities. Conte said that "phase 2" would include more testing to see who has the virus, with 5 million kits sent to the regions in the next two months. In addition, from this week some 150,000 blood tests will be carried out to get an idea of how many Italians have already developed antibodies. He also set out some of the contents of a 55-billion euro stimulus package to be adopted in the next few days, including more cash for workers temporarily sent home, special pay-outs for grounded seasonal and domestic workers, and vouchers for families to pay for babysitters.
3 May 18:33 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/543870-Italy-lockdown-easing-spells-hope-worry-and-confusionRating: 1.71
Italy's lockdown easing spells hope, worry and confusion
ROME: Weary of Europe’s longest coronavirus lockdown, Italians have had Monday circled in their diaries for a month since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte first suggested it could be the date life returned to something nearing normal. Now their excitement is muted by the knowledge that in the end many of the restrictions of the past eight weeks will remain in place, while confusion reigns over those that will be lifted. With almost 29,000 deaths from Covid-19 since its outbreak emerged on Feb. 21, Italy has the world’s second highest toll after the United States. Moreover, the daily tally of fatalities and new infections have slowed more gradually than the government hoped, prompting Conte to adopt a slowly-slowly approach to ending the lockdown, which will be constantly adjusted depending on contagion trends. “We are still in the full throes of the pandemic,” he said in an interview with La Stampa newspaper on Sunday, stressing the so-called “phase 2” of the lockdown “must not be seen as a signal that we’re all free” and things can return to normal. People will be able to leave their homes more freely and more workplaces will be allowed to reopen provided they can meet social distancing rules, but most shops will stay shut until May 18 and restaurants and bars can only offer take-aways. Schools, cinemas, theatres, museums and hairdressers remain shut, to be reopened at staggered future dates. Parks will reopen on Monday and Italians can run and do other outdoor activities so long as they stay two metres apart. Masks will be obligatory in all closed spaces, to be bought at pharmacies at a subsidised price of 0.5 euros ($0.55) each. The easing of the lockdown has been blighted by a lack of clarity over exactly what activities will be allowed from Monday, and even whose houses people will be able to visit. Confusion The confusion was only worsened by guidelines issued by the government over the weekend, which quickly became the butt of widespread criticism and mockery on social media. These spelled out that visits to even distant relatives will be allowed, including the children of cousins, or the cousins of spouses, as well as visits to anyone with whom one has “a stable bond of affection”. However, they did not say whether friendship counted as a stable bond of affection, until an off-the-record message to media outlets from the prime minister’s office explained that visits to friends are still not permitted. A sense of confusion has also stemmed from Italy’s devolved power structure in which some regional authorities, led by the centre-right opposition, have threatened to flout the rules and go it alone in reopening activities. Conte said that “phase 2” would include more testing to see who has the virus, with 5 million kits sent to the regions in the next two months. In addition, from this week some 150,000 blood tests will be carried out to get an idea of how many Italians have already developed antibodies. He also set out some of the contents of a 55-billion euro stimulus package to be adopted in the next few days, including more cash for workers temporarily sent home, special pay-outs for grounded seasonal and domestic workers, and vouchers for families to pay for babysitters. ($1 = 0.9105 euros)
3 May 15:56 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213244/3-italys-lockdown-easing-spells-hope-worry-confusion/Rating: 1.80
Italy's lockdown easing spells hope, worry and confusion
ROME — Weary of Europe’s longest coronavirus lockdown, Italians have had Monday circled in their diaries for a month since Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte first suggested it could be the date life returned to something nearing normal. Now their excitement is muted by the knowledge that in the end many of the restrictions of the past eight weeks will remain in place, while confusion reigns over those that will be lifted. With almost 29,000 deaths from COVID-19 since its outbreak emerged on Feb. 21, Italy has the world’s second highest toll after the United States. Moreover, the daily tally of fatalities and new infections have slowed more gradually than the government hoped, prompting Conte to adopt a slowly-slowly approach to ending the lockdown, which will be constantly adjusted depending on contagion trends. “We are still in the full throes of the pandemic,” he said in an interview with La Stampa newspaper on Sunday, stressing the so-called “phase 2” of the lockdown “must not be seen as a signal that we’re all free” and things can return to normal. People will be able to leave their homes more freely and more workplaces will be allowed to reopen provided they can meet social distancing rules, but most shops will stay shut until May 18 and restaurants and bars can only offer take-aways. Schools, cinemas, theaters, museums and hairdressers remain shut, to be reopened at staggered future dates. Parks will reopen on Monday and Italians can run and do other outdoor activities so long as they stay two meters apart. Masks will be obligatory in all closed spaces, to be bought at pharmacies at a subsidized price of 0.5 euros ($0.55) each. The easing of the lockdown has been blighted by a lack of clarity over exactly what activities will be allowed from Monday, and even whose houses people will be able to visit. CONFUSION The confusion was only worsened by guidelines issued by the government over the weekend, which quickly became the butt of widespread criticism and mockery on social media. These spelled out that visits to even distant relatives will be allowed, including the children of cousins, or the cousins of spouses, as well as visits to anyone with whom one has “a stable bond of affection.” However they did not say whether friendship counted as a stable bond of affection, until an off-the-record message to media outlets from the prime minister’s office explained that visits to friends are still not permitted. A sense of confusion has also stemmed from Italy’s devolved power structure in which some regional authorities, led by the center-right opposition, have threatened to flout the rules and go it alone in reopening activities. Conte said that “phase 2” would include more testing to see who has the virus, with 5 million kits sent to the regions in the next two months. In addition, from this week some 150,000 blood tests will be carried out to get an idea of how many Italians have already developed antibodies. He also set out some of the contents of a 55-billion euro stimulus package to be adopted in the next few days, including more cash for workers temporarily sent home, special pay-outs for grounded seasonal and domestic workers, and vouchers for families to pay for babysitters. ($1 = 0.9105 euros) (Editing by Alexander Smith)
3 May 13:31 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/italys-lockdown-easing-spells-hope-worry-and-confusionRating: 0.94
Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus after developing ‘mild’ symptom
3 May 20:57
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Weight: 2.43
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Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus after developing ‘mild’ symptom
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan said he will be temporarily stepping back from the programme after developing a “mild” coronavirus symptom. The programme will be hosted by ITV presenter Ben Shephard alongside Susanna Reid as Mr Morgan waits for his test results, which are due on Monday. Mr Morgan said in a tweet: “On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in the past 48 hours, I’ve had a test for Covid-19 and so won’t be working on Good Morning Britain until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow.” This week, Mr Morgan was cleared of breaching TV watchdog Ofcom’s rules after attracting more than 3,000 complaints over his “combative” questioning of care minister Helen Whately in two interviews. During an animated interview, he asked Ms Whately for the number of health workers and care workers who had died from the illness. She accused him of “shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions” and “attempting to score points”. Mr Morgan defended his approach, saying it was not as “uncomfortable” as the conditions for the carers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis. Almost 600 viewers also complained about another interview, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on April 16, who accused him of constantly interrupting him. Mr Morgan has also attracted positive publicity in recent weeks, as one of the famous faces taking on the 2.6 challenge which replaced the London Marathon, and raised money for struggling charities last Sunday. A host of huge names, including Sir Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and David Haye went through a workout, led by Piers Morgan, in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
3 May 20:57 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/piers-morgan-tested-for-coronavirus-after-developing-mild-symptom/Rating: 0.30
Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus after developing ‘mild’ symptom
Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan said he will be temporarily stepping back from the programme after developing a “mild” coronavirus symptom. The programme will be hosted by ITV presenter Ben Shephard alongside Susanna Reid as Mr Morgan waits for his test results, which are due on Monday. Mr Morgan said in a tweet: “On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in the past 48 hours, I’ve had a test for Covid-19 and so won’t be working on Good Morning Britain until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow.” This week, Mr Morgan was cleared of breaching TV watchdog Ofcom’s rules after attracting more than 3,000 complaints over his “combative” questioning of care minister Helen Whately in two interviews. During an animated interview, he asked Ms Whately for the number of health workers and care workers who had died from the illness. She accused him of “shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions” and “attempting to score points”. Mr Morgan defended his approach, saying it was not as “uncomfortable” as the conditions for the carers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis. Almost 600 viewers also complained about another interview, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on April 16, who accused him of constantly interrupting him. Mr Morgan has also attracted positive publicity in recent weeks, as one of the famous faces taking on the 2.6 challenge which replaced the London Marathon, and raised money for struggling charities last Sunday. A host of huge names, including Sir Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and David Haye went through a workout, led by Piers Morgan, in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
3 May 20:55 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/entertainment/piers-morgan-tested-for-coronavirus-after-developing-mild-symptom-39177747.htmlRating: 1.21
Piers Morgan tested for coronavirus after developing ‘mild’ symptom
The presenter has stepped back from Good Morning Britain and Ben Shephard will be covering for him. Good Morning Britain presenter Piers Morgan said he will be temporarily stepping back from the programme after developing a “mild” coronavirus symptom. The programme will be hosted by ITV presenter Ben Shephard alongside Susanna Reid as Mr Morgan waits for his test results, which are due on Monday. Mr Morgan said in a tweet: “On medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution for a mild symptom that arose in the past 48 hours, I’ve had a test for Covid-19 and so won’t be working on Good Morning Britain until I get the result back, which should be tomorrow.” This week, Mr Morgan was cleared of breaching TV watchdog Ofcom’s rules after attracting more than 3,000 complaints over his “combative” questioning of care minister Helen Whately in two interviews. During an animated interview, he asked Ms Whately for the number of health workers and care workers who had died from the illness. She accused him of “shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions” and “attempting to score points”. Mr Morgan defended his approach, saying it was not as “uncomfortable” as the conditions for the carers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis. Almost 600 viewers also complained about another interview, with Health Secretary Matt Hancock on April 16, who accused him of constantly interrupting him. Mr Morgan has also attracted positive publicity in recent weeks, as one of the famous faces taking on the 2.6 challenge which replaced the London Marathon, and raised money for struggling charities last Sunday. A host of huge names, including Sir Andrew Strauss, Kevin Pietersen, Andrew Flintoff and David Haye went through a workout, led by Piers Morgan, in aid of the Ruth Strauss Foundation.
3 May 20:57 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/piers-morgan-tested-for-coronavirus-after-developing-mild-symptom/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Piers Morgan off Good Morning Britain to await test result
Piers Morgan has said he will temporarily step back from presenting Good Morning Britain after developing a "mild" coronavirus symptom. The ITV programme will be hosted by Ben Shephard and Susanna Reid, as Mr Morgan awaits test results on Monday, he said. In a tweet, Mr Morgan said he was acting "on medical advice, and out of an abundance of caution". Last week, he was cleared of breaching TV watchdog Ofcom's rules after 4,000 complaints about his questioning. During an animated interview, he asked care minister Helen Whately for the number of health workers and care workers who had died from the illness. She accused him of "shouting at me and not giving me a chance to answer your questions" and "attempting to score points". Mr Morgan defended his approach, saying it was not as "uncomfortable" as the conditions for the carers on the front line of the coronavirus crisis. The presenter has also attracted positive publicity recently, as one of the famous faces taking on the 2.6 challenge, which replaced the London Marathon and raised money for struggling charities.
3 May 22:39 • BBC News • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/entertainment-arts-52525122Rating: 4.85
Coronavirus: McDonald's seeks rent cut from UK landlords
3 May 14:36
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Coronavirus: McDonald's seeks rent cut from UK landlords
McDonald's is in talks with some of its landlords in the UK about cutting rent payments as the fast food chain prepares to reopen some of its sites. Businesses face their next quarterly rent bill on 24 June when they are due to pay for the next three months. McDonald's said it has paid in full for the current quarter. However, it said that "given the unprecedented situation", it was in talks with landlords about how they could "offer support" on rent. McDonald's has closed all its outlets in the UK because of the coronavirus pandemic. A spokesman for the company said: "We have opened dialogue with some of our landlords to discuss how they might offer support on rent and service charges for a short period due to our restaurants not trading." McDonald's plans to reopen 15 outlets in the UK for delivery only services on 13 May. Other food chains such as Burger King and Yo! Sushi did not pay rent to landlords in the UK when it fell due in March. The government has implemented some measures to help businesses who are struggling to pay their rent. But shopping centre-owner Intu said recently that it was considering legal action against some big brands who have money but are "not engaging" in rent negotiations. Intu, which owns Manchester's Trafford Centre and the Lakeside in Essex, declined to name the brands. In April, the British Retail Consortium and the British Property Federation both wrote to Chancellor Rishi Sunak seeking more support for shops and landlords. They want the government to support a "furloughed space grant scheme" where businesses would pay some rent, landlords would agree to a reduction and the state would make-up the shortfall. A spokesman for the Treasury said: "We recognise the current challenges facing commercial landlords and the significant impact recent changes are having on their business models. We also recognise that many landlords are working closely with tenants to find solutions that work for both parties." "Our package of support for businesses currently includes our new bounce back loans, which provide quick and easy support for eligible companies that is interest-free for the first 12 months, our job retention scheme and other measures such as protecting commercial tenants from eviction." Last week, McDonald's revealed that the coronavirus outbreak had sent first quarter like-for-like sales down 3.4%. It said around three quarters of its outlets across the world remained opened and were serving people via drive-throughs, delivery or takeaway services. But the UK is among a few of its markets where it has temporarily closed all of its sites. Others include France, Italy and Spain.
3 May 14:36 • BBC News • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-52520109Rating: 4.85
Superdrug becomes latest retailer to slash rent payments to landlords
Superdrug, the UK high-street health and beauty chain owned by one of Asia’s richest tycoons, has slashed its rent payments despite keeping a number of its stores open during the coronavirus crisis. In a letter addressed to its landlords on April 22 and seen by the Financial Times, the company states its intention “to reduce our lease payments to 25 per cent of our passing rent commencing from the next due rental date for a minimum period of three months”. “For the avoidance of doubt, this is a rent reduction as opposed to a rent deferment,” the letter adds. Retail tenants on high streets and in shopping centres have struggled during a nationwide lockdown that has sharply reduced the numbers of shoppers. Many have withheld rent as a result. Four weeks after payment was due for the three months to June 24, just 55 per cent of rent owed by retailers in the UK had been paid, according to data compiled by Remit Consulting. Most businesses withholding payments are those that have been forced to shut due to government guidelines. But some retailers that have been allowed to remain open have also stopped or reduced payments, including pharmacy chain Boots and discount chain Poundstretcher. The government has taken steps to protect commercial tenants, banning evictions for three months from March 23 and restricting landlords from using “aggressive” measures to collect unpaid rent a month later. However, the new rules have been used by some tenants “as an excuse to simply withhold payment”, said Steph Yates, senior consultant at Remit Consulting. “A situation seems to be evolving where there are some tenants who genuinely can’t pay while others are simply choosing not to pay,” she added. Superdrug, which has more than 800 stores in the UK, is owned by AS Watson, a global health and beauty group controlled by billionaire Hong Kong tycoon Li Ka-shing that had revenues of more than €10bn last year. The company declined to state how many of its stores have remained open during lockdown. In a statement to the FT, Superdrug said UK high streets had faced “an unprecedented decline in footfall”. AnalysisUK retail industryFive ways coronavirus will change British retail “During this period of lockdown . . . we continue to incur the full costs of our store estate and we have paid our second quarter rent and service charges in full,” it added. “We are now seeking rent reductions across our store estate. We have longstanding partnerships with many of our landlords and trust that we have their support to ensure that both parties may continue to grow and thrive post the Covid-19 pandemic.” Boots, which is owned by US-listed Walgreens Boots Alliance and is Superdrug’s main rival in the UK, has also reduced some payments. The Nottingham-based group has withheld rent for the March-June quarter on about 25 per cent of its stores that are owned by large commercial landlords, pending negotiations about sharing the burden of sharply reduced revenue, but said it continued to pay rent on the rest of its estate that is owned by individual or smaller landlords. Superdrug may have been influenced by Boots’ decision, said one commercial property agent who did not wish to be named and whose clients include a number of Superdrug landlords. But he added: “To cut rent unilaterally in that way lacked a bit of class.” Other AS Watson subsidiaries have also been seeking to extract concessions from landlords. Perfume shop ICI Paris XL withheld rent payments for April from 155 Dutch landlords, prompting one landlord to launch legal proceedings against the European division of AS Watson. Pieter van Loon, who owns about 30 shops in Dordrecht and has ICI Paris XL as a tenant, launched proceedings in early April to claim the €9,474.72 in rent he was owed. Like Superdrug, ICI Paris XL informed its landlords of its intentions via a letter, which Mr van Loon said came as a surprise. He eventually reached an agreement with AS Watson.
3 May 11:00 • Ft • https://www.ft.com/content/5cce6cb1-4e19-4101-a874-8b8ca04ae548Rating: 2.96
May Is The Month Of Reckoning For Retail Landlords, Tenants
It’s May and this is the month of reckoning for retailers and their landlords. With malls and stores across the country closed since March, and half of those stores in default on their April rent, retailers and landlords have tough decisions to make. This month, if they can’t find a way to share the pain, they risk mortally wounding each other. As the COVID-19 pandemic shut down non-essential retail, and restaurants, movie theaters and entertainment venues, landlords have responded in different ways. Some have taken a hard line, taking non-paying retailers to court. Some have offered to defer rent payments until the stores reopen, or to let tenants spread out missed payments over the course of a year or more. And some have proactively decided to forgive all or part of the rent and fees during the shutdown period. ‘Compassionate capitalism’ Ophir Sternberg, founder and CEO of Lionheart Capital, LLC, is giving retail tenants of his retail real estate subsidiary, Out of the Box Ventures, LLC, a break on rent in April and May. Out of the Box, which has 30 retail properties in 17 states, is forgiving 60 to 70% of tenant’s typical rent during April and May, and asking them to only pay the landlord’s fixed costs - the common area maintenance (CAM) charges and property taxes. Tenants will not have to repay the forgiven rent after stores reopen. Sternberg said he made the rent-forgiveness decision as stores began shutting down and he saw “there was a battle brewing between a lot of retail landlords and their tenants.” “I thought that was not the right approach, especially not in this type of crisis,” Sternberg said. “We should all be working together. If we’re going to come out of this stronger than we really have to work together,” he said. By making the offer, which Sternberg said will apply to between 400 and 500 tenants, Out of the Box is foregoing its typical profits for the two months. He calls the strategy “compassionate capitalism,” and says survival depends on landlords realizing “we are in the same boat as our tenants. Their success is our success.” If the closings extend beyond May, “we’ll revisit and have some further conversations with our tenants and see what we can do,” he said. Bedrock LLC, the Detroit real estate company owned by Quicken Loans founder Dan Gilbert, is suspending all rent and fees for the small business retail and restaurant tenants in its portfolio of downtown stores for April, May, and June. “We wanted to give people the confidence that they could start working on the relaunch of their business” rather that have to worry about their immediate cash flow, Matt Cullen, Bedrock CEO told Crain’s Detroit Business. A more common offer from landlords is rent deferrals. Unibail Rodamco Westfield, which owns powerhouse U.S. malls including Garden State Plaza in New Jersey, told tenants they could delay paying their April rent for 90 days, or through July 1. Even the landlords, like Taubman Centers, that have notified tenants that they are expected to pay rent even while the malls are closed, are leaving the door open for negotiation, saying through a spokesperson that it is willing to talk to retailers about their challengesand help them come up with a plan. ‘I am my retailers’ partner’ The crisis has highlighted the symbiotic relationship of retail tenants and landords, said Yaromir Steiner, founder and CEO of Steiner + Associates, which has developed more than 9 million square feet of mixed use space, and owns Easton Town Center in Columbus, Ohio. There are two kinds of retail real estate now, Steiner said: Need-based, or replenishment retail properties, with retailers such as Walmart or Kroger, and want-based, or discretionary retailers such as the typical mall and lifestyle tenants. In the want-based real estate of malls, the tenant pays a higher rent and the landlord, in turn, spends to draw customers and drive up the retailer’s sales. “In the want kind of environment, I make lots of investments to attract the customer, to keep the customer, to beautify the project,” he said. “Why am I doing this? Because I am my retailers’ partner. I need to make sure that people love coming here to spend their discretionary dollars. My retailers, in return, say ‘Ok, you are delivering me the higher volume of sales, I have no problem paying the higher rent’.” “Because we have a symbiotic relationship, the death of either one of us will not be beneficial to the other one,” he said. “We succeed and fail together.” That means, Steiner said, that retailers who have the ability to pay rent must pay, to keep the mall and retail ecosystems alive. Landlords, in turn, can forego their return on capital during the crisis in order to make some concessions to tenants, or to allow tenants to defer payments. Most leases, Steiner said, put the landlord in a strong legal position to demand rent, and to take action against non-paying tenants. While some retailers have claimed that the pandemic is a force majeure that eliminates their obligation to pay rent, most of the leases Steiner has with his tenants “have crystal clear language that force majeure does not allow for non-payment of rent.” But nobody wants to be tied up in lawsuits or incur legal fees at this time, Steiner said. “That’s another reason why we need to work together.” ‘Everybody’s a troubled retailer now’ Andy Graiser, co-president of A&G Real Estate Partners, a Melville, N.Y. real estate advisory firm, agrees that legal battles and evictions are the last thing landlords want now. “The cost of replacing these tenants is not going to be cheap,” Graiser said. “There’s going to be a lot of down time. When landlords factor in broker’s fees, and new tenant construction costs, “you’re probably better served by working with the retailers you have to keep them going,” he said. Retailers who were struggling before the shutdowns began may not be able to be saved, he said, but landlords who get too aggressive with viable tenants “may overplay their hand a little too much and it may just force the retailer into an early bankruptcy,” he said. A&G is getting calls from numerous retailers looking for advice on how to manage their lease obligations at a time when stores are closed and no sales are taking place. “We’ve been doing this type of work for 29 years for troubled retailers but right now almost everybody’s a troubled retailer,” Graiser said. Retailers and landlords, he said, are engaged in a bit of a staring contest, with each side trying to preserve their rights, in order to protect their bargaining position in negotiations. “For the month of April we’re seeing a lot of landlords just reserving their rights and sending out default letters. It’s almost like checking a box,” he said. The most common concession landlords are offering at this point is to defer rent, and to allow retailers to pay it back in 12 equal payments starting next year, Graiser said. But “we’re in early innings,” still, he said. The real negotiations may start after stores reopen and “the landlord realizes they might be only doing 20 to 30% of their sales. I think at that time there might be a more holistic discussion to fix everything to make sure the retailer can operate.” ‘If they don’t take care of their tenants, they don’t have a business’ The rent forgiveness offer from Out of the Box Ventures “definitely helped out a lot,” said Matt Jeffery, owner of five Vendors Village stores in Indiana and Kentucky, including one in the Haute City mall in Terra Haute, IN owned by Out of the Box. Jeffery said some of his landlords have been more understanding than others, but “Out of the Box has been the most proactive of anybody.” Jeffery, in turn, is not making the vendors who rent booths to sell collectibles, crafts, and other goods in his stores pay rent while the stores are closed. “The people at Out of the Box realize the same thing that I realize, that if we don’t take care of our vendors, we don’t have a business,” Jeffery said. “If they don’t take care of their tenants, they don’t have a business.” Graiser of A&G believes the retailer-landlord standoffs will come to a head this month. “Because the May rent will not be paid. So they have to start coming together because at that point they will be two months delinquent,” he said. “People will be coming together in May, and if they don’t I think we’ll start seeing a bunch of bankruptcies starting in June.”
3 May 00:00 • Forbes • https://www.forbes.com/sites/joanverdon/2020/05/03/may-is-the-month-of-reckoning-for-retail-landlords-tenants/Rating: 4.41
Rajasthan reports 3 coronavirus deaths, 60 new positive cases
3 May 18:36
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Rajasthan reports 3 coronavirus deaths, 60 new positive cases
Rajasthan reported three more coronavirus deaths on Sunday, while 60 people tested positive for the virus, officials said. Two deaths were reported in Jaipur and one in Pratapgarh, taking the total number of fatalities in the state to 71, including 40 alone in Jaipur. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here Of the 60 fresh cases, 27 are from Jodhpur, 17 from Jaipur, five from Udaipur, three from Chittorgarh, two each in Ajmer, Bharatpur and Pratapgarh and one each from Kota and Dungarpur, according to a state government official. With this, the total number of positive cases in the state has climbed to 2,832.
3 May 18:36 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/rajasthan-reports-3-coronavirus-deaths-60-new-positive-cases-833078.htmlRating: 2.25
Vietnam reports no new COVID-19 cases in 8 days
HANOI: Vietnam reported no new cases of COVID-19 infection on Saturday, the eighth day in a row, with its total confirmed cases remaining at 270, according to its Ministry of Health. The country has reported no new COVID-19 cases in the community for 16 consecutive days, Vietnam News Agency cited the National Steering Committee for COVID-19 Prevention and Control as saying on Saturday. A total of 219 COVID-19 patients have recovered in the country, with no deaths reported, while there are 443 suspected cases and over 30,000 people being monitored and quarantined as of Saturday evening, according to the health ministry.
3 May 16:36 • Times of Oman • https://timesofoman.com/article/3014483/world/asia/vietnam-reports-no-new-covid-19-cases-in-8-daysRating: 1.06
Indonesia reports 349 new COVID-19 cases, 14 deaths
JAKARTA: Indonesia reported 349 new COVID-19 cases, taking the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 11,192, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said on Sunday (May 3). Yurianto said 14 new coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 845. More than 83,000 people have been tested for the virus, he added. In Jakarta, the number of burials was close to record highs in April, indicating there may have been many more deaths from COVID-19 in the city than have been officially recorded. Official data showed on Friday that the 4,377 burials, combined with 4,422 burials in March, indicate that 2,500 more people have died in the city in the past two months than the average for the period. Jakarta is the epicentre of the coronavirus outbreak in the world's fourth most populous country. Authorities introduced a soft lockdown on Jakarta in March, closing schools and some businesses. On April 24 travel out of the city was strictly banned in an effort to stop more people leaving for the annual post-Ramadan exodus from Greater Jakarta. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 18:56 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/asia/indonesia-covid-19-new-cases-deaths-may-3-12698008Rating: 3.25
Punjab's COVID-19 tally crosses 1000-mark, 55 percent Maharashtra's Nanded pilgrims
CHANDIGARH: Punjab saw the steepest rise in the number of coronavirus cases on Sunday with 331 more persons, mostly pilgrims returning from Nanded, testing positive for the disease, officials said. With the fresh detections, the number of COVID-19 cases in the state now stands at 1,102. At least 609 of the 4,000 pilgrims who have returned from Hazur Sahib gurdwara in Maharashtra's Nanded in recent days have tested positive for coronavirus, a health official said. The pilgrims account for 55 percent of the total coronavirus cases in the state, he said. Of the fresh cases, 75 were reported in Amritsar, followed by 62 in SBS Nagar, 46 in Hoshiarpur, 43 in Muktsar, 33 in Bathinda, 24 in Gurdaspur, nine in Rupnagar, three in Mansa, four each in Sangrur, Jalandhar and Fatehgarh Sahib, two each in Mohali, Barnala, and Ferozepur and one each in Patiala and Ludhiana, according to a health bulletin. Meanwhile, a 40-year-old, who was undergoing treatment at the Faridkot hospital, died on Sunday. His test report confirming him to be coronavirus positive came after his death. This is the first COVID-19 related death in the district. The number of COVID-19 related deaths in the state now stands at 21. Amritsar topped the COVID-19 tally in the state with 218 cases, followed by 124 in Jalandhar, 111 in Ludhiana, 95 in Mohali, 88 in Hoshiarpur, 86 in Patiala, 85 in SBS Nagar, 50 in Muktsar, 35 in Bathinda, 30 in Gurdaspur, 29 in Ferozepur, 28 in Moga, 25 in Pathankot, 16 each in Mansa and Fatehgarh Sahib, 14 each in Tarn Taran and Rupnagar, 13 in Kapurthala, six in Faridkot and four each in Fazilka and Barnala, the bulletin said. Of the total 1,102 patients, 117 have been cured and 964 are undergoing treatment. Two patients are critical and on ventilator support, according to the bulletin. A total of 26,439 samples have been taken in the state so far, of which 20,197 are negative and reports of 5,140 awaited.
3 May 20:46 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/03/punjabs-covid-19-tally-crosses-1000-mark-55-percent--maharashtras-nanded-pilgrims-2138710.htmlRating: 2.04
12 die of coronavirus in Afghanistan as 235 new positive cases surface in past 24 hours
At least 12 people died of the novel coronavirus (COVID-19) in Afghanistan as 235 new positive cases surfaced across the country in the past 24 hours. Waheedullah Mayar, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Public Health, confirmed the new deaths and positive cases during a press conference in Kabul. Mayar further added that 12 people died of the virus in the past 24 hours in Afghanistan. He also added that the public health authorities recorded 235 new positive cases during the same period, increasing the total number of positive cases to 2,704. According to Mayar, 63 of the positive cases were recorded in Kabul, 54 in Kandahar, 19 in Herat, 14 in Panjshir, 13 in Takhar, 12 in Nangarhar, 10 in Samangan, 10 in Ghor, 9 in Baghlan and 7 in Wardak province. The remaining cases were recorded in Badghis, Bamyan, Laghman, Sar-e Pul, Kunar and Helmand provinces. Meanwhile, Mayar said a total of 14 patients recovered from the disease across the country during the same period.
3 May 12:07 • The Khaama Press News Agency • https://www.khaama.com/12-die-of-coronavirus-in-afghanistan-as-235-new-positive-cases-surface-in-past-24-hours-04766/Rating: 1.51
Punjab witnesses biggest one-day spike
Punjab on Sunday reported one more COVID-19-related death, taking the total tally to 21, besides the State saw its biggest one-day spike of 331 cases, according to an official statement. The total number of COVID-19 positive cases have reached 1,102 in the State, with most of the new cases linked to pilgrims who had recently returned from Nanded in Maharashtra, where they had gone to pay obeisance at Gurdwara Hazur Sahib. The latest victim, who was from Ferozepur, was being treated at Guru Gobind Singh Medical College. The State health department said on Sunday that 75 new patients were reported from Amritsar, 62 from SBS Nagar, 46 from Hoisharpur, 43 from Muktsar, 33 from Bathinda, 24 from Gurdaspur, 16 from Ludhiana and nine from Ropar districts. The total number of active cases in the State at present is 964. As many as 117 patients have so far recovered, it added. Meanwhile, politics surrounding the Nanded pilgrims continued as the Congress and the Shiromani Akali Dal leaders indulged in verbal spat over the issue. Health Minister Balbir Singh Sidhu asked SAD president Sukhbir Singh Badal and other Akali leaders to apologies to “Sikh Sangat” for their misleading propaganda over the return of Nanded pilgrims after 20-25 sewadars of Gurdwara Langar Sahib in Maharashtra tested positive. “In view of the sewadars of Gurdwara Langar Sahib in Nanded testing positive after tests conducted there, it was evident that pilgrims had contracted the virus before entering Punjab,” he said. Mr. Sidhu hit out at the Akali leaders for indulging in political one-upmanship over a very sensitive issue, that too without verifying any facts. “These leaders unnecessarily hyped this issue by spreading propaganda that pilgrims are being labelled COVID-19 positive as part of a conspiracy. By indulging in politicising this issue, Akali leaders are not only trying to demoralise all corona warriors who are going beyond their call of duty to save Punjab but also giving false and fabricated comments over such a sensitive issue,” he said. On the other hand, SAD leader and former Minister Bikram Majithia asked the Punjab government to transfer the entire Hazur Sahib pilgrims, who were quarantined in unhygienic government facilities, to Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee “sarai”, saying Sikh organisations and SAD would look after them. Accusing the Congress leaders of playing politics on the issue, Mr. Majithia said the party would not allow Congress leaders to turn the pilgrims into scape goats to hide their own failures. “We will also not allow anyone to demean Takth Sri Hazur Sahib or the sangat which has returned after paying its obeisance,” he said. Mr. Majithia said the Punjab government did not follow ICMR guidelines while repatriating the pilgrims. “Air-conditioned buses were used against established norms. Social distancing was not followed. The buses came through red zones and it was because of this mishandling that pilgrims, who were in good health in Nanded for more than one month, tested positive for COVID-19 on their return to Punjab,” he alleged.
3 May 18:14 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/punjab-witnesses-biggest-one-day-spike/article31496344.eceRating: 0.30
Coronavirus numbers explained: Despite lockdown, new cases and deaths rise
While the lockdown is still continuing, the number of new cases, as well as the number of deaths being reported every day, has been steadily rising for the last few days. On Saturday, over 2500 new cases were reported for the first time, while the number of deaths was at least 93. By the end of Saturday, India had just a little below 40,000 cases, while the death figures had crossed 1300. There were no new surprises on Saturday, and the numbers simply reinforced the trend that we have been witnessing for a few days now. The bulk of new cases, as well as deaths, are being reported from the top five or seven states, while the others contributing very modest numbers. Maharashtra and Gujarat both reported the highest number of deaths on any single day. While there were 37 deaths in Maharashtra, Gujarat counted 26 dead. In the south, Tamil Nadu has been seeing a rapid rise in its case numbers in recent days. On Saturday, it added 231 new cases, its biggest single-day jump, to reach a tally of 2757, the highest among the five southern states. On four previous days, it had increased its numbers by 121, 104, 161 and 203. The state now has the fifth-highest caseload in the country, after Maharashtra, Gujarat, Delhi, and Madhya Pradesh. In the southern region at least, Tamil Nadu remains an outlier, as the other four states are growing their numbers at a considerably slower rate. • What are human challenge trials, and why are they controversial? • In homemade masks, two fabrics better than one • Govt's guidelines for home isolation of mild and pre-symptomatic Covid-19 patientsClick here for more On Saturday, Delhi’s total caseload crossed 4000 after an unusually high daily increase of 384 cases, while Gujarat’s numbers went over 5000. The infection amongst pilgrims returning from Nanded in Maharashtra has seen a sudden surge in the numbers for Punjab. On Saturday, 187 new cases were detected in the state, of which 142 were those who had returned from Nanded. Over 3500 Sikh pilgrims have returned from Nanded in the last few days, of which 242 have so far been found to be infected. Maharashtra PWD minister Ashok Chavan, who represents Nanded district in the state assembly, said that it was possible that some of the drivers of the vehicles who ferried the pilgrims from Maharashtra to Punjab might have been responsible for spreading the infection. He said the pilgrims had been transported in 78 buses, each of which had two drivers. But on Saturday, at least 20 sewadars of the Gurudwara Langar Sahib in Nanded, where the stranded pilgrims from Punjab had stayed during the lockdown, also tested positive for novel Coronavirus. 📣 Express Explained is now on Telegram. Click here to join our channel (@ieexplained) and stay updated with the latest Meanwhile, Punjab chief minister Amarinder Singh directed his officials to rapidly scale up testing facilities in the state, to at least 6000 every day. Punjab has been carrying out 1500 to 2000 tests every day right now. (*State government has said it was not counting 72 deaths of Coronavirus positive patients, because an expert committee had ascertained that they could be attributed to other pre-existing illnesses. State government now providing only daily number of deaths, and not the total number.)
3 May 10:27 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/explained/despite-lockdown-new-cases-and-deaths-rise-coronavirus-maharashtra-gujarat-tamil-nadu-6391322/Rating: 0.30
Indonesia reports 349 new coronavirus cases, 14 new deaths
JAKARTA, May 3 — Indonesia reported 349 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 11,192, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said today. Yurianto said 14 new coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 845. More than 83,000 people have been tested for the virus, he added. — Reuters
3 May 09:47 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/indonesia-reports-349-new-coronavirus-cases-14-new-deaths/1862623Rating: 1.42
Indonesia reports 349 new coronavirus cases, 14 new deaths
JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia reported 349 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections in the Southeast Asian country to 11,192, health ministry official Achmad Yurianto said on Sunday. Yurianto said 14 new coronavirus-related deaths were confirmed, bringing the total to 845. More than 83,000 people have been tested for the virus, he added.
3 May 09:15 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-indonesia-idUSKBN22F0BKRating: 4.04
Death toll from virus in Mississippi grows to more than 300
JACKSON, Miss. (AP) - Mississippi’s death toll from COVID-19 has topped 300, with the state health department announcing Sunday that 12 more people have died from the disease. After a single-day high of nearly 400 new cases was reported Friday, the Mississippi State Department of Health reported the number of new positive tests for the coronavirus had slowed by Sunday, with 109 more infections confirmed. More than 7,500 Mississippians have tested positive for COVID-19, according to the data. In an interview on “Fox News Sunday,” Republican Gov. Tate Reeves called Friday’s new case announcement “a one-day blip” caused by a large number of tests being reported from out-of-state private labs, what he described as a “data dump” rather than the start of a large spike in Mississippi’s virus outbreak. The number of infections is thought to be far higher than official counts because many people have not been tested, and studies suggest people can be infected without feeling sick. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms. For others, the highly contagious virus can cause severe symptoms and be fatal. Reeves‘ “safer at home” order that started last week remains in place until May 11. It allowed some businesses to reopen with limits on how many customers may be present. Doctors were able to start offering some services that had been limited. But restaurants must stick to takeout or delivery only, and salons, barber shops, tattoo parlors, entertainment venues and movie theaters remain closed. Gatherings of 10 or more people still are prohibited. Reeves defended his decision to start easing restrictions on businesses despite the recent increase in confirmed virus cases and even though the state hasn’t met the White House guidance of a downward trajectory in new cases for 14 days. He told “Fox News Sunday” that Mississippi’s hospital system isn’t stressed. “Sometimes the models are just different for different states, just like they’re different for various counties, and we believe that that particular gating criteria just doesn’t work in states like ours, who have never had more than 300 cases in any one day with the exception of Friday and that data dump,” Reeves said.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/death-toll-from-virus-in-mississippi-grows-to-more/Rating: 0.79
Former NHL player Georges Laraque describes coronavirus battle
3 May 21:12
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Weighted average GB: 0.09943460338200415
Average IN: 2.3999999999999995
Weighted average IN: 1.1382473010507006
Former NHL player Georges Laraque describes coronavirus battle
A couple of weeks ago, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. Now, the former NHL enforcer's biggest challenge is trying to breathe clearly as he fights the coronavirus from a hospital in Montreal. "Now I can't even get up without losing my breath. It's insane," he said. In a series of videos from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old said he began feeling symptoms a week ago Sunday when he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. "I have pneumonia in both my lungs, they're affected by the COVID because I have asthma; I have to have oxygen blowing through my nose," said Laraque, who wore a hospital gown and could be seen coughing at times during the videos. "The nights are the worst," he said. "At night, I have fevers a couple times a night. I have to get up and take pills." Laraque thanked the staff at Charles-Le Moyne Hospital who have been taking care of him, and told people not to feel sorry for him because, "I'm not the only one fighting this." Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal.
3 May 21:12 • ESPN.com • https://www.espn.com/nhl/story/_/id/29129223/ex-player-georges-laraque-describes-coronavirus-battleRating: 4.77
Former Montreal Canadiens player Georges Laraque describes COVID-19 battle
A couple of weeks ago, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. Now, the former NHL enforcer’s biggest challenge is trying to breathe clearly as he fights COVID-19 from a hospital on Montreal’s South Shore. “Now I can’t even get up without losing my breath. It’s insane,” he said. In a series of videos from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old, said he began feeling symptoms last Sunday, at a time he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. “I have pneumonia in both my lungs, they’re affected by the COVID because I have asthma, I have to have oxygen blowing through my nose,” said Laraque, who wore a hospital gown and could be seen coughing at times during the videos. “The nights are the worst,” he said a moment later. “At night, I have fevers a couple times a night. I have to get up and take pills.” Laraque thanked the staff at Charles-Le Moyne hospital who have been taking care of him, and told people not to feel sorry for him because “I’m not the only one fighting this.” The former hockey player questioned the Quebec government’s plan to gradually reopen elementary schools and daycares beginning on May 11, given the limited amount of testing taking place. “If you can’t test all the kids in school, it’s not going to be a safe environment for the parents and the teachers that are already way underpaid, so for two months of school is it worth it?” he said. Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal.
3 May 18:09 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/sports/hockey/article-former-montreal-canadiens-player-georges-laraque-describes-covid-1/Rating: 2.18
Former Montreal Canadiens Player Georges Laraque Describes COVID-19 Battle
A couple of weeks ago, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. Now, the former NHL enforcer’s biggest challenge is trying to breathe clearly as he fights COVID-19 from a hospital on Montreal’s South Shore. “Now I can’t even get up without losing my breath. It’s insane,” he said. In a series of videos from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old, said he began feeling symptoms last Sunday, at a time he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. “I have pneumonia in both my lungs, they’re affected by the COVID because I have asthma, I have to have oxygen blowing through my nose,” said Laraque, who wore a hospital gown and could be seen coughing at times during the videos. “The nights are the worst,” he said a moment later. “At night, I have fevers a couple times a night. I have to get up and take pills.” Laraque thanked the staff at Charles-Le Moyne hospital who have been taking care of him, and told people not to feel sorry for him because “I’m not the only one fighting this.” The former hockey player questioned the Quebec government’s plan to gradually reopen elementary schools and daycares beginning on May 11, given the limited amount of testing taking place. “If you can’t test all the kids in school, it’s not going to be a safe environment for the parents and the teachers that are already way underpaid, so for two months of school is it worth it?” he said. Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal. Questions about COVID-19? Here are some things you need to know: Health officials caution against all international travel. Returning travellers are asked to self-isolate for 14 days in case they develop symptoms and to prevent spreading the virus to others. Symptoms can include fever, cough and difficulty breathing — very similar to a cold or flu. Some people can develop a more severe illness. People most at risk of this include older adults and people with severe chronic medical conditions like heart, lung or kidney disease. If you develop symptoms, contact public health authorities. To prevent the virus from spreading, experts recommend frequent handwashing and coughing into your sleeve. They also recommend minimizing contact with others, staying home as much as possible and maintaining a distance of two metres from other people if you go out. For full COVID-19 coverage from Global News, click here.
3 May 19:31 • ET Canada • https://etcanada.com/news/637379/former-montreal-canadiens-player-georges-laraque-describes-covid-19-battle/Rating: 0.31
Former Montreal Canadiens player Georges Laraque describes COVID-19 battle
MONTREAL - A couple of weeks ago, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. Now, the former NHL enforcer's biggest challenge is trying to breathe clearly as he fights COVID-19 from a hospital on Montreal's South Shore. "Now I can't even get up without losing my breath. It's insane," he said. In a series of videos from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old, said he began feeling symptoms last Sunday, at a time he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. "I have pneumonia in both my lungs, they're affected by the COVID because I have asthma, I have to have oxygen blowing through my nose," said Laraque, who wore a hospital gown and could be seen coughing at times during the videos. "The nights are the worst," he said a moment later. "At night, I have fevers a couple times a night. I have to get up and take pills." Laraque thanked the staff at Charles-Le Moyne hospital who have been taking care of him, and told people not to feel sorry for him because "I'm not the only one fighting this." The former hockey player questioned the Quebec government's plan to gradually reopen elementary schools and daycares beginning on May 11, given the limited amount of testing taking place. "If you can't test all the kids in school, it's not going to be a safe environment for the parents and the teachers that are already way underpaid, so for two months of school is it worth it?" he said. Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal.
3 May 18:20 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/former-montreal-canadiens-player-georges-laraque-describes-covid-19-battle/it72909Rating: 0.30
‘It’s insane’: Former NHLer Georges Laraque describes COVID-19 battle
MONTREAL — A couple of weeks ago, former Montreal Canadiens tough guy Georges Laraque was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. Now, the former NHL enforcer’s biggest challenge is trying to breathe clearly as he fights COVID-19 from a hospital on Montreal’s South Shore. “Now I can’t even get up without losing my breath. It’s insane,” he said. In a series of videos from his hospital bed, the 43-year-old, said he began feeling symptoms last Sunday, at a time he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. “I have pneumonia in both my lungs, they’re affected by the COVID because I have asthma, I have to have oxygen blowing through my nose,” said Laraque, who wore a hospital gown and could be seen coughing at times during the videos. “The nights are the worst,” he said a moment later. “At night, I have fevers a couple times a night. I have to get up and take pills.” Laraque thanked the staff at Charles-Le Moyne hospital who have been taking care of him, and told people not to feel sorry for him because “I’m not the only one fighting this.” The former hockey player questioned the Quebec government’s plan to gradually reopen elementary schools and daycares beginning on May 11, given the limited amount of testing taking place. “If you can’t test all the kids in school, it’s not going to be a safe environment for the parents and the teachers that are already way underpaid, so for two months of school is it worth it?” he said. Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal.
3 May 12:07 • Sportsnet.ca • https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/insane-former-nhler-georges-laraque-describes-covid-19-battle/Rating: 0.91
'It's insane:' Georges Laraque describes battle with COVID-19 in hospital video
MONTREAL -- For more than a decade, Georges Laraque made a living from being tough and physical. Just a couple of weeks ago, the former Montreal Canadiens was running five or six days a week as he trained for a marathon. But a battle with COVID-19 has battered the former Montreal Canadien. In video messages posted to Facebook from his bed in Longueuil's Charles-Le Moyne Hospital, Laraque coughed repeatedly and fought through bouts of intense wheezing while describing the toll the virus has taken on him. Laraque, who suffers from asthma, said he has pneumonia in both lungs because of COVID-19 and must use a puffer every few hours. The 43-year-old said he began feeling symptoms last Sunday, at a time he was helping to deliver groceries to vulnerable people in his community. Over the next days, his condition deteriorated. “Now, I can't even get up without losing my breath. It's insane,” he said. “At night, I have fevers. I have to get up to take pills. I wake up in sweats all the time. I'm not the only fighting this. I don't feel sorry for myself. It's okay, this is what happens in life.” Laraque thanked healthcare workers for helping himself and others in the same situation. “You guys are real heroes. You're putting your health at risk just to help me. You guys are amazing,” he said. Laraque also questioned the Quebec government's plan to gradually reopen elementary schools and daycares beginning on May 11, given the limited amount of testing taking place. "If you can't test all the kids in school, it's not going to be a safe environment for the parents and the teachers that are already way underpaid, so for two months of school is it worth it?" he said. Laraque played parts of 12 seasons in the NHL from 1997 to 2010, including eight with Edmonton. He capped his career with two seasons in Montreal. - The Canadian Press contributed to this report.
3 May 03:34 • Montreal • https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/it-s-insane-georges-laraque-describes-battle-with-covid-19-in-hospital-video-1.4922621Rating: 0.30
Phoning it in: Pandemic forces Supreme Court to hear cases in a new way
3 May 10:19
•
4 articles
Weight: 2.37
Importance: 2.50
Age penalty: 0.95
Best date: 3 May 10:01
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Weighted average GB: 0.41412973750906706
Average IN: 2.95
Weighted average IN: 4.3177085089940626
Phoning it in: Pandemic forces Supreme Court to hear cases in a new way
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are typically a formal affair, dictated by adherence to tradition by an institution historically resistant to altering its ways. Come Monday, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, all that changes. In a first, the nine justices are set to participate in arguments in 10 cases - each scheduled for an hour - this week and next week conducted remotely by teleconference rather than in-person to combat the spread of the pathogen. In another break with tradition, the court will provide a live audio feed of the arguments to the news media. The changes reflect the new reality of working from home during the pandemic. The new format means than many formalities will be set aside. Some of the lawyers who will argue the cases have said they plan on wearing comfortable clothing - jeans and T-shirts - and will address the justices from kitchens and spare bedrooms, not from behind a lectern in the courtroom. The cases include one of the biggest disputes of the court’s current term - whether President Donald Trump, arguing for expansive presidential powers, can keep his financial records including tax returns secret. Three cases will be argued on the subject on May 12, two involving congressional subpoenas to third parties for his records and one involving a subpoena by a local prosecutor in New York City in a criminal investigation into Trump and his family real estate business. Jay Sekulow, a Trump personal lawyer who is arguing one of the financial records cases, said the dynamic will be quite a contrast to the dozen Supreme Court cases he has argued previously. “The difference here is, because we have a situation where we’re doing this over the phone, we’re trying to replicate that kind of feeling, because it’s different. Tone is different. Pausing is different. Listening is different,” Sekulow said. Arguments often are rough and tumble affairs - intellectually speaking - in the grand marble-columned courtroom, with the justices interjecting their comments at any time and sometimes talking over one another. To avoid chaos, the court has tweaked the format for the teleconference arguments so justices will take turn asking questions in order of seniority. Justice Clarence Thomas is the court’s longest-serving member, though he typically refrains from asking questions during arguments. The next most senior justice is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a frequent questioner. The new process will present a challenge including trying to cram all of the justices’ questions into an hour, said Ian Gershengorn, another experienced Supreme Court lawyer, who will be arguing a case on May 11 from his home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. “It will put a premium on concise questions and concise answers,” Gershengorn said. Gershengorn is representing Jimcy McGirt, a member of a Native American tribe challenging his conviction on charges of rape, molestation and sodomy of a 4-year-old girl. The ruling could have broad ramifications for tribal authority in Oklahoma. Gershengorn will be interacting with the justices sight unseen. So, despite the seriousness of the case, he said he plans to wear casual clothes - jeans and a T-shirt - instead of his usual formal suit. Riyaz Kanji, a lawyer representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribe in the same case, said he plans to address the justices sitting from his kitchen table in Ann Arbor, Michigan. The first case being heard on Monday involves a bid by a federal agency to prevent the popular hotel reservation website Booking.com, a unit of Booking Holdings Inc, from trademarking the site’s name. The company, along with the rest of the travel industry, has been clobbered by the pandemic, which has caused tourism and business travel to evaporate worldwide. Adding to its troubles, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office contends in the case that the name Booking.com is too generic to deserve legal protection. The Supreme Court building has been closed to the public since March 13 due to the pandemic. The justices have met only via teleconference, and have issued rulings only online. The coronavirus has proven to be particularly dangerous in elderly people, especially those with underlying medical issues. Three of the nine justices are over age 70: Ginsburg (87), Stephen Breyer (81) and Thomas (71). The court is notoriously averse to change, including adopting new technology. The justices in the past have rebuffed news media requests for live audio and video of arguments. The court has not stated whether it will continue to allow a live audio feed in the future when cases again are argued in-person. (For a graphic on major cases before the Supreme Court, click tmsnrt.rs/2mZn6MJ)
3 May 10:19 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-court-arguments-idUSKBN22F0DPRating: 4.04
Phoning it in: Pandemic forces US Supreme Court to hear cases in a new way
Oral arguments before the US Supreme Court are typically a formal affair, dictated by adherence to tradition by an institution historically resistant to altering its ways. Come Monday, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, all that changes. In a first, the nine justices are set to participate in arguments in 10 cases - each scheduled for an hour - this week and next week conducted remotely by teleconference rather than in-person to combat the spread of the pathogen. In another break with tradition, the court will provide a live audio feed of the arguments to the news media. The changes reflect the new reality of working from home during the pandemic. The new format means than many formalities will be set aside. Some of the lawyers who will argue the cases have said they plan on wearing comfortable clothing - jeans and T-shirts - and will address the justices from kitchens and spare bedrooms, not from behind a lectern in the courtroom. The cases include one of the biggest disputes of the court's current term - whether President Donald Trump, arguing for expansive presidential powers, can keep his financial records including tax returns secret. Three cases will be argued on the subject on May 12, two involving congressional subpoenas to third parties for his records and one involving a subpoena by a local prosecutor in New York City in a criminal investigation into Trump and his family real estate business. Jay Sekulow, a Trump personal lawyer who is arguing one of the financial records cases, said the dynamic will be quite a contrast to the dozen Supreme Court cases he has argued previously. "The difference here is, because we have a situation where we're doing this over the phone, we're trying to replicate that kind of feeling, because it's different. Tone is different. Pausing is different. Listening is different," Sekulow said. Arguments often are rough and tumble affairs - intellectually speaking - in the grand marble-columned courtroom, with the justices interjecting their comments at any time and sometimes talking over one another. To avoid chaos, the court has tweaked the format for the teleconference arguments so justices will take turn asking questions in order of seniority. Justice Clarence Thomas is the court's longest-serving member, though he typically refrains from asking questions during arguments. The next most senior justice is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a frequent questioner. The new process will present a challenge including trying to cram all of the justices' questions into an hour, said Ian Gershengorn, another experienced Supreme Court lawyer, who will be arguing a case on May 11 from his home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. "It will put a premium on concise questions and concise answers," Gershengorn said. Gershengorn is representing Jimcy McGirt, a member of a Native American tribe challenging his conviction on charges of rape, molestation and sodomy of a 4-year-old girl. The ruling could have broad ramifications for tribal authority in Oklahoma. Gershengorn will be interacting with the justices sight unseen. So, despite the seriousness of the case, he said he plans to wear casual clothes - jeans and a T-shirt - instead of his usual formal suit. Riyaz Kanji, a lawyer representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribe in the same case, said he plans to address the justices sitting from his kitchen table in Ann Arbor, Michigan. HOTEL RESERVATION WEBSITE The first case being heard on Monday involves a bid by a federal agency to prevent the popular hotel reservation website Booking.com, a unit of Booking Holdings Inc, from trademarking the site's name. The company, along with the rest of the travel industry, has been clobbered by the pandemic, which has caused tourism and business travel to evaporate worldwide. Adding to its troubles, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office contends in the case that the name Booking.com is too generic to deserve legal protection. The Supreme Court building has been closed to the public since March 13 due to the pandemic. The justices have met only via teleconference, and have issued rulings only online. The coronavirus has proven to be particularly dangerous in elderly people, especially those with underlying medical issues. Three of the nine justices are over age 70: Ginsburg (87), Stephen Breyer (81) and Thomas (71). The court is notoriously averse to change, including adopting new technology. The justices in the past have rebuffed news media requests for live audio and video of arguments. The court has not stated whether it will continue to allow a live audio feed in the future when cases again are argued in-person.
3 May 17:31 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/03/phoning-it-in-pandemic-forces-us-supreme-court-to-hear-cases-in-a-new-wayRating: 2.85
Phoning it in: Pandemic forces U.S. Supreme Court to hear cases in a new way
WASHINGTON — Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are typically a formal affair, dictated by adherence to tradition by an institution historically resistant to altering its ways. Come Monday, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, all that changes. In a first, the nine justices are set to participate in arguments in 10 cases – each scheduled for an hour – this week and next week conducted remotely by teleconference rather than in-person to combat the spread of the pathogen. In another break with tradition, the court will provide a live audio feed of the arguments to the news media. The changes reflect the new reality of working from home during the pandemic. The new format means than many formalities will be set aside. Some of the lawyers who will argue the cases have said they plan on wearing comfortable clothing – jeans and T-shirts – and will address the justices from kitchens and spare bedrooms, not from behind a lectern in the courtroom. The cases include one of the biggest disputes of the court’s current term – whether President Donald Trump, arguing for expansive presidential powers, can keep his financial records including tax returns secret. Three cases will be argued on the subject on May 12, two involving congressional subpoenas to third parties for his records and one involving a subpoena by a local prosecutor in New York City in a criminal investigation into Trump and his family real estate business. Jay Sekulow, a Trump personal lawyer who is arguing one of the financial records cases, said the dynamic will be quite a contrast to the dozen Supreme Court cases he has argued previously. “The difference here is, because we have a situation where we’re doing this over the phone, we’re trying to replicate that kind of feeling, because it’s different. Tone is different. Pausing is different. Listening is different,” Sekulow said. Arguments often are rough and tumble affairs – intellectually speaking – in the grand marble-columned courtroom, with the justices interjecting their comments at any time and sometimes talking over one another. To avoid chaos, the court has tweaked the format for the teleconference arguments so justices will take turn asking questions in order of seniority. Justice Clarence Thomas is the court’s longest-serving member, though he typically refrains from asking questions during arguments. The next most senior justice is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a frequent questioner. The new process will present a challenge including trying to cram all of the justices’ questions into an hour, said Ian Gershengorn, another experienced Supreme Court lawyer, who will be arguing a case on May 11 from his home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. “It will put a premium on concise questions and concise answers,” Gershengorn said. Gershengorn is representing Jimcy McGirt, a member of a Native American tribe challenging his conviction on charges of rape, molestation and sodomy of a 4-year-old girl. The ruling could have broad ramifications for tribal authority in Oklahoma. Gershengorn will be interacting with the justices sight unseen. So, despite the seriousness of the case, he said he plans to wear casual clothes – jeans and a T-shirt – instead of his usual formal suit. Riyaz Kanji, a lawyer representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribe in the same case, said he plans to address the justices sitting from his kitchen table in Ann Arbor, Michigan. HOTEL RESERVATION WEBSITE The first case being heard on Monday involves a bid by a federal agency to prevent the popular hotel reservation website Booking.com, a unit of Booking Holdings Inc, from trademarking the site’s name. The company, along with the rest of the travel industry, has been clobbered by the pandemic, which has caused tourism and business travel to evaporate worldwide. Adding to its troubles, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office contends in the case that the name Booking.com is too generic to deserve legal protection. The Supreme Court building has been closed to the public since March 13 due to the pandemic. The justices have met only via teleconference, and have issued rulings only online. The coronavirus has proven to be particularly dangerous in elderly people, especially those with underlying medical issues. Three of the nine justices are over age 70: Ginsburg (87), Stephen Breyer (81) and Thomas (71). The court is notoriously averse to change, including adopting new technology. The justices in the past have rebuffed news media requests for live audio and video of arguments. The court has not stated whether it will continue to allow a live audio feed in the future when cases again are argued in-person. [For a graphic on major cases before the Supreme Court, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2mZn6MJ ] (Reporting by Lawrence Hurley in Washington and Andrew Chung in New York; Additional reporting by Karen Freifeld in New York; Editing by Will Dunham)
3 May 10:01 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/phoning-it-in-pandemic-forces-u-s-supreme-court-to-hear-cases-in-a-new-wayRating: 1.59
Phoning it in: Pandemic forces Supreme Court to hear cases in a new way
By Lawrence Hurley and Andrew Chung WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Oral arguments before the U.S. Supreme Court are typically a formal affair, dictated by adherence to tradition by an institution historically resistant to altering its ways. Come Monday, thanks to the coronavirus pandemic, all that changes. In a first, the nine justices are set to participate in arguments in 10 cases - each scheduled for an hour - this week and next week conducted remotely by teleconference rather than in-person to combat the spread of the pathogen. In another break with tradition, the court will provide a live audio feed of the arguments to the news media. The changes reflect the new reality of working from home during the pandemic. The new format means than many formalities will be set aside. Some of the lawyers who will argue the cases have said they plan on wearing comfortable clothing - jeans and T-shirts - and will address the justices from kitchens and spare bedrooms, not from behind a lectern in the courtroom. The cases include one of the biggest disputes of the court's current term - whether President Donald Trump, arguing for expansive presidential powers, can keep his financial records including tax returns secret. Three cases will be argued on the subject on May 12, two involving congressional subpoenas to third parties for his records and one involving a subpoena by a local prosecutor in New York City in a criminal investigation into Trump and his family real estate business. Jay Sekulow, a Trump personal lawyer who is arguing one of the financial records cases, said the dynamic will be quite a contrast to the dozen Supreme Court cases he has argued previously. "The difference here is, because we have a situation where we're doing this over the phone, we're trying to replicate that kind of feeling, because it's different. Tone is different. Pausing is different. Listening is different," Sekulow said. Arguments often are rough and tumble affairs - intellectually speaking - in the grand marble-columned courtroom, with the justices interjecting their comments at any time and sometimes talking over one another. To avoid chaos, the court has tweaked the format for the teleconference arguments so justices will take turn asking questions in order of seniority. Justice Clarence Thomas is the court's longest-serving member, though he typically refrains from asking questions during arguments. The next most senior justice is Ruth Bader Ginsburg, a frequent questioner. The new process will present a challenge including trying to cram all of the justices' questions into an hour, said Ian Gershengorn, another experienced Supreme Court lawyer, who will be arguing a case on May 11 from his home in the Washington suburb of Bethesda, Maryland. "It will put a premium on concise questions and concise answers," Gershengorn said. Gershengorn is representing Jimcy McGirt, a member of a Native American tribe challenging his conviction on charges of rape, molestation and sodomy of a 4-year-old girl. The ruling could have broad ramifications for tribal authority in Oklahoma. Gershengorn will be interacting with the justices sight unseen. So, despite the seriousness of the case, he said he plans to wear casual clothes - jeans and a T-shirt - instead of his usual formal suit. Riyaz Kanji, a lawyer representing the Muscogee (Creek) Nation tribe in the same case, said he plans to address the justices sitting from his kitchen table in Ann Arbor, Michigan. HOTEL RESERVATION WEBSITE The first case being heard on Monday involves a bid by a federal agency to prevent the popular hotel reservation website Booking.com, a unit of Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) Inc, from trademarking the site's name. The company, along with the rest of the travel industry, has been clobbered by the pandemic, which has caused tourism and business travel to evaporate worldwide. Adding to its troubles, the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office contends in the case that the name Booking.com is too generic to deserve legal protection. The Supreme Court building has been closed to the public since March 13 due to the pandemic. The justices have met only via teleconference, and have issued rulings only online. The coronavirus has proven to be particularly dangerous in elderly people, especially those with underlying medical issues. Three of the nine justices are over age 70: Ginsburg (87), Stephen Breyer (81) and Thomas (71). The court is notoriously averse to change, including adopting new technology. The justices in the past have rebuffed news media requests for live audio and video of arguments. The court has not stated whether it will continue to allow a live audio feed in the future when cases again are argued in-person. (For a graphic on major cases before the Supreme Court, click https://tmsnrt.rs/2mZn6MJ)
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/phoning-it-in-pandemic-forces-supreme-court-to-hear-cases-in-a-new-way-2158930Rating: 0.30
UK shadows Italy as worst hit in Europe: virus death toll passes 28,000
3 May 09:09
•
6 articles
Weight: 2.37
Importance: 2.72
Age penalty: 0.87
Best date: 3 May 09:02
Average US: 13.616666666666667
Weighted average US: 13.300304275869541
Average GB: 1.1199999999999999
Weighted average GB: 1.040367885377277
Average IN: 17.369999999999997
Weighted average IN: 13.999167780516588
UK shadows Italy as worst hit in Europe: virus death toll passes 28,000
LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world’s second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled COVID-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work on Monday, telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom’s “apparent success”. He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still to early to relax the lockdown he imposed on March 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals. The $3.0 trillion British economy, the world’s fifth largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases. He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown - with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones. Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while.
3 May 09:09 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-death-toll-idUSKBN22E0LDRating: 4.04
UK right behind Italy as worst hit in Europe
London: The United Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll rose by 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world’s second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled COVID-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom’s “apparent success”. Tests for easing lockdown He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still to early to relax the lockdown he imposed on March 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals. The $3.0 trillion British economy, the world’s fifth-largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases. He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown - with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones. Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while.
3 May 09:02 • Deccan Chronicle • https://www.deccanchronicle.com/world/europe/030520/uk-right-behind-italy-as-worst-hit-in-europe.htmlRating: 1.64
U.K. Shadows Italy as Worst Hit in Europe: Virus Death Toll Passes 28,000
The United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world's second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled COVID-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work on Monday, telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom's "apparent success". TESTS FOR EASING LOCKDOWN He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still to early to relax the lockdown he imposed on March 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals. The $3.0 trillion British economy, the world's fifth largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases. He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown - with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones. Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while.
3 May 07:55 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/u-k-shadows-italy-as-worst-hit-in-europe-virus-death-toll-passes-28-000-1.8816147Rating: 1.13
UK shadows Italy as worst-hit in Europe; COVID-19 death toll passes 28,000
LONDON: The United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world's second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst-hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled COVID-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work on Monday, telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom's "apparent success". TESTS FOR EASING LOCKDOWN He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still too early to relax the lockdown he imposed on Mar 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals.The US$3 trillion British economy, the world's fifth-largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases.He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown - with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones.Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
2 May 23:28 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/uk-shadows-italy-as-worst-hit-in-europe-covid-19-death-toll-12697020Rating: 3.25
UK virus death toll passes 28,000
LONDON — The United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world's second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled COVID-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work on Monday, telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom's "apparent success". He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still to early to relax the lockdown he imposed on March 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals. The $3.0 trillion British economy, the world's fifth largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases. He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown - with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones. Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while. © Thomson Reuters 2020.
2 May 21:15 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-2-uk-shadows-italy-as-worst-hit-in-europe-virus-death-toll-passes-28-000Rating: 2.09
UK shadows Italy as worst hit in Europe: virus death toll passes 28,000
LONDON: The United Kingdom’s Covid-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has so far had the world’s second most deadly outbreak of the disease after the United States. As Britain shadows Italy for the grim status of being the worst-hit country in Europe, Prime Minister Boris Johnson is facing criticism from opposition parties who say his government stumbled in the early stages of the outbreak. Housing minister Robert Jenrick gave the latest UK figures at a Downing Street briefing on Saturday. The United States has had 64,740 deaths, followed by Italy with 28,710 and the United Kingdom on 28,131 and then Spain on 25,100, according to a Reuters tally. Italy, which has a population of 60 million, said its death toll rose 474 as of Saturday. The United Kingdom has a population of about 67 million. Johnson, 55, initially resisted introducing a lockdown to restrict economic and public activity, but changed course when projections showed a quarter of a million people could die. Johnson himself battled Covid-19 last month, spending three days in intensive care. He returned to work on Monday, telling the nation that people around the world were looking at the United Kingdom’s “apparent success”. Tests for easing lockdown He has said the country is over the peak but that it is still to early to relax the lockdown he imposed on March 23 because there could be a second peak that he fears might overwhelm hospitals. The $3.0 trillion British economy, the world’s fifth-largest, is stalling and Johnson is due next week to present a possible way to get the country back to work without triggering a second spike in cases. He has set five tests that must be met before he can lift the lockdown – with a reduction in the daily death toll and prevention of a second deadly peak among the key ones. Government scientists say that while the daily death tolls show a downward trend they expect them to plateau for a while.
2 May 18:05 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2212627/3-uk-shadows-italy-worst-hit-europe-virus-death-toll-passes-28000/Rating: 1.80
How the Cowboys are adding depth, not leverage, with Andy Dalton
3 May 11:54
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3 articles
Weight: 2.37
Importance: 2.39
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:54
Average US: 43.666666666666664
Weighted average US: 45.204142605915436
Average GB: 0.26666666666666666
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Average IN: 20.8
Weighted average IN: 16.426308242642552
How the Cowboys are adding depth, not leverage, with Andy Dalton
Here’s what the addition of Andy Dalton to the Dallas Cowboys is not: a sign of unhappiness with negotiations with quarterback Dak Prescott and a way to leverage a long-term deal. The addition of the former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback is about making the roster better. By adding Dalton, the Cowboys might have the best backup quarterback in the NFL. At 32, he has thrown 204 touchdown passes. He has 31,954 passing yards. He has been to the playoffs. He has won big games. If something were to happen to Prescott, who has yet to miss a game in his career, the Cowboys have a known commodity in Dalton, who wanted to come to the Cowboys in part because of the uncertainty created by the coronavirus pandemic. He lives in Dallas, so it makes sense even if he had a better opportunity elsewhere. According to ESPN’s Adam Schefter, Dalton’s deal is worth $3 million and could grow to $7 million. Cooper Rush, who has served as Prescott’s backup the past three seasons and thrown three passes, is set to make $2.1 million. This is how the Cowboys used to treat the backup spot when Tony Romo was the starting quarterback. In 2007-08, they had Brad Johnson as Romo’s No. 2, and he made $5.5 million. From 2009 to '11, it was Jon Kitna, and he made nearly $8 million. In 2012-13, it was Kyle Orton, and he made $7.25 million. Johnson was a Super Bowl-winning quarterback and took two different teams to the playoffs. Kitna and Orton led teams to the playoffs. The Cowboys were willing to pay a premium on the position, strangely, until Romo started to get hurt more. They went with Brandon Weeden in 2014 and ’15 on a low-cost deal. He lost his four starts as Romo’s replacement, including three in 2015, which was a disastrous year for the franchise with Romo starting four games because of a twice-broken collarbone. After Romo got hurt the first time the Cowboys traded a fifth-round pick for veteran Matt Cassel and a seventh-round selection. Cassel’s experience was viewed as a positive, but he went 1-6 and had five touchdown passes and seven interceptions. Owner and general manager Jerry Jones did not forget that he paid Cassel nearly $2 million, and he failed to throw for more than 200 yards in five of those starts. The following year, the Cowboys were planning on going with an untested Kellen Moore (one career start) as Romo’s backup until he broke his ankle the first week of training camp. After Romo suffered a broken bone in his back later that summer, they handed the keys to the franchise to Prescott, a fourth-round rookie, although they did add Mark Sanchez on a one-year, $2 million deal to back up Prescott. Prescott has been driving ever since. (By the way, Moore is entering his third season as a Cowboys coach and second as the offensive coordinator.) Prescott has been extremely durable despite taking 56 sacks in 2018 and a willingness to run (21 rushing touchdowns since 2016). His 64 straight starts are the third-longest active streak among quarterbacks, trailing only Philip Rivers (224) and Russell Wilson (128), according to ESPN Stats & Information. Thirteen quarterbacks started every game last season. Rivers, Wilson, Brett Favre and Eli Manning might be the exceptions to the rule when it comes to quarterbacks escaping injury. Maybe Prescott is more like them and won’t get hurt either. Without Drew Brees last year, the New Orleans Saints won with Teddy Bridgewater. Matt Moore went 1-1 as Patrick Mahomes’ injury replacement in Kansas City. The Cowboys would be extremely happy if Dalton never saw the field for any meaningful snaps in 2020. But just in case, they prepared themselves for the possibility.
3 May 11:54 • ESPN.com • https://www.espn.com/blog/dallas-cowboys/post/_/id/4771464/how-the-are-cowboys-adding-depth-not-leverage-with-andy-daltonRating: 4.77
Cowboys confirm deal for ex-Bengals QB Dalton
The Dallas Cowboys have signed former Cincinnati Bengals quarterback Andy Dalton, the NFL franchise confirmed on Saturday. Following reports, the Cowboys announced an agreement with Dalton on a one-year deal following his departure from the Bengals. The deal for Dalton is reportedly worth a guaranteed $3million and could be worth up to $7m. Dalton spent nine seasons with the Bengals and helped lead them to the playoffs five times before he was released on Thursday after Cincinnati selected Joe Burrow with the top overall pick in the NFL Draft. Dalton posted a 70-61-2 regular-season record as Cincinnati's starting quarterback, but the Bengals have not won a playoff game since 1990. In Dallas, Dalton will serve as backup to Dak Prescott – who was given the franchise tag by the Cowboys earlier this offseason. Dallas are still trying to come to a long-term contract agreement with Prescott. Dalton – the Bengals' career leader in touchdown passes and a three-time Pro Bowler – already has a home in Dallas and played in college at nearby TCU. Published 03 May 2020, 08:36 ISTFeedback
3 May 03:06 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/nfl/cowboys-confirm-deal-for-ex-bengals-qb-dalton?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Dez Bryant Is Not Happy With Cowboys Signing Andy Dalton
Not everyone is a big man of the Dallas Cowboys’ new signing of quarterback Andy Dalton. Dez Bryant, the team’s former star wide receiver, thinks the move is “out of line.” Dak Prescott is the team’s established starting quarterback. He and the team have struggled to come to a long-term deal. Whatever that contract winds up looking like, many anticipate that it will make him the highest-paid quarterback in the NFL. NFL insider Ian Rapoport says that Dalton’s presence doesn’t mean much for Prescott. The Cowboys are bringing in the veteran as an insurance policy in case Dak gets injured. After adding pieces like receiver CeeDee Lamb, Dallas is clearly gearing up to make a run. Even so, Bryant doesn’t like the optics of the team adding a big-name quarterback, without Dak getting his long-awaited extension. He thinks it signals that the team believes that it can plug in another quarterback, and isn’t actually committed to him as the franchise guy. He compared things to how the Cowboys treated Tony Romo, his quarterback for most of his time with the franchise. Dez clearly sees the addition of Dalton as something as a shot across Dak’s bow, and has respect for the former Cincinnati Bengals starter. He says that he doesn’t believe this is just an insurance policy. The longtime Cowboy star has shared many more thoughts about this, and is tweeting up a storm about the deal. The move is definitely an interesting one. Andy Dalton is still a quality quarterback, even if he was displaced this year, and probably could have competed for a starting job elsewhere. It is unclear what the full market for him looked like. As with all things related to America’s Team, this move is getting dissected far more than your average backup quarterback signing. [Dez Bryant]
3 May 02:33 • The Spun • https://thespun.com/nfl/nfc-east/dallas-cowboys/andy-dalton-dallas-cowboys-dak-prescott-dez-bryant-twitterRating: 0.30
Rohingya survivors tell of misery and death at sea; hundreds still adrift
3 May 22:20
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5 articles
Weight: 2.35
Importance: 2.35
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 21:39
Average US: 9.452000000000002
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Average GB: 0.758
Weighted average GB: 0.820203914170721
Average IN: 1.83
Weighted average IN: 1.7387763795577085
Rohingya survivors tell of misery and death at sea; hundreds still adrift
Rohingya refugee Shahab Uddin thought the wooden trawler he boarded in February would be his ticket out of a camp in Bangladesh to a better life in Malaysia. Instead, the voyage nearly killed him. The 20-year-old was among almost 400 survivors pulled from the water, starving, emaciated and traumatized after the boat failed to reach Malaysia and spent weeks adrift before returning to Bangladesh in mid-April. Hundreds more refugees are stranded on at least two other trawlers, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus, threatening a repeat of a 2015 boat crisis when hundreds of people died. The United Nations has implored authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. In interviews, seven survivors from the rescued boat recalled two harrowing months. Estimates of the number of people who died on the boat ranged from several dozen to more than 100 - nobody kept count - but their accounts were consistent. The survivors described hundreds of men, women, and children crammed on the boat, unable to move, squatting in rain and scorching sun until, as food and water ran out, they began to die of starvation, thirst, and beatings, their bodies tossed overboard. Some wept as they spoke. “I thought I would not come back home alive,” said Uddin. “I missed my family, especially my parents.” The group Fortify Rights said in a statement last week the operators of the boat “held their victims in conditions similar to slavery for the purposes of exploitation”. Amnesty International urged governments to protect stranded Rohingya and allow them to land. It estimated 800 more people were at sea. Several dozen people from one boat landed on the south coast of Bangladesh on Saturday. Malaysia defends its policy of turning boats away. Authorities have acted lawfully to defend the countrys sovereignty and are ready to do so again, its minister for internal affairs said in a statement on Thursday. More than a million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, live in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing from largely Buddhist Myanmars Rakhine State. Most fled an army crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations says was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says it was responding to insurgent attacks. Although the Rohingya people trace their ancestry in Rakhine back centuries, Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea. In Bangladesh, Uddin made a little money driving motorized tuk-tuks but said refugees were becoming more confined. The government restricts internet and cell phone access and has begun putting up barbed-wire fences around the camps, citing security. Uddin said it began to feel like prison. “I thought going to Malaysia by whatever way would at least save me. Many have made it to Malaysia and are better off. He said he and several friends met a man in a shanty town who took them by boat to a trawler where hundreds of people were already crowded on board - men on the lower deck, women on the top. Many of the young women were due to be married in Malaysia. Another refugee, Enamul Hasan, also 20, said an uncle in Malaysia urged him to go there. I wanted to go to Malaysia to end my family’s poverty, he said. Six of the seven survivors Reuters interviewed said they had gone willingly. The seventh, aged 16, said he was taken by unknown men against his will. The misery began as soon as they set out. “We ate almost nothing,” said Uddin. “Little kids would cry for water.” After a week the boat arrived off Malaysia, where it waited for several days before the crew said they could not disembark and would have to return to Bangladesh. They crossed back over the Bay of Bengal. “We faced storms three times, said Uddin. He said he was made to serve as an enforcer for the crew and beat anyone who stepped out of line. If I didnt want to beat them, I myself would be beaten, he said. Meanwhile, some desperate passengers began to drink sea water. “By the wonderful grace of God, the water would seem sweet, said Hasan. “Many jumped into the water ... everyone was saying that it was much better to die in the water than dying in the ship. At night, the passengers held one another, weeping and praying. Eventually the boat stopped again, off Myanmar, survivors said, but again it could not dock. “People kept dying and would be thrown overboard, said Hasan. “I began to wonder when I would die.” The refugees eventually forced the captain to take them back to Bangladesh where, one night, they made landfall. A coastguard official there at the time said they were a shocking sight: “Many of them were stick-thin, some unable to stand. Muriel Boursier, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Bangladesh, who met survivors later, said many could not walk. Some grieved for lost relatives, staring blankly. Some survivors were taken to hospital but most went to a quarantine camp, unaware of the coronavirus that had taken hold during their voyage. “It’s difficult to understand that no state is able to open its doors,” Boursier said. Uddin said his parents hardly recognised him but he was thankful to be back, though he had little hope for his future. “It’s better to die here than to die at sea,” he said.
3 May 22:20 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/rohingya-survivors-tell-of-misery-and-death-at-sea-hundreds-still-adrift/article31496635.eceRating: 0.30
Rohingya survivors tell of misery and death at sea; hundreds still adrift
Rohingya refugee Shahab Uddin thought the wooden trawler he boarded in February would be his ticket out of a camp in Bangladesh to a better life in Malaysia. Instead, the voyage nearly killed him. The 20-year-old was among almost 400 survivors pulled from the water, starving, emaciated and traumatised after the boat failed to reach Malaysia and spent weeks adrift before returning to Bangladesh in mid-April. Hundreds more refugees are stranded on at least two other trawlers, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus, threatening a repeat of a 2015 boat crisis when hundreds of people died. The United Nations has implored authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. In interviews with Reuters, seven survivors from the rescued boat recalled two harrowing months. Estimates of the number of people who died on the boat ranged from several dozen to more than 100 - nobody kept count - but their accounts were consistent. The survivors described hundreds of men, women, and children crammed on the boat, unable to move, squatting in rain and scorching sun until, as food and water ran out, they began to die of starvation, thirst, and beatings, their bodies tossed overboard. Some wept as they spoke. "I thought I would not come back home alive," said Uddin. "I missed my family, especially my parents." The group Fortify Rights said in a statement last week the operators of the boat "held their victims in conditions similar to slavery for the purposes of exploitation". Reuters was unable to identify or contact the crew for comment. Amnesty International urged governments to protect stranded Rohingya and allow them to land. It estimated 800 more people were at sea. Several dozen people from one boat landed on the south coast of Bangladesh on Saturday. Malaysia defends its policy of turning boats away. Authorities have acted lawfully to defend the country’s sovereignty and are ready to do so again, its minister for internal affairs said in a statement on Thursday. More than a million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, live in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing from largely Buddhist Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Most fled an army crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations says was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says it was responding to insurgent attacks. 'BETTER OFF IN MALAYSIA' Although the Rohingya people trace their ancestry in Rakhine back centuries, Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea. In Bangladesh, Uddin made a little money driving motorised tuk-tuks but said refugees were becoming more confined. The government restricts internet and cell phone access and has begun putting up barbed-wire fences around the camps, citing security. Uddin said it began to feel like prison. "I thought going to Malaysia by whatever way would at least save me. Many have made it to Malaysia and are better off.” He said he and several friends met a man in a shanty town who took them by boat to a trawler where hundreds of people were already crowded on board - men on the lower deck, women on the top. Many of the young women were due to be married in Malaysia. Another refugee, Enamul Hasan, also 20, said an uncle in Malaysia urged him to go there. “I wanted to go to Malaysia to end my family's poverty,” he said. Six of the seven survivors Reuters interviewed said they had gone willingly. The seventh, aged 16, said he was taken by unknown men against his will. The misery began as soon as they set out. "We ate almost nothing," said Uddin. "Little kids would cry for water." WEEPING AND PRAYING After a week the boat arrived off Malaysia, where it waited for several days before the crew said they could not disembark and would have to return to Bangladesh. They crossed back over the Bay of Bengal. "We faced storms three times,” said Uddin. He said he was made to serve as an enforcer for the crew and beat anyone who stepped out of line. “If I didn’t want to beat them, I myself would be beaten,” he said. Meanwhile, some desperate passengers began to drink sea water. "By the wonderful grace of God, the water would seem sweet,” said Hasan. "Many jumped into the water ... everyone was saying that it was much better to die in the water than dying in the ship.” At night, the passengers held one another, weeping and praying. Eventually the boat stopped again, off Myanmar, survivors said, but again it could not dock. "People kept dying and would be thrown overboard,” said Hasan. "I began to wonder when I would die." The refugees eventually forced the captain to take them back to Bangladesh where, one night, they made landfall. A coastguard official there at the time said they were a shocking sight: "Many of them were stick-thin, some unable to stand.” Muriel Boursier, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Bangladesh, who met survivors later, said many could not walk. Some grieved for lost relatives, staring blankly. Some survivors were taken to hospital but most went to a quarantine camp, unaware of the coronavirus that had taken hold during their voyage. "It's difficult to understand that no state is able to open its doors," Boursier said. Uddin said his parents hardly recognised him but he was thankful to be back, though he had little hope for his future. "It's better to die here than to die at sea," he said.
3 May 21:39 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/2020/05/03/rohingya-survivors-tell-of-misery-and-death-at-sea-hundreds-still-adriftRating: 2.85
Rohingya survivors tell of misery and death at sea; hundreds still adrift
COX S BAZAR (Reuters) - Rohingya refugee Shahab Uddin thought the wooden trawler he boarded in February would be his ticket out of a camp in Bangladesh to a better life in Malaysia. Instead, the voyage nearly killed him. The 20-year-old was among almost 400 survivors pulled from the water, starving, emaciated and traumatized after the boat failed to reach Malaysia and spent weeks adrift before returning to Bangladesh in mid-April. Hundreds more refugees are stranded on at least two other trawlers, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus, threatening a repeat of a 2015 boat crisis when hundreds of people died. The United Nations has implored authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. In interviews with Reuters, seven survivors from the rescued boat recalled two harrowing months. Estimates of the number of people who died on the boat ranged from several dozen to more than 100 - nobody kept count - but their accounts were consistent. The survivors described hundreds of men, women, and children crammed on the boat, unable to move, squatting in rain and scorching sun until, as food and water ran out, they began to die of starvation, thirst, and beatings, their bodies tossed overboard. Some wept as they spoke. "I thought I would not come back home alive," said Uddin. "I missed my family, especially my parents." The group Fortify Rights said in a statement last week the operators of the boat "held their victims in conditions similar to slavery for the purposes of exploitation". Reuters was unable to identify or contact the crew for comment. Amnesty International urged governments to protect stranded Rohingya and allow them to land. It estimated 800 more people were at sea. Several dozen people from one boat landed on the south coast of Bangladesh on Saturday. Malaysia defends its policy of turning boats away. Authorities have acted lawfully to defend the country’s sovereignty and are ready to do so again, its minister for internal affairs said in a statement on Thursday. More than a million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, live in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing from largely Buddhist Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Most fled an army crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations says was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says it was responding to insurgent attacks. BETTER OFF IN MALAYSIA Although the Rohingya people trace their ancestry in Rakhine back centuries, Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea. In Bangladesh, Uddin made a little money driving motorized tuk-tuks but said refugees were becoming more confined. The government restricts internet and cell phone access and has begun putting up barbed-wire fences around the camps, citing security. Uddin said it began to feel like prison. "I thought going to Malaysia by whatever way would at least save me. Many have made it to Malaysia and are better off.” He said he and several friends met a man in a shanty town who took them by boat to a trawler where hundreds of people were already crowded on board - men on the lower deck, women on the top. Many of the young women were due to be married in Malaysia. Another refugee, Enamul Hasan, also 20, said an uncle in Malaysia urged him to go there. “I wanted to go to Malaysia to end my family s poverty,” he said. Six of the seven survivors Reuters interviewed said they had gone willingly. The seventh, aged 16, said he was taken by unknown men against his will. The misery began as soon as they set out. "We ate almost nothing," said Uddin. "Little kids would cry for water." WEEPING AND PRAYING After a week the boat arrived off Malaysia, where it waited for several days before the crew said they could not disembark and would have to return to Bangladesh. They crossed back over the Bay of Bengal. "We faced storms three times,” said Uddin. He said he was made to serve as an enforcer for the crew and beat anyone who stepped out of line. “If I didn’t want to beat them, I myself would be beaten,” he said. Meanwhile, some desperate passengers began to drink sea water. "By the wonderful grace of God, the water would seem sweet,” said Hasan. "Many jumped into the water ... everyone was saying that it was much better to die in the water than dying in the ship.” At night, the passengers held one another, weeping and praying. Eventually the boat stopped again, off Myanmar, survivors said, but again it could not dock. "People kept dying and would be thrown overboard,” said Hasan. "I began to wonder when I would die." The refugees eventually forced the captain to take them back to Bangladesh where, one night, they made landfall. A coastguard official there at the time said they were a shocking sight: "Many of them were stick-thin, some unable to stand.” Muriel Boursier, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Bangladesh, who met survivors later, said many could not walk. Some grieved for lost relatives, staring blankly. Some survivors were taken to hospital but most went to a quarantine camp, unaware of the coronavirus that had taken hold during their voyage. "It s difficult to understand that no state is able to open its doors," Boursier said. Uddin said his parents hardly recognised him but he was thankful to be back, though he had little hope for his future. "It s better to die here than to die at sea," he said.
3 May 22:23 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/World/543893-Rohingya-survivors-tell-of-misery-and-death-at-sea-hundreds-still-adriftRating: 1.71
Rohingya Refugees Tell of Misery and Death at Sea in Attempt to Leave Bangladesh for Malaysia
Rohingya refugee Shahab Uddin thought the wooden trawler he boarded in February would be his ticket out of a camp in Bangladesh to a better life in Malaysia. Instead, the voyage nearly killed him. The 20-year-old was among almost 400 survivors pulled from the water, starving, emaciated and traumatized after the boat failed to reach Malaysia and spent weeks adrift before returning to Bangladesh in mid-April. Hundreds more refugees are stranded on at least two other trawlers, rights groups say, as Southeast Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus, threatening a repeat of a 2015 boat crisis when hundreds of people died. The United Nations has implored authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. In interviews with Reuters, seven survivors from the rescued boat recalled two harrowing months. Estimates of the number of people who died on the boat ranged from several dozen to more than 100 - nobody kept count - but their accounts were consistent. The survivors described hundreds of men, women, and children crammed on the boat, unable to move, squatting in rain and scorching sun until, as food and water ran out, they began to die of starvation, thirst, and beatings, their bodies tossed overboard. Some wept as they spoke. "I thought I would not come back home alive," said Uddin. "I missed my family, especially my parents." The group Fortify Rights said in a statement last week the operators of the boat "held their victims in conditions similar to slavery for the purposes of exploitation". Reuters was unable to identify or contact the crew for comment. Amnesty International urged governments to protect stranded Rohingya and allow them to land. It estimated 800 more people were at sea. Several dozen people from one boat landed on the south coast of Bangladesh on Saturday. Malaysia defends its policy of turning boats away. Authorities have acted lawfully to defend the country's sovereignty and are ready to do so again, its minister for internal affairs said in a statement on Thursday. More than a million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, live in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing from largely Buddhist Myanmar's Rakhine State. Most fled an army crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations says was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says it was responding to insurgent attacks. 'BETTER OFF IN MALAYSIA' Although the Rohingya people trace their ancestry in Rakhine back centuries, Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea. In Bangladesh, Uddin made a little money driving motorized tuk-tuks but said refugees were becoming more confined. The government restricts internet and cell phone access and has begun putting up barbed-wire fences around the camps, citing security. Uddin said it began to feel like prison. "I thought going to Malaysia by whatever way would at least save me. Many have made it to Malaysia and are better off." He said he and several friends met a man in a shanty town who took them by boat to a trawler where hundreds of people were already crowded on board - men on the lower deck, women on the top. Many of the young women were due to be married in Malaysia. Another refugee, Enamul Hasan, also 20, said an uncle in Malaysia urged him to go there. "I wanted to go to Malaysia to end my family's poverty," he said. Six of the seven survivors Reuters interviewed said they had gone willingly. The seventh, aged 16, said he was taken by unknown men against his will. The misery began as soon as they set out. "We ate almost nothing," said Uddin. "Little kids would cry for water." WEEPING AND PRAYING After a week the boat arrived off Malaysia, where it waited for several days before the crew said they could not disembark and would have to return to Bangladesh. They crossed back over the Bay of Bengal. "We faced storms three times," said Uddin. He said he was made to serve as an enforcer for the crew and beat anyone who stepped out of line. "If I didn't want to beat them, I myself would be beaten," he said. Meanwhile, some desperate passengers began to drink sea water. "By the wonderful grace of God, the water would seem sweet," said Hasan. "Many jumped into the water ... everyone was saying that it was much better to die in the water than dying in the ship." At night, the passengers held one another, weeping and praying. Eventually the boat stopped again, off Myanmar, survivors said, but again it could not dock. "People kept dying and would be thrown overboard," said Hasan. "I began to wonder when I would die." The refugees eventually forced the captain to take them back to Bangladesh where, one night, they made landfall. A coastguard official there at the time said they were a shocking sight: "Many of them were stick-thin, some unable to stand." Muriel Boursier, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Bangladesh, who met survivors later, said many could not walk. Some grieved for lost relatives, staring blankly. Some survivors were taken to hospital but most went to a quarantine camp, unaware of the coronavirus that had taken hold during their voyage. "It's difficult to understand that no state is able to open its doors," Boursier said. Uddin said his parents hardly recognised him but he was thankful to be back, though he had little hope for his future. "It's better to die here than to die at sea," he said.
3 May 18:19 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/world-news/asia-and-australia/rohingya-refugees-tell-of-misery-and-death-at-sea-in-attempt-to-leave-bangladesh-1.8817495Rating: 1.13
Rohingya survivors tell of misery and death at sea, hundreds still adrift
COX'S BAZAR, May 4 — Rohingya refugee Shahab Uddin thought the wooden trawler he boarded in February would be his ticket out of a camp in Bangladesh to a better life in Malaysia. Instead, the voyage nearly killed him. The 20-year-old was among almost 400 survivors pulled from the water, starving, emaciated and traumatized after the boat failed to reach Malaysia and spent weeks adrift before returning to Bangladesh in mid-April. Hundreds more refugees are stranded on at least two other trawlers, rights groups say, as South-east Asian governments tighten borders to keep out the new coronavirus, threatening a repeat of a 2015 boat crisis when hundreds of people died. The United Nations has implored authorities to let the boats land, but anti-refugee sentiment is surging in Malaysia and governments say borders are sealed to keep out the coronavirus. In interviews with Reuters, seven survivors from the rescued boat recalled two harrowing months. Estimates of the number of people who died on the boat ranged from several dozen to more than 100 — nobody kept count — but their accounts were consistent. The survivors described hundreds of men, women, and children crammed on the boat, unable to move, squatting in rain and scorching sun until, as food and water ran out, they began to die of starvation, thirst, and beatings, their bodies tossed overboard. Some wept as they spoke. “I thought I would not come back home alive,” said Uddin. “I missed my family, especially my parents.” The group Fortify Rights said in a statement last week the operators of the boat “held their victims in conditions similar to slavery for the purposes of exploitation.” Reuters was unable to identify or contact the crew for comment. Amnesty International urged governments to protect stranded Rohingya and allow them to land. It estimated 800 more people were at sea. Several dozen people from one boat landed on the south coast of Bangladesh on Saturday. Malaysia defends its policy of turning boats away. Authorities have acted lawfully to defend the country’s sovereignty and are ready to do so again, its minister for internal affairs said in a statement on Thursday. More than a million Rohingya, members of a Muslim minority from Myanmar, live in camps in southern Bangladesh after fleeing from largely Buddhist Myanmar’s Rakhine State. Most fled an army crackdown in 2017 that the United Nations says was carried out with genocidal intent. Myanmar denies genocide and says it was responding to insurgent attacks. 'Better off in Malaysia' Although the Rohingya people trace their ancestry in Rakhine back centuries, Myanmar says they are illegal immigrants from South Asia. For years, Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh have fled by boat for Thailand and Malaysia when the seas are calm between October and April. Hundreds died in 2015 after a crackdown in Thailand led smugglers to abandon their human cargo at sea. In Bangladesh, Uddin made a little money driving motorized tuk-tuks but said refugees were becoming more confined. The government restricts internet and cell phone access and has begun putting up barbed-wire fences around the camps, citing security. Uddin said it began to feel like prison. “I thought going to Malaysia by whatever way would at least save me. Many have made it to Malaysia and are better off.” He said he and several friends met a man in a shanty town who took them by boat to a trawler where hundreds of people were already crowded on board — men on the lower deck, women on the top. Many of the young women were due to be married in Malaysia. Another refugee, Enamul Hasan, also 20, said an uncle in Malaysia urged him to go there. “I wanted to go to Malaysia to end my family's poverty,” he said. Six of the seven survivors Reuters interviewed said they had gone willingly. The seventh, aged 16, said he was taken by unknown men against his will. The misery began as soon as they set out. “We ate almost nothing,” said Uddin. “Little kids would cry for water.” Weeping and praying After a week the boat arrived off Malaysia, where it waited for several days before the crew said they could not disembark and would have to return to Bangladesh. They crossed back over the Bay of Bengal. “We faced storms three times,” said Uddin. He said he was made to serve as an enforcer for the crew and beat anyone who stepped out of line. “If I didn’t want to beat them, I myself would be beaten,” he said. Meanwhile, some desperate passengers began to drink sea water. “By the wonderful grace of God, the water would seem sweet,” said Hasan. “Many jumped into the water ... everyone was saying that it was much better to die in the water than dying in the ship.” At night, the passengers held one another, weeping and praying. Eventually the boat stopped again, off Myanmar, survivors said, but again it could not dock. “People kept dying and would be thrown overboard,” said Hasan. “I began to wonder when I would die.” The refugees eventually forced the captain to take them back to Bangladesh where, one night, they made landfall. A coastguard official there at the time said they were a shocking sight: “Many of them were stick-thin, some unable to stand.” Muriel Boursier, head of mission for Doctors Without Borders in Bangladesh, who met survivors later, said many could not walk. Some grieved for lost relatives, staring blankly. Some survivors were taken to hospital but most went to a quarantine camp, unaware of the coronavirus that had taken hold during their voyage. “It's difficult to understand that no state is able to open its doors,” Boursier said. Uddin said his parents hardly recognised him but he was thankful to be back, though he had little hope for his future. “It's better to die here than to die at sea,” he said. — Reuters
3 May 23:07 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/04/rohingya-survivors-tell-of-misery-and-death-at-sea-hundreds-still-adrift/1862722Rating: 1.42
Israel’s Biggest Energy Company Hit With ‘Going Concern’ Warning
3 May 10:26
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Israel’s Biggest Energy Company Hit With ‘Going Concern’ Warning
Sign up here for our daily coronavirus newsletter on what you need to know, and subscribe to our Covid-19 podcast for the latest news and analysis. Delek Group Ltd., Israel’s largest energy company, received an auditors’ warning about its ability to repay debt as it scrambles to placate creditors in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The questions about Delek’s ability to continue as a “going concern” were included in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report on Sunday. Delek, controlled by investor Yitzhak Tshuva, estimates it will reach a deal on the terms of its credit, and plans to raise 400 million shekels ($114 million) this year to shore up its finances, Delek said in a statement. It’s already carried out asset sales of more than 450 million shekels that were used to pay back loans, and decided to cut capital expenditures for 2020 in half to $125 million. Banks and bondholders have been pressuring Delek for repayment of its debt after company shares started tanking in early March, just as the coronavirus spread to most of the world. Delek is on the hook for 2.8 billion shekels of debt this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Delek joins a host of energy firms facing a shaky future with demand for oil shrinking by 30% to 40% this year since prices for the commodity tumbled. Delek shares have dropped 70% this year.
3 May 10:26 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/israel-s-biggest-energy-company-hit-with-going-concern-warningRating: 4.04
Israel's Biggest Energy Company Hit With 'Going Concern' Warning
By Yaacov Benmeleh (Bloomberg) — Delek Group Ltd., Israel’s largest energy company, received an auditors’ warning about its ability to repay debt as it scrambles to placate creditors in the wake of the coronavirus pandemic. The questions about Delek’s ability to continue as a “going concern” were included in the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report on Sunday. Delek, controlled by investor Yitzhak Tshuva, estimates it will reach a deal on the terms of its credit, and plans to raise 400 million shekels ($114 million) this year to shore up its finances, Delek said in a statement. It’s already carried out asset sales of more than 450 million shekels that were used to pay back loans, and decided to cut capital expenditures for 2020 in half to $125 million. Banks and bondholders have been pressuring Delek for repayment of its debt after company shares started tanking in early March, just as the coronavirus spread to most of the world. Delek is on the hook for 2.8 billion shekels of debt this year, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Delek joins a host of energy firms facing a shaky future with demand for oil shrinking by 30% to 40% this year since prices for the commodity tumbled. Delek shares have dropped 70% this year. ©2020 Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg.com
3 May 10:46 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/israels-biggest-energy-company-hit-with-going-concern-warningRating: 0.94
Israel's Delek fourth-quarter loss widens, auditors place 'going concern' warning
TEL AVIV (Reuters) - Israeli conglomerate Delek Group reported a wider loss in the fourth quarter and its auditors placed a "going concern" warning on the company due to the impact from the coronavirus outbreak and steep drop in oil prices in April. Debt-laden Delek, which last year bought Chevron (NYSE:CVX)'s British North Sea (NYSE:SE) oil and gas fields for $2 billion, said on Sunday it lost 311 million shekels ($89 million) in the final three months of 2019, compared with a loss of 219 million a year earlier as finance expenses widened. Delek, whose stock price and bond prices have been hit hard this year, is in talks with bond and other credit holders to negotiate a settlement. The company, which holds key stakes in Israel's two main natural gas fields, has sold a number of assets to raise cash and said it was seeking to sell its holdings in its Delek Israel unit as well as to receive royalties in two smaller gas sites. Delek's "auditors have added to the financial statements a note drawing attention to the issue of 'going concern'," it said, noting it expects "to reach an agreed plan concerning an update of the financial covenants and credit terms, strengthening of the collateral and reinforcing its capital." Bondholders, concerned over the firm's financial situation, have threatened to call for Delek to repay all of the 6 billion shekels owed them if the company did not immediately inject 400 million shekels to shore up its balance sheet. CEO Idan Wallace said that in recent months, the global energy sector has experienced unparalleled and extreme volatility but that Delek "is a strong company with quality assets and a clear positive net asset value." ($1 = 3.5055 shekels)
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/israels-delek-fourthquarter-loss-widens-auditors-place-going-concern-warning-2158958Rating: 0.30
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
3 May 21:41
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Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK — A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after levelling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “There will unquestionably be a careful look at what happened there,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Wright had not been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they’re applied. The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video — including some tweeted out by the police department — showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. “This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said. Carolyn Martinez-Class, of the police watchdog Communities United for Police Reform, said: “This incident illustrates why public health professions and community partners should be responsible for social distancing education and creating norms — not police.” The police department assigned 1,000 officers to social distancing patrols over the weekend as temperatures reached the high 70s (about 25 degrees Celsius). On Saturday, they issued 51 summonses, including 43 in city parks. At a news conference Sunday, Shea said he was aware of just three arrests. Minutes before the confrontation with Wright, video from a nearby security camera showed officers used force in arresting a couple for allegedly failing to comply when asked to disperse. O’Donnell said officers saw that one of them, a 31-year-old man, had a “bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” The bystander video of Wright’s arrest showed the plainclothes officer, Francisco Garcia, helping take one of those people to the ground before turning his attention to Wright, who was moving toward the area of that arrest from about 10 to 15 feet away. Garcia — in a black T-shirt, jeans and a Yankees cap — turned toward Wright and cursed at him to “(get) back right now,” according to the video. At the same time, the officer pulls up his Taser and points it toward Wright. Garcia continued toward Wright and eventually holstered his Taser. It wasn’t clear what Wright was doing because he wasn’t in the frame the entire time, though just before Garcia tackled him, he was seen stopping and standing in front of the officer with what appeared to be a clenched fist at his side. “What you flexing for? Don’t flex,” Garcia said, before grabbing Wright and wrestling him to the ground, slapping and punching him in the process. The officer then took Wright’s arm and dragged him from the crosswalk where he landed back onto the sidewalk and pushed him onto his stomach. The video then showed another officer stepping in and helping handcuff Wright. Kneeling on the top of Wright’s back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. One of them yelled back: “he didn’t even do nothing.” ___ Follow Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
3 May 21:41 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distancing-patrols/Rating: 0.61
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK — A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after leveling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “The behavior I saw in that video is simply not acceptable,” Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Sunday. He said earlier in the day that there will be a careful look into what happened. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Wright had not been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they're applied. The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video — including some tweeted out by the police department — showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. "This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said. Carolyn Martinez-Class, of the police watchdog Communities United for Police Reform, said: “This incident illustrates why public health professions and community partners should be responsible for social distancing education and creating norms — not police.” The police department assigned 1,000 officers to social distancing patrols over the weekend as temperatures reached the high 70s (about 25 degrees Celsius). On Saturday, they issued 51 summonses, including 43 in city parks. At a news conference Sunday, Shea said he was aware of just three arrests. Minutes before the confrontation with Wright, video from a nearby security camera showed officers used force in arresting a couple for allegedly failing to comply when asked to disperse. O’Donnell said officers saw that one of them, a 31-year-old man, had a “bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” The bystander video of Wright’s arrest showed the plainclothes officer, Francisco Garcia, helping take one of those people to the ground before turning his attention to Wright, who was moving toward the area of that arrest from about 10 to 15 feet away. Garcia — in a black T-shirt, jeans and a Yankees cap — turned toward Wright and cursed at him to “(get) back right now,” according to the video. At the same time, the officer pulls up his Taser and points it toward Wright, possibly triggering the device. Garcia continued toward Wright and eventually holstered his Taser. It wasn't clear what Wright was doing because he wasn't in the frame the entire time, though just before Garcia tackled him, he was seen stopping and standing in front of the officer with what appeared to be a clenched fist at his side. “What you flexing for? Don’t flex,” Garcia said, before grabbing Wright and wrestling him to the ground, slapping and punching him in the process. The officer then took Wright’s arm and dragged him from the crosswalk where he landed back onto the sidewalk and pushed him onto his stomach. The video then showed another officer stepping in and helping handcuff Wright. Kneeling on the top of Wright's back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. One of them yelled back: “he didn’t even do nothing.” © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
3 May 21:16 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distancing-patrolsRating: 2.09
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after leveling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “The behavior I saw in that video is simply not acceptable,” Mayor Bill de Blasio tweeted Sunday. He said earlier in the day that there will be a careful look into what happened. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. The charges have been deferred pending further investigation, a Manhattan District Attorney's Office spokesperson said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they're applied. The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video — including some tweeted out by the police department — showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. "This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said. Carolyn Martinez-Class, of the police watchdog Communities United for Police Reform, said: “This incident illustrates why public health professions and community partners should be responsible for social distancing education and creating norms — not police.” The police department assigned 1,000 officers to social distancing patrols over the weekend as temperatures reached the high 70s (about 25 degrees Celsius). On Saturday, they issued 51 summonses, including 43 in city parks. At a news conference Sunday, Shea said he was aware of just three arrests. Minutes before the confrontation with Wright, video from a nearby security camera showed officers used force in arresting a couple for allegedly failing to comply when asked to disperse. O’Donnell said officers saw that one of them, a 31-year-old man, had a “bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” The bystander video of Wright’s arrest showed the plainclothes officer, Francisco Garcia, helping take one of those people to the ground before turning his attention to Wright, who was moving toward the area of that arrest from about 10 to 15 feet away. Garcia — in a black T-shirt, jeans and a Yankees cap — turned toward Wright and cursed at him to “(get) back right now,” according to the video. At the same time, the officer pulls up his Taser and points it toward Wright, possibly triggering the device. Garcia continued toward Wright and eventually holstered his Taser. It wasn't clear what Wright was doing because he wasn't in the frame the entire time, though just before Garcia tackled him, he was seen stopping and standing in front of the officer with what appeared to be a clenched fist at his side. “What you flexing for? Don’t flex,” Garcia said, before grabbing Wright and wrestling him to the ground, slapping and punching him in the process. The officer then took Wright’s arm and dragged him from the crosswalk where he landed back onto the sidewalk and pushed him onto his stomach. The video then showed another officer stepping in and helping handcuff Wright. Kneeling on the top of Wright's back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. One of them yelled back: “he didn’t even do nothing.” ___ Follow Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak
3 May 23:54 • THE OKLAHOMAN • https://oklahoman.com/article/feed/10046657/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distancing-patrolsRating: 0.30
NYC cop brutally beats bystander and kneels on his neck over social distancing
A New York City police officer enforcing social distancing guidelines was filmed brutally beating a bystander and kneeling on his neck. The violent altercation caught on camera by Daquan Owens led to the arrest of three people in the city’s East Village on Saturday. Owens said the incident began after undercover officers approached a couple talking outside of a deli and demanded they separate, although Owens said they were maintaining the six-foot distance recommended by health officials. As police tried to handcuff the couple, identified as 31-year-old Shakiem Brunson and 22-year-old Ashley Serrano, one of the officers can be seen pointing a taser at the bystander, 33-year-old Donni Wright. The officer can be heard calling Wright a racial slur before slamming him to the ground, punching him and kneeling on his neck. ‘They were social distancing,’ Owens told Gothamist, referring to Brunson and Serrano. ‘The girl was standing by the phone booth, the guy was sitting on a milk crate. When the cops pulled up she said he’s not doing anything. They grabbed her and started tussling with her. Then the guy on the milk crate got mad and started yelling at police.’ ‘Donni wasn’t being aggressive, he was just talking. He never raised his hands or hit him. Cop just took it upon himself to start beating him. I was standing right next to him. I could hear everything,’ Owens continued. NYPD spokesperson Sergeant Mary O’Donnell responded to the incident in a statement, saying ‘a group was observed…in violation with social distancing orders.’ The statement went on to say that when the officers approached the group, ‘they observed a bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.’ O’Donnell said Wright ‘took a fighting stance against the officer,’ although the footage shows Wright’s hands at his sides, although he can be seen making a fist with his right hand. Another video taken from a different angle appears to show the officer approaching Wright without any provocation, but it is unclear what ultimately led to Wright’s arrest. Wright has since been charged with assaulting an officer, menacing, recisting arrest, obstructing governmental administration and disorderly conduct. ‘He doesn’t have a criminal record. He was going to the store after work, and the officer punched him to the floor,’ Wright’s mother, Donna, said. The clip has since been viewed over 74,000 times, sparking calls for an investigation into the officer’s actions.
3 May 21:24 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/nyc-cop-brutally-beats-bystander-kneels-neck-social-distancing-12649327/Rating: 2.18
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK (AP) — A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after leveling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “There will unquestionably be a careful look at what happened there,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Wright had not been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they’re applied. Advertising The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video — including some tweeted out by the police department — showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. “This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said. Carolyn Martinez-Class, of the police watchdog Communities United for Police Reform, said: “This incident illustrates why public health professions and community partners should be responsible for social distancing education and creating norms — not police.” The police department assigned 1,000 officers to social distancing patrols over the weekend as temperatures reached the high 70s (about 25 degrees Celsius). On Saturday, they issued 51 summonses, including 43 in city parks. At a news conference Sunday, Shea said he was aware of just three arrests. Minutes before the confrontation with Wright, video from a nearby security camera showed officers used force in arresting a couple for allegedly failing to comply when asked to disperse. O’Donnell said officers saw that one of them, a 31-year-old man, had a “bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” Advertising The bystander video of Wright’s arrest showed the plainclothes officer, Francisco Garcia, helping take one of those people to the ground before turning his attention to Wright, who was moving toward the area of that arrest from about 10 to 15 feet away. Garcia — in a black T-shirt, jeans and a Yankees cap — turned toward Wright and cursed at him to “(get) back right now,” according to the video. At the same time, the officer pulls up his Taser and points it toward Wright, possibly triggering the device. Garcia continued toward Wright and eventually holstered his Taser. It wasn’t clear what Wright was doing because he wasn’t in the frame the entire time, though just before Garcia tackled him, he was seen stopping and standing in front of the officer with what appeared to be a clenched fist at his side. “What you flexing for? Don’t flex,” Garcia said, before grabbing Wright and wrestling him to the ground, slapping and punching him in the process. The officer then took Wright’s arm and dragged him from the crosswalk where he landed back onto the sidewalk and pushed him onto his stomach. The video then showed another officer stepping in and helping handcuff Wright. Kneeling on the top of Wright’s back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. One of them yelled back: “he didn’t even do nothing.” ___ Follow Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak MICHAEL R. SISAK
3 May 14:41 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/health/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distancing-patrols/Rating: 0.74
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK — A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after levelling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “There will unquestionably be a careful look at what happened there,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Wright had not been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they’re applied. The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video — including some tweeted out by the police department — showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. “This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said. Carolyn Martinez-Class, of the police watchdog Communities United for Police Reform, said: “This incident illustrates why public health professions and community partners should be responsible for social distancing education and creating norms — not police.” The police department assigned 1,000 officers to social distancing patrols over the weekend as temperatures reached the high 70s (about 25 degrees Celsius). On Saturday, they issued 51 summonses, including 43 in city parks. At a news conference Sunday, Shea said he was aware of just three arrests. Minutes before the confrontation with Wright, video from a nearby security camera showed officers used force in arresting a couple for allegedly failing to comply when asked to disperse. O’Donnell said officers saw that one of them, a 31-year-old man, had a “bag of alleged marijuana in plain view.” The bystander video of Wright’s arrest showed the plainclothes officer, Francisco Garcia, helping take one of those people to the ground before turning his attention to Wright, who was moving toward the area of that arrest from about 10 to 15 feet away. Garcia — in a black T-shirt, jeans and a Yankees cap — turned toward Wright and cursed at him to “(get) back right now,” according to the video. At the same time, the officer pulls up his Taser and points it toward Wright. Garcia continued toward Wright and eventually holstered his Taser. It wasn’t clear what Wright was doing because he wasn’t in the frame the entire time, though just before Garcia tackled him, he was seen stopping and standing in front of the officer with what appeared to be a clenched fist at his side. “What you flexing for? Don’t flex,” Garcia said, before grabbing Wright and wrestling him to the ground, slapping and punching him in the process. The officer then took Wright’s arm and dragged him from the crosswalk where he landed back onto the sidewalk and pushed him onto his stomach. The video then showed another officer stepping in and helping handcuff Wright. Kneeling on the top of Wright’s back or neck to keep him down, the plainclothes officer started jawing and cursing at bystanders. One of them yelled back: “he didn’t even do nothing.” Follow Sisak on Twitter at twitter.com/mikesisak Michael R. Sisak, The Associated Press
3 May 10:41 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distancing-patrols/Rating: 0.77
Violent arrest raises concerns about NYPD distancing patrols
NEW YORK (AP) - A New York City police officer who was caught on video Saturday pointing a stun gun at a man and violently taking him to the ground over an alleged social distancing violation has been stripped of his gun and badge and placed on desk duty pending an internal investigation. Bystander video showed the plainclothes officer, who was not wearing a protective face mask, slapping 33-year-old Donni Wright in the face, punching him in the shoulder and dragging him to a sidewalk after leveling him in a crosswalk in Manhattan’s East Village. “There will unquestionably be a careful look at what happened there,” Mayor Bill de Blasio said Sunday. Police spokeswoman Sgt. Mary Frances O’Donnell said Wright “took a fighting stance against the officer” when he was ordered to disperse and was arrested on charges including assault on a police officer and resisting arrest. Wright had not been arraigned as of Sunday afternoon, prosecutors said. A message seeking comment was left with the police officers union. Wright’s arrest and that of two other people minutes earlier on the same block across from a public housing complex raised new questions about the police department’s use of force, the role of officers in enforcing social distancing measures and inconsistency in how they’re applied. The manner of Wright’s arrest appeared to echo that of 20-year-old Fitzroy Gayle, who was seen on bystander video pleading for help as several officers wrestled him into submission on a Brooklyn sidewalk in early March. Jennvine Wong, a lawyer with the Legal Aid Society’s Cop Accountability Project, said footage of the arrests Saturday stood in sharp contrast to photos and video - including some tweeted out by the police department - showing officers in crowded city parks handing out face masks and gently reminding people to stay 6 feet apart. “This certainly isn’t the first time and this isn’t even the first time in this pandemic that we’ve seen evidence of discriminatory policing by the NYPD,” Wong said.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/violent-arrest-raises-concerns-about-nypd-distanci/Rating: 0.79
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
3 May 16:07
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Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
TORONTO -- As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what's considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can't be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. "A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is...we're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances," he said. "The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?" The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors' homes, particularly in Canada's two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country's more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province's failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. "If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus -- that's a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected," he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a "very live debate" over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally "very unpopular" politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. "People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that's deceased," he said. "You're basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they're providing economic benefits...so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing." In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, said Smitiuch, the Toronto lawyer. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. "It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we'll be facing something like this sometime in the future," he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors' homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 2, 2020.
3 May 16:07 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/lawsuits-over-covid-19-handling-in-nursing-homes-raise-questions-about-standard-of-care-1.4922796Rating: 2.87
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada’s nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what’s considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The continuing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can’t be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. “A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is…we’re going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances,” he said. “The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?” The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Mr. Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors’ homes, particularly in Canada’s two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country’s more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public-health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing-home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province’s hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothée. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province’s failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. “If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus – that’s a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected,” he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Mr. Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a “very live debate” over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally “very unpopular” politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. “People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that’s deceased,” he said. “You’re basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they’re providing economic benefits … so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing.” In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, Mr. Smitiuch said. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. “It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we’ll be facing something like this some time in the future,” he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors’ homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. Sign up for the Coronavirus Update newsletter to read the day’s essential coronavirus news, features and explainers written by Globe reporters and editors.
3 May 21:37 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-lawsuits-over-covid-19-handling-in-nursing-homes-raise-questions-about-2/Rating: 2.18
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
TORONTO -- As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what's considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can't be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. "A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is...we're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances," he said. "The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?" The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors' homes, particularly in Canada's two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country's more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province's failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. "If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus -- that's a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected," he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a "very live debate" over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally "very unpopular" politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. "People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that's deceased," he said. "You're basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they're providing economic benefits...so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing." In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, said Smitiuch, the Toronto lawyer. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. "It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we'll be facing something like this sometime in the future," he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors' homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 2, 2020.
3 May 16:05 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/lawsuits-over-covid-19-handling-in-nursing-homes-raise-questions-about-standard-of-care-1.4922801Rating: 1.66
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada’s nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what’s considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can’t be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. “A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is…we’re going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances,” he said. “The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?” The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors’ homes, particularly in Canada’s two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country’s more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province’s hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province’s failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. “If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus _ that’s a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected,” he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a “very live debate” over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally “very unpopular” politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. “People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that’s deceased,” he said. “You’re basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they’re providing economic benefits…so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing.” In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, said Smitiuch, the Toronto lawyer. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. “It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we’ll be facing something like this sometime in the future,” he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors’ homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck.
3 May 19:32 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/lawsuits-over-covid-19-handling-in-nursing-homes-raise-questions-about-standard-of-care-2/Rating: 0.61
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
TORONTO — As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what's considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can't be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. "A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is...we're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances," he said. "The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?" The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors' homes, particularly in Canada's two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country's more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province's failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. "If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus — that's a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected," he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a "very live debate" over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally "very unpopular" politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. "People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that's deceased," he said. "You're basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they're providing economic benefits...so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing." In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, said Smitiuch, the Toronto lawyer. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. "It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we'll be facing something like this sometime in the future," he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors' homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 2, 2020. Paola Loriggio, The Canadian Press
3 May 15:04 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/lawsuits-over-covid-19-handling-in-nursing-homes-raise-questions-about-standard-of-care-2320667Rating: 0.30
Lawsuits over COVID-19 handling in nursing homes raise questions about standard of care
TORONTO - As the deadly toll of COVID-19 on Canada's nursing homes gives rise to a growing number of proposed class-action lawsuits, some legal experts say the cases will turn on what's considered reasonable care during a pandemic. The ongoing global health crisis that has disproportionately affected the elderly poses a unique and unprecedented backdrop for such civil actions, which have emerged in Ontario and Quebec in recent weeks, experts say. While nursing homes can't be blamed for the pandemic, they can be held accountable for unnecessary and preventable deaths, said Michael Smitiuch, a Toronto-based lawyer who previously led a successful negligence lawsuit against a Brampton, Ont. facility for seniors. "A crisis like this does not give nursing homes a free pass to neglect the elderly. So I think what will happen is...we're going to look back at this through a lens of what was reasonable under the circumstances," he said. "The interesting question will be, what is the standard of care during a pandemic?" The courts will likely look to the requirements and guidelines issued by health ministries, the World Health Organization and other similar bodies in gauging whether any defendants were negligent, Smitiuch said. The novel coronavirus has ravaged private and government-run seniors' homes, particularly in Canada's two largest provinces, causing a large proportion of the country's more than 3,000 deaths. Rules and standards for nursing homes have evolved rapidly as public health officials respond to the crisis, with several provinces now banning staff from working in multiple facilities. However, a number of proposed class-action lawsuits allege negligence on the part of governments or nursing home operators in their handling of the virus. In Quebec, the son of a 94-year-old woman who died of COVID-19 at one of the province's hardest-hit facilities has filed a class-action application against the government-run CHSLD Ste-Dorothee. A Toronto law firm, meanwhile, has served the provincial government with notice of a proposed class proceeding on behalf of all Ontarians in long-term care homes. It alleges the province's failures in overseeing the facilities have resulted in widespread, avoidable illness and death during the pandemic. Another such lawsuit launched by two Ontario men whose mothers died from COVID-19 targets Revera, a privately owned nursing home company. None of the cases have been certified as class actions so far and their claims have not been tested in court. Scott Stanley, a personal injury lawyer in Vancouver, said these lawsuits and any others that surface in the coming months will face multiple hurdles in meeting the criteria for negligence. First, he said, it may be difficult for plaintiffs to show the actions of the operators or government caused the deaths. "If the theory is, well, workers were able to go from one home to the other and transmit the virus — that's a theory, but you have to show factually that that actually caused other people to be affected or infected," he said. It may also be challenging to demonstrate that the care given fell below established standards, particularly when suing governments, since they are measured against the standards they created, Stanley said. Governments could also introduce legislation to protect themselves against COVID-19 related lawsuits, although there is a "very live debate" over whether they can preclude cases involving breaches of charter rights, he said. Such laws are generally "very unpopular" politically, he said. Even if any of the proposed class actions are successful, plaintiffs may be shocked to find the damages they receive are minimal, he said. "People are not compensated for the loss of companionship, the loss of friendship, from an older person that's deceased," he said. "You're basically compensating for the loss of economic benefits they brought to you. And most older people are not in a position where they're providing economic benefits...so in many instances those claims are actually worth nothing." In truly egregious cases, a nursing home could face punitive damages, which are meant to deter certain conduct, said Smitiuch, the Toronto lawyer. Governments should also consider an inquiry into how care homes responded to the crisis, he said. "It would be something that would be valuable for the future, because no doubt we'll be facing something like this sometime in the future," he said. Three professional orders in Quebec have said they will hold a joint investigation into the situation at seniors' homes and long-term care centres since the COVID-19 pandemic struck. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 2, 2020.
3 May 15:04 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-class-actions/cp1170564337Rating: 0.30
Security guards in high demand, face more stress on job during COVID-19 pandemic
3 May 14:27
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3 articles
Weight: 2.26
Importance: 2.27
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:27
Average US: 4.966666666666666
Weighted average US: 6.677611686244685
Average GB: 0.13333333333333333
Weighted average GB: 0.16298063628306186
Average IN: 1.3
Weighted average IN: 1.7568394761238573
Security guards in high demand, face more stress on job during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an enormous demand for security guards, whose job descriptions have been expanded to include temperature checks, grocery store crowd control and -- in at least one case -- removing bodies from a morgue. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 333 says 1,500 security jobs are immediately available in Ontario, many of them well-paying. But union secretary-treasurer Jeff Ketelaars said would-be guards can't take licence tests because government offices are closed. He has written to Premier Doug Ford urging an alternative like Quebec's temporary online system. "There's a lot of Canadians that would rather be working, would rather be doing social good, would rather be protecting their neighbourhoods and their family and friends than sitting at home and not working," Ketelaars said. He added other union members who have been laid off from hotel jobs are keen to get into security, but can't until licensing is worked out. Ketelaars said security guards often earn minimum wage, making it tough for many to justify going for those jobs when there's equivalent government aid. And the pandemic has increased stress on guards, he added. "Members of the public have just been absolutely brutal to them to the point where some of our members have been assaulted at work where they usually wouldn't." The union intervened in one Ontario case where guards were asked to remove bodies from a hospital because funeral home staff did not want to expose themselves to the virus. Scott Young, with security firm Garda World, said there were initial problems with guards booking off because they feared for their safety, but the company has worked to allay those concerns. "We're seeing less and less of that and the guards are really stepping up in a major way across the country to fill this increased need that we're facing," said Young, Garda's vice-president for the Prairies. Young added his company has been pressing clients to pay wage premiums. "Some have been able to and some haven't," he said. "We're doing what we can to support the staff in the front lines as much as possible." Young said Garda's billable hours are up 25 per cent over the past eight weeks, as the need from essential retail outlets and hospitals by far offsets the drop from special events and airports. Over the past two months, Garda has hired 2,500 staff, about double what it normally would over that time period. Young added training guards has been a challenge as first-aid, handcuff and non-violent crisis intervention courses are done in-person. It's also becoming the new normal to have guards check temperatures to avoid sick people entering buildings. Garda has equipment that can be integrated into metal-detector archways or card-access turnstiles. Calgary-based security consultant Glen Kitteringham said guards are having to do more patrols of empty buildings because employees and visitors -- their usual eyes and ears -- aren't around to report anything suspicious. He said he's also heard from guard company clients that shoplifting is up, but police have understandably been too preoccupied to get involved. He said staffing has been an issue as guards exposed to COVID-19 have to isolate. Within a pool of 1,000 or so guards his client base represents, between 130 and 180 have been off work at any given time during the past six weeks. Kitteringham said he hopes there's a newfound appreciation for security guards, who normally fade into the background. "What I hope that comes out of all this is a true recognition of the value that they bring to the organization all the time, and not just during emergencies when it's glaringly obvious that they're providing a valuable service." This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020.
3 May 14:27 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/security-guards-in-high-demand-face-more-stress-on-job-during-covid-19-pandemic-1.4922735Rating: 2.87
Security guards in high demand, face more stress on job during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an enormous demand for security guards, whose job descriptions have been expanded to include temperature checks, grocery store crowd control and — in at least one case — removing bodies from a morgue. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 333 says 1,500 security jobs are immediately available in Ontario, many of them well-paying. But union secretary-treasurer Jeff Ketelaars said would-be guards can't take licence tests because government offices are closed. He has written to Premier Doug Ford urging an alternative like Quebec's temporary online system. "There's a lot of Canadians that would rather be working, would rather be doing social good, would rather be protecting their neighbourhoods and their family and friends than sitting at home and not working," Ketelaars said. He added other union members who have been laid off from hotel jobs are keen to get into security, but can't until licensing is worked out. Ketelaars said security guards often earn minimum wage, making it tough for many to justify going for those jobs when there's equivalent government aid. And the pandemic has increased stress on guards, he added. "Members of the public have just been absolutely brutal to them to the point where some of our members have been assaulted at work where they usually wouldn't." The union intervened in one Ontario case where guards were asked to remove bodies from a hospital because funeral home staff did not want to expose themselves to the virus. Scott Young, with security firm Garda World, said there were initial problems with guards booking off because they feared for their safety, but the company has worked to allay those concerns. "We're seeing less and less of that and the guards are really stepping up in a major way across the country to fill this increased need that we're facing," said Young, Garda's vice-president for the Prairies. Young added his company has been pressing clients to pay wage premiums. "Some have been able to and some haven't," he said. "We're doing what we can to support the staff in the front lines as much as possible." Young said Garda's billable hours are up 25 per cent over the past eight weeks, as the need from essential retail outlets and hospitals by far offsets the drop from special events and airports. Over the past two months, Garda has hired 2,500 staff, about double what it normally would over that time period. Young added training guards has been a challenge as first-aid, handcuff and non-violent crisis intervention courses are done in-person. It's also becoming the new normal to have guards check temperatures to avoid sick people entering buildings. Garda has equipment that can be integrated into metal-detector archways or card-access turnstiles. Calgary-based security consultant Glen Kitteringham said guards are having to do more patrols of empty buildings because employees and visitors — their usual eyes and ears — aren't around to report anything suspicious. He said he's also heard from guard company clients that shoplifting is up, but police have understandably been too preoccupied to get involved. He said staffing has been an issue as guards exposed to COVID-19 have to isolate. Within a pool of 1,000 or so guards his client base represents, between 130 and 180 have been off work at any given time during the past six weeks. Kitteringham said he hopes there's a newfound appreciation for security guards, who normally fade into the background. "What I hope that comes out of all this is a true recognition of the value that they bring to the organization all the time, and not just during emergencies when it's glaringly obvious that they're providing a valuable service." This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020.
3 May 14:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-security/cp933975258Rating: 0.30
Security guards in high demand, face more stress on job during COVID-19 pandemic
The COVID-19 pandemic has spurred an enormous demand for security guards, whose job descriptions have been expanded to include temperature checks, grocery store crowd control and – in at least one case – removing bodies from a morgue. United Food and Commercial Workers Local 333 says 1,500 security jobs are immediately available in Ontario, many of them well-paying. But union secretary-treasurer Jeff Ketelaars said would-be guards can’t take licence tests because government offices are closed. He has written to Premier Doug Ford urging an alternative like Quebec’s temporary online system. “There’s a lot of Canadians that would rather be working, would rather be doing social good, would rather be protecting their neighbourhoods and their family and friends than sitting at home and not working,” Ketelaars said. He added other union members who have been laid off from hotel jobs are keen to get into security, but can’t until licensing is worked out. Ketelaars said security guards often earn minimum wage, making it tough for many to justify going for those jobs when there’s equivalent government aid. And the pandemic has increased stress on guards, he added. “Members of the public have just been absolutely brutal to them to the point where some of our members have been assaulted at work where they usually wouldn’t.” The union intervened in one Ontario case where guards were asked to remove bodies from a hospital because funeral home staff did not want to expose themselves to the virus. Scott Young, with security firm Garda World, said there were initial problems with guards booking off because they feared for their safety, but the company has worked to allay those concerns. “We’re seeing less and less of that and the guards are really stepping up in a major way across the country to fill this increased need that we’re facing,” said Young, Garda’s vice-president for the Prairies. Young added his company has been pressing clients to pay wage premiums. “Some have been able to and some haven’t,” he said. “We’re doing what we can to support the staff in the front lines as much as possible.” Young said Garda’s billable hours are up 25 per cent over the past eight weeks, as the need from essential retail outlets and hospitals by far offsets the drop from special events and airports. Over the past two months, Garda has hired 2,500 staff, about double what it normally would over that time period. Young added training guards has been a challenge as first-aid, handcuff and non-violent crisis intervention courses are done in-person. It’s also becoming the new normal to have guards check temperatures to avoid sick people entering buildings. Garda has equipment that can be integrated into metal-detector archways or card-access turnstiles. Calgary-based security consultant Glen Kitteringham said guards are having to do more patrols of empty buildings because employees and visitors – their usual eyes and ears – aren’t around to report anything suspicious. He said he’s also heard from guard company clients that shoplifting is up, but police have understandably been too preoccupied to get involved. He said staffing has been an issue as guards exposed to COVID-19 have to isolate. Within a pool of 1,000 or so guards his client base represents, between 130 and 180 have been off work at any given time during the past six weeks. Kitteringham said he hopes there’s a new-found appreciation for security guards, who normally fade into the background. “What I hope that comes out of all this is a true recognition of the value that they bring to the organization all the time, and not just during emergencies when it’s glaringly obvious that they’re providing a valuable service.” Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 14:56 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-security-guards-in-high-demand-face-more-stress-on-job-during-covid-2/Rating: 2.18
Trudeau: NHL players would need to follow quarantine before season could resume
3 May 17:24
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5 articles
Weight: 2.26
Importance: 2.26
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:12
Average US: 25.14
Weighted average US: 23.625029203341757
Average GB: 0.18000000000000002
Weighted average GB: 0.39750499386376464
Average IN: 2.08
Weighted average IN: 3.820367992367945
Trudeau: NHL players would need to follow quarantine before season could resume
The NHL could face another hurdle if the league decides to continue the 2019-20 season in the near future — getting non-Canadian resident players across the border to join their respective teams. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that players would — at a minimum — need to follow quarantine protocols if they were to arrive in Canada while the border remains closed due to the pandemic. "I think it's a question we'll have to look into," Trudeau said in a press briefing. "Certainly at a strict minimum, anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner, but we're not there yet in our discussions with the NHL." "We recognize that it's a possibility, but it depends on an enormous amount of things, and I don't want to speculate on this until there's more discussion." The Associated Press reported earlier this week that Edmonton and Toronto were being looked at as possible "hockey pod" cities that could host the remainder of the NHL season during the summer months. Games would be played in air-conditioned arenas without fans. A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that the most aggressive timetable would have players returning to their home rinks as early as May 15, followed by a training camp and possible exhibition games in June. Under that timeline, the regular season would resume in July with the Stanley Cup final likely stretching into September. The league and NHL Players' Association have formed a joint committee to determine a path forward that could get games back on the ice sometime in July without fans in attendance. The committee said Wednesday in a statement that they "have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios," but remained hopeful that players could return to their teams for "small group activities" by mid-to-late May. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said recently that no decisions have been made and noted that government and medical officials will ultimately make the call on when sports can return. The season was paused on March 12, one day after the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 spread a pandemic — and one day after the NBA suspended its season following a positive novel coronavirus test on a Utah Jazz player. As of early April, eight NHL players had tested positive for COVID-19, including five players on the Ottawa Senators. Each team had between 10 and 14 games remaining on its regular-season schedule at the time of the suspension. Four Canadian teams — Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg — were all in playoff position as of March 12, with Vancouver on the bubble. — With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 17:24 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/hkn-trudeau/cp1613378503Rating: 0.30
Trudeau: NHL players would need to follow quarantine before season could resume
The NHL could face another hurdle if the league decides to continue the 2019-20 season in the near future -- getting non-Canadian resident players across the border to join their respective teams. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that players would -- at a minimum -- need to follow quarantine protocols if they were to arrive in Canada while the border remains closed due to the pandemic. "I think it's a question we'll have to look into," Trudeau said in a press briefing. "Certainly at a strict minimum, anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner, but we're not there yet in our discussions with the NHL." "We recognize that it's a possibility, but it depends on an enormous amount of things, and I don't want to speculate on this until there's more discussion." The Associated Press reported earlier this week that Edmonton and Toronto were being looked at as possible "hockey pod" cities that could host the remainder of the NHL season during the summer months. Games would be played in air-conditioned arenas without fans. A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that the most aggressive timetable would have players returning to their home rinks as early as May 15, followed by a training camp and possible exhibition games in June. Under that timeline, the regular season would resume in July with the Stanley Cup final likely stretching into September. The league and NHL Players' Association have formed a joint committee to determine a path forward that could get games back on the ice sometime in July without fans in attendance. The committee said Wednesday in a statement that they "have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios," but remained hopeful that players could return to their teams for "small group activities" by mid-to-late May. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said recently that no decisions have been made and noted that government and medical officials will ultimately make the call on when sports can return. The season was paused on March 12, one day after the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 spread a pandemic -- and one day after the NBA suspended its season following a positive novel coronavirus test on a Utah Jazz player. As of early April, eight NHL players had tested positive for COVID-19, including five players on the Ottawa Senators. Each team had between 10 and 14 games remaining on its regular-season schedule at the time of the suspension. Four Canadian teams -- Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg -- were all in playoff position as of March 12, with Vancouver on the bubble. -- With files from The Associated Press This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 17:48 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/sports/trudeau-nhl-players-would-need-to-follow-quarantine-before-season-could-resume-1.4922868Rating: 2.87
Trudeau: NHL players would need to follow quarantine before season resumes
The NHL could face another hurdle if the league decides to continue the 2019-20 season in the near future — getting non-Canadian resident players across the border to join their respective teams. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that players would — at a minimum — need to follow quarantine protocols if they were to arrive in Canada while the border remains closed due to the pandemic. "I think it’s a question we’ll have to look into," Trudeau said in a press briefing. "Certainly at a strict minimum, anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner, but we’re not there yet in our discussions with the NHL." "We recognize that it’s a possibility, but it depends on an enormous amount of things, and I don’t want to speculate on this until there’s more discussion." The Associated Press reported earlier this week that Edmonton and Toronto were being looked at as possible "hockey pod" cities that could host the remainder of the NHL season during the summer months. Games would be played in air-conditioned arenas without fans. A person familiar with discussions told The Associated Press that the most aggressive timetable would have players returning to their home rinks as early as May 15, followed by a training camp and possible exhibition games in June. Under that timeline, the regular season would resume in July with the Stanley Cup final likely stretching into September. The league and NHL Players’ Association have formed a joint committee to determine a path forward that could get games back on the ice sometime in July without fans in attendance. The committee said Wednesday in a statement that they "have not made any decisions or set a timeline for possible return to play scenarios," but remained hopeful that players could return to their teams for "small group activities" by mid-to-late May. NHL commissioner Gary Bettman said recently that no decisions have been made and noted that government and medical officials will ultimately make the call on when sports can return. The season was paused on March 12, one day after the World Health Organization classified the COVID-19 spread a pandemic — and one day after the NBA suspended its season following a positive novel coronavirus test on a Utah Jazz player. As of early April, eight NHL players had tested positive for COVID-19, including five players on the Ottawa Senators. Each team had between 10 and 14 games remaining on its regular-season schedule at the time of the suspension. Four Canadian teams — Toronto, Edmonton, Calgary and Winnipeg — were all in playoff position as of March 12, with Vancouver on the bubble. — With files from The Associated Press
3 May 13:36 • Sportsnet.ca • https://www.sportsnet.ca/hockey/nhl/trudeau-nhl-players-need-follow-quarantine-season-resumes/Rating: 0.91
International travel could be a roadblock as NHL seeks to resume season
The NHL could face another hurdle if the league decides to continue the 2019-20 season in the near future — getting non-Canadian resident players across the border to join their teams. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday that players would — at a minimum — need to follow quarantine protocols if they were to arrive in Canada while the border remains closed due to the pandemic. “I think it’s a question we’ll have to look into,” Trudeau said. “Certainly at a strict minimum, anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner, but we’re not there yet in our discussions with the NHL.” “We recognize that it’s a possibility, but it depends on an enormous amount of things, and I don’t want to speculate on this until there’s more discussion,” he said. The Associated Press reported earlier this week that Edmonton and Toronto were being looked at as possible “hockey pod” cities that could host the remainder of the NHL season during the summer months. Games would be played in air-conditioned arenas without fans.
3 May 21:22 • FOX Sports • https://www.foxsports.com/midwest/story/international-travel-roadblock-nhl-resume-season-coronavirus-050320Rating: 1.02
Trudeau: NHL players likely subject to quarantine
Should the NHL restart its 2019-20 season, players on Canadian teams who have been out of the country likely would need to quarantine before they can rejoin their teammates, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said Sunday. “I think it’s a question we’ll have to look into,” Trudeau said in a press briefing. “Certainly at a strict minimum, anyone who arrives from another country will have to follow all the rules of quarantine in an extremely strict manner, but we’re not there yet in our discussions with the NHL.” He continued: “We recognize that it’s a possibility, but it depends on an enormous amount of things, and I don’t want to speculate on this until there’s more discussion.” The season was halted on March 12, one day after the NBA suspended play when Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz was diagnosed with the coronavirus. At least eight NHL players have been diagnosed with COVID-19 — five of them from the Ottawa Senators. The NHL is hoping to finish the 2019-20 season and award the Stanley Cup, while deputy commissioner Bill Daly said in a radio interview on Friday that Edmonton is among the cities under consideration should the league decide to use centralized locations for games. Toronto is another city reportedly in consideration to be a “hockey pod.” Daly also said frequent testing for COVID-19 would be required for play to resume, provided that ample tests are available and that the general public would not be deprived of tests. “We’re going to need to have access to testing, and we’re going to make it a point that we’re not accessing testing, even in a private way, if testing availability is an issue in the community,” Daly told 630 CHED in Edmonton. “We will not test asymptomatic players ahead of symptomatic people who are unable to get tested. It’s just something we will not do.” —Field Level Media
3 May 20:12 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-icehockey-nhl-trudeau-coronavirus-idUSKBN22F0UNRating: 4.04
Toya Johnson’s Video Featuring Baby Reign Rushing Being Mad At Her Dad, Robert Rushing Makes Fans’ Day
3 May 12:22
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10 articles
Weight: 2.26
Importance: 2.26
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 16:36
Average US: 20.538
Weighted average US: 16.082262266808723
Average GB: 6.331
Weighted average GB: 9.137847553890134
Average IN: 27.273000000000003
Weighted average IN: 31.455973715843527
Toya Johnson’s Video Featuring Baby Reign Rushing Being Mad At Her Dad, Robert Rushing Makes Fans’ Day
Toya Johnson shared a video on her social media account in which her baby girl, Reign Rushing is getting mad at her father, Robert Rushing. Check out the reason below, in the clip that Toya shared on her social media account. ‘We had to do the #fruitsnackchallenge with @reign_beaux …she was so mad at daddy.🤣🤣’ Toya captioned her post. Someone said: ‘I love Reign honey she is a trip! the baby was mad! T, I’m screaming !!!’ and another follower posted this message: ‘She’s was like “he got 3 more seconds to play with me like this”’ Shamea Morton hopped in the comments and said: ‘Toya what’re you gonna do with her😂😂😭. She’s got such a big personality😩😍😍😍 I love it!😂🙌🏾’ Another commenter wrote: ‘And if she would’ve he wouldn’t have done a damn thing hahaha,’ and someone else said: ‘Omg! It was all that Huffin’ And Puffin’ that took me OUT! Reign Play Too Much!’ One other commenter posted this message: ‘Tooo cute lol. This is All of us back and forth with the fridge during quarantine,’ and someone else said: ‘I felt that “ughhhh” in my soul 😂. She was like “bruh this can’t be life right now”‘ A follower wrote: ‘Lol, she looked just like Toya when she huffed & puffed!!!! #TheCutest!’ Someone else said: ‘Omg.. she was about to have a nervous breakdown over 5 seconds of having to wait,’ and a follower wrote: ‘She listened even though she was mad! she would have knocked the table down @pink_pineapples82 too cute lol.’ One other commenter posted this: ‘Reigny like we already on “corona lock-down” and now daddy telling me don’t touch my fruit snack this can’t be life.’ Reigny made headlines the other day when Toya shared a few new pics of her daughter, Reign, and said that she’s honoring the birthday of late Gianna Bryant. Gianna passed away together with her father, Kobe Bryant earlier this year.
3 May 12:22 • Celebrity Insider • https://celebrityinsider.org/toya-johnsons-video-featuring-baby-reign-rushing-being-mad-at-her-dad-robert-rushing-makes-fans-day-393296/Rating: 0.30
Check out Ayesha Shroff's reaction to Disha Patani's post
Actress Disha Patani took to social media to subtly express how she has been feeling ever since the lockdown in India and how she wishes to move freely soon. She shared a cute video of her pet dog, Goku, running around freely in the garden and captioned it, "My goku #postlockdown." It wasn't just her fans, who reacted to Disha's video but also her rumoured boyfriend, Tiger Shroff's mother, Ayesha Shroff. She commented, "He's the cuuuuuuuuutest." Disha has kept her fans updated and entertained with posts ranging from her fun dance and make-up videos with Krishna Shroff to her amazing selfies with her pets. Ayesha often comments on Disha's posts.
3 May 14:37 • Filmfare.com • https://www.filmfare.com/news/bollywood/check-out-ayesha-shroffs-reaction-to-disha-patanis-post-40613.htmlRating: 1.68
Kyle Walker's ex 'brands Lauryn Goodman heartless h**' after birth of their baby
Kyle Walker's ex appears to have hit out at Lauryn Goodman after the birth of their baby. Annie Kilner, 27, seemed to call Lauryn a ''heartless h**' in a thinly-veiled dig on Instagram on Sunday. She had dated the England footballer, 29, for 10 years and had three children with him but they split in April after his affair with Laura Brown. Lauryn, also 29, and Kyle briefly dated last summer and welcomed a baby last month but they aren't a couple. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, an angry Annie wrote: "A man who disrespects a loyal woman deserves a heartless h**." Lauryn appeared to take the dig as directed at her and fired back. "This is harassment," she fumed. "I've just had a new born baby and I'm dealing with this on a Sunday morning!' She continued: "I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for your support. "I am so lucky to have such supportive and caring followers who do not believe lies. "I have said repeatedly, I was never ever friends with [Annie] and her using my name in the press to gain sympathy for a relationship that had ended before our baby's conception is shocking!" Lauryn announced their baby's birth last month on Instagram, though she is yet to reveal the baby's sex or name. She became a mum despite fearing she'd never have the chance thanks to her battle with endometriosis. She said: "This has truly been the biggest blessing and I keep crying just thinking I can't believe I've made you and you are here. I find myself just staring in awe thinking I have made this little special human. "You have defied all odds and you are the best thing to have ever happened to me. Words can't describe the love I feel for you already. My #endo baby - you have been so strong and I cannot wait to start this journey with you."
3 May 16:36 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/kyle-walkers-ex-brands-lauryn-21967478Rating: 2.39
Amy Childs shares emotional love letter to new man Tim as she posts shot of him for the first time
REALITY TV star Amy Childs has confirmed she’s officially loved-up with new man Tim after she posted an emotional love letter to the hunk. It’s the first time she has shared a photo of them together, and indeed him, after months of keeping quiet on her love life. However it seems like Amy, 29, is very happy with her new man and couldn’t resist sharing a sweet tribute to him. Posting a gorgeous snap of them on Instagram, the Essex star wrote: “When you finally meet the right one for you, it suddenly becomes clear why everyone else was so wrong .... ❤️ I love you” Underneath the heartfelt declaration, boyfriend Tim replied: “Love you”. Amy’s friends and followers were quick to heap praise on the couple, with Demi Sims writing: “So cute” and her cousin Harry Derbidge posting a series of love hearts in the comments. Meanwhile one fan wrote: “You deserve so much happiness!!” And a second added: “So happy for you hun xxxx” While a third referenced her dating disaster on Celebs Go Dating, writing: “Jamie who…happy for you x” Fans of the celebrity dating show were thrilled when it looked like Amy had met a keeper in hunky roofer Jamie, even going so far as meeting her family and children. However, his true feelings came clear when he went on to snog another girl while on the freebie trip to the Dominican Republic. Since the shambolic TV dating experience, she's been getting cosy with new man, Tim – and it’s clear she’s smitten. Friends of the mum-of-two have said she’s "very excited" by her new flame. An insider told New! magazine: "It's early days but Amy is very excited about Tim. "We heard she went on a few dates with him last year but it wasn't the right time and it fizzled out. "But they are back in touch and things are going really well." We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
3 May 17:31 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/11539308/amy-childs-love-letter-new-man-first-time/Rating: 2.72
Kyle Walker’s ex takes swipe at the footballer and Lauryn Goodman after the birth of their baby
ENGLAND footballer Kyle Walker's ex has taken a swipe at him and Lauryn Goodman after the birth of their baby. Annie Kilner, 27, took to her Instagram stories last night to post a savage quote hitting out at "disrespectful men". The post read: "A man who disrespects a loyal woman deserves a heartless hoe." Reality star Lauryn, 29, welcomed her baby with England footballer Kyle last week. She posted a picture of the child on Instagram and wrote: "I can't believe I've made you." Earlier this year The Sun exclusively revealed Kyle's long-term former partner Annie called him “gutless” after he broke the news of Lauryn's pregnancy to her over the phone. She also called him a “homewrecker” for romping with her pal. Annie told a friend: “He’s a fool for risking his family for this. When he told me I was heartbroken. I also felt physically sick. All the air in your body leaves you. “My world completely caved in on me in that second. “It was the worst-case scenario, the one thing I dreaded most but knew was possible, given his track record with women. “I couldn’t believe what I was hearing. Not only had he cheated on me but she was pregnant with his baby.” Manchester City full-back Kyle, who Lauryn named as the dad in February, is now a father for the fourth time. Posting on Instagram after the birth, Lauryn wrote: "I want to introduce you all to my #MiracleBaby. It was the first night in the SnüzPod and it felt so great to have the 👶🏽 so close to me all night ❤️. "Whenever a feed was due I could just reach on in there. This has truly been the biggest blessing and I keep crying just thinking I can’t believe I’ve made you and you are here. "I find myself just staring in awe thinking I have made this little special human. You have defied all odds and you are the best thing to have ever happened to me." Lauryn, who had feared she was unlikely to conceive due to her endometriosis, continued: "Words can’t describe the love I feel for you already. My #endo baby - you have been so strong and I cannot wait to start this journey with you. 💫❤️. "There is a bit of a story labour wise and after my labour that I do want to share with you all, as I feel it’s so important to be open and honest because my platform can help others. "But for now, I just wanted to share this moment with you all as you have been so amazing with your advice and messages! My little bed buddy 👶🏽- Welcome to this crazy 🌍." The star, who was careful not to reveal the child's gender, concluded: "Thank you to everyone who messaged me & recommended the SnüzPod @snuzuk it’s been a dream. P.s 👶🏽 needs its first hair cut already 🤦🏼♀️." She was bombarded with congratulations, with Lauren Goodger writing: "I can’t believe it I’ve been waiting for this day ! Your amazing and I can’t wait to meet bubba 💕💕💕💕💕💕💕." Her sister, 26-year-old reality star Chloe, wrote: "The most amazing blessing ever!! I’m so obsessed with the little one already I’ve never been so in love I’m so proud of you for how you dealt with pregnancy and your labour 🤩." Former EastEnders star Jacqueline Jossa posted: "Congratulations ❤️❤️." Lauryn revealed the identity of the child's father in an interview with The Sun on Sunday, saying: "Rumours and gossip are starting to circulate and I’d rather people heard it from the horse’s mouth so I want to stop all the speculation once and for all. “Kyle Walker and I are expecting a baby in April and it was conceived during a period we had both split from our previous partners. "This will be the last time I comment on it and I will only be sharing the positive journey going forward.” Lauryn's sister Chloe is also pregnant and will soon give birth to her first child, a little girl, with fiancé Grant Hall.
3 May 13:53 • The Scottish Sun • https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5556683/kyle-walkers-ex-swipe-lauryn-goodman-baby/Rating: 0.30
Kyle Walker's ex 'brands Lauryn Goodman heartless h**' after birth of their baby
Kyle Walker's ex appears to have hit out at Lauryn Goodman after the birth of their baby. Annie Kilner, 27, seemed to call Lauryn a ''heartless h**' in a thinly-veiled dig on Instagram on Sunday. She had dated the England footballer, 29, for 10 years and had three children with him but they split in April after his affair with Laura Brown. Lauryn, also 29, and Kyle briefly dated last summer and welcomed a baby last month but they aren't a couple. Taking to Instagram on Sunday, an angry Annie wrote: "A man who disrespects a loyal woman deserves a heartless h**." Lauryn appeared to take the dig as directed at her and fired back. "This is harassment," she fumed. "I've just had a new born baby and I'm dealing with this on a Sunday morning!' She continued: "I just want to say thank you so much to everyone for your support. "I am so lucky to have such supportive and caring followers who do not believe lies. "I have said repeatedly, I was never ever friends with [Annie] and her using my name in the press to gain sympathy for a relationship that had ended before our baby's conception is shocking!" Lauryn announced their baby's birth last month on Instagram, though she is yet to reveal the baby's sex or name. She became a mum despite fearing she'd never have the chance thanks to her battle with endometriosis. She said: "This has truly been the biggest blessing and I keep crying just thinking I can't believe I've made you and you are here. I find myself just staring in awe thinking I have made this little special human. "You have defied all odds and you are the best thing to have ever happened to me. Words can't describe the love I feel for you already. My #endo baby - you have been so strong and I cannot wait to start this journey with you."
3 May 16:36 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/kyle-walkers-ex-brands-lauryn-21967503Rating: 0.56
Disha Patani Bonds With Boyfriend Tiger Shroff’s Mom Ayesha Shroff Over Her Pet Dog Goku; It’s Raining Hearts
Aww! Disha Patani and her boyfriend Tiger Shroff’s mother Ayesha Shroff’s social media banter over the former’s per dog is simply adorable Just like Tiger Shroff, his rumoured girlfriend Disha Patani shares an amazing bond with his mother Ayesha and sister Krishna as well. We often come across Disha’s delightful social media banter with the Shroffs and it’s always a sight to behold. This time, however, the Bharat actress and Ayesha Shroff bonded over the former’s four-legged buddy, Goku. It all happened after Disha shared a happy video of her pooch jumping around the lawn in joy. Ayesha was quick to take notice and compliment the cutie. The video sees Disha Patani’s pet dog Goku excitedly jumping in her lawn and playing with the grass. Needless to say, Goku, just like most of the dogs, was elated to head out. Disha in her caption wrote, “My goku #postlockdown.” Tiger’s mom Ayesha Shroff was pretty impressed with Goku, as she wrote, “He’s the cuuuuuuuuutest,” followed by lots of smiling and heart emoticons. The Malang actress was quick to reciprocate by leaving a couple of hearts under Ayesha’s comment. Prior to this, Disha Patani had shared a sizzling BTS from Baaghi 3, which impressed Ayesha and Krishna to bits. The mother-daughter duo also left some compliments under Disha’s post. Check them out: Meanwhile, Disha, in an interview, revealed how the Baaghi franchise has helped her come a long way in Bollywood. She was quoted saying, “From sharpening my dancing skills to finally having a solo performance in 'Baaghi 3', the franchise has helped me come a long way. I am very grateful to be a part of the Baaghi family again.” (ALSO READ - Are Disha Patani And Tiger Shroff Really Living Together During Lockdown? Shroff's Sister Krishna Clarifies, 'She Lives Close By') image source: instagram/dishapatani, ayeshashroff
3 May 04:50 • SPOTBOYE • http://spotboye.com/bollywood/news/disha-patani-bonds-with-boyfriend-tiger-shroff-s-mom-ayesha-shroff-over-her-pet-dog-goku-it-s-raining-hearts/5eae4d90de28444fe9eb63b8Rating: 0.72
Sara Ali Khan turns chef amid lockdown; take a look at her latest Instagram picture
Bollywood celebs are posting pictures and videos of what they are doing during their at home due to lockdown. Sara Ali Khan enjoys a huge fan following over social media. She loves to keep her fans updated about her day-to-day activities through her posts. And now, she took to her Instagram story to a picture of a chocolate pancake. She captioned the post, "Kabhi Nutella Kabhi Maple". From the picture, it seems the actress has become a pro chef! Check out the post here: Meanwhile, several celebs are learning new things honing their skills during the lockdown. We have seen celebs washing vessels, making cake, singing and more. Meanwhile, on the work front, Sara will be next seen romancing Varun Dhawan in David Dhawan's adaptation of 'Coolie No 1'. The comedy entertainer will also feature Jaaved Jaaferi and Paresh Rawal in pivotal roles. 'Coolie No 1' was scheduled to hit the screens in May this year.
3 May 00:29 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/sara-ali-khan-turns-chef-amid-lockdown-take-a-look-at-her-latest-instagram-picture/articleshow/75513203.cmsRating: 0.30
Young Hero’s Sister Goes Topless to Kiss Faceless BF
Stars and their star kids have their way of doing things in Bollywood which is almost unthinkable down in the South Film Industries. Tiger Shroff is quite a known name even to our audiences, though we know very little about his sister Krishna Shroff. Krishna Shroff who always has been a free-spirited girl shared a picture of herself on Instagram. She was kissing her boyfriend Eban Hyams while she remained topless wearing a skimpy mini skirt. The guy’s face was well hidden, though. This isn’t the first time she did something bold like this. Krishna Shroff has a history of sharing romantic pictures and videos of herself. Tiger Shroff and Krishna Shroff happen to be veteran actor Jackie Shroff’s children.
2 May 20:30 • MIRCHI9 • https://www.mirchi9.com/movienews/young-heros-sister-goes-topless-to-kiss-faceless-bf/Rating: 0.97
Jamie Redknapp shares pic of mum Sandra showing off her abs in stunning bikini snap
Former footballer turned sports pundit Jamie Redknapp has paid tribute to his mother on her 74th birthday. Sandra, who is married to former I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here! Harry Redknapp, looks sensational in the pics. Read more: James Martin hits back at viewers' "pathetic" complaints Jamie, 46, shared the series of snaps of his mum in view of his 1.2 million Instagram followers. He captioned the photo with: "Happy birthday to this incredible lady. We adore you mum. "Thanks for your wisdom, love and care. "You have been a rock throughout my life, given me support that I hope I can give my kids throughout their lives too. I miss you and I can’t wait to see you. Read more: Joe Wicks in hospital on a drip after injuring hand "No doubt you will be waiting on dad hand and foot today! But make sure he looks after you. "See you soon when this is over and love you always. Your boy Jamie." Judging by the caption he is likely unable to celebrate her birthday with her in person due to the coronavirus lockdown restrictions. The first picture shows him smiling at a restaurant alongside his glam mum. The next picture shows Sandra with who we believe are to be four of her five grandchildren. And the final snap shows Sandra enjoying a glass of white wine as she lounges bikini-clad on a sun lounger. She looks absolutely fantastic in the bikini pic and fans can't get enough of how young and in shape she looks. Read more: Robbie Williams delights fans with song written by daughter One wrote: "Wow no excuse for corona kilos when you see how fit and healthy your mummy is! What a gorgeous lady. Happy Birthday Sandra." A second gushed: "Wow happy birthday. Your mum looks amazing, I can’t believe she has six pack x." And a third praised: "Wow look at her incredible figure! Go on Mrs R! Happy birthday and have a lovely day x." Several of Jamie's celebrity friends also wished his mum a happy day. Susanna Reid posted: "Love your Mum - Happy Birthday Sandra - look forward to seeing your smiling again at some point." Former The Apprentice star and current Real Housewives of Beverly Hills husband Paul Kemsley wrote: "Happy Bday Sandra x." And David Walliams cheekily posted: "Hot Mama" to which Jamie valiantly replied with: "Stop it Walliams! She is taken!" Doesn't Sandra look amazing? Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix. Harry RedknappinstagramJamie Redknapp
2 May 11:13 • Entertainment Daily • https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/news/jamie-redknapp-shares-pic-of-mum-sandra-showing-off-her-abs-in-stunning-bikini-snap/Rating: 0.30
WHO's Ryan says world is in 'fight of our lives', but there is hope
3 May 16:33
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3 articles
Weight: 2.26
Importance: 2.26
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 16:31
Average US: 8.933333333333334
Weighted average US: 18.78682105492791
Average GB: 0.3
Weighted average GB: 0.6309007070684746
Average IN: 2.6666666666666665
Weighted average IN: 5.29016532020527
WHO's Ryan says world is in 'fight of our lives', but there is hope
LONDON/GENEVA (Reuters) - Parts of the world are starting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and to cautiously resume some sort of normal life, but the new coronavirus will pose significant risks until vaccines are developed, the WHO’s top emergencies expert said on Sunday. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergencies programme, said while many countries are still in the eye of the storm, others were beginning to show it is possible to contain the disease to some extent. “In that sense, there’s hope,” Ryan told Reuters in an online interview from Geneva. “At a global level the situation is still very, very serious but the pattern of the disease and the trajectory of the virus is very different in different parts of the world right now,” he said. “What we’re learning is that it is possible to get this disease under control and it is possible to begin resuming normal economic and social life, with a new way of having to do that, and with extreme caution and vigilance.” However, some countries in Africa and in central and South America are still seeing “an upwards trajectory in cases” and although they may not appear to have a big problem yet, the availability of tests remains an issue, Ryan added. More than 3.44 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 243,015 have died, according to a Reuters tally as of Sunday. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December. “We’re in the middle of the fight of our lives - all of us around the world,” Ryan said. “There’s going to be a significant and extended risk until we reach a point where we have a safe and effective vaccine available to all.” Ryan said some countries, including China, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and others, had reached what he described as “a steady state” with regard to the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile Europe and North America are beginning to emerge from “very intense epidemics” of the disease and are now trying to navigate a safe exit from severe restrictions on economic and social activities imposed in the past few months, he said. After months of severe lockdown, people in Italy and Spain were starting to enjoy a little more freedom on Sunday. Israel has opened some schools, while South Korea said it would further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses. Ryan said this showed “not that the virus can be beaten absolutely, but that we can reach a point where we have enough control over the virus that our social and economic lives can begin again”. He reiterated, however, that any government seeking to relax restrictions should do so with extreme caution. The WHO warned on Friday that countries must lift lockdowns gradually, while still being “on the look-out” for COVID-19 and ready to restore restrictions if the virus jumps back.
3 May 16:33 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-who-ryan-idUSKBN22F0PGRating: 4.04
WHO director says world’s in ‘fight of our lives’, but there’s hope
Parts of the world are starting to emerge from the Covid-19 pandemic and to cautiously resume some sort of normal life, but the new coronavirus will pose significant risks until vaccines are developed, the WHO’s top emergencies expert said on Sunday. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization’s (WHO) emergencies programme, said while many countries are still in the eye of the storm, others were beginning to show it is possible to contain the disease to some extent. “In that sense, there’s hope,” Ryan told Reuters in an online interview from Geneva. “At a global level the situation is still very, very serious but the pattern of the disease and the trajectory of the virus is very different in different parts of the world right now,” he said. “What we’re learning is that it is possible to get this disease under control and it is possible to begin resuming normal economic and social life, with a new way of having to do that, and with extreme caution and vigilance.” However, some countries in Africa and in central and South America are still seeing “an upwards trajectory in cases” and although they may not appear to have a big problem yet, the availability of tests remains an issue, Ryan added. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December. “We’re in the middle of the fight of our lives – all of us around the world,” Ryan said. “There’s going to be a significant and extended risk until we reach a point where we have a safe and effective vaccine available to all.” Ryan said some countries, including China, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and others, had reached what he described as “a steady state” with regard to the spread of Covid-19. Meanwhile Europe and North America are beginning to emerge from “very intense epidemics” of the disease and are now trying to navigate a safe exit from severe restrictions on economic and social activities imposed in the past few months, he said. After months of severe lockdown, people in Italy and Spain were starting to enjoy a little more freedom on Sunday. Israel has opened some schools, while South Korea said it would further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses. Ryan said this showed “not that the virus can be beaten absolutely, but that we can reach a point where we have enough control over the virus that our social and economic lives can begin again”. He reiterated, however, that any government seeking to relax restrictions should do so with extreme caution. The WHO warned on Friday that countries must lift lockdowns gradually, while still being “on the look-out” for Covid-19 and ready to restore restrictions if the virus jumps back.
3 May 18:54 • Moneyweb • https://www.moneyweb.co.za/news/international/who-director-says-worlds-in-fight-of-our-lives-but-theres-hope/Rating: 1.42
WHO's Ryan says world is in 'fight of our lives', but there is hope
By Kate Kelland and Stephanie Nebehay LONDON/GENEVA (Reuters) - Parts of the world are starting to emerge from the COVID-19 pandemic and to cautiously resume some sort of normal life, but the new coronavirus will pose significant risks until vaccines are developed, the WHO's top emergencies expert said on Sunday. Mike Ryan, executive director of the World Health Organization's (WHO) emergencies programme, said while many countries are still in the eye of the storm, others were beginning to show it is possible to contain the disease to some extent. "In that sense, there's hope," Ryan told Reuters in an online interview from Geneva. "At a global level the situation is still very, very serious but the pattern of the disease and the trajectory of the virus is very different in different parts of the world right now," he said. "What we're learning is that it is possible to get this disease under control and it is possible to begin resuming normal economic and social life, with a new way of having to do that, and with extreme caution and vigilance." However, some countries in Africa and in central and South America are still seeing "an upwards trajectory in cases" and although they may not appear to have a big problem yet, the availability of tests remains an issue, Ryan added. More than 3.44 million people have been reported to be infected by the novel coronavirus globally and 243,015 have died, according to a Reuters tally as of Sunday. Infections have been reported in more than 210 countries and territories since the first cases were identified in China in December. "We're in the middle of the fight of our lives - all of us around the world," Ryan said. "There's going to be a significant and extended risk until we reach a point where we have a safe and effective vaccine available to all." Ryan said some countries, including China, South Korea, Singapore, New Zealand and others, had reached what he described as "a steady state" with regard to the spread of COVID-19. Meanwhile Europe and North America are beginning to emerge from "very intense epidemics" of the disease and are now trying to navigate a safe exit from severe restrictions on economic and social activities imposed in the past few months, he said. After months of severe lockdown, people in Italy and Spain were starting to enjoy a little more freedom on Sunday. Israel has opened some schools, while South Korea said it would further relax social distancing rules from May 6, allowing a phased re-opening of businesses. Ryan said this showed "not that the virus can be beaten absolutely, but that we can reach a point where we have enough control over the virus that our social and economic lives can begin again". He reiterated, however, that any government seeking to relax restrictions should do so with extreme caution. The WHO warned on Friday that countries must lift lockdowns gradually, while still being "on the look-out" for COVID-19 and ready to restore restrictions if the virus jumps back. (Reporting by Kate Kelland and Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Frances Kerry)
3 May 16:31 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/whos-ryan-says-world-fight-163133597.html/Rating: 0.30
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
3 May 20:53
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7 articles
Weight: 2.24
Importance: 2.24
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:51
Average US: 5.942857142857141
Weighted average US: 8.138485925969347
Average GB: 0.05714285714285714
Weighted average GB: 0.12292881122358236
Average IN: 1.2571428571428571
Weighted average IN: 1.878136328847424
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. “It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience,” Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. “The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today,” Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren’t safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. “Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident,” Doyle said in the municipality’s news release. “If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder.” Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. “And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst,” Madu said in a statement on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 20:53 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/news-pmn/canada-news-pmn/fort-mcmurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire-evacuationRating: 1.59
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. "It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience," Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. "The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today," Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren't safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. "Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident," Doyle said in the municipality's news release. "If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder." Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. "And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst," Madu said in a statement on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 20:51 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/fort-mcmurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire-evacuation-2321202Rating: 0.30
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. “It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience,” Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. “The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today,” Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren’t safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. “Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident,” Doyle said in the municipality’s news release. “If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder.” Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. “And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst,” Madu said in a statement on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 20:51 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/fort-mcmurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire-evacuation/Rating: 0.61
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. - As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. "It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience," Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. "The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today," Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren't safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. "Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident," Doyle said in the municipality's news release. "If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder." Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. "And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst," Madu said in a statement on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 20:51 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/fort-mcmurray-flooding/cp1916432380Rating: 0.30
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. “It was evident on May 3, 2016, and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience,” Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray, including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. “The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today,” Mr. Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren’t safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. “Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident,” Mr. Doyle said in the municipality’s news release. “If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder.” Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. “And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst,” Ms. Madu said in a statement on Sunday. We have a weekly Western Canada newsletter written by our B.C. and Alberta bureau chiefs, providing a comprehensive package of the news you need to know about the region and its place in the issues facing Canada. Sign up today.
3 May 21:19 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/alberta/article-fort-mcmurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire/Rating: 2.18
Flood recovery begins
As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. "It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience," Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. "The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today," Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren't safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. "Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident," Doyle said in the municipality's news release. "If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder." Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. "And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst," Madu said in a statement on Sunday.
3 May 15:30 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/298996/Fort-McMurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire-evacuationRating: 1.34
Fort McMurray cleans up from flood on anniversary of 2016 wildfire evacuation
FORT MCMURRAY, Alta. — As residents of Fort McMurray continued to assess their flood-damaged homes and businesses and began the difficult task of cleaning them this weekend, they also marked the anniversary of the start of an evacuation that emptied the northern Alberta city four years ago. “It was evident on May 3, 2016 and it is evident today: we are a region of resilience,” Mayor Don Scott said in a news release from the Regional Municipality of Wood Buffalo on Sunday. Many of the evacuation orders that began last weekend due to the spring ice breakup on nearby rivers were lifted Friday. The flooding affected low-lying areas of Fort McMurray including its downtown, and close to 13,000 people had to leave their homes. The Canadian Red Cross has been handing out cleanup kits that contain latex and work gloves, sponges, garbage bags, mops and scrub brushes. A boil-water advisory for the city remains in effect, so oil company CNOOC International supplied a tanker truck that pumped out potable water to people who brought jugs on Saturday. A supermarket downtown, forced to close but not damaged, gave away free produce to the food bank, which distributed the items from the back of a semi-trailer on Saturday. “The recent river breakup flood has reminded me of the incredible generosity of our residents. That generosity was on display on that evacuation day four years ago, where neighbour helped neighbour, and it continues today,” Scott said. The municipality announced on the weekend that emergency housing provided through the Red Cross was being extended until May 10 for people whose homes aren’t safe to live in. The fire in northern Alberta ignited deep in the bush on May 1, 2016, and exploded into a ferocious blaze that forced the evacuation of the entire city two days later. More than 80,000 people fled as towering flames licked at their homes and crackled along the only highway out of the city. Flames consumed nearly 2,600 dwelling units, which were mostly residential. Chief administrative officer Jamie Doyle said the fire evacuation was one of the most challenging days the region and the municipality has ever faced. But he also said that between COVID-19 and the flooding, staff have also been very busy in the emergency operations centre this year. “Like May 3 four years ago, these emergency responses can be incredibly stressful on our staff, particularly if they have been directly impacted as a resident,” Doyle said in the municipality’s news release. “If you have the opportunity, I encourage you to express your thanks to a member of municipal staff or to a first responder.” Sunday also marked the beginning of Emergency Preparedness Month in Alberta. Municipal Affairs Minister Kaycee Madu said Albertans know first-hand that a wildfire, flood, tornado or pandemic can significantly impact their day-to-day lives. “And the historic flooding that we have seen in northern Alberta is an important reminder that we must be prepared for the worst,” Madu said in a statement on Sunday. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 09:51 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/fort-mcmurray-cleans-up-from-flood-on-anniversary-of-2016-wildfire-evacuation/Rating: 0.77
The shops and food outlets in Nottingham now reopened or possibly reopening soon
3 May 18:03
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Weight: 2.21
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Average US: 11.46875
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Average IN: 11.493750000000002
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The shops and food outlets in Nottingham now reopened or possibly reopening soon
Cycling and motoring experts Halfords has reopened another of its Nottinghamshire stores with new measures in place to protect customers and staff. The Sutton-in-Ashfield branch is the latest retailer to reopen amid lockdown and has introduced social distancing measures along with a new drive-in service. The vast majority of its stores and autocentres have been open since the essential retailer rules came into force as both cycle shops and garages have been classed as such. But the company is now in the process of re-opening another 12. Further precautionary measures in place at the store include the introduction of a zero contact policy, the team have stopped taking cash payments and customers can no longer browse the aisles. Instead Halfords is providing services and product collection from the front of the store. Halfords is not the only store to reopen recently and there are lots of other shops, businesses and food outlets looking at how they can start serving customers again. Seventeen Costa Coffee drive-thrus reopened across the country this weekend along with 12 stores doing deliveries only. This includes the drive-thru branch in Sutton Road, Mansfield, which will now be open daily from 8am to 4pm. The rest of Nottingham and Nottinghamshire may soon be able to get their coffee fix too however as Costa CEO Jill McDonald said the coffee chain will be increasing the number of drive-thru lanes and stores open for delivery via Uber Eats. The fast-food chain is reopening 15 restaurants for delivery in May. The sites re-opening have NOT yet been revealed by McDonald's, so we can still live in hope. McDonald’s CEO UK and Ireland, Paul Pomroy, said: "On May 13, we will reopen 15 of our restaurants in the UK; this will be in a limited capacity with delivery only. "The restaurants involved will be announced next week as we work through inviting our employees back to work and supporting our delivery partners to prepare for our gradual return. " McDonald's will implement a string of new safety measures in restaurants, including perspex screens and floor markings, additional protective equipment including non-medical grade face masks and social distancing measures for delivery and service partners. Customers will be able to order the menu items through Uber Eats and Just Eat. The high street favourite closed orders and browsing on TKMaxx.com on March 26, due to the coronavirus pandemic but it has now re-opened its website. Although it's stores remain closed for now, shoppers can order clothing, skincare and beauty items online however, there is a limit on how many shoppers can place orders each day. Another 20 branches of Pret A Manger re-opened this week bringing the total to 30. Ten branches opened as a trial on April 16 for takeaway and delivery. At the moment all re-opened branches are in London but Pret chief executive Pano Christou said: "We recently reopened 10 shops close to hospitals and restarted food donations to our charity partners. "I believe we’ve found a way to operate that reflects Government guidance and looks after our teams and customers." So you never know, you could be chowing down on salad box soon. The chicken giant revealed it would reopen 100 branches for delivery only through partners including Just Eat. Unbelievably they choose Leicester and Tamworth as two location but not Nottingham. All 900 branches closed shortly after the UK went into lockdown and are now reopening just for delivery. It follows similar moves by Burger King, Nandos and Pret with McDonalds saying it is looking at how to safely reopen and Wetherspoon saying it plans to reopen pubs early this summer. Deliveries will be made through Just Eat, Deliveroo and Uber Eats, so fingers crossed we could be in the next wave. Wetherspoons is starting to plan for a reopening of its pubs and hotels “in or around June”, the company announced. The popular chain closed all of its branches on March 15 due to the coronavirus pandemic. Since it's closure the vast majority of Wetherspoons staff was furloughed. All B&Q stores have now reopened across the UK. Posting on their social media page, B&Q wrote: "All our UK stores are open but with strict social distancing measures in place. Help us make your experience as safe and enjoyable as possible by following these guidelines. Help us to help you - socially distanced shopping at B&Q." The guidelines include restricting the number of customers in the store at any one time, with under 16s not allowed in store. Like supermarkets, B&Q will implement a designated queuing area outside with two metre markers. While perspex screens have been installed at the checkouts. Following a successful trial across 20 stores, Homebase reopened another 50 last week and yesterday its remaining UK stores were all reopened for customers to shop. CEO Damian McGloughlin said: "It has taken a tremendous amount of hard work and commitment from our teams across all parts of the business, to ensure we are ready to safely welcome customers back through our doors. I'm extremely grateful for the dedication shown by every single team member, and to our customers, for the huge support and understanding." The British Retail Consortium has sent out new guidance to its members as a number of chains begin to open or at least set out plans to reopen. The guidance covers all retail premises - essential and non-essential - to help those already reopening and those planning to reopen once the lockdown regulations are eased. The new rules are designed to keep customers and staff safe in a bid to help stop the spread of the new coronavirus. The recommended measures include limiting entry and exit points, using floor markings to outline social distancing and keeping changing rooms closed. The guidance also suggests installing cleaning stations with hand sanitiser and disinfectant wipes at the front of stores.
3 May 18:03 • NottinghamshireLive • https://www.nottinghampost.com/whats-on/shopping/shops-food-outlets-nottingham-now-4101096Rating: 0.30
In Pictures: Beaches quiet but queues snake across Britain in lockdown
As Britons endure another weekend in lockdown, many faced long waits in large queues outside shops allowed to open due to strict social-distancing rules. DIY outlets including B&Q and Homebase, and some household waste and recycling centres, have reopened after introducing measures to ensure the safety of customers and staff. But while some headed to the shops, many Britons adhered to the advice to stay at home – and usually busy coastal and beauty spots remained quiet.
3 May 12:34 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/in-pictures-beaches-quiet-but-queues-snake-across-britain-in-lockdown/Rating: 0.38
Hundreds queue for DIY supplies as B&Q and Homebase reopen
Hundreds of do it yourself enthusiasts queued for hours this weekend after B&Q and Homebase reopened their branches ahead of the anticipated relaxing of lockdown restrictions. At least 28,466 people have now died in the UK after testing positive for coronavirus. However, social-distancing measures didn’t stop shoppers from lining up to get their DIY fix. Packed queues circled the megastores as more and more people turn to making over their homes during the Covid-19 pandemic. Along the queue, markers were placed in store colours to help shoppers to keep their distance as they shuffled forward. Waiting times were also much longer than usual as shops still limit the numbers allowed in at ay one time. Many of those in the queues chose to wear masks, but the majority opted to wait without. In a statement, B&Q previously said they would also have two metre floor markers throughout their stores and perspex screens to protect staff at their checkouts. Customers are only able to purchase products ‘available for takeaway in store on the day’. For our Coronavirus live blog click here. Lockdown was first introduced on March 23, with thousands of companies across the country forced to shut their doors. It was then extended for a period of at least three weeks on April 16. Prime Minister Boris Johnson is expected to set out a plan for leaving lockdown next week, which will give guidelines for returning to work and children returning to school. The government has said the UK is now past the coronavirus peak, with the highest official death toll on April 8. However, infection rates, currently standing at about 6,000 per day, remain far too high for a widespread easing of restrictions to be considered, the Prime Minister said. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
3 May 19:30 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/massive-queues-outside-bq-homebase-reopen-12648303/Rating: 2.18
Lidl becomes first supermarket chain to CLOSE a UK store after staff catch coronavirus - but shoppers are told doors will reopen on Monday
Lidl has become the first supermarket chain to close a UK store after some staff members caught coronavirus. The German retailer confirmed shop workers had been diagnosed with Covid-19 at the branch in Middlesbrough. Shoppers said the supermarket on Cargo Fleet Lane closed its doors on Friday and remained closed over the weekend due to a shortage of staff amid the outbreak. It is not currently known how many members of staff have tested positive for the virus. Lidl have said it is vitally important that they reopen the store as soon as they can to ensure that households have access to the essential food and products they need. Middlesbrough Council have previously said the TS3 postcode area home to the Lidl store had a high number of deaths due to Covid-19. Those living in the area have received a leaflet reminding them of the importance of following the coronavirus lockdown guidelines. There have been a series of coronavirus deaths at James Cook University Hospital in the area. It is unclear what has caused the higher death rate, with Middlesbrough having 559 confirmed cases of Covid-19. In a statement, Lidl said: 'All supermarkets are currently operating under exceptional circumstances, and the safety of our colleagues and customers is critical to us. 'We have been in touch with those members of our team that have tested positive for Covid-19, to offer our support and wish them a speedy recovery. 'We fully understand that this is a concerning and difficult time, not only for our own workforce but for the whole country. 'We have been closely following government advice throughout this period and have stringent measures in place across all of our business areas to protect colleagues and customers. 'Our teams are all playing a crucial role in continuing to feed communities across the country. It is therefore vitally important that we reopen the store as soon as we can, to ensure that households have access to the essential food and products they need.' Shoppers who contacted Teesside Live said that they'd been told the supermarket would reopen on Monday.
3 May 12:17 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8281995/Lidl-supermarket-chain-CLOSE-UK-store-staff-catch-coronavirus.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Only small section of online sellers may start selling non-essentials, say industry executives
With many states yet to issue their guidelines for e-commerce companies and a large number of sellers being located in red zones, it is likely that only a small percentage of merchants on online platforms like Amazon and Flipkart will be able to start operations from May 4 and sell non-essential items, according to industry executives. On Friday, the home ministry announced a two-week extension of lockdown but said there would be certain relaxations for orange and green zones. Under the latest rules, e-commerce activities in red zones, which cover large cities like Delhi, Mumbai, Bengaluru, Pune and Hyderabad, are permitted only for essential goods during the third phase of lockdown. A senior industry executive, who did not wish to be named, said that while there are Centre's guidelines for e-commerce companies for the third phase of the lockdown, only few states including Karnataka, Rajasthan, Maharashtra and Uttar Pradesh have notified their guidelines so far. This lack of clarity from other states could pose difficulty for e-commerce companies to resume full operations, the person said. Another challenge for e-commerce companies that follow the marketplace model (like Amazon India, Flipkart and Snapdeal) is that many of their sellers are either located or have their warehouses in red zones. The home ministry guidelines issued a few days ago, remain unclear on operations of these marketplace sellers of non-essential products, who are in red zones. So, they are dependent on how local authorities issue their guidelines, the person said. E-commerce platforms and many several consumer organisations have also been requesting the government for expansion of the list of essential products to include items like laptops, mobile phones and chargers as well as summer clothing to ensure people that do not have to step out of their homes amid the COVID-19 pandemic. The person said that the addition of these categories will help customers, especially in red zones, to continue work and study from home and practice social distancing. Another industry executive said e-commerce platforms have been engaging with seller-partners to prepare them for resumption in services. The seller, if in the orange and green zone, will be able to see the locations they can service, while the customer will see products that can be delivered to them depending on their location, while other items may carry indicators saying the item cannot be delivered. Srinivas Mothey, senior vice-president at Paytm Mall, said the company has already had discussions with its suppliers, logistics partners, and most importantly, offline shopkeeper base and they are all set to go online. "We would be going live with key consumer demand categories like consumer electronics, laptops, home and fashion. These verticals and catalogues would be open to our customers besides continuing essentials. We would be taking new orders for non-essentials from Monday, May 4, and deliver in all green and orange zones," he added. Mothey said most of its sellers in non-essential categories have confirmed their preparedness by updating their inventory and would be starting to go live on May 4 and the rest will follow suit over the coming week as zonal restrictions ease. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here "We have extended their processing times to pack and ship products by 2-3 days buffer, relaxed SLAs (service-level agreements), and penalty conditions on order processing temporarily. We are in the process of getting inventory updated and cataloguing their SKUs (stock keeping units) on the platform. Our logistics partners are in touch with them and will start the process of deliveries soon as we start getting orders," he added. Walmart-owned Flipkart had welcomed the Centre's move to allow e-commerce companies to offer non-essential products in orange and green zones and said it is working with lakhs of sellers and micro, small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) across India and helping them prepare their businesses resume operations. An Amazon India spokesperson has said millions of small and medium businesses and traders will be able to jump-start their businesses and livelihoods across their workforce after the relaxations coming in from May 4. Emphasising that the company will focus on maintaining the "sanctity of the new guidelines around the red zones", Amazon India has also urged the government to consider the positive role e-commerce can play to get customers all priority products they need in the red zones as well to enable a stronger economic support for the small businesses while prioritising safety. Under the first phase of the nationwide lockdown between March 24 and April 14, the government had only allowed delivery of essential goods through e-commerce platforms. On April 16, the Ministry of Home Affairs issued fresh guidelines for the current lockdown, allowing e-commerce deliveries and movement of trucks, but on April 19, it modified its order to allow online commerce companies to deliver essential items only till May 3. Interestingly, traders' body CAIT had argued that e-commerce companies were misinterpreting the MHA guidelines of May 1 and "twisting (them) in their favour to misguide the various state governments and authorities and to create unnecessary confusion". CAIT has sent a communication to Defence Minister Rajnath Singh (also chairman of the GoM on COVID-19) urging him to get the matter clarified by the MHA. It has also written to Home Minister Amit Shah and Commerce Minister Piyush Goyal.
3 May 19:44 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/only-small-section-of-online-sellers-may-start-selling-non-essentials-say-industry-executives-833107.htmlRating: 2.25
Amazon and Flipkart can deliver non-essential products; but only in these zones
The latest guidelines on the extension of the country-wide lockdown until May 17 give e-commerce platforms some relief to operate. E-commerce platforms including Amazon, Flipkart will be able to sell essential as well as non-essential products in orange and green zones from May 4 onwards. However, in the red zones, they will be limited to essential goods including groceries, medical and kids products. Amazon India told indianexpress.com that they welcome the government’s decision to “allow e-commerce in Orange and Green Zones to serve people safely with products that they need and have not been able to access due to the lockdown”. Also Read: Here’s what you can order from online and what you can’t In an email statement, the e-commerce giant said the move will allow millions of small and medium businesses and traders to jumpstart their businesses and livelihoods across their workforce. “Our foremost priority is to ensure the safety of our customers, employees and partners and we will continue to join efforts to fight against the pandemic by serving people in the safety of their homes with products they need and help in social distancing efforts to keep India safe.” Also Read: Covid-19 lockdown: Centre identifies red, orange, green zones for week after May 3; check full list here Amazon added that the company will maintain the sanctity of the new guidelines around the red zones and urge the government to consider the “positive role e-commerce can play to get customers all priority products they need in the red zones as well, enabling a stronger economic support for the small businesses while prioritising safety.” “We welcome the Government’s efforts in progressively charting out an exit plan from the lockdown and allowing e-commerce to serve consumers in the Orange and Green zones by fulfilling their products needs, in addition to serving essentials/grocery in Red zone through a safe supply chain and SOPs,” Flipkart said in a statement. Xiaomi India welcomed the decision and India MD Manu Kumar Jain said, “Smart move to regulate activities based on zones – Red (hotspot), Orange & Green. And relax restrictions in Orange/Green zones!” Arjun Bajaj, Director Videotex International Group said, “Though the lockdown has been extended to May 17, the relaxation basis the identified zones is a welcome move. With e-commerce companies able to operate for non-essential goods, consumer durables Industry shall have some movement. Along with this, it will also help the online firms, to start clearing the existing inventory. For us, the Tier 1 and Tier 2 cities/ districts that are under the green and orange zone drive maximum of our sales, for the brand Telefunken and Shinco, so indeed its a bit of a relief. Parallel we are preparing our service centres for the back end and, and would be following the mandatory guidelines like social distancing measures which are necessary at the time of installation and repair.” Also Read: Aarogya Setu app now mandatory for private, public sector employees Commenting on resuming of sale of non-essential products Gopal Jain, Senior Advocate, Supreme Court of India said, “The central government’s decision is thoughtful because basic necessities will now be available at people’s doorsteps. E-commerce companies being allowed to deliver non-essential items in orange and green zone areas will be a eureka moment for students who have run out of stationery and books, who can now stock up for the coming two weeks. It will bring smiles back onto the faces of professionals who need new devices or chargers and families that need household items who will now not be required to step out onto the streets to access these items. Smooth implementation of this decision at the ground level will be of paramount importance now and local authorities will have to step up their efforts to make sure people stay home for another two weeks.” Starting May 4, consumers living in green and orange zones will be able to purchase smartphones, laptops, and other gadgets and other products listed under the non-essential category. The platforms are likely to accept orders for non-essentials only in the orange and green zones.
3 May 07:42 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/technology/tech-news-technology/from-may-4-e-commerce-platforms-can-deliver-in-orange-green-zones-6389251/Rating: 0.30
Shoppers flock to B&Q for long weekend of DIY during lockdown
Shoppers flocked to B&Q this morning to prepare for a long weekend of lockdown DIY. Long queues were pictured outside the megastore in Shirley, Birmingham. The DIY chain has now reopened all of its stores with new social distancing measures in place including perplex screens, and signage in store, reports Birmingham Live Hardware stores are among retailers listed by the Government as essential stores, which could remain open through the lockdown. However the retailer shut its doors when the lockdown restrictions were announced in March. Some shoppers in the queue were pictured wearing masks but the majority of those queuing just stuck to do standard two metres apart. Markers have also been set up in on-brand orange buckets outside the shop to instruct customers where to stand and there's a limit of how many can enter the store at one given time. Graham Bell, chief executive officer of B&Q, said: "Our highest priority is to keep our colleagues safe at work and our customers safe while shopping. "In all our stores, we have strict social distancing measures in place. "Customers are adhering to these, helping us to offer a shopping environment that is safe for everyone, while we help them to look after their homes and gardens, as well as their wellbeing. "Whether shopping in our stores or online, we continue to ask all our customers to follow the Government's social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only when they need to." Stores will be open between 8am and 5pm and cashiers will only be accepting card and contactless payments to minimise the risk of coronavirus transmission. Services such as kitchen and bathroom design, paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting have also been suspended.
2 May 22:11 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/shoppers-flock-bq-long-weekend-21964993Rating: 2.39
Chaos at Glasgow Costa as hundreds of coffee fans queue for hours at Braehead drive-thru store
Hundreds of Scots coffee lovers queued for hours outside Costa branches in Scotland as the coffee chain re-opened limited stores during lockdown. Traffic chaos ensued as drivers flocked to Glasgow 's drive-thru store near Braehead Shopping Centre. The coffee shops are the first to re-open after Costa shut down all 27,000 UK stores on March 23 in the wake of the covid-19 outbreak. Pictures show lines of cars tailed back bumper to bumper, stretching to the main road near the M8 in Hillington. In the Edinburgh, drivers queued around the car-park as they waited to be served by baristas wearing gloves and masks. Coffee fans headed to pick up at Edinburgh Sharpdale and Edinburgh South Bridge. Strict guidance mean customers are barred from entering the newly reopened stores so all orders are to go. The company said all its staff have been given guidance on social-distancing and have been kitted out with all the necessary clothing including face-masks. To maintain hygiene levels Costa workers will also be expected to clean their hands and any surfaces at least once every half an hour. Customers at the stores will only be able to use contactless payments. Daily Record has contacted Costa Coffee for comment.
2 May 18:41 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/chaos-glasgow-costa-hundreds-coffee-21964237Rating: 0.35
Covid-19 woes: Relaxed lockdown norms bring cheer to liquor industry
The month of May could spell good news for the domestic alcohol industry, as standalone liquor shops have been permitted to open from Monday. Companies and industry executives, whom Business Standard spoke to, estimate the industry may see around 25 per cent of normal sales, following the new set of guidelines issued on Friday by the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA). Almost 50 per cent of the 70,000 liquor vends in India could open on Monday, after the MHA granted shops permission to reopen in green and orange zones, as well as those located outside hotspots or containment areas in red zones. Most states are keen to implement the guidelines, industry sources said, with Karnataka, Punjab, Kerala, and West Bengal amongst the most vocal in this regard. Assam has already permitted liquor shops in green zones to open, while the Maharashtra government will take a call latest by Sunday, it is learnt. ALSO READ: Dabur, Himalaya witness spike in sales of Ayurvedic products amid Covid-19 At the heart of the matter is the revenue that alcohol brings to states, estimated at Rs 700 crore per day, or Rs 2.5 trillion annually, says Amrit Kiran Singh, chairman, International Spirits & Wines Association of India (ISWAI), whose members include top liquor players such as Diageo and Pernod Ricard. The central government had prohibited sale of liquor after the national lockdown was first announced on March 24, resulting in states losing close to Rs 30,000 crore in tax revenues in the past month and a half. Both ISWAI and another industry body — the Confederation of Indian Alcoholic Beverages Companies (CIABC) — had asked the government to permit sale of liquor, citing huge revenue loss to players. Vinod Giri, director general of CIABC, said he saw some of the distilleries resuming production, since distribution was now reopening across the country. ALSO READ: Delhi starts opening liquor shops in non-containment zones amid lockdown Almost 70 per cent of alcohol distribution in India happens through liquor vends or shops, while 30 per cent happens on the premise, that is, in bars, pubs, hotels, and restaurants. The latter continue to remain closed in view of social distancing norms. “The distilleries are within rural areas or industrial zones, which fall in the green or orange zones. Some of them could resume production,” Giri said. Companies are taking no chances. Most are expected to open their units, with limited staff, and will maintain strict hygiene standards. At the retail level, Singh of ISWAI said that it would begin a programme called ‘Safe Shield’ on Monday, under which markers would be put outside shops to ensure social distancing, sanitizers would be placed at counters for use, and contactless sales would be allowed via trays kept at the counter.
2 May 18:19 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/economy-policy/covid-19-woes-relaxed-lockdown-norms-bring-cheer-to-liquor-industry-120050201246_1.htmlRating: 0.30
B&Q announces new rules on who is allowed to visit its stores
B&Q has issued new rules to customers planning on visiting its stores this weekend. Last weekend B&Q reopened the majority of its stores and saw huge queues outside the majority of them. It was a moved which caused a debate among shoppers as some felt it wasn't an essential shop. However, regardless of your viewpoint, if you are planning on visiting B&Q this weekend, the retailer has some new safety measures in place and is now asking under 16s not to visit, reports MEN. Details emerged in a question and answer guide which B&Q has put together. In it it says: "We’re asking shoppers to limit their shopping group to no more than two people, and not to bring under 16 year olds shopping. "Colleagues are on hand to remind everyone to stay safe and follow these guidelines." Below is the full round up of the the most commonly asked question during B&Q's reopening: Which B&Q stores are open and at what times do they open and close? All B&Q stores are now open with the exception of our stores in the ROI and Guernsey. All stores are open from 8am to 5pm Monday to Saturday. Opening times on Sundays vary, and so please check the store locator page for details of your local store. Will B&Q's returns policy be extended? We don’t want you to worry about any items that need returning, so whilst our stores have been closed, we extended our returns policy. You can now bring items back to your local store as usual, once it has re-opened, providing that you meet all the other terms in our returns policy, including proof of purchase requirements. Over half of our stores are now open and we’re planning to open the remaining stores by the beginning of May. We’re unable to offer refunds or exchange for any items that have been cut to size, made to measure or mixed to your individual requirements. Products which are liable to deteriorate or expire rapidly, including perishable products such as plants or turf, will not be exchanged or refunded unless they’re faulty or incorrectly delivered. What safety measures are in place at your open stores? We’re re-opening our stores to help you repair and maintain your houses and gardens while staying at home. It’s important you can shop safely and so we’ve been busy making sure we have strict social distancing measures in place to keep you and our colleagues safe. This includes sanitiser stations to ensure trolleys are good to go, safe queuing 2m apart before entering the store, 2m navigational markers on the floor to guide you through the store, perspex screens at our checkouts and contactless payments only. Unfortunately, our timber cutting, paint mixing and design appointments are temporarily unavailable. We’re asking shoppers to limit their shopping group to no more than two people, and not to bring under 16 year olds shopping. Colleagues are on hand to remind everyone to stay safe and follow these guidelines. Whether shopping instore or online, we urge you to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary. What products can I buy? At our re-opened stores, you can shop for a broad range of items that are available at the store to take away on the day. Currently, services such as kitchen and bathroom design, Valspar paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available. For stores that remain temporarily closed, you can place orders at diy.com for a limited range of items for Click+Collect and contact-free home delivery. Whether shopping instore or online, we urge you to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary. Why can’t I order what I usually buy from B&Q? We’re keen to ensure that we get the balance right on the products offered so that we keep customers and colleagues safe while meeting customers’ needs to maintain their homes and gardens, as well as their wellbeing, during this time of self-isolation and social distancing. At our re-opened stores we’re selling only items that customers can shop for and takeaway from stores on the day. Currently, services such as kitchen and bathroom design, Valspar paint mixing, timber cutting and key cutting are not available. Online, we’re offering a reduced range that has been edited to meet most home improvement needs whilst still providing the best possible shopping experience at times of extremely high demand. Apologies if an item is temporarily not available for you to order currently. Are your garden centres open and what can I buy? The essential retailer designation enables us to offer our full range, and our garden centres have re-opened as part of our store re-opening programme. Our re-opened stores are offering a range of plants, composts, tools, pots and other gardening needs. Whether shopping instore or online, we urge you to follow the Government’s social distancing guidelines and to shop responsibly only for what is necessary. Can I still place a Click + Collect order? Yes, Click + Collect is available at diy.com for a limited range of products. Our aim is for this to be a next day service, however, this may take several days for orders to be ready, and may be temporarily unavailable at busy times. Your items will be available for collection from store, as usual. The collection point for re-opened stores is at the in store Click+Collect desk, and for those stores that remain closed, at the car park collection point. We will contact you when your order is ready for collection. Do not travel to the store until we have confirmed your order is ready. Once you receive notification, please come to store as soon as possible. Collections can be made 8am-5pm Monday to Saturday. Usual trading hours apply on Sunday. Items will be held for no more than 2 days. If you do not collect your order it will be cancelled and we will process a refund, which may take up to 14 days to appear on your statement. How long will it take for my order to be ready? During these unprecedented times it may take a few days for your order to be processed and for confirmation emails to be received. We ask for your understanding at this time. Remember, only travel to store once you have been informed your order is ready for collection. Once you receive a collection notice, please come to the store soon as possible. Collections can be made 8am-5pm Monday to Saturday. Usual trading hours apply on Sunday. Items will be held for no more than 2 days. If you do not collect your order it will be cancelled and we will process a refund, which may take up to 14 days to appear on your statement. If you haven’t had any order confirmation within 48hrs please use go to the contact us page and complete the online form. Note that it may take a few days for us to send you a collection notice.
2 May 04:00 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/bqs-new-rules-who-allowed-18186417Rating: 0.83
B&Q, Homebase and Wickes: All the shops open today with queues forming outside some stores
The UK remains in lockdown but several stores have been begun slowly reopening across Bristol and the rest of the country. Homebase is one the many chains which are now open to customers, with the Portishead store reopening earlier this morning (May 2) after rival DIY retailer B&Q reopened some of its branches too. Other big names, such as B&Q, KFC and Burger King, have also reopened in Bristol with social distancing measures in place. Here are the shops open to customers today. Homebase fully reopened 20 stores across the UK last month as part of a trial run. The retailer was classified as an essential retailer in March but temporarily closed to ensure the safety of staff and customers. Following the trial run, a further 50 stores were then fully reopened - including the Portishead store. The DIY chain reopened some of its stores last month, including the Hartcliffe and Longwell branches in Bristol, following closure at the start of lockdown. The chain's store at Cribbs Causeway has also opened. A long queue of customers was seen at the entrance to the Hartcliffe store after the reopening, standing on two-metre markers on the ground. Six branches of Wickes, the nearest to Bristol being Cheltenham, are now open to the public with strict social distancing measures in place to protect colleagues and customers. In addition to the new measures, the trial stores will operate shorter opening hours from Monday to Saturday, opening at 7am and closing at 6pm, with Sunday reverting to the trading hours of 10am to 4pm. Initiatives that have been successfully deployed by other major retailers are being introduced to ensure customers can shop safely and colleagues remain protected, said a spokesperson. The government has clarified garden centres and other retailers are allowed to operate a click and collect service. In Bristol and surrounding areas, many garden centres are operating a delivery service to ensure they can still serve customers. Garden centres open for delivery service across Bristol include Henleaze Garden Shop, Almondsbury Garden Centre, Whitehall Garden Centre, Fonthill Garden Centre, Iron Acton Garden Centre, Brackenwood Garden Centre and Elmwood Nursery and Garden Centre. BristolLive is running a unique nationwide survey aimed at capturing British life under lockdown. Help us record these historic times and tell us how the pandemic has affected your life - from food shopping to finances, home schooling to mental health. It only takes a few minutes and you'll be playing a part in how we look back on these times once the pandemic is over. Thank you. Click here to take the Great Big Lockdown Survey Burger King reopened two restaurants for delivery in Bristol earlier this month. The stores are in Bristol – the St Philips Causeway site in Arnos Vale and the one in Eastgate Retail Park, Eastville. Hundreds of KFC restaurants have reopened across the UK for delivery service, including two here in Bristol. The Bristol branches which have reopened are at Avonmeads Retail Park and Shield Retail Park.
2 May 12:46 • BristolLive • https://www.bristolpost.co.uk/news/bristol-news/homebase-bq-wickes-open-stores-4099438Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus Scotland: Coffee lovers form huge queues outside Costa as Glasgow and Edinburgh stores reopen amid lockdown
COFFEE lovers formed huge queues outside Costa today as Glasgow and Edinburgh stores reopened amid the coronavirus lockdown. Edinburgh Sharpdale, Edinburgh South Bridge and Glasgow Braehead stores opened for drive-thru and delivery services. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates on Covid-19 And a long line of customers waited for their caffeine fix as giant queues formed. At the Braehead store the line went back onto the road as Rangers ace Andy Halliday and WAG Jilly Cross were among the first in line. It is thought to be so long that it could even interfere with traffic at the roundabout as traffic coming off the M8 Eastbound at Hillington. It is the first time the coffee shop has opened since shutting doors on all 27,000 UK stores on March 23. All newly reopened stores remain closed for public access, meaning customers won't be able to eat in. Costa Coffee said all its workers are provided with protective equipment, including masks, and have to follow strict social distancing guidelines. Staff will also be expected to wash their hands and work surfaces every 30 minutes as a minimum. Stores will only be accepting cashless and contactless payments. A Costa spokesperson said: “We have reopened a small number of Drive-Thru lanes and delivery stores from today, including three stores in Scotland. "Our number one priority is the safety of our store teams and customers, and we have put in place strict measures aligned to Government guidelines. "Our Drive-Thru lanes are open to offer key workers the chance to enjoy a Costa on essential journeys, whilst our delivery stores allow customers the opportunity to order a Costa from the comfort of their own home.”
2 May 14:17 • The Scottish Sun • https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/5554729/coronavirus-scotland-glasgow-edinburgh-stores-lockdown/Rating: 0.30
Huge queues as DIY shoppers head to B&Q, Homebase and The Range
There have been long queues outside shops around the country today after DIY stores opened once again. Many people faced long waits in large queues outside shops including Homebase and B&Q because of strict social-distancing rules. But while some headed to the shops, many people adhered to the advice to stay at home – and usually busy coastal and beauty spots appeared quieter. B&Q is now asking shoppers to limit their shopping group to no more than two people, and not to bring under 16 year olds shopping, Manchester Evening News report. Shoppers should all follow the social distancing guidelines set out by the government, and should not head into stores for non-essential trips. B&Q said: "We’re re-opening our stores to help you repair and maintain your houses and gardens while staying at home. "It’s important you can shop safely and so we’ve been busy making sure we have strict social distancing measures in place to keep you and our colleagues safe. "This includes sanitiser stations to ensure trolleys are good to go, safe queuing 2m apart before entering the store, 2m navigational markers on the floor to guide you through the store, perspex screens at our checkouts and contactless payments only." It comes after queues also built up outside tips in Manchester as they reopened for the first time since lockdown. Greater Manchester Combined Authority reopened some of its household waste recycling centres on Saturday, with restrictions and social distancing measures in place. At the waste centre on Reliance Street in Manchester a queue of cars was already waiting by 7.30am, half an hour before it was scheduled to open. On Saturday only vehicles with number plates ending in even numbers were allowed in, as part of a system to control the number of visitors, meaning some people were turned away.
2 May 15:45 • Wales Online • https://www.walesonline.co.uk/whats-on/shopping/huge-queues-diy-shoppers-head-18189970Rating: 0.62
In Pictures: Beaches quiet but queues snake across Britain in lockdown
Those venturing outside for essential shopping trips have found themselves facing long waits outside B&Q,, Homebase and other stores allowed to open. As Britons endure another weekend in lockdown, many faced long waits in large queues outside shops allowed to open due to strict social-distancing rules. DIY outlets including B&Q and Homebase, and some household waste and recycling centres, have reopened after introducing measures to ensure the safety of customers and staff. But while some headed to the shops, many Britons adhered to the advice to stay at home – and usually busy coastal and beauty spots remained quiet.
2 May 14:11 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/in-pictures-beaches-quiet-but-queues-snake-across-britain-in-lockdown/Rating: 0.30
In Pictures: Beaches quiet but queues snake across Britain in lockdown
As Britons endure another weekend in lockdown, many faced long waits in large queues outside shops allowed to open due to strict social-distancing rules. DIY outlets including B&Q and Homebase, and some household waste and recycling centres, have reopened after introducing measures to ensure the safety of customers and staff. But while some headed to the shops, many Britons adhered to the advice to stay at home – and usually busy coastal and beauty spots remained quiet.
2 May 14:11 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/in-pictures-beaches-quiet-but-queues-snake-across-britain-in-lockdown/Rating: 0.30
Vancouverites taking advantage of socially-distanced chance to smell the flowers at VanDusen
Summary Staff encouraged physical distancing in lineups, tickets purchased in advance were being scanned through plexiglass The garden reopened on May 1 after being closed since late March Social distancing was maintained Saturday, according to a visitor VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) — The gift shop is closed and ticketing has gone contactless at VanDusen Botanical Garden, and one visitor says he’s grateful for a physically-distanced chance to smell the flowers amid the pandemic. Allan Pinto saw a lot of cars and a line of people outside the garden on Saturday — the second day the attraction has been open since March. Staff encouraged physical distancing in lineups, and barcoded tickets purchased in advance were being scanned through plexiglass shields. “There was no actual contact with a person as you were walking into the building,” Pinto said. The path through the building is roped off, creating two lanes of one-way traffic. “There’s no exhibits, the gift shop is closed. They do have access to a lot of disinfectant which is great,” Pinto said. Once in the garden, he said people were doing a good job staying apart. Pinto said he was a little concerned about bringing his parents, who are older. “Really there were no issues. My parents are a bit old so I was a little concerend for them more than anything, because obviously being of an older age, they’re a little bit more prone to getting the virus. They were totally fine, they had a great time. Really there’s no reason for any sort of panic.” He said his family is grateful the garden is now open for visitors. “The flowers smelt amazing, it was raining but it wasn’t that bad. We had umbrellas,” he said. “I think my parents who have been stuck home for over 100 days were pretty happy to get out. My mom and dad are both gardeners, so they really enjoyed getting out there.”
2 May 13:49 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/vandusen-reopening-day-2/Rating: 0.77
Saudi Stocks Slump as Minister Warns of ‘Painful’ Measures Ahead
3 May 07:37
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Saudi Stocks Slump as Minister Warns of ‘Painful’ Measures Ahead
Saudi Arabian stocks dropped the most in almost eight weeks after the kingdom’s finance minister said “painful” measures -- including deep spending cuts -- were needed to respond to the coronavirus crisis and crash in oil prices. The Tadawul All Share Index closed down 7.4%, the most since March 9. Oil giant Saudi Aramco retreated 5.2% to 30 riyals per share, while major lenders including Al Rajhi Bank, National Commercial Bank and Saudi British Bank plunged at least 6.7%. The world’s biggest oil exporter hasn’t witnessed “a crisis of this severity” in decades, Mohammed Al-Jadaan said in an interview with Saudi television station Al-Arabiya on Saturday, adding that government spending will have to be cut “very deeply.” His comments were a sharp change in tone from more reassuring remarks he gave about the economy one week before. Al-Jadaan “is the voice of the Saudi government and leadership,” said Mohammed Ali Yasin, chief strategy officer at Al Dhabi Capital Ltd. in Abu Dhabi. Investors “took it as a warning of much higher spending cuts to come than the original 20%-30% expected earlier in the crisis.” On Friday, the government’s outlook was cut to negative from stable by Moody’s Investors Service, citing “increased downside risks to Saudi Arabia’s fiscal strength.” The rating was kept at A1, the fifth-highest, and one level above that of Fitch Ratings. The collapse in crude prices and the government’s drawdown of foreign reserves is putting more pressure on the Saudi riyal. Still, prices for 12-month dollar-riyal forward contracts are well short of their all-time high reached in 2016. A currency devaluation would be too costly for Saudi Arabia and the better option is to adapt to the oil shock through fiscal changes, according to Goldman Sachs Group Inc. Read more: Goldman Says Saudi Fiscal Adjustment Preferable to a Devaluation Read more comments on Saudi Arabia and Middle Eastern markets: — With assistance by Paul Abelsky
3 May 07:37 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/saudi-stocks-slump-as-minister-warns-of-painful-measures-aheadRating: 4.04
Jadaan: Saudi Arabia to Take Strict Measures to Deal with Virus Impact
Saudi Finance Minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said on Saturday that Riyadh will take strict measures to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, adding that "all options for dealing with the crisis are open". "We must reduce budget expenditures sharply", Jadaan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV, adding that the impact of the new coronavirus on Saudi Arabia's state finances will appear from the second quarter of the year. "Saudi finances need more discipline and the road ahead is long," he said. Jadaan said Saudi Arabia had used some revenue from investments to plug the deficit. He noted the country had introduced stimulus measures aimed at preserving jobs in the private sector and safeguarding the provision of basic services.
3 May 04:45 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2264971/jadaan-saudi-arabia-take-strict-measures-deal-virus-impactRating: 2.10
Painful steps ahead to fight economic downturn — Al Jadaan
By Ismaeel Naar, Joanne Serrieh and Omar ElkatouriDUBAI — Saudi Arabia is committed to protecting itself from the economic fallout of the coronavirus through any necessary financial measures despite plunging oil revenues, Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan told Al Arabiya on Saturday.Earlier this week, the Kingdom reported that its budget had fallen into a $9 billion deficit after oil revenue plunged amid a global oversupply of crude due to the coronavirus pandemic.Despite oil being Saudi Arabia’s largest revenue, the Kingdom maintains significant reserves and has vast untapped borrowing potential.While Al-Jadaan acknowledged that the unprecedented global economic impact of the coronavirus would also hit the Kingdom, he said that it was committed to taking the necessary measure to mitigate the fallout — including reducing expenditure and regulating public finance more.“The Kingdom is committed to the task of sustaining public financing, and is committed to having enough financial strength to face this crisis even if it is prolonged. We have taken several steps both in relation to health, and in relation to financial measures in terms of reducing expenditure.“Right now, we are looking at what we can do to reduce the deficit level. Certainly, there has been a significant drop in revenues, and we will likely see its impact in the coming quarters,” Al-Jadaan said during an exclusive interview with Al Arabiya.'Studying several options'The Saudi Arabian Monetary Authority (SAMA) said late on Tuesday foreign assets fell in March to $464 billion, the lowest in 19 years, as the Kingdom moves to combat the economic fallout of the virus.Al-Jadaan said that authorities in Saudi Arabia are currently studying several options aimed at mitigating the damage caused by the coronavirus. The minister added that the drop in both oil and non-oil revenues will be seen further in the coming quarters.“We began the year with oil prices higher than $60 per barrel, these days we’re seeing the numbers near $20. This huge drop leads to a more than 50 percent drop in oil revenues,” he said.Saudi Arabia has implemented various policies to control the spread of the virus, including implementing a lockdown on most of the Kingdom, imposing a curfew to limit public movement and shutting incoming international travel.While important, these measures have also had a negative impact on the non-oil economy, as businesses remain closed and people are told to stay at home.“With non-oil revenues, due to the precautionary measures, they will be dropping as there is a huge reduction in economic activity and as a result, the non-oil revenues will drop.“We must deal with this wisely and efficiently and with God’s will the Kingdom will be looking at several options to face a pandemic the world has never seen the likes of for more than 70 years, since nearly World War II. At a global level, this level of pandemic has never been seen before,” Al-Jadaan said.The minister said last week the Kingdom would limit the amount of money it would take from its reserves to a maximum of $32 billion. Instead, the Kingdom will take advantage of its mostly untapped ability to borrow, and issue $60 billion of debt.“We will continue to take loans, and we have seen a large demand on government debt securities, internally or externally. As per the plan we will take loans up to SR220 billion, as per the conditions in the market and the available liquidity,” he said.Al-Jadaan added that he does not believe the Kingdom, or the world, will return to pre-coronavirus economic conditions, mainly as a result of the pandemic’s impact on economic activities and supply chains globally.'Steps taken will be painful'Discussing Saudi Arabia’s economic challenges, Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom’s economy still depends greatly on public spending and it will therefore continue to maintain public finance to support the economy in the near future. However, he added that his ministry believes more regulations are needed to sustain the measures.“Public finance needs to be regulated more. The government has worked over the last four to five years on big regulations to regulate public finance and lower the deficit, but we still have a long way to go.“We will reduce expenditure, if God wills, even if some of the steps taken will be painful, but they are for the benefit of everyone, for the benefit of the country and for the benefit of the citizens,” Al-Jadaan said.In order to maintain and sustain public financing, the minister said that the government plans on redirecting some public funds to support the health sector in the coming quarters.“The government must take different measures than it previously has. There must be a limit to spending, redirecting parts of it to providing health services for the nationals and residents, and facing the results of the major shock in returns, whether that’s the result of major limitations on people in terms of restricting movement and economic activities. Therefore, its repercussions on demand of raw materials including petrol and the major drop in prices,” he said.Projects delayedAl-Jadaan explained the Kingdom is currently considering delaying some projects as a result of the impact.“As a result of the precautionary measures, therefore, we will reduce spending on them. Projects, whether major ones or some programs for achieving the (Vision 2030), that are, in their nature, a result of the precautionary measures, require delaying its implementation, therefore reducing the spending,” Al-Jadaan said.The finance minister said the Kingdom is also considering other items to limit spending, provided they do not affect people’s basic services.“We’re also considering other items, as long as we don’t touch basic services for the people, all options are open. And, the government is currently studying the effect of these options and will therefore decide based on it and we will make recommendations soon,” he confirmed. — Al Arabiya English
2 May 22:50 • Saudi Gazette • https://saudigazette.com.sa/article/592612/SAUDI-ARABIA/Painful-steps-ahead-to-fight-economic-downturn-Al-JadaanRating: 0.30
GCC markets in red as Saudi Arabia warns of ‘painful’ times ahead
Dubai: Gulf stock markets were trading deep in the red on Sunday, with the region’s largest bourse – Saudi Arabia’s Tadawul – leading declines, after the kingdom warned of a much harsher COVID-19 hit to its economy. Dubai Financial Market (DFM) index dropped 3.96 per cent to 1,946 points, while Abu Dhabi Securities Exchange (ADX) fell 2.95 per cent to 4,105 points, with losses exasperating minutes after Tadawul plunged over 7 per cent. Saudi Arabia will need to take “painful” measures and look for deep spending cuts as the kingdom faces a double crisis caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the meltdown in global oil markets, its finance minister said on Saturday. Investors elsewhere in the GCC were worried that more countries in the region will follow suit in implementing stringent measures against the growing virus outbreak in the days and months ahead. “The kingdom hasn’t witnessed a crisis of this severity over the past decades,” Mohammed Al-Jadaan said in an interview with Saudi television station Al-Arabiya. “It’s very important that we take very tough and strong measures, and they might be painful, but they’re necessary.” Investors were particularly jolted as the stance taken by the kingdom was a sharp reversal from just over a week ago. The finance minister's remarks then were reassuring, when he reiterated the kingdom had been through similar crises before, “maybe even worse,” and would pass through this one as it had others. In contrast, on Saturday, Al-Jadaan said that government spending would need to be “cut deeply”, while adding that the list of budget items that will be affected is “very long”. Some programs under the kingdom’s “Vision 2030” -- Prince Mohammed bin Salman’s economic diversification plan -- will also face spending cuts as their implementation is delayed by measures taken to slow the spread of the virus, Al-Jadaan warned. Worsening sentiment in the region were more downward rating revisions. International ratings agency Moody's Investors Service on Thursday revised Saudi Arabia's outlook to negative on Saturday. The world’s largest oil exporter is bracing for a bigger hit from the oil price rout and production cuts negotiated by OPEC and its allies. The price of Brent crude crashed by more than 50 per cent in March, contributing to a record $27 billion monthly drop in the Saudi central bank’s net foreign assets. The Saudi benchmark plunged as much as 7 per cent in early Sunday trading, while Boursa Kuwait dropped 1.5 per cent and the Qatar Stock Exchange slipped nearly a per cent. The indices in Bahrain and Muscat were trading relatively flat on Sunday. The ratings agency also changed the outlook for Dubai’s largest listed developer Emaar Properties and its unit Emaar Malls Group to negative from stable, citing the impact of the coronavirus pandemic. Last month, S&P Global Ratings placed Emaar Properties and Emaar Malls on creditwatch with negative implications. The Dubai real estate sector has for years struggled with oversupply and sluggish economic growth. On the DFM, Emaar Properties slumped 4.7 per cent in early trade, with its spin-offs Emaar Development and Emaar Malls recording similar sized losses as well. Also among top decliners were Dubai Islamic Bank which dropped over 4 per cent. On the Abu Dhabi bourse, lenders and real estate firms followed suit, with ADIB dropping 4.4 per cent and Aldar Properties down 4.9 per cent. Lender ADCB fell 2.2 per cent. Markets were also weighed by renewed wider geopolitical concerns, particularly as the trade relations between the US and China were back in the spot light, worsening after President Donald Trump threatened new tariffs on China.
3 May 07:47 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/business/markets/gcc-markets-in-red-as-saudi-arabia-warns-of-painful-times-ahead-1.71302402Rating: 3.21
Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Says Real Impact of COVID-19 Expected in Second Quarter of 2020
BEIRUT (Sputnik) - The full impact of the coronavirus pandemic will reveal itself in the second quarter of this year, Saudi Arabia’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said in an interview with local media. According to Al-Jadaan, Saudi Arabia is considering a wide range of "strict and painful measures" to cut spending. Al-Jadaan said that Saudi Arabia, as well as the world as a whole, will not return to what it was like before the coronavirus pandemic and suggested that economic processes will undergo significant changes. In April, Saudi Arabian Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said that his country was dealing with the COVID-19 pandemic and the resulting significant drop in oil revenues from a position of strength, since serious reforms had been carried out in the country in recent years, while also indicating that Saudi Arabia had enough of a buffer to deal with the low prices. As of 2 May, 3,272,202 people have contracted the novel coronavirus, with over 230,000 fatalities registered, the World Health Organization count shows. According to data from the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Centre, more than 3.4 million COVID-19 cases have been confirmed globally since the start of the pandemic in December of last year. The global death toll from the viral disease stands at over 242,000.
2 May 22:01 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/middleeast/202005021079176353-saudi-arabian-finance-minister-says-real-impact-of-covid-19-expected-in-second-quarter-of-2020/Rating: 3.96
Saudi to take 'strict, painful' measures to deal with coronavirus impact
RIYADH — Saudi Arabia will take strict and painful measures to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, the finance minister said on Saturday, adding that “all options for dealing with the crisis are open.” “We must reduce budget expenditures sharply,” Mohammed al-Jadaan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV, adding that the impact of the new coronavirus on Saudi Arabia’s state finances will appear from the second quarter of the year. “Saudi finances need more discipline and the road ahead is long,” he said. One measure would be to slow down government projects, including mega-projects, to reduce spending, he said. The world’s largest oil exporter is suffering from historically low oil prices, while measures to fight the coronavirus are likely to curb the pace and scale of economic reforms launched by Crown Price Mohammed bin Salman. Saudi Arabia’s central bank foreign exchange reserves fell in March at their fastest rate in at least 20 years, hitting their lowest level since 2011, while the kingdom slipped to a $9 billion budget deficit in the first quarter as oil revenue collapsed. Jadaan said last month that Riyadh could borrow $26 billion more this year while it would draw down up to $32 billion from its foreign reserves to finance the deficit. On Saturday Jadaan told Al Arabiya Saudi Arabia had used some revenue from investments to plug the deficit, and that the crisis presented investment opportunities. Jadaan noted the country had introduced stimulus measures aimed at preserving jobs in the private sector and safeguarding the provision of basic services. (Reporting by Lisa Barrington, Marwa Rashad, Ahmed Tolba and Samar Hassan; Writing by Lisa Barrington; Editing by Nick Macfie, David Holmes and Daniel Wallis)
2 May 20:42 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/saudi-to-take-strict-painful-measures-to-deal-with-coronavirus-impact-3Rating: 0.94
Saudi Arabia announces 8 coronavirus deaths
JEDDAH: The economic challenges of the coronavirus pandemic are great and neither Saudi Arabia nor the world will be the same when it is over, the Kingdom’s Finance Minister Mohammed Al-Jadaan said on Saturday. Saudi Arabia would take strict and painful measures to deal with the impact, and “all options for dealing with the crisis are open,” the minister said in an interview with Al-Arabiya TV. “We must reduce budget expenditures sharply,” Al-Jadaan said, and some government projects may be slowed down to reduce expenditure. Al-Jadaan said that citizens’ welfare and their benefit is top priority, but that some of the action taken will be “painful, but for everyone’s benefit.” “Current actions taken to date to cut spending are not enough, and Saudi public finances will need more control and the journey ahead is long. This section contains relevant reference points, placed in (Opinion field) “Expenses must be reduced to cope with the fallout from coronavirus and we need to be careful not to increase the cost of debt.” “We are currently reviewing a set of initiatives to support the economy, the private sector and the health sector. Revenues have declined dramatically and are expected to continue to decline over this year and possibly until the beginning of the next fiscal year. Therefore we must be prepared, economically and financially, to confront this pandemic. “We have to plan for the worst, take matters seriously and shrink … in order to continue providing citizens and expats with services, and manage the government.” Al-Jadaan said that the Kingdom released economic support packages valuing SAR180 billion ($47.8 billion), but that it had used up SAR1 trillion from its reserves over the past four years. “The real impact of the coronavirus pandemic will appear in the second quarter, and we have to face a very big revenue shock,” he said. “We must tighten the belt and come out of the crisis strong.” The number of virus cases in the Kingdom reached 25,459 on Saturday, an increase of 1,362, and the death toll rose by seven to 176. Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 3.5 million people, and killed more than 240,000.
2 May 17:23 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668646/saudi-arabiaRating: 1.72
UK COVID-19 death toll up 315 to 28,446
3 May 17:37
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UK COVID-19 death toll up 315 to 28,446
LONDON (Reuters) - The United Kingdom’s death toll from COVID-19 rose to 28,446, an increase of 315, according to latest data on Sunday that includes hospitals and other settings like nursing homes. The data, produced by the official Public Health England and its counterparts in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland, records the number of deaths in a 24-hour reporting period. Earlier data on Sunday published by NHS England, the body which leads the state-funded health system in Britain’s most populous nation, said there had been 327 deaths reported by hospitals in England in the reporting period. The discrepancy between these two totals is because the NHS England figure records the date when deaths are reported by hospitals, which is not necessarily the same day they occurred. The UK-wide figures collated by Public Health England are based on when deaths occurred rather than when they were reported by hospitals.
3 May 17:37 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-toll-idUSKBN22F0NJRating: 4.04
Another 358 dead from coronavirus in hospitals across UK
The UK’s coronavirus death toll has risen to at least 28,321 after 358 more people died in hospitals. The toll was updated after England recorded another 327 deaths in hospitals, Wales another 14, Scotland another 12 and Northern Ireland another five. The UK’s number will rise even further later today, when deaths in care homes and the wider community are announced. Previously, the Department of Health only included deaths in hospitals in their daily figures. The government began including care home deaths in their figures earlier this week, amid concern it reflected a significant hidden death toll. The UK now has the third highest number of recorded deaths in the world after the USA and Italy. This has been partly blamed on a slow approach to testing and tracing, something which the government aims to change with a new app being tested this week on the Isle of Wight. Transport secretary Grant Shapps said: ‘The idea is that we will encourage as many people to take this up as possible. This is going to be a huge national effort and we need for this to work 50-60% of people to be using this app. ‘Not everybody has a smartphone, and I appreciate that for various reasons not everybody will download it but it will be the best possible way to help the NHS.’ He stressed the app would be completely confidential. The app will be central to the Government’s efforts in slowing the spread of coronavirus and will involve alerting people who have been in contact with an infected person and asking them to self-isolate. Meanwhile, the Office for National Statistics has released an interactive map showing where deaths from coronavirus have taken place. The highest concentration of deaths is in London, but there were also hotspots in Manchester, Liverpool and other major cities. More follows. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
3 May 14:12 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/another-346-dead-coronavirus-hospitals-across-uk-12648237/Rating: 2.18
UK coronavirus death toll in hospitals slows to 358 paving way to ease lockdown
A further 358 people have died of coronavirus in UK hospitals as the rate of fatalities continues to fall. In England, 327 more people lost their lives, while there were 14 deaths in Wales, 12 in Scotland and five in Northern Ireland. The number of deaths, now almost a third of the highest daily peaks reported in hospitals, will further fuel calls to ease lockdown measures. The 327 patients who died were aged between 46 and 101 years old, with 17 of them - aged between 47 and 97 years old - having had no known underlying health condition. Of the new deaths in England, 56 occurred on May 2, 125 on May 1 and 43 occurred on April 30, with the remainder taking place throughout April and March. Sadly the true number of lives lost to Covid-19 will be higher when the Department of Health confirms it later, as the above total does not include those who died in care homes, hospices and private addresses. The official UK tally yesterday stood at 28,131. The latest figures come after 469 deaths were announced yesterday, with 423 on Friday, 482 on Thursday, 610 on Wednesday and 653 on Tuesday. Do you have a coronavirus story to tell? Email webnews@mirror.com As the daily death toll comes close to hitting a third of its previous peak, moves to reopen parts of the country are likely to be made. Many restaurants have started to fire up their ovens again to offer delivery only, including Burger King and Nandos. DIY stores such as B&Q and Homebase have started to let the public back in as well. Beyond movement in amongst private enterprises however, the lockdown rules remain the same as they did when government mandated social distancing was introduced at the end of March. Boris Johnson is expected to lay out a road map for the country's exit from lockdown on Thursday. Ministers are anxious that a second peak could lead to restrictions being put back in place if the lockdown is eased too quickly. It was announced today that the Government is considering placing people who fly into the country in quarantine. Grant Shapps, the Transport Secretary, said he would need to ensure the UK is not “importing” coronavirus once the infection rate here begins to come down. Asked if travellers to the UK will be asked to go into quarantine, he told the BBC’s Andrew Marr Show: “I think it’s important as we’re seeing the numbers decrease and the R rate we hope decrease… that we do ensure that the sacrifices in the sense of social distancing that we’re asking the British people to make are matched by anybody who comes to this country. “So I am actively looking at these issues right now so that when we have infection rates within the country under control, we’re not importing.” On Friday research by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) showed that the rate of fatalities in poorer areas is double that of their more affluent counterparts. Nick Stripe, head of health analysis at the Office for National Statistics (ONS) said: “People living in more deprived areas have experienced Covid-19 mortality rates more than double those living in less deprived areas. "General mortality rates are normally higher in more deprived areas, but so far Covid-19 appears to be taking them higher still.” According to reports, the Prime Minister is considering allowing Brits to return to work at the end of the month. But it is likely that those who can work from home will still be required to do so, as the government seeks to avoid a spike in the number of infections. Germany has seen a rise in cases since lifting its social distancing measures, prompting concerns that strict rules could be reintroduced to bring the outbreak back under control.
3 May 13:24 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-hospitals-21966489Rating: 2.39
UK coronavirus death toll rises by 315 to 28,446
A further 315 people have died in the UK after contracting coronavirus. As of 5pm on Saturday, a total of 28,446 people had died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community after testing positive for Covid-19, according to the Department of Health. The number of deaths on Sunday were considerably down from the previous day, when 621 more were confirmed. The figure means the UK is closing the number of deaths linked to coronavirus in Italy, which stands at 28,884, the highest in Europe. In England, the number of people who have died with the respiratory disease has risen by 327 to 21,180. These figures are calculated over a different time period, resulting in in the higher number than the total. In Northern Ireland, five more people have died, bringing the total number of deaths to 381. A further 14 people have died in Wales, taking the total number of deaths there to 983, Public Health Wales said. Scotland deaths rose by 12 to 1,571, the health minister said. It was also confirmed that there had been a significant drop in testing carried out on Saturday, with just 76,496 carried out, well below the 100,000 daily target. The number of people in hospital being treated for coronavirus is also dropping, with London now said to be past the peak. Asked when the peak of the virus was, Professor Steve Powis said: “I think that’s a question that can’t really be precisely answered.” He explained: “There’s been a series of peaks – there’s been peaks in deaths, peaks in hospital admissions and peaks have occurred at different times around the country because different regions of the country have been in different stages.” However he added: “I think broadly we saw that plateauing of a variety of measures around the middle of April.” He also said that Government advisers now believe the R-rate to be “around 0.7”. During the Government's daily briefing, Chris in London asked what lessons have been learned for future waves of the virus and how the government will ensure there are enough PPE and ventilators in the future. NHS England’s national medical director Professor Powis said: “What I learned is that the NHS and the great staff of the NHS, when given that challenge, can very, very rapidly put in place the extra capacity that is required. “And they have done that magnificently, and at no point during the surge of cases in April was the NHS in a position where it was not able to give the treatment to patients with Covid-19 that they needed. “That is a great testament to how well the NHS has been able to cope. “And I think then the lesson going forward is one, that we can do that, but two, we need to keep that capacity in place. “But we need to keep it in place at the same time as standing up all the other services that the NHS is providing. “They’re the ones we’ve always provided, the emergency services, but some of the services that we’ve had to stand down during April, so elective surgery for instance. “So my lesson is that the NHS is incredibly flexible. It can respond to this challenge, and it will respond to the challenge going forward into the months ahead.”
3 May 15:35 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-03/uk-coronavirus-death-toll-rises-by-315-to-28-446/Rating: 0.88
REGIONAL BREAKDOWN: Further 26 new cases confirmed in Tayside and Fife as national total rises to 12,097
Sign up for our daily Politics briefing for political exclusives, analysis and debate.Thank you for signing up to our Politics newsletter.Something went wrong - please try again later.Sign Up According to the latest update on the NHS Scotland Open Data website, there have now been 1,410 confirmed cases across Tayside and 776 in Fife. That is an increase of 18 across Tayside and eight in Fife in the past 24 hours. The figures also show there are currently 123 in hospital in Fife with confirmed or suspected Covid-19, and six in intensive care. There are 88 people receiving hospital treatment across Tayside. Across Scotland, a total of 60,295 people have been tested. Of these, 48,198 were confirmed negative and 12,097 tested positive. The latest figures also show Scotland’s death toll has risen to 1,571. Scottish Health Secretary Jeane Freeman announced that 12,097 people have now tested positive for the virus in Scotland, a rise of 170 from 11,927 the day before. Speaking at the Scottish Government’s press briefing, Ms Freeman also said that there are 1,666 people in hospital with confirmed or suspected Covid-19. Of these patients, 99 patients were in intensive care, down nine since Saturday. Ms Freeman pointed out that it was the first time the number of people in intensive care had fallen below 100 since March 29. On the drop in the number of coronavirus patients in intensive care, Ms Freeman said: “It’s obviously very encouraging news. “It does show that the restrictions are working, but it also underlines the reasons why we need to stick to them. “So I want to thank all of you for the sacrifices you have made and I know will continue to make. I know it is not easy, but I hope you are beginning to see – as we do – that those sacrifices are beginning to show results.” 3 months free access to our web and ePaper pack including Premium articles. SubscribeTags May 4 2020 May 4 2020 May 4 2020
3 May 15:13 • The Courier • https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/scottish-politics/1306108/regional-breakdown-further-26-new-cases-confirmed-in-tayside-and-fife-as-national-total-rises-to-12097/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: 28 more deaths in Black Country, Staffordshire and Birmingham
The figures announced today take the total number of Covid-19 deaths in the region's hospitals to 1,954. A further 315 people have died in hospitals, care homes and the wider community in the UK, bringing the total to 28,446. Among the deaths announced in hospitals on Sunday were seven at the Walsall Healthcare NHS Trust, which runs Walsall Manor Hospital, taking the total to 170. Four more deaths were confirmed at the Royal Wolverhampton NHS Trust, which runs New Cross Hospital and Cannock Chase Hospital, taking the total to 243. At the Sandwell and West Birmingham NHS Trust, which runs Sandwell and City hospitals, a further three deaths were announced – bringing the total to 300. Three more deaths were announced at the University Hospitals of North Midlands Trust, which runs Stafford's County Hospital and Royal Stoke University Hospital, taking the total to 202. No new deaths were announced at the Dudley Group NHS Foundation Trust, which runs Russells Hall Hospital, where the total remains 221. A total of 11 more people have been confirmed to have died at the University Hospitals Birmingham NHS Foundation Trust, taking the total to 778. The trust runs Queen Elizabeth, Heartlands, Good Hope and Solihull hospitals. And seven new deaths were announced in Worcestershire, where the total deaths at the county's hospitals has risen to 230. As well as including patients who tested positive for the disease, the hospital statistics now also include patients who died in hospital and hadn't tested positive but for whom Covid-19 is documented as a direct or underlying cause of death on their death certificate. This included two deaths in the Midlands – but it not known where in the Midlands these deaths took place. A spokesman from NHS England said: "A further 327 people, who tested positive for coronavirus (Covid-19) have died, bringing the total number of confirmed reported deaths in hospitals in England to 21,180. "Patients were aged between 46 and 101 years old. Of those, 17 of the 327 patients – aged between 47 and 97 years old – had no known underlying health condition. "Their families have been informed." Some deaths are not included in the statistics for several days due to testing or family members being informed. Sunday's figures included patients who died between March 28 and May 2.
3 May 13:40 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/health/coronavirus-covid19/2020/05/03/28-more-coronavirus-deaths-in-black-country-staffordshire-and-birmingham/Rating: 0.30
Covid-19 outbreak: Confirmed coronavirus infections in Greece at 2,626; fatalities reach 144
The number of confirmed coronavirus infections role by six on Sunday, bringing the total to 2,626 in a population of roughly 11 million, while one more related fatality was cited. The death toll in the country attributed to the Covid-19 reached 144. The average age of the victims was 75, while 92.4 percent either suffered from an underlying condition or were above the age of 70. Tests in the country neared 80,000. As of Sunday, 37 people remained in life support in ICUs. Of this sample, the average age is 67, while 78 people once in hospitalized in ICUs have recovered.
3 May 11:24 • naftemporiki.gr • https://www.naftemporiki.gr/story/1595387/covid-19-outbreak-confirmed-coronavirus-infections-in-greece-at-2626-fatalities-reach-144Rating: 2.56
Mumbai records highest deaths in a day so far
Mumbai recorded 547 new COVID-19 cases on Saturday, taking the tally to 8,359. The city also recorded the highest number of deaths (27) in a single day, pushing the death toll to 322. The financial capital is a hotspot contributing nearly 68% cases and 62% deaths to the State tally. The fatality rate in the city currently stands at 3.8%. The deaths recorded on Saturday included 20 men and seven women. Civic officials said 20 deceased had co-morbid conditions like diabetes, hypertension and asthma. While 15 deceased were in the age group of 40 to 60 years, 12 were above the age of 60. “We have reported a few deaths in the younger age ground below 40. However, we have found that a majority in the younger age group also had some underlying conditions,” said Dr. Daksha Shah, deputy executive health officer, Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC). The city’s last highest single-day death toll was 26, recorded on April 29. The number of deaths has doubled in a span of 10 days. The BMC has now concentrated its efforts on house to house surveillance to detect cases from the community as early as possible. While it had earlier relied on projections that 10% of total positive patients will require hospitals beds, the actual requirement is seen at 30% to 40%. Manisha Mhaiskar, principal secretary on special deputation to the BMC, said patients find a hospital bed more reassuring. “Factoring this, hospital beds augmentation is being reassessed,” Ms. Mhasikar said, adding that Nair hospital will have 935 beds ready by next week and 388 have already been commissioned. Similar measures were on at other hospitals. On the other hand, the civic body will also start allowing asymptomatic patients without any co-morbid conditions to remain in home isolation. “This will be decided on a case to case basis depending on if the patient has a separate room and there is enough space for the family to maintain distancing. Such patients will be allowed to follow up with their own physicians,” Dr. Shah said, adding that the Centre has drawn out detailed guidelines for home quarantining patients, which will have to be followed stringently. On Saturday, 137 patients went home after recovery from various city hospitals. In all, 1,704 patients have recovered in Mumbai so far.
2 May 20:15 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/mumbai-records-highest-deaths-in-a-day-so-far/article31492481.eceRating: 0.30
Coronavirus deaths in Merseyside appear to be slowing down
Four new coronavirus death have been recorded at Liverpool hospitals today according the latest daily update from NHS England. Liverpool University Hospitals Trust, which runs The Royal, Aintree and Broadgreen hospitals, had the largest number of new coronavirus deaths across the region. The new deaths mean the Trust has now recorded a total of 318 deaths from Covid-19. The next highest increase came in Halton and Warrington where an additional two Covid-19 deaths were recorded taking the Trust's total coronavirus deaths to 88. Increases were also recorded at St Helens and Knowsley NHS Trust, Wirral University Teaching Hospitals NHS Trust, and Southport and Ormskirk NHS Trust with each reporting one more Covid-19 death each. The total coronavirus deaths at each trust stands at 152, 167, and 115 respectively. At the smaller Liverpool hospitals trusts, including Liverpool Heart and Chest Hospital and the Walton Centre, no further deaths were recorded today and their totals still stand at 16 and five. Alder Hey Children's Hospital also recorded no further deaths. Mersey Care mental Health Trust which announced its first three virus deaths earlier this week, did not record any further deaths. Nationally, 425 new coronavirus deaths were announced by NHS England today with 370 of those in England's hospitals. This takes the total number of confirmed deaths to 23,788 across the UK. Honour our NHS heroes - from the surgeons to the porters, the nurses to the catering staff, the physios to the midwives, and the paramedics to the GPs - by helping to create a map of gratitude from every corner of Britain. We need our health workers now more than ever as they work superhuman hours and go above and beyond to protect us. Click HERE to drop a heart or a message on the map, and show you appreciate the efforts undertaken daily in the NHS. You can now also make a donation to NHS Heroes Help From Home, starting from £2.. As a thank you, everyone who donates will be entered into the weekly NHS Heroes Raffle. Click HERE to donate or to find out more - or click the link from within the Thanks a Million map. Thanks a million, NHS workers - we love you. Later today the Department for Health and Social Care will announce the new total coronavirus death figures including deaths from care settings alongside hospital deaths. It comes after Health Secretary Matt Hancock said his target for 100,000 Covid-19 tests per day had been met, which he hailed as an "incredible achievement". Speaking on the BBC Today Programme on Saturday morning, Professor John Newton, the national coordinator for coronavirus testing defended the government after journalists pointed out that tens of thousands of tests included in the total had simply been dispatched to people's homes and not processed. Professor Newton said: "This is a big number however you count it. All the tests are only counted once and you can count the tests when they go out or when they come back it, so whatever way you do it we still beat the target. "These are the sort of discussions you get when politicians set targets, but what we're focusing on is delivering what people really need. "The home delivery kits are essential to support contract tracing. The home kits are very popular and they're what people ask for and they are an extremely important part of the programme. "We make no apology for counting those and being proud of the fact that we've built up that capacity."
2 May 14:50 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/news/liverpool-news/coronavirus-deaths-merseyside-appear-slowing-18189725Rating: 0.83
Coronavirus in Scotland: 44 more die from virus as death toll hits 1,559
A total of 1,559 people have now died of coronavirus in hospital in Scotland, an increase of 44 deaths from Friday. The number of positive confirmed cases of Covid-19 have risen to 11, 927 which is an increase of 273. Latest figures also show that 108 Scots who currently have confirmed or suspected coronavirus are in intensive care units which is a decrease of two. And confirmed or suspected cases in hospitals now stands at 1,674 which is a decrease of 135. The latest statistics were announced by the Scottish Government online today. It comes as a YouGov poll showed that Nicola Sturgeon has the backing of most Scots over how she has handled the pandemic. The findings show three quarters of the public, including Labour and Tory voters, think the SNP Government is doing well. Pollsters YouGov also found the SNP are still by far the most dominant political force in Scotland a year from the next Holyrood election. The coronavirus infection rate in Scotland needs to be "substantially lower" than it currently is before pupils can return to schools, according to the Deputy First Minister. John Swinney told STV's Scotland Tonight programme that a careful balance needs to be struck for pupils being allowed to return - which would also have a knock-on effect on their parents returning to work. A total of 11 Scots who worked for the NHS or the social care sector have died from coronavirus since the start of the pandemic.
2 May 14:20 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/coronavirus-scotland-44-more-die-21962841Rating: 0.35
Coronavirus: US anti-lockdown protesters without masks ‘devastatingly worrisome’
3 May 18:33
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Weighted average IN: 2.403494209075259
Coronavirus: US anti-lockdown protesters without masks ‘devastatingly worrisome’
Dr Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force co-ordinator, said scenes of anti-lockdown protesters gathering without masks were “devastatingly worrisome” as governors come under increasing pressure to lift coronavirus restrictions. Protests broke out last week across several states, including Kentucky, Florida and Oregon, as people demanded the reopening of businesses and leisure facilities closed by governors in an attempt to prevent the spread of coronavirus. In Michigan, hundreds of protesters stormed the state capitol building, many without wearing masks or practising social distancing. When asked about such scenes on Fox News on Sunday, Dr Birx said people risked infecting their loved ones. “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a co-morbid condition, and they have a serious or unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives,” said Dr Birx. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” Gretchen Whitmer, the Democratic governor of Michigan, hit out at protesters carrying weapons, confederate flags and, in at least one case, a swastika as representing the “worst racism and awful parts” of US history. “We have to listen to the epidemiologists and health experts, and displays like the one we saw at our capitol is not representative of who we are,” said Ms Whitmer, who has insisted lockdown conditions must stay in place for the time being. The protests have continued amid diverging responses from local governments across the US, with some states extending lockdown conditions even as others ease restrictions and encourage a return to normality. In Ohio, which is set to launch a phased reopening this week, people will not be required to wear face masks into stores after governor Mike DeWine withdrew his initial order that shoppers wore masks. “People were not going to accept the government telling them what to do,” said Mr DeWine on ABC News on Sunday. “And so we put out dozens and dozens of orders, that was one that it just went too far.” In New Jersey, which has enforced strict lockdown conditions but reopened some parks and golf courses this weekend, governor Phil Murphy said people were still obeying social distancing rules. Mr Murphy also expressed disappointment over protesters gathering without obeying those restrictions. “I don’t begrudge their right to protest,” he said on Fox News on Sunday. “My biggest issue is they were congregating without face masks.” Some states have more aggressively relaxed coronavirus restrictions. In Georgia, Republican governor Brian Kemp has said gyms, hair salons and tattoo parlours can all reopen, leaving small business owners with tough decisions to make about whether to stay closed or not. When asked if some states were reopening too soon, Dr Birx said the coronavirus task force and federal guidelines made it “very clear to the American people” what they should do to protect themselves. “You need to continue to social distance. You need to continue to practice scrupulous handwashing. You need to know where your hands and where they have been and what they have touched and make sure you don’t touch your face,” said Dr Birx. – Copyright The Financial Times Limited 2020
3 May 18:33 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/news/world/asia-pacific/coronavirus-us-anti-lockdown-protesters-without-masks-devastatingly-worrisome-1.4244147Rating: 1.99
'It's Devastatingly Worrisome.' Dr. Birx Criticizes Anti-Lockdown Protesters in Michigan
On Sunday, Dr. Deborah Birx, the White House coronavirus task force coordinator, warned anti-lockdown protesters who are not adhering to federal guidelines that their actions are unsafe from a public health standpoint. Birx was asked by host Chris Wallace on Fox News Sunday about “big crowds of protesters that went into the Michigan state capitol without masks, massing together in close quarters.” “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally, because if they go home and infect their grandmother or their grandfather who has a co-morbid condition and they have a serious or an unfortunate outcome they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” Birx said. “So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent. Birx’s comments on the Michigan protests appeared to divert from those made by President Donald Trump who had previously seemed to tweet in support of the demonstrations on Friday. Birx on Sunday also addressed whether it was safe for people to flock to beaches, as well as whether states should be opening up beauty salons and spas. On beaches, she said, “if it’s done with social distancing, yes. If it’s not done with social distancing, no.” Wallace remarked that visuals in California showed crowds on beaches clearly not adhering to social distancing. Even if both parties at beauty salons and spas are wearing masks, it’s not enough to guarantee safety, Birx noted. “It’s safer but we’ve made it clear that that is not a good Phase One activity and I think the President’s made that clear when he discussed the case in Georgia,” she said, referring to the federal guidelines for reopening local and regional economies. Some states, including Georgia, have allowed non-essential businesses like beauty salons and spas, to reopen. Trump has said he told Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp that he “disagrees strongly” with the decision, noting that “it’s just too soon” to be opening up spas, beauty salons, tattoo parlors and barber shops in Phase One.
3 May 17:38 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/devastatingly-worrisome-dr-birx-criticizes-173848014.htmlRating: 0.30
Deborah Birx calls protesters without masks ‘devastatingly worrisome’
Dr. Deborah Birx said protesters who gather without wearing masks and not practicing social distancing at rallies against states’ lockdown regulations are “devastatingly worrisome” because they could spread the coronavirus to at-risk family members. Birx, a member of the White House coronavirus task force, was asked by host Chris Wallace on “Fox News Sunday” about crowds that gathered at Michigan’s state capitol from a “public health standpoint.” “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and, in fact, their grandmother or their grandfather who has a co-morbid condition and they have a serious or a very or an unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of our lives,” she responded. “So we need to protect each other at the same time we’re voicing our discontent.” Demonstrations against governors’ stay-at-home orders have ramped up in the past weeks as the economic effects caused by the pandemic worsen and more Americans apply for unemployment benefits. Crowds of protesters — many carrying guns — showed up at the statehouse in Michigan on Thursday. President Trump last week called on Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer to “make a deal” with the protesters. Other pockets of unrest broke out in Wisconsin, Arizona and California. Birx was also asked about whether it was safe for businesses like nail salons, gyms and spas to reopen in states that have loosened lockdown restrictions. She said it was safer if both parties wore masks, “but we’ve made it clear that that is not a good phase one activity, and I think the president’s made that clear when he discussed the case in Georgia.” President Trump last month said he disagreed “strongly” with Georgia Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to begin reopening businesses before meeting the criteria set out for phase one openings. The guidelines for phase one require a state to show that the number of coronavirus cases has been declining for 14 straight days. No state has yet met that qualification.
3 May 14:58 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/birx-calls-protesters-without-masks-devastatingly-worrisome/Rating: 2.55
Protesters rally against Oregon’s coronavirus stay-at-home order: ‘It’s our right to work’
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. Hundreds of protesters in Oregon rallied Saturday against Gov. Kate Brown’s stay-at-home order meant to curb the spread of coronavirus, joining the ranks of Americans across the country calling to reopen the economy. Oregon has been under lockdown since March 23, shuttering most businesses and imposing strict social distancing measures. The effective pause on the economy has impacted the livelihoods of many Americans, with 330,000 Oregonians filing for unemployment since mid-March. CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Outside the Capitol in Salem, Manulani Lopes told FOX12 Oregon her family was “plowing through our savings” and inquired how they were “going to put food on the table.” “It is our right to work, we have that right to work,” said Lopes, who lives in Troutdale, a city about 17 miles east of Portland. “Americans are smart. We know how to take care of ourselves and our families. We will take precautions.” Most protesters did not wear face masks. Many held signs reading “We Are ALL Essential” and “Reopen Oregon.” Others waved American flags and Trump campaign signs. A group of health care workers countered with a demonstration at the top of the Capitol steps, urging a phased plan to ease the state’s social distancing requirements, Oregon Live reported. For over a month, businesses have remained closed under Brown’s orders, with schools adopting distance learning programs, and some parks and campgrounds remaining off-limits. AMERICA REOPEN FOR BUSINESS: STATES INCLUDING TEXAS, OHIO, ILLINOIS BEGIN RELAXING CORONAVIRUS LOCKDOWN RULES On Friday, Brown extended Oregon’s state of emergency to July 6, which gives the governor authority to maintain the stay-at-home order, financial stimulus measures, and other orders she’s issued so far, the paper reported. Brown can end the extension earlier if deemed appropriate. Brown also unveiled new plans for the reopening the state safely by expanding testing and contact tracing to contain any outbreaks before it spreads through the community. “As we look to reopen Oregon, it’s critical we understand the prevalence of COVID-19 across the state and use science and data to ensure we can safely take steps forward," Brown, a Democrat, said in a news release. While it’s unclear when a statewide reopening will happen, certain counties with few or no cases of the virus may present Brown with plans for lifting restrictions and, if approved, could begin to gradually reopen on May 15, according to FOX 12. Adam Ellifritt, spokesman for Oregon Uniting for Liberty, which organized Saturday's protest, told Fox News last week that Brown’s virus response is government overreach. “She's not following federal guidelines. She's following her own guidelines," he said. "I think she has massively failed to a great extent in the state of Oregon, but she was failing prior to coronavirus in the policies that she set up.” While Ellifritt said he understands the severity of the pandemic and does not expect a return to normal anytime soon, he believes there is a “cautious way forward that's realistic” for reopening the state. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Oregon reported 57 new coronavirus cases on Saturday for a statewide total of 2,635, while five new deaths brought the death toll to 109, according to state health department data. Fox News' Tenny Sahakian contributed to this report.
3 May 13:26 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/us/oregon-protesters-coronavirus-stay-at-home-order-lockdownRating: 3.32
WH's Birx: Lockdown Protesters in Big Crowds, Not Wearing Masks 'Devastatingly Worrisome'
White House coronavirus task force coordinator Deborah Birx said on this week’s broadcast of “Fox News Sunday” that it was “devastatingly worrisome” lockdown protesters were not wearing masks and practice social distancing. When asked about people on beaches, Brix said, “If it’s done with social distancing, yes. If it’s not done with social distancing, no.” Host Chris Wallace said, “Big crowds of protesters that went into the Michigan state capitol without masks massing together in close quarters, I’m not asking you about the First Amendment right to protest that of course they have, but from a public health standpoint, is that safe?” Brix said, “It’s devastatingly worrisome to me personally because if they go home and they infect their grandmother or grandfather who has a comorbid condition, and they have a serious or very unfortunate outcome, they will feel guilty for the rest of their lives. So we need to protect each other at the same time as we’re voicing our discontent.” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
3 May 15:36 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/05/03/whs-birx-lockdown-protesters-in-big-crowds-not-wearing-masks-devastatingly-worrisome/Rating: 0.30
Hundreds demonstrate in Oregon against stay-at-home order
SALEM, Ore. (AP) — Hundreds of people opposed to Oregon’s stay-at-home order demonstrated at the state Capitol on Saturday as health officials announced dozens more cases and five additional deaths from COVID-19. Most of the protesters did not wear face masks, but they waved American flags and Trump campaign signs in the rain. Other signs read “Reopen Oregon” and “Let me earn a living.” A group of healthcare workers demonstrated at the top of the Capitol steps, urging a phased plan to ease the state’s social distancing requirements. Most of the other protesters ignored them. Public health officials say stay-at-home orders are essential for slowing the transmission of the novel coronavirus. But protest organizers told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they view the social distancing mandates issued by Gov. Kate Brown as government overreach. Since mid-March, Brown’s orders have closed many businesses, put some parks and campgrounds off limits, and required public schools to adopt distance learning programs. “You can’t just place citizens under house arrest and enforce those orders,” event organizer Adam Ellifritt said. Advertising Nods to conspiracy theories and fringe websites peppered the crowd, with one attendee accusing the U.S. government and pharmaceutical companies of preparing a “mass vaccination campaign.” Though governors generally have broad powers during declared emergencies, speakers claimed Brown lacked the authority to issue orders she laid out in mid-March banning groups of 25 or more from gathering if they could not keep six feet apart at all times and, later, shuttering public schools across the state. Oregon Health Authority officials reported 57 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 2,635, with five additional deaths, bringing the total toll to 109. The new deaths were a 64-year-old man from Polk County, two men ages 70 and 75 from Multnomah County, a 91-year-old woman from Marion County and a 76-year-old woman from Umatilla County. Each had underlying medical conditions. For most people, the coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms, such as fever and cough, that clear up in two to three weeks. But it can cause more severe illness, including pneumonia, for some people, especially older adults and people with existing health problems. The Associated Press
2 May 16:26 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/seattle-news/northwest/hundreds-demonstrate-in-oregon-against-stay-at-home-order/Rating: 0.74
Hundreds demonstrate in Oregon against stay-at-home order
SALEM, Ore. (AP) - Hundreds of people opposed to Oregon’s stay-at-home order demonstrated at the state Capitol on Saturday as health officials announced dozens more cases and five additional deaths from COVID-19. Most of the protesters did not wear face masks, but they waved American flags and Trump campaign signs in the rain. Other signs read “Reopen Oregon” and “Let me earn a living.” A group of healthcare workers demonstrated at the top of the Capitol steps, urging a phased plan to ease the state’s social distancing requirements. Most of the other protesters ignored them. Public health officials say stay-at-home orders are essential for slowing the transmission of the novel coronavirus. But protest organizers told The Oregonian/OregonLive that they view the social distancing mandates issued by Gov. Kate Brown as government overreach. Since mid-March, Brown’s orders have closed many businesses, put some parks and campgrounds off limits, and required public schools to adopt distance learning programs. “You can’t just place citizens under house arrest and enforce those orders,” event organizer Adam Ellifritt said. Nods to conspiracy theories and fringe websites peppered the crowd, with one attendee accusing the U.S. government and pharmaceutical companies of preparing a “mass vaccination campaign.” Though governors generally have broad powers during declared emergencies, speakers claimed Brown lacked the authority to issue orders she laid out in mid-March banning groups of 25 or more from gathering if they could not keep six feet apart at all times and, later, shuttering public schools across the state. Oregon Health Authority officials reported 57 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 on Saturday, bringing the state’s total to 2,635, with five additional deaths, bringing the total toll to 109.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/hundreds-demonstrate-in-oregon-against-stay-at-hom/Rating: 0.79
US Air Force sends B-1 bombers back to Guam on temporary deployment after ending its 16-year continuous presence on the Pacific Island just weeks ago
3 May 13:17
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US Air Force sends B-1 bombers back to Guam on temporary deployment after ending its 16-year continuous presence on the Pacific Island just weeks ago
The United States Air Force has dispatched a fleet of B-1 bombers to Guam just weeks after ending its 16-year continuous bomber presence in the Indo-Pacific region. Four bombers and approximately 200 Airman arrived at Anderson Air Force Base in Guam on May 1 to conduct training and ‘strategic deterrence missions’. The B-1s, from Dyess Air Force Base in Texas, have been deployed as part of the US Pacific Air Forces’ bomber task force, a procedure designed to demonstrate ‘operational unpredictability’ and keep Washington’s adversaries guessing about where US firepower will be and when. Analysts say the tactic makes US forces harder to target, rather than keeping fleets stationed on specific bases as had been the case in the now-ended Continuous Bomber Presence in Guam. ‘The consistency and predictability of the [Guam] deployment raised serious operational vulnerabilities. A planner in China's military could have easily plotted ways of destroying the bombers due to their well-known presence,’ Timothy Heath, senior international defense researcher with the RAND Corp. think tank, told CNN. The USAF pulled a fleet of B-52 bombers from Guam on April 17, just days after the aircrafts participated in a military might 'elephant walk' exercise aimed at China. Ever since, the service has been increasing the presence of its B-1s in the Pacific, with several missions being flown over from bases in the US. Last Thursday, a 32-hour flight was conducted by two B-1s from Ellsworth Air Force Base in South Dakota to the South China Sea. That mission followed an operation earlier in April where two Ellsworth B-1s conducted 30-hour round trip to Japan, where they carried out training exercises alongside Japanese F-15 and F-2 fighters, as well as US F-16 jets. In announcing the B-1 deployment in Guam, Lt. Col. Frank Welton, PACAF's chief of operations force management, spoke of the US' ability to be able to carry more powerful weapons with the B-1s than the B-52s that left Guam a few weeks ago. ‘The B-1 is able to carry a larger payload of Joint Air-to-Surface Standoff Missiles and a larger payload of 2,000-pound class Joint Direct Attack Munitions,’ Lt. Col. Frank Welton, Pacific Air Forces’ chief of operations force management, said in a statement. ‘Additionally, the B-1 is able to carry the [anti-ship cruise missile], giving it an advanced stand-off, counter-ship capability. It also has an advanced self-protection suite and is able to transit at supersonic speeds to enhance offensive and defensive capabilities.” The bomber’s precision guided missile is designed to strike enemy warships with a fragmentation and penetrating warhead, while keeping bombers at a low risk of a counterattack. B-1s were last deployed to the Indo-Pacific region in 2017. The Air Force had used those Guam-based bomber missions to patrol over the East and South China Seas as a means of projecting U.S. airpower and resolve to North Korea, China and Russia. The Air Force declined to specify how long the temporary deployment will last. Analysts say deployments of this kind can now be considered the new normal in the region. ‘We will stage bombers through Guam periodically,’ said Carl Schuster, a former director of operations at the US Pacific Command's Joint Intelligence Center told CNN. ‘Sometimes they will participate in exercises with our allies and partners, sometimes they will continue on to the Indian Ocean by way of the South China Sea.’
3 May 13:17 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282091/US-Air-Force-sends-B-1-bombers-Guam-temporary-deployment.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
US deploys B-1 bombers, troops to Guam for ‘China deterrence’
The US military has deployed four B-1B heavy bombers and hundreds of troops to its western pacific territory of Guam to carry out “deterrence missions” aimed at Beijing after days of provocative maneuvers near contested territory in the South China Sea. The warplanes and airmen arrived at Andersen Air Force Base on Guam Island on Friday, according to a statement by the US Strategic Command that further noted that three of the B-1B Lancers flew directly to the base, while another diverted to waters near Japan to train with the US Navy. “Four bombers and approximately 200 airmen from the 9th Bomb Squadron, 7th Bomb Wing… deployed to support Pacific Air Forces’ training efforts with allies, partners and joint forces,” read the statement, pointing out that the warplanes would also take part in “strategic deterrence missions to reinforce the rules-based international order in the Indo-Pacific region.” The US Air Force, however, did not specify for how long the new deployment would continue. The deployments came just one day after a pair of B-1s conducted a flyover of the South China Sea, making a 32-hour round trip from the Ellsworth Air Force Base in the US state of South Dakota as part of a ‘show of force’ operation in the region. The US military regularly conducts what it refers to as “freedom of navigation” missions and air patrols over the South China Sea, aimed at sending a message to Beijing, which has repeatedly censured the operations as provocative and in violation of its sovereignty. The Chinese government has yet to respond to the latest US deployment, but denounced the American naval missions near the Paracel Islands earlier this week. Over the past week, US naval warships have also made their presence known around disputed waters in the South China Sea, with a US guided missile destroyer sailing through the Taiwan Strait twice – shadowed both times by a Chinese aircraft carrier sailing close by. The destroyer was eventually escorted out of the area on Tuesday by Chinese air and naval forces after it, “trespassed” near the contested Xisha Islands — also known as the Paracels — according to Beijing. According to the statement, although the Air Force recalled all five of its B-52 Stratofortress bombers from Guam earlier this month, the B-1s replacing them are capable of carrying larger payloads, including 2,000-pound guided JDAM munitions and anti-ship cruise missiles. The growing American military presence in the region follows escalating rhetoric from US President Donald Trump against Beijing, increasingly blaming the country for the ongoing coronavirus pandemic without pointing to any evidence to back his claims. Source: PressTV
3 May 11:20 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/us-deploys-b-1-bombers-troops-to-guam-for-china-deterrence/Rating: 0.63
US Deploys Heavy Bombers, Hundreds of Airmen to Guam to ‘Deter China’ – Reports
The deployment comes following the quiet withdrawal of five B-52 nuclear-capable Stratofortress bombers from Guam to the US mainland in mid-April, which temporarily froze the Pentagon’s 16-year-long ‘Continuous Bomber Presence’ mission on the Pacific island. The US Air Force has transferred four B-1B Lancer conventional strike bombers and a complement of about 200 airmen from a base in Texas to the Andersen Air Force Base on the island of Guam, US Pacific Air Forces (PACAF) has confirmed. The deployment, described as a temporary one, comes amid growing tensions between Beijing and Washington, both in the South China Sea territorial dispute, and the back and forth claims about who’s responsible for the global coronavirus crisis. Last week, Beijing reported “expelling” the USS Barry, a US guided-missile destroyer, out of waters in the South China Sea after shadowing it from an island chain contested by China and Vietnam. The Pentagon did not disclose exactly how long the bombers were expected to remain on the island. The B-1s from the group are ordinarily based at the Dyess Air Force Base in Texas. The US pulled a group of B-52 strategic bombers out of Guam on April 17. In the weeks that followed Pentagon sent B-1s to the region, flying a pair of the planes to South China Sea and back to base in South Dakota late last month. Also in April, the Air Force sent two B-1s to Japan for training. Carl Schuster, former director of Pacific Command’s Joint Intelligence Centre, told CNN that the bombers’ deployment was designed to “complicate any bad actors’ decision-making assumptions.” However, RAND Corporation senior researcher Timothy Heath suggested the bombers’ deployment at Guam leaves them vulnerable. “A planner in China’s military could have easily plotted ways of destroying the bombers due to their well-known presence,” he said. The B-1 Guam deployment is the first of its kind since 2017, when the bombers were flown to Japan and South Korea amid tensions with North Korea over its nuclear programme. Introduced in the mid-1980s, the Rockwell B-1 Lancer was initially designed as a nuclear-capable heavy bomber. After the Cold War, the bombers were refitted for a conventional role, carrying up to 50,000 pounds (23,000 kg) of bombs and missiles on its external hard points, or 75,000 pounds of bombs and missiles in its internal bomb bays. In addition to the LRASM, the bomber is capable of carrying the AGM-154 Joint Standoff Weapon glide bomb, and the AGM-158 Joint Air to Surface Standoff Missile. China has yet to comment on the Guam B-1 deployment, but has blasted the US last week over what it called its “militarization of the South China Sea,” and “trouble-maker” behaviour. “The [People’s Liberation Army] will remain on high alert, and adamantly safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, as well as peace and prosperity of the region,” Chinese Defence Ministry spokesperson Col. Wu Qian said last week following the encounter between Chinese and US warships.
3 May 17:01 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/military/202005031079184062-us-deploys-heavy-bombers-hundreds-of-airmen-to-guam-to-deter-china--reports/Rating: 3.96
Roche aims to make more than 100 million coronavirus antibody tests per month by end of year
3 May 11:11
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Roche aims to make more than 100 million coronavirus antibody tests per month by end of year
ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche aims to more than double production of its new coronavirus antibody test to “significantly more than” 100 million tests a month by the end of the year, the company’s diagnostics unit head said on Sunday. The Swiss company won U.S. emergency use approval for the test that relies on taking intravenous blood draws. Roche said its test has a specificity rate of more than 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%, figures indicating very few false-positive tests and no false negatives. “If you take blood from a finger prick, you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve...when you take blood from the vein,” Roche diagnostics head Thomas Schinecker told Reuters on Sunday. “You have to have very, very high specificity. Even 0.1 or 0.2 percent makes a difference.”
3 May 11:11 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-roche-antibodytest-idUSKBN22F0G6Rating: 4.04
Roche aims to make more than 100 million coronavirus antibody tests per month by end of year
ZURICH (Reuters) - Roche aims to more than double production of its new coronavirus antibody test to "significantly more than" 100 million tests a month by the end of the year, the company's diagnostics unit head said on Sunday. The Swiss company won U.S. emergency use approval for the test that relies on taking intravenous blood draws. Roche said its test has a specificity rate of more than 99.8% and sensitivity rate of 100%, figures indicating very few false-positive tests and no false negatives. "If you take blood from a finger prick, you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve...when you take blood from the vein," Roche diagnostics head Thomas Schinecker told Reuters on Sunday. "You have to have very, very high specificity. Even 0.1 or 0.2 percent makes a difference." (Reporting by John Miller, editing by John Revill)
3 May 11:11 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/roche-aims-more-100-million-111154392.htmlRating: 0.30
FDA approves coronavirus antibody test that boasts near-perfect accuracy
The Food and Drug Administration gave emergency approval to a COVID-19 antibody test that boasts near-perfect accuracy, the company said Sunday. Swiss drugmaker Roche said the new test, which determines whether someone had a past infection, has proven 100% accurate at detecting antibodies in the blood and 99.8% accurate at ruling out the presence of them. The company said the test requires intravenous blood draws, with higher accuracy than finger-prick tests. “If you take blood from a finger prick, you will never be able to achieve the same level of specificity that you will achieve … when you take blood from the vein,” said Thomas Schinecker, the company’s head of diagnostics. “You have to have very, very high specificity. Even 0.1% or 0.2% makes a difference.” Schinecker said the tests are an important step in determining whether someone may have immunity, but acknowledged that more research is required to determine whether antibodies protect people from being reinfected. “Since this virus is not well known, one can hypothesize, but the proof will take longer,” Schinecker said. “Testing these people … is key to seeing whether or not people really have developed immunity.” With Post wires
3 May 17:03 • New York Post • https://nypost.com/2020/05/03/fda-approves-coronavirus-antibody-test-that-boasts-near-perfect-accuracy/Rating: 2.55
Turkey's coronavirus death toll rises to 3,397: ministry
3 May 16:50
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Turkey's coronavirus death toll rises to 3,397: ministry
ISTANBUL (Reuters) - The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Turkey has risen by 61 in the last 24 hours to 3,397, Health Ministry data showed on Sunday. The overall number of cases rose by 1,670 to 126,045, the data showed, the highest total outside Western Europe, the United States and Russia. A total of 63,151 people have so far recovered from the new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19. The number of tests conducted in Turkey in the past 24 hours stood at 24,001, raising the total number of tests during the outbreak to more than 1.135 million.
3 May 16:50 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-turkey-toll-idUSKBN22F0Q1Rating: 4.04
Coronavirus | Turkey’s death toll rises to 3,397: ministry
The number of people who have died from COVID-19 in Turkey has risen by 61 in the last 24 hours to 3,397, Health Ministry data showed on Sunday. The overall number of cases rose by 1,670 to 126,045, the data showed, the highest total outside Western Europe, the United States and Russia. A total of 63,151 people have so far recovered from the new coronavirus, which causes the respiratory disease COVID-19. The number of tests conducted in Turkey in the past 24 hours stood at 24,001, raising the total number of tests during the outbreak to more than 1.135 million.
3 May 17:18 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-turkeys-death-toll-rises-to-3397-ministry/article31495777.eceRating: 0.30
CDC Data Shows Coronavirus Deaths Actually 37,308 — Nearly Half What Media Is Reporting
Despite widespread reporting that coronavirus has killed over 66,000 Americans to date, data from the Center For Disease Control’s website shows that approximately 37,000 people have died from the virus, meaning the media is over reporting the deaths by 60%. As of May 1, the CDC website states that 37,308 people died from the Wuhan coronavirus, which includes confirmed and presumed deaths from the pathogen. The data also shows that the coronavirus pandemic peaked in the U.S. the week of April 11. Additionally, the number of coronavirus deaths have been decreasing since April 25, with about 93% of all coronavirus deaths happening to individuals over 55 years old. As Newsmax journalist John Cardillo noted, the data reported on by the media and Worldometer is a “scam” for likely attributing other causes of death to inflate coronavirus fatalities. The new set of data further undermines health experts’ coronavirus projection models, which claimed in March that over 1 million people would die from coronavirus in the U.S. Dr. Nick Begich guest hosts The Alex Jones Show to bring a message of clarity and determination to lead humanity out of the pandemic of fear. Get what you and your family need with today’s top-selling products now!
2 May 18:24 • Infowars • https://www.infowars.com/cdc-data-shows-coronavirus-deaths-actually-37308-nearly-half-what-media-is-reporting/Rating: 1.61
RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after N.S. shootings
3 May 14:12
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5 articles
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RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after N.S. shootings
Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities, but there's nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have. In fact, the RCMP says there are currently no countrywide guidelines for when police should use Canada's public warning system to broadcast information to cellphones and television screens. In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system. But experts in law enforcement and emergency management say authorities must strike a delicate balance between informing the public about potential threats and avoiding unnecessary panic. And as the tragedy in Nova Scotia shows, they say those judgments aren't always clear cut in the throes of crisis with lives on the line. "Make no mistake -- none of us have ever experienced the kind of chaos that those officers, first responders and even the critical incident commander faced that night," said Terry Flynn, an associate professor of communications at McMaster University. "The critical thing for them is that now, they unfortunately have a mass shooting playbook." Before Canada launched its text-based national alert system in 2018, Flynn said RCMP considered social media to be the best way to communicate during a crisis. Reviews of the 2014 shootings in Moncton, N.B., and on Parliament Hill found that Twitter was a critical tool for disseminating real-time information to the public and media as both incidents were unfolding. In a similar vein, Nova Scotia RCMP used Twitter to send out updates as a firearms complaint in the tiny coastal village of Portapique on the evening of April 18 evolved into a shooting and arson spree across central and northern parts of the province. Mounties have faced questions about why they relied on social media to get the word out when they could have sent an emergency notification to every phone in the province. Some victims' relatives have called for the issue to be examined as part of a public inquiry into the mass murder. Premier Stephen McNeil has said emergency officials were ready to issue an alert, but couldn't act until the RCMP supplied information. The Mounties say they were crafting a message when the gunman was fatally shot by police in Enfield, N.S., on April 19 after a 13-hour manhunt. Nova Scotia RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the force is conducting a "full review" of the use of the emergency alert system in consultation with the province and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy, but said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities. Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office didn't immediately respond to a request for details about its protocols. Flynn, who specializes in crisis management at McMaster, said instituting clear procedures and training about when to issue an emergency alert could save lives in situations where "seconds count." While it may seem wise for authorities to err on the side of caution, Flynn warned flooding people's with notifications could foster "alert fatigue," potentially prompting some to swipe away warnings about a present threat. He said this "cover your behind" communications strategy may have been a factor in a false alarm last month in Nova Scotia. Days after the massacre, the province issued an emergency alert about possible shootings in the Halifax area that turned out to be nothing, or in one case, construction noise. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, said it's easy to criticize these calls with the benefit of hindsight. But when you're fielding multiple gunfire reports a day, he said it's not always clear whether you're dealing with a backfiring car or a shooter on the run. Stamatakis declined to comment on the Nova Scotia killings because the investigation is ongoing, but said emergency alerts are reserved for immediate threats to life and limb, and it's not an action police take with the push of a button. While he supports the effort to establish national public alert protocols, Stamatakis said no handbook can fully prepare police to respond to a fast-changing crisis like a mass shooting. "You're assessing information as it comes in ... and the decisions you make are only as good as the information you're getting," he said. "I think it's way too difficult to come up with some kind of really prescriptive formula that people should follow." Jack Rozdilsky, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, agrees that a "one-size-fits-all" policy won't account for the regional diversity of Canadian policing. Still, Rozdilsky said he would like to see RCMP incorporate certain research-backed principles to ensure emergency alerts contain information about what the threat is, who is at risk and for how long, what protective actions people need to take and what the consequences are if they don't. However, he cautioned that authorities may not want to model these protocols after last month's tragedy Nova Scotia. "The nature of the threat of the mass shooting that took place in Nova Scotia is maybe beyond the capacity of what we can expect a warning system to deliver." He noted that even before the shootings, the province's emergency response capacity was already taxed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, Rozdilsky said police were dealing with a killer wreaking chaos and carnage across 16 crime scenes, all the while dressed as an RCMP officer and driving a mock-up cruiser. Sending a province-wide alert about this disguise could have backed up 911 lines with false reports of suspect sightings as police swarmed the streets to hunt him down, said Rozdilsky. There was also the potential for "blue-on-blue" violence if officers mistook a colleague for the killer. Grieving families have every right to question what could have been done to avert such unfathomable loss, said Rozdilsky, and authorities owe them answers. But with so many unknowns, Rozdilsky said he's reserving judgment until we get a fuller picture of how these horrific events unfolded. Given these considerations, Rozdilsky said using emergency alert systems can be "more of an art than a science." And whichever way you decide, the consequences can be serious, or in some cases, possibly fatal. Rozdilsky pointed January's false alarm at a nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ont., as an example of the panic that can ensue when these warning systems are misused. He said there's even a slight risk that a certain number of people may die from heart attacks, car accidents or reckless behaviour when they believe that life-threatening danger is imminent -- even if it isn't. "We have the power to really save lives if the technology is employed correctly," said Rozdilsky. "(But) we have to realize we're still dealing with a complex society made of many different humans ... and that's why we have to be careful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 14:12 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/rcmp-to-draft-national-policy-for-emergency-alerts-after-n-s-shootings-1.4922729Rating: 2.87
RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after N.S. shootings
Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities, but there's nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have. In fact, the RCMP says there are currently no countrywide guidelines for when police should use Canada's public warning system to broadcast information to cellphones and television screens. In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system. But experts in law enforcement and emergency management say authorities must strike a delicate balance between informing the public about potential threats and avoiding unnecessary panic. And as the tragedy in Nova Scotia shows, they say those judgments aren't always clear cut in the throes of crisis with lives on the line. "Make no mistake — none of us have ever experienced the kind of chaos that those officers, first responders and even the critical incident commander faced that night," said Terry Flynn, an associate professor of communications at McMaster University. "The critical thing for them is that now, they unfortunately have a mass shooting playbook." Before Canada launched its text-based national alert system in 2018, Flynn said RCMP considered social media to be the best way to communicate during a crisis. Reviews of the 2014 shootings in Moncton, N.B., and on Parliament Hill found that Twitter was a critical tool for disseminating real-time information to the public and media as both incidents were unfolding. In a similar vein, Nova Scotia RCMP used Twitter to send out updates as a firearms complaint in the tiny coastal village of Portapique on the evening of April 18 evolved into a shooting and arson spree across central and northern parts of the province. Mounties have faced questions about why they relied on social media to get the word out when they could have sent an emergency notification to every phone in the province. Some victims' relatives have called for the issue to be examined as part of a public inquiry into the mass murder. Premier Stephen McNeil has said emergency officials were ready to issue an alert, but couldn't act until the RCMP supplied information. The Mounties say they were crafting a message when the gunman was fatally shot by police in Enfield, N.S., on April 19 after a 13-hour manhunt. Nova Scotia RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the force is conducting a "full review" of the use of the emergency alert system in consultation with the province and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy, but said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities. Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office didn't immediately respond to a request for details about its protocols. Flynn, who specializes in crisis management at McMaster, said instituting clear procedures and training about when to issue an emergency alert could save lives in situations where "seconds count." While it may seem wise for authorities to err on the side of caution, Flynn warned flooding people's with notifications could foster "alert fatigue," potentially prompting some to swipe away warnings about a present threat. He said this "cover your behind" communications strategy may have been a factor in a false alarm last month in Nova Scotia. Days after the massacre, the province issued an emergency alert about possible shootings in the Halifax area that turned out to be nothing, or in one case, construction noise. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, said it's easy to criticize these calls with the benefit of hindsight. But when you're fielding multiple gunfire reports a day, he said it's not always clear whether you're dealing with a backfiring car or a shooter on the run. Stamatakis declined to comment on the Nova Scotia killings because the investigation is ongoing, but said emergency alerts are reserved for immediate threats to life and limb, and it's not an action police take with the push of a button. While he supports the effort to establish national public alert protocols, Stamatakis said no handbook can fully prepare police to respond to a fast-changing crisis like a mass shooting. "You're assessing information as it comes in ... and the decisions you make are only as good as the information you're getting," he said. "I think it's way too difficult to come up with some kind of really prescriptive formula that people should follow." Jack Rozdilsky, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, agrees that a "one-size-fits-all" policy won't account for the regional diversity of Canadian policing. Still, Rozdilsky said he would like to see RCMP incorporate certain research-backed principles to ensure emergency alerts contain information about what the threat is, who is at risk and for how long, what protective actions people need to take and what the consequences are if they don't. However, he cautioned that authorities may not want to model these protocols after last month's tragedy Nova Scotia. "The nature of the threat of the mass shooting that took place in Nova Scotia is maybe beyond the capacity of what we can expect a warning system to deliver." He noted that even before the shootings, the province's emergency response capacity was already taxed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, Rozdilsky said police were dealing with a killer wreaking chaos and carnage across 16 crime scenes, all the while dressed as an RCMP officer and driving a mock-up cruiser. Sending a province-wide alert about this disguise could have backed up 911 lines with false reports of suspect sightings as police swarmed the streets to hunt him down, said Rozdilsky. There was also the potential for "blue-on-blue" violence if officers mistook a colleague for the killer. Grieving families have every right to question what could have been done to avert such unfathomable loss, said Rozdilsky, and authorities owe them answers. But with so many unknowns, Rozdilsky said he's reserving judgment until we get a fuller picture of how these horrific events unfolded. Given these considerations, Rozdilsky said using emergency alert systems can be "more of an art than a science." And whichever way you decide, the consequences can be serious, or in some cases, possibly fatal. Rozdilsky pointed January's false alarm at a nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ont., as an example of the panic that can ensue when these warning systems are misused. He said there's even a slight risk that a certain number of people may die from heart attacks, car accidents or reckless behaviour when they believe that life-threatening danger is imminent — even if it isn't. "We have the power to really save lives if the technology is employed correctly," said Rozdilsky. "(But) we have to realize we're still dealing with a complex society made of many different humans ... and that's why we have to be careful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 14:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/ns-shootings-alerts/cp887597277Rating: 0.30
RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after N.S. shootings
Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities, but there's nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have. In fact, the RCMP says there are currently no countrywide guidelines for when police should use Canada's public warning system to broadcast information to cellphones and television screens. In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system. But experts in law enforcement and emergency management say authorities must strike a delicate balance between informing the public about potential threats and avoiding unnecessary panic. And as the tragedy in Nova Scotia shows, they say those judgments aren't always clear cut in the throes of crisis with lives on the line. "Make no mistake — none of us have ever experienced the kind of chaos that those officers, first responders and even the critical incident commander faced that night," said Terry Flynn, an associate professor of communications at McMaster University. "The critical thing for them is that now, they unfortunately have a mass shooting playbook." Before Canada launched its text-based national alert system in 2018, Flynn said RCMP considered social media to be the best way to communicate during a crisis. Reviews of the 2014 shootings in Moncton, N.B., and on Parliament Hill found that Twitter was a critical tool for disseminating real-time information to the public and media as both incidents were unfolding. In a similar vein, Nova Scotia RCMP used Twitter to send out updates as a firearms complaint in the tiny coastal village of Portapique on the evening of April 18 evolved into a shooting and arson spree across central and northern parts of the province. Mounties have faced questions about why they relied on social media to get the word out when they could have sent an emergency notification to every phone in the province. Some victims' relatives have called for the issue to be examined as part of a public inquiry into the mass murder. Premier Stephen McNeil has said emergency officials were ready to issue an alert, but couldn't act until the RCMP supplied information. The Mounties say they were crafting a message when the gunman was fatally shot by police in Enfield, N.S., on April 19 after a 13-hour manhunt. Nova Scotia RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the force is conducting a "full review" of the use of the emergency alert system in consultation with the province and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy, but said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities. Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office didn't immediately respond to a request for details about its protocols. Flynn, who specializes in crisis management at McMaster, said instituting clear procedures and training about when to issue an emergency alert could save lives in situations where "seconds count." While it may seem wise for authorities to err on the side of caution, Flynn warned flooding people's with notifications could foster "alert fatigue," potentially prompting some to swipe away warnings about a present threat. He said this "cover your behind" communications strategy may have been a factor in a false alarm last month in Nova Scotia. Days after the massacre, the province issued an emergency alert about possible shootings in the Halifax area that turned out to be nothing, or in one case, construction noise. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, said it's easy to criticize these calls with the benefit of hindsight. But when you're fielding multiple gunfire reports a day, he said it's not always clear whether you're dealing with a backfiring car or a shooter on the run. Stamatakis declined to comment on the Nova Scotia killings because the investigation is ongoing, but said emergency alerts are reserved for immediate threats to life and limb, and it's not an action police take with the push of a button. While he supports the effort to establish national public alert protocols, Stamatakis said no handbook can fully prepare police to respond to a fast-changing crisis like a mass shooting. "You're assessing information as it comes in ... and the decisions you make are only as good as the information you're getting," he said. "I think it's way too difficult to come up with some kind of really prescriptive formula that people should follow." Jack Rozdilsky, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, agrees that a "one-size-fits-all" policy won't account for the regional diversity of Canadian policing. Still, Rozdilsky said he would like to see RCMP incorporate certain research-backed principles to ensure emergency alerts contain information about what the threat is, who is at risk and for how long, what protective actions people need to take and what the consequences are if they don't. However, he cautioned that authorities may not want to model these protocols after last month's tragedy Nova Scotia. "The nature of the threat of the mass shooting that took place in Nova Scotia is maybe beyond the capacity of what we can expect a warning system to deliver." He noted that even before the shootings, the province's emergency response capacity was already taxed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, Rozdilsky said police were dealing with a killer wreaking chaos and carnage across 16 crime scenes, all the while dressed as an RCMP officer and driving a mock-up cruiser. Sending a province-wide alert about this disguise could have backed up 911 lines with false reports of suspect sightings as police swarmed the streets to hunt him down, said Rozdilsky. There was also the potential for "blue-on-blue" violence if officers mistook a colleague for the killer. Grieving families have every right to question what could have been done to avert such unfathomable loss, said Rozdilsky, and authorities owe them answers. But with so many unknowns, Rozdilsky said he's reserving judgment until we get a fuller picture of how these horrific events unfolded. Given these considerations, Rozdilsky said using emergency alert systems can be "more of an art than a science." And whichever way you decide, the consequences can be serious, or in some cases, possibly fatal. Rozdilsky pointed January's false alarm at a nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ont., as an example of the panic that can ensue when these warning systems are misused. He said there's even a slight risk that a certain number of people may die from heart attacks, car accidents or reckless behaviour when they believe that life-threatening danger is imminent — even if it isn't. "We have the power to really save lives if the technology is employed correctly," said Rozdilsky. "(But) we have to realize we're still dealing with a complex society made of many different humans ... and that's why we have to be careful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press
3 May 14:00 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/rcmp-to-draft-national-policy-for-emergency-alerts-after-ns-shootings-2320482Rating: 0.30
RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after N.S. shootings
Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities, but there's nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have. In fact, the RCMP says there are currently no countrywide guidelines for when police should use Canada's public warning system to broadcast information to cellphones and television screens. In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system. But experts in law enforcement and emergency management say authorities must strike a delicate balance between informing the public about potential threats and avoiding unnecessary panic. And as the tragedy in Nova Scotia shows, they say those judgments aren't always clear cut in the throes of crisis with lives on the line. "Make no mistake -- none of us have ever experienced the kind of chaos that those officers, first responders and even the critical incident commander faced that night," said Terry Flynn, an associate professor of communications at McMaster University. "The critical thing for them is that now, they unfortunately have a mass shooting playbook." Before Canada launched its text-based national alert system in 2018, Flynn said RCMP considered social media to be the best way to communicate during a crisis. Reviews of the 2014 shootings in Moncton, N.B., and on Parliament Hill found that Twitter was a critical tool for disseminating real-time information to the public and media as both incidents were unfolding. In a similar vein, Nova Scotia RCMP used Twitter to send out updates as a firearms complaint in the tiny coastal village of Portapique on the evening of April 18 evolved into a shooting and arson spree across central and northern parts of the province. Mounties have faced questions about why they relied on social media to get the word out when they could have sent an emergency notification to every phone in the province. Some victims' relatives have called for the issue to be examined as part of a public inquiry into the mass murder. Premier Stephen McNeil has said emergency officials were ready to issue an alert, but couldn't act until the RCMP supplied information. The Mounties say they were crafting a message when the gunman was fatally shot by police in Enfield, N.S., on April 19 after a 13-hour manhunt. Nova Scotia RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the force is conducting a "full review" of the use of the emergency alert system in consultation with the province and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy, but said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities. Nova Scotia's Emergency Management Office didn't immediately respond to a request for details about its protocols. Flynn, who specializes in crisis management at McMaster, said instituting clear procedures and training about when to issue an emergency alert could save lives in situations where "seconds count." While it may seem wise for authorities to err on the side of caution, Flynn warned flooding people's with notifications could foster "alert fatigue," potentially prompting some to swipe away warnings about a present threat. He said this "cover your behind" communications strategy may have been a factor in a false alarm last month in Nova Scotia. Days after the massacre, the province issued an emergency alert about possible shootings in the Halifax area that turned out to be nothing, or in one case, construction noise. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, said it's easy to criticize these calls with the benefit of hindsight. But when you're fielding multiple gunfire reports a day, he said it's not always clear whether you're dealing with a backfiring car or a shooter on the run. Stamatakis declined to comment on the Nova Scotia killings because the investigation is ongoing, but said emergency alerts are reserved for immediate threats to life and limb, and it's not an action police take with the push of a button. While he supports the effort to establish national public alert protocols, Stamatakis said no handbook can fully prepare police to respond to a fast-changing crisis like a mass shooting. "You're assessing information as it comes in ... and the decisions you make are only as good as the information you're getting," he said. "I think it's way too difficult to come up with some kind of really prescriptive formula that people should follow." Jack Rozdilsky, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, agrees that a "one-size-fits-all" policy won't account for the regional diversity of Canadian policing. Still, Rozdilsky said he would like to see RCMP incorporate certain research-backed principles to ensure emergency alerts contain information about what the threat is, who is at risk and for how long, what protective actions people need to take and what the consequences are if they don't. However, he cautioned that authorities may not want to model these protocols after last month's tragedy Nova Scotia. "The nature of the threat of the mass shooting that took place in Nova Scotia is maybe beyond the capacity of what we can expect a warning system to deliver." He noted that even before the shootings, the province's emergency response capacity was already taxed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, Rozdilsky said police were dealing with a killer wreaking chaos and carnage across 16 crime scenes, all the while dressed as an RCMP officer and driving a mock-up cruiser. Sending a province-wide alert about this disguise could have backed up 911 lines with false reports of suspect sightings as police swarmed the streets to hunt him down, said Rozdilsky. There was also the potential for "blue-on-blue" violence if officers mistook a colleague for the killer. Grieving families have every right to question what could have been done to avert such unfathomable loss, said Rozdilsky, and authorities owe them answers. But with so many unknowns, Rozdilsky said he's reserving judgment until we get a fuller picture of how these horrific events unfolded. Given these considerations, Rozdilsky said using emergency alert systems can be "more of an art than a science." And whichever way you decide, the consequences can be serious, or in some cases, possibly fatal. Rozdilsky pointed January's false alarm at a nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ont., as an example of the panic that can ensue when these warning systems are misused. He said there's even a slight risk that a certain number of people may die from heart attacks, car accidents or reckless behaviour when they believe that life-threatening danger is imminent -- even if it isn't. "We have the power to really save lives if the technology is employed correctly," said Rozdilsky. "(But) we have to realize we're still dealing with a complex society made of many different humans ... and that's why we have to be careful." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 15:07 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/rcmp-to-draft-national-policy-for-emergency-alerts-after-n-s-shootings-1.4922767Rating: 1.66
RCMP to draft national policy for emergency alerts after Nova Scotia shootings
Mounties in Nova Scotia are under scrutiny for not issuing an emergency alert as a gunman rampaged through rural communities, but there’s nothing in the national RCMP handbook to suggest that they should have. In fact, the RCMP says there are currently no countrywide guidelines for when police should use Canada’s public warning system to broadcast information to cellphones and television screens. In the wake of the mass murder that claimed 22 lives in Nova Scotia about two weeks ago, the force is looking into developing a national operational policy for using the emergency alert system. But experts in law enforcement and emergency management say authorities must strike a delicate balance between informing the public about potential threats and avoiding unnecessary panic. And as the tragedy in Nova Scotia shows, they say those judgments aren’t always clear cut in the throes of crisis with lives on the line. “Make no mistake — none of us have ever experienced the kind of chaos that those officers, first responders and even the critical incident commander faced that night,” said Terry Flynn, an associate professor of communications at McMaster University. “The critical thing for them is that now, they unfortunately have a mass shooting playbook.” Before Canada launched its text-based national alert system in 2018, Flynn said RCMP considered social media to be the best way to communicate during a crisis. Reviews of the 2014 shootings in Moncton, N.B., and on Parliament Hill found that Twitter was a critical tool for disseminating real-time information to the public and media as both incidents were unfolding. In a similar vein, Nova Scotia RCMP used Twitter to send out updates as a firearms complaint in the tiny coastal village of Portapique on the evening of April 18 evolved into a shooting and arson spree across central and northern parts of the province. READ MORE: RCMP bid to be more transparent a work in progress, media experts say Mounties have faced questions about why they relied on social media to get the word out when they could have sent an emergency notification to every phone in the province. Some victims’ relatives have called for the issue to be examined as part of a public inquiry into the mass murder. Premier Stephen McNeil has said emergency officials were ready to issue an alert, but couldn’t act until the RCMP supplied information. The Mounties say they were crafting a message when the gunman was fatally shot by police in Enfield, N.S., on April 19 after a 13-hour manhunt. Nova Scotia RCMP Superintendent Darren Campbell told reporters Tuesday that the force is conducting a “full review” of the use of the emergency alert system in consultation with the province and the Canadian Association of Chiefs of Police. National RCMP spokeswoman Robin Percival said in an email that the force is looking at creating a Canada-wide policy, but said public alert protocols are generally set out by provincial emergency management authorities. Nova Scotia’s Emergency Management Office didn’t immediately respond to a request for details about its protocols. Flynn, who specializes in crisis management at McMaster, said instituting clear procedures and training about when to issue an emergency alert could save lives in situations where “seconds count.” While it may seem wise for authorities to err on the side of caution, Flynn warned flooding people’s with notifications could foster “alert fatigue,” potentially prompting some to swipe away warnings about a present threat. He said this “cover your behind” communications strategy may have been a factor in a false alarm last month in Nova Scotia. Days after the massacre, the province issued an emergency alert about possible shootings in the Halifax area that turned out to be nothing, or in one case, construction noise. Tom Stamatakis, president of the Canadian Police Association, said it’s easy to criticize these calls with the benefit of hindsight. But when you’re fielding multiple gunfire reports a day, he said it’s not always clear whether you’re dealing with a backfiring car or a shooter on the run. Stamatakis declined to comment on the Nova Scotia killings because the investigation is ongoing, but said emergency alerts are reserved for immediate threats to life and limb, and it’s not an action police take with the push of a button. While he supports the effort to establish national public alert protocols, Stamatakis said no handbook can fully prepare police to respond to a fast-changing crisis like a mass shooting. “You’re assessing information as it comes in … and the decisions you make are only as good as the information you’re getting,” he said. ”I think it’s way too difficult to come up with some kind of really prescriptive formula that people should follow.” READ MORE: Concert fundraiser for victims of Nova Scotia massacre organized by B.C. police officer Jack Rozdilsky, an associate professor of disaster and emergency management at York University, agrees that a “one-size-fits-all” policy won’t account for the regional diversity of Canadian policing. Still, Rozdilsky said he would like to see RCMP incorporate certain research-backed principles to ensure emergency alerts contain information about what the threat is, who is at risk and for how long, what protective actions people need to take and what the consequences are if they don’t. However, he cautioned that authorities may not want to model these protocols after last month’s tragedy Nova Scotia. “The nature of the threat of the mass shooting that took place in Nova Scotia is maybe beyond the capacity of what we can expect a warning system to deliver.” He noted that even before the shootings, the province’s emergency response capacity was already taxed because of the COVID-19 pandemic. To complicate matters, Rozdilsky said police were dealing with a killer wreaking chaos and carnage across 16 crime scenes, all the while dressed as an RCMP officer and driving a mock-up cruiser. Sending a province-wide alert about this disguise could have backed up 911 lines with false reports of suspect sightings as police swarmed the streets to hunt him down, said Rozdilsky. There was also the potential for “blue-on-blue” violence if officers mistook a colleague for the killer. Grieving families have every right to question what could have been done to avert such unfathomable loss, said Rozdilsky, and authorities owe them answers. But with so many unknowns, Rozdilsky said he’s reserving judgment until we get a fuller picture of how these horrific events unfolded. Given these considerations, Rozdilsky said using emergency alert systems can be “more of an art than a science.” And whichever way you decide, the consequences can be serious, or in some cases, possibly fatal. Rozdilsky pointed January’s false alarm at a nuclear power plant in Pickering, Ont., as an example of the panic that can ensue when these warning systems are misused. He said there’s even a slight risk that a certain number of people may die from heart attacks, car accidents or reckless behaviour when they believe that life-threatening danger is imminent — even if it isn’t. “We have the power to really save lives if the technology is employed correctly,” said Rozdilsky. “(But) we have to realize we’re still dealing with a complex society made of many different humans … and that’s why we have to be careful.” Adina Bresge, The Canadian Press
3 May 14:30 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/rcmp-to-draft-national-policy-for-emergency-alerts-after-nova-scotia-shootings/Rating: 0.30
No winning ticket for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
3 May 12:04
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5 articles
Weight: 2.10
Importance: 2.13
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:25
Average US: 3.18
Weighted average US: 4.0405374242680585
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.82
Weighted average IN: 2.4176007459017317
No winning ticket for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO -- No winning ticket was sold for the $7 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 6 will be approximately $8 million.
3 May 12:04 • CTVNews • https://www.ctvnews.ca/canada/no-winning-ticket-for-saturday-night-s-7-million-lotto-649-jackpot-1.4922683Rating: 2.87
No winning ticket for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO - No winning ticket was sold for the $7 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 6 will be approximately $8 million.
3 May 10:47 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/lotto-649-no-winner/cp170476351Rating: 0.30
No winning ticket for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO — No winning ticket was sold for the $7 million jackpot in Saturday night’s Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 6 will be approximately $8 million. The Canadian Press
3 May 11:47 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/no-winning-ticket-for-saturday-nights-7-million-lotto-649-jackpot-19/Rating: 0.77
No winning ticket for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO — No winning ticket was sold for the $7 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 6 will be approximately $8 million. The Canadian Press
3 May 10:47 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/no-winning-ticket-for-saturday-nights-7-million-lotto-649-jackpot-2320326Rating: 0.30
No winning ticket sold for Saturday night's $7 million Lotto 649 jackpot
TORONTO - No winning ticket was sold for the $7 million jackpot in Saturday night's Lotto 649 draw. However, the guaranteed $1 million prize went to a ticket holder in the Prairies. The jackpot for the next Lotto 649 draw on May 6 will be approximately $8 million.
3 May 11:25 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/no-winning-ticket-sold-for-saturday-night-s-7-million-lotto-649-jackpot-1.4922673Rating: 1.66
Halle Berry strips off for naked shower selfie as she takes some self care time
3 May 17:25
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10 articles
Weight: 2.10
Importance: 2.11
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:16
Average US: 19.758
Weighted average US: 13.28892779891125
Average GB: 1.7610000000000003
Weighted average GB: 3.123627896052739
Average IN: 19.113
Weighted average IN: 21.620138991791734
Halle Berry strips off for naked shower selfie as she takes some self care time
Halle Berry stripped naked for her latest social media offering as she posed in a nude selfie. The actress, 53, told her 6.1 million followers that she was indulging in some self-care. She added that she's been using Taraji P Henson's products, paying tribute to her pal and urging fans to give her stuff a go. "I've known this woman since she started in the industry," Halle wrote, "And it's been such a joy to watch her flourish and succeed. "Obsessed with this line, check my stories for a few of my favourites!" The Hollywood icon recently reminisced about her time in the industry, including her work on Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan's last Bond film before he hung up the mantle. Halle recalled that the Irish actor, now 66, had to give her the Heimlich Manoeuvre as she choked on a fig during a steamy sex scene. Chatting with American talk show host Jimmy Fallon from her home, she dished: "I was supposed to be all sexy, trying to seduce him with a fig, and then I ended up choking on it and he had to get up and do the Heimlich. "James Bond knows how to Heimlich! "He was there for me, he will always be one of my favourite people in the world." She was playing love interest and fellow spy Jinx, revealing that the studio had even flirted with the idea of giving her character her own spinoff flick. She's also been battling online trolls since going into lockdown, clapping back at those who passed judgement on her for letting six year old Maceo-Robert wear high heels. "Is this your daughter or your son?" one wrote. She came back: "Well it's a he and he is having a ball. Tryna cope the best he can! Laughter helps a lot right now."
3 May 17:25 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/halle-berry-strips-naked-shower-21967655Rating: 2.39
Halle Berry strips off for naked shower selfie as she takes some self care time
Halle Berry stripped naked for her latest social media offering as she posed in a nude selfie. The actress, 53, told her 6.1 million followers that she was indulging in some self-care. She added that she's been using Taraji P Henson's products, paying tribute to her pal and urging fans to give her stuff a go. "I've known this woman since she started in the industry," Halle wrote, "And it's been such a joy to watch her flourish and succeed. "Obsessed with this line, check my stories for a few of my favourites!" The Hollywood icon recently reminisced about her time in the industry, including her work on Die Another Day, Pierce Brosnan's last Bond film before he hung up the mantle. Halle recalled that the Irish actor, now 66, had to give her the Heimlich Manoeuvre as she choked on a fig during a steamy sex scene. Chatting with American talk show host Jimmy Fallon from her home, she dished: "I was supposed to be all sexy, trying to seduce him with a fig, and then I ended up choking on it and he had to get up and do the Heimlich. "James Bond knows how to Heimlich! "He was there for me, he will always be one of my favourite people in the world." She was playing love interest and fellow spy Jinx, revealing that the studio had even flirted with the idea of giving her character her own spinoff flick. She's also been battling online trolls since going into lockdown, clapping back at those who passed judgement on her for letting six year old Maceo-Robert wear high heels. "Is this your daughter or your son?" one wrote. She came back: "Well it's a he and he is having a ball. Tryna cope the best he can! Laughter helps a lot right now."
3 May 17:25 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/halle-berry-strips-naked-shower-21967658Rating: 0.56
Abby Dowse Is A Smokeshow In All Leather Outfit That Leaves Little To The Imagination
May 3, 2020 Jona Jaupi Australian bombshell Abby Dowse sent fans into a frenzy on Sunday, May 3, after she posted a smoking-hot new photo of herself on social media. The blond beauty took to Instagram to share the post with her 2.2 million followers and it quickly caught the attention of many around the world. The 31-year-old model — who is mostly known for being an Instagram influencer — was photographed inside of her bedroom. She took center stage in the photo and exuded a sexy vibe as she posed directly in front of the camera while sitting down on her bed. Her right arm held her cellphone up to her face, meanwhile her left arm was raised up to her long blond hair, which did not appear to be styled as it cascaded down her back in messy waves. Abby, as per usual, sported a very glamourous makeup look in the snapshot. The application included a light-pink lipstick, sculpted eyebrows, peach eyeshadow, eyelash extensions, eyeliner, blush, bronzer, and foundation. However, it was her famous figure that demanded the most attention in the snapshot, as she put her killer curves on display in a racy ensemble. Up top, the model sported a leather bra that featured two thin straps that went over her shoulders and down her back, as well as a leather strap that tied around her midriff. The black garment also featured tiny triangular cups that struggled to contain her voluptuous assets as they exposed an ample amount of cleavage, and sideboob. Abby paired the revealing top with a tiny leather miniskirt that also did not provide much coverage. The skintight garment further flaunted Abby’s curvaceous hips and pert derriere while exposing most of her thighs. The model finished the look off with a pair of chunky black boots and a number of jewelry pieces. She did not provide a geotag for the image but revealed in the post’s caption that the outfit was manufactured by Dolls Kill, an online clothing company. The sizzling photo was met with a great deal of support and approval from fans, garnering more than 10,000 likes in the first two hours after going live. More than 200 followers also took to the comments section to compliment the model on her killer curves and daring outfit. “Can’t even handle it,” one user commented “The hottest look,” added a second follower. “Gorgeous,” a third admirer chimed in. “Smoking hot,” proclaimed a fourth fan. The beauty has shared more than one sexy look on her Instagram this past weekend. Just earlier today, she sent hearts racing after she rocked a sheer mesh outfit that left very little to the imagination, per The Inquisitr. That snap received more than 29,000 likes so far.
3 May 23:46 • The Inquisitr • https://www.inquisitr.com/6032913/abby-dowse-leather-sideboob/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29Rating: 0.30
Kylie Jenner Puts Her Curvy Beach Body On Display In Revealing Bathing Suit Photos
Kylie Jenner is flaunting her curvy beach body in revealing bathing suit photos that she shared with her 173.2 million Instagram followers. Kylie went viral after photos of her without any makeup on and carrying a bag of chips as she went to see a friend made their way online. Since that event, people have accused the 22-year-old billionaire of staging photoshoots in order to remind people that she’s really gorgeous. No one doubted her beauty, and many people responded to the photos by saying that she looked better as her natural self. Still, it seems that Kylie is most comfortable with darker skin, an exaggerated lip line, and hairpieces. Like her sisters, Kylie is frequently accused of undergoing plastic surgery to alter her figure and also like her sisters, she denies going under the knife. Still, Kylie’s figure has changed drastically and she continually shows it off in skimpy bikinis on her social media platforms. In the newer photos, Kylie Jenner was seen straddling a board in a swimming pool. She is wearing a Love Wave bikini. The Nadia bikini top costs about $98 and the Campbell Bottom costs about $75. The bikini features a shimmery pattern in pastel pink, blue, and yellow. Kylie Jenner shared photos of herself in multiple poses including several pictures where she stood up and showed off her curvy backside to the camera. You may see the photos that Kylie Jenner shared with her Instagram followers in the slideshow player below. Kylie Jenner, like many other celebrities, may be missing the days when social distancing wasn’t the norm and she could go travel to exotic locations living the luxurious life with friends and family on a yacht. Kylie went to the Bahamas shortly before the pandemic hit and has since been under lockdown in her home. She shared additional photos of herself seated in a wooden beach chair while wearing a bikini on Instagram. You may see those photos below. Are you having a hard time with social distancing and staying home? Can you relate to Kylie Jenner’s photo caption where she was wished she was on the beach? Charisse Van Horn is a freelance writer from Tampa Bay. She enjoys writing about celebrities, entertainment, and fashion. Any reproduction of this article outside of Celebrity Insider will be met with legal action by the writer.
3 May 14:17 • Celebrity Insider • https://celebrityinsider.org/kylie-jenner-puts-her-curvy-beach-body-on-display-in-revealing-bathing-suit-photos-393330/Rating: 0.30
Halle Berry Uploads a Shower Selfie, Prompts Comments About Her 'Ageless' Beauty
American actress Halle Berry, 53, has recently shared a steamy selfie on Instagram - it shows her just out of the shower, her hair wet and her makeup-free face covered with water droplets. Berry wrote that she was enjoying some time for self-care during the coronavirus lockdown. The picture has received more than 200,000 likes, and the actress's fans expressed their admiration with her natural beauty. "Halle stopped aging around 25 years ago. I figure she must have stumbled onto the fountain of youth back then. Maybe she will tell the rest of us where it is," one follower wrote. "Looking gorgeous!", "You are so beautiful, Halle", others said.
3 May 13:16 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/viral/202005031079181647-halle-berry-uploads-a-shower-selfie-prompts-comments-about-her-ageless-beauty/Rating: 3.96
Hot & Feminine, Hope Gives It All
When there is hope in her name, we can use it for a little rhetoric that sounds nice, can’t we? We are talking about Tanya Hope, the Bangalore actress who was last seen in Ravi Teja’s ‘Disco Raja’ and also starred in four Telugu movies previously. What do you think about Tanya in this latest pic? We know you’ll say, she is sensuous. The lighting is perfect on her beautiful skin. For us, this pic is her hot and feminine vision of 2020. But, she says Tanya has got her 2020 vision when she sees her fans and followers. That must be her inspiration, and Tanya’s hot and gorgeous pics will be the real inspiration for her followers on social media to log in to check out her hot pics.
3 May 12:15 • MIRCHI9 • https://www.mirchi9.com/movienews/hot-feminine-tanya-hope-gives-it-all/Rating: 0.97
Sherlyn Chopra Finally Breaks Silence On Her N*dity & S*xual Appeal, Read On
Sherlyn Chopra is often related to sensuality and has a global appeal for her se*ual appeal. More often than not, the actress has hit headlines for her bold and nearly nude photos and the derogatory comments that follow. But none of that has ever deterred Sherlyn Chopra from being the kind of person that she is. Neither has the brutal trolling ever made the actress change the kind content that she shares on her social media handle. Now, Sherlyn Chopra has finally opened up about her bold pictures and what s*x appeal actually means to her. The Game actress also opened up on being the first Indian actress to feature on an American adult magazine cover. Speaking to IBT, Chopra said, “Most perceptions are fickle and frivolous. The thing that I value the most is genuineness. I’ve never pretended or claimed to be somebody who I am not. There is sincerity & honesty in my craft which I truly treasure.” Opening up on her inspirations to all her nude photos and steamy videos, Sherlyn Chopra said, “The truth of the matter is that I was tired of living up to the expectations of my school teachers & my church pastors. In my efforts to please them, I never realised who I really aspired to be or what I really wanted to pursue in life. After winning the Miss Andhra beauty pageant at the age of 17, I realised that there was more to me than just textbook knowledge. I started experiencing life not as a book worm but as a girl who was on the verge of metamorphosing into a s**y butterfly.” But what also got our attention was Sherlyn Chopra’s rather brutal jibe at Rakhi Sawant. Sherlyn was asked who according to her has the least s*x appeal in the industry and pat came the reply, “I don’t know!!! I guess, Rakhi Sawant. I’m just kidding! Hope she doesn’t kill me!” Well, that certainly was quite a response! Do let us know what you think about the sizzling actress. And if you don’t trust us…feel free to check her social media handles for ample proof!
3 May 07:53 • Koimoi • https://www.koimoi.com/bollywood-news/sherlyn-chopra-finally-breaks-silence-on-her-ndity-sxual-appeal-read-on/Rating: 1.65
Gabrielle Union, 47, Shows Off Her Natural Beauty & Fans Think She’s ‘Glowing’ — See Pics
Category is… looking absolutely flawless! Gabrielle Union, 47, appeared half her age in a set of Instagram photos posted on Friday, May 1, during her time in self-isolation. Each pic was totally different from the rest where her radiant beauty was seen throughout. In one snap she cracked a shy smirk which was then followed by her putting her pearly whites on display. A cute smile was seen in the next upload which ended with an adorable photo with her stepdaughter Zaya Wade, 12. “OK y’all so I’ve been working on improving my skin during quarantine (ill share those deets soon) and I feel pretty good about where I’m at but (I) wanted to pop my skin with a little something for these zoom calls without putting on a full face of makeup,” she revealed. Gabrielle then gave props to none other than Rihanna, 32, for helping her out with her skin issue! “I saw someone online say they only use concealer and bronzer and I was like BUT I tried it and didn’t even use concealer just my @fentybeauty bronzer (Caramel Cutie) and BISHHHH this was the result!!!!” she wrote. “Now, I found my light of course but… okkkkkkkkkk also NOT AN AD, just sharing what I learned. Happy Friday folks!!! Zoom innnnnn on this skinnnnnnnnnnnn.” The Fenty bronzer and Gabrielle’s already beautiful face was a lethal weapon of gorgeousness that clearly worked. “Thought this was a throwback. Skin is glowing yo!”, host Desus Nice, 38, wrote in the comments section. “Ok, how do you do this? This thing, called aging backwards?!!,” another wrote. “How? Incredible!” Gabrielle’s also enjoyed some romantic moments with her husband Dwyane Wade, 38, while they remain in self-isolation. They cozied up in their pool on Friday, April 17, where the former Bring It On star sizzled in a sexy blue bikini.
2 May 20:10 • Hollywood Life • https://hollywoodlife.com/2020/05/02/gabrielle-union-natural-beauty-fans-react-pics/Rating: 1.32
Sherlyn Chopra Says Rakhi Sawant Has The Least S*x Appeal
Sherlyn Chopra, who is known as one of the boldest, breathtaking and controversial divas in the Indian showbiz, has recently opened up about all her controversies, lifestyle and sex appeal. The 36-year-old diva has always managed to stay in limelight with bold and nude pictures on her social media handles. Recently, she mocked another controversy queen, Rakhi Sawant in an interview with IBTimes. In an interview, when Sherlyn was asked about who has the least sex appeal in the industry, she said, "I don't know!!! I guess, Rakhi Sawant. I'm just kidding! Hope she doesn't kill me!" Sherlyn Chopra is the first woman to have posed nude for the cover of an adult American magazine. When asked it, Sherlyn said, "Most perceptions are fickle and frivolous. The thing that I value the most is genuineness. I've never pretended or claimed to be somebody who I am not. There is sincerity & honesty in my craft which I truly treasure." Nowadays, celebrities try to impress their fans with their sex appeal. But Sherlyn Chopra has a different take on it. She said, "For me, sex appeal is 99 per cent mental and 1 per cent physical. There are so many people who have great physiques but uninspiring personalities. It's a sad situation." Sherlyn Chopra often shares her nude pictures on social media for which she gets various kind of replies. Speaking about the same, Sherlyn said, "Now, I live to please myself. I shoot pics & videos to entertain myself and when I share the same with the world, not only do they appreciate it but also pay a price to watch my premium content on the Sherlyn Chopra App." After sharing nude pictures, Sherlyn Chopra often receives derogatory comments. When asked about how she deals with it, Sherlyn said, "My late father had taught me to never take anything personally from people whom I don't know personally. So, I simply refuse to give my attention to naysayers. As a matter of fact, most naysayers are unemployed, bored, frustrated and dejected and they love to constantly engage in unnecessary hostile and combative interactions with strangers." Also Read : Bra Wars: Sherlyn Chopra Vs Poonam Pandey! Who Will Win?
2 May 12:31 • https://www.filmibeat.com • https://www.filmibeat.com/bollywood/news/2020/sherlyn-chopra-says-rakhi-sawant-has-the-least-s-x-appeal-298379.htmlRating: 0.30
Zimbabwe Entertainment News Digest: Sexy luminitsa Returns|Chatunga At War|Baba Tencen Strikes Again
Zimbabwe Entertainment News Digest South African based businesswoman and socialite Luminitsa Jemwa has re-activated her social media accounts after deactivating them. Fans and her industry friends were this week elated at her return to the social media streets. Sometime last year, Luminitsa without giving warning to her fans deactivated her official Instagram account. At the time, rumours went flying that the beauty, who was named Zimbabwe’s sexiest woman in 2019, was keeping a low profile because she was pregnant and now happily married. Although she is still yet to comment on the matter, that’s for another day. We are just ecstatic about her return. Maybe soon enough, the curvaceous beauty will treat us to some eye candy. In other news. It seems that there might be a rivalry brewing between late former President Robert Mugabe’s son, Chatunga Bellarmine and businessman Tawona ‘Teemak’ Chipunza and his counterpart Prince Mudzingwa, commonly known as Mr Stylz. This follows after Chatunga took to social media and fired shots at the duo, alleging that they had created a fake social media account in his name, for reasons not yet clear to this publication. It is also not yet clear whether these allegations are true or false as Teemak and Mr Styles are yet to respond. This is not the first time that Chatunga has come out guns blazing and attacked the crew. Sometime back, he hogged headlines after dissing Mr Stylz, claiming that he was not moneyed as much as people think he is. In another story you shouldn’t miss, South African based comedian Pepukai Zvemhari, more popularly known by his moniker, Baba Tencen has again set tongues wagging on social media. This time around, the outspoken comic who seems to have a knack for igniting controversy, offered some advice to Zimbabwean women, saying that the Coronavirus induced lockdown should award them time to mend marital disputes and connect with their spouses. Watch the video below. YOU MAY ALSO BE INTERESTED IN READING How To Never Miss IHarare Latest News On Your News Feed Following Facebook’s New Algorithm IMPORTANT NOTICE: Dear invaluable iHarare Reader. It is our sheer delight to introduce our intelligent Whatsapp service which allows you to access the latest News, Jobs and Exchange rates on WhatsApp. Send a WhatsApp message with the word HIE to +263718636522 or just CLICK HERE to try it out. iHarare has morphed into an integrated information one-stop-shop. Please click on the links highlighted in Red to access News, Events, Jobs, Pricecheck, Classifieds, Dating and Education services by iHarare.For any queries contact us by CLICKING HERE .
2 May 21:50 • iHarare News • https://iharare.com/zimbabwe-entertainment-news-digest-2/Rating: 0.59
TUI Restarts Offering Trips and Flights Within China
3 May 13:51
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3 articles
Weight: 2.10
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Best date: 3 May 13:51
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TUI Restarts Offering Trips and Flights Within China
TUI AG’s Chinese unit will restart its travel business, offering trips and flights within the country to local customers. The business is resuming after the government lifted a three-month sales ban, and operations will gradually be expanded amid a backlog of demand by Chinese customers, Chief Executive Officer Fritz Joussen said in a statement. Global travel has been disrupted by the coronavirus crisis and airlines are expected to burn through as much as $61 billion in the second quarter, according to the International Air Transport Association. Joussen said tourism in Europe needs a “clear perspective,” and that European Union nations should develop timetables for flights within the region. TUI’s online traffic is at 90% of last year’s level, signaling there’s high demand, the CEO said. Customers shouldn’t be limited to trips at home and countries that made good progress in the battle against the virus could be reopened for tourism, he said. “We need to get out of the crisis now,” Joussen said.
3 May 13:51 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2020-05-03/tui-restarts-offering-trips-and-flights-within-chinaRating: 4.04
TUI's China unit resumes domestic holiday offers
BERLIN — The Chinese unit of Germany’s TUI , the world’s biggest tourism group, said on Sunday it has resumed offering holiday packages in China and urged the European Union (EU) to lift travel restrictions in place to curb the coronavirus. The resumption of business in China, three months after TUI’s activities there were halted, is focused on short breaks in the mountains and beach resorts. Other packages include trips in the vicinity of big cities. “Our offices in Peking and Shanghai were open during the crisis but were not allowed to sell holiday packages,” TUI Chief Executive Fritz Joussen said in a statement. “We now see a significant backlog of demand for holidays. TUI China will in the coming weeks broaden its offers step by step.” The global tourism industry is closely watching trends in China for clues to travel patterns in other major markets once the virus, which has infected 3.44 million people and killed 243,00 worldwide, is under control and curbs on movement ease. Since April, there have been signs of a recovery in China’s tourism market, and aviation experts expect domestic travel in most markets will recover before international travel. Travel within China is also complicated by movement curbs retained in some regions, such as Beijing, the capital, to guard against a second wave of infections from aboard. Joussen urged the EU to put in place a concept that allows for the resumption of holiday travel within the bloc, where border restrictions have been in place since March. “The EU and its member states should develop a timetable for resuming travel within Europe and make holidays possible in 2020,” he said, citing Greece, Cyprus, Spanish islands, Austria and Bulgaria which have made progress toward reopening resorts. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer ruled out reopening Germany’s border with Austria to holidaymakers in an interview with mass-selling Bild newspaper, citing the risk of a second coronavirus outbreak. The Ischgl ski resort has been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases in Germany and Scandinavian countries. (Reporting by Ilona Wissenbach Writing by Joseph Nasr Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
3 May 16:15 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/tuis-china-unit-resumes-domestic-holiday-offers-2Rating: 0.94
TUI's China unit resumes domestic holiday offers
BERLIN (Reuters) - The Chinese unit of Germany's TUI (DE:TUIGn), the world's biggest tourism group, said on Sunday it has resumed offering holiday packages in China and urged the European Union (EU) to lift travel restrictions in place to curb the coronavirus. The resumption of business in China, three months after TUI's activities there were halted, is focused on short breaks in the mountains and beach resorts. Other packages include trips in the vicinity of big cities. "Our offices in Peking and Shanghai were open during the crisis but were not allowed to sell holiday packages," TUI Chief Executive Fritz Joussen said in a statement. "We now see a significant backlog of demand for holidays. TUI China will in the coming weeks broaden its offers step by step." The global tourism industry is closely watching trends in China for clues to travel patterns in other major markets once the virus, which has infected 3.44 million people and killed 243,00 worldwide, is under control and curbs on movement ease. Since April, there have been signs of a recovery in China's tourism market, and aviation experts expect domestic travel in most markets will recover before international travel. Travel within China is also complicated by movement curbs retained in some regions, such as Beijing, the capital, to guard against a second wave of infections from aboard. Joussen urged the EU to put in place a concept that allows for the resumption of holiday travel within the bloc, where border restrictions have been in place since March. "The EU and its member states should develop a timetable for resuming travel within Europe and make holidays possible in 2020," he said, citing Greece, Cyprus, Spanish islands, Austria and Bulgaria which have made progress toward reopening resorts. German Interior Minister Horst Seehofer ruled out reopening Germany's border with Austria to holidaymakers in an interview with mass-selling Bild newspaper, citing the risk of a second coronavirus outbreak. The Ischgl ski resort has been linked to hundreds of coronavirus cases in Germany and Scandinavian countries. (This story was refiled to correct global coronavirus figures in 6th paragraph)
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/stock-market-news/tuis-china-unit-resumes-domestic-holiday-offers-2159047Rating: 0.30
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from lawsuits
3 May 20:49
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8 articles
Weight: 2.06
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Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 12.899999999999999
Weighted average IN: 24.983434378603985
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from lawsuits
NEW YORK (AP) — Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,‘” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York's immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state's entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren’t being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what’s happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far." Among the situations for which lawyers say nursing homes should be held to account: Homes that flouted federal guidelines to screen workers, cut off visitations and end group activities; those that failed to inform residents and relatives of an outbreak; those that disregarded test results; and homes like one in California, where at least a dozen employees did not show up for work for two straight days, prompting residents to be evacuated. “Just because you have a pandemic doesn’t mean you give a pass on people exercising common sense,” said Dr. Roderick Edmond, an Atlanta lawyer representing families suing over COVID-19 deaths in an assisted-living facility. “If you take the power of suing away from the families, then anything goes,” said Stella Kazantzas whose husband died in a Massachusetts nursing home with the same owners as the home hit by the nation’s first such outbreak near Seattle, which killed 43 people. “They already knew in Washington how quickly this would spread,” she said. “They should have taken extreme measures, sensible measures. And they were not taken.” While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 20,058 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. Florida lawyer Michael Brevda said his firm gets 10 to 20 calls a day. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits in the “middle of a battle to save the elderly" is “pathetic” and doesn’t consider the hardships nursing home workers have endured. “The second-guessing of people after a tragedy, if those people did the best that they could under the circumstances, is just wrong,” said Jim Cobb, the New Orleans attorney who successfully defended nursing home owners charged in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned in Hurricane Katrina. “There’s a lot to be said for someone acting in good faith in the face of a natural disaster and state of emergency, and they should have criminal immunity.” ___ AP reporter Candice Choi and investigative news researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report.
3 May 20:49 • WVLT • https://www.wvlt.tv/content/news/Faced-with-20000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-lawsuits-570159821.htmlRating: 0.30
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from lawsuits
NEW YORK — Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,’” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths. New York’s immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state’s entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis and save lives. Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy said immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far.” All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits now is “pathetic.” “These lawsuits are distracting facilities from being able to focus on taking care of people," he said. "We are in the middle of a battle right now.” © Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission.
3 May 20:35 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/faced-with-19-000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-lawsuits-1Rating: 2.09
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from lawsuits
NEW YORK - Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,‘” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York's immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state's entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and wilful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren’t being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what’s happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or wilful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far." Among the situations for which lawyers say nursing homes should be held to account: Homes that flouted federal guidelines to screen workers, cut off visitations and end group activities; those that failed to inform residents and relatives of an outbreak; those that disregarded test results; and homes like one in California, where at least a dozen employees did not show up for work for two straight days, prompting residents to be evacuated. “Just because you have a pandemic doesn’t mean you give a pass on people exercising common sense,” said Dr. Roderick Edmond, an Atlanta lawyer representing families suing over COVID-19 deaths in an assisted-living facility. “If you take the power of suing away from the families, then anything goes,” said Stella Kazantzas whose husband died in a Massachusetts nursing home with the same owners as the home hit by the nation’s first such outbreak near Seattle, which killed 43 people. “They already knew in Washington how quickly this would spread,” she said. “They should have taken extreme measures, sensible measures. And they were not taken.” While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 20,058 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. Florida lawyer Michael Brevda said his firm gets 10 to 20 calls a day. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits in the “middle of a battle to save the elderly" is “pathetic” and doesn’t consider the hardships nursing home workers have endured. “The second-guessing of people after a tragedy, if those people did the best that they could under the circumstances, is just wrong,” said Jim Cobb, the New Orleans attorney who successfully defended nursing home owners charged in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned in Hurricane Katrina.
3 May 17:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/faced-with-20000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-lawsuits/it72907Rating: 0.30
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from lawsuits
NEW YORK — Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,‘” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York’s immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state’s entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and wilful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren’t being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what’s happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or wilful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far.” Among the situations for which lawyers say nursing homes should be held to account: Homes that flouted federal guidelines to screen workers, cut off visitations and end group activities; those that failed to inform residents and relatives of an outbreak; those that disregarded test results; and homes like one in California, where at least a dozen employees did not show up for work for two straight days, prompting residents to be evacuated. “Just because you have a pandemic doesn’t mean you give a pass on people exercising common sense,” said Dr. Roderick Edmond, an Atlanta lawyer representing families suing over COVID-19 deaths in an assisted-living facility. “If you take the power of suing away from the families, then anything goes,” said Stella Kazantzas whose husband died in a Massachusetts nursing home with the same owners as the home hit by the nation’s first such outbreak near Seattle, which killed 43 people. “They already knew in Washington how quickly this would spread,” she said. “They should have taken extreme measures, sensible measures. And they were not taken.” While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 20,058 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. Florida lawyer Michael Brevda said his firm gets 10 to 20 calls a day. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits in the “middle of a battle to save the elderly” is “pathetic” and doesn’t consider the hardships nursing home workers have endured. “The second-guessing of people after a tragedy, if those people did the best that they could under the circumstances, is just wrong,” said Jim Cobb, the New Orleans attorney who successfully defended nursing home owners charged in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned in Hurricane Katrina. “There’s a lot to be said for someone acting in good faith in the face of a natural disaster and state of emergency, and they should have criminal immunity.” ___ AP reporter Candice Choi and investigative news researcher Randy Herschaft contributed to this report. Bernard Condon, Jim Mustian And Jennifer Peltz, The Associated Press
3 May 16:14 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/faced-with-20000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-lawsuits/Rating: 0.61
U.S. Nursing Homes, Faced With 20,000 Dead, Seek Protection From Lawsuits
NEW YORK (AP) — Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,’” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths. New York’s immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state’s entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis and save lives. Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy said immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far.” All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits now is “pathetic.” “These lawsuits are distracting facilities from being able to focus on taking care of people,” he said. “We are in the middle of a battle right now.” A HuffPost Guide To Coronavirus
3 May 17:09 • HuffPost • https://www.huffpost.com/entry/coronavirus-nursing-homes-seek-protection-from-lawsuits_n_5eaef7bcc5b6c8de883c63df?guccounter=1Rating: 2.48
Faced with 19,000 dead, care homes seek shield from claims of inadequate care
Faced with 19,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation's nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors' orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation's more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you're really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, 'Let's protect our heroes,'” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry's efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation's known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York's immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn't cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don't include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo's administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state's entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation's nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren't being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what's happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can't be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said.
3 May 20:11 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/faced-with-19000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-claims-of-inadequate-care-833120.htmlRating: 2.25
Faced with 20,000 dead, care homes seek shield from coronavirus lawsuits | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
NEW YORK >> Faced with 20,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. At least 15 states have enacted laws or governors’ orders that explicitly or apparently provide nursing homes and long-term care facilities some protection from lawsuits arising from the crisis. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,’” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York’s immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state’s entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren’t being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what’s happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far.” Among the situations for which lawyers say nursing homes should be held to account: Homes that flouted federal guidelines to screen workers, cut off visitations and end group activities; those that failed to inform residents and relatives of an outbreak; those that disregarded test results; and homes like one in California, where at least a dozen employees did not show up for work for two straight days, prompting residents to be evacuated. “Just because you have a pandemic doesn’t mean you give a pass on people exercising common sense,” said Dr. Roderick Edmond, an Atlanta lawyer representing families suing over COVID-19 deaths in an assisted-living facility. “If you take the power of suing away from the families, then anything goes,” said Stella Kazantzas whose husband died in a Massachusetts nursing home with the same owners as the home hit by the nation’s first such outbreak near Seattle, which killed 43 people. “They already knew in Washington how quickly this would spread,” she said. “They should have taken extreme measures, sensible measures. And they were not taken.” While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 20,058 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. Florida lawyer Michael Brevda said his firm gets 10 to 20 calls a day. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits in the “middle of a battle to save the elderly” is “pathetic” and doesn’t consider the hardships nursing home workers have endured. “The second-guessing of people after a tragedy, if those people did the best that they could under the circumstances, is just wrong,” said Jim Cobb, the New Orleans attorney who successfully defended nursing home owners charged in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned in Hurricane Katrina. “There’s a lot to be said for someone acting in good faith in the face of a natural disaster and state of emergency, and they should have criminal immunity.”
3 May 16:08 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/breaking-news/faced-with-20000-dead-care-homes-seek-shield-from-coronavirus-lawsuits/Rating: 0.30
With 19,000 dead from virus, care homes seek protection from lawsuits
NEW YORK — Faced with 19,000 coronavirus deaths and counting, the nation’s nursing homes are pushing back against a potential flood of lawsuits with a sweeping lobbying effort to get states to grant them emergency protection from claims of inadequate care. And in the case of New York, which leads the nation in deaths in such facilities, a lobbying group wrote the first draft of a measure that apparently makes it the only state with specific protection from both civil lawsuits and criminal prosecution. Now the industry is forging ahead with a campaign to get other states on board with a simple argument: This was an unprecedented crisis and nursing homes should not be liable for events beyond their control, such as shortages of protective equipment and testing, shifting directives from authorities, and sicknesses that have decimated staffs. “As our care providers make these difficult decisions, they need to know they will not be prosecuted or persecuted,” read a letter sent this month from several major hospital and nursing home groups to their next big goal, California, where Gov. Gavin Newsom has yet to make a decision. Other states in their sights include Florida, Pennsylvania and Missouri. Watchdogs, patient advocates and lawyers argue that immunity orders are misguided. At a time when the crisis is laying bare such chronic industry problems as staffing shortages and poor infection control, they say legal liability is the last safety net to keep facilities accountable. They also contend nursing homes are taking advantage of the crisis to protect their bottom lines. Almost 70% of the nation’s more than 15,000 nursing homes are run by for-profit companies, and hundreds have been bought and sold in recent years by private-equity firms. “What you’re really looking at is an industry that always wanted immunity and now has the opportunity to ask for it under the cloak of saying, ‘Let’s protect our heroes,’” said Mike Dark, an attorney for California Advocates for Nursing Home Reform. “This has very little to do with the hard work being done by health care providers,” he said, “and everything to do with protecting the financial interests of these big operators.” Nowhere have the industry’s efforts played out more starkly than in New York, which has a fifth of the nation’s known nursing home and long-term care deaths and has had at least seven facilities with outbreaks of 40 deaths or more, including one home in Manhattan that reported 98. New York’s immunity law signed by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo was drafted by the Greater New York Hospital Association, an influential lobbying group for both hospitals and nursing homes that donated more than $1 million to the state Democratic Party in 2018 and has pumped more than $7 million into lobbying over the past three years. While the law covering both hospital and nursing care workers doesn’t cover intentional misconduct, gross negligence and other such acts, it makes clear those exceptions don’t include “decisions resulting from a resource or staffing shortage.” Cuomo’s administration said the measure was a necessary part of getting the state’s entire health care apparatus to work together to respond to the crisis. “It was a decision made on the merits to help ensure we had every available resource to save lives,” said Rich Azzopardi, a senior advisor to Cuomo. “Suggesting any other motivation is simply grotesque.” Nationally, the lobbying effort is being led by the American Health Care Association, which represents nearly all of the nation’s nursing homes and has spent $23 million on lobbying efforts in the past six years. Other states that have emergency immunity measures are Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Georgia, Illinois, Kentucky, Massachusetts; Michigan, Mississippi, New Jersey, Nevada, Rhode Island, Vermont and Wisconsin. Their provisions vary but largely apply to injuries, deaths and care decisions, sometimes even to property damage. But there are limitations: Most make exceptions for gross negligence and willful misconduct, and they generally apply only during the emergency. Toby Edelman of the Center for Medicare Advocacy is troubled that homes are getting legal protections while family members aren’t being allowed to visit and routine government inspections have been scaled back. “Nobody is looking at what’s happening,” she said, adding that immunity declarations could make even gross or willful negligence suits harder since homes could argue any deficiencies were somehow tied to the pandemic. “Everything can’t be blamed on COVID-19. Other things can happen that are terrible,” she said. “Just to say we’re in this pandemic so anything goes, that seems too far.” Among the situations for which lawyers say nursing homes should be held to account: Homes that flouted federal guidelines to screen workers, cut off visitations and end group activities; those that failed to inform residents and relatives of an outbreak; those that disregarded test results; and homes like one in California, where at least a dozen employees did not show up for work for two straight days, prompting residents to be evacuated. “Just because you have a pandemic doesn’t mean you give a pass on people exercising common sense,” said Dr. Roderick Edmond, an Atlanta lawyer representing families suing over COVID-19 deaths in an assisted-living facility. “If you take the power of suing away from the families, then anything goes,” said Stella Kazantzas whose husband died in a Massachusetts nursing home with the same owners as the home hit by the nation’s first such outbreak near Seattle, which killed 43 people. “They already knew in Washington how quickly this would spread,” she said. “They should have taken extreme measures, sensible measures. And they were not taken.” While the federal government has yet to release numbers on how the coronavirus has ravaged the industry, The Associated Press has been keeping its own tally based on state health departments and media reports, finding 19,265 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities nationwide. All the new immunity laws notwithstanding, there is a potential wave of lawsuits coming. Illinois lawyer Steven Levin said he’s received dozens of calls from people considering suing homes over the outbreak. Florida lawyer Michael Brevda said his firm gets 10 to 20 calls a day. And a lawyer in Massachusetts said he’s gotten maybe 70 from families with relatives at homes struck by the virus. “We’re getting inundated,” said David Hoey, whose practice near Boston has been suing homes for 25 years. “They’re grieving and they’re confused. … ‘My loved one just died from COVID. What can I do?’” American Health Care Association CEO Mark Parkinson said the notion of lawyers gearing up for lawsuits in the “middle of a battle to save the elderly” is “pathetic” and doesn’t consider the hardships nursing home workers have endured. “The second-guessing of people after a tragedy, if those people did the best that they could under the circumstances, is just wrong,” said Jim Cobb, the New Orleans attorney who successfully defended nursing home owners charged in the deaths of 35 residents who drowned in Hurricane Katrina. “There’s a lot to be said for someone acting in good faith in the face of a natural disaster and state of emergency, and they should have criminal immunity.”
3 May 15:05 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/with-19000-dead-from-virus-care-homes-seek-protection-from-lawsuits-2020250/Rating: 0.30
Canada's coronavirus death toll edges up, Trudeau vows more funding for mental health
3 May 16:12
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Canada's coronavirus death toll edges up, Trudeau vows more funding for mental health
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canada’s daily coronavirus death toll edged up by under 5% on Sunday in another sign the outbreak has peaked and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised additional funding for mental healthcare services. The total number of people killed by the coronavirus rose by 4.6% to 3,606 on Sunday, public health agency data showed. Only once in the last two weeks has the toll jumped by more than 10% in a day and medical officials say the curve is clearly flattening. Some of Canada’s 10 provinces have outlined plans to gradually reopen their economies. Trudeau, saying he understood the stress caused by the shutdown of businesses across the country and orders to stay inside, said Ottawa would spend C$240 million ($170 million) to help develop virtual mental health tools to deliver support digitally. “If we can use apps to order dinner and video chats to stay in touch with family, we can use new technology to keep each other healthy,” he told a regular briefing. The figure for those diagnosed with the coronavirus rose to 57,148, the public health agency said. On Saturday there were 3,446 deaths and 55,572 positive diagnoses. ($1=1.4084 Canadian dollars)
3 May 16:12 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-canada-idUSKBN22F0N7Rating: 4.04
Canada's coronavirus death toll edges up
OTTAWA — Canada's daily coronavirus death toll edged up by under 5% on Sunday in another sign the outbreak has peaked and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau promised additional funding for mental healthcare services. The total number of people killed by the coronavirus rose by 4.6% to 3,606 on Sunday, public health agency data showed. Only once in the last two weeks has the toll jumped by more than 10% in a day and medical officials say the curve is clearly flattening. Some of Canada's 10 provinces have outlined plans to gradually reopen their economies. Trudeau, saying he understood the stress caused by the shutdown of businesses across the country and orders to stay inside, said Ottawa would spend C$240 million ($170 million) to help develop virtual mental health tools to deliver support digitally. "If we can use apps to order dinner and video chats to stay in touch with family, we can use new technology to keep each other healthy," he told a regular briefing. The figure for those diagnosed with the coronavirus rose to 57,148, the public health agency said. On Saturday there were 3,446 deaths and 55,572 positive diagnoses. © (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2020.
3 May 20:06 • Japan Today • https://japantoday.com/category/world/update-1-canada%27s-coronavirus-death-toll-edges-up-trudeau-vows-more-funding-for-mental-healthRating: 2.09
US coronavirus death toll surpasses 65,000: Live updates
Here are the latest updates: New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pushed back against what he called premature demands to reopen the state, saying he knows people were struggling without jobs but more understanding of the coronavirus was needed. Cuomo said he needed much more information on what the pandemic is doing in his hardest-hit state before he loosens restrictions. Read more here As several US states start reopening their economies over the weekend, the number of known infections in the US has climbed to more than 1.1 million, including 65,645 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University. Overall in the United States, there were 34,000 new cases reported on Friday, the highest daily total since April 24. More than 164,000 people have recovered from the virus. The US has conducted 6.5 million tests so far. Yemen has reported three new coronavirus cases, two in Aden and one in Taiz province, the national emergency coronavirus committee said, raising the number of diagnosed infections in the war-town country to 10 with two deaths. The United Nations says it fears the new coronavirus could be spreading undetected among an acutely malnourished population with inadequate testing capabilities. Read more here The number of people who have died from coronavirus infections in France rose by 166 to 24,760, while hospitalisations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the French health ministry said. France will extend a health emergency imposed to fight the new coronavirus pandemic for another two months until July 24, Minister of Health Olivier Veran has said. "We are going to have to perform a long-distance run," Veran said,, adding he was aware that the French people had already been asked for "colossal efforts" in the fight against the virus. Read more here Saudi Arabia will take strict and painful measures to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV. "We must reduce budget expenditures sharply", Jadaan said in comments published ahead of the interview's broadcast. No details of possible measures were given. The world's largest oil exporter is suffering from historically low oil prices. Jadaan noted the country had introduced stimulus measures aimed at preserving jobs in the private sector and safeguarding the provision of basic services. Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy jumped by 474, against 269 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, posting the largest daily toll of fatalities since April 21. The steep increase in deaths followed a long, gradual declining trend and was due largely to Lombardy, the country's worst affected region, where there were 329 deaths in the last 24 hours compared with just 88 the day before. The daily tally of new infections was broadly stable for a third day running at 1,900 against 1,965 on Friday. The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 28,710, the agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States. There were 1,539 people in intensive care on Saturday, slightly down from 1,578 on Friday and maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 79,914 were declared recovered against 78,249 a day earlier. Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases - its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic - bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow. The death toll nationwide rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said. Concern was growing in Moscow that hospitals might become overwhelmed after recording the new one-day high of infections, a 20 percent increase over Friday's count, which itself was a new daily record. Read more here The Turkish trade ministry lifted export restrictions and a requirement to obtain advance permission for private companies to export medical equipment needed in treating COVID-19. The decision, published in the Official Gazette, rescinded restrictions on exporting ventilators, intubation tubes and ICU monitors, among other equipment. The trade ministry lifted restrictions on the export of ethanol, cologne, disinfectants and hydrogen peroxide. Turkey also announced a military plane delivered medical supplies, including locally produced ventilators, to Somalia. Ankara has so far shipped needed supplies to at least 55 countries, including to the United States. Turkey, a country of 83 million, has more than 122,00 cases and more than 3,200 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. The United Kingdom's COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has had the deadliest novel coronavirus outbreak among European countries. "Sadly of those tested positive for coronavirus... 28,131 have now died," housing minister Robert Jenrick told reporters at a Downing Street briefing. "That's an increase of 621 fatalities since yesterday." Italy reported a death toll of 28,236 on May 1. Spain will make masks mandatory on public transport from Monday to prevent a new wave of coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said. The Madrid government, which had until now "highly recommended" the use of masks, will distribute six million across the country from Monday and supply another seven million to local authorities. Read more here Inmates at a prison in Manaus, a Brazilian city deep in the Amazon that has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, have taken seven prison guards hostage, the local prison authority told Reuters news agency. The reason for the rebellion at the Puraquequara Penitentiary was not immediately clear, but local television stations cited a video allegedly recorded by an unidentified inmate, who complained of sweltering heat and a lack of electricity in the prison. The rebellion comes as the coronavirus outbreak has overwhelmed public services in Manaus, with authorities burying victims in mass graves and warning residents of a shortage soon of coffins. The death toll from COVID-19 in English hospitals rose 370 to 20,853, the health service said. Of the 370 who died, 25 had no underlying health condition, the National Health Service said. The United Kingdom's death toll is due to be published later. The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 445 to 40,236, Dutch health authorities said. The National Institute for Public Health reported 94 new deaths, taking total COVID-19 fatalities to 4,987. All Spaniards were allowed to go for walks or play sport after 48 days of home confinement to combat the coronavirus in one of the worst-hit countries. Spain's nearly 47 million people have since March 14 lived under one of the strictest virus lockdowns in the world, with adults authorised to leave home only to buy food, medicine or walk the dog. Spain's coronavirus death toll hit 25,100 after 276 people died overnight, the health ministry said. Total cases rose to 216,582 from 215,216 on Friday. Nearly 10,000 prison inmates have been released in the Philippines as the country races to halt coronavirus infections in its overcrowded jails, a Supreme Court official said. The move follows a directive to lower courts to release those awaiting trial in prison because they could not afford bail, Associate Supreme Court Justice Mario Victor Leonen told reporters. "The court is very much aware of the congested situation in our prisons," Leonen told reporters as he announced the release of 9,731 inmates. Read more here. Indonesia recorded 292 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections to 10,843, said health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto. Yurianto also reported 31 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 831. The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, rose by 74 to 1,665, he said. The country has tested more than 79,800 people for the virus, he said. Construction workers are building the makeshift Pertamina hospital for coronavirus in Jakarta [Anton Raharjo/Anadolu] Malaysia reported 105 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,176. The number of deaths remained at 103. Russia reported 9,623 new cases of the coronavirus, its highest daily rise, bringing the total to 124,054. The nationwide death toll rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia's coronavirus crisis response centre said, after revising the previous day's tally. The Philippines said it has recorded 156 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 24 more deaths, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 8,928 and the fatalities to 603. It also said that 40 more individuals had recovered from infections, bringing the recoveries to 1,124. The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 40,000 across Africa, including nearly 1,700 deaths and more than 13,000 recoveries, accoding to Africa CDC. At least 53 African nations have confirmed the new coronavirus infections. Singapore's health ministry confirmed 447 new coronavirus infections, the smallest daily rise in two weeks, taking the city-state's tally of cases to 17,548 with 16 virus-related deaths. Most of the new cases are among migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said. The Indian government said the world's biggest coronavirus lockdown will be extended for two weeks beyond May 4, but with some easing of restrictions. The home ministry said in a statement that in view of "significant gains in the COVID-19 situation", areas with few or no cases would see "considerable relaxations". The stringent restrictions have been credited with keeping confirmed cases of coronavirus to about 37,000 cases, with 1,223 deaths. About two percent of Moscow residents - or more than 250,000 people - have the coronavirus, the mayor of the Russian capital said, citing test results. Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog that Moscow has significantly ramped up testing capacity over the past few weeks, adding the city has managed to "contain the spread of the infection" due to the enforcement of stay-at-home rules and other measures. But he reiterated that the city was not yet past the peak of the outbreak, saying “the threat is apparently on the rise". Hello, this is Tamila Varshalomidze in Doha, taking over the live updates from my colleague Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur. A small cluster has emerged at a meat factory in the Australian state of Victoria, health officials said on Saturday, as parts of the country started easing physical distancing restrictions after suppressing the infection rate to below 1 percent. Three of the cases in Victoria were related to a meat-processing facility, said its health minister. A total of eight employees have tested positive. In Australia's most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) two out of five new cases were recorded at the Newmarch aged care facility in Sydney, where about 60 people have been infected, and 13 have died. Local clusters of COVID-19 and cruise ship infections have accounted for a large percentage of Australia's nearly 6,800 cases and 93 deaths. Thailand reported six new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,966, according to Reuters news agency. Three of the new cases were found on the southern resort island of Phuket, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman of the government's Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration. While more than half of Thailand's nearly 3,000 cases were concentrated in Bangkok, Phuket has the highest rate of infection per population, Taweesin said. Since Thailand first detected the virus in January, 54 patients have died, 2,732 have recovered, and 180 are still hospitalised, according to official figures. NASA and SpaceX have urged spectators to stay home for the first home launch of astronauts in nearly a decade because of the coronavirus pandemic. Top officials warned the public against travelling to the US state of Florida for the May 27 launch of two NASA astronauts on board a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station, the Associated Press news agency reported. It will be the first launch of astronauts from NASA's Kennedy Space Center in nine years - the last space shuttle flight was in 2011. It also will be the first attempt by a private company to fly astronauts into orbit. Singapore announced on Saturday that it will ease some restrictions in the country, allowing some businesses to operate starting May 12, according to Reuters news agency. Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that as the number of cases in the broader community drop, more restrictions will be lifted in the weeks to come. The government also said it will allow some students to return to school beginning on May 19. Police officers wearing protective suits pick up a migrant worker from an apartment under enhanced lockdown in Kuala Lumpur on Friday [Lim Huey Teng/Reuters] Malaysian authorities rounded up undocumented migrants as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, the country's police chief said. Over 700 migrants were taken into custody, including young children and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, during Friday's raid in a downtown area where thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers live, rights groups had said. "We cannot allow them to move freely... as it will be difficult for us to track them down if they leave identified locations," Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador told state news agency Bernama. Those detained would be placed at a single location for monitoring until the movement curbs are lifted, he said, according to state news agency Bernama. The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose by 945 to 161,703, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday. The death toll rose by 94 to 6,575. The International Monetary Fund has approved a request from Ecuador for emergency financing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, granting a $643m loan, the Andean country's economy ministry has announced. Ecuador has been among the hardest-hit countries in Latin America, with 24,675 confirmed cases and 883 deaths, plus a further 1,357 deaths that were likely caused by the coronavirus. "This financing will allow us to have the necessary liquidity to support the reactivation of the economy, and protect jobs," the ministry said in a statement. The Japan Sumo Association has announced it will reconsider its schedule for the summer grand tournament starting on May 24 if the government extends the state of emergency, Japan's NHK news reported. The nationwide measures are currently due to expire on Wednesday, May 6. The opening of the event had already been postponed for two weeks to May 24. Organisers are also considering holding the tournament without spectators, or cancelling it, the report said. South Korea reported six more cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the nation's total infections to 10,780, according to Yonhap news agency. It marked the fourth day in a row for the new daily infections to stay in the single digits. The nation's death toll from the virus rose by two to 250, while 9,123 people have recovered, up 51 from a day earlier. At least 9,123 of the 10,780 infected people recovered from the coronavirus in South Korea as of Saturday [Kim Hong-Ji/Reuters] An investigation conducted by the Reuters news agency has revealed that taxpayer money has gone to some companies and people facing civil or criminal fraud investigations in the US. The disclosures prompted outrage among some congressional Democrats, who say they highlight the problems with how stimulus funds have been distributed. The funds came from the $2.3 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress to blunt the economic toll of the pandemic, which has killed more than 64,000 Americans and thrown at least 30 million people out of work. Gilead Science Inc's antiviral drug remdesivir was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for COVID-19, clearing the way for broader use of the drug around the US. During a meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump, Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O'Day called the move an important first step and said the company was donating 1.5 million vials of the drug to help patients. The donation is expected to be enough for at least 140,000 patients, depending on the number of days they need to be treated. Gilead said on Wednesday that the drug, which is given intravenously, had helped improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19 and provided data suggesting it worked better when given earlier in the course of infection. Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a national viral genomics consortium to better sequence the transmission of COVID-19. ______________________________________________________________ Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera's continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I'm Shereena Qazi in Doha, Qatar. You can find all the key developments from yesterday, May 1, here.
2 May 20:50 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/official-missed-chances-slow-coronavirus-live-updates-200501234526091.htmlRating: 2.44
Donald Trump hopes COVID deaths will be below 100,000
At a White House event on Friday, Trump said 'maybe millions of lives' have been saved by shutting down the economy. Washington: President Donald Trump says he's hoping that the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States will be below 100,000. Even that, he acknowledged on Friday, is a "horrible number." Trump's predictions of the expected U.S. the death toll has changed over time, and he repeatedly has used high estimates to make the case that his administration's actions, especially his decision to restrict travel from China, have saved lives. His actions have been challenged by the state, local and public health officials who have complained about shortages of testing supplies and safety gear for doctors and nurses. On March 29, Dr.Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, revealed models projecting the deaths of 100,000 to 240,000 Americans, assuming social distancing efforts were ongoing. At the same time, she said epidemiology models initially had predicted a worst-case scenario of 1.5 million to 2.2 million U.S. deaths without mitigation efforts such as social distancing, hand washing and staying home as much as possible. Soon after, Trump began speculating that the 100,000 figure was an outer limit. Later, he leaned more toward a projection of 60,000, but that now has been eclipsed by the current death toll of more than 64,000. On Monday, he was thinking 60,000 or 70,000. At a White House event on Friday, Trump said "maybe millions of lives" have been saved by shutting down the economy. Email ArticlePrint Article Next Story
2 May 12:24 • The Hans India • https://www.thehansindia.com/news/international/trump-hopes-covid-deaths-will-be-below-100000-620377Rating: 1.10
Donald Trump hopes coronavirus deaths will be below 100,000
President Donald Trump says he's hoping that the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States will be below 100,000. Even that, he acknowledged on Friday, is a “horrible number.” Trump's predictions of the expected US death toll have changed over time, and he repeatedly has used high estimates to make the case that his administration's actions, especially his decision to restrict travel from China, have saved lives. His actions have been challenged by the state, local and public health officials who have complained about shortages of testing supplies and safety gear for doctors and nurses. On March 29, Dr Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, revealed models projecting the deaths of 100,000 to 240,000 Americans, assuming social distancing efforts were ongoing. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here At the same time, she said epidemiology models initially had predicted a worst-case scenario of 1.5 million to 2.2 million US deaths without mitigation efforts such as social distancing, hand washing and staying home as much as possible. Soon after, Trump began speculating that the 100,000 figure was an outer limit. Later, he leaned more toward a projection of 60,000, but that now has been eclipsed by the current death toll of more than 64,000. On Monday, he was thinking 60,000 or 70,000. At a White House event on Friday, Trump said “maybe millions of lives” have been saved by shutting down the economy.
2 May 16:36 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/donald-trump-hopes-coronavirus-deaths-will-be-below-100000-832676.htmlRating: 2.25
Donald Trump revises US Covid-19 toll estimate again to ‘hopefully under 100,000’
President Donald Trump on Friday revised the estimate of US fatalities from Covid-19 to “hopefully” less than 100,000, just days after he said he feared it could go up to 60,000 and then to 70,000. His first estimate based on projections by his coronavirus task force was up to 200,000. As of Saturday morning, US toll stood at 65,068, with 1,947 new fatalities in the last 24 hours and the number of confirmed cases had climbed to 1.1 million, with 34,037 new reported infections. The Institute of Health Metrics and Evaluation (IHME), whose projections are widely cited by public health officials and experts including member of the president’s task force on the coronavirus, has estimated 72,433 fatalities based on current levels of mitigation efforts. The American president has tried to get ahead of the pandemic, which he had once dismissed as something that will “disappear” like a “miracle”. Trump has also used these statements to claim credit for himself and his administration for acting in time and aggressively enough to have prevented many more death, even though US remains the nation which has recorded the highest death toll due to coronavirus, followed by Italy which is the second-hardest hit country. “Through our aggressive response and the remarkable commitment and bravery of American people, we have saved thousands and thousands of lives,” the president told reporters Friday before heading out to Camp David, the presidential retreat in adjoining Maryland state. He added: “People were thinking in terms of 1.5 million lives lost to 2.2 without the mitigation. And hopefully, we’re going to come in below that 100,000 lives lost, which is a horrible number nevertheless.” The estimate of 1.5 million to 2.2 million came from the White House task force on the coronavirus and was based on assumptions that the government did nothing to combat the outbreak. With all mitigation efforts fully in force, the task force had projected 120,000 to 200,000 deaths. To keep a tight control on its narrative on the handling of the outbreak, the White House has blocked Anthony Fauci, a top government epidemiologist and member of the coronavirus task force, from testifying before a congressional committee. It has said making key officials fighting the outbreak appear at hearings will be “counterproductive” at this point. But all projections have been significantly lowered with the enforcement of mitigation efforts such as stay-at-home orders and social-distancing guidelines. With continued drop in new cases, hospitalization and intubation, many states have started easing these restrictions. Texas became Friday the largest state to roll back some of the curbs. Stores, restaurants, movie theaters, malls, museums and libraries were allowed to reopen with limited occupancy to ensure social-distancing. Other states such as California and Michigan, which have been hit hard by the epidemic, are being more careful and have tightened restrictions. Beaches and some public parks have been closed in California indefinitely and Michigan has extended the lockdown to May 15 despite mounting protests. The situation in New York, the epicenter of the American epidemic with more than 24,000 fatalities, continues to improve but the scale of the devastation in the state and New York City, where close to 18,400 people have died thus far, has continued to unfold. A New York city nursing home on Friday reported the death of 98 inmates from Covid-19 over a period of time. “It’s absolutely horrifying,” Mayor Bill de Blasio has said. “It’s inestimable loss, and it’s just impossible to imagine so many people lost in one place.” Earlier in the week 100 bodies were found decomposing in two unrefrigerated trucks outside a funeral home in the city.
2 May 15:00 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/trump-revises-covid-19-toll-estimate-again-to-hopefully-under-100-000/story-iJdlGbD4mmeJpnQre3SrUO.htmlRating: 0.30
Trump hopes COVID deaths will be below 100,000
President Donald Trump says he’s hoping that the total number of COVID-19 deaths in the United States will be below 100,000. Even that, he acknowledged on Friday, is a “horrible number”. Trump’s predictions of the expected U.S. death toll have changed over time, and he repeatedly has used high estimates to make the case that his administration’s actions, especially his decision to restrict travel from China, have saved lives. His actions have been challenged by state, local and public health officials who have complained about shortages of testing supplies and safety gear for doctors and nurses. On March 29, Dr. Deborah Birx, coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, revealed models projecting the deaths of 100,000 to 240,000 Americans, assuming social distancing efforts were ongoing. At the same time, she said epidemiology models initially had predicted a worst-case scenario of 1.5 million to 2.2 million U.S. deaths without mitigation efforts such as social distancing, hand washing and staying home as much as possible. Soon after, Trump began speculating that the 100,000 figure was an outer limit. Later, he leaned more toward a projection of 60,000, but that now has been eclipsed by the current death toll of more than 64,000. On Monday, he was thinking 60,000 or 70,000. At a White House event on Friday, Trump said “maybe millions of lives” have been saved by shutting down the economy.
2 May 13:31 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/world/united-states/trump-hopes-covid-deaths-will-be-below-100000-6390671/Rating: 0.30
Normal People star hits back at criticism of the show’s controversial sex scenes
3 May 21:16
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Normal People star hits back at criticism of the show’s controversial sex scenes
NORMAL People star Paul Mescal, who plays Connell in the hit BBC drama, has hit back at those criticising the show’s controversial sex scenes. The 12-part series has been dubbed the “horniest show on TV” and been praised by many for its representation of sexual consent. However the raunchy scenes have proved a particularly contentious talking point in Ireland, where the series is set. Listeners to RTÉ Radio 1 Liveline show likened the scenes to “something you would expect to see in a porno movie” but Paul Mescal, who plays lead role Connell, has hit back revealing he’s "incredibly proud" of the love scenes. Speaking on the RTE One’s The Late Late Show, he said: “I actually listened in [to Liveline] yesterday, and I suppose I was a bit surprised, but the last thing I want to do is sit and judge people for that, because they’re entitled to their opinion. “My own perspective of it is we worked hard to make it feel like it was a real, accurate and truthful representation of sex amongst young people. “It’s something I’m incredibly proud of and incredibly proud to see on Irish screens, personally.” Normal People is a TV adaptation of Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel of the same name, whichcentres around two Irish teenagers from different backgrounds who fall in love. Set in County Sligo, Ireland, Normal People follows the couple through their highs and lows and touches on the power and vulnerability of first love. Paul, 24, plays Connell, Daisy Edgar-Jones, 21, plays Marianne. The duos performances have won them rave reviews and become an overnight sensation. Normal People is available to stream now on BBC iPlayer. Weekly double episodes air Mondays on BBC One from 9pm. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
3 May 21:16 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/11540405/normal-people-star-hits-back-controversial-sex-scenes/Rating: 2.72
Normal People actress Daisy Edgar-Jones says she's proud of the way the show portrays consent - but a sexpert slams its 'very unhealthy' BDSM sex scenes which left her 'wincing'
A sexpert has slammed controversial sex scenes in the BBC drama Normal People, claiming they left her 'wincing' - while actress Daisy Edgar-Jones says she's 'proud' of the show's portrayal of consent. All 12 episodes of the series were released on BBC iPlayer last week and fans have rushed to praise the adaptation of the hit Sally Rooney novel, saying sex scenes between Connell, played by Paul Mescal, and Daisy's character Marianne should be taught in schools as an example of consent. Speaking to Evanna Lynch and Riyadh Khalaf on the BBC's Obsessed With... podcast Daisy, 21, said seeing communicative consensual sex on TV shouldn't be 'novel'. She said: 'One of the things I think is really brilliantly done in the series and one of the things very I'm proud to be a part of is the depiction of Marianne's first time with Connell.' The series has been lauded by fans for it's realistic bedroom scenes, but sex expert Alix Fox slammed some of the storylines, particularly its exploration of BDSM, as 'unhealthy'. While viewers have already labelled the series 'perfect' and praised the show for 'capturing the atmosphere of the book', sexpert Alix said she found some of the show's sex scenes 'ominous'. Speaking on the same podcast, Alix said: 'I can't say I giggled at a lot of the sex in this show, a lot of it had me wincing. There are some beautiful and tender moments but a lot of it is tinged with the sense it's about to be lost or there's a high stake of trepidation.' Alix explained that the sex in the show was an important part of the storytelling, and not gratuitous, but said she found it frustrating that Marianne and Connell appeared to communicate so well in the bedroom, but struggled so much outside it. 'The people might love each other but they don't love themselves,' she said. 'What aggravated me, even thought it's important to the story, is that they had this loving communicative sex but they didn't communicate any further after sex. 'They don't move things forward, they come together, literally, and move apart in the same sequence, they both had to go through other things.' And while she said the sex scenes with Connell were the most communicative, Alix added there were 'ominous aspects'. She explained: 'Connell asks, "Does this hurt?" and she says, "Yes, it's nice." I find it poignant that one of her first sexual experience about pain. 'More broadly women are expected to get sex to hurt, and I think although that's not the only influence on Marianne's sexuality, I think that may have fed into her expectation.' She added in later scenes, where Marianne was seeing Jamie, the sex is 'very unhealthy' and not 'S&M' but instead abuse. 'We know that Jamie is aggressive and not just in the bedroom, he's abusive through their entire relationship, it's something he likes, when she talks about it she says it's a thing she's doing, she never expresses excitement, it sounds like a chore.' Meanwhile Daisy explained she was proud of the programme, saying: 'I just love the way that Connell asks and makes sure she's 100 per cent comfortable with everything. 'When I grew up that kind of thing and sex as a topic was taboo but I feel we're in a different time now, and shows like Sex Education are helping us be able to openly and healthily about how to have sex in that way. 'I hope that younger people see that and that shouldn't be a novel thing, it should be the norm that someone makes sure you're safe and comfortable with everything. Daisy added that she got 'used to' being naked in the show, even though she was previously so conscious of her body that she would hide in female changing rooms.
3 May 14:28 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8270137/Normal-People-actress-Daisy-Edgar-Jones-says-shes-proud-way-portrays-consent.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Normal People's Paul Mescal brushes off sex scenes backlash in native Ireland
Normal People star Paul Mescal has brushed off the controversy surrounding the series’ sex scenes in his native Ireland. The 24-year-old, who plays Connell in the series, was interviewed on RTE One’s Late Late Show, where he admitted it had been ‘a very bizarre 72 hours’ after the show dropped. An adaption of Sally Rooney’s best-selling novel, the show follows the complicated romantic lives of students Connell (Mescal) and Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones). The nature of the sex scenes included in the episode drew particular ire in Ireland, where the country’s Liveline radio show hosted a debate on the topic. Speaking on the backlash, Mescal brushed off any criticism, saying peers had thanked him for the series for ‘portraying young people in a society that they recongnise.’ ‘I actually listened in [to Liveline] yesterday,’ he said. ‘and I suppose I was a bit surprised, but the last thing I want to do is sit and judge people for that, because they’re entitled to their opinion. ‘My own perspective of it is we worked hard to make it feel like it was a real, accurate and truthful represention of sex amongst young people. ‘It’s something I’m incredibly proud of and incredibly proud to see on Irish screens, personally.’ We’ve already weighed in on this issue – arguing that just because Normal People shows teenagers having healthy, consensual sex, it doesn’t mean it’s going to inspire them to have the sex they were probably already having anyway. Paul’s co-star Daisy hasn’t weighed in on the controversy, but she did yesterday post a host of excellent behind-the-scenes snaps taken as the drama was being filmed. Brb, just stalking her entire feed. Daisy also previously shared some insider info into the auditioning process on the show – admitting that she had to ‘snog the air.’ Which, we’re sure looked totally fine. Anyway, don’t mind us we’re just going to binge the entire, perfect series again and cry. Normal People is available to stream now via BBC iPlayer. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
2 May 16:37 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/normal-peoples-paul-mescal-brushes-off-sex-scenes-backlash-native-ireland-12646057/Rating: 2.18
Paul Mescal gives his take on Normal People's sex scenes debate
The BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel has been causing a stir among some viewers who have compared the sex scenes in episode two to something you'd see in a porno Normal People's Paul Mescal who plays Connell in the BBC adaptation of Sally Rooney's novel has given his take on the sex scenes thus far. The actor was interviewed on The Late Late Show last night via video link with Ryan Tubridy bringing up the widely talked about Liveline feature on Normal People. As you are probably aware by now, some viewers phoned in to Joe Duffy to liken the sex scenes in episode two of the series to something you would see in a porno. One caller named Mary said: "I imagined it would be something you'd expect to see in a porno movie. Certainly not for family viewing." Another called Tommy added: "I feel it was a bit pornographic, maybe in one or two scenes. I feel that young actress is being exploited and used just to get the ratings. "It's giving the wrong message to young people. I have two daughters and if they think that that's what's going on in secondary school, it's shocking." Well, last night while chatting to Ryan, the Normal People star responded to how some viewers have reacted to the show's sex scenes. Mescal said the sex scenes are something he is really proud of as they are something the team worked really hard on to portray an accurate representation of "sex amongst young people today". He told Ryan: "The last thing I want to do is sit and judge people for that, because they're obviously entitled to their opinion. "My own perspective is that we worked hard - myself, Lenny, Daisy and Hettie - we worked very hard to make it feel like it was a real, accurate and truthful representation of sex amongst young people today and it's actually something I'm incredibly proud of and something I'm really proud to see on Irish screens, personally." Normal People tracks the on-off relationship between two youths, from attending the same school together in a small Sligo town to going to college and beyond. It is a tale of modern love and how Marianne and Connell grapple with the challenges society throws at them during pivotal stages in their lives. To catch up on the first two episodes of Normal People you can do so via the RTE Player. Don't forget to tune into RTE One next Tuesday for the third episode either.
2 May 14:35 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/movies-tv/paul-mescal-gives-take-normal-peoples-sex-scenes-debate-366834Rating: 0.30
Why the conversation around Normal People's sex scenes shows how Ireland has changed
SALLY ROONEY’S SECOND novel Normal People became a bestseller after its release – and now the TV adaptation is making headlines across Ireland, Europe and the US. While there have been articles dedicated to everything from whether the series will bring back the ‘jock’ to TV, to people’s obsession with the chain the character Connell wears, here in Ireland much focus has been put on the sex scenes in the series. This week, an episode of Liveline on RTÉ Radio One was dedicated to the issue. But while some of the callers took issue with the frank depiction of sex between the two main characters, Marianne (Daisy Edgar-Jones) and Connell (Paul Mescal), what was notable was that the majority of the callers did not find fault with it. The book and TV series depict the beginnings of a loving, consensual sexual relationship between Marianne and Connell (things get a little more complicated as the book progresses). However, one complaint to LiveLine said that what was shown was “like something from a porno”. When asked by the show’s host Joe Duffy what could a person see in a ‘porno’, the caller replied that she didn’t know, as she’d never seen one. Another caller criticised the TV show for depicting “fornication”. However, the majority of contributors praised Normal People for its depiction of consent between two teenagers as they begin to explore their sexual relationship. RTÉ said that it had not received any formal complaints about the series so far, but had been contacted by members of the public about the episode’s content: Call-in shows like Liveline might not always capture the full breadth of opinions on a topic, but they do shed light on how controversial a TV show or movie is. That people are exercised enough to phone a radio station shows that there is definitely a level of disquiet there. But the reaction to Normal People also showed that attitudes towards sex and nudity on Irish TV have most certainly changed. Donald Clarke, film critic with the Irish Times, told TheJournal.ie what happened in 1978, when a naked woman was shown on an episode of the RTÉ show Spike. “It was fascinating – I was very young at the time but old enough to remember it all happening. Spike was a TV series set in a Dublin school – a rough kitchen sink drama – and it trundled along fine and got respectable reviews and viewership. Until there was an episode with David Kelly playing an art teacher. The crucial difficulty was he had a life class and brought in a nude woman,” said Clarke. “They didn’t show her fully frontally nude – she pressed her body to a frosted glass sheet through which she was viewed.” That one scene became national news. “The show was taken off air and questions were asked in the Dáil. People were phoning up the radio stations furiously – but what was even then notable was this was not the first time there had been nudity on RTÉ,” said Clarke. There had already been films, like Billy Wilder’s Avanti, which showed some nudity on the station. “But what disturbed people – and this brings us forward to the current kerfuffle – was it was an Irish girl who had done this,” pointed out Clarke. “And nobody really minded that much [about the other incidents], there were occasional complaints here and there, but it didn’t become a proper scandal until this happened.” Another show that came under criticism – but for a different reason – was Executive Suite in 1976, a glossy soap opera which ran for one season. “Its only claim to fame was in Ireland there was an episode broadcast, which as I recall had a warning, that had an abortion in it. One of the characters had an abortion – it wasn’t shown. That was sufficient to have the series cancelled. That was enough in itself to have RTÉ take a deep breath and cancel the series. That wasn’t about decency, it was a political issue, an issue about approaching morality.” But by the 1980s, things had started to change. “Like a lot of things in Ireland, the 60s didn’t happen until the 80s,” said Clarke. Things changed again after the millennium. One of the most important moves was John Kelleher’s installation as Film Censor in 2003, succeeding Sheamus Smith. It wasn’t long before Kelleher’s appointment that Quentin Tarantino’s From Dusk Till Dawn and Oliver Stone’s Natural Born Killers fell foul of the censor and were banned from being shown in Ireland. A pivotal moment, said Clarke, was when Kelleher granted an 18 certificate to Michael Winterbottom’s film Nine Songs, which featured real sex in it, in 2004. Censorship in Ireland had reached a new age. “That was itself [important], but what was as important was that it wasn’t a huge sandal; it wasn’t on the front pages,” said Clarke – who, for the record, didn’t give the film a very good review, but not because of the sexual content. When Winterbottom appeared on the Late Late Show, the detractors in the audience who complained about the film “certainly seemed like the outsiders, whereas 20, 30 years previously they would not have been seen like that – it would have seemed like equal debate”, said Clarke. Clarke saw a reflection of that in this week’s Liveline discussion. While Joe Duffy was as patient as ever, he wasn’t afraid of gently steering them away when the contributors were bringing up unrelated topics (like abortion), or pointing out fallacies in what they were saying. The complainants were also not in the majority. “That demonstrates what has changed so much since 1978, where in the Spike coverage there were very few people who were turning up on public media to make the case for it. It felt they were putting their head above the parapet if they did. Now people who have conservative attitudes, it does feel like they’re putting their head above the parapet,” said Clarke. “It demonstrates a real shift in attitude.” Consent That shift in attitude is also demonstrated by the positive reaction to Rooney’s depiction of consensual sex. The issue of consent is one that has been to the fore in the past few years, with some colleges introducing consent classes. So Normal People’s take on things was welcomed by Orla O’Connor, director of the National Women’s Council of Ireland, who told TheJournal.ie: These sentiments were echoed by Noeline Blackwell of the Dublin Rape Crisis Centre, who said that they “would join in the general applause for the centrality of consent to the sex scenes”. “We get asked a lot about how it’s possible to communicate consent without killing the joy – as if it wasn’t really possible,” she said. “This adaptation is showing how it is possible to communicate about consent, how to check in with your partner. I find it striking that they approach their love and desire as equals – that’s why it looks so consensual.” Dr Caroline West, a lecturer and writer on sexuality studies, said that the discussions around Normal People on social media “have been fascinating”. “Many people have expressed a kind of shock in seeing sex depicted in such a gentle, consensual way,” she said. “However this shock isn’t surprising if we bear in mind that we are used to onscreen portrayals of sex that are divisive, such as in mainstream porn, or in Hollywood, which often does a poor job of including conversations about consent in sex scenes.” For her, Normal People brings up more than just consent. “We have seen a discourse about kindness flourish in the past few months, and Normal People seems to tie into that,” she said. “Good sex is sex that is consensual, respectful and mutually pleasurable. Kindness underlines these factors, and it feels like a relief to see this on our screens, especially when we need kindness in so many areas right now.” Normal People continues on RTÉ One at 10.15pm on Tuesday 5 May. The show is also broadcast on BBC in the UK and Hulu in the USA. #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
2 May 09:00 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/sex-scenes-normal-people-ireland-reaction-5089739-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Nurse closing in on retirement dies with coronavirus
3 May 12:35
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5 articles
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Nurse closing in on retirement dies with coronavirus
A nurse has died with coronavirus after spending nearly 40 years in the job. Philomina Cherian, 63, died on April 30 at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where she also worked as a staff nurse. Ms Cherian was married and had three children and, according to her family, she was planning to retire in a couple of years’ time. “She was a great human being, a caring mother and wife,” her husband Joseph Varkey said. “She was a dedicated nurse. For her, nursing was not just a profession but it was her passion. “She would have lived for so many years and enjoyed her well-deserved retired life if she was not affected by Covid.” A statement from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said of Ms Cherian: “She was a popular and hugely valued member of our OUH nursing family who will be sorely missed by her colleagues as well as by her family and friends.” Sam Foster, chief nursing officer, said: “I wanted to express that at this very sad time our thoughts are with the family of Philomina, as well as with her friends and colleagues throughout the Trust. “She was an incredibly caring friend and colleague who will be terribly missed by us all. “Many of you will have known her and worked closely with her and I ask you to remember how she wonderfully cared for her patients and her colleagues, acting as an exemplar nurse to all who met her. “Philomina was cared for with the utmost love, care and attention and we would like to thank all staff who were involved in her care.” A fundraising page has been set up to help cover the costs of Ms Cherian’s memorial.
3 May 12:35 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/nurse-closing-in-on-retirement-dies-with-coronavirus/Rating: 0.38
'I thought I'd be an old cat lady': Remarkable story of how young woman with one of the worst EVER cases of Tourette's that makes her attack her loved ones learned to embrace condition and fulfil her dreams
A young Australian woman diagnosed with one of the world's worst cases of Tourette Syndrome has learned to embrace her condition and fulfil her dreams. Bianca Saez was diagnosed with Tourette's when she was just three years old after she began punching and scratching herself and her loved ones. After finding love and moving into her own home, the Sunshine Coast woman said the only thing left was find a job. Now the 27-year-old has finally got everything she's ever wanted working as an ambassador for diversity and disability at employment training agency, Designer Life. 'When I was a teenager I never thought i'd be in this position, I thought I'd be a 40-year-old cat lady at home, but it's so good that I have everything I ever dreamed of,' she told 60 Minutes. 'I went from just laying on my couch, eating, sleeping, that was all my days would ever be.' The simple act of waking up for Ms Saez and getting ready in the morning is exhausting as Tourrette's hijacks life's simple tasks. 'It's not as easy for me... makeup goes all over my face, toothpaste goes in my hair,' she said. But last year Ms Saez found love with boyfriend Zach, which she says was a major turning point in learning to accept her condition. 'Falling in love with this beautiful man has helped me and improved my motivation and my mental health - it's made me smile,' she said on 60 Minutes in August. 'It's just helped my Tourette's and moods in so many ways.' Zach helps her get ready each day, putting on her shoes and helping with her makeup. Designer Life chief executive Leisa Roberts said she had been following the 27-year-old's story for 11 years. Ms Roberts said she recognised Ms Saez's talents as a motivational speaker and wanted to track her down after seeing her appear on television. 'As soon as she walks into the room the students are, you know, captivated,' Ms Roberts said. The agency makes sure to keep everything safe for Ms Saez, with no glass tables or walls nearby in meetings and multiple conversations about her ticks. 'I just want to help people and it's truly amazing to help people,' Ms Saez said. After finding the love of her life and fulfilling her dreams with a career she said there are only few things left she wants to do. 'I'd love to marry the love of my life, I'd like to build a Tourette's proof house, maybe even have a child one day if I'm able to,' she said. 'Just the normal things in life - family, purpose, love - simple things.' At the young age of 16, Ms Saez was put into a mental health unit which devastated her family. Her plight shocked the nation after footage was televised of her during a particularly violent episode that saw her roll around screaming in a park, before attacking her mum and a bench. Her helpless family didn't know where to turn. 'I'm just a simple bloke, I just want to have my family together. It's hard,' her dad John said at the time. Her mother Leanne added: 'There's nothing we can do to help her.' In 2008, Ms Saez underwent extreme radical brain stimulation surgery, the first of its kind in Australia, which was meant to reset her brain cells to stop her from hitting herself. 'I'm so grateful for this,' Ms Saez told 60 Minutes host Tara Brown back then. 'I can't believe how much I'm grateful for having this operation because it's changed my whole entire life and I'm so proud of myself for doing it.' Unfortunately, Ms Saez contracted a staph infection which meant the electrodes had to be removed, leaving her to once more suffer the full effects of Tourette's. Despite her symptoms returning, including calling her mum a 'f***ing dog' and punching her, Ms Saez says she has come to accept her situation. 'It's still hard but I'm trying to be positive and I get really resilient,' she said. 'If I wasn't resilient I don't think I would be here right now. I don't think I'd be here at all.' Now living independently, Ms Saez says she feels more mature and is happy to be able to do the things she couldn't do before. 'It's a very hard illness to live with but I have mastered it,' she said in August. 'If I was offered a cure tomorrow, I don't think I would take it because I've been given this really bad Tourette's for a reason. I have to do something good with it I guess. I just want to help people in the future. Tourette Syndrome (TS) is a neuro developmental disorder characterized by repeated involuntary movements (motor tics) and uncontrollable sounds (vocal or phonic tics). Symptoms range from very mild to quite severe and the majority of cases also have other co-morbid conditions with significant impact on their lives. The first symptoms of TS are usually facial tics – commonly eye blinking. Other motor tics may appear later, such as head jerking, neck stretching, foot stamping, or body twisting and bending. It is not uncommon for a person with TS to continuously clear his or her throat, cough, sniff, grunt, yelp, bark, or shout. A person with TS may touch other people excessively or repeat actions obsessively and unnecessarily. A few patients with TS demonstrate self-harming behaviours such as lip and cheek biting and head banging. Similarly, involuntary swearing (coprolalia) can occur in a subgroup of people with TS. Source: Brain Foundation Australia
3 May 15:29 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8282069/Queensland-woman-worlds-worst-Tourettes-embraced-condition-fulfilled-dreams.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Sad story of nurse who died of coronavirus, 2 years before retirement
A mother-of-three nurse has died of coronavirus just two years before retirement after spending nearly 40 years in the job. Indian-born Philomina Cherian, 63, died at John Radcliffe Hospital in Oxford on Thursday, where she also worked as a nurse, Daily Mail reports. Ms Cherian was married and had three children. According to her family, she was planning to retire in a couple of years. Her husband Joseph Varkey called her a ‘great human being, a caring mother and wife’, adding: ‘Nursing was not just a profession but it was her passion.’ A statement from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said of Ms Cherian: ‘She was a popular and hugely valued member of our OUH nursing family who will be sorely missed by her colleagues as well as by her family and friends.’ Sam Foster, chief nursing officer, called her ‘an incredibly caring friend and colleague who will be terrible missed by us all’. He said: ‘I wanted to express that at this very sad time our thoughts are with the family of Philomina, as well as with her friends and colleagues throughout the Trust. ‘Many of you will have known her and worked closely with her and I ask you to remember how she wonderfully cared for her patients and her colleagues, acting as an exemplar nurse to all who met her. Philomina was cared for with the utmost love, care and attention’. Her death has been announced after the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said that another 621 Covid-associated deaths have been recorded. Officials also recorded another 4,806 cases, with more than 180,000 Britons having now been infected since the crisis hit the UK in February. A lack of testing means potentially millions of cases have been missed Daily surveillance figures released each day by DHSC are deaths across the UK where patients have tested positive for Covid-19. The deaths do not account for deaths outside of hospitals, and are not officially registered. All figures are provided daily to NHS England by individual hospitals. The data are only published once the confirmed families have been notified of the deaths. Weekly figures released by the Office for National Statistics (ONS) are Covid-registered deaths across England and Wales. They include any place of death. Data comprise deaths where Covid-19 has been mentioned on the death certificate. They may include cases where doctors completing a certificate diagnosed coronavirus in a patient based on relevant symptoms, but where no test occurred. The figures include cases where a death certificate lists coronavirus (Covid-19) – either tested or suspected – as well as ‘Influenza and Pneumonia’. Where both are present, Covid-19 is listed as the presumed or probable cause of death. Follow us on Facebook – @Lailasnews; Twitter – @LailaIjeoma for updates
3 May 06:00 • LailasNews.com • https://lailasnews.com/sad-story-of-nurse-who-died-of-coronavirus-2-years-before-retirement/Rating: 1.27
Nurse closing in on retirement dies with coronavirus
Philomina Cherian died on April 30. A nurse has died with coronavirus after spending nearly 40 years in the job. Philomina Cherian, 63, died on April 30 at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where she also worked as a staff nurse. Ms Cherian was married and had three children and, according to her family, she was planning to retire in a couple of years’ time. “She was a great human being, a caring mother and wife,” her husband Joseph Varkey said. “She was a dedicated nurse. For her, nursing was not just a profession but it was her passion. “She would have lived for so many years and enjoyed her well-deserved retired life if she was not affected by Covid.” Ms Cherian, originally from Kerala in India, worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia before moving to the UK. A statement from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said of Ms Cherian: “She was a popular and hugely valued member of our OUH nursing family who will be sorely missed by her colleagues as well as by her family and friends.” Sam Foster, chief nursing officer, said: “I wanted to express that at this very sad time our thoughts are with the family of Philomina, as well as with her friends and colleagues throughout the Trust. “She was an incredibly caring friend and colleague who will be terribly missed by us all. “Many of you will have known her and worked closely with her and I ask you to remember how she wonderfully cared for her patients and her colleagues, acting as an exemplar nurse to all who met her. “Philomina was cared for with the utmost love, care and attention and we would like to thank all staff who were involved in her care.” A fundraising page has been set up to help cover the costs of Ms Cherian’s memorial.
2 May 16:59 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/nurse-closing-in-on-retirement-dies-with-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
Nurse closing in on retirement dies with coronavirus
A nurse has died with coronavirus after spending nearly 40 years in the job. Philomina Cherian, 63, died on April 30 at Oxford’s John Radcliffe Hospital where she also worked as a staff nurse. Ms Cherian was married and had three children and, according to her family, she was planning to retire in a couple of years’ time. “She was a great human being, a caring mother and wife,” her husband Joseph Varkey said. “She was a dedicated nurse. For her, nursing was not just a profession but it was her passion. “She would have lived for so many years and enjoyed her well-deserved retired life if she was not affected by Covid.” Ms Cherian, originally from Kerala in India, worked as a nurse in Saudi Arabia before moving to the UK. A statement from Oxford University Hospitals (OUH) said of Ms Cherian: “She was a popular and hugely valued member of our OUH nursing family who will be sorely missed by her colleagues as well as by her family and friends.” Sam Foster, chief nursing officer, said: “I wanted to express that at this very sad time our thoughts are with the family of Philomina, as well as with her friends and colleagues throughout the Trust. “She was an incredibly caring friend and colleague who will be terribly missed by us all. “Many of you will have known her and worked closely with her and I ask you to remember how she wonderfully cared for her patients and her colleagues, acting as an exemplar nurse to all who met her. “Philomina was cared for with the utmost love, care and attention and we would like to thank all staff who were involved in her care.” A fundraising page has been set up to help cover the costs of Ms Cherian’s memorial.
2 May 16:59 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/nurse-closing-in-on-retirement-dies-with-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
PM urges countries to pull together in coronavirus battle
3 May 21:31
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4 articles
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Best date: 3 May 23:00
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PM urges countries to pull together in coronavirus battle
Boris Johnson will urge countries to “pull together” and share their expertise as he co-hosts an international conference to drive the race for coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines. The Prime Minister will describe the challenge facing humanity as the “most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”. He will add: “We are in this together and together we will prevail.” Monday’s online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other countries and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6 billion in funding to support the global response to the pandemic. The UK has pledged to give £388 million in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £744 million commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy. Mr Johnson is expected to say: “To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine. “The more we pull together and share our expertise, the faster our scientists will succeed. “The race to discover the vaccine to defeat this virus is not a competition between countries but the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes. “It’s humanity against the virus – we are in this together and together we will prevail.” Coronavirus has claimed more than 244,000 lives around the world, according to analysis by John Hopkins University. The Government believes tackling the virus globally is crucial to preventing a second wave reemerging in the UK and it will speed up the creation of vaccines, tests and treatment. International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “It is only by working together that we will prevent future waves of infection and end this pandemic as quickly as possible. “By strengthening developing countries’ health systems and working to find a vaccine, the UK is playing its part in stopping the global spread of coronavirus to save lives everywhere and protect our NHS.” Writing in The Independent newspaper on Sunday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Norway and senior EU officials said the outbreak has “caused devastation and pain in all corners of the world”. They said responding to the “global challenge” requires “bringing together the world’s best – and most prepared – minds to find the vaccines, treatments and therapies we need to make our world healthy again”.
3 May 21:31 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/pm-urges-countries-to-pull-together-in-coronavirus-battle/Rating: 0.30
Boris Johnson urges countries to pull together in coronavirus battle
Boris Johnson will urge countries to “pull together” and share their expertise as he co-hosts an international conference to drive the race for coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines. The Prime Minister will describe the challenge facing humanity as the “most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”. He will add: “We are in this together and together we will prevail.” Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. Monday’s online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other countries and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6 billion in funding to support the global response to the pandemic. The UK has pledged to give £388 million in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £744 million commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy. Mr Johnson is expected to say: “To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine. “The more we pull together and share our expertise, the faster our scientists will succeed. “The race to discover the vaccine to defeat this virus is not a competition between countries but the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes. “It’s humanity against the virus – we are in this together and together we will prevail.” Coronavirus has claimed more than 244,000 lives around the world, according to analysis by John Hopkins University. The Government believes tackling the virus globally is crucial to preventing a second wave reemerging in the UK and it will speed up the creation of vaccines, tests and treatment. International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “It is only by working together that we will prevent future waves of infection and end this pandemic as quickly as possible. “By strengthening developing countries’ health systems and working to find a vaccine, the UK is playing its part in stopping the global spread of coronavirus to save lives everywhere and protect our NHS.” Writing in The Independent newspaper on Sunday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Norway and senior EU officials said the outbreak has “caused devastation and pain in all corners of the world”. They said responding to the “global challenge” requires “bringing together the world’s best – and most prepared – minds to find the vaccines, treatments and therapies we need to make our world healthy again”. Coronavirus: Everything you need to know:
3 May 21:38 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-03/pm-urges-countries-to-pull-together-in-coronavirus-battle/Rating: 0.88
PM urges countries to pull together in coronavirus battle
An online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other nations and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6 billion in funding. Boris Johnson will urge countries to “pull together” and share their expertise as he co-hosts an international conference to drive the race for coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines. The Prime Minister will describe the challenge facing humanity as the “most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes”. He will add: “We are in this together and together we will prevail.” Monday’s online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other countries and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6 billion in funding to support the global response to the pandemic. The UK has pledged to give £388 million in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £744 million commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy. Mr Johnson is expected to say: “To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine. “The more we pull together and share our expertise, the faster our scientists will succeed. “The race to discover the vaccine to defeat this virus is not a competition between countries but the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes. “It’s humanity against the virus – we are in this together and together we will prevail.” Coronavirus has claimed more than 244,000 lives around the world, according to analysis by John Hopkins University. The Government believes tackling the virus globally is crucial to preventing a second wave reemerging in the UK and it will speed up the creation of vaccines, tests and treatment. International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: “It is only by working together that we will prevent future waves of infection and end this pandemic as quickly as possible. “By strengthening developing countries’ health systems and working to find a vaccine, the UK is playing its part in stopping the global spread of coronavirus to save lives everywhere and protect our NHS.” Writing in The Independent newspaper on Sunday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Norway and senior EU officials said the outbreak has “caused devastation and pain in all corners of the world”. They said responding to the “global challenge” requires “bringing together the world’s best – and most prepared – minds to find the vaccines, treatments and therapies we need to make our world healthy again”.
3 May 21:31 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/03/pm-urges-countries-to-pull-together-in-coronavirus-battle/Rating: 0.30
'It's humanity against the virus': Boris Johnson urges nations to pull together and brands £6bn vaccine quest 'the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes' as UK records 315 more deaths
Boris Johnson will today warn that it is 'humanity against the virus' as he co-hosts an international conference to drive the race for coronavirus treatments, tests and vaccines. The Prime Minister will urge countries to 'pull together' and pool their expertise as they tackle the 'most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes'. He will add: 'We are in this together and together we will prevail.' Today's online pledging conference – co-hosted by the UK and eight other countries and organisations – aims to bring in more than £6.6billion in funding to support the global response to the coronavirus pandemic. The UK has pledged to give £388million in aid funding for research into tests, treatments and vaccines – part of a £744million commitment to help end the pandemic and support the global economy through this period of widespread uncertainty. It comes as the UK announced 315 new coronavirus deaths on Sunday, bringing total fatalities to 28,446 and putting the country on course to become the hardest hit in Europe. Mr Johnson, who himself contracted the virus in March, is expected to tell the conference: 'To win this battle, we must work together to build an impregnable shield around all our people and that can only be achieved by developing and mass producing a vaccine. 'The more we pull together and share our expertise, the faster our scientists will succeed. 'The race to discover the vaccine to defeat this virus is not a competition between countries but the most urgent shared endeavour of our lifetimes. It's humanity against the virus – we are in this together and together we will prevail.' Speaking today, Donald Trump revealed that he and Boris Johnson had discussed a potential vaccine ahead of the conference later. He told Fox News: 'He [Mr Johnson] was a victim (of this thing). He thought it was all over.' Coronavirus has claimed more than 244,000 lives worldwide, according to analysis by Johns Hopkins University in the US. International Development Secretary Anne-Marie Trevelyan said: 'By strengthening developing countries' health systems and working to find a vaccine, the UK is playing its part in stopping the global spread of coronavirus to save lives everywhere and protect our NHS.' Writing in The Independent newspaper on Sunday, the leaders of France, Germany, Italy and Norway and senior EU officials said the outbreak 'caused devastation and pain in all corners of the world'. They said responding to the 'global challenge' requires 'bringing together the world's best – and most prepared – minds to find the vaccines, treatments and therapies we need to make our world healthy again'. Michael Gove yesterday admitted there would be a time for 'deep and probing questions about lessons we can learn as a country from how we handled this crisis in its early stages'. He added: 'Undoubtedly this government, like all governments, will have made mistakes.' It is understood the Sage committee of top scientists will today back the public use of face masks in a live-streamed meeting designed to embarrass the Government for its alleged lack of transparency. The number of people who have died with coronavirus in UK hospitals, care homes and the wider community yesterday rose by 315, the lowest since the end of March. The deaths brought the total number of fatalities to 28,446.
3 May 23:00 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8283065/Boris-Johnson-urges-nations-pull-coronavirus-vaccine-quest.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Princess Diana 'tried to kill herself four times', new documentary claims
3 May 11:04
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Weighted average IN: 5.149663792654205
Princess Diana 'tried to kill herself four times', new documentary claims
A new documentary will claim Princess Diana attempted to kill herself four times and it could be aired on Netflix. The four-parter - titled 'Being Me: Diana' - will air the struggles of the beloved royal and lay bare her mental health battles and eating disorders. It will tell all about Diana’s troubled childhood right the way through to her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles. It is at that point in her life where she tried to to take her own life, the show is set to claim. The series will also reveal never-before-seen footage from Diana’s speeches in 1990-92. It will make difficult viewing for Prince William and Harry, 23 years on from their mother's death in Paris. DSP, the TV company behind ITV’s Torvill and Dean, are behind the controversial project, according to The Sun. It has not yet been officially commissioned by Netflix but filming is already said to have started, sources suggest. Mirror Online have approached Netflix for comment. And it will especially be a blow to Harry and his wife Meghan Markle, who are said to be in talks with the streaming giant over future projects. Harry also worked with Netflix on a Thomas The Tank Engine 75th anniversary special shown only this week. A TV source told The Sun: “The royals have all refused to take part as have the Spencer family (Diana’s family). “William and Harry will be very upset and angry. It’s particularly distressing for Harry because he’s been working with Netflix. "At a time when the royals have been dealt a blow with Harry and Meghan leaving, the timing is not good.” Harry and Meghan are currently looking into new commercial projects as they settle down in Los Angeles, California after quitting as senior royals. Meghan has already bagged herself a role narrating a Disney documentary, with the couple reportedly hiring an agent to bag them more big roles. The couple and their baby son Archie are now living a financially independent life after their decisions to step down from the Royal Family means no more taxpayer funds or HRH titles. Mirror Online has contacted Netflix for a comment. The Samaritans is there for those who have nowhere else to turn. You can call the Samaritans on 116 123.
3 May 11:04 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/princess-diana-tried-kill-herself-21966121Rating: 2.39
Princess Diana documentary set to claim she tried to kill herself four times
Princess Diana is set to be in the spotlight once again with a proposed Netflix documentary. The controversial four-part series will reportedly delve into her painful childhood, eating disorders, mental health battles and marriage. Read more: Meghan Markle loses first stage in battle with newspaper Netflix has not yet commissioned the programme but TV company DSP has apparently started preparing the project. Being Me: Diana will also feature claims that the late princess tried to take her own life four times, according to The Sun. It will also reportedly include unseen footage from Diana’s speeches in 1990-92 and interviews with people close to her. According to a TV source, quoted in the tabloid, none of her family will take part. They said: "The royals will refuse to take part as will the Spencer family. "William and Harry will be very upset and angry. It’s particularly distressing for Harry because he’s been working with Netflix. "At a time when the royals have been dealt a blow with Harry and Meghan leaving, the timing is not good." A spokeswoman for Endemol Shine, the parent company for DSP, said: "This is a not a commissioned show and everything within the treatment is already in the public domain." Harry collaborated with the TV streaming service on a Thomas the Tank Engine 75th anniversary special. Read more: Kate Middleton shares touching photograph of daughter Charlotte Harry recorded a special message for the show recalling his fond memories of watching the iconic series. He said: "Thomas the Tank Engine has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years - entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters. "I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures. "Very proud to have been asked to take part in this special episode. I wish Thomas & Friends a very happy anniversary." Prince Harry even carried a Thomas the Tank Engine bag on his first day at nursery school! He and Meghan are reportedly in talks with Netflix over future projects. Share your thoughts with us on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix. Prince HarryPrince WilliamPrincess Diana
3 May 09:49 • Entertainment Daily • https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/tv/princess-diana-documentary-set-to-claim-she-tried-to-kill-herself-four-times/Rating: 0.30
Princes William and Harry will be 'very upset and angry' over controversial new documentary series which is set to claim Princess Diana tried to kill herself four times
Princes William and Harry are set to be 'very upset and angry' over a controversial new documentary which will claim that Princess Diana tried to kill herself four times. According to The Sun, a four-part series provisionally called 'Being Me: Diana' will delve into the mental torment the late royal suffered - from battling eating disorders to her unhappy marriage to Prince Charles and painful childhood. It will use unseen footage from Diana's speeches filmed before the Princess of Wales' death in 1997, as well as interviews with people who were close to her to shed light on her inner turmoil shortly before her split from Charles in 1992. The series is being made by TV company DSP, which was behind 127 Hours and ITV's Torvill And Dean. The project is planned for Netflix but has not yet been commissioned. It's set to be particularly upsetting for Harry, who worked with the streaming service on a Thomas The Tank Engine 75th anniversary special after he and Meghan Markle stepped down as senior royals earlier this year. The Duke and Duchess of Sussex are also believed to be in talks with Netflix about other future projects. A TV source told the publication that The Firm will refuse to take part in the documentary series, as will the Spencer family. 'William and Harry will be very upset and angry', they added. 'It's particularly distressing for Harry because he's been working with Netflix. 'At a time when the royals have been dealt a blow with Harry and Meghan leaving, the timing is not good.' A spokeswoman for Endemol Shine, the parent company for DSP, told The Sun: 'This is a not a commissioned show and everything within the treatment is already in the public domain.' Charles and Diana tied the knot at St Paul's Cathedral in front of 2,000 people on July 29, 1981. In 1992, Prime Minster John Major announced the couple were to separate, but continue living together at Kensington Palace. They divorced in 1996 and a year later Diana died in a car crash in Paris. In 2005 Prince Charles married Camilla Parker Bowles at Windsor Guildhall. In video footage released late last month, the Duke of Sussex introduced a new program for Netflix called 'Thomas and Friends: The Royal Engine', which features his father and grandmother, Prince Charles and the Queen, as animated characters. A Buckingham Palace spokeswoman confirmed the project had been in the pipeline for a 'long time' and added that 'everybody was aware' of it before it aired, including the Queen. The episode was recorded before Harry and wife Meghan quit as senior royals and moved to America. Proceeds from the anniversary edition, which aired in the US one day before the UK, are being donated to environment and sustainability projects under Harry's Travalyst project. In his introduction, Prince Harry is seen sitting in an armchair, reading from a book about the train's adventures. The 35-year-old, who is now living in Los Angeles, said: 'Thomas the Tank Engine has been a comforting, familiar face to so many families over the last 75 years - entertaining, educating and inspiring children on important issues through exciting stories and characters. 'I certainly have fond memories of growing up with Thomas & Friends and being transported to new places through his adventures. 'I am very proud to have been asked to take part in this special episode. I wish Thomas and Friends a very happy anniversary.' Meghan has carried out similar work in the wake of seeking financial independence and moving to the US, narrating the Disney+ documentary Elephant which started streaming on April 3, three days after she and Harry officially quit royal life. She too donated proceeds from the project to charity.
3 May 08:54 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8281779/Controversial-new-documentary-series-claim-Princess-Diana-tried-kill-four-times.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
CII for greater industrial activities in districts with high economic performance
3 May 12:51
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5 articles
Weight: 2.04
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Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 16:39
Average US: 2.52
Weighted average US: 3.9496967064584467
Average GB: 0.08000000000000002
Weighted average GB: 0.12908981125345698
Average IN: 52.02000000000001
Weighted average IN: 79.11820587169412
CII for greater industrial activities in districts with high economic performance
At a time when the government has decided to provide some relaxations in restrictions during the third phase of the nationwide lockdown starting from May 4, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday called for a greater industrial activities in districts with high economic performance. The industry body also called for “economic contribution of districts to be taken into consideration while classifying lockdown zones.” “Districts with high economic activity should resume all industrial and business operations, including in containment zones, with highest safety protocols,” CII said in a report, ‘Strategy Note on Resumption of Economic Activities in Industrial Area.’ Also ReadLockdown 3.0 begins tomorrow with ‘considerable relaxations’; some curbs to continue The suggestions followed the notification, issued on May 1 by the Centre, on graded exit from the coronavirus- related lockdown. The third phase of lockdown necessitates “a focused strategy to minimise economic contraction due to Covid-19”, without compromising on efforts to control the contagion, the trade body said in a statement. “Prioritising districts with heavy presence of economic and industrial activities with continued operations, accompanied by strictest precautions, can help enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses,” CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. The industry body also said while the protracted lockdown in the country, necessitated by the rapid spread of Covid-19, has also caused enormous stress to the financial sustainability of many businesses. In its strategy note, it requested that the top districts should be identified based on variables like their contribution to country’s GDP, or presence of industrial estates and clusters or registration of enterprises in a district. Instead of the current practice of categorising the entire district as a ‘Red zone’, the CII has suggested the need for classifying zones as ‘Containment’, ‘Orange’ and ‘Green’ within an industrial district. “Economic activities, in varying degrees of relaxation, should be permitted in all areas of this district, but health and safety protocols would differ from zone to zone,” it said. Also ReadAllow factories in containment zones to operate, says Food Processing industry The Containment zone may be a street, mohalla or factory building where positive cases have been detected, the industry body said. It has suggested that close surrounding areas can be classified as Orange zones, where industrial activity can be continued with strict precautionary measures and monitoring. The distinction of essential and non-essential items should be removed and all factories should be permitted to restart, the industry body said. “Aggressive measures are required to ensure that an industrial district moves from ‘Red’ to ‘Orange’ and ‘Green’ within 21 days. “The cost of undertaking precautionary measures by way of repeated sanitation, wearing of PPE, masks, monitoring, group testing etc. will be much less than the economic loss, if businesses in such high performing districts have to remain shut for longer duration,” Banerjee said. The government has permitted industrial estates, SEZ and industrial townships with restricted entry within urban areas of ‘red zones’ to commence operations. “CII submitted that all industrial units, including in non-notified industrial areas and standalone units, be allowed to function in urban areas. These should include non-essential goods and services as well,” the statement said. The body also called for limited public transport to function to enable workers and self-employed people to reach the industrial areas. ‘Green’ zones within an industrial district, on other hand, should be allowed to work with relaxed restrictions but in adherence to strict health and safety protocols prescribed by the authorities.
3 May 12:51 • BusinessLine • https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/economy/policy/cii-for-greater-industrial-activities-in-districts-with-high-economic-performance/article31494785.eceRating: 1.98
Allow districts with high economic activity to resume all industrial, biz operations: CII
Districts with substantial economic activity should be permitted to resume all industrial and business operations with highest safety protocols for enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses, CII said on Sunday. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called for economic contribution of districts to be taken into consideration while classifying lockdown zones. Districts with high economic activity should resume all industrial and business operations, including in containment zones with highest safety protocols, said CII in its report titled 'A Strategy Note on Resumption of Economic Activities in Industrial Areas', submitted to the government. Follow live updates on the coronavirus pandemic here The government notification of May 1 has permitted industrial estates, special economic zone (SEZ) and industrial townships with restricted entry within urban areas of red zones to commence operations. The industry body said that all industrial units, including in non-notified industrial areas and standalone units, be allowed to function in urban areas. These should include non-essential goods and services as well. It has recommended that close surrounding areas can be classified as orange zones where industrial activity can be continued with strict precautionary measures and monitoring. The distinction of essential and non-essential items should be removed and all factories should be permitted to restart, according to CII. "The third phase of lockdown necessitates a focused strategy to minimize economic contraction due to COVID-19, without compromising on efforts to control the contagion. Prioritising districts with heavy presence of economic and industrial activities with continued operations accompanied by strictest precautions can help enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. While the protracted lockdown in the country, necessitated by the rapid spread of COVID-19, has helped in controlling the spread of epidemic and given us time to augment medical capacity, it has also caused enormous stress to the financial sustainability of many businesses, the chamber said. CII has requested that the top districts should be identified based on variables like their contribution to the country's GDP, or presence of industrial estates and clusters or registration of enterprises in a district. Instead of the current practice of classifying the entire district as a red zone, CII has suggested the need for classifying zones as Containment, Orange and Green within an industrial district. Economic activities, in varying degrees of relaxation, should be permitted in all areas of those districts, but health and safety protocols would differ from zone to zone, the chamber suggested. It said the containment zone may be a street, mohalla or factory building where positive cases have been detected. In containment zones, industrial units where no positive cases exist, can be allowed to operate if workers can be restricted to the premises or within walkable distance, as per the CII note. Raw materials and finished goods should be disinfected and kept separately for 72 hours before use as permissible by the health authorities. Maximum precautions and safety measures in the form of masks, repeated sanitation, restricted movement of people and vehicles, and group testing, among others, can be carried out regularly in such containment zones, noted CII. "Aggressive measures are required to ensure that an industrial district moves from Red to Orange and Green within 21 days. The cost of undertaking precautionary measures by way of repeated sanitation, wearing of PPE, Masks, monitoring, group testing etc. will be much less than the economic loss if businesses in such high performing districts have to remain shut for longer duration," said Banerjee. CII also called for limited public transport to function to enable workers and self-employed people to reach the industrial areas. Green zones within an industrial district, on other hand, should be allowed to work with relaxed restrictions but following strictly the health and safety protocols prescribed by the health authorities. There should be a real time availability of data on all types of zones within the industrial districts. The authorities may also provide updated information on Aarogya Setu app, other apps, local newspapers, radio, TV and online channels, according to the chamber. It also prescribed standard operating procedures for offices, workplaces, factories and establishments prior to resuming operations.
3 May 17:05 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/business/business-news/allow-districts-with-high-economic-activity-to-resume-all-industrial-biz-operations-cii-833040.htmlRating: 2.25
CII For Greater Industrial Activities In Districts With High Economic Performance
India Business Written By Press Trust Of India | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 16:39 IST At a time when the government has decided to provide some relaxations in restrictions during the third phase of the nationwide lockdown starting from May 4, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday called for greater industrial activities in districts with high economic performance. The industry body also called for "economic contribution of districts to be taken into consideration while classifying lockdown zones". "Districts with high economic activity should resume all industrial and business operations, including in containment zones with highest safety protocols," CII said in a report, 'Strategy Note on Resumption of Economic Activities in Industrial Area'. The suggestions followed the notification, issued on May 1 by the government, on graded exit from the coronavirus-related lockdown. The third phase of lockdown necessitates "a focused strategy to minimise economic contraction due to Covid-19", without compromising on efforts to control the contagion, the trade body said in a statement. "Prioritising districts with heavy presence of economic and industrial activities with continued operations, accompanied by strictest precautions, can help enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. The industry body also said while the protracted lockdown in the country, necessitated by the rapid spread of Covid-19, has also caused enormous stress to the financial sustainability of many businesses. In its strategy note, it requested that the top districts should be identified based on variables like their contribution to country's GDP, or the presence of industrial estates and clusters or registration of enterprises in a district. Instead of the current practice of categorising the entire district as a 'red zone', the CII has suggested the need for classifying zones as 'containment', 'orange', and 'green' within an industrial district. "Economic activities, in varying degrees of relaxation, should be permitted in all areas of this district but health and safety protocols would differ from zone to zone," it said. The containment zone may be a street, "mohalla" or factory building where positive cases have been detected, the industry body said. It has suggested that close surrounding areas can be classified as 'orange zones' where industrial activity can be continued with strict precautionary measures and monitoring. The distinction of essential and non-essential items should be removed and all factories should be permitted to restart, the industry body said. "Aggressive measures are required to ensure that an industrial district moves from 'red' to 'orange' and 'green' within 21 days. "The cost of undertaking precautionary measures by way of repeated sanitation, wearing of PPE, masks, monitoring, group testing etc. will be much less than the economic loss, if businesses in such high performing districts have to remain shut for longer duration," Banerjee said. The government has permitted industrial estates, SEZ and industrial townships with restricted entry within urban areas of 'red zones' to commence operations. "CII submitted that all industrial units, including in non-notified industrial areas and standalone units, be allowed to function in urban areas. These should include non-essential goods and services as well," the statement said. The body also called for limited public transport to function to enable workers and self-employed people to reach the industrial areas. 'Green' zones within an industrial district, on other hand, should be allowed to work with relaxed restrictions but in adherence to strict health and safety protocols prescribed by the authorities.
3 May 16:39 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/business-news/india-business/cii-for-greater-industrial-activities-in-districts-with-high-economic-performance.htmlRating: 2.30
Lockdown | Allow districts with high economic activity to resume all industrial, business operations: CII
Districts with substantial economic activity should be permitted to resume all industrial and business operations with highest safety protocols for enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses, CII said on Sunday. Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) called for economic contribution of districts to be taken into consideration while classifying lockdown zones. Districts with high economic activity should resume all industrial and business operations, including in containment zones with highest safety protocols, said CII in its report titled ‘A Strategy Note on Resumption of Economic Activities in Industrial Areas’, submitted to the government. The government notification of May 1 has permitted industrial estates, Special Economic Zone (SEZ) and industrial townships with restricted entry within urban areas of red zones to commence operations. The industry body said that all industrial units, including in non-notified industrial areas and standalone units, be allowed to function in urban areas. These should include non-essential goods and services as well. It has recommended that close surrounding areas can be classified as orange zones where industrial activity can be continued with strict precautionary measures and monitoring. The distinction of essential and non-essential items should be removed and all factories should be permitted to restart, according to CII. “The third phase of lockdown necessitates a focused strategy to minimize economic contraction due to COVID-19, without compromising on efforts to control the contagion. Prioritising districts with heavy presence of economic and industrial activities with continued operations accompanied by strictest precautions can help enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses,” CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. While the protracted lockdown in the country, necessitated by the rapid spread of COVID-19, has helped in controlling the spread of epidemic and given us time to augment medical capacity, it has also caused enormous stress to the financial sustainability of many businesses, the chamber said. CII has requested that the top districts should be identified based on variables like their contribution to the country’s GDP, or presence of industrial estates and clusters or registration of enterprises in a district. Instead of the current practice of classifying the entire district as a red zone, CII has suggested the need for classifying zones as Containment, Orange and Green within an industrial district. Economic activities, in varying degrees of relaxation, should be permitted in all areas of those districts, but health and safety protocols would differ from zone to zone, the chamber suggested. It said the containment zone may be a street, mohalla or factory building where positive cases have been detected. In containment zones, industrial units where no positive cases exist, can be allowed to operate if workers can be restricted to the premises or within walkable distance, as per the CII note. Raw materials and finished goods should be disinfected and kept separately for 72 hours before use as permissible by the health authorities. Maximum precautions and safety measures in the form of masks, repeated sanitation, restricted movement of people and vehicles, and group testing, among others, can be carried out regularly in such containment zones, noted CII. “Aggressive measures are required to ensure that an industrial district moves from Red to Orange and Green within 21 days. The cost of undertaking precautionary measures by way of repeated sanitation, wearing of PPE, Masks, monitoring, group testing etc. will be much less than the economic loss if businesses in such high performing districts have to remain shut for longer duration,” said Mr. Banerjee. CII also called for limited public transport to function to enable workers and self-employed people to reach the industrial areas. Green zones within an industrial district, on other hand, should be allowed to work with relaxed restrictions but following strictly the health and safety protocols prescribed by the health authorities. There should be a real time availability of data on all types of zones within the industrial districts. The authorities may also provide updated information on Aarogya Setu app, other apps, local newspapers, radio, TV and online channels, according to the chamber. It also prescribed standard operating procedures for offices, workplaces, factories and establishments prior to resuming operations.
3 May 12:23 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/allow-districts-with-high-economic-activity-to-resume-all-industrial-biz-operations-cii/article31494706.eceRating: 0.30
CII bats for greater industrial activities in 'high economic performance' zones
At a time when the government has decided to provide some relaxations in restrictions during the third phase of the nationwide lockdown starting from May 4, the Confederation of Indian Industry (CII) on Sunday called for greater industrial activities in districts with high economic performance. The industry body also called for "economic contribution of districts to be taken into consideration while classifying lockdown zones." "Districts with high economic activity should resume all industrial and business operations, including those in containment zones, with highest safety protocols," CII said in a report, 'Strategy Note on Resumption of Economic Activities in Industrial Area.' The suggestions followed the notification, issued on May 1 by the government, on graded exit from the coronavirus-related lockdown. The third phase of lockdown necessitates "a focused strategy to minimise economic contraction due to Covid-19", without compromising on efforts to control the contagion, the trade body said in a statement. "Prioritising districts with a heavy presence of economic and industrial activities with continued operations, accompanied by strictest precautions, can help enterprises to remain financially sustainable while averting job losses," CII Director General Chandrajit Banerjee said. The industry body also said while the protracted lockdown in the country, necessitated by the rapid spread of Covid-19, has also caused enormous stress to the financial sustainability of many businesses. In its strategy note, it requested that the top districts should be identified based on variables like their contribution to country's GDP, or presence of industrial estates and clusters or registration of enterprises in a district. Instead of the current practice of categorising the entire district as a 'red zone', the CII has suggested the need for classifying zones as 'containment', 'orange' and 'green' within an industrial district. "Economic activities, in varying degrees of relaxation, should be permitted in all areas of this district but health and safety protocols would differ from zone to zone," it said. The containment zone may be a street, "mohalla" or factory building where positive cases have been detected, the industry body said. It has suggested that close surrounding areas can be classified as 'orange zones' where industrial activity can be continued with strict precautionary measures and monitoring. The distinction of essential and non-essential items should be removed and all factories should be permitted to restart, the industry body said. "Aggressive measures are required to ensure that an industrial district moves from 'red' to 'orange' and 'green' within 21 days. "The cost of undertaking precautionary measures by way of repeated sanitation, wearing of PPE, masks, monitoring, group testing etc. will be much less than the economic loss, if businesses in such high performing districts have to remain shut for a longer duration," Banerjee said. The government has permitted industrial estates, SEZ and industrial townships with the restricted entry within urban areas of 'red zones' to commence operations. "CII submitted that all industrial units, including in non-notified industrial areas and standalone units, be allowed to function in urban areas. These should include non-essential goods and services as well," the statement said. The body also called for limited public transport to function to enable workers and self-employed people to reach the industrial areas. 'Green' zones within an industrial district, on the other hand, should be allowed to work with relaxed restrictions but in adherence to strict health and safety protocols prescribed by the authorities.Moneycontrol Ready ReckonerNow that payment deadlines have been relaxed due to COVID-19, the Moneycontrol Ready Reckoner will help keep your date with insurance premiums, tax-saving investments and EMIs, among others.Download a copy
3 May 00:00 • Moneycontrol • https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/business/economy/cii-bats-for-greater-industrial-activities-in-high-economic-performance-zones-5216621.htmlRating: 0.30
Serie A return decision changed by Italian government
3 May 20:23
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22 articles
Weight: 2.04
Importance: 2.04
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 16:44
Average US: 6.468181818181819
Weighted average US: 7.594097938179383
Average GB: 7.358181818181818
Weighted average GB: 4.377075711450399
Average IN: 8.566363636363636
Weighted average IN: 13.866174596546458
Serie A return decision changed by Italian government
Serie A clubs will now be allowed to return to training on Monday, two weeks ahead of schedule, as football continues its attempts to come back from coronavirus chaos. The Italian government had initially decreed that only athletes from individual sports would be allowed to recommence training from this Monday, with team sports scheduled for May 18. But a decision from the regional assembly of Emilia-Romagna to bring their date forward resulted in a change of heart from national interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, who has now stated that training grounds can be opened providing that social distancing guidelines are followed. Italian publications Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport both carried a note signed by Piantedosi, which read: “Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres." The decision in Emilia-Romagna had meant initially that just four Serie A clubs were planning to return on Monday - Sassuolo, Bologna, Parma and SPAL. A Sassuolo statement read: "Players will only be allowed access to the pitches in compliance with rules of social distancing, while access to the Sports Center will be prohibited. "The individual sessions, which will take place during the mornings from Monday to Friday, with the use of three fields, with six players per hour (one player for each half of the pitch), will not be attended by the technical staff, while an emergency health supervision will be guaranteed." Training is only open to those players who have been in Italy during lockdown, with any player returning from outside of the country - such as Cristiano Ronaldo - forced into quarantine for two weeks. There are still thought to be numerous obstacles to overcome to ensure Serie A starts again, with Juventus currently sitting one point ahead of Lazio at the top.
3 May 20:23 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/serie-return-decision-changed-italian-21968049Rating: 2.39
Serie A sides given green light to open training centres
Serie A clubs are set to return to training grounds next week after getting the go ahead from the Italian Government. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s plans to ease lockdown restrictions had initially made provisions for individual athletes to resume work from Monday, with team sports scheduled to follow suit on May 18. There were reports that the disparity of that approach was being challenged by some regional assemblies and the prospect of some top-flight clubs resuming while others remained banned from doing so has seemingly forced a change of heart. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for a review of the decision and both Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport quote a communique signed by interior minister Matteo Piantedosi which allows for high performance centres to open their doors provided social distancing measures are observed. “Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres,” the note reportedly said. Individual teams are likely to pursue their own arrangements now, steered by regional guidelines and their own preparedness to safely staff facilities. There is no certainty that the Serie A season will resume, with Juventus top of the paused table just a point ahead of Lazio.
3 May 15:37 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/serie-a-sides-given-green-light-to-open-training-centres/Rating: 0.30
Serie A clubs given green light to open training centres
Serie A clubs are set to return to training grounds next week after getting the go ahead from the Italian government. Prime minister Giuseppe Conte’s plans to ease lockdown restrictions had initially made provisions for individual athletes to resume work from Monday, with team sports scheduled to follow suit on May 18th. There were reports that the disparity of that approach was being challenged by some regional assemblies and the prospect of some top-flight clubs resuming while others remained banned from doing so has seemingly forced a change of heart. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for a review of the decision and both Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport quote a communique signed by interior minister Matteo Piantedosi which allows for high performance centres to open their doors provided social distancing measures are observed. “Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres,” the note reportedly said. Individual teams are likely to pursue their own arrangements now, steered by regional guidelines and their own preparedness to safely staff facilities. There is no certainty that the Serie A season will resume, with Juventus top of the paused table just a point ahead of Lazio.
3 May 16:44 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/serie-a-clubs-given-green-light-to-open-training-centres-1.4244092Rating: 1.99
Coronavirus: Serie A players get green light to train from Italian government
Serie A clubs are set to return to training grounds next week after getting the go ahead from the Italian Government. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's plans to ease lockdown restrictions had initially made provisions for individual athletes to resume work from Monday, with team sports scheduled to follow suit on May 18. There were reports that the disparity of that approach was being challenged by some regional assemblies - and the prospect of some top-flight clubs resuming while others remained banned from doing so has seemingly forced a change of heart. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for a review of the decision and both Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport quote a communique signed by interior minister Matteo Piantedosi, which allows for high performance centres to open their doors provided social distancing measures are observed. The note reportedly said: "Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres." Individual teams are likely to pursue their own arrangements now, steered by regional guidelines and their own preparedness to safely staff facilities. However, there is no certainty that the Serie A season will resume, with Juventus top of the paused table, just a point ahead of Lazio.
3 May 17:17 • Sky Sports • https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11854/11982602/coronavirus-serie-a-players-get-green-light-to-train-from-italian-governmentRating: 2.48
Serie A sides given green light to open training centres
The Italian Government has brought forward the resumption from May 18. Serie A clubs are set to return to training grounds next week after getting the go ahead from the Italian Government. Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte’s plans to ease lockdown restrictions had initially made provisions for individual athletes to resume work from Monday, with team sports scheduled to follow suit on May 18. There were reports that the disparity of that approach was being challenged by some regional assemblies and the prospect of some top-flight clubs resuming while others remained banned from doing so has seemingly forced a change of heart. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for a review of the decision and both Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport quote a communique signed by interior minister Matteo Piantedosi which allows for high performance centres to open their doors provided social distancing measures are observed. “Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres,” the note reportedly said. Individual teams are likely to pursue their own arrangements now, steered by regional guidelines and their own preparedness to safely staff facilities. There is no certainty that the Serie A season will resume, with Juventus top of the paused table just a point ahead of Lazio.
3 May 15:37 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/sport/uk-sports/2020/05/03/serie-a-sides-given-green-light-to-open-training-centres/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Spadafora reaffirms May 18 date for Serie A clubs to resume team training
Italian sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora has reiterated Serie A team training will still not resume before May 18, despite the government allowing players to return to club facilities from Monday. A statement from Italy's Home Office on Sunday declared individual athletes - including those who play for teams - can undertake sports activities again, provided they maintain social distancing. On Saturday, Sassuolo became the first Serie A club to confirm they would be going back to training since the season was halted due to the coronavirus crisis. Others in the top tier have since followed suit, including Inter, who will make pitches at their Appiano Gentile available to first-team squad members, albeit on a voluntary basis. "The resumption of competitive activities will be determined and communicated as soon as the relevant regulatory framework is finalised," Inter said in a statement. "All the other areas of the centre will remain closed with the exception of the on-site health and technical facility, which is required to ensure a safe environment and safeguard the athletes." It is also reported table-topping Juventus - who sit one point clear of nearest rivals Lazio at the summit - have asked their players who are currently abroad to return to Italy, allowing them to undergo a period of isolation ahead of a potential resumption. However, Spadafora had made clear full training will not be allowed before the country's lockdown measures expire on May 17. "I read strange things around but nothing has changed compared to what I have always said about football: the teams' training will not resume before 18 May and the resumption of the championship for now is not really talked about," he wrote on Facebook. "Now sorry but I'm going back to deal with all the other sports and sports centres (gyms, dance centres, swimming pools, etc) that must reopen as soon as possible!" Italy has been one of the countries to suffer the most during the health crisis, with over 28,000 deaths related to COVID-19. Published 04 May 2020, 02:58 ISTFeedback
3 May 21:28 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/coronavirus-spadafora-reaffirms-may-18-date-for-serie-a-clubs-to-resume-team-training?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Serie A players set to resume training on Monday
Rome/Berlin: Serie A clubs are in limbo with several regions of Italy allowing players to begin practicing on an individual basis at training centres on Monday while the government has set a May 18 return to the practice field for teams. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora is seeking clarification from the government’s techno-scientific coronavirus commission. Emilia-Romagna, Campania, Lazio and Sardinia have each given the go-ahead for teams in their regions to begin individual training. Those regions contain eight Serie A clubs: Bologna, Sassuolo, Spal, Parma, Napoli, Lazio, Roma and Cagliari. Serie A has been suspended since March 9, when the government ordered a nationwide lockdown. The government announced a week ago that individual athletes can resume training on May 4, while teams can restart May 18. Meanwhile, Germany’s minister for interior Horst Seehofer has supported the proposed day for resumption of football in the country. German Football League (DFL) Chief Executive Christian Seifert had earlier said they are hoping to restart league football in the country on May 9 provided they get the green light from the government. Seehofer stated he finds the proposal ‘plausible’ considering all the requisite government guidelines are followed by the officials and players. “I find the schedule proposed by the German league plausible and I support the restart in May,” Horst Seehofer was quoted as saying by Bild. “If there is a case of coronavirus in a team or its management, the club as a whole, and eventually also the team against which it last played, must go into quarantine for two weeks. “There will continue therefore to be risks for the schedule of matches and for the classification, if there is any contamination,” he added. The entire sporting calender of the world has been shredded due to coronavirus pandemic and football is no different. Leagues in Netherlands, Belgium and France have been called off while other nations like England, Italy, Spain and Germany are battling hard to salvage their respective seasons.
3 May 13:29 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/sport/football/serie-a-players-set-to-resume-training-on-monday-1.71304785Rating: 3.21
Serie A clubs set to return to training next week
Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte's plans to ease lockdown restrictions had initially made provisions for individual athletes to resume work from Monday, with team sports scheduled to follow suit on May 18. There were reports that the disparity of that approach was being challenged by some regional assemblies and the prospect of some top-flight clubs resuming while others remained banned from doing so has seemingly forced a change of heart. Sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora called for a review of the decision and both Corriere dello Sport and Gazzetta dello Sport quote a communique signed by interior minister Matteo Piantedosi which allows for high performance centres to open their doors provided social distancing measures are observed. "Athletes and non-athletes of non-individual disciplines, like every citizen, are allowed to participate in individual sports in public or private areas, respecting the interpersonal safety distance of at least two metres," the note reportedly said. Individual teams are likely to pursue their own arrangements now, steered by regional guidelines and their own preparedness to safely staff facilities. There is no certainty that the Serie A season will resume, with Juventus top of the paused table just a point ahead of Lazio. ID:398325:
3 May 18:32 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/news/serie-a-clubs-set-to-return-to-training-next-week_398325.htmlRating: 0.38
Serie A’s Sassuolo say players can start training from Monday
Sassuolo are set to become the first Serie A side to re-start training following the coronavirus shutdown after saying their players could use the club’s facilities from Monday on an optional basis. Bologna, meanwhile, say their players will be able to start training from Tuesday. Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and the league and the Italian football federation (FIGC) both want to complete the season although the Italian government says it has not yet decided whether it will give permission. The government has given professional teams permission to train together from May 18 although they will still have to respect social distancing guidelines. Sassuolo and Bologna are based in the region of Emilia Romagna which has given special permission for athletes in team sports to take part in training sessions on an individual basis from May 4 onwards. “Sassuolo announces that, from Monday May 4, they will grant their players use of the Mapei Football Centre pitches for optional, individual sessions,” Sassuolo said in a statement. The club said that only players would be allowed to access the pitches while the use of indoor facilities would be prohibited. Under Sassuolo’s guidelines, each player would have half a pitch to himself. “The individual sessions will take place in the morning, from Monday to Friday, with the use of three pitches, with six athletes per hour (one athlete for each half of the field),” the club said, adding that coaching staff would not be present. “An emergency health service will be guaranteed,” it added. Bologna announced similar guidelines while Parma and SPAL, also based in Emilia Romagna, have not yet indicated whether they will start training. The region of Campania, which includes Naples, has also said that players can begin training although Napoli have yet to comment.
3 May 03:53 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/football/serie-as-sassuolo-say-players-can-start-training-from-monday-6391367/Rating: 0.30
Serie A's Sassuolo say players can start training from Monday
ROME: Sassuolo are set to become the first Serie A side to re-start training following the coronavirus shutdown after saying their players could use the club's facilities from Monday on an optional basis. Bologna, meanwhile, say their players will be able to start training from Tuesday. Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and the league and the Italian football federation (FIGC) both want to complete the season although the Italian government says it has not yet decided whether it will give permission. The government has given professional teams permission to train together from May 18 although they will still have to respect social distancing guidelines. Explore Briefs Sassuolo and Bologna are based in the region of Emilia Romagna which has given special permission for athletes in team sports to take part in training sessions on an individual basis from May 4 onwards. "Sassuolo announces that, from Monday May 4, they will grant their players use of the Mapei Football Centre pitches for optional, individual sessions," Sassuolo said in a statement. The club said that only players would be allowed to access the pitches while the use of indoor facilities would be prohibited. Under Sassuolo's guidelines, each player would have half a pitch to himself. "The individual sessions will take place in the morning, from Monday to Friday, with the use of three pitches, with six athletes per hour (one athlete for each half of the field)," the club said, adding that coaching staff would not be present. "An emergency health service will be guaranteed," it added. Bologna announced similar guidelines while Parma and SPAL, also based in Emilia Romagna, have not yet indicated whether they will start training. The region of Campania, which includes Naples, has also said that players can begin training although Napoli have yet to comment.
3 May 03:20 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/serie-as-sassuolo-say-players-can-start-training-from-monday/articleshow/75513862.cmsRating: 0.30
Football: Serie A's Sassuolo say players can start training from Monday
ROME: Sassuolo are set to become the first Serie A side to re-start training following the coronavirus shutdown after saying their players could use the club's facilities from Monday (May 4) on an optional basis. Bologna, meanwhile, say their players will be able to start training from Tuesday. Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and the league and the Italian football federation (FIGC) both want to complete the season although the Italian government says it has not yet decided whether it will give permission. The government has given professional teams permission to train together from May 18 although they will still have to respect social distancing guidelines. Sassuolo and Bologna are based in the region of Emilia Romagna which has given special permission for athletes in team sports to take part in training sessions on an individual basis from May 4 onwards. "Sassuolo announces that, from Monday May 4, they will grant their players use of the Mapei Football Centre pitches for optional, individual sessions," Sassuolo said in a statement. The club said that only players would be allowed to access the pitches while the use of indoor facilities would be prohibited. Under Sassuolo's guidelines, each player would have half a pitch to himself. "The individual sessions will take place in the morning, from Monday to Friday, with the use of three pitches, with six athletes per hour (one athlete for each half of the field)," the club said, adding that coaching staff would not be present. "An emergency health service will be guaranteed," it added. Bologna announced similar guidelines while Parma and SPAL, also based in Emilia Romagna, have not yet indicated whether they will start training. The region of Campania, which includes Naples, has also said that players can begin training although Napoli have yet to comment.
3 May 02:20 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-serie-a-s-sassuolo-say-players-can-start-training-from-12697272Rating: 3.25
Serie A teams set to defy govt and return to training
Italy's 20 Serie A clubs on Friday reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions. An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were "increasingly narrow". League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting "his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs." Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow "professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures." Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday's league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be "the death of Italian football", predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atalanta.
3 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/8/85353/Serie-A-teams-set-to-defy-govt-and-return-toRating: 0.67
Coronavirus: Roma to resume training as Serie A clubs eye return
Roma will resume training activities next week amid the coronavirus pandemic, the Serie A team announced. The 2019-20 Serie A season has been suspended since March due to the COVID-19 crisis, which has killed more than 244,500 people worldwide. All teams in Italy are set to return to training on May 18, the day after the government's existing lockdown measures expire, but some are scheduled to resume earlier. A decree issued by the Emilia-Romagna region of Italy on Thursday opened the door for Sassuolo, SPAL, Bologna and Parma to return to training next week. Sassuolo were the first team to announce a resumption of training on Saturday, although social distancing rules must be complied with and there can be no mass gatherings. And Roma followed suit, saying in a statement: "#ASRoma would like to thank the Lazio Regione for its sensitivity towards team sports. "Next week, Roma players will undergo medical assessments and begin individual training sessions – observing safe distancing guidelines – at the Trigoria training centre." An emergency meeting of Lega Serie A was held on Friday during which it was reported all 20 teams agreed to resume the campaign rather than follow the examples of the Eredivisie and Ligue 1, which ended their respective seasons amid the coronavirus pandemic. After Italy's sports minister Vincenzo Spadafora warned the government could step in to bring the season to a conclusion if an agreement on medical protocols for the resumption of matches was not reached, Lega Serie A president Paolo Dal Pino's call for a united approach was seemingly heeded. Defending champions Juventus were a point clear of Lazio through 26 games at the time of postponement. Published 03 May 2020, 05:12 ISTFeedback
2 May 23:42 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/coronavirus-roma-to-resume-training-as-serie-a-clubs-eye-return?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Coronavirus: Serie A Clubs Vote In Favour Of Resuming Season
All 20 clubs in the Italian top flight, Serie A have voted in favour of resuming the 2019-20 season whenever possible. The news was confirmed through a conference call but the final call on the resumption of the league will be dependent on the government's approval. "Of course we want to play football, it would be against nature to say otherwise. Those who have a profession would always like to continue to do it, if it will be possible while respecting health standards and protocols," Goal.com quoted Paolo Dal Pino, the Serie A president, as saying. "We will strictly adhere to government advice, as we have always done. They can be sure of our constructive and collaborative spirit and that my harmony with president of the FIGC Gabriele Gravina is absolute," he added. There have been reports that a few clubs have been against restarting the season, with Italy having been one of the worst affected countries in Europe by the coronavirus. But an agreement has been reached between the teams and the Italian football federation. Italy's domestic football competition Serie A has been suspended since March due to the coronavirus. The league in France and the Netherlands have already confirmed their 2019-20 seasons are over. On Sunday, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte had revealed plans to gradually relax restrictions in the country and allowed the Serie A players to do individual training from May 4. Italy's government will allow running in open spaces from May 4 while athletes in individual sports such as tennis will be allowed to return to their training facilities.
2 May 09:38 • NDTVSports.com • https://sports.ndtv.com/football/coronavirus-serie-a-clubs-vote-in-favour-of-resuming-season-2222132Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Serie A football clubs set to defy Italian government and return to training
Italy’s 20 Serie A football clubs on Friday reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions. An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were “increasingly narrow”. League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting “his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs.” Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow “professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures.” Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday’s league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be “the death of Italian football”, predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atalanta.
2 May 04:35 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960837/coronavirus-serie-a-football-clubs-set-to-defy-italian-government-and-return-to-trainingRating: 0.30
Football: Serie A teams set to defy government and return to training
MILAN: Italy's 20 Serie A clubs on Friday (May 1) reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions. An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were "increasingly narrow". League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting "his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs." Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow "professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures." Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday's league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be "the death of Italian football", predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atalanta.
2 May 02:13 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/football-serie-a-teams-set-to-defy-government-and-return-to-12695544Rating: 3.25
Regional government allows Napoli to resume training
Napoli were on Saturday given the green light to restart training next week by regional authorities as Serie A clubs eye a return to action from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. The Campania region, where Napoli are based, said in a statement that "the region's positive ruling has already be sent to the government", adding that it had asked for an OK as soon as possible "in order to enable training to restart on Monday". Campania is the second region in Italy to allow its local Serie A club to recommence preparations, under strict health guidelines, at their training ground after Emilia-Romagna made a similar ruling on Friday for Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo. Lazio, which hosts the Rome-based club of the same name and city rivals Roma, Hellas Verona's home the Veneto and Sardinia, where Cagliari are based, are expected to follow suit. The announcement comes despite a government decree which stops players from training at their locked-off sports centres where social distancing could be guaranteed, but allows them to run in public parks. Italy is preparing to relax its lockdown on Monday as the Covid-19 numbers continue a positive trend. The virus has killed over 28 000 people in the country. Many regions have had a fraction of the number of deaths experienced by Lombardy and Piedmont in the north. On Friday, Serie A unanimously voted to finish the 2019-20 season, suspended since 9 March. However, Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were "increasingly narrow". He also vowed to ensure that football's finances would be "damaged as little as possible" should the season be declared over.
2 May 19:06 • Sport • https://www.sport24.co.za/Soccer/International/regional-government-allows-napoli-to-resume-training-20200502Rating: 0.63
Regional government allows Napoli to resume training
Napoli was on Saturday given the green light to restart training next week by regional authorities as Serie A clubs eye a return to action from the coronavirus pandemic shutdown. The Campania region, where Napoli is based, said in a statement that “the region’s positive ruling has already be sent to the government”, adding that it had asked for an OK as soon as possible “in order to enable training to restart on Monday”. Campania is the second region in Italy to allow its local Serie A club to recommence preparations, under strict health guidelines, at their training ground after Emilia-Romagna made a similar ruling on Friday for Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo. Lazio, which hosts the Rome-based club of the same name and city rivals Roma, Hellas Verona’s home the Veneto and Sardinia, where Cagliari are based, are expected to follow suit. The announcement comes despite a government decree which stops players from training at their locked-off sports centres where social distancing could be guaranteed but allows them to run in public parks. Italy is preparing to relax its lockdown on Monday as the Covid-19 numbers continue a positive trend. The virus has killed over 28,000 people in the country. Many regions have had a fraction of the number of deaths experienced by Lombardy and Piedmont in the north. On Friday, Serie A unanimously voted to finish the 2019-20 season, suspended since March 9. However, Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were “increasingly narrow”. He also vowed to ensure that football’s finances would be “damaged as little as possible” should the season be declared over.
2 May 16:43 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/sport/regional-government-allows-napoli-to-resume-training/Rating: 0.30
Serie A teams set to defy govt and return to training
Inter Milan and Juventus compete in an empty stadium in their last match before Serie A was suspended due to the novel coronavirus outbreak. AFP/File/Vincenzo PINTO An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were “increasingly narrow”. League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting “his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs.” Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow “professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures.” Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday’s league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be “the death of Italian football”, predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atalanta.
2 May 09:57 • The Citizen • https://citizen.co.za/sport/2277787/serie-a-teams-set-to-defy-govt-and-return-to-training/Rating: 1.26
Serie A teams set to defy govt and return to training
MILAN: Italy's 20 Serie A clubs on Friday reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions. An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were "increasingly narrow". League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting "his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs." Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. Explore Briefs An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow "professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures." Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday's league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be "the death of Italian football", predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atlanta.
2 May 03:53 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/football/top-stories/serie-a-teams-set-to-defy-govt-and-return-to-training/articleshow/75500490.cmsRating: 0.30
Serie A teams set to defy govt and return to training
ROME, Italy (AFP) – Italy’s 20 Serie A clubs on Friday reiterated their unanimous desire to complete the season as the northern Emilia-Romagna region became the first to open the way to training despite government restrictions. An emergency Lega Serie A assembly via video of the top-flight clubs took place after Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora this week said the chances of restarting were “increasingly narrow”. League president Paolo Dal Pino stated after the meeting “his openness to a dialogue with the government from a constructive and collaborative perspective, obtaining on this position the full agreement of all the clubs.” Spadafora has warned that the government will call time on the season which has been suspended since March 9 if the Italian Football Federation (FIGC) fails to convince them on its health and safety protocol. An FIGC meeting slated for May 8 could be decisive. Meanwhile, the Emilia-Romagna region on Friday gave permission for local clubs, including top-flight sides Bologna, Parma, SPAL and Sassuolo, to resume training in sports centres from May 4 if they wished to do so. Emilia-Romagna regional president Stefano Bonaccini has agreed to allow “professional sportspeople to train individually, in compliance with social distancing rules and without any gatherings in closed-door structures.” Southern giants Napoli are also planning to return to training as their safety proposals have received the backing of local authorities. Friday’s league meeting also addressed the issue of TV rights, but no resolutions were adopted concerning broadcasters Sky, DAZN and IMG, with a final payment estimated at 340 million euros ($370 million) for the current season, due to be paid in May. FIGC president Gabriele Gravina has said that calling time would be “the death of Italian football”, predicting losses of over 800 million euros in TV rights, sponsors, ticketing and marketing. If the government did decide to pull the plug on the season it would have the support of a country traumatised by over 28,000 coronavirus deaths. According to a recent survey, two out of three Italians would support a stoppage, in particular in the northern epicentre, stronghold of heavyweights Juventus, Inter Milan and AC Milan and Atalanta.
2 May 00:00 • The Zimbabwe Mail • https://www.thezimbabwemail.com/sports/serie-a-teams-set-to-defy-govt-and-return-to-training/Rating: 0.30
Soccer-Serie A's Sassuolo say players can start training from Monday
ROME — Sassuolo are set to become the first Serie A side to re-start training following the coronavirus shutdown after saying their players could use the club’s facilities from Monday on an optional basis. Bologna, meanwhile, say their players will be able to start training from Tuesday. Serie A has been suspended since March 9 and the league and the Italian football federation (FIGC) both want to complete the season although the Italian government says it has not yet decided whether it will give permission. The government has given professional teams permission to train together from May 18 although they will still have to respect social distancing guidelines. Sassuolo and Bologna are based in the region of Emilia Romagna which has given special permission for athletes in team sports to take part in training sessions on an individual basis from May 4 onwards. “Sassuolo announces that, from Monday May 4, they will grant their players use of the Mapei Football Centre pitches for optional, individual sessions,” Sassuolo said in a statement. The club said that only players would be allowed to access the pitches while the use of indoor facilities would be prohibited. Under Sassuolo’s guidelines, each player would have half a pitch to himself. “The individual sessions will take place in the morning, from Monday to Friday, with the use of three pitches, with six athletes per hour (one athlete for each half of the field),” the club said, adding that coaching staff would not be present. “An emergency health service will be guaranteed,” it added. Bologna announced similar guidelines while Parma and SPAL, also based in Emilia Romagna, have not yet indicated whether they will start training. The region of Campania, which includes Naples, has also said that players can begin training although Napoli have yet to comment. (Writing by Brian Homewood Editing by Toby Davis)
2 May 18:13 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/soccer-serie-as-sassuolo-say-players-can-start-training-from-mondayRating: 1.59
Tennis back on the menu in Austria, but don't shake on it
3 May 23:29
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4 articles
Weight: 2.03
Importance: 2.10
Age penalty: 0.97
Best date: 3 May 10:34
Average US: 8.175
Weighted average US: 14.543958498452739
Average GB: 0.375
Weighted average GB: 0.6916024992025858
Average IN: 5.375
Weighted average IN: 6.2515853981710015
Tennis back on the menu in Austria, but don't shake on it
Austria’s loosened lockdown means tennis players can return to the court as long as they stick to coronavirus-related rules – singles only, no touching each other’s tennis balls and definitely no shaking hands at the net. Tennis is one of several social-distancing-compatible sports the conservative-led government allowed to resume from last Friday (May 1), part of a second wave of lockdown easing. Others include golf, horse riding, archery, shooting and mini golf. Austria introduced its lockdown seven weeks ago and first relaxed it on April 14, when some shops were allowed to reopen. Leaving home for exercise like jogging was officially encouraged but sports clubs were closed, and most still are. “During quarantine, I was wondering which wall I could play against and now I’m glad that I can finally play on court,” a player who gave his name as Yannis said at Smashing Suns, a club in Vienna’s upscale 13th district, which also houses the Schoenbrunn – a former imperial palace. When he announced last month that some sports would resume, sports minister Werner Kogler said it would be up to federations to decide what new rules to impose to prevent infections and he singled out tennis as already having a list. That list is on display at Smashing Suns. It includes arriving in tennis gear as changing rooms are closed and a recommendation that players mark their own balls. Touching your opponent is banned, as are doubles matches and playing indoors. “The players will definitely stick to them (the new rules), also because we check that they do. They are very disciplined and the pleasure of playing is greater than the willingness to risk something,” the club’s co-owner Dieter Mocker said. “People definitely miss playing doubles. Almost 80 per cent of our members want to play doubles and we hope that will be possible again soon.” For now, relief seems to be the overriding sentiment. “The last few weeks were very bad without any exercise – I walked a bit, but otherwise nothing,” said regular player Michaela Werni. “Not seeing tennis friends was a drastic reduction in my quality of life... “Now it is great and a totally new experience to finally be able to move around outdoors and with nice friends, even if it is with some restrictions.” – REUTERS
3 May 23:29 • thenewpaper • https://www.tnp.sg/sports/tennis/tennis-back-menu-austria-dont-shake-itRating: 0.49
Singles only and don't shake on it - Austrians return to the tennis court
Austria's loosened lockdown means tennis players can return to the court as long as they stick to coronavirus-related rules - singles only, no touching each other's tennis balls, and definitely no shaking hands at the net. VIENNA: Austria's loosened lockdown means tennis players can return to the court as long as they stick to coronavirus-related rules: singles only, no touching each other's tennis balls, and definitely no shaking hands at the net. Tennis is one of several social-distancing-compatible sports the conservative-led government allowed to resume from May 1, part of a second wave of lockdown easing. Others include golf, horse riding, archery, shooting and mini golf. Austria introduced its lockdown seven weeks ago and first relaxed it on April 14, when some shops were allowed to reopen. Leaving home for exercise like jogging was officially encouraged but sports clubs were closed, and most still are. "During quarantine, I was wondering which wall I could play against, and now I'm glad that I can finally play on court," a player who gave his name as Yannis said at Smashing Suns, a club in Vienna's upscale 13th district, which also houses the Schoenbrunn former imperial palace. When he announced last month that some sports would resume, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens, who is also sports minister, said it would be up to federations to decide what new rules to impose to prevent infections, and he singled out tennis as already having a list. That list is on display at Smashing Suns. It includes arriving in tennis gear as changing rooms are closed, and a recommendation that players mark their own balls. Touching your opponent is banned, as are doubles matches and playing indoors. "The players will definitely stick to them (the new rules), also because we check that they do. They are very disciplined and I think the pleasure of playing is greater than the willingness to risk something," the club's co-owner Dieter Mocker said. "People definitely miss playing doubles. Almost 80per cent of our members want to play doubles, and we hope that will be possible again soon," he said. For now, relief seems to be the overriding sentiment. "The last few weeks were very bad without any exercise - I walked a bit but otherwise nothing," said regular player Michaela Werni. "Not seeing tennis friends was a drastic reduction in my quality of life ... Now it is great and a totally new experience to finally be able to move around outdoors and with nice friends, even if it is with some restrictions." (Writing by Francois Murphy, editing by Ed Osmond)
3 May 20:20 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/sport/singles-only-and-don-t-shake-on-it---austrians-return-to-the-tennis-court-12698238Rating: 3.25
Austrians return to the tennis court with singles only, no shaking rules
Austria’s loosened lockdown means tennis players can return to the court as long as they stick to coronavirus-related rules – singles only, no touching each other’s tennis balls, and definitely no shaking hands at the net. Tennis is one of several social-distancing-compatible sports the conservative-led government allowed to resume from May 1, part of a second wave of lockdown easing. Others include golf, horse riding, archery, shooting, and mini-golf. Austria introduced its lockdown seven weeks ago and first relaxed it on April 14, when some shops were allowed to reopen. Leaving home for exercise like jogging was officially encouraged but sports clubs were closed, and most still are. “During quarantine, I was wondering which wall I could play against, and now I’m glad that I can finally play on court,” a player who gave his name as Yannis said at Smashing Suns, a club in Vienna’s upscale 13th district, which also houses the Schoenbrunn former imperial palace. When he announced last month that some sports would resume, Vice-Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens, who is also sports minister, said it would be up to federations to decide what new rules to impose to prevent infections, and he singled out tennis as already having a list. That list is on display at Smashing Suns. It includes arriving in tennis gear as changing rooms are closed, and a recommendation that players mark their own balls. Touching your opponent is banned, as are doubles matches and playing indoors. “The players will definitely stick to them (the new rules), also because we check that they do. They are very disciplined and I think the pleasure of playing is greater than the willingness to risk something,” the club’s co-owner Dieter Mocker said. “People definitely miss playing doubles. Almost 80% of our members want to play doubles, and we hope that will be possible again soon,” he said. For now, relief seems to be the overriding sentiment. “The last few weeks were very bad without any exercise – I walked a bit but otherwise nothing,” said regular player Michaela Werni. “Not seeing tennis friends was a drastic reduction in my quality of life … Now it is great and a totally new experience to finally be able to move around outdoors and with nice friends, even if it is with some restrictions.”
3 May 11:37 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/tennis/austria-court-return-singles-only-no-shaking-rules-6391908/Rating: 0.30
Singles only and don't shake on it: Austrians return to the tennis court
VIENNA (Reuters) - Austria’s loosened lockdown means tennis players can return to the court as long as they stick to coronavirus-related rules - singles only, no touching each other’s tennis balls, and definitely no shaking hands at the net. Tennis is one of several social-distancing-compatible sports the conservative-led government allowed to resume from May 1, part of a second wave of lockdown easing. Others include golf, horse riding, archery, shooting and mini golf. Austria introduced its lockdown seven weeks ago and first relaxed it on April 14, when some shops were allowed to reopen. Leaving home for exercise like jogging was officially encouraged but sports clubs were closed, and most still are. “During quarantine, I was wondering which wall I could play against, and now I’m glad that I can finally play on court,” a player who gave his name as Yannis said at Smashing Suns, a club in Vienna’s upscale 13th district, which also houses the Schoenbrunn former imperial palace. When he announced last month that some sports would resume, Vice Chancellor Werner Kogler of the Greens, who is also sports minister, said it would be up to federations to decide what new rules to impose to prevent infections, and he singled out tennis as already having a list. That list is on display at Smashing Suns. It includes arriving in tennis gear as changing rooms are closed, and a recommendation that players mark their own balls. Touching your opponent is banned, as are doubles matches and playing indoors. “The players will definitely stick to them (the new rules), also because we check that they do. They are very disciplined and I think the pleasure of playing is greater than the willingness to risk something,” the club’s co-owner Dieter Mocker said. “People definitely miss playing doubles. Almost 80% of our members want to play doubles, and we hope that will be possible again soon,” he said. For now, relief seems to be the overriding sentiment. “The last few weeks were very bad without any exercise - I walked a bit but otherwise nothing,” said regular player Michaela Werni. “Not seeing tennis friends was a drastic reduction in my quality of life ... Now it is great and a totally new experience to finally be able to move around outdoors and with nice friends, even if it is with some restrictions.”
3 May 10:34 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-austria-tennis-idUSKBN22F0DXRating: 4.04
England could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1: Telegraph
3 May 09:10
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8 articles
Weight: 2.03
Importance: 2.29
Age penalty: 0.89
Best date: 3 May 09:10
Average US: 14.337500000000002
Weighted average US: 20.609650167464885
Average GB: 4.4375
Weighted average GB: 2.5524312899436365
Average IN: 6.625
Weighted average IN: 7.20886021344371
England could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1: Telegraph
(This May 2 story corrects headline and lead to show England (not England and Wales) could reopen primary schools) LONDON (Reuters) - England could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1 under plans being discussed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Johnson is expected to unveil the government’s “roadmap” out of the coronavirus lockdown in an address to the nation next Sunday, the newspaper said. The Sunday Times said that the government will only tweak the lockdown this week, encouraging building sites to reopen, relaxing rules on outdoor activities and urging people to cover their faces on public transport. Johnson is due next week to present a possible way out of the lockdown to get the world’s fifth largest economy back to work without triggering a second spike in coronavirus cases.
3 May 09:10 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-britain-lockdown-idUSKBN22E0TPRating: 4.04
British bosses call for gradual lockdown easing
Senior figures in the City of London have urged the government to proceed with caution in easing the coronavirus lockdown, saying there should be a gradual reopening of the economy. Executives highlighted tough decisions ahead for Boris Johnson, with some flagging the difficult balancing act for the prime minister as he tries to continue to curb the Covid-19 outbreak while kick-starting the economy. Mr Johnson is this week due to unveil an exit strategy from the lockdown imposed on March 23, and he is expected to outline a phased lifting of restrictions that have resulted in most people staying at home and many industries either ceasing or scaling back operations. The consensus among the FT City Network — a forum of more than 50 senior figures — is that the government needs to prioritise the health needs of the nation as it eases the lockdown. Several highlighted the importance of having an effective virus testing regime given a vaccine may not be available until next year. Ann Cairns, executive vice-chair at Mastercard, said “the economy needs to reopen in a way that is sensitive to the continued goal of controlling the virus”. “Nobody should be forcing people back to work but instead we should have a timetable and a framework that looks at gradual reopening based on real data and insights.” Mike Rake, former chairman of BT, said that “lifting the lockdown must be gradual by sector”, taking account of the risk posed by the virus. But he added there will at some point be more damage to health “caused by the lockdown than the virus itself . . . all at an increasing and enormous economic cost”. Sir Mike said the minimum condition for ending the lockdown would be when the National Health Service was properly equipped, with important future milestones around virus testing and vaccines, among other things. Catherine McGuinness, policy chief at the City of London Corporation, said the virus may cause a rethink of the way “rush hour” works given the need for “methods to enable social distancing". “Do we need to encourage staggered shifts?” she asked. “Any easing of the lockdown is likely to be done in a gradual and phased approach. “Confidence in and capacity of transport modes will be a key consideration for return to the workplace.” Win Bischoff, chair of JPMorgan Securities, said the end of the lockdown “cannot overwhelm the NHS, it must not allow a complete return to normal or business as usual without proper and reliable testing in place for those returning to work and those associated with them”. But “as in war, difficult moral judgments are occasionally necessary,” added Sir Win. The government will need to take a “dreadful moral decision that in practice — in order for the vast majority of the country to reestablish the necessary working economy with jobs and viable economic structures — there will continue to be fatalities despite the most stringent safeguards”, he said. Anne Richards, chief executive of Fidelity International, said the lockdown easing would need “a balancing act of safety and pragmatism, giving rise to hard judgments no one wants to make”. The economic damage of lockdown was “enormous”, she added. David Roberts, chair of Nationwide, said he was “very cautious about moving too swiftly” to a widespread reopening of the economy until virus containment strategies including testing were in place. He added there needed to be a strategy to allow critical parts of the economy to be restarted in stages, based on a vaccine being delayed “for at least a year and probably longer”. Miles Celic, chief executive of TheCityUK, the trade body for the financial and professional services industries, said that, without a vaccine, the UK would need a flexible system over returning to work. “Government and employers must properly prepare people for the possibility that they will spend months under some form of lockdown that ebbs and flows,” he added. Robert Swannell, former chair of Marks and Spencer, said businesses needed to look beyond the crisis, pointing to the virus-induced acceleration of trends such as online shopping and remote working. “After finding a route to survival we should reimagine what our businesses and the world will look like post-Covid and then move at speed.”
3 May 11:29 • Ft • https://www.ft.com/content/296990ef-c539-4dda-9563-5e2abea9179dRating: 2.96
Explainer: Which social distancing restrictions will be lifted first?
By the end of the week Australians might have an idea as to when pubs will be reopened. Social distancing guidelines are set to be gradually phased out with national cabinet set to meet on Tuesday and Friday this week to make decisions on how this will happen. While COVID-19's shadow will still largely loom over our everyday lives a return to some sense of a normal life is not far away. Prime Minister Scott Morrison has remained tight-lipped about what restrictions would be lifted first. When asked by reporters last Friday, the Prime Minister said these would be considered by national cabinet at the next two meetings. He would not indicate what restrictions would be eased first as he did not want to "prejudice" discussions with the state and territory leaders. Mr Morrison has previously indicated he would like to see restaurants and cafes open but has said it would be a long time before Australians could gather in large crowds. Again, that is another unknown but social distancing guidelines will start to be eased in the coming weeks. It is likely social distancing guidelines, in some form, would be in place for a while to come. When cafes, bars and gyms reopen they will likely have to abide by strict guidelines and restrictions. "It's not just about whether an activity can be reopened, it's how it can be reopened," Mr Morrison said on Friday. "The COVID safe economy, the COVID safe environment and society we're going to be living in will be different." The Prime Minister said on Friday national cabinet would meet to consider the decision on the relaxation of restrictions. It does not necessarily mean guidelines would be eased on Friday. This decision was originally intended to be discussed at a leaders meeting on May 11, but Mr Morrison said Australians had earned an "early mark". While people in NSW and the ACT may be familiar with the term, others across Australia may be scratching their heads as to what exactly the term means. It is a slang term used to describe when permission is given for a person to leave early from school or work. READ MORE: The Prime Minister said on Friday there were 15 conditions that had to be met in order for restrictions to be eased. Of those, Australians had already met 11. The conditions were related to public health capacity, surveillance plans and modelling. Conditions not yet met mostly related to the surveillance of the disease, in particular the uptake of the government's COVIDSafe app. On Friday, Mr Morrison said "millions more" needed to download the app and likened it to going out in the sun without sunscreen. Another condition that had not yet been met was states and territories having appropriate stock of personal protective equipment. Last Friday, national cabinet endorsed a set of national principles for the resumption of sport and recreation activities, which indicates these would be some of the first restrictions to be relaxed. These principles provide a guideline for a staged return of community and professional sport. Children's outdoor sport, with strict physical distancing measures, is set to kick off first, as well as activities such as outdoor personal training, boot camps and swimming. The National Rugby League competition is due to commence on May 28, with all teams confirmed to play, following the arrival of the New Zealand Warriors into Australia on Sunday. A restart date for the AFL has not yet been decided, but reports have suggested a decision on this is set to be made this week. Super Rugby's return date has also not be confirmed. Given travel restrictions, the league is set to resume with a domestic competition. Yes, but there are guidelines that need to be followed. At the last meeting, national cabinet also endorsed a draft visitor access code. This code set out guidelines for communication between residents and their family and friends. Among the guidelines was people should not visit aged care facilities if they have any COVID-19 symptoms and visits should be short but visits to aged care residents who are dying and in their final weeks are allowed to be longer. The Prime Minister has previously come down hard on aged care facilities which restricted visitor access above and beyond what was required. Yes, while previously other criteria had to be met, the government has now enhanced testing capacity and as restrictions begin to be lifted more tests have to happen. "The most important thing in testing is for everybody who has any respiratory symptoms, cough or a cold or a sore throat or runny nose. Please get tested, it's safe to get tested," Chief Medical Officer Brendan Murphy said on Friday. "We want everybody who has a cough or a cold or any respiratory symptoms because most people with COVID-19 have mild symptoms, just like a cough or a cold - get tested and don't go to work." Professor Murphy said people without symptoms would not be tested, despite a small minority in areas where virus clusters had developed. "There's been a lot of talk about what's called active surveillance, where you test, well asymptomatic people in the community," he said. "Given the current very low positivity in testing, that does not seem to be a very effective way of monitoring this virus." Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.
3 May 16:30 • The Canberra Times • https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6743608/which-social-distancing-restrictions-will-be-lifted-first/Rating: 0.81
Ireland’s pubs and restaurants may reopen sooner than expected, minister says
PUBS AND restaurants could open sooner than planned, according to Ireland’s Business Minister Heather Humphreys. Under the government’s newly-unveiled five-step plan for ending lockdown, pubs are scheduled to begin reopening from August 10. Restaurants, meanwhile, are due to begin serving customers from late June. However, Ms Humphreys has suggested that these timings could be pushed forward provided the threat of COVID-19 is brought under control. Speaking alongside Finance Minister Paschal Donohoe and Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy, the Business Minister said that if the virus was contained "there's no reason why those dates couldn't be accelerated". "First of in terms of pubs, if we can keep the virus under control there is now a pathway for the hospitality sector so restaurants can be back by the end of June, hotels by mid-July and pubs by the 10th of August," she said. "Many of them had concerns they wouldn't be able to open at all this year so I actually think the sector can take a lot of heart from the roadmap." Ms Humphreys added: "I've spoken with the two main vintners associations this week and I know that officials will be meeting with the vintners in the coming days to discuss further how we can help them. "It's about people working together and finding the solution and of course if we find that the coronavirus is abating considerably well there's no reason why these dates can't be accelerated." However, she also warned that any increase in cases of coronavirus could have the adverse effect, resulting in a longer delay before pubs and restaurants return. The government’s plans for the gradual reopening of services across Ireland attracted criticism from some in the pub industry who felt they were being discriminated against. The Licensed Vintners Association has expressed dismay at the decision to allow restaurants to reopen six weeks earlier than pubs and bars. "We're bitterly disappointed really, pubs are being treated as second-class citizens, they are the last channel in the hospitality sector to open,” Chief Executive Donall O'Keeffe said. "We are calling on them to work with us on a re-opening plan for pubs. "Social distancing challenges are the same for all hospitality businesses and all hospitality businesses should be able to open at the same time.”
3 May 00:00 • The Irish Post • https://www.irishpost.com/news/irelands-pubs-restaurants-may-reopen-sooner-expected-minister-says-184539Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus | U.K. could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1: media
The United Kingdom could allow primary schools in England and Wales to reopen as soon as June 1 under plans being discussed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Mr. Johnson is expected to unveil the government's “roadmap” out of the coronavirus lockdown in an address to the nation next Sunday, the newspaper said. The Sunday Times said that the government will only tweak the lockdown this week, encouraging building sites to reopen, relaxing rules on outdoor activities and urging people to cover their faces on public transport. Mr. Johnson is due next week to present a possible way out of the lockdown to get the world's fifth largest economy back to work without triggering a second spike in coronavirus cases.
2 May 21:59 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/coronavirus-uk-could-allow-primary-schools-to-reopen-as-soon-as-june-1-media/article31492554.eceRating: 0.30
UK could allow primary schools to reopen as soon as June 1 - Telegraph
LONDON — The United Kingdom could allow primary schools in England and Wales to reopen as soon as June 1 under plans being discussed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, the Telegraph newspaper reported. Johnson is expected to unveil the government’s “roadmap” out of the coronavirus lockdown in an address to the nation next Sunday, the newspaper said. The Sunday Times said that the government will only tweak the lockdown this week, encouraging building sites to reopen, relaxing rules on outdoor activities and urging people to cover their faces on public transport. Johnson is due next week to present a possible way out of the lockdown to get the world’s fifth largest economy back to work without triggering a second spike in coronavirus cases. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge; Editing by Daniel Wallis)
2 May 21:14 • National Post • https://nationalpost.com/pmn/health-pmn/uk-could-allow-primary-schools-to-reopen-as-soon-as-june-1-telegraphRating: 1.59
Outdoor gatherings could restart before pubs reopen as coronavirus lockdown is eased
Sign up for our daily Politics briefing for political exclusives, analysis and debate.Thank you for signing up to our Politics newsletter.Something went wrong - please try again later.Sign Up Standing in for Prime Minister Boris Johnson at Saturday’s Covid-19 briefing in Downing Street, UK housing secretary Robert Jenrick said scientific evidence pointing to transmission rates being “significantly less” outdoors would play a part in the government’s plan on how to move forward. Asked whether mass gatherings could go-ahead before pubs reopen as part of an easing of lockdown restrictions, the MP said the the moment “has not yet come” to reopen bars or allow outdoor events to go ahead. However he confirmed: “It is right to say that the rate of transmission is significantly less outdoors than indoors, so when it is right to ease lockdown measures that will be a factor that we take into consideration.” He added: “The prime minister has said now that we have passed the peak of the virus. It is the right time for us to establish how we should be reopening as a country in the next phase. “We are thinking about different settings – whether your workplace, public transport, schools or outdoors – and what sort of steps might members of the public, families and employers need when it is right to ease these restrictions in these particular settings.” He said he couldn’t go into any further details on the potential easing lockdown restrictions – which will be the subject of a plan revealed by Prime Minister Boris Johnson next week. Deputy Chief Medical Officer Dr Jenny Harries said: “The virus itself will not survive as long in the outdoor environment. Generally outdoor environments are safer but it depends how you go to your outdoor environment and what you do.” She said transmission of the virus outdoors would depend on whether you went out as part of a “family unit and sit in one place” or with “a whole load of friends you haven’t seen from before lockdown and sit in a pub” On the latter she said: “That is really not a good thing to do.” The prime minister has promised to deliver a “comprehensive plan” next week to set out “how we can get our economy moving”, how people might travel to work and how children can go back to school or into childcare. 3 months free access to our web and ePaper pack including Premium articles. SubscribeTags May 3 2020 May 3 2020 May 3 2020
2 May 17:28 • The Courier • https://www.thecourier.co.uk/fp/news/politics/uk-politics/1305364/outdoor-gatherings-could-restart-before-pubs-reopen-as-coronavirus-lockdown-is-eased/Rating: 0.30
Pubs may re-open sooner than expected if COVID-19 is brought under control
Business Minister Heather Humphreys has said "there's no reason" why dates outlined in the Government's roadmap "can't be accelerated" Business Minister Heather Humphreys said today that if COVID-19 is brought under control in Ireland then we could be witnessing the re-opening of pubs sooner than August, as outlined in the Government's roadmap. Under the five-phase plan announced by Taoiseach Leo Varadkar, restaurants and cafes could be able to start re-opening by phase three, commencing on June 29. However, it won't be until more than three months from now until the possibility of pubs and bars opening their doors again by the final phase (August 10). Speaking at a press conference today, Minister Humphreys said "there's no reason why these dates can't be accelerated" if the coronavirus was contained. She said: "It’s about people working together to find the solution and of course, if we find that the coronavirus is abating considerably well there’s no reason then why these dates can’t be accelerated, but at the same time, if the opposite occurs we have the flexibility in this plan to stop as well." ‘If we can keep the virus under control, and there is now a pathway for the hospitality sector. So restaurants can be back by the end of June, hotels by mid-July and pubs by the August 10," she added.
2 May 17:19 • Buzz.ie • https://www.buzz.ie/news/pubs-may-re-open-sooner-expected-covid-19-brought-control-366860Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus origin: Mike Pompeo points at Wuhan lab
3 May 23:01
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5 articles
Weight: 2.02
Importance: 2.02
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:56
Average US: 34.56
Weighted average US: 16.799558018606277
Average GB: 0.27999999999999997
Weighted average GB: 0.18410439833789935
Average IN: 2.2
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Coronavirus origin: Mike Pompeo points at Wuhan lab
US Secretary of State Michael Pompeo has said that “enormous evidence” shows that the coronavirus outbreak began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China. He didn’t provide any proof for his claims, though. “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo said on ABC’s This Week. “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.” Pompeo stopped short of saying the virus was man-made, saying that he agreed with a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that ruled out genetic modification. “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said,” said Pompeo. “I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” Meanwhile, prisons in the US that hold the world’s largest number of incarcerated people have been tormented by a wave of coronavirus infections and fatalities. More than 14,400 inmates have been infected and some 215 have died, said Marshall Project, a non-partisan news organisation. Official numbers from the Bureau of Prions showed 1,919 cases and 37 fatalities.
3 May 23:01 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/coronavirus-origin-mike-pompeo-points-at-wuhan-lab/story-jTgRenxJlUhSt5XNmT0jbM.htmlRating: 0.30
Pompeo says ‘enormous evidence’ connects coronavirus to Wuhan lab | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said “enormous evidence” shows the novel coronavirus outbreak began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, but didn’t provide any proof for his claims. “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week.” “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.” Pompeo stopped short of saying the virus was man-made, noting that he agreed with a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that ruled out genetic modification or it having been man-made. The virus’s origin has become a flash point in the pandemic and ratcheted up tensions between the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump has escalated efforts to attach blame to China as U.S. pandemic deaths pass 66,000. “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said,” said Pompeo. “I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” Pompeo declined to say whether the Chinese intentionally released the virus. “I don’t have anything to say about that,” he said. Trump and his aides sharpened their criticism of Beijing last week, demanding answers about the virus’s origin. The president tweeted Friday that some U.S. television networks are “Chinese puppets,” while his super-political action committee unleashed anti-China ads. “China behaved like authoritarian regimes do, attempted to conceal and hide and confuse,” Pompeo said on ABC. “It employed the World Health Organization as a tool to do the same.” The secretary said China continued to block access by health experts from the WHO, as well as U.S. scientists, from getting access to samples of the virus needed for study. “This is an ongoing threat, an ongoing pandemic,” Pompeo said. “The Chinese Communist Party continues to block access to the Western world, the world’s best scientists, to figure out exactly what happened.”
3 May 16:10 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/breaking-news/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-connects-coronavirus-to-wuhan-lab/Rating: 0.30
Mike Pompeo Says There Is ‘Enormous Evidence’ That COVID-19 Was ‘Man-Made’ In A Chinese Lab
May 3, 2020 Anna Harnes Secretary of State Mike Pompeo claimed that American intelligence has collected “enormous evidence” that the coronavirus originated in a Chinese laboratory in Wuhan. The disease first made headlines in December and early January, and has since spread across the globe to infect 3.45 million and claim the lives of over 244,000. Pompeo made the claims during an interview on ABC’s This Week. During the segment, journalist Martha Raddatz asked the secretary of state about the recent claims that the virus could have been genetically modified in a laboratory. “There’s enormous evidence that that’s where this began,” Pompeo replied. “We’ve said from the beginning that this was a virus that originated in Wuhan, China. We took a lot of grief for that from the outset. But I think the whole world can see now,” he continued. “And so, while the intelligence community continues to do its work… I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” he concluded. When Raddatz asked whether Pompeo believed that the virus was man-made, he replied in the affirmative. However, Pompeo appeared to backtrack slightly immediately afterward, saying that he also “agreed” with a statement released earlier this week by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence (DNI), which claimed it did not believe that the virus was man-made. When Raddatz asked for his final say on the matter, Pompeo said that he believed the “intelligence community,” though did not specify if that specifically meant the DNI. Initial reports on COVID-19 suggested that the coronavirus had potentially come from an animal, such as a bat, sold at one of the many wet markets in Wuhan. However, rumors were circulating by February that the virus may have actually originated in a laboratory located mere yards from the wet market, as was previously reported by The Inquisitr. The whispers were based on the fact that the type of bat believed to be the source of the virus — named a horseshoe bat — is not native to Wuhan, but rather to a region in China located 600 miles away. The horseshoe bat was one of the animals tested on in the Wuhan lab. In addition, there had been reports of the bats attacking the scientists in the lab, and even drawing blood. China has vehemently denied all claims that it created the coronavirus, and has even suggested that a United States military member brought the virus to the Middle Kingdom.
3 May 16:53 • The Inquisitr • https://www.inquisitr.com/6032234/mike-pompeo-coronavirus-man-made-china/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29Rating: 0.30
State-Funded Lab in Australia Linked to China’s Coronavirus Research – Reports
The intensifying debate over COVID-19’s possible origins has taken on a political dimension amid claims by US President Donald Trump that the virus likely originated at the Wuhan Institute of Virology, even as his own officials say they agree with the scientific consensus that the novel coronavirus was “not manmade or genetically modified.” The Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (CSIRO), the Australian federal agency responsible for scientific research, has been involved in the training and funding of the work of a team of Chinese scientists who would go on to engage in the genetic modification of deadly coronaviruses transmittable from bats to human beings in Wuhan, Australia’s The Daily Telegraph has reported. The report, based on a 15-page intelligence dossier on the COVID-19 outbreak by the Five Eyes, the Anglophone intelligence alliance consisting of the US, the UK, Canada, Australia and New Zealand, alleges that senior researchers from the Wuhan Institute of Virology, the institute at the heart of President Trump’s claims as to the virus’s origins, either received training or were employed by CSIRO’s Australian Animal Health Laboratory. Furthermore, the newspaper says that cooperation between CSIRO and the Chinese Academy of Sciences appears to be ongoing. Sarah Henderson, an Australian senator, called the dossier’s findings and the revelation that Chinese scientists had engaged in bat virus research in Australia “very concerning,” suggesting the need for “extreme care” when it comes to “any research projects involving foreign nationals which may compromise our national security or biosecurity.” The Five Eyes have accused China of “destroying evidence” from the Wuhan lab and refusing to provide live virus samples to international scientists working on a vaccine. Dr. Vyuan Zhiming, veteran director of the Wuhan lab, insists that the lab’s “strict regulatory regime” and code of conduct for research precludes the lab from being the source of the coronavirus pandemic. Last week, Acting Director of National Intelligence Richard Grenell indicated that the US intelligence community “concurs with the wide scientific consensus that the COVID-19 virus was not manmade or genetically modified,” echoing sentiments expressed by Joint Chiefs of Staff chairman Gen. Mark Milley. As recently as Thursday however, President Trump said he was confident that COVID-19 originated from the Wuhan lab, without citing details or his sources. The attempts by the world’s two economic superpowers to blame one another for the virus make sense, given that COVID-19 has caused trillions of dollars in economic damage worldwide, infecting over 3.4 million people and helping to cause over 244,000 deaths. A number of US officials allied to the president have already called for measures to ‘punish’ China for the virus, with the Washington Post reporting last week citing sources that lawmakers were mulling ‘canceling’ some of the US debt held by China as punishment.
3 May 13:56 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/asia/202005031079182622-state-funded-lab-in-australia-linked-to-chinas-coronavirus-research--reports/Rating: 3.96
Pompeo says ‘enormous evidence’ links virus to Wuhan laboratory
WASHINGTON — U.S. Secretary of State Michael Pompeo said “enormous evidence” shows the novel coronavirus outbreak began in a laboratory in Wuhan, China, and that Beijing has refused to give international scientists access to learn what happened. “I can tell you that there is a significant amount of evidence that this came from that laboratory in Wuhan,” Pompeo said on ABC’s “This Week.” “These are not the first times that we’ve had a world exposed to viruses as a result of failures in a Chinese lab.” Pompeo stopped short of saying the virus was man-made, noting that he agreed with a report by the Office of the Director of National Intelligence that ruled out genetic modification or it having been man-made. The virus’s origin has become a flash point in the pandemic and ratcheted up tensions between the U.S. and China. President Donald Trump has escalated efforts to attach blame to China as U.S. pandemic deaths pass 66,000. “I’ve seen what the intelligence community has said,” said Pompeo. “I have no reason to believe that they’ve got it wrong.” Pompeo declined to say whether the Chinese intentionally released the virus. Trump and his aides sharpened their criticism of Beijing last week, demanding answers about the virus’s origin. The president tweeted Friday that some U.S. television networks are “Chinese puppets,” while his super-political action committee unleashed anti-China ads. Advertising “China behaved like authoritarian regimes do, attempted to conceal and hide and confuse,” Pompeo said on ABC. “It employed the World Health Organization as a tool to do the same.” The secretary said China continued to block access by health experts from the WHO, as well as U.S. scientists, from getting access to samples of the virus needed for study. “This is an ongoing threat, an ongoing pandemic,” Pompeo said. “The Chinese Communist Party continues to block access to the Western world, the world’s best scientists, to figure out exactly what happened.” ——— ©2020 Bloomberg News Visit Bloomberg News at www.bloomberg.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. Steve Geimann
3 May 11:27 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/nation-politics/pompeo-says-enormous-evidence-links-virus-to-wuhan-laboratory/?utm_source=RSS&utm_medium=Referral&utm_campaign=RSS_allRating: 0.74
Covid-19 lockdown: Key services to resume in Delhi today
3 May 23:16
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Covid-19 lockdown: Key services to resume in Delhi today
Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that his government was allowing self-employed people including domestic help, those involved in laundry services, technicians, electricians and plumbers to operate in the national capital from Monday, when the third phase of the national lockdown over the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) kicks in with considerable relaxations. The Delhi government released its implementation strategy over the guidelines released by the Union home ministry, with Kejriwal saying that the Capital will follow the lockdown restrictions enforced by the Centre. He, however, urged the central government to lift restrictions in the Capital’s areas that have largely remained unaffected by the disease. The Union government announced on Friday that the lockdown, necessitated by the infectious outbreak, was being extended by two weeks till May 17. Detailing the Delhi government’s plan at a news briefing on Sunday, Kejriwal said: “Self-employed people – technicians, plumbers, electricians, mechanics, sanitation staff, people working as domestic help, laundry, dhobis – people like these the permission to work.” The Delhi CM also said print and electronic media, IT-related services, call centres, data centres, warehousing services, cold storages, private security firms and industrial estates with access control will also be allowed to remain open. Elevator technicians, AC mechanics, vehicle mechanics, generator mechanics and TV mechanics will also be allowed to work from Monday. The Delhi chief minister on March 23 announced a complete lockdown in the Capital to contain Covid-19, which has severely hit metropolises across the world, days before the central government announced similar restrictions across the nation. While public health experts say the lockdown was needed to control the disease from spiralling out of control, there have been concerns over stalling economic activity. Kejriwal said on Sunday Delhi was reporting heavy revenue losses and it was important to reopen areas largely outside the spectre of the pathogen to ensure people don’t travel back to their hometowns because of the lack of employment. Currently, there are 94containment zones in the national capital. The Delhi CM said that people were losing jobs and traders were suffering because there was no business. He, however, reiterated the Centre’s rule on people not being allowed to step out of their homes for non-essential activities from 7pm to 7am. Kejriwal said government offices and private facilities with 33% staff will open from Monday but the suspension of travel by air, metro and bus will continue. Delivery of essential goods through e-commerce portals will continue in the national capital, he said. “Malls, cinemas, salons, market complexes and Delhi Metro will remain shut while shops selling essentials will continue will be open,” he said, adding that 50 people will be allowed in marriage function. Movement of individuals and vehicles is allowed only for permitted activities, with a maximum of two persons (besides the driver) in four-wheeler vehicles, and with no pillion rider in the case of two-wheelers. Shortly after Kejriwal’s announcement, residents’ welfare associations (RWAs) in Delhi said they were open to letting electricians and plumbers enter the residential complexes, but expressed concern over domestic help resuming work. Rajiv Kakria, convener, Save Our City campaign, said the Delhi government’s decision came just a day after the city reported the highest number of Covid-19 cases in a single day. “If the government ensures that the situation is conducive and there are zero movements from containment zones, then it can be eased. But it is better to wait and see how the situation pans out,” he said. “Domestic help work in at least 5-6 households… It is risky, especially now when the cases are spiralling up,” he added. Madhur Srivastava, RWA president, Sector-4 DDA colony of Dwarka, said: “We have a designated electrician, plumber and a person who irons clothes. We used to allow residents to use services from outside but that will strictly be banned now.” The Delhi government, RWAs say, has allowed self-employed people to work but without making any provision for their commute. “Public transport is not allowed, then how will they come?” said Atul Goyal, president URJA, a united front of a group RWAs in Delhi. Reacting to the latest relaxations, Dr Lalit Kant, former head of epidemiology and communicable diseases at the Indian Council of Medical Research (ICMR), said: “When these people come for one, they should ensure to wear a mask while working and wash their hands before starting the work. If there are elderly people or children at home, then they should be kept away as chances of them contracting the infection are high in case the domestic help is infected but asymptomatic.” Dr Jugal Kishore, head of community medicine at Safdarjung Hospital, welcomed the government’s decision to allow self-employed people working as domestic help. “This decision will help both, as there are people, especially the elderly, who are finding it difficult to manage the household without any help. It will also provide financial stability to domestic help. People should teach them how to protect themselves from the disease.”
3 May 23:16 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/key-services-to-resume-in-delhi-today/story-r1nVyt0m9QjiiGeTNe3m0M.htmlRating: 0.30
Lockdown was necessary, but Delhi prepared to ease restrictions: Kejriwal
New Delhi: Announcing an ease in the lockdown restrictions, Delhi chief minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said that it was time to re-open Delhi. He said that Delhi will implement relaxations that have been allowed by the union home ministry. This comes as the third phase of lockdown is set to be implemented from Monday across the country. Delhi has one of the highest number of cases of Covid-19 in the country with over 4,000 positive cases. The government has sealed off 97 areas as containment zones while five zones have been de-contained. “The central government list has listed all districts in Delhi as red. When the lockdown was imposed, it was necessary to prepare our healthcare facilities to tackle the challenge of the disease. Delhi is ready to relax the lockdown restrictions. We will have to be ready to live with coronavirus," Kejriwal said while addressing a digital press conference. He said that while the lockdown was necessary, the time has come to open up as the economy was suffering due to the extended period of shutdown. He said that a large number of people will be forced to move out of Delhi If the lockdown continues. “We have made a suggestion to the central government that all containment zones should remain sealed. Rest can be green zones and shops can be opened there on an odd-even basis. There will be an increase in the number of cases but with the lockdown, we are prepared to handle that," Kejriwal added. Delhi, along with the rest of the country has been under a lockdown since 25 March. There are approximately 40,000 positive cases of the disease in the country. Announcing the relaxations, Kejriwal said that the relaxations will be on the basis of what had been allowed by the central home ministry. All government offices will open on Monday with those providing emergency services functioning at 100% capacity and those in non-essential work functioning at 50% capacity. Private offices can also open but at 33% of the workforce. Self-employed people like electricians, plumbers and household help can begin work but barbers and salons will continue to remain closed. Markets excepts shops providing essential services will also remain closed. There will be no movement of people for non-essential work from 7pm to 7am. Public transport vehicles will not be allowed to ply in red zones. Private four-wheelers can have two people in the backseat along with the driver while only driver is allowed on two wheelers. Even as religious places remain shut, 50 people were allowed at weddings and 20 at funerals. E-commerce deliveries will be allowed for all essential goods.
3 May 14:24 • Livemint • https://www.livemint.com/news/india/lockdown-was-necessary-but-delhi-prepared-to-ease-restrictions-kejriwal-11588515537531.htmlRating: 0.30
Lockdown 3.0: Curfew imposed in Assam from 6 pm to 6 am
The Assam government announced a curfew from 6 pm to 6 am in the state starting Monday, mounting stricter restrictions on the Centre’s guidelines for the third phase of country-wide lockdown. “This is not a lockdown, but a curfew. Everything except pharmacies will be open,” said Assam health minister Himanta Biswa Sarma about the 12-hour curfew, while addressing a press conference in Guwahati. Out of 33 districts in Assam, all but four are in ‘orange’ zones — the rest are in ‘green’ zones. There would be no relaxation in lockdown in the areas falling under orange zones, authorities said, whereas the green zones will have additional restrictions, in comparison to the guidelines by the Centre. While all standalone shops would be allowed to open in green zones, locations which have shops contiguously adjacent to each other, will have restrictions. “In areas where there are adjacent shops it shall be ensured that there are at least two closed shops in between two open shops except for pharmacies, grocery stores and book shops. Deputy Commissioners shall in consultation with market associations, identify the shops and allow them to operate only after this is finalised. Market complexes and shopping malls shall remain closed,” a government order, signed by chief secretary Kumar Sanjay Krishna, on Sunday said. The ‘one-third’ rule does not apply to book shops, groceries, pharmacies. Haats and bazars — including weekly markets — shall remain closed through the state. Government and private offices in the green zones can function from Monday with 50 per cent employees. However, women employees in both private and public sectors, with children below five years of age are not to attend office till May 17. The order also said that tea shops, restaurants and ice cream parlours can open for delivery or take away. E-commerce is allowed, too. The government has allowed auto-rickshaws, cycle rickshaws and taxis to operate with one driver and two passengers while private four-wheelers are allowed with a driver and two others. “For two wheelers, pillion riding is allowed either with one female or one child up to the age of 12 years,” the order noted. City buses, inter-district buses and intra-district buses can ply with 50 per cent capacity. All construction activities to resume with 50 per cent workforce. The order added: “Barber shops, saloons and parlours shall continue to remain closed, however, home visits of barber would be allowed after following hygiene and sanitisation norms.” Sarma added that wearing masks and adhering social distancing norms were of utmost importance. He reiterated that persons above 65 and children under 12 will not be allowed to step out of their homes unless for medical-related emergencies. Assam has reported 42 COVID-19 cases so far. Currently, there are nine active cases, with 32 discharged, and one death
3 May 16:51 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/north-east-india/assam/lockdown-3-0-curfew-imposed-in-assam-from-6-pm-to-6-am-6392170/Rating: 0.30
Factories to be shut if many get infected
Readymade garment factories that have resumed production will be shut down in case a significant number of workers get infected with Covid-19, Health Minister Zahid Maleque has said. The decision came at an inter-ministerial meeting on "reopening industries and commerce on a limited scale" held at the health ministry yesterday -- two days after at least ten garment workers were tested Covid-19 positive in Savar industrial belt. The minister, however, did not make it clear how many infections would make the authorities consider the number significant. "By strictly maintaining the health rules, garment sector and [other] industries can be resumed. We have to take care of people's livelihood as well as their health," the health minister told journalists in an online briefing following the meeting. Earlier on April 26, the government announced that it would allow opening the garment factories on a limited scale. Following the announcement, around 1,000 factories across Savar-Ashulia, Gazipur, Narayanganj and Chattogram industrial belts resumed production at a time. Representatives from different ministries, law enforcement agencies, healthcare organisations, and RMG industry attended the meeting. Earlier, several important decisions, including the shutdown mechanism for the resumed factories, were finalised at the meeting. It also decided to form a joint-monitoring committee to monitor the health measures taken by the factories. Led by the representative from the health ministry, leaders of Bangladesh Garment Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BGMEA) and Bangladesh Knitting Manufacturers and Exporters Association (BKMEA), representatives from industrial police, and Department of Inspection for Factories and Establishments (DIFE) will be included in the committee. The other decisions include keeping Dhaka, Narayanganj, and Gazipur isolated from the rest of the country and limiting the movement of the RMG workers. It was also decided that the factory owners in coordination with the health ministry would increase Covid-19 testing and quarantine facilities for workers. The health minister asked the garment factory owners to strictly follow the health safety guidelines as workers are being infected after the reopening of factories. He suggested that the factory owners build zone-wise coronavirus centres for the workers in the industrial belts. Noted virologist Prof Nazrul Islam, former vice-chancellor of Bangabandhu Sheikh Mujib Medical University (BSMMU), recently told The Daily Star, "Reopening economic activity is important for us. But we have to maintain health rules for this. Otherwise, reopening may bring another danger." BGMEA secretary Hatem Ali, following the meeting, said they informed the minister that the factory managements have been running their units following the health protocols prepared by the BGMEA. The protocols were prepared following the guidelines of the health ministry, World Health Organization and International Labour Organisation, sources said. BGMEA has multiple audit teams who are making surprise visits to factories to check their health and safety monitoring systems, according to a recent update circulated on the association's website. The audit teams are headed by the board of directors of BGMEA and the reports are being evaluated every day, it said. On May 2, 49 factories were audited conditions in 46 factories were found to be satisfactory. Including them, a total of 196 factories were audited and 190 of them passed muster. As of yesterday, 11 workers of garment factories were tested positive for Covid-19 in Savar and Ashulia industrial areas, according to Dhaka Industrial Police-1 and Savar health administration.
3 May 18:00 • The Daily Star • https://www.thedailystar.net/frontpage/news/factories-be-shut-if-many-get-infected-1899232Rating: 2.11
Bangladesh minister sends dire message to factory owners as workers face contagion
Health Minister Zahid Malik has urged clothing factory owners to ensure the safety of workers, sending a warning that a surge in coronavirus cases due to the reopening of the plants will leave their employees untreated. The minister’s dire message on Sunday underlines workers’ vulnerabilities to infections in an industry that tends to disregard safety protocol. Many workers have headed back to Dhaka and other areas to join work since apparel factories reopened in the last week of April amid the shutdown. Following a meeting over the reopening of factories at the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare on Sunday, Malik said: “The topic of today’s meeting was how the clothing industry will follow the health regulations we provided.” “The virus spreads mostly through transports. So we’ve asked them [industry owners] to maintain safe transportation. The owners will take responsibility for the workers’ transportation. We’ve advised them to pay special attention to safety at their homes and the places where they eat.” The failure to ensure safety for workers means the government will be unable to ensure treatment if they get infected. The minister mentioned that workers who had already arrived in Dhaka, Narayanganj and Gazipur must remain in the areas until cases of infections drop. “To keep track of those who depart for some reason, we have instructed owners to list the workers who have travelled to Dhaka, Narayanganj and other places. Lists will be created in individual districts and if someone does depart, he or she will be quarantined,” the minister said. Bangladesh confirmed two more deaths from the coronavirus in a daily count, taking the total to 177 on Sunday. The tally of COVID-19 infections spiralled to 9,455 in the same period after another 665 people tested positive from 5,368 samples in the biggest single-day spike.
3 May 17:03 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/coronavirus-pandemic/2020/05/03/bangladesh-minister-sends-dire-message-to-factory-owners-as-workers-face-contagionRating: 2.85
Work rules to manage transmission risks — Lopez
Trade Secretary Ramon Lopez assured the public that the guidelines jointly issued by the Trade and Labor and Departments allowing the private sector to operate during the Enhanced Community Quarantine and General Community Quarantine will manage the risks of COVID-19 transmission. “More sectors will be allowed to open and operate within a controlled environment as long as they implement health protocols and standards to prevent the spread of COVID-19. We want to ensure that we don’t lose the gains we’ve achieved under the ECQ period,” Lopez said. Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III said the guidelines would ensure the safety and health of workers and enhance productivity by eliminating risks in the workplaces. “The full cooperation between employers and workers in observing the new protocols is a necessary element in transitioning the workplaces into the new normal,” he added. Lopez stressed it was important to reopen the economy, which can be safely done by increasing testing capacity to lower the country’s infection or transmission rate. The guidelines will apply to all workplaces, employers and workers in the private sector. They are aligned with the objectives of the minimum health standards of the Health Department during the COVID-19 pandemic. Among the requirements are the wearing of face masks, the submission of a daily health symptoms questionnaire and the constant checking of temperature. The equipment and vehicles entering operation areas should undergo disinfection process, and physical distancing must be observed in any long queues outside the office or store premises. The guidelines also set the standard procedure for employers on what to do if a worker or employee is suspected of having COVID-19. They range from the isolation of the worker or employee, the protection of clinic personnel with personal protective equipment, the decontamination of the workplace and the PCR testing of the employee. There should be an arrangement with testing facilities and laboratories as well as proper health insurance coverage. “Not all workers need to be tested and the protocol is that they should fill up a health declaration. If they’ve been exposed to a patient positive for COVID-19 or if they’re feeling unwell, that’s the time it should be protocol for them to be isolated and get PCR-tested,” Lopez said.
3 May 20:30 • manilastandard.net • https://manilastandard.net/business/economy-trade/322918/work-rules-to-manage-transmission-risks-lopez.htmlRating: 0.30
Mnangagwa's govt warned against lockdown complacence
HEALTH experts have warned government against complacence in the enforcement of the new stay-at-home order, especially regarding the informal sector amid fears any slip-up could boomerang with disastrous consequences.This comes as President Emmerson Mnangagwa announced on Friday an extension of the country's Coronavirus (Covid-19) lockdown, albeit with relaxed conditions, that will see more businesses reopening to balance the people's health needs and national economic interests.While the Senior Hospital Doctors Association (SHDA) hailed the decision by government saying it was informed by the need to alleviate hunger among the poor in the informal sector and that they were happy with the restoration of the quarantine days from eight back to 21 days, they were still concerned about its capacity to control the informal sector.In announcing the lockdown extension Mnangagwa made it mandatory for citizens to always wear face masks outside their homes to curtail the spread of the virus.
3 May 13:56 • Bulawayo24 News • https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-news-sc-national-byo-184708.htmlRating: 0.30
Time has come to re-open Delhi: Arvind Kejriwal announces new rules, relaxations for Delhi in Lockdown 3.0
The Delhi government on Sunday announced that it will be implementing all lockdown relaxations proposed by the Ministry of Home Affairs from Monday. Holding a press conference, Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal said, "The Delhi government will implement all lockdown relaxations prescribed by the home ministry." Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal on Sunday said the Delhi government will implement the centre's latest guidelines on lockdown relaxation and allow government and private offices to open from Monday but the suspension of travel by flight, metro and bus will continue. The third phase of the countrywide lockdown begins Monday with "considerable relaxations", but curbs will continue in containment areas so that the gains achieved so far in the fight against Covid-19 are not "squandered away". The country has been divided into three zones -- Red, Orange and Green - based on coronavirus risk-profiling. The extended lockdown is slated to last till May 17. Arvind Kejriwal said, "Time has come to re-open Delhi. We will have to be ready to live with coronavirus." The list of relaxations and rules for Lockdown 3.0 announced by Delhi government include: "Today one-and-a-half month has passed since the lockdown was first imposed. Delhi is now ready to open. The public is agitated by the classification of the entire city as a red zone. People are losing jobs, the economy has gone haywire and the government has no source of revenue. We cannot pay our employees with the existing revenue," he said. "We have made full use of the lockdown but now the time has come to reopen the city. We will have to learn to live with coronavirus. We have made all preparations," Kejriwal added. The chief minister also said that he will suggest the Centre declare only containment areas in the city as red zones and not the entire district. There are 96 containment zones in the national capital. In a zone-wise classification of districts in the country, the Union Health Ministry has designated all 11 districts of Delhi as the red zone. However, the Delhi government is planning to categorise the city wards on the basis of coronavirus cases, allowing more relaxation in lockdown curbs in areas where the infection has not been reported, according to sources. The city has 272 wards. The national capital recorded 384 fresh cases of the novel coronavirus, the highest spike in a day, taking the tally to 4,122 on Saturday. The death toll mounted to 64 with three more fatalities, according to Delhi government.
3 May 13:14 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/delhi-coronanvirus-lockdown-extension-relaxations-arvind-kejriwal-red-zone-1673958-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: Aiisma launches contact tracing for non-smartphone users
Aiisma claims that it's the only app in India to utilise the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) feature for contact tracing Given the rising number of coronavirus cases in the country, the contract tracing feature is a must. While there are plenty of apps addressing this issue for smartphones, including the Aarogya Setu App, there wasn't any solution for feature phones until now. Aiisma, India's consumer to business data marketplace, has designed an Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) feature for contact tracing in rural areas. Aiisma claims that it's the only app in India to utilise the Unstructured Supplementary Service Data (USSD) feature for contact tracing. This feature is for non-smartphone users who have feature phones and might not support 3G, 4G or 5G connectivity. Unlike apps installed on smartphones, feature phone users will be propagated with options, of which they can select one. This will be facilitated by their service provider. Also Read: Coronavirus impact: Global smartphone market dips 13% - fastest decline ever Basic handsets too share the location information via cell towers with the telecom service provider. If the user gives consent, this feature using USSD will gain access to information and share it with Aiisma ecosystem. Available for free, currently this feature is available only in the English language but the company is working on introducing it in local languages in the next two-three weeks. Also Read: How to keep smartphone, keyboard, other daily items clean, virus-free? This UV steriliser may help The company claims to ensure anonymity and privacy. Aiisma said that the tracking feature keeps the person's details anonymous, thus ensuring the privacy of data and identity. The anonymous feature will release a trigger function that will alert any Aiisma user who might have come into close contact with the infected person and maybe potentially infected. The aim is to create a digital fence of sorts against COVID19 and help authorities and citizens overcome it. For positive carrier identification, Aiisma is talking to the government. The company explains, "at this time symptom mapping is a feature that doesn't require specific information about positive carrier so that is operational. If symptoms are pointing to a possible infection, an alert is sent out." Aiisma belives 70 per cent of the country's population lives in rural areas and this can be a great way of contract tracing for such areas. The company already has a contract tracing app for smartphones. Here the infrastructure in the back-end of the app and mobile remains the same, the service is accessible for feature phones.
3 May 12:27 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/technology/news/coronavirus-aiisma-launches-contact-tracing-for-non-smartphone-users-in-rural-areas/story/402751.htmlRating: 2.10
HR Ministry: Employers encouraged to get workers tested for Covid-19
PUTRAJAYA, May 3 — The Human Resource Ministry is encouraging all employers, especially those operating in the Covid-19 red and yellow zones, to ensure their workers undergo Covid-19 screenings. Its Minister Datuk Seri M. Saravanan said this was because the economic sectors would be allowed to resume operations subject to stringent conditions and procedures under the implementation of the conditional movement control order (CMCO) starting tomorrow. He said the Covid-19 test for workers is provided free of charge under the Social Security Organisation (Socso) Prihatin Screening Programme (PSP). “PSP Socso would guarantee that the employees are working in a safe and healthy working environment, and Covid-19 free,” he said in a statement here today. Saravanan said with the preventive measures adopted by employers and workers, the country will be able to prevent a new wave of Covid-19 infections, which may arise from cluster of workplaces as experienced in other countries. Saravanan said it was important for all employers and employees to adhere to stringent standard operating procedures (SOPs) when all businesses were allowed to resume operations to ensure there was no risk of transmission of Covid-19. “The ministry agreed on the need to resume business operations. At the same time, the business sector must give priority to preventing the spread of Covid-19 especially among workers,” he said. He said preventive measures such as social distancing while commuting to and from work as well as at workplace, body temperature checks, use of face masks, frequent hand-washing and avoiding crowded places should be emphasised by employers and obeyed by all workers. He said everyone had to work together to break the Covid-19 infection chain and prevent new clusters in the country. — Bernama
3 May 10:46 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/malaysia/2020/05/03/hr-ministry-employers-encouraged-to-get-workers-tested-for-covid-19/1862648Rating: 1.42
Isle of Wight confirmed as location for NHS coronavirus app trial this week
The NHS coronavirus app will enter trials on the Isle of Wight this week. The contact tracing app - which the government wants ready by mid-May - is part of the crucial “test, track and trace” strategy that is needed before the UK-wide lockdown can be relaxed. The app, which is voluntary, will use Bluetooth to track when people have come into close contact with someone who, now or later, tests positive for coronavirus. It will urge someone who’s been in contact with a virus carrier to get tested and to isolate themselves if necessary. The idea is that this would allow society to partially reopen while keeping the virus at bay and sick people in isolation. It will be paired with an army of 18,000 human contact tracers to follow up on those who need further attention, or those who don’t download the app. Officials believe around 60% of the population need to use the app in order for it to be effective. Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC: “We will be asking the whole country, where possible, to download this mobile phone app”. The Mirror reported last week that the Isle of Wight was the confirmed location for the app's testing run. Today it was finally confirmed on record by the government. Mr Shapps said the NHSX tracing app would be trialled on the Isle of Wight this week before being rolled out more widely later this month. "The idea is that we will encourage as many people to take this up as possible," he told Sky News. "This is going to be a huge national effort and we need for this to work 50-60% of people to be using this app. "Not everybody has a smartphone, and I appreciate that for various reasons not everybody will download it but it will be the best possible way to help the NHS." He stressed the app would be completely confidential. The Transport Secretary said the app is a "fantastic way" to ensure the country can "keep a lid" on coronavirus and prevent a second wave. Mr Shapps said he did not know how many of the 18,000 contact tracers the Government is seeking have been hired. But he insisted it's “not a complicated thing to train for" and people will be in place in time. Facing claims 18,000 is not nearly enough people, he said the figure was an “initial plan” but ministers think it “might be the right number”. It comes after Michael Gove suggested island communities could see lockdown restrictions lifted first. The Chancellor of the Duchy of Lancaster said: "My own personal view is that it is preferable if we do it (lift the lockdown) as one United Kingdom. "But there is a specific scientific justification for saying that island communities can be areas where you could pilot some measures, contact tracing in particular, in order to combine that with relaxing measures at a progressively greater rate. "That can help you judge what is right for the country overall."
3 May 08:34 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/politics/isle-wight-confirmed-location-nhs-21965862Rating: 2.39
Only one in six positive cases has Aarogya Setu app
Only about 6,250 Covid-19 positive cases — or one in six of the total 37,000-odd cases — are on the Aarogya Setu application that has 83.5 million users so far. On Friday, the Home Ministry mandated employers to ensure all their staff download the Aarogya Setu application. The government’s flagship Covid-19 mobile application is designed to trace all the people a positive case would have come in contact with 14 days before case detection. However, this contact tracing mechanism is mostly reliant on positive cases having downloaded the application before they tested positive. Follow Coronavirus in India LIVE updates A component of the application’s effectiveness is its widespread usage – hotspot predictions and contact tracing require a critical mass of the population to be on the app. Data accessed by The Sunday Express from the app shows that 24 districts with major clusters, which account for at least half of the cases across the country, have 15 million downloads or 18 per cent of the total user base. With a population of roughly 88 million in these districts, as per Census 2011 data, this user base is 17 per cent of the population in these zones. The highest user base is in Delhi (4 million users), Pune (1.5 million), Mumbai suburban and Mumbai (2 million), and Thane (1.4 million). The data showed that 62 districts in the red zone had 25 million downloads. Explained The Home Ministry order Friday for employers to ensure all their staff download Aarogya Setu app signalled its dependence on the app for its Covid plan. But there are early hurdles, among them that many may not have smartphones. The data further shows that three million people who have downloaded the app on their phones show some Covid symptoms. Follow-up phone calls with these users show that roughly one per cent of them (30,000) need a closer examination from a doctor. Roughly 3,000 users need some form of medical care or testing. Saying there is still “a long way to go” considering that only one in six Covid positive cases have the app on their phones, app developer Lalitesh Katragadda said the next goal is to reach another 200 million users, as the developers believe they may have saturated the “elite” mobile user base. IT Ministry officials and industry developers of the Aarogya Setu app admitted that the Home Ministry’s fresh direction will be hobbled by the fact that not all employees have smartphones. “The instructions will of course only apply to those with smartphones,” said a top IT Ministry official who helped with the app’s development. “Clarifications from MHA could be there, but as for the IT Ministry, we are working out a technological solution for non-smartphone users. The spirit behind the order should be looked at. As long as they have a smartphone, they should have the app. The law should be read like that.” When asked if employers would be held responsible if employees without smartphones can’t download the application, a Home Ministry spokesperson said, “The directives are clear.” The IT Ministry official said, “Ultimately, it’s the employers who should be concerned about the safety and health of their companies. In fact, this was a request from various companies, industry associations, and empowered groups – that the app could be used as a mechanism to open up the economy.” Click here for more While India’s mobile subscription numbers at 1.5 billion and Internet user base at 500 million is second only to China, the country’s subscription penetration levels, at 85 per cent, is 24 percentage points below the world average. According to a Nokia report, there are 530 million 3G and 335 million 4G smartphone devices in India as of 2018. One of the Aarogya Setu developers told The Sunday Express that the application should be able to work on 2G phones, but it has not been tested. As of December 2018, the country’s metros account for 116 million mobile subscribers. Delhi has 51 million mobile subscribers, Mumbai 38 million, and Kolkata 27 million, according to the Cellular Operators Association of India. At the beginning of April, IIT Madras Professor V Kamakoti began a pilot of an interactive voice recognition software (IVRS) system that would allow Aarogya Setu to operate on basic phones and conduct a health assessment. However, the technology has still not been implemented in full force. Katragadda said Reliance Jio has also started working on building an Aarogya Setu app for 115 million Jio phones that are “smart feature phones” designed for first-generation users. Over the past couple of weeks, technological minds behind the app have begun trying to assess the accuracy of its risk assessments. “In areas where usage is high, we are able to predict with some degree of confidence where hotspots might emerge before they emerge,” a developer told The Sunday Express. “Currently in the ICMR testing, for every 28 tested, roughly one comes out positive. We are getting a much higher rate when we check the users deemed high-risk by the platform.”
3 May 07:52 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/india-coronavirus-cases-aarogya-setu-app-6391155/Rating: 0.30
Aarogya Setu app must for all office-goers
NEW DELHI: As the government extended the nationwide shutdown for another two weeks on Friday, it made the Aarogya Setu app mandatory to download for all office goers — in both public and private sectors. Looking to impose stricter contact tracing surveillance to contain the pandemic, the government also made the app mandatory for all those living in containment zones. On Wednesday, all central government employees had been asked to immediately download the app and come to office only when it shows they are ‘safe’ or ‘low-risk’. Though the Ministry of Home Affairs has extended the shutdown till May 17, it has allowed more relaxations. Wedding functions, which were not permitted earlier, have now been allowed in lockdown 3.0, but with a limit of not more than 50 people. Funerals will continue to have a limit of 20 people. Besides these two social commitments, all other social, religious gatherings etc. will continue to remain banned.
2 May 10:14 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/02/aarogya-setu-app-must-for-all-office-goers-2138142.htmlRating: 2.04
Alberta releases COVID-19 contact tracing app ‘ABTraceTogether’
Alberta has become the first province to launch a contact tracing app. Available now for both iOS and Android users, the ‘ABTraceTogether’ app will help Alberta Health Services trace the contacts of people infected with COVID-19. The process should help health authorities manage the spread of the virus as the province slowly restarts its economy. Currently, contact tracing is done manually. It involves asking infected people about who they have interacted with. Doing so allows health authorities to track and hopefully contain the virus’ spread. However, for contact tracing to be effective, it must be paired with aggressive testing. Because of COVID-19’s ability to spread quickly between people, smartphone apps have emerged as a way to aid in the contact tracing process. There are two main ways these apps work. One method uses GPS and location data to track people’s movement and who they came in contact with. While location-based methods have proven effective in other countries like South Korea, using location data brings several privacy concerns. The other method — and the one that Alberta uses with ABTraceTogether — is Bluetooth. Instead of tracking users’ physical location, smartphones trade encrypted codes over Bluetooth. Then when someone tests positive for the virus, those codes can be shared. Any smartphone with a matching code indicates a person potentially infected by the COVID-positive person. Crucially, this method of contact tracing doesn’t use location at all and instead relies on proximity data. It doesn’t matter where you came into contact with someone else, only that you were close enough to potentially infect them. In the case of Alberta’s app, it specifically uses Bluetooth to identify other smartphones with the app installed within a two-metre radius. It encrypts that data and stores it on the phone. Once a person becomes infected with COVID-19, Alberta Health Services will ask the person to upload that data, which will allow tracing workers to reach others who were in close contact with the infected individual. Alberta’s app appears to work similarly to a contact tracing solution being developed by Apple and Google. The two companies designed an exposure notification API that will be available in mid-May. It allows public health authorities to build apps that can use Bluetooth to trade codes with other nearby phones and use that information to notify people of potential infection. If you live in Alberta and want to participate in the contact tracing, you can download the ABTraceTogether app from either the App Store for iPhone or the Play Store for Android. Ultimately, the more people use these apps, the more effective they will be at helping health authorities track the spread of COVID-19. Source: Reuters
2 May 14:57 • mobilesyrup • https://mobilesyrup.com/2020/05/02/alberta-abtracetogether-contact-tracing-app-covid-19/Rating: 0.45
Covid-19 proximity alert app may be available within weeks
The government announced this week that it is ramping up its efforts to combat the virus over the weekend by starting a community antibody testing programme, increasing swab testing and doubling its manual contact tracing resources. Tony Moretta, chief executive of Digital Jersey, confirmed that discussions are also being held about introducing a contact tracing app – including with the technology wing of the NHS. Such an app would ‘trace’ interactions between smartphone users and alert those who may have been in close contact with someone who has been a confirmed case of Covid-19 infection. Mr Moretta, who has been seconded to the government during the crisis as an implementation director, said that a tracing app was something that would become useful as lockdown restrictions are eased. ‘On contact tracing it is worth saying that the first step is to increase the ability of the current manual contact tracing,’ he said. ‘So there is going to be a more than doubling of the staff locations they operate from and also an improvement in the technical platform that they are using. That is happening over the next couple of weeks. ‘The tracing app is something for further down the line. We are in conversation with lots of people, including NHSX, and are looking at developments. ‘In the next week or so we will have a better idea of what the Google and Apple specs are. At the moment, we have developed some functional specifications as to what we would like to see in an app in Jersey.’ He added that the next step would be to ‘evaluate the options’ and they would look to use technology being implemented elsewhere. ‘I would say that contact tracing is an area that is still quite hyped at the moment. There are very few places actually using a tracing app at scale,’ he said. ‘NHSX is still piloting theirs and think they are still three weeks away. We are not looking to reinvent the wheel for Jersey and hopefully we can look around and take the best we can find in terms of what we need here.’ Mr Moretta said that he believed there could be opportunities for Jersey as a testbed or case study for testing and tracing programmes because its island status gives it a controlled environment. ‘Michael Gove was talking about the UK’s offshore islands’ advantages and there was a story that they were looking to test the NHSX app on the Isle of Wight,’ he said. ‘He said that because islands can control who is coming in and going out they might be one of the best places to trial monitoring and testing and be the first to start to exit lockdown.’ Steve Skelton, the government’s director of strategy and innovation, agreed that islands had their advantages but said the priority at this time was the health and safety of residents. ‘We have hopefully seen a tailing off in the rate of infections and that is much harder to achieve if you are not in control of who is coming in and out of a place,’ he said. ‘So there are natural benefits from being in small island communities. But going forward, the principle objective is to deal with the pandemic in a way that promotes the health and safety and wellbeing of Islanders. ‘Anything beyond that, we would have to think about at the time.’
2 May 06:08 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2020/05/02/covid-19-proximity-alert-app-may-be-available-within-weeks/Rating: 0.38
Firms told to ensure 100% of their staff have Aarogya app
The new guidelines issued by the government on COVID-19 management make the download of the Aarogya Setu app must for all employees at a workplace, whether public or private. While thus far the use of the app was “encouraged”, now onus has been put on the heads of respective organisations to “ensure 100% coverage”. Under the Disaster Management Act and Section 188 of the IPC, violations of any government guidelines in containment zones can attract penal provisions, going up to two years in prison. The guidelines for containment zones, to come into force from May 4, also state that local authorities too must ensure 100% coverage of Aarogya Setu among the residents. As per the new “national directives”, “It shall be the responsibility of the head of the respective organizations to ensure 100 percent coverage of this app among employees.” Express interview: India handled COVID-19 situation very maturely: Dr Harsh Vardhan Developed by the government, the app is meant to track COVID-19 cases, and inform a user if a positive case is around them. The new directives also underline that companies must avoid large meetings, put up a list of local hospitals and clinics authorised to treat COVID-19, and ensure that employees showing symptoms are immediately sent for a check-up. A quarantine facility to isolate employees showing symptoms till they are safely moved to medical facilities should also be earmarked, the directives state. Read | Halted by sealed Delhi-Gurgaon border: Doctors, health staff, crucial surgeries Liquor shops are now allowed, and regarding these as well as outlets selling paan, gutkha and tobacco, the directives say all must ensure “minimum six feet distance (2 gaz ki doori), from each other and also ensure that not more than 5 persons are present at one time”. Spitting in public is punishable by a fine. The directives also underline that marriage functions must not have more than 50 people, while last rites cannot be attended by more than 20. “No organization/manager of a public place shall allow a gathering of five or more persons,” the guidelines say. Some elements in the directives continue from before, such as compulsory face masks at public places and workplaces. The guidelines also say that social distancing must be enforced at workplaces and in company transport, suggesting staggered shifts and lunch breaks. “Provision for thermal scanning, handwash and sanitizer preferably through touch-free mechanism will be made at all entry and exit points and common areas,” the directives say, also calling for frequent santisation of work areas. The directives add that organisations can ask all persons above 65 years of age, those with co-morbidities, pregnant women and children below the age of 10 to work from home unless they are employed in essential services.
2 May 04:42 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/aarogya-app-covid-19-coronavirus-6389658/Rating: 0.30
India makes government tracing app mandatory for all workers
India has mandated that all public and private sector employees use a government-backed Bluetooth tracing app and maintain social distancing in offices as New Delhi begins easing some of its lockdown measures in lower-risk areas. NEW DELHI: India has mandated that all public and private sector employees use a government-backed Bluetooth tracing app and maintain social distancing in offices as New Delhi begins easing some of its lockdown measures in lower-risk areas. Prime Minister Narendra Modi's government on Friday said India - the country with the largest number of people in lockdown - would extends its nationwide control measures for another two weeks from Monday to battle the spread of the coronavirus that causes the COVID-19 illness, but allow "considerable relaxations" in lower-risk districts. As part of its efforts to fight the deadly virus, India last month launched the app Aarogya Setu - meaning Health Bridge - a Bluetooth and GPS-based system developed by the country's National Informatics Centre. The app alerts users who may have come in contact with people later found to be positive for COVID-19 or deemed to be at high risk. "Use of Aarogya Setu shall be made mandatory for all employees, both private and public," India's Ministry of Home Affairs said in a notification late on Friday. It will be the responsibility of the heads of companies and organizations "to ensure 100per cent coverage of this app among the employees," the ministry said. Officials at India's technology ministry and a lawyer who framed the privacy policy for Aarogya Setu told Reuters the app needs to be on at least 200 million phones for it to be effective in the country of 1.3 billion people. The app has been downloaded around 50 million times on Android phones, which dominate India's smartphone user base of 500 million, according to Google Play Store data. The app's compulsory use is raising concerns among privacy advocates, who say it is unclear how the data will be used and who stress that India lacks privacy laws to govern the app. "Such a move should be backed by a dedicated law which provides strong data protection cover and is under the oversight of an independent body," said Udbhav Tiwari, Public Policy Advisor for internet company Mozilla. New Delhi has said the app will not infringe on privacy as all data is collected anonymously. The app can help authorities identify virus hotspots and better-target health efforts, the tech ministry told Reuters in late April, adding that information on the app is used "only for administering necessary medical interventions". On Friday, the government said that offices re-opening will also have to implement measures like gaps between shifts and staggered lunch breaks to contain spread of the coronavirus that has infected 3.3 million worldwide and caused more than 230,000 deaths. India has reported over 37,000 cases and 1,218 deaths from the virus. (Reporting by Sankalp Phartiyal; Editing by Alexandra Ulmer and Tom Hogue)
2 May 14:55 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/business/india-makes-government-tracing-app-mandatory-for-all-workers-12696554?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterRating: 3.25
Singapore looks to ramp up factory activities as virus curbs ease
3 May 15:37
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Singapore looks to ramp up factory activities as virus curbs ease
SINGAPORE (Reuters) - Singapore will progressively ramp up its manufacturing activities, its minister of trade and industry said on Sunday, with the city-state looking to restart its economy as coronavirus curbs start to ease over the next few weeks. Sectors that are intertwined with the global supply chain such as biopharmaceutical and petrochemicals as well precision manufacturing will be among priority sectors, Chan Chun Sing told reporters. Only about 17% of Singapore’s labour force is currently working onsite to maintain essential services and support for global production chains and connectivity. Chan said workplaces will have put in place prescribed measures to minimise the risk of infection before they can reopen. He added that those who are able to work from home will have to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. “So we will not be able to open some of the social entertainment outlets, but we will focus on our manufacturing capacities and production capabilities first,” he said. The city-state is facing the deepest recession in its 55-year history, compounded by so-called “circuit breaker” restrictions, which are aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus and are due to last until June 1. Singapore will start allowing some businesses to reopen from May 12, authorities said on Saturday.
3 May 15:37 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-singapore-idUSKBN22F05ERating: 4.04
Singapore looks to ramp up factory activities as virus curbs ease
Singapore will progressively ramp up its manufacturing activities, its minister of trade and industry said on Sunday, with the city-state looking to restart its economy as coronavirus curbs start to ease over the next few weeks. Sectors that are intertwined with the global supply chain such as biopharmaceutical and petrochemicals as well precision manufacturing will be among priority sectors, Chan Chun Sing told reporters. Only about 17% of Singapore’s labour force is currently working onsite to maintain essential services and support for global production chains and connectivity. Chan said workplaces will have put in place prescribed measures to minimise the risk of infection before they can reopen. He added that those who are able to work from home will have to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. “So we will not be able to open some of the social entertainment outlets, but we will focus on our manufacturing capacities and production capabilities first,” he said. The city-state is facing the deepest recession in its 55-year history, compounded by so-called “circuit breaker” restrictions, which are aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus and are due to last until June 1. Singapore will start allowing some businesses to reopen from May 12, authorities said on Saturday.
3 May 11:18 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/world/south-east-asia/2020/05/03/singapore-looks-to-ramp-up-factory-activities-as-virus-curbs-easeRating: 2.85
Singapore Prepares To Reopen Factories As Coronavirus Restrictions Start To Ease
Rest of the World News Written By Zaini Majeed | Mumbai | Updated On: May 03, 2020 14:14 IST As of May 3, Singapore announced that it will “progressively ramp up” manufacturing activities to combat the COVID-19 outbreak, as the city looks ahead to reopening the economy over the weeks ahead, minister of trade and industry told the press conference. Sectors that conduct essential businesses such as biopharmaceutical and petrochemicals, as well as precision manufacturing which are intertwined with the global supply chain, will be on priority to “reopen”, Chan Chun Sing reportedly said. To accelerate the engine of global production and connectivity, at least 17 percent of Singapore's labour force has resumed operations on-site in the factories, as per the media reports. Chan reportedly said that several guidelines have been introduced to ensure the health safety of the workers so that they safely resume business. Besides, he added, those who are able to work from the confinements of their homes must continue to do so, according to reports. Further, he added that the city was no position to “reopen” entertainment and social outlets and some public premises, but would instead focus on manufacturing capacities and production to revive the economy in shackles. Earlier, Singapore extended the stay-home for the foreign workers, including Indians, in the construction sector by two weeks until May 18 as reports of outbreak emerged among the community. The overseas workers constitute the majority of the 932 new infections reported, as per media reports. Read: US: Most States Fall Short Of Coronavirus Testing Thresholds Read: Singapore Reports 447 New Cases Of Coronavirus, Total Infections Reaches 17,548 The number of infections in migrant workers surged continuously, and the prevalence remained "noticeably higher" with respect to transmission. Therefore, the "transmission at construction worksites among such workers had occurred before the start of the stay-home notice period," the health ministry said. As of May 3, Singapore accounted for 18,205 out of the total 3,497,006 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus worldwide. As many as 17 deaths have been reported so far. However, Singapore would allow some businesses to reopen from May 12 as part of a gradual resumption of economy, as per media reports. Read: UK Reports 621 More Coronavirus Deaths, Total Toll Surpasses 28,000 Read: COVID-19: Singapore Reports 932 New Cases, Mostly Foreign Workers; 1 Death (Image Credit: AP)
3 May 14:14 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/world-news/rest-of-the-world-news/singapore-to-ramp-up-factory-production-integral-to-global-supply.htmlRating: 2.30
Singapore looks to ramp up factory activities as virus curbs ease
SINGAPORE — Singapore will progressively ramp up its manufacturing activities, its minister of trade and industry said on Sunday, with the city-state looking to restart its economy as coronavirus curbs start to ease over the next few weeks. Sectors that are intertwined with the global supply chain such as biopharmaceutical and petrochemicals as well precision manufacturing will be among priority sectors, Chan Chun Sing told reporters. Only about 17% of Singapore’s labor force is currently working onsite to maintain essential services and support for global production chains and connectivity. Chan said workplaces will have put in place prescribed measures to minimize the risk of infection before they can reopen. He added that those who are able to work from home will have to continue to do so for the foreseeable future. “So we will not be able to open some of the social entertainment outlets, but we will focus on our manufacturing capacities and production capabilities first,” he said. The city-state is facing the deepest recession in its 55-year history, compounded by so-called “circuit breaker” restrictions, which are aimed at stemming the spread of the novel coronavirus and are due to last until June 1. Singapore will start allowing some businesses to reopen from May 12, authorities said on Saturday. (Reporting by Aradhana Aravindan in Singapore; editing by Jane Wardell)
3 May 05:28 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/singapore-looks-to-ramp-up-factory-activities-as-virus-curbs-easeRating: 0.94
White House adviser will not rule out more money for states, small businesses
3 May 20:05
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Weighted average IN: 19.805117340371396
White House adviser will not rule out more money for states, small businesses
WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday he would not rule out anything in a new relief bill to ease the “tremendous hardships” of the coronavirus outbreak, including more money for state and local governments and small businesses. More than 30 million Americans have joined the unemployment benefit rolls over the past six weeks and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are discussing a fourth coronavirus relief bill. Democrats are pushing for additional aid to help cities and states cope with lost revenue from a shut-down economy and some governors have warned of massive layoffs if they fail to get it. Some advisers to Republican President Donald Trump have said the need for another stimulus bill is not yet clear. But Kudlow said “there may well be additional legislation” as officials study how the billions included in the last bill take effect. “We know the economy is still in a terrible, contractionary phase, tremendous hardships, everywhere,” Kudlow said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’re trying to work through this. I don’t want to rule in or out anything right now. We are in discussions internally and with leading members of Congress.” Congress has not met in regular session since March, though it has passed major coronavirus relief bills worth nearly $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said money for states and cities would be the core of the next legislative package Democrats draft. Trump has considered linking such aid to sanctuary cities’ immigration policies, Kudlow said. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Sunday federal help to states that have taken a big revenue hit from coronavirus would make a “huge difference.” “This is about firefighters, police, EMS, teachers at the point of attack. We’re already seeing some layoffs in New Jersey,” Murphy said on “Fox News Sunday.” “We need a big slug of federal, direct cash assistance.” All 50 states are suffering from the lack of revenue over the past two months, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in response to Trump’s argument that states with budget woes before the coronavirus outbreak should not get bailed out. “Coronavirus has caused that. All of us are having to spend more on social services and healthcare to take care of people,” Pritzker said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Kudlow said authorities need to see the results of the previous funding efforts before deciding on the next steps. “Then we’ll see, we will see in a couple of weeks, what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it,” Kudlow said. Kudlow was asked whether more aid would be given to small businesses. “It may be,” Kudlow said. “We haven’t made a decision yet.”
3 May 20:05 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-usa-kudlow-idUSKBN22F0KNRating: 4.04
White House adviser will not rule out more money for states, small businesses
1 / 2FILE PHOTO: Larry Kudlow participates in coronavirus economic "relief update" virtual event at the White House in Washington By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday he would not rule out anything in a new relief bill to ease the "tremendous hardships" of the coronavirus outbreak, including more money for state and local governments and small businesses. More than 30 million Americans have joined the unemployment benefit rolls over the past six weeks and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are discussing a fourth coronavirus relief bill. Democrats are pushing for additional aid to help cities and states cope with lost revenue from a shut-down economy and some governors have warned of massive layoffs if they fail to get it. Some advisers to Republican President Donald Trump have said the need for another stimulus bill is not yet clear. But Kudlow said "there may well be additional legislation" as officials study how the billions included in the last bill take effect. "We know the economy is still in a terrible, contractionary phase, tremendous hardships, everywhere," Kudlow said on CNN's "State of the Union." "We're trying to work through this. I don't want to rule in or out anything right now. We are in discussions internally and with leading members of Congress." Congress has not met in regular session since March, though it has passed major coronavirus relief bills worth nearly $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said money for states and cities would be the core of the next legislative package Democrats draft. Trump has considered linking such aid to sanctuary cities' immigration policies, Kudlow said. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Sunday federal help to states that have taken a big revenue hit from coronavirus would make a "huge difference." "This is about firefighters, police, EMS, teachers at the point of attack. We're already seeing some layoffs in New Jersey," Murphy said on "Fox News Sunday." "We need a big slug of federal, direct cash assistance." All 50 states are suffering from the lack of revenue over the past two months, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in response to Trump's argument that states with budget woes before the coronavirus outbreak should not get bailed out. "Coronavirus has caused that. All of us are having to spend more on social services and healthcare to take care of people," Pritzker said on CBS' "Face the Nation." Kudlow said authorities need to see the results of the previous funding efforts before deciding on the next steps. "Then we'll see, we will see in a couple of weeks, what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it," Kudlow said. Kudlow was asked whether more aid would be given to small businesses. "It may be," Kudlow said. "We haven't made a decision yet." (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tom Brown and Lisa Shumaker)
3 May 13:49 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/u-may-put-more-money-134908631.htmlRating: 0.30
White House adviser will not rule out more money for states, small businesses
WASHINGTON — White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday he would not rule out anything in a new relief bill to ease the “tremendous hardships” of the coronavirus outbreak, including more money for state and local governments and small businesses. More than 30 million Americans have joined the unemployment benefit rolls over the past six weeks and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are discussing a fourth coronavirus relief bill. Democrats are pushing for additional aid to help cities and states cope with lost revenue from a shut-down economy and some governors have warned of massive layoffs if they fail to get it. Some advisers to Republican President Donald Trump have said the need for another stimulus bill is not yet clear. But Kudlow said “there may well be additional legislation” as officials study how the billions included in the last bill take effect. “We know the economy is still in a terrible, contractionary phase, tremendous hardships, everywhere,” Kudlow said on CNN’s “State of the Union.” “We’re trying to work through this. I don’t want to rule in or out anything right now. We are in discussions internally and with leading members of Congress.” Congress has not met in regular session since March, though it has passed major coronavirus relief bills worth nearly $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said money for states and cities would be the core of the next legislative package Democrats draft. Trump has considered linking such aid to sanctuary cities’ immigration policies, Kudlow said. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Sunday federal help to states that have taken a big revenue hit from coronavirus would make a “huge difference.” “This is about firefighters, police, EMS, teachers at the point of attack. We’re already seeing some layoffs in New Jersey,” Murphy said on “Fox News Sunday.” “We need a big slug of federal, direct cash assistance.” All 50 states are suffering from the lack of revenue over the past two months, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in response to Trump’s argument that states with budget woes before the coronavirus outbreak should not get bailed out. “Coronavirus has caused that. All of us are having to spend more on social services and healthcare to take care of people,” Pritzker said on CBS’ “Face the Nation.” Kudlow said authorities need to see the results of the previous funding efforts before deciding on the next steps. “Then we’ll see, we will see in a couple of weeks, what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it,” Kudlow said. Kudlow was asked whether more aid would be given to small businesses. “It may be,” Kudlow said. “We haven’t made a decision yet.” (Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Tom Brown and Lisa Shumaker)
3 May 18:14 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/white-house-adviser-will-not-rule-out-more-money-for-states-small-businessesRating: 0.94
Centre must put economic growth first
Even before the Centre made its decision to extend its 40-day lockdown by a further two weeks, economists had been stressing the need for an urgent fiscal stimulus package. The voices calling for stimulus ranged from former Chief Economic Adviser Subramanian, who argued for a pre-emptive stimulus to lift the economy from a likely contraction, to former RBI Deputy Governor Rakesh Mohan, who underlined that India today has the ability to sustain high fiscal deficits for short periods, and must use this to provide relief to workers and small businessmen hit by this enforced standstill. Both have suggested a stimulus amounting to about 5 per cent of the GDP. The Centre though, seems to be far more inclined to listen to warnings from global rating agencies, who have been making their usual threatening noises about the dangers of India overshooting its debt and deficit targets. Fitch Ratings recently warned that Covid will likely batter India’s GDP growth to 0.8 per cent in FY21, but seemed to caution against doing anything about it, citing limited fiscal space. There are several good reasons why the Centre must ignore such warnings and focus on resuscitating the economy quickly instead. One, given the stringency of the lockdown and the high proportion of small businesses and informal workers, the economic impact of Covid on India is likely to be far worse than in countries with a social security net. But its fiscal response so far has been underwhelming, with incremental measures totalling to sub-1 per cent of the GDP. If the economy is left to its own devices, a contraction is highly likely, in which case fiscal deficit and public debt ratios will automatically worsen on a shrinking denominator. Two, deficits and government borrowings are as much a function of revenues as of expenditure. Without urgent intervention to ensure growth, a precipitous fall in tax collections can very easily offset any savings from frugal spending. Some States reporting an 80-90 per cent drop in their April GST collections is a harbinger of things to come. Three, sovereign ratings are as much a function of a country’s growth and financial stability as of its public debt and deficit parameters. Without timely fiscal intervention to support the economy and the financial system, both growth and stability would be at risk, rendering deficit and debt irrelevant to the ratings. Global rating agencies are well-known for constantly shifting their goalposts on what variables go into their rating opinions. The 2016 Economic Survey had critiqued Standard and Poor’s for upping China’s ratings amid its untrammelled credit expansion, while citing low per capita growth to retain India’s BBB-minus rating despite its lower public debt. Given that the Indian government doesn’t borrow overseas, sovereign ratings matter mainly to help attract capital flows and investments into the private sector. These investors are far more likely to bet on India for its vibrant consumer markets and growth potential than for its sovereign debt and deficit metrics. Existing users, please Sign in here Please Subscribe to get access to one of our early bird packs. Or click on Free Trial to get 14 days free trial. Existing users, please Sign in here
3 May 14:35 • BusinessLine • https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/opinion/editorial/centre-must-put-economic-growth-first/article31495145.eceRating: 1.98
Kudlow: 'Pause period' on third round of business loans
May 3 (UPI) -- National Economic Council Director Larry Kudlow said Sunday that more loans for small businesses affected by the COVID-19 pandemic may be needed but the Trump administration has not yet decided whether to provide a third round of funding. Kudlow told CNNState of the Union host Jake Tapper that "there's kind of a pause period" in regards to plans for additional funding for the Paycheck Protection Program as businesses continue to apply for loans provided in the most recent coronavirus relief bill. When asked why there was a pause on plans for new funding, Kudlow said the administration would look to distribute the current wave of funding first. "At this particular juncture, let's execute the continuation of what we've already done, let's see what the results are," he said, adding the administration will assess what needs to be done in "a couple of weeks." Tapper noted the Small Business Administration has already administered $175 billion loans out of the $310 billion authorized in Congress' latest relief package signed last week asking if this was a signal a third tranche of funding is necessary. Kudlow responded that it "may be" necessary, adding that the program has been very popular. "We waited a little bit too long, I thought when the last tranche ran out," Kudlow said. "Let's not make the same mistake again." The initial round of $454 billion in funding to allow small businesses to continue to pay employees and cover other expenses as many states closed down to prevent the spread of the coronavirus was provided by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief and Emergency Services Act signed in March and ran out quickly before being replenished last month. Small businesses reported difficulty obtaining loans and several large businesses including several Ivy League universities, restaurant chain Shake Shack and the NBA's Los Angeles Lakers were allocated funding that they later declined or returned. On Wednesday, the SBA temporarily limited applications to lenders with less than $1 billion in assets in an attempt to "assist small community lenders and ensure their small business customers have access" to the loans. SBA Administrator Jovita Carranza and Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin on Sunday issued a joint statement saying 2.2 million loans have been distributed in the second round of the program including more to smaller businesses. "Nearly 500,000 of the loans were made by lenders with less than $1 billion and assets and non-banks," they wrote. "These lenders include Community Development Financial Institutions, Certified Development Companies, Microlenders, Farm Credit lending institutions and FinTechs." Kudlow also responded to calls from Democratic and Republican governors seeking more federal funding toward local governments facing budgetary concerns. Though he noted the federal government has "poured hundreds of billions" into states, he said "perhaps there will be more of that, we will wait and see." The finding must be linked to whether states have sanctuary cities to protect undocumented immigrants. "I want to say this regarding the states, as you know the president has [from] time to time spoken about linking that to sanctuary cities. I don't think anything [has] been decided yet," Kudlow said.
3 May 16:49 • UPI • https://www.upi.com/Top_News/US/2020/05/03/Kudlow-Pause-period-on-third-round-of-business-loans/4661588518241/Rating: 0.76
COVID-19: TUC disagrees with NMA over partial lockdown
Olufemi Atoyebi The Trade Union Congress has thrown its weight behind the President, Major General Muhammadu Buhari (retd.), over the easing of lockdown in Lagos, Ogun, and the Federal Capital Territory, saying the economy cannot remain closed for too long. The Nigerian Medical Association had on Friday said the easing of the lockdown was “premature” as it could lead to further spread of coronavirus. But in an interview with our correspondent, the TUC President, Quadri Olaleye, said evidence has shown that the Federal Government lacked the capacity to provide palliatives for the needy in the country and needed to fashion a way of reopening the economy in phases. He said, “I read the NMA reaction to the relaxation of the lockdown by the President. “TUC reaction is that since evidence has shown clearly that the Federal Government does not have the full capacity to provide the needed palliative to all those that need it, (hence, the) government had to come up with a strategy to ease the lockdown by coming out with a guideline and roaster on how the economy should be run at a time like this. [READ ALSO] COVID-19: 85 dead in Abuja, 17 states “The FG did the right thing by reopening the economy in phases. “Manufacturers of essential products, restaurants and other essential sectors of the economy have been given guidelines on how to restart their operations, while curfew has been declared at night. “All interstate movement except essential ones are closed for now. The truth is that we cannot bleed the economy for too long. “The danger of hunger is more dangerous than COVID-19. A hungry man is potentially an angry man. Continuing with total lockdown can lead to insecurity. “At this period, we just need to strike a balance between the health implication and reopening the economy in phases. We also have to take care of insecurity. People must earn a living to meet the needs of their family which the government has shown that it cannot offer for a long time. “Let us try this for now and see what other measures we need to put in place after this first phase.”
3 May 07:34 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/covid-19-tuc-disagrees-with-nma-over-partial-lockdown/Rating: 0.30
White House adviser will not rule out more money for states, small businesses
By Doina Chiacu WASHINGTON (Reuters) - White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said on Sunday he would not rule out anything in a new relief bill to ease the "tremendous hardships" of the coronavirus outbreak, including more money for state and local governments and small businesses. More than 30 million Americans have joined the unemployment benefit rolls over the past six weeks and lawmakers on Capitol Hill are discussing a fourth coronavirus relief bill. Democrats are pushing for additional aid to help cities and states cope with lost revenue from a shut-down economy and some governors have warned of massive layoffs if they fail to get it. Some advisers to Republican President Donald Trump have said the need for another stimulus bill is not yet clear. But Kudlow said "there may well be additional legislation" as officials study how the billions included in the last bill take effect. "We know the economy is still in a terrible, contractionary phase, tremendous hardships, everywhere," Kudlow said on CNN's "State of the Union." "We're trying to work through this. I don't want to rule in or out anything right now. We are in discussions internally and with leading members of Congress." Congress has not met in regular session since March, though it has passed major coronavirus relief bills worth nearly $3 trillion. House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat, said money for states and cities would be the core of the next legislative package Democrats draft. Trump has considered linking such aid to sanctuary cities' immigration policies, Kudlow said. New Jersey Governor Phil Murphy said on Sunday federal help to states that have taken a big revenue hit from coronavirus would make a "huge difference." "This is about firefighters, police, EMS, teachers at the point of attack. We're already seeing some layoffs in New Jersey," Murphy said on "Fox (NASDAQ:FOX) News Sunday." "We need a big slug of federal, direct cash assistance." All 50 states are suffering from the lack of revenue over the past two months, Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker said in response to Trump's argument that states with budget woes before the coronavirus outbreak should not get bailed out. "Coronavirus has caused that. All of us are having to spend more on social services and healthcare to take care of people," Pritzker said on CBS' "Face the Nation." Kudlow said authorities need to see the results of the previous funding efforts before deciding on the next steps. "Then we'll see, we will see in a couple of weeks, what needs to be done and perhaps how to do it," Kudlow said. Kudlow was asked whether more aid would be given to small businesses. "It may be," Kudlow said. "We haven't made a decision yet."
3 May 00:00 • Investing.com • https://www.investing.com/news/economy/us-may-need-to-put-more-money-in-small-business-program-kudlow-2158995Rating: 0.30
May Day: Labour moves to avert job, salary cuts - The Nation Nigeria
The Nigeria Labour Congress and the Organised Private Sector (OPS) on Friday pleaded for Federal Government’s protection for workers against the onslaught of COVID-19. The NLC in particular expressed concern over reports that workers’ salaries were being cut by employers and in some cases workers at the risk of losing their means of livelihood. The OPS sought support for the growth and survival of businesses in the country, especially in the formal and informal sectors, as Nigeria continues to battle the economic impact of the coronavirus. President Muhammadu Buhari assured workers, especially those in the private sector, that government would do all within its power to protect them from undue retrenchment. State governors saluted workers for their contribution to the general wellbeing of Nigerians. Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State doubled the life insurance for health workers in the state. The Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) and the Nigeria Labour Congress asked the Federal Government to support the growth and survival of businesses in the country, especially in the formal and informal sector as Nigeria continues to battle the economic impact of Covid -19. Specifically, the NLC urged the government to ensure that the $3.5 billion stimulus package for small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and other businesses as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) go to businesses in need of it. President of the NLC Ayuba Wabba in a solidarity message on the occasion also appealed to private and informal sector employers to show solidarity with workers by ensuring wage protection, income support especially through paid leave, and sick leave. Wabba said this critical period was not the time to stop or deduct from workers’ salaries, saying that such decision would be both illogical and illegal as workers’ salaries are core elements of employment contracts and collective bargaining agreements. He said the NLC has asked its affiliates and state councils to resist any salary deduction on the account of Covid-19. He also called on state governments who are yet to negotiate with workers on salary adjustment as a result of the N30, 000 new minimum wage to “quickly attend to this very urgent business.” In a similar message,the Director – General of NECA, Timothy Olawole warned that if businesses failed to survive the effects of Covid -19 within the shortest period, it could result in massive job losses in the country. He said: “It is our responsibility- government, employers and workers to ensure is that this does not occur.” “During the lockdown, activities of organised businesses and the informal sector were severely disrupted. For a country whose socio- economic environment was already challenging, the advent of the pandemic has placed additional burden on businesses and put thousands of workers under the threat of job losses. “Nevertheless, employers have remained faithful in their obligations to their workers despite the lockdowns and six weeks or thereabouts of non-productivity. As representative body of employers of labour, we have continued to encourage our members to continue to hold on and carter to the full compliments of their workforce for as long as it is practicable.” Buhari: We’ll safeguard workers’ interest Buhari in his message delivered via Zoom said “I understand the anxiety which has plagued the minds of workers over the possibility of job losses due to economic downturn caused by the pandemic and lock-down especially in the private sector. “In this regard, the government will ensure that no employer would retrench or lay off workers without going through due process of social dialogue which includes consultations with workers and with the Competent Authority – Federal Ministry of Labour and Employment. “Furthermore, I had earlier put in place a Presidential Economic Sustainability Committee (ESC) with the objective of developing a credible sustainability plan for repositioning the Nigerian economy now and post Covid-19 crisis period. “The ESC is required to specifically explore ways and means of growing our non-oil sector – all in a bid to minimise the adverse effects of the current crisis and to also protect existing jobs and even create new jobs to help absorb the teeming army of the unemployed even before the crises”, he said. The President told Nigerian workers that his administration had not just resigned to fate in the face of the outbreak, highlighting the various efforts so far taken to combat the health crisis. “In a bid to win this war, we set up a Presidential Task Force (PTF) made up of the relevant sector Ministers and highly skilled Health Technical Experts The government had to in a well-designed Expert Advice, lock down some States of the Federation where this pandemic is most prevalent – the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Abuja, Ogun and Lagos States. Lagos State was and still is the EPICENTRE of the disease and of late Kano had to follow because of the new eruptions of Covid-19 in the State. “Offices, businesses, and various forms of out-door activities have been put in abeyance so that “WE” as opposed to “I” factor may prevail so that we may live for tomorrow. Yes, it is a common problem and interest and it is at this time that we must be our brother’s keeper by ensuring that “I protect myself and protect others from me”. “I, therefore, ask Nigerian Workers both in the Public and Private Sectors with her FORMAL and INFORMAL ECONOMY to bear the stringent measures for a while for our common good. This would enable us put the ravaging pandemic under control and restore normalcy within the confines of relevant guidelines issued by health experts and the Government for safety against Covid-19 in order to curtail its spread.” Sanwo-Olu doubles life insurance for health workers Governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu of Lagos State used the occasion to show appreciation to frontline health and emergency workers, whom he described as true heroes of this period , for sacrificing their personal wellbeing for the efforts at combating the Coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. Government,he said,had “put in place additional health and life insurance for all our frontline health workers in the state to ensure that they are adequately insured. This gives them insurance protection on two levels.” He added: “As part of the ongoing efforts to contain the spread of COVID-19 in Lagos, we approved a 400 per cent increment in the Hazard Allowance of Health Officers in the State for the month of April. “We have also introduced a COVID-19 Allowance for all our frontline workers, which is a very generous amount that takes cognizance of the heightened risks of the jobs they have to do. All these are intended to appreciate the dedication of all our Health Officers in the fight against COVID-19. “My administration will always seek harmonious relationship with workers for the progress and prosperity of our State. The prompt approval and payment of the new minimum wage is a proof that we care about the welfare of our workforce.” “With effect from last January, Gov. Sanwo-Olu said his Government had increased the employers’ contribution to employees’ Retirement Savings Account (RSA) from 7.5 per cent to 10 per cent. This, he said, complemented employees’ contribution of 8 per cent, bringing it to a total of monthly contribution of 18 per cent. “Sanwo-Olu said his administration had also approved the monthly release of a pension bail-out fund to the tune of N1.083 billion.” Kogi workers reject percentage salary payment The Kogi State chapter of the NLC said it would not accept any reduction in workers’ salary particularly at the local government and primary school levels. Chairman of the NLC in the state,Comrade Onu Edoka,told reporters in Lokoja that the workers were eagerly awaiting the payment of all their outstanding entitlements by government including the 30 percent balance of their August to December 2017 salaries and other arrears, annual increments, promotion cash-backing and leave bonuses. Fayemi promises Ekiti workers better welfare package The Governor Kayode Fayemi of Ekiti State in a broadcast assured all workers in the state that his administration would continue to make their welfare a top priority. Fayemi applauded the workers for their efforts so far which he said had assisted the state to move forward with quality service delivery, assured his administration’s commitment to giving workers better welfare within the available meagre resources. He added the COVID-19 pandemic in the state and its negative consequences, were largely responsible for the delayed implementation of the N30,000 minimum wage for senior workers in the state. He urged workers to be dedicated to their duties and support the government of the day with quality service delivery to contribute their quota to the development of the state. Fayemi approved financial assistance for bedridden, vulnerable and widows in the civil service to assuage their sufferings. We’re planning for post-lockdown in Kaduna ,says El -Rufai Governor Nasir El-Rufa’i of Kaduna State praised the resilience of citizens during the coronavirus lockdown. He said:”The responsibility to protect the vast majority of residents from the danger of widespread community transmission of Covid-19 has compelled the extension of the Quarantine Orders in Kaduna State. ”But this government has also asked a team of senior officials to begin thinking and planning for a post-lockdown scenario in Kaduna State. “The government is convinced that there is no tension between public safety and economic vitality. Rather both should be conceived as supportive of each other. ”That is why the lockdown has only been partial, to allow the operations of the most essential sector.” Ikpeazu calls for support in fight against COVID-19 Governor Okezie Ikpeazu of Abia State solicited the continued support of workers in the fight to combat the spread of COVID-19 pandemic in the state. “As government begins to consider a reassessment of the lockdown in the State our workforce must lead from the front in their conduct at the workplace by fully complying with all directives from the State Government,” he said. Ikpeazu described the civil servants as the engine room of the state and pledged the commitment of his administration to their welfare even in the face of present challenges. He remarked that although the COVID-19 pandemic would make the coming months difficult for government,he would keep the workforce fully apprised of the situation as they unfold, in line with the policy of his administration on transparency and openness. Minimum wage most pressing issue confronting me amid COVID – 19 pandemic, says Abiodun Governor Dapo Abiodun of Ogun State said how to commence the payment of the minimum wage as agreed between his administration and the organised labour in the state was the biggest problem facing him apart from the fight against COVID-19. Abiodun said he was not unaware that the organised labour were expecting him to make certain pronouncements regarding their welfare, but explained that the administration was weighing options amid the impact of the COVID – 19 pandemic on the state resources. He said there would be a gradual resumption of work in various government offices for certain categories of public servants with effect from Monday, pledging that the details of the scheduled resumption would also be communicated to the affected categories of staff through circular. Abiodun said:”As part of our Administration’s sincere commitment to fulfil our part of the agreement on the payment, we have set up a joint committee with labour to assess the impact of COVID-19 on staff welfare and identify all the outstanding issues and how these could be addressed in the wake of COVID-19. “In the meantime, we are also setting up Staff Loans Board that will, amongst others, facilitate access to loans from banks at very concessionary interest rates and terms. “Let me reassure all our great workers and the entire people of our dear State that ours is not an Administration that reneges on its promises nor will we willfully default in same. The reality of our present situation brings into factual understanding of the prayers of our fathers, ‘May God not allow the unplanned thwart our lofty plans.” FG: We’ll mitigate consequences of lockdown in aviation sector Aviation Minister Hadi Sirika in his own solidarity message to workers in the sector promised aviation workers better days ahead in spite of the current hardship caused by the coronavirus-induced shutdown of the industry. He noted that workers in the sector were among the hardest hit economically by the coronavirus pandemic ravaging the world, especially with the grounding of passenger flights and shutting down of services globally. He , however, expressed the belief that there’s a bright future for the Nigerian aviation industry after the dark times that it presently faces, hoping that the pandemic will be short-lived. The Air Transport Services Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (ATSSSAN) threatened to confront what it described as the unilateral and arbitrary cutting of members’ salaries and declaration of unpaid leave. National President of the association, Comrade Ahmadu Ilitrus and Deputy General Secretary, Comrade Frances Akinjole said in a statement lamented that the destructive and disruptive COVID-19 pandemic has removed the funfair and glamour in the aviation industry. The ATSSSABN appealed to the Federal Government for special intervention in the aviation industry Similar messages came from the National Association of Aircraft Pilots and Engineers (NAAPE) and the National Union of Air Transport Employees (NUATE)
2 May 21:02 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/may-day-labour-moves-to-avert-job-salary-cuts/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus lockdown | CPI(M) offers suggestions for economy revival
The Communist Party of India (Marxist) on Saturday released a detailed note offering suggestions to the Union government on revival of the economy. Full coverage on coronavirus “Problems since the beginning of the lockdown and difficulties being faced by crores of Indians, especially migrant workers, daily labourers and the poor, unable to survive will deepen. This is what needs the Centre’s attention,” tweeted CPI(M) general Sitaram Yechury, while releasing the note. Also read | Govt. may have to present second Budget to deal with COVID-19 aftermath, says Jairam Ramesh Separately, CPI general secretary D. Raja told The Hindu, “The Coronavirus pandemic has not changed the neo-liberal economic trajectory of the BJP government at the Centre. And this has worsened the economic inequality. It has led to mass unemployment, growing poverty, hunger and despair. Solutions can’t come out of the current economic framework”, he said. In another tweet, Mr. Yechury said, “It is sheer cruelty to expect workers who have absolutely no earnings for the last two months, because of the lockdown, to pay for their own train tickets. Nor can State Governments bear this financial expenditure when they have not received any help from the Central Government.” State Helpline numbers for COVID-19 | e-Book on COVID-19 In the note, the CPI(M) said: “How long this distress will continue is not known; but to start with, the central government must make available to every non income tax paying household Rs.7,500 per month for a period of three months, and to every individual 10 kg. of free grains per month for a period of six months”. The party advocated providing cooked meals for the poor as well as giving a certain amount of pulses, cooking oil and other necessities. While the State governments were at the forefront of the COVID-19 fight, the Centre should transfer resources such as cash as grants and food grains. Coronavirus, May 2 updates | State-wise tracker for coronavirus cases, deaths and testing rates “All this must be in addition to the substantial assistance that the Centre must give the State governments from the thousands of crores being collected in the private fund named after the PM for fighting the pandemic and for improving healthcare facilities like increasing the supplies of ventilators, masks, protective gear, testing equipment etc,” the CPI(M) note said. The party also talked about looking at taxing the wealthy later and coming up with measures to stop the flight of foreign capital as countries like Spain had done. Watch | Guidelines for extended lockdown Starting the Mahatma Gandhi National Rural Employment Guarantee Act scheme, strengthening the MSMEs and agriculture actor, reviving the village economy, restoring the supply chain of essential goods and ensuring the return of migrant workers to their workplace were the other key suggestions.
2 May 16:54 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/coronavirus-lockdown-cpim-offers-suggestions-for-economy-revival/article31491027.eceRating: 0.30
Governors order pay cut as Coronavirus takes toll on economy
AS the effect of Coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic bites harder on the Nigerian economy, some state governors are taking measures to reduce the impact, including slashing workers’ salaries. In Oyo State, Governor Seyi Makinde disclosed plans to slash salaries of senior political appointees by 50 per cent. He made this disclosure while addressing top labour leaders in the state at Labour House, American Quarters, Ibadan on Friday. The governor also said he had gotten the cooperation of the state lawmakers to cut their salaries by 30 per cent in order to reduce the effects of COVID-19 on the state’s economy. “The next couple of months are going to be difficult ones, but we are working hard to mitigate the shocks to our economy. “Already, we have secured the cooperation of the legislature to take a 30 percent cut to their monthly allocations, while senior government appointees take 50 percent pay cuts. This is because we feel that the economic safety of the workforce must be prioritised,” Makinde said. Similarly, Kaduna State Governor, Nasir El-Rufai has asked the workers to donate part of their salaries into the state’s purse. El-Rufai on Sunday April 26, announced that state public servants earning, at least, N67, 000 will have 25 per cent of their salaries donated to the state and state senior appointees; including commissioners, permanent secretaries, special advisers and heads of agencies will each donate N500,000 in April. In subsequent months, El-Rufai said senior appointees will each donate 50 percent of their salaries. “Career public servants earning a net pay of N67,000 and above aftertax will also donate 25 percent of their pay monthly whilst the quarantine conditions are in place,” El-Rufai’s media adviser Muyiwa Adekeye said in a statement. According to the governor, the move is to ensure that the millions of people living in the state are adequately supported during this COVID-19 period. However, El-Rufai’s plan to cut 25 per cent of career public servants salary does not go down well with healthcare workers who have the high risk of contracting Coronavirus. The Nigerian Medical Association (NMA) has criticised the governor, demanding he reverses his decision. ”NMA hereby calls on the State Government to as a matter of urgency to avert crisis in the health sector of Kaduna State by immediately paying all health care workers the balance of 25% of their April 2020 salaries,” the group said in a statement signed by Stephen Akau Kache, the State Chairman and Ifeanyi Aghadi Kene, the State Secretary of NMA. Also, Adams Oshiomhole, National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC), in an article published to mark Labour Day warned governors against cutting pay of workers in this period. Oshiomhole said cutting salaries in this COVID-19 period can only bring about a vicious cycle of poverty, adding that state leaders “be sensitive to the poor condition of workers during this difficult time.” “Cutting wages is most unhelpful in the circumstance. It’s like asking an anaemic patient to donate blood to save the lives of other patients in need of blood transfusion,” Oshiomhole said. He thus urged governors to rather reduce cost of governance instead of cutting wages or retrenching workers. In the same vein, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has waded in, kicking against cutting or stopping workers’ salaries at this period. “In reciprocation of the enormous sacrifice made by workers, we urge employers of labour to show solidarity with the sacrifice of our workers and people by ensuring wage protection, income support and social inclusion at these trying times,” Ayuba Wabba, the NLC President said at a press conference marking the 2020 International Workers Memorial Workers’ Day in Abuja.
2 May 11:18 • The ICIR • https://www.icirnigeria.org/governors-order-pay-cut-as-coronavirus-takes-toll-on-economy/Rating: 0.30
Massive layoffs feared after Eid
KARACHI: Hundreds of thousands of employees in the private sector have lost jobs and have not been paid monthly salaries after federal and provincial governments failed to divert workers’ welfare fund for paying wages and instead offered bank loans to cope with the coronavirus pandemic in Pakistan. The scale of layoffs can be measured from a recent statement given by Adviser to Prime Minister on Finance Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh that the federal government was preparing a relief package for four million people, who got unemployed during the Covid-19 global health crisis. “Pakistan should prepare … (to see) massive layoffs after Eidul Fitr (which will fall in late May),” Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) former president Majyd Aziz said. “The Sindh government paid Rs1.25 billion to the PM relief fund from the workers’ welfare fund instead of diverting the amount towards businesses and industries to pay wages and save people from layoffs,” an industrialist pointed out while talking to The Express Tribune on the Labour Day. “We had asked the provincial government to make the workers’ welfare fund available for paying monthly salaries. However, we were offered bank loans to pay wages, which was infeasible as the loans carried additional cost,” he said. The number of employed people stood at around 62 million in Pakistan before the health crisis struck the country in March, according to tradingeconomics.com. Industries contribute 2% of their profits to the workers’ welfare fund, which is aimed at constructing flats for workers and distributing bicycles and sewing machines. However, the ministers under different governments have been utilising the fund in their constituencies. “The size of the fund, managed by provincial governments under the 18th Constitution Amendment, must be in billions of rupees as no flats have been constructed and no bicycles and sewing machines distributed these days,” he said. Besides, businesses contribute a certain amount from their employees’ monthly salaries to the Employees Old-Age Benefits Institution (EOBI). The institute invests the employees’ contribution in different assets and pay pension to the retired ones from earnings generated from the investment. “We had also asked to divert EOBI funds (worth Rs500-600 billion) for paying wages but nothing happened on this front as well,” he remarked. “The federal government could direct the EOBI to pay salaries at this difficult time and later we will again contribute to the EOBI when the crisis subsides in two, three or four months,” he added. Half a million jobs saved The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) reported that so far more than 700 companies had applied for low-cost loans to pay salaries and protect over half a million jobs from the Covid-19 crisis. Banks offered the loans at 3% mark-up to tax-paying businesses and at 5% to non-tax-paying firms under a scheme introduced by the central bank. The benchmark interest rate stands at 9% at present. “In the first two weeks of announcement of this scheme, applications for Rs65 billion worth of loans from companies were being processed at banks and DFIs (development finance institutions) that will protect jobs of more than half a million people in more than 700 companies,” the central bank said in a tweet on Thursday. The loan was being offered to the companies which committed that they would not retrench their workers for the next three months, according to the central bank. Aziz, who earlier raised concern over the low-cost loan with the SBP governor and his team, said only a few hundreds out of hundreds of thousands of registered companies had applied for the loan. “A majority of the companies did not opt for the loan because it carried additional cost for businesses that was not feasible at a time of crisis,” he said. The loan was mostly sought by export-oriented industries and those units operating in essential food and pharmaceutical industries. “Non-essential businesses mostly remained closed under the lockdown,” he said. The government, however, is slowly allowing industries to re-open mostly in export and essential services sectors. “Some 400-450 companies are operating alone in Karachi, out of 15,000-20,000 in seven industrial estates,” he said. Published in The Express Tribune, May 2nd, 2020.
2 May 04:01 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2211827/2-massive-layoffs-feared-eid/Rating: 1.80
Petrol price slashed to reduce inflation, PM says
–Imran launches web portal to support those rendered jobless due to pandemic –Says relief fund donations will be disbursed transparently, audit to be made public ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Imran Khan on Saturday said that he had directed the provincial chief secretaries to ensure that the benefit of the decline in petroleum prices is reflected in the prices of essential commodities used by the people, as he launched a relief programme for those who lost jobs due to coronavirus pandemic. “The government is making efforts to put minimum burden on the masses amidst coronavirus lockdown,” Imran said after inaugurating a web portal for those left unemployed due to the pandemic. “This is why we brought down petrol prices by Rs30. Earlier we brought the price of diesel down by Rs27. Even India does not have these low prices,” PM Imran remarked. He added that since the price of petrol was slashed, prices of everything should fall as well. PM Imran said that he is personally monitoring the Corona Relief Fund and assured people that the fund would be utilised in a “transparent manner”. He also promised to make the details of the fund’s audit public. Imran said the government will contribute four rupees for each rupee donated to the relief fund. “Our aim is to reach out the maximum number of people during these testing times.” Giving details of the web portal, Imran Khan said those who have lost jobs due to the lockdown can get themselves registered on ehsaaslabour.nadra.gov.pk to get the assistance of Rs12,000. He asked the volunteers and Tiger Force to help these people in registering their names on the website. He said the registered people will be scrutinized and the cash assistance will be given to the qualifying ones irrespective of their political affiliations. The prime minister said that Rs81 billion have been disbursed under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Program to 6.8 million poor and deserving families over a period of three weeks. He said it is for the first time in the country’s history that such a huge amount has been disbursed in a short span of time. He added that the programme would be taken forward. Prime Minister Imran reiterated that the country could not sustain a prolonged lockdown as labourers and the daily wagers were suffering. “The entire world is trying to restart its economy. Places like New York where thousands are dying have also decided to re-open their industries,” PM Imran. “Even rich governments are reopening because they realise they cannot keep the country under lockdown for long. This is why we have decided to open our construction industry,” he said. “Never in the history of this country have we given such huge incentives to the construction industry as we have done now,” he noted. The prime minister once again appealed to the people to demonstrate discipline and follow precautionary measures to support the government’s efforts to contain the spread of the virus. He said those testing positive for the disease should quarantine themselves in their homes. Speaking on the occasion, Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Poverty Alleviation and Social Protection Dr Sania Nishtar said Pakistan is the first developing country which has given immediate relief to its citizens affected by coronavirus pandemic. Explaining process of registration with the web portal under Ehsaas Emergency Cash Programme, she said the second phase of the programme is focused on providing relief to labour class who lost their jobs due to ongoing lockdown amid coronavirus pandemic. In his remarks, Minister for Industries and Production Hammad Azhar said the government has taken concrete measures to provide relief to small businesses affected by the coronavirus pandemic He said the government’s measures include reduction of the interest rate, unprecedented tax incentives for the construction sector and interest-free loan scheme for small businesses. Hammad Azhar expressed the confidence that the government would pay the electricity bills for up to three months for small businesses whose consumption was between five to 70 kilowatts of electricity per month. Some of the other measures include reducing the interest rate and “unprecedented tax incentives for the construction sector”, he said, adding that the government would also bring an interest-free loan scheme for small businesses.
2 May 14:48 • Pakistan Today • https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/05/02/pm-launches-second-phase-of-ehsaas-cash-incentive/Rating: 0.87
Workers Day: Labour flays increasing debt under Buhari government
• Seeks Rehabilitation Of Refineries• Insists Workers Must Not Be COVID-19 Sacrificial Lamb• ULC Demands 20% COVID-19 Donations To Fund Research Institutes• Oshiomhole Advocates ‘Stakeholders’ Capitalism’ The various debts incurred by the President Muhammadu Buhari-led Federal Government have not improved public good in the last five years, the Nigeria Labour Congress (NLC) has declared. In his commemoration speech, titled: “COVID-19 Pandemic and Its Socio-Economic Impact on the Nigerian Working Class,” to mark this year’s May Day, popularly called International Workers’ Day, President of NLC, Ayuba Wabba, said most borrowings by Nigeria have been used to finance consumption rather than production. He explained: “We are largely borrowing to consume. Our hospitals are not being re-tooled with first class facilities. Public schools are still an eyesore to basic decency. Our road network still does not support a 21st Century economy. Apart from renewed vigour in the rail system, the rest of our transportation infrastructure belies our developmental aspirations. So, what exactly are we doing with our loans?” On his part, the United Labour Congress of Nigeria (ULC), demanded an investment of 20 per cent of the entire donations received by the Federal Government towards mitigating the COVID-19 pandemic to fund the activities of various research institutes across the country, especially those related to medical, pharmaceutical and herbal research to tackle the ravaging scourge. At a press briefing to mark the day, ULC President, Joe Ajaero, insisted that the most effective strategy to fight the pandemic and, indeed, other national challenges is to build solidarities and widen inclusivity across various divides. Waba pointed out that contradictions in the management of Nigeria’s hydrocarbon industry has also exacerbated the debt imbroglio and specifically identified government’s inability to rehabilitate the nation’s refineries in Port Harcourt, Warri and Kaduna as one of the major drivers of poverty in the country, insisting that massive importation of refined petroleum products for many decades is a sure way to bankruptcy. “Leakage in the pipelines related to the debt overhang is the contradictions in our petroleum sector. Our dependence on imported refined petroleum products have left us perpetually broke. The NLC continues to shout itself hoarse that the roadmap of massive petroleum products importation is a certain pathway to economic bankruptcy. “No developing country would spend her scarce foreign exchange on the importation of refined petroleum products as we do and remain solvent,” stated. The reduction of the pump price of Premium Motor Spirit (PMS), otherwise known as petrol, by about N18, owing to over-recovery as dictated by the global plunge in the price of crude oil, was not enough to convince Wabba that Nigeria is on the right track in the management of its hydrocarbon sector, as he said: “Nigerian workers insist that it is anomalous to subject the price of a product sourced from Nigeria to the volatilities of global commodities market. Nigerians should be the first partakers of the fruits of our resources. To fix our leaking oil revenue pipeline, we must recover, resuscitate and revamp our refineries. “The habit of being penny wise pound foolish must end. It is no rocket science to fix old refineries. The technology for modular refinery is handy. We cannot rely on the promise of private refineries to fix the shame of being the only OPEC country that does not refine her crude. “Furthermore, we must deal with the inefficiencies and corruption in the oil sector. The time is now! The current plunge in the price of crude oil might be our last warning to take full control of our oil resources and genuinely diversify our economy.” Wabba submitted that the COVID-19 pandemic has opened a new vista of world of work where giant steps have been taken to incorporate devices, machines and artificial intelligence into work schedules and environment, urging workers to brace up for a world where machines would struggle for space in the workplace with human beings. He stated: “… Right before our eyes, the future of work is being born. The increased encroachment of devices, machines and artificial intelligence in spaces where human beings held forte will bring with it, a host of new challenges in the work place. In many advanced economies, the discussion is gravitating towards universal social welfare system, where human beings are paid basic allowances to take care of their needs, while machines do most of the work. “Conscious that human beings are at the centre of existence and production, we must be prepared. We must gear up to protect income, promote decent jobs and advance sustainable livelihood. We must be willing to learn new skills that will keep us relevant in the 21st Century workplace.” While acknowledging the need for government to put in place palliatives to revive businesses, the NLC helmsman argued that the recent $3.5 billion stimulus package for SMEs and other businesses, as announced by the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN), should go to businesses that need it the most, adding that a major criterion for access to the grant must be a signed commitment by the beneficiary businesses not to lay off workers or undermine the existing wage structure in their organisations. Wabba maintained that Nigeria has valuable lessons to learn from the ravaging COVID-19, saying: “In Nigeria, we must find ways to recover our dilapidated social infrastructure, particularly our health and education sectors. We must realise that the greatest wealth of Nigeria is not crude oil, but the Nigerian people. “We must educate our people. We must cultivate a healthy population. We cannot just keep loading our out-of-school children onto the back of lorries each time there is a pandemic. We need to fix our eyesore of 16 million out-of-school children.” Another lesson Nigeria must learn, Wabba insisted, is to grow its local economy, noting: “Instead of the craze of globe trotting in the name of looking for investors, we must look inwards to encourage local talents, innovations and enterprise. We want to see government take the challenge of local innovations seriously. “This also means that we must adequately fund research. A country that neglects research is a country that has consigned herself to perpetual servitude. Nobody would grow our economy for us. The reality is that capital mobility would be a lot harder in the next few years following the COVID-19 pandemic, as richer countries are also struggling to rebuild their own economies.” He also stressed the need for Nigeria to expand and strengthen its social safety nets. While labour commended the federal and many state governments for offering palliatives to poor Nigerians during the lockdown period, Wabba urged the government to expand and strengthen the social safety nets by capturing more poor Nigerians, especially the urban poor and the working poor, particularly workers in the informal sector, who depend on daily income for survival. Describing this year’s celebration as an unusual one, Ajaero urged the federal government to immediately set up a post-COVID-19 think tank, whose membership should be wide and inclusive to come up with a roadmap that would drive the nation out of the expected challenges that are inevitable. He rejected the plan of the Kaduna State government to cut the salaries of workers in the state, describing it as unacceptable and vowing to resist the move in the spirit of solidarity and if he has implemented it, the salaries cut should be returned to the workers immediately. Similarly, the Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria (PENGASSAN), felt sorry for workers who are often trapped in precarious working conditions and constant battle with job insecurity. PENGASSAN President, Ohaeri Ndukaku, said with the ensuing effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and the low oil revenues, the situation may even be compounded and urged government and employers to come together and look at the best possible ways to deal with the issues on ground. Meanwhile, a former president of NLC, Adams Oshiomhole, has urged the institutionalisation of what he called “stakeholders’ capitalism.” He defined the expression as coming together of employers, workers as represented by the unions and government, to formulate policies that would prevent total collapse of the economy post-COVID-19. The immediate past governor of Edo State and National Chairman of the ruling All Progressives Congress (APC) argued that while it is desirable to bail businesses out, it is imperative to design how businesses that benefit from such largess pay back. He also submitted that employers paying workers salary is not a privilege, but a right of workers who have rendered service on which payment is expected. On its part, the Nigeria Employers Consultative Association (NECA) said despite challenges posed by COVID-19, employers were resolute to maintain their obligations to their workforce. NECA Deputy Director, Corporate Office, Abuja, Adenike Ajala, said with the slight relaxation of the lockdown from Monday, May 4, there is the hope that productive business activities would gradually pick up and enable employers save jobs where the elastics have not snapped. NECA opined that employers and workers owe the economy joint responsibly to sustain productivity and competitiveness of business for continued employment of our workforce.
2 May 04:25 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/nigeria/national/workers-day-labour-flays-increasing-debt-under-buhari-government/Rating: 0.30
President queries Tanzania coronavirus kits after goat test
4 May 11:21
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President queries Tanzania coronavirus kits after goat test
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Coronavirus test kits used in Tanzania were dismissed as faulty by President John Magufuli on Sunday, because he said they had returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw. Magufuli, whose government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak and has previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said the kits had “technical errors”. The COVID-19 testing kits had been imported from abroad, Magufuli said during an event in Chato in the north west of Tanzania, although he did not give further details. The president said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits. They had randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. These samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins. Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the coronavirus. “There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation,” Magufuli said, adding the kits should be investigated. As of Sunday, Tanzania had recorded 480 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths but unlike most other African countries, Dar es Salaam sometimes goes for days without offering updates, with the last bulletin on cases on Wednesday. Magufuli also said that he was sending a plane to collect a cure being promoted by Madagascar’s president. The herbal mix has not yet undergone internationally recognised scientific testing. “I’m communicating with Madagascar,” he said during a speech, adding: “They have got a medicine. We will send a flight there and the medicine will be brought in the country so that Tanzanians too can benefit.” COVID-19 infections and fatalities reported across Africa have been relatively low compared with the United States, parts of Asia and Europe. But Africa also has extremely low levels of testing, with rates of only around 500 per million people.
4 May 11:21 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-tanzania-idUSKBN22F0KFRating: 4.04
Goat, pawpaw test positive to coronavirus in Tanzania, President orders probe on COVID-19 test kits
Goat and pawpaw tested positive for coronavirus (COVID-19) in Tanzania after samples were taken from them and this has led the President, John Magufuli to order a probe on the country’s test kit. President Magufuli while speaking at an event in Chato in the northwest of Tanzania, revealed that the COVID-19 testing kits which had been imported from abroad had “technical errors”. Magufuli said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits, who then randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat, and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. According to him, these samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins President Magufuli later disclosed that samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, adding it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the Coronavirus. Follow us on Facebook – @Lailasnews; Twitter – @LailaIjeoma for updates
3 May 20:16 • LailasNews.com • https://lailasnews.com/goat-and-pawpaw-test-positive-to-coronavirus-in-tanzania-president-orders-probe-on-covid-19-test-kits/Rating: 1.27
Tanzania president questions coronavirus kits after animal test
Tanzania's President John Magufuli has dismissed imported coronavirus testing kits as faulty, saying they returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw. Magufuli made the remarks during an event in Chato in northwestern Tanzania on Sunday. He said there were "technical errors" with the tests. The president, whose government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak and has previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits. They had randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. These samples were then submitted to Tanzania's laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins. Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when, in fact, they were not infected by the coronavirus. "There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation," Magufuli said, adding the kits should be investigated. On Saturday, Magufuli announced that he had placed an order for a herbal treatment for the coronavirus touted by the president of Madagascar. "I have already written to Madagascar's president and we will soon dispatch a plane to fetch the medicine so that Tanzania can also benefit from it," he said. The herbal remedy, called "Covid Organics" and prepared by the Malagasy Institute for Applied Research, is made out of Artemisia, a plant cultivated on the Indian Ocean island of Madagascar. Despite a lack of scientific evidence, President Andry Rajoelina of Madagascar claimed that the remedy has already cured some Madagascans of COVID-19. Children returning to school have been required to take it.
3 May 19:34 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/tanzania-president-questions-coronavirus-kits-animal-test-200503174100809.htmlRating: 2.44
Goats, jackfruit testing positive for COVID-19 in Tanzania - Magufuli
President John Pombe Magufuli has cast doubt on the high numbers of coronavirus cases reported in Tanzania. Magufuli says the officials must be inflating the numbers so as to target donor funds. Tanzania officially has 480 confirmed coronavirus infections - the most in East Africa. The president says after doubting the high numbers, he secretly sent samples for testing to the National Influenza Laboratory (NIL) in Dar es Salaam. But unknown to NIL, Magufuli said today, the sent samples included those from birds, goats, pawpaw, jackfruit but disguised as human samples. And dubiously, Magufuli said, the fruit and bird samples too tested positive for COVID-19. Magufuli said with such a discovery, he now highly doubts the 480 confirmed cases in Tanzania. Magufuli said either the test kits sent to Africa are 'faulty' or the officials have deliberately recorded even negative cases as positive. Faulty COVID-19 testing kits are not a new issue in the coronavirus pandemic after Spain twice sent back defective testing kits back to China after they were found to have very low sensibility. There are videos circulating on social media showing Tanzanian officials allegedly burying coronavirus victims in the dead of the night in an apparent government coverup. Tanzanian nationals on social media have too questioned the official figures, saying they are way lower than the actual cases and deaths. The Tanzanian government has been criticised by the World Health Organisation (WHO) for its lax approach to the coronavirus pandemic still allows markets and public transport to operate normally. Recent confirmed cases in Rwanda and Uganda have been reported mostly from Tanzanian truck drivers plying the East African trade routes. Truck drivers mostly from Tanzania account for 29 of Uganda's 88 confirmed cases. Among Uganda's latest three COVID-19 cases recorded on Saturday, one is of a Tanzanian truck driver while the other was of a Ugandan returnee who sneaked into the country from Tanzania via Bukoba porous border point. Uganda like Kenya, Rwanda are currently under lockdown and allow no travelling in and out of their countries except for United Nations, emergency and cargo crew. Magufuli said he's even considering reopening the national football league that was suspended some weeks back because he has realised that people who engage in sports may not easily be affected by the coronavirus. Magufuli said in any case, he has realised that COVID-19 may have to live with humanity for a long time just like HIV/Aids. He also announced that he will soon send a plane to Madagascar to fetch the herbal medicine there that is being touted as a 'cure' for coronavirus. Madagascar President Andry Rajoelina asked researchers to come up with a locally made cure for coronavirus. Rajoelina launched the ’cure’ after being tested on about 20 people for three weeks claiming that two people had been completely cured by the COVID-Organics (CVO) treatment. According to Rajoeline, CVO cures coronavirus within 10 days. The World Health Organization (WHO) says there is no proof of a cure for Covid-19. Even the country's national medical academy (Anamem) has also cast doubt on the efficacy of the CVO produced from the artemisia plant, a source of an ingredient used in malaria treatment and is given out free of charge to the most vulnerable groups in Madagascar. Madagascar has already exported its CVO 'cure' to Equatorial Guinea and Guinea Bissau.
3 May 18:25 • The Observer • https://observer.ug/news/headlines/64599-goats-jackfruit-testing-positive-for-covid-19-in-tanzania-magufuliRating: 0.33
President questions Tanzania coronavirus kits after goat test
DAR ES SALAAM (Reuters) - Coronavirus test kits used in Tanzania were dismissed as faulty by President John Magufuli on Sunday, because he said they had returned positive results on samples taken from a goat and a pawpaw. Magufuli, whose government has already drawn criticism for being secretive about the coronavirus outbreak and has previously asked Tanzanians to pray the coronavirus away, said the kits had "technical errors". The COVID-19 testing kits had been imported from abroad, Magufuli said during an event in Chato in the north west of Tanzania, although he did not give further details. The president said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits. They had randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. These samples were then submitted to Tanzania's laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins. Samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, the president said, adding this meant it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the coronavirus. "There is something happening. I said before we should not accept that every aid is meant to be good for this nation," Magufuli said, adding the kits should be investigated. As of Sunday, Tanzania had recorded 480 cases of COVID-19 and 17 deaths but unlike most other African countries, Dar es Salaam sometimes goes for days without offering updates, with the last bulletin on cases on Wednesday. COVID-19 infections and fatalities reported across Africa have been relatively low compared with the United States, parts of Asia and Europe. But Africa also has extremely low levels of testing, with rates of only around 500 per million people. (Writing by Elias Biryabarema; Editing by Alexander Smith)
3 May 15:56 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/president-questions-tanzania-coronavirus-kits-155613291.htmlRating: 0.30
Magufuli Now Says Tanzania’s COVID-19 Cases Inflated, Blames Scientists, “Faulty” Donated Testing Kits
The number of Coronavirus (COVID-19) cases in Tanzanian is inflated, President John Pombe Magufuli has said. Speaking on Sunday during the swearing-in ceremony of the newly-appointed Justice and Constitutional Affairs Minister, Dr Mwigulu Nchemba, Magufuli expressed his disgust over the high number of COVID-19 cases reported in the country further saying he had reason to believe that test results from the National Referral Laboratory were ‘unrealistic’. Magufuli noted that recently, his security team sent samples from a bird, pawpaw fruit, jackfruit, goat, sheep, rabbit and oil to the laboratory for tests and the results were shocking. According to the President, the samples from the pawpaw fruit and goat tested positive for COVID-19 while the remaining samples either turned negative or the results were not conclusive. Read: Tanzania’s Opposition Party Chadema Boycotts Parliament Sessions After Death Of 3 MPs Magufuli said the samples were labelled with names of people and their ages. He wondered how the researchers couldn’t differentiate the samples from those obtained from human beings. The President said either the donated testing kits that are being used are faulty or some “frauds” are out to fight him politically. He called on the new Minister for Justice and Constitution Affairs, who replaces Ambassador Augustine Mahiga who died on Friday, to investigate the matter. Mahiga is among three Members of Parliament who have died in Tanzania in the past few days over suspected COVID-19 complications. Read Also: Tanzania’s Minister For Justice Augustine Mahiga Dies On His Way To Hospital So far, Tanzania has reported a total of 480 cases of COVID-19 and 16 deaths. Magufuli has in the recent past attracted criticism over the country’s response to COVID-19. The President has been reluctant in putting in place strict measures to contain the spread of COVID-19 like the rest of the East African nation, Uganda, Kenya and Rwanda. Magufuli refused to close churches last month despite calls from medical experts from all quarters. This many believe may have contributed to the spread of the contagious disease in the country. Read Also: Tanzania Parliament Suspends Sittings As Second MP Dies In A Span Of 10 Days Instead, the Head of State termed worship centres as places where people could seek healing. “Corona cannot survive in the body of Christ; it will burn. That is exactly why I did not panic while taking the Holy Communion,” said Magufuli. The President, however, ordered the closure of schools and banned public events. He also ordered mandatory quarantining of individuals arriving from foreign nationals as borders remain open.
3 May 11:35 • KahawaTungu • https://www.kahawatungu.com/magufuli-tanzanias-covid-19-cases-inflated/Rating: 0.41
Tanzanian President Orders Probe on COVID-19 Kits After Goat And Pawpaw Test Positive For Coronavirus
Tanzanian president, John Magufuli on Sunday ordered a probe on the country’s coronavirus testing kits after samples taken from a goat and pawpaw tested positive. Speaking at an event in Chato in the northwest of Tanzania, Magufuli said the COVID-19 testing kits which had been imported from abroad had “technical errors”. The president said he had instructed Tanzanian security forces to check the quality of the kits, who then randomly obtained several non-human samples, including from a pawpaw, a goat, and a sheep, but had assigned them human names and ages. According to him, these samples were then submitted to Tanzania’s laboratory to test for the coronavirus, with the lab technicians left deliberately unaware of their origins. President Magufuli later disclosed that samples from the pawpaw and the goat tested positive for COVID-19, adding it was likely that some people were being tested positive when in fact they were not infected by the Coronavirus. “We extracted a sample from a goat which turned positive. This tells you that something is not adding up,” he stated. “Are we now supposed to quarantine goats and fruits?” President Magufuli questioned. Featured Video
3 May 00:00 • Peacefmonline • https://www.peacefmonline.com/pages/local/social/202005/407323.phpRating: 0.30
Oil up 3% as countries ease lockdowns, production falls
4 May 19:22
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Oil up 3% as countries ease lockdowns, production falls
NEW YORK (Reuters) - Oil was up 3% on Monday as more countries announced they would begin easing coronavirus lockdowns and as crude supply cuts by the world’s top producing nations and companies take hold. Worldwide fuel demand fell by an estimated 30% in April largely due to stay-at-home orders, and weak consumption is expected to overhang the crude market for months, even as major world oil-producers reduce output as of May 1. However, analysts have said that swift action by those parties could help reduce the supply glut more quickly. “The market continues to price in the idea that things are improving,” Gene McGillian, vice president of market research at Tradition Energy in Stamford, Connecticut. Brent crude LCOc1 settled at $27.20 a barrel, up 76 cents, or 2.9%, while U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude CLc1 gained 61 cents, or 3.1%, to $20.39 a barrel. “We’re supposed to see the production cuts start to show up... the slow restart of not only some of the states here in the U.S. but some of the countries in Europe is beginning to partially alleviate some of the demand fears,” McGillian said. Italy, Finland and several U.S. states were among numerous governments moving to ease lockdown restrictions on Monday to resurrect their economies, but officials cautioned against acting too swiftly as coronavirus cases passed 3.5 million and deaths neared a quarter of a million globally. In addition to fresh supply cuts that began this month by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries and its allies, a group known as OPEC+, oil and gas output from some of the world’s top oil companies is set to drop in the second quarter of 2020 to levels not seen in at least 17 years. Goldman Sachs said it is growing more optimistic about the rise of oil prices next year due to lower crude production and a partial recovery in oil demand. The Wall Street bank raised its 2021 forecast for global benchmark Brent to $55.63 per barrel from $52.50 earlier. The bank hiked its estimate for WTI to $51.38 a barrel from $48.50 previously. The re-emergence of trade tensions between the United States and China limited the rise in prices. “Demand growth in China is good for the energy market right now, it is pretty much the only game in town” said Bob Yawger, director of energy futures at Mizuho. “Even a verbal scrap with President Trump is not good for China demand growth, considering the fragile circumstances the market is currently operating under.” Adding to U.S. President Donald Trump’s threat last week to impose tariffs on China, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Sunday there was “a significant amount of evidence” that the new coronavirus emerged from a Chinese laboratory. Oil prices recovered some of their losses after U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin said he expected China to make good on its trade agreement with the United States. He also said he expected oil markets to rebound, and that the Trump administration was looking for more storage capacity.
4 May 19:22 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-global-oil-idUSKBN22F0XARating: 4.04
Africa's oil producers impacted by OPEC production cut
Africa’s oil producing nations have not been spared the impact of the global decision to reduce oil output. About 14 countries in sub-Saharan Africa produce oil, which accounts for most of their annual export income. Crude oil prices rose marginally on Friday (May 1) as the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and their allies started reducing output. Major producers in April agreed to a production cut deal by 10 million barrels a day in May and June. The record production cut is a way of balancing the mismatch between supply and demand in global oil prices due to the coronavirus pandemic. The COVID-19 outbreak has reduced demand for oil due to isolation and travel restrictions measures introduced globally to slowdown the spread of the disease. Africa’s major oil producers include Nigeria, Angola and Gabon. A rise in oil prices between $50 to $60 would allow them to earn badly needed foreign exchange to carry out development projects. The World Bank and the IMF have urged African oil producing nations to diversify their economies to reduce their over-dependence on oil to improve the living standards of their people.
3 May 14:40 • Africanews • https://www.africanews.com/2020/05/03/africa-s-oil-producers-impacted-by-opec-production-cut/Rating: 1.14
Algeria Refuses to Borrow from IMF to Ease Financial Crisis
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared his country will not approach the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for loans, despite a financial crisis triggered by a collapse in global oil prices and coronavirus lockdowns. “Accumulating debt harms national sovereignty,” Tebboune told reporters in a meeting with Algerian media, broadcast late Friday. Algeria fell into heavy debt with the IMF during the 1990s, an episode Tebboune referenced in his address. Algeria is heavily dependent on oil production, which generates over 90 percent of its export receipts. A collapse in hydrocarbon prices this year – caused by plunging demand due to societal lockdowns designed to combat the spread of coronavirus, and exacerbated by a brief price war between key players Russia and Saudi Arabia – is putting even greater pressure on Algeria's external accounts. Even before this year’s crisis took hold, Algeria’s foreign exchange reserves had fallen to $62 billion at the end of 2019, from $180 billion in 2014. But Tebboune stressed he prefers “to borrow from Algerian citizens, rather than the IMF or the World Bank.” He also expressed reluctance to borrowing from foreign banks, saying that doing so prevented Algeria from making its position clear on issues including the fate of the Palestinian cause and Western Sahara. Tebboune also said that several “friendly” nations had offered loans, which had been declined for the time being. he did not name these countries. He ruled out relying on extra printing of the local currency by the central bank, noting that this could cause inflation. Tebboune also revealed plans to develop new natural resources, including uranium, gold and phosphate, with the help of foreign investors, after the end of the health crisis caused by the novel coronavirus. “The novel coronavirus has frozen several plans and projects. But they will be launched after the health crisis is overcome,” he said. A sharp fall in oil and gas revenue in recent years has deepened the country’s financial problems, widening the budget and trade deficits. Algeria still relies heavily on energy earnings despite previous announcements that it would carry out reforms and develop the non-hydrocarbon sector. The coronavirus outbreak has worsened the economic situation with energy earnings dropping further, forcing the government to cut spending and planned investment for 2020. “We are determined to develop our agriculture and reduce significantly the value of purchases from abroad,” Tebboune stressed. Elected in December 2019 after mass protests demanding political and economic reforms and the removal of the ruling elite, Tebboune has vowed to open up the economy and amend the constitution to give a greater role to parliament. “A political change will take place and strong institutions will be created,” Tebboune said, referring to demands by the protest movement known as Hirak. The government has decided to postpone loan payments for state and private firms financially hit by the coronavirus, and Tebboune said more measures would be taken to benefit companies and the self-employed. “Losses of firms are being assessed. We are ready to provide financial support. Even self-employed people such as taxi drivers and hairdressers will be helped,” he said.
3 May 08:15 • Asharq AL-awsat • https://aawsat.com/english/home/article/2265216/algeria-refuses-borrow-imf-ease-financial-crisisRating: 2.10
Algeria cuts energy revenue, forex forecasts for 2020
ALGIERS — Algeria expects its foreign exchange reserves to fall to $44.2 billion by the end of 2020, below a previous forecast of $51.6 billion, hit by a sharp drop in global crude oil prices, the government said on Sunday. The price slide is expected to push down full-year energy export earnings to $20.6 billion, far below a $37.4 billion projection announced earlier this year, government spokesman and Communication Minister Amar Belhimer said on state radio. OPEC producers’ group member Algeria depends heavily on oil and gas revenue to finance the state budget and pay for imports estimated annually at $45 billion. A fall in energy earnings over past years has significantly widened its budget and trade deficits. Financial pressures increased after the coronavirus outbreak caused oil prices to plunge further, forcing the government to cut spending and investment planned for this year in several sectors including hydrocarbons. That also impacted foreign exchange reserves which are currently around $60 billion, down from $72.6 billion in April last year. The amount of reserves expected by the end of 2020 will cover a year of imports, Belhimer said. (Reporting by Hamid Ould Ahmed; Editing by Andrew Cawthorne)
3 May 17:24 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/algeria-cuts-energy-revenue-forex-forecasts-for-2020Rating: 0.94
Algeria rules out IMF borrowing to ease financial woes
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared his country will not approach the IMF for loans, despite a financial crisis triggered by a collapse in global oil prices and coronavirus lockdowns. "Accumulating debt harms national sovereignty," said Tebboune, in a meeting with Algerian media broadcast late Friday. The North African nation is heavily dependent on oil production, which generates over 90 percent of the country's export receipts. A collapse in hydrocarbon prices this year -- caused by plunging demand due to societal lockdowns designed to combat the spread of coronavirus, and exacerbated by a brief price war between key players Russia and Saudi Arabia -- is putting ever greater pressure on Algeria's external accounts. Even before this year's crisis took hold, Algeria's foreign exchange reserves had fallen to $62 billion at the end of 2019, from $180 billion in 2014. But the president said Algeria would prefer "to borrow from its own citizens, rather than the International Monetary Fund or World Bank." Algeria fell into heavy debt with the IMF during the 1990s, an episode Tebboune referenced in his address. He also expressed aversion to borrowing from foreign banks, saying that doing so prevented Algeria making its position clear on issues including the fate of the Palestinians and Western Sahara. Morocco has controlled most of the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, since the 1970s. It fought a war with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front over the territory from 1975 to 1991, when a ceasefire deal was agreed. Tebboune also said that certain "friendly" nations had offered loans, which had been declined for the time being. He did not specify which countries had offered assistance. The president ruled out relying on extra printing of domestic currency by the central bank, noting that this could cause an inflationary spiral.
3 May 03:52 • Daily Nation • https://www.nation.co.ke/news/africa/Algeria-rules-out-IMF-borrowing-to-ease-financial-woes/1066-5540982-9whjhj/index.htmlRating: 1.96
Algeria rules out IMF borrowing to ease financial woes
Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has declared his country will not approach the IMF for loans, despite a financial crisis triggered by a collapse in global oil prices and coronavirus lockdowns. “Accumulating debt harms national sovereignty,” said Tebboune, in a meeting with Algerian media broadcast late Friday. The North African nation is heavily dependent on oil production, which generates over 90 percent of the country’s export receipts. A collapse in hydrocarbon prices this year — caused by plunging demand due to societal lockdowns designed to combat the spread of coronavirus, and exacerbated by a brief price war between key players Russia and Saudi Arabia — is putting ever greater pressure on Algeria’s external accounts. Even before this year’s crisis took hold, Algeria’s foreign exchange reserves had fallen to $62 billion at the end of 2019, from $180 billion in 2014. But the president said Algeria would prefer “to borrow from its own citizens, rather than the International Monetary Fund or World Bank.” Algeria fell into heavy debt with the IMF during the 1990s, an episode Tebboune referenced in his address. He also expressed aversion to borrowing from foreign banks, saying that doing so prevented Algeria making its position clear on issues including the fate of the Palestinians and Western Sahara. Morocco has controlled most of the Western Sahara, a former Spanish colony, since the 1970s. It fought a war with the Algeria-backed Polisario Front over the territory from 1975 to 1991, when a ceasefire deal was agreed. Tebboune also said that certain “friendly” nations had offered loans, which had been declined for the time being. He did not specify which countries had offered assistance. The president ruled out relying on extra printing of domestic currency by the central bank, noting that this could cause an inflationary spiral.
2 May 13:04 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/world/algeria-rules-out-imf-borrowing-to-ease-financial-woes/Rating: 0.30
Challenging times for Gulf states
Gulf countries face a steep decline in government revenues as a result of the sharp drop in oil prices. This comes at a time when the region and the world are dealing with the economic fallout of the coronavirus pandemic. Saudi Arabia on Saturday warned of painful measures to offset the economic impact of the global pandemic. Finance Minister Mohammed Al Jadaan said stringent economic measures that include fiscal retrenchment are required in these challenging times, especially since the world’s largest oil exporter is suffering from historically low oil prices. These belt-tightening measures are necessary to prevent lasting economic damage. According to the latest forecasts by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) real GDP of oil exporters is projected to contract by 4.2 per cent in 2020. This is a significant downward revision from the 2.1 per cent growth projected in the October 2019 Regional Economic Outlook of the IMF. Oil prices at these levels could result in more than $230 billion in lost annual revenue for GCC oil exporters, placing significant strains on fiscal and external balances. GCC governments have been swift in initiating broad policy actions to save lives, contain the spread of the pandemic, and support the hardest-hit sectors of their economies. The overall fiscal and monetary support announced so far has been close to $200 billion and averages about 12 per cent of the GDP of the region. While the relief packages are substantial, the uncertainty over the impact of the virus outbreak and the trajectory of oil prices is worrisome. Mounting health care expenditure and rising funding requirement for economic support programmes in the face of shrinking revenues have become a massive challenge for GCC governments. Most regional governments, except Oman and Bahrain, have substantial external balances and strong credit profiles that will enable them to fund the emergency requirements by dipping into the reserve kitty and or through borrowings. With no real recovery seen for oil prices in the near term, these governments could fast deplete a substantial portion of their reserves while building significant debt piles, if expenditures continue unchecked. Therefore, GCC states must pursue an economic policy trajectory based on fiscal prudence. Health measures and economic stimulus packages are unavoidable, but all unnecessary costs that are not related to the coronavirus crisis must be cut. These are trying times for the economies. The solutions might be painful but necessary. Out-of-the-box measures are required. The Saudi minister’s statement points in the right direction.
3 May 10:40 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/opinion/editorials/challenging-times-for-gulf-states-1.71303433Rating: 3.21
Oil price crash: Experts suggest way forward - The Nation Nigeria
The global oil price crash notwithstanding, Nigeria can turn the tide, experts have said. Though oil prices showed slight increase last Thursday as Nigeria Brent crude inched up by 4.6 percent to $21.39 per barrel reversing some of the losses posted previously after storage in the United States rose less than expected, experts have however argued that this relief may be momentary after all. Former Minister of Finance, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has called for the restructuring of Nigeria’s economy in the face of dwindling oil prices. Okonjo-Iweala gave the advice on Thursday when she appeared on Channels TV’s Business Morning. According to her, Nigeria and other African countries must look at other sources of revenue to cushion the economic impact of dwindling oil prices. The former Managing Director of the World Bank said Nigeria has several sources of revenue it should tap to create employment for the teeming masses. “There will be business cycles with commodity prices. What you also need to do is make the economy less dependent on these commodities,” she said. Echoing similar sentiments, former Vice President, Atiku Abubakar in a statement titled: ‘How to pull Nigeria from the brink,’ said the country must face the fact that reliance on crude oil is failing Nigeria and other mono product economy crude oil exporters. “Now is the time for Nigeria and her contemporaries to cure their addiction to sweet crude. For far too long we have grown high on our own supply, to the extent that we have neglected almost every other sector of our economy.” Laoye Jaiyeola, Chief Executive, Nigerian Economic Summit Group (NESG), a think tank organisation that supports policy initiatives both at the private and public sectors, said there is need for all hands to be on deck. For Professor Jonathan Aremu, he would rather the government reorder its priorities going forward.
3 May 01:15 • Latest Nigeria News, Nigerian Newspapers, Politics • https://thenationonlineng.net/oil-price-crash-experts-suggest-way-forward/Rating: 0.30
Plunging oil demands
The oil markets have been revoked by sharp price swings in recent days , with traders concerned a drop in demand caused by the coronavirus pandemic which would lead to storage problems for the oversupply of oil . Since many countries are now moving toward in rebuilding their economy which would lead to a rise in the demand for oil . Many oil industries in the world remain underdeveloped and due to COVID-19 crisis Andy I shutdown worldwide, the pandemic is likely to result from the oil price crash and upending the current balance of power. The key-oil producing countries like Iraq and Nigeria can’t find way to be free from crisis with less interest loans. Oil prices have been rebounded recently after the reports that a key measure of oil inventories showed lower than expected demand for storage and oil- focused exchange trade-funds appeared to have finished selling June futures contracts. In Pakistan oil prices have been cut and reduce the price by at least 50 litres . This is very crucial during the current state of affairs due to the joblessness during COVID-19 . In this regard the government of Pakistan needs to be active and deliver a financial relief package to the poor and reduce the commodities prices . Barkatullah Turbat
3 May 17:18 • Pakistan Today • https://www.pakistantoday.com.pk/2020/05/03/plunging-oil-demands/Rating: 0.87
Designer Dame Zandra Rhodes reveals she sleeps in her make-up and never leaves the house without it - and admits she doesn't have eyebrows after she 'plucked them all out' in the Sixties
3 May 11:00
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Designer Dame Zandra Rhodes reveals she sleeps in her make-up and never leaves the house without it - and admits she doesn't have eyebrows after she 'plucked them all out' in the Sixties
She is as famous for her shocking pink bob and rainbow make-up as she is for dressing Princess Diana and a host of celebrities from Shirley Bassey to Nicole Richie. Now Dame Zandra Rhodes, 79, from Kent, has revealed how she is maintaining her striking image during lockdown. The fashion and textile designer, who is currently appearing in BBC1's The Real Marigold Hotel, said she never goes out out without a full face of make-up - and even keeps on when she goes to bed at night. She told Susannah Constantine in the latest video episode of My Wardrobe Malfunction: 'I never ever go out without make-up. 'I sleep with my make up on, I wash it in the morning, and then I make myself up again in the morning.' Speaking about her current look, she added: 'At the moment, I just have demure brown eyebrows,' while lifting up her fringe. 'I don't have eyebrows because in the 1960s I plucked them all out. 'I first of all had little glitter dots, then when it was punk I had long and short eyebrows. I've done lines all round my eyes, eyelashes. 'It's been a bit too long like this but I have to think it out or wait until I do another wonderful picture with someone and then I'll rework it.' With salons shut across the UK, Zandra has also been maintaining her bright pink hair herself while on lockdown. She said: 'I dye it myself. It's bleached and then I dye it myself and, when it looks like I've got too much grey, I touch it up, because I haven't got a hairdresser to do that bit. 'She would have a heart attack because it really does need a neat trim. She has a heart attack when she sees how I've trimmed my fringe. 'I have a stash of Pinkissimo dye and I think I use cyclamen and Pinkissimo mixed together. 'I sleep in a very ugly plastic hat and pull it off in the morning. If the grey shows, I dab it on and hope it looks all right.' The designer, whose partner Salah Hassanein died last year, also revealed that even she has the occasional wardrobe malfunction. 'I had a really serious malfunction,' she laughed. 'I lived part of the time in San Diego when my partner, who had been the President of Warner Bros worldwide, decided to retire. 'I went to this very grand ball. It was when I was doing very exotic crinolines and the top was all woven in ribbons and there was a big crinoline skirt. 'No sooner had I nearly got up to dance, than the whole of the zip went all the way down the back. Luckily I had a magical shawl. 'But I then had to say, "We're going to have to leave this very early and walk out backwards," because there was no way I could even hold the bodice. 'It was already flapping at the front. I just had to say, "Walk out very closely behind me and we'll go out the side of the room".'
3 May 11:00 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8281977/Designer-Dame-Zandra-Rhodes-reveals-sleeps-make-never-leaves-house-without-it.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
We'll Never Tire of Princess Charlotte's Many Adorable Facial Expressions
Just like her big brother Prince George, Princess Charlotte's personality shines through every time she makes a new appearance. The young princess and professional bridesmaid has definitely mastered the perfect princess wave, but she's just as likely to poke her tongue out or tease photographers as she is to pose for the perfect portrait . . . after all, royal or not, she's just a kid! The young royal can't hide what she's thinking, whether she's overjoyed at a polo match or overtired at Trooping the Colour. We've been lucky enough to witness many of Charlotte's sweet moments as she's gained confidence and begun to really ham it up when she spots royal photographers, flashing smirks, and poking out her tongue in the grand tradition of second-born royals we've come to know and love (we're looking at you, Princess Margaret, Princess Anne, and Prince Harry). Keep reading for a look back at some of Charlotte's most memorable facial expressions!
2 May 18:25 • POPSUGAR Celebrity • https://www.popsugar.com/celebrity/Princess-Charlotte-Facial-Expressions-Photos-46493596Rating: 1.91
Anushka Sharma: One Of The Underrated Style Icons Of Bollywood- A Quick Quarantine Saturday Read
Ever seen closely how Anushka Sharma carries herself? Followed her style mantra? If not, then this would be an ideal piece to read on a locked down Saturday! I once asked singer Kanika Kapoor (Yes, the one who has become more famous for her COVID-19 case than Baby Doll Main Sone Di) during one of our chats on fashion and style, that who according to her is the most underrated actress when it comes to vogue, and she named Anushka Sharma. Indeed, she is. Anushka Sharma's styling is carefree, effortless and very you and me. During travel, you will not see her dress up for an 'Airport Look', while chilling with her husband at home, you will not see her dressed because the picture will go on social media. On red caprets, you will not see her attempt a look because it's in trend or because she has to make a statement. Anushka is fierce when it comes to donning what she feels like wearing at that moment. Most of her red carpet outfits have always landed in my Best Dressed list and guess what? I realised that while writing this piece- anymore example of the actress' understated fashion icon image? As someone who likes to follow fashion and trends, names like Deepika Padukone, Sonam Kapoor, Priyanka Chopra Jonas, pop up high on my list of fashionistas, however, if you ask me about relatable styling, Anushka Sharma and Alia Bhatt are two names which top that list. Yes, Anushka does have her own brand of clothes, Nush, yet the actress has never presented herself as the epitome of vogue. Wonder if that's got to do with the many other roles she plays in her real life- an actor, producer, wife, animal welfare woker. Nonetheless, when you think of Fashion icons from Bollywood, trust this lady's name to be there for sure because Anushka has made a mark for herself in the segment quietly but strongly! Image Source:- Instagram/ anushkasharma
2 May 10:42 • SPOTBOYE • http://spotboye.com/fashion/fashion-news/anushka-sharma-one-of-the-underrated-style-icons-of-bollywood-a-quick-quarantine-saturday-read/5ead4629de28444fe9eb6389Rating: 0.72
The best deal you'll see today is the Google Home for an insanely low $29 everywhere
3 May 12:01
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The best deal you'll see today is the Google Home for an insanely low $29 everywhere
Sure, the Google Home smart speaker has been around for a while at this point, but it is Google's quintessential smart speaker. It all started with the Home. Now you can get it for the same price as the Mini version! The Google Home is down to $29 at several retailers including Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and more. You can even find it this low at Google. Most of these retailers require at least $35 in the cart for free shipping, so you're going to pay an extra $5 to $7 unless you can order it for in-store pickup (or order more than one). This deal price is honestly shocking considering we shared a deal just a couple days ago where it was down to $47, and we thought that was pretty good. I can't imagine this will last long and it looks like some places are already selling out. Get it while you can. Sign up for ExpressVPN today and save 49% Deal available at Best Buy, Walmart, and other spots. Insane low price. The speaker has Google Assistant built in and can control hundreds of third party devices. Use it to make and receive phone calls hands free. Works with Chromecast for streaming. Google Assistant is the brains within the cylinder and can accomplish all sorts of tasks for you. Just ask and Google will answer. Check the weather, stream music, get traffic information, hear the news, make phone calls, control compatible smart home devices, and more. There are a bunch of devices that work with Google Assistant and there's so much that Google Assistant can do. If you're all-in on the Google and Android ecosystem, buying into the Google smart home system is a no-brainer and the Google Home makes for a great starter device for your living room or kitchen. The Google Home is the original Assistant, and it's still a great smart speaker. With excellent sound quality and generous amounts of bass, plus intuitive touch controls, sensitive microphones and a minimalist look, this OG is still the one to get if music is your thing and you don't want to splash on the more expensive Google Home Max. Be sure to check out our original Google Home review where we praised its physical design and tight integration with your Google account. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more.
3 May 12:01 • Android Central • https://www.androidcentral.com/google-home-smart-speaker-down-insanely-low-29-everywhere?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+androidcentral+%28Android+Central%29Rating: 1.90
The best deal you'll see today is the Google Home for an insanely low $29
Sure, the Google Home smart speaker has been around for a while at this point, but it is Google's quintessential smart speaker. It all started with the Home. Now you can get it for the same price as the Mini version! The Google Home is down to $29 at several retailers including Target, Best Buy, Walmart, and more. You can even find it this low at Google. Most of these retailers require at least $35 in the cart for free shipping, so you're going to pay an extra $5 to $7 unless you can order it for in-store pickup (or order more than one). This deal price is honestly shocking considering we shared a deal just a couple days ago where it was down to $47, and we thought that was pretty good. I can't imagine this will last long and it looks like some places are already selling out. Get it while you can. Best online learning tools for kids: ABCmouse, Reading IQ, & more Deal available at Best Buy, Walmart, and other spots. Insane low price. The speaker has Google Assistant built in and can control hundreds of third party devices. Use it to make and receive phone calls hands free. Works with Chromecast for streaming. Google Assistant is the brains within the cylinder and can accomplish all sorts of tasks for you. Just ask and Google will answer. Check the weather, stream music, get traffic information, hear the news, make phone calls, control compatible smart home devices, and more. There are a bunch of devices that work with Google Assistant and there's so much that Google Assistant can do. If you're all-in on the Google and Android ecosystem, buying into the Google smart home system is a no-brainer and the Google Home makes for a great starter device for your living room or kitchen. The Google Home is the original Assistant, and it's still a great smart speaker. With excellent sound quality and generous amounts of bass, plus intuitive touch controls, sensitive microphones and a minimalist look, this OG is still the one to get if music is your thing and you don't want to splash on the more expensive Google Home Max. Be sure to check out our original Google Home review where we praised its physical design and tight integration with your Google account. We may earn a commission for purchases using our links. Learn more. LIVE PODCAST Join us for the latest Windows Central Video Podcast We're live with the Windows Central Video Podcast today at 2:30pm ET, make sure you're there! All summer long Geoff Keighley announces Summer Game Fest, 4 months of news and more Geoff Keighley, host of the Game Awards and Opening Night Live at Gamescom, has announced a new four month event called Summer Game Fest. This event will feature news, demos and more from multiple publishers across the gaming industry. 🎓👩🎓👨🎓 Schools can broadcast graduations on Microsoft Teams for a limited time With many people staying inside during the graduation season, Microsoft is expanding Teams to accommodate. Schools will be able to live stream events, such as graduations, to up to 20,000 people. Buyers Guide These external monitors are a perfect addition to your Surface Book 2 Thinking about adding some screen real estate to your Surface Book 2? Check out these external monitors that will fill the need for high resolution, smooth gaming, or budget pricing.
3 May 12:02 • Windows Central • https://www.windowscentral.com/google-home-smart-speaker-down-insanely-low-29-everywhere?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+wmexperts+%28Windows+Central%29Rating: 2.16
Google's original Home smart speaker is on sale for $30
It’s quite common to see deals on smart speakers, but they’re not often as tempting as this one. Best Buy is selling the original Google Home for just $30, or less than a third of its official $100 price. That’s better than the $50 from not long ago, and puts it at the same price that you’d currently pay for the considerably less capable Nest Mini. You can find the speaker for ever-so-slightly less at the Google Store if you’d rather go direct. Buy Google Home on Best Buy - $30 Buy Google Home on Google Store - $29 The Home’s design may seem a bit old compared to newer Google smart speakers, but it’s still capable. It should sound better overall than the Nest Mini, and its customizable base lets you match it to your decor. Apart from that, the Home shares many things in common with more recent counterparts. Google Assistant remains a powerful AI helper that has improved over time (particularly for smart home integration), and it’s still a good choice if you like to cast audio from Google-friendly services. You won’t get stunning audio quality or a display, but at $30 it’s a better value than just about anything else in Google’s lineup — and rival speakers like Amazon’s Echo, for that matter.
3 May 18:41 • Engadget • https://www.engadget.com/google-home-speaker-30-sale-172505350.htmlRating: 2.92
Eight civilians injured in explosion in Kashmir’s Handwara
3 May 15:32
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4 articles
Weight: 2.01
Importance: 2.03
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:45
Average US: 1.5
Weighted average US: 2.4584092449684287
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 22.75
Weighted average IN: 30.83170143320241
Eight civilians injured in explosion in Kashmir’s Handwara
At least eight civilians were injured after an explosive device went off in the air at Ahgam, Handwara, in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday afternoon. Read: Colonel, Major, two soldiers and police officer killed in terrorist encounter in Kashmir’s Handwara Local news gathering agency KNO quoting sources said that an explosive device exploded at Ahgam area in Zachaldara block, which is five Km away from the encounter spot where five security forces personnel, including a colonel, a major and a police officer, were killed earlier in the morning. Eight people have sustained injuries and were being evacuated for treatment. A police official said that the details related to the incident were being gathered.
3 May 15:32 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/eight-civilians-injured-in-explosion-in-kashmir-s-handwara-833010.htmlRating: 2.25
At Least 7 Injured in Blast Near Site of Counter-Terror Operation in Handwara, Kashmir
New Delhi (Sputnik): Earlier in the day, five security personnel were killed by terrorists in Handwara, a town in India's Jammu and Kashmir union territory. India has accused Pakistan of instigating terror activities in Kashmir; Pakistan has denied the charges and insisted the local Kashmiris are fighting for their independence. At least seven people have been injured in a mysterious blast which took place near the site of an anti-terrorist operation in the town of Handwara in the Indian union territory of Jammu and Kashmir on Sunday. Local media reported that the blast took place while civilians were cleaning a drain in the village of Ahgam. All the injured were taken to the sub-district hospital in Handwara for treatment. Earlier in the day, five security personnel and two terrorists were killed in the area after overnight encounter. Police Inspector-General Vijay Kumar has claimed that top Lashkar-e Taiba commander Haider from Pakistan was killed in the encounter. Also during the anti-terrorism operation, a team of five, including two officers from the 21 Rashtriya Rifles, two soldiers, and a Jammu and Kashmir police entered a house to evacuate civilians on Saturday afternoon and were killed. Indian Defence Minister Rajnath Singh said that the loss of Indian soldiers and security personnel in Handwara is deeply disturbing and painful. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said that Commanding Officer Ashutosh Sharma leading from the front along with other personnel of the unit and Jammu and Kashmir Police have laid down their lives, "living upto the motto; Service Before Self". While peace prevailed for several months following August 2019, when India divided Jammu and Kashmir, revoking its statehood and quasi-independent constitutional status, terrorists activities increased in April 2020. According to police records, at least 17 terror incidents took place in April alone, in which 29 terrorists were killed and 11 security personnel lost their lives.
3 May 11:45 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/military/202005031079180558-at-least-7-injured-in-blast-near-site-of-counter-terror-operation-in-handwara-kashmir-/Rating: 3.96
Colonel, Major killed in action in J&K’s Handwara; 2 terrorists shot dead in encounter
A colonel, one major and two soldiers of the Indian Army were killed along with a police officer during an operation to flush terrorists out of a house in Handwara in north Kashmir, sources said on Sunday. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter that began around 3:30pm on Saturday in Chanjmulla area of Handwara. Sources said Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj, a Lance Naik, a rifleman and police sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi were killed after the hours-long firefight with terrorists holed up in a house. The commanding officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles along with four others had entered the house to evacuate the trapped people after the firing had stopped for an hour. Officials said their bodies have been recovered from the encounter site. The civilians have been rescued, they added. Throughout the night as the gun battle raged, several Pakistani accounts on Facebook and Telegram ran propaganda against the operation. An official, who asked not to be named, had said earlier that approximately four terrorists were holed up in the house. The encounter began on Saturday afternoon after the army and police launched a joint operation in the forests of Rajwar following a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the area. The terrorists emerged and hid inside a house. Teams of the Special Operation Group of police had surrounded the house and lights were erected around the area where the encounter was underway, a senior security official said, asking not to be named.
3 May 03:04 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/4-army-personnel-die-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-north-kashmir-s-handwara/story-YY9C1aMN7mWthL2UFC5JlL.htmlRating: 0.30
Four security personnel ‘trapped’ in house as J&K encounter on after 8 hours
TWO senior Army personnel, including a Colonel-rank officer and a Major, are believed to be trapped in a house with militants at Handwara in Kashmir, following an encounter that was on for eight hours as of late Saturday night. There was no statement from the Army or police on the officers “stuck inside”. A senior officer told The Sunday Express that apart from the two Army officers, a J&K Police officer and another security personnel had “got stuck in the same room” as the militants, two of whom are suspected to be Pakistanis. “We have lost touch with the team,” he said. The gunfight started around 3.30 pm on Saturday in Chanjumullah area of Handwara, falling in Kupwara district of North Kashmir. A senior police officer said the militants were found hiding in a cowhshed. The Army also announced Saturday morning that two of the three Armymen injured in cross-border shelling in Uri on Friday had succumbed to their injuries. In another incident, two militants were killed in a gunbattle in Dangerpora area of South Kashmir’s Pulwama Saturday. The incident led to stone-pelting by local residents. CRPF officers said that while the troops were leaving, a grenade was lobbed at them, leaving one personnel with minor injuries.
3 May 01:51 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/jk-handwara-encounter-security-personnel-trapped-6391181/Rating: 0.30
Rashford can reach the level of Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d’Or, says Darmian
3 May 18:06
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5 articles
Weight: 2.01
Importance: 2.01
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:06
Average US: 9.980000000000002
Weighted average US: 11.997188713145174
Average GB: 9.98
Weighted average GB: 11.056345207602382
Average IN: 16.98
Weighted average IN: 20.770235534754292
Rashford can reach the level of Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d’Or, says Darmian
Marcus Rashford can reach the same level as Kylian Mbappe and go on to win the Ballon d'Or, according to former Manchester United team-mate Matteo Darmian. Rashford has enjoyed his most productive season in terms of goals in 2019-20, scoring 19 in all competitions for the Red Devils despite being sidelined since January due to a back injury. The England international burst onto the scene early in 2016 under Louis van Gaal, finding the net twice on both his Europa League and Premier League debuts after coming through the club's academy system. Darmian, however, is not surprised at the 22-year-old's continued development since then, having seen at close quarters just how good the forward is. "I still remember Marcus Rashford's first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday. I immediately thought, 'wow, this is an incredible player'," he told the Guardian. "He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me." The Italian defender, who returned to his homeland last September by signing for Parma, feels the England international can still get even better, too. Darmian feels Rashford has the potential to match Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe, the pair perhaps competing for individual honours for many years to come. "If he [Rashford] continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d'Or winner. I'm convinced of this," he said. "He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he's very young and can still improve. For me, he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d’Or for years to come." The full-back worked under Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho during his time at Old Trafford, as well as current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "I can only speak well about Solskjaer, believe me," Darmian said of the Norwegian. "I would give him a long-term contract. "He's a very prepared coach and Manchester United has started this project, this journey, with many young players, many British players and they will continue with this project. "Because of the person I got to know, I hope Solskjaer has success at the club." Published 03 May 2020, 23:36 IST
3 May 18:06 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/rashford-can-reach-the-level-of-mbappe-and-compete-for-the-ballon-d-or-says-darmian?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Manchester United's Marcus Rashford can match Kylian Mbappe, says Matteo Darmian
Marcus Rashford has the potential to compete with Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe for the Ballon d'Or in the near future, according to former Manchester United defender Matteo Darmian. The 22-year-old is one of the success stories of the Red Devils' academy and has flourished into one of the Premier League's best forwards ever since bursting onto the scene in 2016. Darmian, at United between 2015 and 2019, recalls how impressive the youngster was in his first training session at the club's Carrington base and predicts his former team-mate can reach the levels of World Cup winner Mbappe. "I still remember Marcus Rashford's first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday," he told The Guardian. "I immediately thought: 'Wow, this is an incredible player'. "He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me. If he continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d'Or winner. I'm convinced of this. "He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he's very young and can still improve. For me he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d'Or for years to come." The 30-year-old left Old Trafford last summer and signed a four-year deal with Serie A side Parma, returning to his native Italy four years after departing for England, although he has plenty of sweet memories of his time in the Premier League. Darmian was relegated to the bench ever since Ole Gunnar Solskjaer took the reins in December 2019 but despite the lack of playing time he only has praise for the United boss and has backed him to steer the club back to glory days. "I can only speak well about Solksjær, believe me," Darmian says. "I would give him a long-term contract. "He's a very prepared coach and Manchester United has started this project, this journey, with many young players, many British players and they will continue with this project. Because of the person I got to know, I hope Solskjær has success at the club. "I remember my first game for United being an incredible emotion. I felt like a child. Old Trafford is something fantastic, there's a reason that it's called the theatre of dreams. "My debut was perfect because we beat Tottenham at home and I heard the fans screaming my name: a wonderful feeling. I felt a lot of pride but also the responsibility to play for one of the best clubs in the world."
3 May 18:31 • Sky Sports • https://www.skysports.com/football/news/11667/11982606/manchester-uniteds-marcus-rashford-can-match-kylian-mbappe-says-matteo-darmianRating: 2.48
Manchester United fans react to Marcus Rashford and Kylian Mbappe comparison
Matteo Darmian claims that Marcus Rashford can reach the levels of Paris Saint-Germain ace Kylian Mbappe and challenge for the Ballon d'Or. Rashford is United's top scorer this season, with 19 goals in all competitions before a back injury cut short his season prior to the postponement of the Premier League campaign. Darmian left United in the summer transfer window to return to Italy with Parma but has fond memories of playing alongside Rashford. "I still remember Marcus Rashford’s first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday," he told The Guardian. "I immediately thought: ‘wow, this is an incredible player’. He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me. "If he continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d’Or winner. I’m convinced of this. He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he’s very young and can still improve. For me he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappé and compete for the Ballon d’Or for years to come." Some United fans believe Rashford has already reached the same level of Mbappe as he has proved his ability in a much tougher league. United great Rio Ferdinand recently pinpointed Rashford as a player United should look to build around in the coming years and referenced Mbappe in his argument. "Rashford can be up there with the best 100 per cent, because he's got mad talent," Ferdinand told The Beautiful Game podcast. "From a kid, I've seen him play, whether it was up front or wide, or drifting about, he's always had mad talent and Man United have always known. It's whether you can translate that to being in the first-team and he's shown he can do that. He's just been unfortunate he's been in a team that's been in transition ever since he's been in the first-team. "It's very different to, say, Mbappe coming into a Paris Saint-Germain team that's going to win it every year, fighting for trophies on all fronts, the confidence levels are there, there's no finding out period with any of the players there. They're a consistent, well-oiled machine in their league and that league's not as hard either, but Mbappe's major. "It seems like Ole was getting the consistency in the squad and that was when [Rashford] wasn't playing, which was the disappointing part. So fingers crossed, if he can get back to normal he can get back to some consistency and they can start trying to get back to the heights of where Man United were at before. And then I think we'll see more from Marcus, because if I'm Man United I'm building it all around him."
3 May 15:25 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/rashford-mbappe-man-utd-news-18192468Rating: 1.15
Man Utd star Marcus Rashford tipped to fight Kylian Mbappe for Ballon d'Or
Marcus Rashford has been backed to take on Paris Saint-Germain star Kylian Mbappe for future Ballon d'Or awards by former teammate Matteo Darmian. Mbappe, 21, is arguably the most exciting up-and-coming prospect in Europe thanks to his explosive performances for PSG and France - who he spearheaded to victory at the 2018 World Cup. The former Monaco man picked up the award for the Best Young Player at the tournament and he has continued to shine on the big stage, scoring or assisting 10 goals in seven appearances in this season's Champions League. But Darmian - who spent four years training with Rashford before moving to Serie A club Parma last summer - believes the England international has what it takes to challenge Mbappe. "I still remember Marcus Rashford's first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday," Darmian told The Guardian. "I immediately thought: 'Wow, this is an incredible player.' "He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me. If he continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d'Or winner. "I'm convinced of this. He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he's very young and can still improve. For me he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d'Or for years to come." Mbappe finished sixth in the 2019 Ballon d'Or voting while Rashford was not among the 30 nominees. However, the Red Devils academy product was enjoying an excellent 2019/20 season before suffering a serious back injury in January. The 22-year-old scored 19 goals and provided five assists in all competitions and is expected to be fit for when the season resumes as the coronavirus pandemic eases.
3 May 14:33 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/man-utd-star-marcus-rashford-21966811Rating: 2.39
Rashford can reach the level of Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d’Or, says Darmian
Marcus Rashford can reach the same level as Kylian Mbappe and go on to win the Ballon d'Or, according to former Manchester United team-mate Matteo Darmian. Rashford has enjoyed his most productive season in terms of goals in 2019-20, scoring 19 in all competitions for the Red Devils despite being sidelined since January due to a back injury. The England international burst onto the scene early in 2016 under Louis van Gaal, finding the net twice on both his Europa League and Premier League debuts after coming through the club's academy system. Darmian, however, is not surprised at the 22-year-old's continued development since then, having seen at close quarters just how good the forward is. "I still remember Marcus Rashford's first session with the senior squad like it was yesterday. I immediately thought, 'wow, this is an incredible player'," he told the Guardian. "He did so many impressive things for a player of his age and the way he improved in every detail really impressed me." The Italian defender, who returned to his homeland last September by signing for Parma, feels the England international can still get even better, too. Darmian feels Rashford has the potential to match Paris Saint-Germain superstar Mbappe, the pair perhaps competing for individual honours for many years to come. "If he [Rashford] continues to work the way he has done so far he can be a Ballon d'Or winner. I'm convinced of this," he said. "He impressed me the most of all the players at United and he's very young and can still improve. For me, he can reach the level of Kylian Mbappe and compete for the Ballon d’Or for years to come." The full-back worked under Van Gaal and Jose Mourinho during his time at Old Trafford, as well as current boss Ole Gunnar Solskjaer. "I can only speak well about Solskjaer, believe me," Darmian said of the Norwegian. "I would give him a long-term contract. "He's a very prepared coach and Manchester United has started this project, this journey, with many young players, many British players and they will continue with this project. "Because of the person I got to know, I hope Solskjaer has success at the club."
3 May 00:00 • SportsMax • https://sportsmax.tv/index.php/football/international/item/61848-rashford-can-reach-the-level-of-mbappe-and-compete-for-the-ballon-d-or-says-darmianRating: 0.30
If You’re Going to Open Your State, Please Collect Data
3 May 12:00
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6 articles
Weight: 2.01
Importance: 2.02
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 12:00
Average US: 47.98333333333333
Weighted average US: 50.25231521144508
Average GB: 0.09999999999999999
Weighted average GB: 0.314009535025211
Average IN: 2.783333333333333
Weighted average IN: 5.662190114216777
If You’re Going to Open Your State, Please Collect Data
As April turned to May, more than a dozen states opted to relax coronavirus shutdowns and at least partly reopen their economies. This is not a public health decision, but an economic and social one. Still, they can contribute to public health by providing data all 50 states can use. Nobody knows exactly what level of restrictions we need to keep Covid-19 from overwhelming hospitals. Georgia, Colorado, Texas and others are conducting a natural experiment. While some scientists fret that reopening too soon could increase infections nationwide, these early birds can still do us a favor: A promise to be our guinea pigs, regularly testing random samples of their populations and providing other kinds of data that will help us understand how the disease spreads. Even without an organized effort, they will be under the microscope. On a podcast for the New England Journal of Medicine, editor-in-chief Eric Rubin and deputy editor Lindsey Baden discussed how little we still know about the efficacy of the patchwork of stay-at-home and lockdown rules. In the United States, we haven’t even agreed on the goal of these shutdowns: Is it keeping case numbers as low as possible? Or just preventing hospitals from exceeding capacity? The answer may differ from one community to another, and could determine how strict the restrictions should be. Even if Covid-19 cases do rise in these reopening states, it could have a benefit: A better way to test vaccines. Experts on vaccine development say there are no shortage of people asking to volunteer for human studies, but it’s hard to test vaccine candidates on locked down populations. To know if a vaccine works, a certain number of people must be exposed to infection. In mid-April, public health experts had argued that states that want to reopen should wait until new infections rates have fallen for 14 straight days, and should also have the testing and contact tracing capacity to quarantine those likely to be infected. That could entail Americans getting several million tests every day. But testing won’t ramp up to the level needed any time soon, says Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota. Beyond the current inadequacies with tests, which he wrote about this week in the New York Times, he wants to address a misunderstanding about the benefit of lockdown-type policies. They don’t prevent infections — only delay them. The main benefit for society is that by slowing down the rate of serious illness, we can keep our hospitals from being overwhelmed. Beyond that, as I’ve said in previous columns, there’s also an upward learning curve so getting sick months from now rather than now means a higher standard of care. Osterholm is right that it’s unrealistic for entire populations to remain locked up for 16-20 months. The reality is that this pandemic will only end when some 70% of the population develops immunity — thus creating the so-called herd immunity that can starve the virus of hosts. “The bottom line is we’re going to get there,” he said. We might get help from a vaccine, or we might not. But that’s the end result. After various regions allow more activity, he said it’s possible we’ll see a steady stream of cases, or small peaks and valleys, or we’ll see a large second peak. A second peak was predicted by epidemiologist Marc Lipsitch and colleagues, in a model published in Science in mid-April. One strategy outlined in the paper was to let some herd immunity build up over the summer while using whatever limited testing capacity we have to do random sampling and monitor for the start of the next wave. Under that plan, we’d all have to prepare to go back into lockdown before that wave got too high. Others, including Osterholm, have been contemplating a way to protect those who are likely to get seriously ill, while allowing more freedom for those who are at very low risk — though not no risk. This has been Sweden’s strategy, and while it has its detractors, they have decided on a long-term, sustainable strategy which may win in the long haul in reducing overall pain and suffering. As Osterholm has been saying, we’re currently only in about the second inning of a nine-inning ballgame. The fact that some countries and states are behaving differently isn’t all bad — just as long as they keep tracking critical data, and offering it to scientists who can do a systematic evaluation of their results. This column does not necessarily reflect the opinion of the editorial board or Bloomberg LP and its owners. To contact the author of this story:Faye Flam at fflam1@bloomberg.net To contact the editor responsible for this story:Sarah Green Carmichael at sgreencarmic@bloomberg.net
3 May 12:00 • Bloomberg.com • https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2020-05-03/as-texas-georgia-end-lockdowns-they-should-share-covid-19-dataRating: 4.04
'We are relaxing lockdown to level 2' - is WHO even trying to stop a covid-19 epidemic here
"We have gradually lifted lockdown restrictions in some sectors such as mining and the marketing of tobacco. Noticing that there is now a gradual increase of infections, the lockdown will continue for the next 14 days, however, relaxed to Level 2," said President Mnangagwa.What is clear here is the lockdown is being applied at random! There was no rational reason for imposing a total lockdown on 30 March and now the lockdown is being eased for no rational reason either. To stop corona virus from getting in the country and, once in, the steps required to stop it spreading must be based on accurate information on valid corona virus cases data.We all know that corona virus originated in China and the only way to spread it from China to another country is someone with the virus bringing it into the country! New Zealand is one of the countries that imposed a strict 14-day self-isolation on all coming into the country. Those who could not self-isolate for whatever reason were put in quarantine.Zimbabwe's self-isolation policy of new arrivals was a laissez faire, to say the least. If the new arrivals have no high temperature and any other corona virus symptoms they were allowed into the country, mix freely, advised to self-isolate as soon as practical. Only those who showed corona virus symptoms were to be detained, tested and, if positive, placed in strict self-isolation. This was in theory, in practice even those with symptoms were allowed to go free. The late Zororo Makamba had the symptoms and he used his political influence to be allowed to go free.The only way to be sure the virus had not sneaked in and was spreading was to make sure as many people with the corona virus like symptoms were tested, especially those who had been outside the country or in touch with someone who had. "Test, trace, isolate and treat!" World Health Organisation (WHO) advised.When Zimbabwe imposed the 3-week total lockdown on 30 March 2020 the country had 7 confirmed cases of covid-19 and one death and had carried out less than 200 tests. How anyone can ever justify a total lockdown on the population of 15 million on the basis of such data beggars belief!The regime promised to ramp up its testing during the lockdown from 40 test or so a day to 1 000 per day. The country received 50 000 test kits. At the end of the 3-week total lockdown, the country had 25 confirmed covid-19 cases and had done only 3 308 tests – a far cry from 21 000 tests promised! The regime reduced the lockdown rules and imposed a 2-week level 3 lockdown. At the end of the 2-week level 3 lockdown the number of cases was 40 and with less than 7 000 tests carried out – less than 20% of the expected 35 000 tests. People have asked why Zimbabwe has not been testing and all they ever got was the usual stone-silence from the regime. There is no doubt that this Zanu PF regime's failure to test and get accurate data on the virus is putting the whole nation at increased risk of the corona virus spreading just as China did by being secretive at the outbreak of the virus. I call upon the World Health Organisation (WHO) to carry out its own investigation of the mysterious malaria cases in Zimbabwe, why the country is not testing as recommended, why the Zanu PF regime is not releasing test results, etc. WHO has a representative in Zimbabwe and it has donated millions of dollars in cash and equipment to Zimbabwe to help fight the corona virus. There is no doubt the whole world would have been spared the economic devastation and human misery and deaths corona virus was wrecked on us all if China had not silence Dr Li Wenliang. WHO has been rightly criticised for not carrying out a thorough and independent investigation on corona virus as soon as it was clear China was not being honest, transparent and truthful about the virus. It is clear that this Zimbabwe government is not being honest, transparent and truthful on how widespread the corona virus is the country. Pretending that some with corona virus has malaria, for example, is dangerous in that many people are being put at unnecessary risk. WHO has the mandate and duty to safe guard the health of us all, so deadly diseases do not sweep a nation to become a epidemic or sweep nations to became a pandemic. WHO has a duty of care to the people of Zimbabwe, not the country's corrupt ruling elite, to the nation has the correct and up to date covid-19 figures.
3 May 08:55 • Bulawayo24 News • https://bulawayo24.com/index-id-opinion-sc-national-byo-184704.htmlRating: 0.30
Most states fall short of coronavirus testing thresholds | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
ATLANTA >> As more states begin to relax their coronavirus lockdowns, most are falling short of the minimum levels of testing suggested by the federal government and recommended by a variety of public health researchers, an Associated Press analysis has found. Three months into an unprecedented public health emergency, the White House has largely resisted calls for a coordinated plan to conduct the millions of tests experts say are needed to contain the virus. What federal officials outlined recently isn’t even an official benchmark, and AP’s analysis found that a majority of states are not yet meeting it. With no specific guidelines, states are left to figure out what a successful testing program should be while they simultaneously try to reopen their shattered economies. If states don’t have robust testing, public health experts say they will be unable to detect outbreaks quickly enough to contain them, which could lead to more shutdowns. “It’s dangerous and irresponsible,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health specialist at Georgetown University. In many states, testing has been limited to hospitalized patients, high-risk individuals and front-line workers. But most public health experts agree that containing the virus will require a massive expansion of testing that eventually includes millions of patients without symptoms, which is not happening now. A testing blueprint released Monday by the Trump administration lacked any metrics state officials could use to make informed decisions. Instead, the document made clear that states are responsible for testing, saying the federal government is the “supplier of last resort.” The closest the White House has come to issuing a benchmark does not actually appear in the document. At a recent briefing, senior administration officials said the government would provide each state with enough tests, swabs and related materials to screen at least 2.6% of their populations in May and June. Those hit harder by the outbreak would be eligible for additional assistance. It was unclear how the 2.6% figure was reached. When asked about it, officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services described it as 2% of state populations per month without explaining the discrepancy. Officials also did not respond to questions about whether the administration has a target for how many daily tests should be done nationwide or when it would issue more details. Only about 40% of states currently meet even the 2% testing threshold, according to AP’s analysis. The percentage is expected to rise as states increase their testing capabilities. The AP based the monthly testing rate for each state on the average number of new daily tests over the most recent 7 days. The data is from the COVID Tracking Project and includes counts up to April 30th. A White House spokesman said Friday that the administration’s testing threshold is only a suggestion and that states are ultimately responsible for deciding how to reopen in a “safe and responsible manner.” The administration says it is working to expand testing and has been highlighting plans first announced in March for additional testing sites at retail pharmacy chains. States that do not meet the administration’s testing guidance, based on their current screening rates, include some that have been moving into the early stages of reopening, such as Colorado, South Carolina and Texas. Georgia, which has moved aggressively to ease restrictions and lift its stay-at-home order, is just under the 2% threshold. Louisiana and Kansas, where Republican lawmakers have been putting pressure on Democratic governors to reopen, are falling short, according to the AP analysis. In Kansas, the governor and top health administrator expect to reach the 2% mark this month. Florida, which announced its first phase of reopening will start next week, also falls short but has said it will be able to test 30,000 to 40,000 people a day if needed. Michigan, where the Republican-led legislature has sued the Democratic governor over the state’s stay-at-home order, is on track to test 2.2% of its population. Former health officials and experts were critical of the testing blueprint and said the 2.6% or 2% population metric was too vague and didn’t take into account guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control on who should be tested. “Why don’t they say, ‘We’ll test everybody with any symptoms of coronavirus and all their contacts?’” said Dr. James Curran, a former assistant U.S. surgeon general who worked at CDC for 25 years. “If that amounts to 2% that’s fine, but the guidelines are not to test 2%. The guidelines are to test who needs it.” Many experts already say the national testing rate falls short of what is needed to safely ease social distancing guidelines. Researchers at Harvard have calculated that the U.S. needs to be testing roughly 500,000 people per day before considering easing restrictions this month. That’s a nearly 150% increase from the recent daily tally of approximately 200,000 tests. “I’ve described it and I still describe it as an absolute bare minimum,” said Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. More than half of states are not testing their populations at the daily rate recommended by Jha and his colleagues. The Harvard team developed their statistics in mid-April and noted that projections for U.S. cases have increased since then. Many states hardest hit by the crisis failed to reach the team’s testing recommendations, even if they were already testing more than 2% of their populations, according to an AP analysis using state-by-state figures provided by Harvard. States falling short of the Harvard numbers include many of the epicenters of the outbreak, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Jha and his colleagues based their testing targets, in part, on the number of tests needed to screen enough people to push positive results below 10%, the level that the World Health Organization considers sufficient to contain the outbreak. More than 16% of U.S. tests nationwide are positive for the virus, according to figures compiled by the COVID Tracking Project website. That compares with a rate of about 3% in South Korea, a country praised for its aggressive testing. Former CDC director Tom Frieden has recommended double the current testing levels. He said the U.S. should be testing at minimum 400,000 people a day. Officials in at least 20 states have indicated their testing capacity is not adequate and said they are taking steps to address this, according to a review by the AP. But there is little consensus among states on how many people should be tested or whether that should include those with no symptoms. Georgia, where in-person dining at restaurants is now permitted with restrictions, has not said how many people it would like to test but recently touted its ability to test over 20,000 people on a single day and has encouraged more people to get tested. New Jersey, which has a slightly smaller population and a higher number of COVID-19 cases, has said it would need to conduct 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day to reopen. Ohio wants to increase testing from 7,200 per day to 22,000 by May 27. Washington state, which has seen one of the largest U.S. outbreaks, has reported averaging 4,650 tests a day and wants to do more than 22,000 but lacks the necessary supplies. Most states have convened advisory panels to help in setting guidelines, but they run the gamut in terms of expertise and will result in a patchwork of policies that experts say may be ineffective in containing a virus that doesn’t respect state borders. “Treading water on testing is not going to get us out of this,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a disaster preparedness expert who helped lead the Obama administration response to Ebola.
3 May 01:45 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/02/breaking-news/most-states-fall-short-of-coronavirus-testing-thresholds/Rating: 0.30
Most States Don't Meet Coronavirus Testing Threshold: AP
ATLANTA (AP) — As more states begin to relax their coronavirus lockdowns, most are falling short of the minimum levels of testing suggested by the federal government and recommended by a variety of public health researchers, an Associated Press analysis has found. Three months into an unprecedented public health emergency, the White House has largely resisted calls for a coordinated plan to conduct the millions of tests experts say are needed to contain the virus. What federal officials outlined recently isn’t even an official benchmark, and AP’s analysis found that a majority of states are not yet meeting it. With no specific guidelines, states are left to figure out what a successful testing program should be while they simultaneously try to reopen their shattered economies. If states don’t have robust testing, public health experts say they will be unable to detect outbreaks quickly enough to contain them, which could lead to more shutdowns. “It’s dangerous and irresponsible,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health specialist at Georgetown University. In many states, testing has been limited to hospitalized patients, high-risk individuals and front-line workers. But most public health experts agree that containing the virus will require a massive expansion of testing that eventually includes millions of patients without symptoms, which is not happening now. A testing blueprint released Monday by the Trump administration lacked any metrics state officials could use to make informed decisions. Instead, the document made clear that states are responsible for testing, saying the federal government is the “supplier of last resort.” The closest the White House has come to issuing a benchmark does not actually appear in the document. At a recent briefing, senior administration officials said the government would provide each state with enough tests, swabs and related materials to screen at least 2.6% of their populations in May and June. Those hit harder by the outbreak would be eligible for additional assistance. It was unclear how the 2.6% figure was reached. When asked about it, officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services described it as 2% of state populations per month without explaining the discrepancy. Officials also did not respond to questions about whether the administration has a target for how many daily tests should be done nationwide or when it would issue more details. Only about 40% of states currently meet even the 2% testing threshold, according to AP’s analysis. The percentage is expected to rise as states increase their testing capabilities. The AP based the monthly testing rate for each state on the average number of new daily tests over the most recent 7 days. The data is from the COVID Tracking Project and includes counts up to April 30th. A White House spokesman said Friday that the administration’s testing threshold is only a suggestion and that states are ultimately responsible for deciding how to reopen in a “safe and responsible manner.” The administration says it is working to expand testing and has been highlighting plans first announced in March for additional testing sites at retail pharmacy chains. States that do not meet the administration’s testing guidance, based on their current screening rates, include some that have been moving into the early stages of reopening, such as Colorado, South Carolina and Texas. Georgia, which has moved aggressively to ease restrictions and lift its stay-at-home order, is just under the 2% threshold. Louisiana and Kansas, where Republican lawmakers have been putting pressure on Democratic governors to reopen, are falling short, according to the AP analysis. In Kansas, the governor and top health administrator expect to reach the 2% mark this month. Florida, which announced its first phase of reopening will start next week, also falls short but has said it will be able to test 30,000 to 40,000 people a day if needed. Michigan, where the Republican-led legislature has sued the Democratic governor over the state’s stay-at-home order, is on track to test 2.2% of its population. Former health officials and experts were critical of the testing blueprint and said the 2.6% or 2% population metric was too vague and didn’t take into account guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control on who should be tested. “Why don’t they say, ‘We’ll test everybody with any symptoms of coronavirus and all their contacts?’” said Dr. James Curran, a former assistant U.S. surgeon general who worked at CDC for 25 years. “If that amounts to 2% that’s fine, but the guidelines are not to test 2%. The guidelines are to test who needs it.” Many experts already say the national testing rate falls short of what is needed to safely ease social distancing guidelines. Researchers at Harvard have calculated that the U.S. needs to be testing roughly 500,000 people per day before considering easing restrictions this month. That’s a nearly 150% increase from the recent daily tally of approximately 200,000 tests. “I’ve described it and I still describe it as an absolute bare minimum,” said Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. More than half of states are not testing their populations at the daily rate recommended by Jha and his colleagues. The Harvard team developed their statistics in mid-April and noted that projections for U.S. cases have increased since then. Many states hardest hit by the crisis failed to reach the team’s testing recommendations, even if they were already testing more than 2% of their populations, according to an AP analysis using state-by-state figures provided by Harvard. States falling short of the Harvard numbers include many of the epicenters of the outbreak, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Jha and his colleagues based their testing targets, in part, on the number of tests needed to screen enough people to push positive results below 10%, the level that the World Health Organization considers sufficient to contain the outbreak. More than 16% of U.S. tests nationwide are positive for the virus, according to figures compiled by the COVID Tracking Project website. That compares with a rate of about 3% in South Korea, a country praised for its aggressive testing. Former CDC director Tom Frieden has recommended double the current testing levels. He said the U.S. should be testing at minimum 400,000 people a day. Officials in at least 20 states have indicated their testing capacity is not adequate and said they are taking steps to address this, according to a review by the AP. But there is little consensus among states on how many people should be tested or whether that should include those with no symptoms. Georgia, where in-person dining at restaurants is now permitted with restrictions, has not said how many people it would like to test but recently touted its ability to test over 20,000 people on a single day and has encouraged more people to get tested. New Jersey, which has a slightly smaller population and a higher number of COVID-19 cases, has said it would need to conduct 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day to reopen. Ohio wants to increase testing from 7,200 per day to 22,000 by May 27. Washington state, which has seen one of the largest U.S. outbreaks, has reported averaging 4,650 tests a day and wants to do more than 22,000 but lacks the necessary supplies. Most states have convened advisory panels to help in setting guidelines, but they run the gamut in terms of expertise and will result in a patchwork of policies that experts say may be ineffective in containing a virus that doesn’t respect state borders. “Treading water on testing is not going to get us out of this,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a disaster preparedness expert who helped lead the Obama administration response to Ebola. —- Dearen reported from Gainesville, Florida; Perrone, an AP health writer, reported from Washington, D.C.; and Forster, a data journalist, reported from New York. Associated Press writers Michelle R. Smith in Providence, Rhode Island; Zeke Miller in Washington D.C.; Rachel La Corte in Olympia, Washington; Russ Bynum in Savannah, Georgia; and John D. Hanna in Topeka, Kansas, also contributed. ___ The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content.
2 May 17:05 • HuffPost • https://www.huffpost.com/entry/most-states-still-dont-meet-federal-testing-threshold-ap_n_5eada5f2c5b6df8990e69592?guccounter=1Rating: 2.48
Analysis: Most states fall short of coronavirus testing thresholds
ATLANTA — As more states begin to relax their coronavirus lockdowns, most are falling short of the minimum levels of testing suggested by the federal government and recommended by a variety of public health researchers, an Associated Press analysis has found. Three months into an unprecedented public health emergency, the White House has largely resisted calls for a coordinated plan to conduct the millions of tests experts say are needed to contain the virus. What federal officials outlined recently isn’t even an official benchmark, and AP’s analysis found that a majority of states are not yet meeting it. With no specific guidelines, states are left to figure out what a successful testing program should be while they simultaneously try to reopen their shattered economies. If states don’t have robust testing, public health experts say they will be unable to detect outbreaks quickly enough to contain them, which could lead to more shutdowns. “It’s dangerous and irresponsible,” said Lawrence Gostin, a public health specialist at Georgetown University. In many states, testing has been limited to hospitalized patients, high-risk individuals and front-line workers. But most public health experts agree that containing the virus will require a massive expansion of testing that eventually includes millions of patients without symptoms, which is not happening now. A testing blueprint released Monday by the Trump administration lacked any metrics state officials could use to make informed decisions. Instead, the document made clear that states are responsible for testing, saying the federal government is the “supplier of last resort.” The closest the White House has come to issuing a benchmark does not actually appear in the document. At a recent briefing, senior administration officials said the government would provide each state with enough tests, swabs and related materials to screen at least 2.6% of their populations in May and June. Those hit harder by the outbreak would be eligible for additional assistance. It was unclear how the 2.6% figure was reached. When asked about it, officials with the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services described it as 2% of state populations per month without explaining the discrepancy. Officials also did not respond to questions about whether the administration has a target for how many daily tests should be done nationwide or when it would issue more details. Only about 40% of states currently meet even the 2% testing threshold, according to AP’s analysis. The percentage is expected to rise as states increase their testing capabilities. The AP based the monthly testing rate for each state on the average number of new daily tests over the most recent 7 days. The data is from the COVID Tracking Project and includes counts up to April 30th. A White House spokesman said Friday that the administration’s testing threshold is only a suggestion and that states are ultimately responsible for deciding how to reopen in a “safe and responsible manner.” The administration says it is working to expand testing and has been highlighting plans first announced in March for additional testing sites at retail pharmacy chains. States that do not meet the administration’s testing guidance, based on their current screening rates, include some that have been moving into the early stages of reopening, such as Colorado, South Carolina and Texas. Georgia, which has moved aggressively to ease restrictions and lift its stay-at-home order, is just under the 2% threshold. Louisiana and Kansas, where Republican lawmakers have been putting pressure on Democratic governors to reopen, are falling short, according to the AP analysis. In Kansas, the governor and top health administrator expect to reach the 2% mark this month. Florida, which announced its first phase of reopening will start next week, also falls short but has said it will be able to test 30,000 to 40,000 people a day if needed. Michigan, where the Republican-led legislature has sued the Democratic governor over the state’s stay-at-home order, is on track to test 2.2% of its population. Former health officials and experts were critical of the testing blueprint and said the 2.6% or 2% population metric was too vague and didn’t take into account guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control on who should be tested. “Why don’t they say, ‘We’ll test everybody with any symptoms of coronavirus and all their contacts?’” said Dr. James Curran, a former assistant U.S. surgeon general who worked at CDC for 25 years. “If that amounts to 2% that’s fine, but the guidelines are not to test 2%. The guidelines are to test who needs it.” Many experts already say the national testing rate falls short of what is needed to safely ease social distancing guidelines. Researchers at Harvard have calculated that the U.S. needs to be testing roughly 500,000 people per day before considering easing restrictions this month. That’s a nearly 150% increase from the recent daily tally of approximately 200,000 tests. “I’ve described it and I still describe it as an absolute bare minimum,” said Ashish Jha, director of the Harvard Global Health Institute. More than half of states are not testing their populations at the daily rate recommended by Jha and his colleagues. The Harvard team developed their statistics in mid-April and noted that projections for U.S. cases have increased since then. Many states hardest hit by the crisis failed to reach the team’s testing recommendations, even if they were already testing more than 2% of their populations, according to an AP analysis using state-by-state figures provided by Harvard. States falling short of the Harvard numbers include many of the epicenters of the outbreak, including New York, New Jersey and Massachusetts. Jha and his colleagues based their testing targets, in part, on the number of tests needed to screen enough people to push positive results below 10%, the level that the World Health Organization considers sufficient to contain the outbreak. More than 16% of U.S. tests nationwide are positive for the virus, according to figures compiled by the COVID Tracking Project website. That compares with a rate of about 3% in South Korea, a country praised for its aggressive testing. Former CDC director Tom Frieden has recommended double the current testing levels. He said the U.S. should be testing at minimum 400,000 people a day. Officials in at least 20 states have indicated their testing capacity is not adequate and said they are taking steps to address this, according to a review by the AP. But there is little consensus among states on how many people should be tested or whether that should include those with no symptoms. Georgia, where in-person dining at restaurants is now permitted with restrictions, has not said how many people it would like to test but recently touted its ability to test over 20,000 people on a single day and has encouraged more people to get tested. New Jersey, which has a slightly smaller population and a higher number of COVID-19 cases, has said it would need to conduct 20,000 to 30,000 tests a day to reopen. Ohio wants to increase testing from 7,200 per day to 22,000 by May 27. Washington state, which has seen one of the largest U.S. outbreaks, has reported averaging 4,650 tests a day and wants to do more than 22,000 but lacks the necessary supplies. Most states have convened advisory panels to help in setting guidelines, but they run the gamut in terms of expertise and will result in a patchwork of policies that experts say may be ineffective in containing a virus that doesn’t respect state borders. “Treading water on testing is not going to get us out of this,” said Jeremy Konyndyk, a disaster preparedness expert who helped lead the Obama administration response to Ebola.
2 May 16:44 • Las Vegas Review-Journal • https://www.reviewjournal.com/news/nation-and-world/analysis-most-states-fall-short-of-coronavirus-testing-thresholds-2019796/Rating: 0.30
Is it safe to come out of the lockdown? Check the sewer
The world is eager to come out of lockdown. But if countries simply return to business as usual, new outbreaks of Covid-19 will follow. The only solution that public health experts see is to keep careful track of the coronavirus and clamp down on new flare-ups. The trouble is that the most obvious way to monitor the virus — testing person by person — has already proved to be a huge, expensive challenge. Experts say we’re nowhere near the scale we need to get a good picture of the pandemic. Now some scientists are looking for the virus not in our noses, blood or spit, but somewhere else: in our sewers. “It’s the signature of a whole community,” said Krista Wigginton, an environmental engineer at the University of Michigan who has been finding the coronavirus in wastewater around the Bay Area in California. Water authorities and governments are in discussions with scientists and companies about tracking the pandemic through the detection of viruses in the sewer. Wastewater monitoring could provide early warnings of outbreaks. It could potentially give governments some of the data they need about when to end lockdowns and when to ratchet them back up. ALSO READ: Work relaxation amid lockdown fails to convince migrants to stay put Measuring viruses in wastewater in effect tests an entire city or region at once. While only some people may get tested for the coronavirus on a given day, everyone uses the toilet. “It’s a great leveler,” said Christobel Ferguson, chief innovation officer of the Water Research Foundation. This week, the foundation sponsored a virtual research summit, during which Dr. Wigginton and other experts shared their early results and developed a road map for improving their surveillance. For decades, public health workers have looked in sewage for signs of viral outbreaks. The World Health Organization has monitored polio viruses this way, to assess how well its vaccination campaigns have worked. In the early days, researchers had to run painstaking tests to find viruses in wastewater. They had to mix the water with cells so that the viruses could infect them. Then the researchers had to wait for the new viruses to emerge. Later, researchers were able to skip these experiments. They could simply fish out genetic material from the water, read its sequence, and determine what kind of virus they were dealing with. Even newer technology has made it possible to estimate the number of viruses by counting up the viral genes in a water sample. Irene Xagoraraki, an environmental engineer at Michigan State University, uses this method to detect viruses in wastewater in Detroit. In a recent outbreak of hepatitis A, she found that the virus increased in the water about a week ahead of the rise in confirmed cases. “You can predict the outbreak,” she said. When the coronavirus began spreading from China, Xagoraraki and other experts began wondering if they might see it turn up in wastewater. The early reports about the coronavirus made the idea seemed plausible. Although the virus infects people’s airways first, it can eventually get into the intestines. The coronavirus has been detected in some infected people’s feces. Some early studies suggest that the virus becomes inactive by the time it gets to the sewer system. But it still carries genes that researchers can detect. “We started before the virus entered our country,” said Gertjan Medema of the KWR Water Research Institute in the Netherlands. He and his colleagues created a test for the coronavirus and began using it in wastewater in early February. They didn’t get any positive results, which was reassuring. They could be confident that their test was specific enough not to be fooled by other viruses. ALSO READ: An effort to achieve sustainable development for those who care for Goa After the Netherlands saw its first confirmed case on February 27, Medema and his colleagues went back out to run more tests. They found the virus in the sewers of cities like Amsterdam and Utrecht. The researchers then went to remote towns without any known cases of Covid-19. They discovered the coronavirus up to six days before the first confirmed cases were found there. Since then, Medema and his colleagues have continued to track the viruses in the sewer systems. As the confirmed cases of Covid-19 have gone up in Amsterdam and Utrecht, they have found more virus genes in the wastewater. Researchers have reported similar results from countries including Australia, France, Spain and the United States. At the meeting, the consensus of experts was that it’s not yet possible to use viruses in wastewater to estimate how many people are infected. For one thing, researchers are still trying to figure out the average number of viruses that infected people shed in their feces. For another, it’s not clear how many viral genes survive the journey from a toilet to a wastewater treatment plant. “I don’t feel like we’re at a point where we can say, ‘This is the concentration in the wastewater and this is the number of people with illness,’” Dr. Wigginton said. Nevertheless, the experts who attended the meeting agreed that sewers have a lot to tell us about the pandemic. The studies of Dr. Medema and others suggest that a weekly test of wastewater could serve as an early warning system for outbreaks. When cities or states come out of lockdown, they could check the sewers to follow the virus trend. An increase would tell them that people were infecting each other. “Then you need to go back into quarantine,” said Eric Alm, a MIT microbiologist and the scientific director of BioBiot, a company that tracks pathogens in wastewater. Previous experience with other viruses has taught researchers to be careful about making sense of these apparent trends. If a huge crowd comes into a city to watch a football game, for example, the wastewater system may see a spike of viruses that has nothing to do with a new outbreak. “It requires good information,” Medema said, “but it’s a doable thing.” ALSO READ: Buffet's Berkshire Hathaway posts $50 bn loss in coronavirus impact As their testing becomes more reliable and precise, Dr. Medema and other researchers hope to zoom in on future outbreaks. Instead of looking at a wastewater treatment plant that handles an entire city or county, they may go down into manholes to monitor changes in individual neighbourhoods. Conceivably, they might be able to zero in on nursing homes, factories and other places that have seen intense outbreaks. “If we see a hot spot arising,” Xagoraraki said, “we can close down a particular area for a while, so you don’t kill the whole economy of a whole state.” © 2020 The New York Times
2 May 16:21 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/health/is-it-safe-to-come-out-of-the-lockdown-check-the-sewer-120050201122_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Colonel and Major among 5 security personnel killed in gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara
3 May 10:30
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Colonel and Major among 5 security personnel killed in gun battle in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara
The Indian army on Sunday lost a Colonel and a Major in a gun battle with militants in Jammu and Kashmir’s Handwara. They were among five security personnel killed in the Sunday’s encounter. Two militants were also killed in the encounter. Army officers killed in today’s gun battle have been identified as Col Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj Sood. Also killed in the encounter was Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi. Two other Indian army personnel killed in the encounter have been identified as Naik Rajesh Kumar and Lance Naik Dinesh. All four army personnel belonged to the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit. A report by news agency PTI said that Col Sharma was leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the militants hiding in a house at the Chanjmullah area of Handwara in north Kashmir. The Indian security personnel engaged in the rescue operation came under heavy fire forcing them to also retaliate. Former Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Omar Abdullah had posted a cryptic tweet on Saturday night about the Handwara incident as he wrote, “Keeping an eye on the news coming out from Handwara. Best not to speculate. Let the people on the ground do their job. I’ve seen various scenarios talked about here on social media but it’s better to wait for formal confirmation/announcement.” The Indian security team launched a huge offensive in the early hours of Sunday after they were unable to establish contact with Col Sharma and his team.
3 May 10:30 • Janta Ka Reporter • http://www.jantakareporter.com/india/colonel-and-major-among-5-security-personnel-killed-in-gun-battle-in-jammu-and-kashmirs-handwara/289487/Rating: 0.38
Colonel, Major, three others killed rescuing civilians in Kashmir
NEW DELHI/SRINAGAr: In one of the biggest tragedies for security forces in Kashmir in recent years, the Commanding Officer of an anti-insurgency unit, a Major and three others lost their lives in an encounter in North Kashmir's Handwara after they entered a house chasing a group of terrorists. The team of five, which included a special operations group personnel of the Kashmir police, came under heavy fire on Saturday evening as they were entering a house in Changimulla , Handwara in search of a terrorist group. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, a twice decorated commanding officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit - a specialized anti-terror unit located in North Kashmir – and his team was apparently hit in the first volley of fire from inside the house. While a soldier accompanying Col Sharma managed to escape with gun shot wounds, the remaining five were killed in the firing. This includes Major Anuj Sood, who was the company commander, Naik Rajesh Kumar, Lance Naik Dinesh Singh and sub inspector Shakeel Qazi. " A team comprising of five Army and JK Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate civilians. The team of Army and JK Police entered the the tgt area and successfully extricated the civilians. However, during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of fire by the terrorists," an Army statement read, adding that two terrorists were killed in the fight. Sources said that the terrorists had managed to get hold of a mobile phone belonging to the Commanding Officer during the encounter but denied that the soldiers were kept hostage at any time. J&K police officials informed reporters that a senior LeT commander has been killed in the incident. The identity of the second terrorist killed is being ascertained. Police sources said that at least four terrorists could have been present at the encounter spot and only two were killed and others managed to flee. Police officials said that only one group of militants is active in Zachaldara area of Handwara, which includes two locals and some foreigners. This group is associated with Lashkar-e-Toiba but seems to have rechristened itself into The Resistance Front. Preliminary reports suggest that same group of terrorists was involved in an attack on a former J&K police personnel, on April 29, when they barged into his residence in Kralgund of Handwara and opened fire leaving him critically injured. This is the first time since 2015 that a commanding officer has been lost in an encounter in Kashmir. The death toll adds to the five Special Forces soldiers killed in an encounter in the Keran sector in April and two soldiers who died in a cross border firing incident last week. Tragedy has revisited the battle hardened 21 RR after two decades - the unit had lost its commanding officer to an IED attack at Warpora village in August 2000, in which a Brigadier also died. Intelligence inputs have suggested that this year would be particularly violent in Kashmir as Pak-backed terrorists have been tasked to raise the ante post the decision to revoke special status for Jammu and Kashmir.
3 May 18:42 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/defence/col-major-3-others-killed-rescuing-civilians-in-kashmir/articleshow/75523855.cmsRating: 0.30
Colonel, Major among five security personnel killed in encounter with terrorists in north Kashmir
SRINAGAR: An Army Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter at a village in Handwara in north Kashmir that also saw the elimination of two terrorists, officials said on Sunday. Army officers Col Ashutosh Sharma and Major Anuj, and Jammu and Kashmir Police Sub-Inspector Shakeel Qazi were among the deceased, they said. Col Sharma was leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists hiding in a house at the Chanjmullah area of Handwara in frontier Kupwara district of north Kashmir on Saturday, the officials said. As the hostages were being rescued, the team, which also consisted of a Lance Naik and a Rifleman, came under heavy fire which was effectively retaliated by the security personnel in the outer cordon, they said. In the early hours of Sunday, a major offensive was launched by the security forces as there had been no contact with the Colonel or his team, the officials said. Two terrorists were killed in the encounter, they said.
3 May 09:34 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/03/colonel-major-among-five-security-personnel-killed-in-encounter-with-terrorists-in-north-kashmir-2138587.htmlRating: 2.04
Gallantry medal recipient, Colonel Ashutosh Sharma's aim was to eliminate LeT commander Haider
India awakened on Sunday morning to reports of the tragic demise of four Army personnel and a police sub-inspector in Handwara in Jammu and Kashmir's Kupwara district. Preliminary inputs suggest that the Indian Army and the J&K police had launched a joint operation in Handwara's Changimulla based on Intel that a few locals were being held hostage inside their home by militants. A team of five managed to enter the target area and rescued the locals but came under heavy gunfire. In the gun battle that followed, the Indian Army lost four personnel and the J&K police one. Security forces also managed to gun down two militants, one of whom has been identified as Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Haider. The Northern Command of the Indian Army has identified the martyred jawans as Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh, Lance Naik Dinesh and Colonel Ashutosh Sharma. Officers of the Jammu and Kashmir Police have also identified the martyred jawan as sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi. Commanding Officer of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles (RR), Colonel Sharma was an exceptional patriot. Originally from Bulandshahr in Uttar Pradesh, Colonel Sharma is survived by his wife and 12-year-old daughter. Officers of the Indian Army confirmed that Colonel Sharma was awarded the Sena Medal for gallantry, not once but twice, a rare feat for Army personnel deployed in the Kashmir valley. Colonel Sharma's bravery was exemplary since he was awarded the second medal for gallantry for subduing a militant who was running towards his men while concealing a grenade. It was Colonel Ashutosh Sharma who shot the militant and saved the lives of his men. Colonel Sharma was also responsible for multiple successful anti-militancy operations in the Jammu and Kashmir region in the past years. Officials within the Indian Army said that Colonel Ashutosh Sharma's demise is the first time in five years that a Commanding Officer or Colonel-rank officer has been martyred in a counter-terrorism operation in Jammu and Kashmir. The last being Colonel MN Rai, a former Commanding Officer of the Rashtriya Rifles who was killed during an operation in 2015 followed by Colonel Santosh Mahadik who was also martyred in November of the same year. Sources in the Indian Army said that the Colonel Ashutosh Sharma had told his colleagues earlier that it was his aim to either nab or gun down Lashkar-e-Taiba commander Haider. He achieved his aim by making the ultimate sacrifice for the country, added sources. Chief of Defence Staff General Bipin Rawat said on Sunday that the operation in J&K's Handwara highlighted the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people. "We salute these brave personnel and express our deep-felt condolences for the bereaved families," added General Rawat. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh also described the martyrdom of the five security personnel as "deeply disturbing and painful".
3 May 09:42 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/gallantry-medal-recipient-colonel-ashutosh-sharma-s-aim-was-to-eliminate-let-commander-haider-1673902-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
J&K: Five Including Colonel, Major Martyred In Encounter In North Kashmir’s Handwara
In a saddening development, five security personnel have attained martyrdom in an encounter against two terrorists in the Union Territory (UT) of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K), reports Times of India. The five include a Colonel and a Major from the 21 Rajputana Rifles. The encounter took place in the Chanjmulla area of North Kashmir's Handwara in Kupwara District. The Major and Colonel from the Indian Army had led a team of security personnel to the encounter site so as to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists. The other three martyred in the operation include two jawans of the Indian Army and a police sub-inspector. Two terrorists were also gunned down by the security personnel during the operation. Meanwhile, two terrorists had also been killed in another operation conducted in the Pulwama district of South Kashmir yesterday (2 May).
3 May 09:18 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/jk-five-including-colonel-major-martyred-in-an-encounter-in-north-kashmirs-handwaraRating: 1.22
Colonel, Major, two soldiers and police officer killed in terrorist encounter in Kashmir’s Handwara
A Colonel and a Major were among five security forces personnel killed in an overnight encounter with militants in the Handwara area of north Kashmir’s Kupwara district on Sunday. The martyred officers were identified as Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj of 21-Rashtriya Rifles (RR) unit and police sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi. Two unidentified militants were also killed in the encounter that broke out on Saturday evening when Army’s 15 and 21 RR units along with elite 9 Para commandos joined by J&K police and CRPF zeroed-in on a residential house in Chanjimulla, Handwara, 80 kms from here. Sources said security forces launched the operation after ‘specific inputs’ that the militants had taken shelter in the house while escaping from the nearby Rajwar forest on Friday afternoon. “The militants fired upon the search team to escape from the spot. However, the security forces retaliated to thwart their attempt,” they said. The exchange of fire continued for several hours before the guns fell silent late in the night. “A joint team of army and police, including Colonel, Major, approached the house to further tighten their grip on the militants. However, after that the ambush team lost contact with their colleagues,” sources said. The Army carried out a final assault with the first light of the morning to neutralize militants hiding in the house in which two militants were reportedly killed. Reinforcements were brought in and a door-to-door intervention was conducted as part of the standard operating procedure (SOP). According to preliminary reports, the commanding officer of 21-RR along with four others had entered the house to evacuate the trapped people after the firing had stopped for an hour.
3 May 08:47 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/north-and-central/colonel-major-two-soldiers-and-police-officer-killed-in-terrorist-encounter-in-kashmir-s-handwara-832930.htmlRating: 2.25
Decorated colonel among 5 killed in J-K’s Handwara; 2 terrorists shot down
A highly-decorated colonel of the Indian Army was among five security personnel killed during more than 12-hour operation to flush terrorists out of a house in Handwara in north Kashmir, officials said on Sunday. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter that began around 3:30pm on Saturday after they took hostages inside a house in Chanjmulla area of Handwara. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the commanding officer of the army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles battalion, Major Anuj, a Lance Naik and a rifleman and sub-inspector Shakeel Qazi of the Jammu and Kashmir police were killed after the firefight with terrorists holed up in the house. Officials said their bodies have been recovered from the encounter site. The civilians have been rescued, they added. Throughout the night as the gun battle raged, several Pakistani accounts on Facebook and Telegram ran propaganda against the operation. Bravery awards Col Sharma had been decorated twice for bravery and had been part of several successful counter-terrorism operations in the past. The commanding officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles along with four others had entered the house to evacuate the trapped people after the firing had stopped for an hour. The encounter began on Saturday afternoon after the army and state police launched a joint operation following a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the area. The terrorists hid inside a house and took the residents as hostages. “A team comprising five army and J&K Police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. The team entered the target area and successfully extricated the civilians,” the army said in a statement. “However, during the process, the team was subjected to a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists. In the ensuing firefight, two terrorists were eliminated and the team of five… comprising two army officers, two soldiers and one police sub-inspector attained martyrdom,” it said.
3 May 04:20 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/decorated-colonel-among-5-killed-in-j-k-s-handwara-2-terrorists-shot-down/story-OUeFdgSSJyZQT9njiboD3K.htmlRating: 0.30
Colonel, Major among 5 security personnel killed in J&K encounter
A Colonel and a Major were among five security personnel killed in an encounter at a village in north Kashmir's Handwara area, officials said on Sunday. Two terrorists were also killed in the encounter at the Chanjmulla area of Handwara, which is part of north Kashmir's Kupwara district, they said. ALSO READ: Ceasefire violations in J&K: Two security personnel succumb to injuries The Army officers were leading a team to rescue civilians who had been taken hostage by the terrorists, the officials said. Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Commanding Officer of 21 Rashtriya Rifles unit lost his life in the encounter. He had been part of several successful counter-terrorist operations in the past, ANI reported. Based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking the civilian inmates of a house in Changimulla, Handwara of Kupwara district hostage, a joint operation was launched by Army and J&K Police, said Army spokesperson on Handwara Operation.
3 May 03:51 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/colonel-major-among-5-security-personnel-killed-in-j-k-encounter-120050300137_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Colonel, Major among 5 personnel killed in J&K’s Handwara
Five security personnel, including a Colonel, a Major and a sub-inspector, and two unidentified militants were killed during an 18-hour anti-militancy operation in north Kashmir’s Handwara area. “In a firefight in Changimul, Handwara of Kupwara district, two terrorists were eliminated and the team of five security forces personnel, comprising two Army officers, two soldiers and one police sub-inspector, also died,” a Srinagar-based Army spokesman said, The spokesman said the operation was launched after the intelligence inputs were received that terrorists were taking civilian inmates of a house in Changimul village hostage. “A joint operation was launched by the Army and the police on Saturday. A team comprising five Army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians. They successfully extricated the civilians. However, during the process, the team was subjected to heavy volume of fire by the terrorists,” said the Army. Police officials said the operation was called off on Sunday morning after the bodies of the security personnel and the militants were spotted inside the house at the encounter site in Changimul area, nestled in a forest zone. The deceased senior Army officers were identified as Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and Naik Rajesh and Dinesh, besides sub-Inspector Mohammad Sagier Qazi of J&K Police’s Special Operation Group (SOG). One soldier was also injured in the operation, officials said. Colonel Sharma, Commanding Officer of the Army’s 21 Rashtriya Rifles, was stationed in Handwara. Army sources said the militants, who were in a cowshed, were presumed dead on Saturday evening after the exchange of fire stopped for over one hour. The operation against the militants, who escaped from the Rajwara forests on Friday afternoon, was launched around 3.30 p.m. on Saturday. The Army officers and their team went into the house near the cowshed to “rescue the civilians”, but their communication with the search-and-operation personnel outside got disconnected, forcing them to hold fire for the whole night. The operation was also “slowed down” by heavy rain and thunder, police sources said. They said the officers found themselves in front of the militants, who had sneaked in from the rear of the house. “Two weapons and a war-like store were also found at the site,” officials said. In a separate incident, six civilians were injured when four boys fiddled with an unattended explosive at Ahgam in Handwara, the police said. The area is 3 km-4 km from the site of the encounter. The police did not reveal the details of the blast. Colonel Sharma and sub-inspector Qazi were known for their successful anti-militancy operations and their meticulous planning, which earned them gallantry awards in the past. “I salute the bravehearts who made the supreme sacrifice in Kashmir. Proud of leaders like Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, the CO [Commanding Officer], who led from the front. He had been decorated with Sena Medal twice earlier too,” said Lt. Gen. Satish Dua, who served as General Officer Commanding (GOC) of the Srinagar-based 15 Corps during 2015-16. Brigadier Chandrakant Sood (retired), father of Major Sood, said his son had made “a supreme sacrifice”. “It was part of his duty and what he was trained for. I feel sad for his wife as they got married three or four months back,” he was quoted as saying by a Delhi-based wire service. In a recent social media post, Major Sood wrote: “When you’re older, you will realise the only thing that matters, the only thing, is that you had courage and honour. Lose those things and you won’t die any quicker, but you’ll be less than the dirt on your boots. You’ll still be dust, but you’ll have wasted your short time in the light.” A police spokesman in Srinagar said sub-inspector Qazi, “led various successful anti-terror operations”. An earlier vesion of the story mentioned Major Anuj Sood's name incorrectly. The error is regretted.
3 May 03:30 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/colonel-major-among-5-personnel-killed-in-jks-handwara/article31493302.eceRating: 0.30
Colonel, major among 5 killed in Handwara encounter
In a setback, two senior army officers, including a colonel-rank officer, were among five security personnel killed during an encounter with terrorists at a village in Rajwar forests of North Kashmir, officials said Sunday. The deceased security personnel are: Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood, Naik Rajesh and Lance Naik Dinesh, all from the Brigade of GUARDS regiment, and at present part of the 21 Rashtriya Rifles, deployed to counter terrorism in the hinterland. A Jammu and Kashmir Police sub-inspector, Shakeel Qazi, also fell victim of to the bullets of terrorists. The two holed-up terrorists, who were eliminated in the encounter, included commander of banned Lashker-e-Taiba Haider, a Pakistani national who has been active in North Kashmir area. The identity of the other was yet to be ascertained. They had held some civilians hostage, the officials said. Director General of JK police Dilbagh Singh said, "Sad to inform that five brave personnel including Colonel Ashutosh Sharma, Major Anuj Sood and sub-inspector of JKP Shakeel Qazi were martyred in the line of duty." Security forces had noticed presence of some terrorists in the Rajwar forests in Handwara area for the past few days and a brief exchange of fire had taken place on Thursday deep inside the jungles. Around Saturday afternoon, intelligence inputs indicated presence of the same group of terrorists inside a house at Changimulla village, prompting Col Sharma to launch a cordon and search operation along with his team and Qazi. After a considerable lull, Col Sharma and four others personnel barged into a cowshed adjacent to the house, presuming that the terrorists had been eliminated in the heavy gunfire. According to the officials, the team came under heavy fire after rescuing the civilians and all communication link with Col Sharma and his team were snapped. Calls made on the mobile numbers of the team were answered by terrorists. The army then rushed in para-troopers, who after ascertaining that the Army officer and his team were killed in the encounter, launched an offensive by the first light of the day and killed the two terrorists. Prime Minister Narendra Modi led the nation in paying tributes to the soldiers. "Tributes to our courageous soldiers and security personnel martyred in Handwara. Their valour and sacrifice will never be forgotten. They served the nation with utmost dedication and worked tirelessly to protect our citizens. Condolences to their families and friends," the Prime Minister said in a tweet. Defence Minister Rajnath Singh described it as "deeply disturbing and painful". Chief of Defence Staff Gen Bipin Rawat said the anti-terror operation highlighted the determination of the security forces to safeguard the lives of the people of Kashmir. The army, in a tweet, said Chief of Army Staff General M M Naravane and all ranks of the force paid tributes to the "valiant braves of our Army and JK Police for their supreme sacrifice while fighting and eliminating terrorists in Handwara." The death of Col Sharma and Major Sood, both from 21-RR, was a sad reminder of a near similar incident two decades back when Commanding Officer of the same batallion Colonel Rajinder Chauhan was killed by terrorists along with Brig B S Shergil in 2000. The death of a Colonel-rank officer was seen in the valley after five years. In 2015, the Army had lost two colonels in a year in Kashmir. Colonel M N Rai of 2/9 Gorkha Rifles, was the CO of 42 RR and laid his life for the country while fighting militants in Tral in South Kashmir in January 2015. The same year, Col Santosh Mahadik was killed in an encounter in Kupwara area. On the latest operation, the Army said based on the intelligence input that terrorists were taking hostage some civilians in a house, a joint operation was launched by the army and the JK Police. A team comprising five Army and police personnel entered the target area occupied by the terrorists to evacuate the civilians and successfully extricated them. However, during the process, the team came under a heavy volume of fire by the terrorists and in the ensuing firefight the five personnel were killed, the Army said. The terrorists are believed to have come to Handwara to receive an infiltrating group from Pakistan Occupied Kashmir, officials said. A wreath-laying ceremony would be held tomorrow after which Col Sharma's body would be flown to Jaipur and that of Major Sood to Pune, the officials said. Photographs: PTI Photo
3 May 00:00 • Rediff • https://www.rediff.com/news/report/army-personnel-cop-killed-in-handwara-encounter/20200503.htmRating: 0.30
Video: 126 terrorists killed in Sinai operations: Egyptian Army
CAIRO – 3 May 2020: The Egyptian Armed Forces said 126 “takfiris” (terrorists) were killed in 22 raids and 12 operations carried out by the army and police forces in Central and North Sinai. Also, four officers, three non-commissioned officers and eight soldiers were either killed or injured during the operations, the statement noted, without specifying the exact number of deaths. This comes two days after 10 army members, including two officers, were “either killed or injured” in a terrorist attack in Bir El Abd city, North Sinai, according to Military Spokesman Tamer Al-Refae. In a statement, the Armed Forces said it could seize a number of weapons and explosive belts, which were possessed by the eliminated terrorists. The army could also find and detonate 630 explosive devices that were planted to target the armed forces. The opening of eight tunnels were also discovered and destroyed. Also, the Air Force managed to destroy 228 hideouts that belonged to terrorists and 116 four-wheel drive vehicles, the statement added. On Friday, a day after the North Sinai tragedy, the military spokesman said two high-risk terrorists were shot dead in a shoot-out with Egyptian armed forces in North Sinai. The Interior Ministry on Friday mourned the death and injury of the army officers and soldiers and denounced the terrorists’ “abortive attempts” to harm the nation. “Such abortive attempts will not stop the brave Armed Forces’ men from defensing the resources of the nation,” the ministry said in a brief statement. In the early hours of Sunday, the Interior Ministry said police forces killed 18 “terrorist elements” in the same area, as forces raided a house, where they were hiding to plan their hostile operations. The security forces managed to seize 13 automatic firearms, three explosive devices and three explosive belts, according to the statement. Egypt has been countering terrorism and extremism ideologies over the past years since the ouster of late Muslim Brotherhood President Mohamed Morsi. Several operations have been taking place in Sinai against terrorists, as many Egyptian officers and soldiers have martyred in the battle.
3 May 00:00 • Egypt Today • http://egypttoday.com/Article/1/85363/Video-126-terrorists-killed-in-Sinai-operations-Egyptian-ArmyRating: 0.67
12 hours on, gunbattle at terror hideout continues in north Kashmir’s Handwara
Security forces were locked in an hours-long firefight with militants holed up in a house in north Kashmir’s Handwara, officials said late on Saturday, suspecting the gunmen to be terrorists who recently infiltrated into the Valley. According to officials who asked not to be named, approximately four terrorists are believed to be involved in the encounter that began around 3:30pm in Chanjmulla area of Handwara, which falls in north Kashmir’s Kupwara district. Two senior army officers, a state policeman and a soldier were close to the site of the encounter, news agency PTI reported citing unnamed sources. According to the sources, a hunt was underway to trace the missing personnel, while the operation to neutralise the militants was also on, PTI reported. The encounter began in the afternoon after Army and police launched a joint operation in the forests of Rajwar following a tip-off about the presence of militants in the area. The militants emerged and hid inside a house. Teams of the Special Operation Group of police surrounded the house and lights had been erected around the area where the encounter was underway, a senior security official said, asking not to be named. Since the gunfight was underway, this person added, more details about the operation were not immediately available from the unit that was engaged in the encounter. Defense spokesman Rajesh Kalia didn’t respond to phone calls made by HT.
2 May 22:36 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/india-news/gun-battle-in-handwara-at-terror-hideout/story-OorhZsP2wNDaFoYve2p9gO.htmlRating: 0.30
Kashmir: Encounter underway between security forces and militants in Handwara
An encounter between militants and security forces is underway in North Kashmir’s Handwara district. Sources said that encounter broke around 3.30 pm on Saturday at Chanjumullah area of Handwara. A senior police officer in Handwara this afternoon said at least two Pakistani militants are believed to be trapped and were hiding in a cowshed when the contact was established with them. “The encounter is going on,” said an official. The security forces are known to have lost communication with the security team that includes two army officers during the encounter. A senior officer told The Indian Express a colonel rank officer, a major, a J-K police officer and another security personnel “got stuck in the same room,” where the militants were hiding” during the encounter. “We have lost touch with the team from last three hours,” said a senior army officer in Srinagar. “The operation is going on.” Earlier in the day, two militants were killed in a gunbattle in South Kashmir’s Pulwama. According to police officials, the two militants were killed in during an encounter in Dangerpora area. According to the police, a cordon and search operation was launched on Saturday morning based on the inputs of the presence of militants in the area. During the search operation, the militants fired at security forces, triggering a gunfight, officials said. “In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed. The identification of killed terrorists is being ascertained. The medico-legal formalities of the killed terrorists are being completed,” a JK Police Spokesperson said.
2 May 17:56 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/kashmir-handwara-encounter-live-updates-6390909/Rating: 0.30
Two militants killed in Pulwama
Two militants were killed in an operation in south Kashmir’s Pulwama on Saturday, according to the J&K police. A Srinagar-based police spokesperson said a search operation was launched jointly by the Pulwama police, the Army’s 55 Rashtriya Rifles and the CRPF in the Hydergund Dangerpora area of Pulwama. “During the search operation, the hiding terrorists fired on the search party. In the ensuing encounter, two terrorists were killed. Identification of the killed terrorists is being ascertained and the medico-legal formalities are also being done,” the police said. The police said incriminating material, including arms and ammunition, were also recovered from the site of the encounter. Two residential houses, where the militants were holed up, were damaged as the security forces used explosive devices to flush out the militants. Meanwhile, the Internet was also snapped in Pulwama when protesters clashed with the security forces near the encounter site. Meanwhile, the police spokesperson said it has engaged a group of militants in in north Kashmir’s Handwara area. “The operation is on in Handwara’s Chanjmulla area. An exchange of fire started around 3 p.m.,” said the spokesperson.
2 May 18:15 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/two-militants-killed-in-pulwama/article31491913.eceRating: 0.30
5 security personnel go missing during anti-militancy op in Kupwara
Five security forces personnel, including two officers, went missing during an anti-militancy operation in Kupwara district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, even as two unidentified terrorists were killed in another encounter in Pulwama, officials said. IMAGE: Security personnel in action during an encounter in Pulwama on Saturday. Photograph: Umar Ganie for Rediff.com Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Chanjmulla area of Handwara in the north Kashmir's Kupwara district on Friday following inputs about the presence of terrorists there, a police official said. He said the security forces maintained a tight cordon and conducted searches in the area. However, contact with terrorists was established on Saturday evening and an encounter ensued, the official said. While the official gave no further details, Army sources said five security forces personnel have gone missing as contact has been lost with them. The Army sources said the five personnel include two officers. According to the sources, a hunt has been launched to trace the missing personnel, while the operation to neutralise the terrorists was also on. In another operation, security forces killed two terrorists in Pulwama district of south Kashmir. The security forces launched a cordon and search operation in Dangerpora area of the district in the wee hours of Saturday following specific information about the presence of militants in the area, the police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches in the area, terrorists fired upon them. The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter in which two terrorists were killed, the official said. He said the identity and group affiliation of the slain ultras was being ascertained. The security forces recovered arms and ammunition from the encounter site, he added.
2 May 00:00 • Rediff • https://www.rediff.com/news/report/five-security-personnel-go-missing-during-encounter/20200502.htmRating: 0.30
Ceasefire violations in J&K: Two security personnel succumb to injuries
At least two security personnel, who were injured in a ceasefire violation by Pakistan, along the Line of Control in Jammu and Kashmir's Baramulla district on Friday, have succumbed to their injuries.The ceasefire violation took place around 3.30 am on Friday in the Rampur sector, news agency ANI reported. Meanwhile, another encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. ALSO READ: J&K: Encounter breaks out between security forces, militants in Kulgam Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Dangerpora area of the south Kashmir district in the early hours of Saturday following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said that while security personnel were carrying out search operations in the area, they were fired upon by militants. Earlier on April 30, Pakistan initiated an unprovoked ceasefire violation by firing with small arms and shelling with mortars along the LoC in Poonch district.
2 May 07:04 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/two-personnel-dead-after-getting-injured-in-ceasefire-violations-in-j-k-120050200328_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Encounter Breaks Out Between Security Forces And Militants In J-K's Pulwama
General News Written By Press Trust Of India | Mumbai | Updated On: May 02, 2020 09:05 IST An encounter broke out between security forces and militants in Pulwama district of Jammu and Kashmir on Saturday, police said. Security forces launched a cordon and search operation in the Dangerpora area of the south Kashmir district in the early hours of Saturday following information about the presence of militants there, a police official said. He said as the forces were conducting searches in the area, the hiding militants fired upon them. The forces retaliated, ensuing an encounter, the official said. The exchange of firing was going on and further details are awaited, he added.
2 May 09:05 • Republic World • https://www.republicworld.com/india-news/general-news/encounter-breaks-out-between-security-forces-and-militants-in-j-ks-pulwama.htmlRating: 2.30
J&K: 2 terrorists killed in encounter with security forces in Pulwama
Two terrorists were killed in an encounter with security forces on Saturday morning in Dangerpora, located in Jammu and Kashmir's Pulwama district. At least two-three militants were believed to be in the hiding in the area. Multiple encounters have taken place in Jammu and Kashmir during the ongoing nationwide lockdown, which was imposed in late March to fight the coronavirus. Three militants were gunned down by police this week in an overnight encounter in Shopian district. That happened after the militants opened fire on a search party of security forces in Zainapora on Tuesday. The security grid in Jammu and Kashmir has brought in a new Standard Operating Procedure to deal with Pakistan-backed terrorism during the coronavirus pandemic -- one that includes a strict vigil on social media and steps taken to stop the glorification of terrorists.
2 May 02:43 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/pulwama-encounter-jammu-and-kashmir-1673539-2020-05-02Rating: 0.30
Armenia reopens bars and shops despite rising coronavirus cases
3 May 10:30
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3 articles
Weight: 1.99
Importance: 2.09
Age penalty: 0.95
Best date: 3 May 10:06
Average US: 18.5
Weighted average US: 19.71859356386289
Average GB: 0.8666666666666667
Weighted average GB: 1.0517789376144953
Average IN: 4.199999999999999
Weighted average IN: 4.7519304368656625
Armenia reopens bars and shops despite rising coronavirus cases
YEREVAN (Reuters) - Landlocked Armenia will reopen shops, restaurants and bars, resume manufacturing and lift restrictions on movement from Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said, despite a recent rise in confirmed infections. The South Caucasus country has registered 2,386 cases of the coronavirus and 35 deaths, with the number of infections rising from an average of 50 a day in mid-April to more than 100 in recent days, including 134 registered on Wednesday. Armenia, with a population of 3 million, has been looking to ease the hit on its economy which it expects to shrink by 2% in 2020. Smaller shops, beauty salons and dry cleaners will open on Monday, Avinyan said on social media, adding that the construction and manufacturing industry would also be allowed to work as normal. But malls, trade centres, markets and all schools and colleges will remain closed. Public transport is to remain suspended. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said last week the country was preparing to lift most restrictions and ease the pressure on the economy subject to the spread of the virus.
3 May 10:30 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-armenia-idUSKBN22F0EC?utm_campaign=trueAnthem%3A+Trending+Content&utm_medium=trueAnthem&utm_source=facebookRating: 4.04
Armenia reopens bars and shops despite rising coronavirus cases
YEREVAN — Landlocked Armenia will reopen shops, restaurants and bars, resume manufacturing and lift restrictions on movement from Monday, Deputy Prime Minister Tigran Avinyan said, despite a recent rise in confirmed infections. The South Caucasus country has registered 2,386 cases of the coronavirus and 35 deaths, with the number of infections rising from an average of 50 a day in mid-April to more than 100 in recent days, including 134 registered on Wednesday. Armenia, with a population of 3 million, has been looking to ease the hit on its economy which it expects to shrink by 2% in 2020. Smaller shops, beauty salons and dry cleaners will open on Monday, Avinyan said on social media, adding that the construction and manufacturing industry would also be allowed to work as normal. But malls, trade centers, markets and all schools and colleges will remain closed. Public transport is to remain suspended. Prime Minister Nikol Pashinyan said last week the country was preparing to lift most restrictions and ease the pressure on the economy subject to the spread of the virus. (Reporting by Nvard Hovhannisyan; editing by Nick Macfie)
3 May 10:06 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/armenia-reopens-bars-and-shops-despite-rising-coronavirus-casesRating: 0.94
Covid-19: The lockdowns being lifted across Europe
After weeks of staying at home, parts of Europe are tentatively opening up again, with the first phase of lifting lockdowns to start in several countries on Monday. Here is an overview: Italy In Italy some construction workers and workers in factories making industrial machinery, cars and luxury goods returned to work on 27 April. Starting Monday parks will open, with social distancing measures in place. People will be allowed to visit their relatives, in limited number. Restaurants will open for takeout and their full reopening will begin on 1 June, along with beauty salons and hairdressers. All retail shops will open on 18 May, along with museums and libraries. Italy's schools remain closed until September. Spain Spain on 26 April began lifting one of the world's tightest lockdowns, allowing children outside accompanied by one parent. Yesterday, Spaniards were allowed out for exercise and to take walks under strict conditions. From Monday, some small shops including hairdressers can receive customers individually by appointment. Bars and restaurants can sell take-away. Wearing masks will be mandatory on public transport. In some of the small Balearic and Canary Islands, most shops, museums and the outdoor areas of bars and restaurants will reopen with limited capacity, as will hotels with conditions. This begins nationwide on 11 May, with cinemas and theatres due to reopen two weeks after that. Schools remain closed until September. Spaniards must limit their movements to within their province until lockdown is fully lifted. Germany Germany on 20 April allowed some smaller shops to reopen. Some schools will reopen on 4 May. Hairdressers will open again. Places of worship, museums, memorials, zoos, playgrounds can also reopen, or have already done so. Cultural centres, bars, restaurants, playgrounds and sports stadiums remain closed, and large gatherings are banned until at least 31 August. Wearing masks is obligatory on public transport and in shops. Austria Vienna has already authorised the reopening of certain non-essential businesses. Large food shops, hairdressers and outdoor sports facilities (tennis, golf) reopened this weekend. Travel restrictions have been lifted, gatherings of up to 10 people are allowed, with social distancing measures. Restaurants are expected to reopen in mid-May. Wearing masks is obligatory on public transport and in shops. Belgium Employees at businesses not open to the public will begin to return to their offices as of Monday, with the wearing of masks obligatory on public transport. Most shops will reopen from 11 May, provided they respect social distancing measures. Some schools will reopen on 18 May, with a maximum of 10 pupils per class. Restaurants will being reopening from 8 June at the earliest. Portugal Some small shops will be allowed to reopen on Monday as will hairdressers and car dealers.Wearing face masks will be mandatory on public transport. Senior schools, museums, bars, restaurants and art galleries will open their doors once more from 18 May. Cinemas will do so on 1 June, with rules on social distancing. Long-distance learning will remain the norm for primary and middle schools through to the end of the year. Poland Hotels, shopping centres, some cultural centres including libraries and certain museums will all open on Monday. As of Wednesday, créches and children's playgrounds will be allowed to open but the local authorities in charge of them have said that the majority will remain closed. Slovenia Outdoor spaces of cafés and restaurant will reopen Monday, as will hairdressers, museums, libraries and professional sports training. Wearing masks will be obligatory in enclosed public places, public transport and shops. Hungary Apart from in Budapest, outdoor spaces at cafes and restaurants will reopen on Monday, along with beaches and public baths. Professional sports training will start again. Wearing masks will be obligatory in public transport and shops. Croatia Some shops, museums, libraries and public transport reopened last week. Religious gatherings have been allowed since Saturday. On Monday, businesses involving close contact with customers such as hairdressers are allowed to open again. On 11 May, outdoor spaces at bars and restaurants will reopen and gatherings of up to 10 people will be allowed. Children's playgrounds and kindergartens will reopen on a voluntary basis. Serbia On Monday cafes and restaurants will reopen with social distancing measures in place. Public transport, inner-city trains and buses travelling long distances will also open with the wearing of masks mandatory. Shopping centres will reopen on 8 May and children's playgrounds on 11 May. Serbia's curfew will remain in place. Greece Nearly 10% of shuttered businesses will be allowed to reopen Monday, including hairdressers and beauty salons, libraries, electronic goods shops, sports shops and garden centres. On 11 May all other shops will be allowed to reopen apart from shopping centres, which can open again on 1 June. Nordic countries In Iceland, universities, museums and hairdressers will reopen on Monday. Denmark and Norway, which have only imposed partial confinement measures, have been among the first European countries to ease them. Danish children became the first to go back to school on 15 April. Read more:Live: Updates as they happen'Not looking good' for foreign travel in 2020 - HarrisLatest coronavirus stories
3 May 07:54 • RTE.ie • https://www.rte.ie/news/coronavirus/2020/0503/1136306-coronavirus-world/Rating: 2.47
Illinois governor: White House 'was not helpful' for many weeks on coronavirus response
3 May 15:36
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3 articles
Weight: 1.98
Importance: 1.98
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 18:29
Average US: 25.866666666666667
Weighted average US: 24.886818218270555
Average GB: 0.16666666666666666
Weighted average GB: 0.15636015987503332
Average IN: 1.5333333333333332
Weighted average IN: 2.482254785655163
Illinois governor: White House 'was not helpful' for many weeks on coronavirus response
Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker (D) said Sunday that for many weeks the White House "was not helpful" to states amid the coronavirus pandemic. "It’s the governors that have risen to the challenge," Pritzker said on CBS's "Face the Nation." "I talked to my fellow governors, Republicans and Democrats. We've shared ideas with one another on how to keep people safe." “We’ve gotten some guidance from the [Centers for Disease Control and Prevention] that's been helpful, but much of what came out of the White House for many weeks was not helpful,” he added. Pritzker blamed President Trump for failing to invoke the Defense Production Act, which the Democratic governor said would be helpful in getting states the necessary supplies to conduct COVID-19 tests. “We needed the White House to lead on the Defense Production Act to help us get swabs, to help us get [viral transport media], to help us get reagents. That really hasn't much happened,” Pritzker said. However, Pritzker said, the White House recently promised to send Illinois 600,000 swabs in May, which the governor said he is “very grateful for.” Pritzker said he appreciates the White House help but that it is not enough. He said the state is still competing against other states to get swabs and other necessary supplies. “I wish that the White House had stepped up earlier, and I think they still have the opportunity to do so when it comes to reagent,” he said. Pritzker said his state will “overcome this” and that he expects Illinois will be able to do tens of thousands more tests by midsummer.
3 May 15:36 • TheHill • https://thehill.com/homenews/state-watch/495867-illinois-governor-white-house-wasnt-helpful-on-coronavirus-responseRating: 1.94
IL Gov. Pritzker: Trump 'Was Not Helpful' on Coronavirus
Sunday on CBS’s “Face the Nation,” Gov. J. B. Pritzker (D-IL) said that “governors have risen to the challenge” of the coronavirus pandemic while President Donald Trump “was not helpful.” When asked if the federal government rose to the challenge of coronavirus, Pritzker said, “Well, it’s the governors who have risen to the challenge.” He continued, “I talk to my fellow governors, Republicans and Democrats, and we’ve shared ideas with one another about how to keep people safe. We’ve gotten some guidance from the CDC that has been helpful, but much of what came out of the White House for many weeks was not helpful. We needed the White House to lead on the Defense Production Act to help us get swabs and VTM, and reagents, and that hasn’t much happened.”He added, “Recently we got a call from the White House telling us in May they’re sending us 600,000 swabs, and I’m very grateful for that. We have overcome our challenges more recently and increased testing significantly. We’re among the top 10 states in America, and we’re number two for testing. We’ve got to get our contract tracing up and going, and then, as I say, we can reopen our economy as we see our hospitalizations begin to wane.” Follow Pam Key on Twitter @pamkeyNEN
3 May 15:58 • Breitbart • https://www.breitbart.com/clips/2020/05/03/il-gov-pritzker-trump-was-not-helpful-on-coronavirus/Rating: 0.30
'Not Helpful': Illinois Governor Slams White House's Handling of COVID-19 Response
As the US authorities continue their battle against the ongoing coronavirus crisis, Governor of Illinois J.B. Pritzker has stepped forward to criticize the White House's contribution to the anti-COVID-19 effort in the country. During his appearance on the CBS show "Face the Nation", Pritzker argued that "it’s the governors that have risen to the challenge". The governor also complained that they needed the White House to “lead on the Defense Production Act to help us get swabs, get VTM, to help us get reagents”, and that “that hasn't much happened”. Pritzker noted, however, that he's "very grateful" for the White House's recent promise to send 600,000 swabs to Illinois in May, though he added that while he appreciates the help provided by the White House, it's not enough. A number of social media users, however, appeared critical of the governor's speech and had some rather unpleasant things to say about him.
3 May 18:29 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/us/202005031079184372-not-helpful-illinois-governor-slams-white-houses-handling-of-covid-19-response/Rating: 3.96
Who Will Take Over from Ronaldo and Messi? Spanish Football Manager Names Next World's Best Player
3 May 12:44
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8 articles
Weight: 1.97
Importance: 1.98
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 12:44
Average US: 6.79
Weighted average US: 8.88509533793693
Average GB: 5.2025
Weighted average GB: 6.769486964527784
Average IN: 10.0825
Weighted average IN: 12.847355913215539
Who Will Take Over from Ronaldo and Messi? Spanish Football Manager Names Next World's Best Player
Unai Emery, the former Arsenal and Paris Saint-Germain coach, has named Brazilian football star Neymar as the likely successor to Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi. In an interview with Spanish newspaper Marca, Emery said that Neymar has all the chances to become the world's best player. The 28-year-old Neymar won seven titles with Barcelona before his transfer to Paris Saint-Germain in 2017, where he won three Ligue 1 titles while the club was coached by Emery. Lionel Messi is an Argentine forward who plays and captains both Spanish club Barcelona and his home country's national team. Cristiano Ronaldo is a Portuguese footballer who is a forward for Serie A club Juventus and captain of Portugal's national team. The two football stars have won 11 of the last 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them.
3 May 12:44 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/sport/202005031079181293-who-will-take-over-from-ronaldo-and-messi-spanish-football-manager-names-next-worlds-best-player/Rating: 3.96
"Lautaro wants to go to Barca, he's clear"
The former player Nicola Amoruso spoke about Lautaro Martinez's future to 'La Gazzetta dello Sport' and said that Argentine will end up leaving Inter Milan. Nicola Amoruso knows Antonio Conte well. Both played together at Juventus and Amoruso told 'La Gazzetta dello Sport' that there is a very good chance Conte will lose Lautaro in the summer. "Lautaro Martinezhas decided to leave for Barca and play together with Messi," Amoruso told 'La Gazzetta dello Sport'. "Antonio (Conte) is building a great team, but at Barca, he has the chance to go to a team which is built to win trophies and he can play alongside the best player in the world." As a former player, Amoruso thinks that Lautaro will go where he decides to go and that he has decided to go to the Catalan outfit. Main links "He has decided it and when a footballer wants to leave, in the end he ends up going," the former Juventus man said,. "Things have gone well for him at the club and he has done great things, so it will be painful, but he will leave. I'm sure Inter will replace him well," the former Atalanta, Parma, Torino and Napoli footballer concluded.
3 May 00:00 • BeSoccer • https://www.besoccer.com/new/lautaro-wants-to-go-to-barca-he-s-clear-829588Rating: 1.07
Neymar Jr: Unai Emery backs Brazilian star to take over from Messi, Ronaldo
- Neymar Jr has been backed to be the next world best after Ronaldo and Messi - The Brazilian has finished top three behind the duo during his reign at Barcelona - Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery is confident with PSG star is a worthy candidate for the tag Former Arsenal boss Unai Emery believes Paris Saint Germain winger Neymar Jr has what it takes to succeed Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's best player. The Brazilian is currently the world's most expensive footballer following his move from Barcelona to PSG in the summer of 2017. Both Messi and Ronaldo are already slowing down having stayed on top of their games well over one and a half-decade. PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! The superstars share 11 Ballon d'Or awards between themselves and these exclude other prestigious and globally recognised prizes. Super Eagles legend names his favourite teammate, and he is one of the most controversial players in history Meanwhile, the Spaniard who managed Neymar when he newly arrived from Spain three years ago said the forward has the quality to take over from the superstars who have dominated the top for too long. "The year I was with him [Neymar] was magnificent," the former Gunners boss told Spanish newspaper Marca. "I learned a lot from seeing his answers in each training session and in the matches. "Neymar has football inside, but also the faculties and the conditions to execute it. PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'Naija Football Fan' Read' "I think he is facing the opportunity to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best player in the world, and he has time to do it." During his reign at Camp Nou, Neymar won seven major titles including a Champions League in 2015 where he orchestrated their dramatic comeback against his present club then. Man United legend urges club to sign Super Eagles star and it is not Osimhen Legit.ng earlier reported that Lionel Messi's value in the transfer market has tumbled owing to the economic crisis caused by the outbreak of deadly coronavirus. The 32-year-old's current price tag stands below £101 million and this also affects several other top players in the industry. SunSport reports that the Barcelona legend is the only player above the age of 30 in the list of most expensive stars in the world at the moment. Should Ighalo be offered a permanent deal at Man United? Should he be persuaded back to the | Legit TV
2 May 22:56 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326277-neymar-jr-unai-emery-backs-brazilian-star-messi-ronaldo.htmlRating: 0.30
Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi's successor named by Unai Emery
Unai Emery has identified the star who will "take over" from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the world's best player. Messi and Ronaldo have dominated European football for over a decade, winning 11 of the last 12 Ballon d'Or awards between them. But the duo's time at top of the game is slowly coming to an end and Emery has identified a player he previously coached as the heir to the title of best in the world. The Spaniard has managed at Sevilla and Arsenal, where he was sacked last November after a poor run of form, but the player he has named as Messi and Ronaldo's successor comes from his time as Paris Saint-Germain boss. And that star is Brazil icon Neymar, who worked with Emery at Parc des Princes after joining PSG from Barcelona in a world-record £198m transfer in 2017. Emery discussed his "magnificent" season in charge of Neymar and insists that the forward has the ability to become the best player in the world. "The year I was with him [Neymar] was magnificent," Emery told Spanish newspaper Marca. "I learned a lot from seeing his answers in each training session and in the matches. We're testing a new site: This content is coming soon "Neymar has football inside, but also the faculties and the conditions to execute it. I think he is facing the opportunity to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best player in the world, and he has time to do it." Neymar is seven years younger than Ronaldo and four years younger than Messi at 28 years old and has enjoyed a glittering career so far. He won seven titles with Barcelona before moving to France and has won three Ligue 1 titles in a row after it was announced that PSG would be awarded this season's title despite the campaign being cancelled in the week. During their season together, Emery and Neymar won the domestic treble but the Spaniard left his role at the end of the campaign.
2 May 16:07 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messis-successor-21963610Rating: 2.39
Unai Emery reveals who will 'take over' from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi
Brazil superstar Neymar has been backed to ‘take over’ from Cristiano Ronaldo and Lionel Messi as the best player in the world by former Arsenal and PSG manager Unai Emery. Neymar started his career at Brazilian club Santos before moving to Barcelona in 2013 and winning two La Liga titles and the Champions League at the Nou Camp. The forward made a surprising move to PSG three years ago and has continued to impress in the French capital, scoring 69 goals in 80 matches and winning three successive league titles. Emery insists it was ‘magnificent’ working with Neymar while he was in charge of PSG and says the Brazilian can take over from Ronaldo and Messi as the best player on the planet. Ronaldo and Messi are two of the best players in the history of the game and have won 11 of the last 12 Ballon d’Or awards. ‘The year I was with him [Neymar] was magnificent,’ former Arsenal and PSG manager Emery told Marca. ‘I learned a lot from seeing his answers in each training session and in the matches. ‘Neymar has football inside, but also the faculties and the conditions to execute it. ‘I think he is facing the opportunity to take over from Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo to be the best player in the world, and he has time to do it.’ Emery won a number of trophies at PSG but struggled at Premier League club Arsenal and was sacked after just 16 months in charge. The Spaniard has been out of work since his axing in November 2019. On Thursday, Neymar’s PSG were awarded the Ligue 1 title after it was announced the season would not resume because of the coronavirus pandemic. PSG were 12 points clear at the top of the table when French football was suspended indefinitely on March 13. The club said in a statement that they wished to dedicate the title ‘to healthcare staff and all the everyday heroes on the front line’. Follow Metro Sport across our social channels, on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. For more stories like this, check our sport page.
2 May 14:33 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/neymar-backed-overtake-cristiano-ronaldo-lionel-messi-arsenal-psg-unai-emery-12645031/Rating: 2.18
Cristiano Ronaldo is no match for Brazilian legend Ronaldo - ex-Man United star Silvestre
- Cristiano Ronaldo is unarguable one of the best players football has seen so far - The Portuguese star has won virtually everything in football but the FIFA World Cup - Former teammate Silvestre believes his greatness cannot be compared to that of Brazil's Ronaldo Former Manchester United star Mikael Silvestre has insisted that Cristiano Ronaldo should never be compared to Brazilian legend Ronaldo de Lima. The 42-year-old former defender who also spent a couple of years at Arsenal played alongside both forwards at club and country levels. Silvestre was Cristiano's teammate at Old Trafford while he played with the former Barcelona and Inter Milan star at the national team level. He claimed the Portuguese star has just about three of four tricks he uses most of the times but with De Lima, it was a new style at every given chance. PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! Real Madrid legend Roberto Carlos names former Super Eagles star his toughest opponent The ex-Arsenal defender - who played with Cristiano at Man United - told MUTV Group Chat: "He was unstoppable. "You called him ‘El Fenomeno’ then. I played against Messi and I played with Cristiano at Manchester United. "But [Brazilian Ronaldo] is something else in terms of speed. Everything is top-level [with Ronaldo]. "Cristiano, maybe you can guess that he has three or four tricks he would use most of the time. "But Ronnie, it was always something different. “He was inventing things on the spot, so you can’t guide him left or right because he’s going to get out of these situations, no matter what. "He could score from any type of position. He was playing on one leg at some points and was still beating defenders all over Europe." Jose Mourinho also attested to this claim having named the former Barcelona forward as the best of all time. Super Eagles forward named among worst English Premier League players in history The Spurs boss worked with the Brazilian when he scored 47 goals in just 49 games for the Catalan club. PAY ATTENTION: Become a member of the leading sports Facebook group 'Naija Football Fan' Read' Ronaldo's brilliance helped Sir Bobby Robson win the Copa del Rey, Cup Winners' Cup and Supercopa de Espana. The former Chelsea boss also manage Cristiano at Real Madrid, but his reply when asked who he thought the greatest player of all time was, he said: "Ronaldo, El Fenomeno. "Cristiano Ronaldo and Leo Messi have had longer careers, they have remained at the top every day for 15 years. "However, if we are talking strictly about talent and skill, nobody surpasses Ronaldo [Nazario]. "When he was at Barcelona with Bobby Robson, I realised that he was the best player I'd ever seen take to the field. Taribo West makes fresh claims about Nigeria's 1998 World Cup squad after saying some players slept with women "Injuries killed a career that could have been even more incredible, but the talent that that 19-year-old boy had was something incredible." Legit.ng earlier reported that Jose Mourinho has snubbed the duo of Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo thereby picking Brazilian football legend Ronaldo Delima as the world's best player. The duo of Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are widely considered as the best players in the world at least for the past 15 years considering what they have achieved in their careers. But Jose Mourinho who is also one of the best managers in the world felt Ronaldo and Lionel Messi are not the best footballers in the world naming Delima Nasaro ahead of them. Should Ighalo be offered a permanent deal at Man United? Should he be persuaded back to the | Legit TV
2 May 10:37 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326175-cristiano-ronaldo-match-brazilian-legend-ronaldo---man-united-star-silvestre.htmlRating: 0.30
Neymar ready to usurp Messi and Ronaldo, says Emery
Unai Emery believes Neymar has the capacity to usurp Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world. Former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Emery worked with Neymar for his first season in France after the Brazil international's €222million move from Barcelona in 2017. The Spaniard, who left PSG in 2018 and went on to manage Arsenal, loved his experience with Neymar and continues to believe in the 28-year-old's world-class ability. "I had a magnificent year with him," Emery said, per EFE, in an interview with Granada coach Diego Martinez, who was his assistant at Sevilla. "I learned so much watching his responses in each training session and in games. "Neymar has the talent inside him but also the ability and qualities to execute it. "I think he's got an opportunity to take the baton from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and be the best player in the world, and he has the time to do it." Neymar has won six trophies in his three seasons at PSG, including a Ligue 1 title in each year. Champions League success has so far eluded him in France, though PSG had secured a quarter-final place in this season's competition before the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to major football. Published 02 May 2020, 16:50 ISTFeedback
2 May 11:20 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/neymar-ready-to-usurp-messi-and-ronaldo-says-emery?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Neymar ready to usurp Messi and Ronaldo: Emery
Neymar has time on his side as he looks to become the best player in world football, says his former coach Unai Emery. Unai Emery believes Neymarhas the capacity to usurp Lionel Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo as the best player in the world. Former Paris Saint-Germain head coach Emery worked with Neymar for his first season in France after the Brazil international's €222million move from Barcelona in 2017. The Spaniard, who left PSG in 2018 and went on to manage Arsenal, loved his experience with Neymar and continues to believe in the 28-year-old's world-class ability. Main links "I had a magnificent year with him," Emery said, per EFE, in an interview with Granada coach Diego Martinez, who was his assistant at Sevilla. "I learned so much watching his responses in each training session and in games. Neymar has the talent inside him but also the ability and qualities to execute it. "I think he's got an opportunity to take the baton from Messi and Cristiano Ronaldo and be the best player in the world, and he has the time to do it." Neymar has won six trophies in his three seasons at PSG, including a Ligue 1 title in each year. Champions League success has so far eluded him in France, though PSG had secured a quarter-final place in this season's competition before the coronavirus pandemic brought a halt to major football.
2 May 00:00 • BeSoccer • https://www.besoccer.com/new/neymar-ready-to-usurp-messi-and-ronaldo-emery-829230Rating: 1.07
Indian bank bad debt could double after coronavirus crisis
3 May 19:52
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7 articles
Weight: 1.97
Importance: 1.97
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:49
Average US: 4.385714285714286
Weighted average US: 3.24061337702519
Average GB: 0.04285714285714285
Weighted average GB: 0.07928813908497034
Average IN: 3.6571428571428566
Weighted average IN: 5.4710881927855874
Indian bank bad debt could double after coronavirus crisis
India expects bad debts at its banks could double after the coronavirus crisis brought the economy to a sudden halt, a senior government official and four top bankers told Reuters. Indian banks are already grappling with 9.35 trillion rupees ($123 billion) of soured loans, which was equivalent to about 9.1% of their total assets at the end of September 2019. "There is a considered view in the government that bank non-performing assets (NPAs) could double to 18-20% by the end of the fiscal year, as 20-25% of outstanding loans face a risk of default," the official with direct knowledge of the matter said. A fresh surge in bad debt could hit credit growth and delay India's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. "These are unprecedented times and the way it's going we can expect banks to report double the amount of NPAs from what we've seen in earlier quarters," the finance head of a top public sector bank told Reuters. The official and bankers declined to be named as they were not officially authorized to discuss the matter with media. India's finance ministry declined to comment, while the RBI and Indian Banks' Association, the main industry body, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The Indian economy has ground to a standstill amid a 40-day nationwide lockdown to rein in the spread of coronavirus cases. The lockdown has now been extended by a further two weeks, but the government has begun to ease some restrictions in districts that are relatively unscathed by the virus. India has so far recorded nearly 40,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,300 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
3 May 19:52 • Bdnews24 • https://bdnews24.com/economy/2020/05/03/indian-bank-bad-debt-could-double-after-coronavirus-crisisRating: 2.85
Indian bank bad debt could double after coronavirus crisis: sources
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI: India expects bad debts at its banks could double after the coronavirus crisis brought the economy to a sudden halt, a senior government official and four top bankers told Reuters. Indian banks are already grappling with 9.35 trillion rupees ($123 billion) of soured loans, which was equivalent to about 9.1% of their total assets at the end of September 2019. "There is a considered view in the government that bank non-performing assets (NPAs) could double to 18-20% by the end of the fiscal year, as 20-25% of outstanding loans face a risk of default," the official with direct knowledge of the matter said. A fresh surge in bad debt could hit credit growth and delay India's recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. "These are unprecedented times and the way it's going we can expect banks to report double the amount of NPAs from what we've seen in earlier quarters," the finance head of a top public sector bank told Reuters. The official and bankers declined to be named as they were not officially authorized to discuss the matter with media. India's finance ministry declined to comment, while the RBI and Indian Banks' Association, the main industry body, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The Indian economy has ground to a standstill amid a 40-day nationwide lockdown to rein in the spread of coronavirus cases. The lockdown has now been extended by a further two weeks, but the government has begun to ease some restrictions in districts that are relatively unscathed by the virus. India has so far recorded nearly 40,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,300 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. Read MoreIndia gears up for mega virus concert fundraiser with Jagger, Smith India, the world's second-most populous nation with 1.3 billion people, has reported almost 40,000 cases of the infectious disease with 1,301 deaths. Read MoreWith fighter jets and army bands, India's military thank health workers In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies. Read MoreHindu woman observes Ramadan in India A Hindu Brahmin woman is observing fasting during the Muslim holy month of Ramadan in a bid to promote communal harmony and peace among all faiths.
3 May 17:55 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Indian-bank-bad-debt-could-double-after-coronavirus-crisis-sourcesRating: 3.14
Indian bank bad debt could double in coronavirus crisis, say sources
MUMBAI, May 4 — India expects bad debts at its banks could double after the coronavirus crisis brought the economy to a sudden halt, a senior government official and four top bankers told Reuters. Indian banks are already grappling with 9.35 trillion rupees (RM531.8 billion) of soured loans, which was equivalent to about 9.1 per cent of their total assets at the end of September 2019. “There is a considered view in the government that bank non-performing assets (NPAs) could double to 18-20 per cent by the end of the fiscal year, as 20-25 per cent of outstanding loans face a risk of default,” the official with direct knowledge of the matter said. A fresh surge in bad debt could hit credit growth and delay India’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. “These are unprecedented times and the way it’s going we can expect banks to report double the amount of NPAs from what we’ve seen in earlier quarters,” the finance head of a top public sector bank told Reuters. The official and bankers declined to be named as they were not officially authorised to discuss the matter with media. India’s finance ministry declined to comment, while the Reserve Bank of India and Indian Banks’ Association, the main industry body, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The Indian economy has ground to a standstill amid a 40-day nationwide lockdown to rein in the spread of coronavirus cases. The lockdown has now been extended by a further two weeks, but the government has begun to ease some restrictions in districts that are relatively unscathed by the virus. India has so far recorded nearly 40,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,300 deaths from Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. ‘Riding the tiger’ Bankers fear it is unlikely that the economy will fully open up before June or July, and loans, especially those to small — and medium-sized businesses which constitute nearly 20 per cent of overall credit, may be among the worst affected. This is because all 10 of India’s largest cities fall in high-risk red zones, where restrictions will remain stringent. A report by Axis Bank said that these red zones, which contribute significantly to India’s economy, account for roughly 83 per cent of the overall loans made by its banks as of December. One of the sources, an executive director of a public sector bank, said that economic growth had been sluggish and risks had been heightened, even ahead of the coronavirus crisis. “Now we have this Black Swan event which means without any meaningful government stimulus, the economy will be in tatters for several more quarters,” he said. McKinsey & Co last month forecast India’s economy could contract by around 20 per cent in the three months through June, if the lockdown was extended to mid-May, and growth in the fiscal year was likely to fall 2 per cent to 3 per cent. Bankers say the only way to stem the steep rise in bad loans is if the RBI significantly relaxes bad asset recognition rules. Banks have asked the central bank to allow all loans to be categorised as NPAs only after 180 days, which is double the current 90-day window. “The lockdown is like riding the tiger, once we get off it we’ll be in a difficult position,” a senior private sector banker told Reuters. — Reuters
3 May 23:20 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/money/2020/05/04/indian-bank-bad-debt-could-double-in-coronavirus-crisis-sources/1862728Rating: 1.42
Indian bank bad debt could double after coronavirus crisis
Mumbai: India expects bad debts at its banks could double after the coronavirus crisis brought the economy to a sudden halt, a senior government official and four top bankers told Reuters. Indian banks are already grappling with 9.35 trillion rupees ($123 billion) of soured loans, which was equivalent to about 9.1% of their total assets at the end of September 2019. “There is a considered view in the government that bank non-performing assets (NPAs) could double to 18-20% by the end of the fiscal year, as 20-25% of outstanding loans face a risk of default,” the official with direct knowledge of the matter said. A fresh surge in bad debt could hit credit growth and delay India’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. “These are unprecedented times and the way it’s going we can expect banks to report double the amount of NPAs from what we’ve seen in earlier quarters,” the finance head of a top public sector bank told Reuters. The official and bankers declined to be named as they were not officially authorized to discuss the matter with media. India’s finance ministry declined to comment, while the RBI and Indian Banks’ Association, the main industry body, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The Indian economy has ground to a standstill amid a 40-day nationwide lockdown to rein in the spread of coronavirus cases. The lockdown has now been extended by a further two weeks, but the government has begun to ease some restrictions in districts that are relatively unscathed by the virus. India has so far recorded nearly 40,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,300 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus.
3 May 15:08 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/business/banking/indian-bank-bad-debt-could-double-after-coronavirus-crisis-1.71307012Rating: 3.21
Indian bank bad debt could double after coronavirus crisis -sources
MUMBAI/NEW DELHI — India expects bad debts at its banks could double after the coronavirus crisis brought the economy to a sudden halt, a senior government official and four top bankers told Reuters. Indian banks are already grappling with 9.35 trillion rupees ($123 billion) of soured loans, which was equivalent to about 9.1% of their total assets at the end of September 2019. “There is a considered view in the government that bank non-performing assets (NPAs) could double to 18-20% by the end of the fiscal year, as 20-25% of outstanding loans face a risk of default,” the official with direct knowledge of the matter said. A fresh surge in bad debt could hit credit growth and delay India’s recovery from the coronavirus pandemic. “These are unprecedented times and the way it’s going we can expect banks to report double the amount of NPAs from what we’ve seen in earlier quarters,” the finance head of a top public sector bank told Reuters. The official and bankers declined to be named as they were not officially authorized to discuss the matter with media. India’s finance ministry declined to comment, while the RBI and Indian Banks’ Association, the main industry body, did not immediately respond to emails seeking comment. The Indian economy has ground to a standstill amid a 40-day nationwide lockdown to rein in the spread of coronavirus cases. The lockdown has now been extended by a further two weeks, but the government has begun to ease some restrictions in districts that are relatively unscathed by the virus. India has so far recorded nearly 40,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 1,300 deaths from COVID-19, the respiratory disease caused by the coronavirus. (Reporting by Nupur Anand and Manoj Kumar; additional reporting by Nidhi Verma; Editing by Euan Rocha and Alexander Smith)
3 May 14:49 • Financial Post • https://business.financialpost.com/pmn/business-pmn/indian-bank-bad-debt-could-double-after-coronavirus-crisis-sourcesRating: 0.94
It's a bloodbath as R100bn expected to flow out of SA
This week could see R100 billion flow out of South Africa because of the “junk” status of the country’s debt. The rand could well weaken to about R19.50 against the dollar, and further downgrades in the future aren’t out of the question, say analysts. Credit ratings agency Moody’s Investors Service’s downgrade of the country’s sovereign debt at the end of March finally dumped the nation into full junk status. This week, S&P Global downgraded our foreign and domestic state debt deeper into junk status and said that, although the country had done well to combat the Covid-19 coronavirus from a medical point of view, it would be difficult to handle the long-term economic fallout of the five-week lockdown. This was because South Africa was in a weak economic position even before the lockdown, it said. Government announced a stimulus package of R500 billion to handle the crisis and will have to borrow much of it, including through the issuing of bonds to foreign investors. Various institutional investors such as pension funds, exchange-traded funds and funds that follow specific indices are not allowed to invest in bonds that are below investment grade Junk status means that South Africa’s government bonds on Thursday dropped out of the FTSE World Government Bond Index (WGBI). Various institutional investors such as pension funds, exchange-traded funds and funds that follow specific indices are not allowed to invest in bonds that are below investment grade. To date, it’s been estimated that these investors will therefore have to get rid of between R30 billion and R100 billion in bonds, said George Herman, investment head at Citadel. Many people think investors started dropping the bonds since the Moody’s announcement on March 27, but, according to Herman, these have really been discretionary investors and hedge funds – money that flows quickly in and out – who got rid of all high-risk assets. Between April 22 and 24, when the WGBI was rebalanced, foreigners only sold about R12 billion of South African government bonds. Herman expects institutional investors to get rid of their holdings this week, which could lead to as much as R100 billion flooding out of the country and giving the rand a pounding. He predicts a weakening of the rand to about R19.50 to the dollar. At one point on Wednesday, it was still trading at R18.11. Herman thinks institutional investors were slow to react because they didn’t know what country’s government bonds would replace South Africa’s. Now that they know it is Israel, they are expected to start selling this week. Read: Battered by economic storms Nolan Wapenaar, a fund manager at Anchor Capital, is of the opinion that a good deal of the money has already left the country. In the six months between the announcement that South African bonds would become part of the WGBI and the bonds finally being taken up, investors increased their exposure to South African government bonds very gradually. “It’s reasonable to expect that the same has happened and that they have got rid of it over time.” Mexico looks like the next country that will drop out of the WGBI. Wapenaar is of the opinion that the focus will now shift to Mexico and Israel, and South Africa will be forgotten. He said S&P’s further downgrade was also expected. The good news is that they changed the outlook of the debt from negative to stable. This indicates that South Africa has reached the turning point at the bottom of the curve. And Wapenaar expects a further downgrade from Moody’s, but not from Fitch Ratings and S&P. The investment pool gets smaller as your credit rating worsens. Annabel Bishop, an economist from Investec, said that credit downgrades would generally make it more difficult to do business in South Africa: the cost of debt rises, markets are more turbulent and this makes the country more susceptible to further downgrades. S&P said the Covid-19 crisis had curtailed South Africa’s growth prospects as a result of the long lockdown, poorer than expected external demand and strict credit requirements. It also expects the economy to contract by 4.5% and the budget deficit to rise to 13.3% of GDP. State debt could be as high as 75% of GDP by the end of the year, and reach 84.7% by 2023, which raises questions about the sustainability of these debt levels. By 2023, interest rates could make up 6.5% of GDP (or 22% of total government revenue), as opposed to 4.1% of GDP (14% of total revenue) last year. Quick, sustained economic growth of more than 3%, and closer to 5%, is necessary [for South Africa to regain investment status]Annabel Bishop, an economist from Investec Bishop writes in a note that interest repayments on South Africa’s higher debt occasioned by increased expenses brought about by Covid-19 would have been easy to afford if South Africa had not been dumped into junk status due to years of excessive expenditure, accompanied by state capture, corruption, and fruitless and wasteful expenditure. Bishop believes it will take a long time for South Africa to regain investment status. “Quick, sustained economic growth of more than 3%, and closer to 5%, is necessary to get there eventually.” Peter Attard Montalto from Intellidex said an emergency budget that shows how the R500 billion in stimulus measures will be financed should actually see the light earlier than July, but this was an indication of how difficult reallocating R130 billion from the current budget would be. According to Montalto, the Land and Agricultural Development Bank of SA, which this week indicated that it could not meet its debt obligations, will receive a R1 billion lifeline from the state this year. Although it is uncertain what will happen to other state-owned enterprises (SOEs) like SAA, he welcomed the minister of finance’s general statement that dysfunctional SOEs would be sold. Intellidex also estimates that state revenue collection could decline by as much as 11% this year. Edward Kieswetter, commissioner of the SA Revenue Service (Sars), this week told Netwerk24 that Sars had already lost more than R1.5 billion in revenue because of the ban on the sale of tobacco and alcohol. If we can’t turn our debt situation around, then there are only unhappy options left over: you print money, or you accept aid from the International Monetary Fund or from China, which comes with a lot of conditionsNolan Wapenaar, a fund manager at Anchor Capital Wapenaar added that it was now a priority to drive economic growth and create jobs by implementing the correct policies. Poor revenue collection is a major economic threat because it will leave the state with even less fiscal room. With state debt rising to close to 80% of GDP, this does not bode well for the future. History shows that problems in developing countries become too big once debt rises to close to 100% of GDP. “Where we previously had 10 years to improve the fiscal position, we now have half of that. "If we can’t turn our debt situation around, then there are only unhappy options left over: you print money, or you accept aid from the International Monetary Fund or from China, which comes with a lot of conditions.” S&P did, however, change the outlook from negative to stable, thanks to a credible and consistent Reserve Bank, a currency that is actively traded, and deep capital markets that will help bring about gradual external and fiscal adjustments. It said the credit rating could improve if government’s reforms succeed in turning around the upward trajectory of state debt as a percentage of GDP, and if employment and productivity improved substantially and lead to higher per capita GDP growth in real terms.
3 May 09:00 • CityPress • https://city-press.news24.com/Business/its-a-bloodbath-as-r100bn-expected-to-flow-out-of-sa-20200503Rating: 0.30
Govt to cap relief package at $60 billion to protect credit rating: Report
The Indian government is likely to cap its overall spending on coronavirus-related relief at around 4.5 trillion rupees ($60 billion), due to concerns that excess spending could trigger a sovereign rating downgrade, two senior government officials said. "We have to be cautious as downgrades have started happening for some countries and rating agencies treat developed nations and emerging markets very differently," the first official told Reuters. On Tuesday, Fitch warned India's sovereign rating could come under pressure if its fiscal outlook deteriorates further as the government tries to steer the country through the coronavirus crisis. "We have already done 0.8% of GDP, we might have space for another 1.5%-2% GDP," the official, who is involved in preparing the package said, referencing the 1.7 trillion rupee outlay that the government announced in March that was directed at helping the poor via cash transfers and food grain distribution. The stimulus plans yet to be outlined are likely to be aimed at helping people who have lost their jobs, as well as both small and large companies, via tax holidays and other measures, said both officials. They did not wish to be named as the matter is still under discussion. A spokesman for the finance ministry declined to comment. Fitch and Standard & Poor's both have India pegged at an investment grade rating that is one notch above a junk rating, while Moody's Investors Service is the only major rating agency that has India's rating two notches above junk. With a 40-day nationwide lockdown bringing the $2.9 trillion economy to a standstill, and the lockdown in many of India's big cities likely to be extended, many economists expect the economy to stagnate, or even shrink this year, putting further pressure on government finances. The second official said government revenues are in a tight position given "very weak" tax collections, and the fact that a 2.1 trillion privatisation programme planned for this fiscal year, now looks like it will be a non-starter. The government has cut salaries of lawmakers including the prime minister and the president, and withheld raises for government employees and pensioners, in a drive to save as much as it can to control fiscal slippage. India has a fiscal deficit target of 3.5% of GDP for the current year that runs through March 2021, which it is most likely to miss due to weak revenue collections. In this economic situation, when revenues are falling, and the economy needs government support, the widening of the fiscal deficit is a foregone conclusion, the second official said. "Considering our higher fiscal deficit ... there is limited scope for government to spend," the second official told Reuters. India has reported over 35,000 cases and 1,147 confirmed deaths from the coronavirus.
2 May 17:49 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/business/story/india-set-to-cap-stimulus-package-at-60-billion-to-protect-credit-rating-report-1673776-2020-05-02Rating: 0.30
Rohit has an edge over Kohli in terms of impact in white-ball format, Gautam Gambhir says
3 May 13:29
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5 articles
Weight: 1.97
Importance: 1.97
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:29
Average US: 1.3399999999999999
Weighted average US: 2.7617602302508466
Average GB: 0.06
Weighted average GB: 0.15161416246488055
Average IN: 20.96
Weighted average IN: 39.5949516919728
Rohit has an edge over Kohli in terms of impact in white-ball format, Gautam Gambhir says
New Delhi: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit Sharma has been able to make more impact in white ball cricket compared to Virat Kohli despite Indian skipper’s staggering statistics in shorter formats. Gambhir, however, believes that Kohli will end up scoring more runs than Rohit. “For me white-ball cricket is all about impact. Kohli will end up getting many more runs than Rohit, and Kohli is among the greatest right now, but Rohit has an edge over Kohli because of the impact he has,” Gambhir told Sports Tak, according to India Today website. “I think he [Rohit] is the best white-ball cricketer in the world right now. He is not the greatest overall but at the moment he is the best. He is the only player to have hit 3 ODI double hundreds, 5 World Cup hundreds (in one edition) and he is also the only player, who once gets past 100-run mark, people say that he missed a double century.” Talking further about Kohli and Rohit, the 2011 World Cup winner said: “It is very difficult to compare both of them. Virat Kohli is unbelievable. His stats prove that. “But when your reputation is such that when you get out after a hundred, people say he has missed out on double hundred, that speaks volumes about you.” The 33-year-old Rohit has scored 9,115 runs from 224 ODIs at an average of 49.27 and a strike rate of 88.92. He has 29 hundreds and 43 fifties to his name. In T20Is, Rohit has scored 2,273 runs from 108 matches at an average of 32.62 and a strike rate of 138.78. The 31-year-old Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 11,867 runs from 248 ODIs at an average of 59.33 and a strike rate of 93.25. He has scored 43 centuries and 58 half centuries. Kohli has also scored 2,794 runs from 82 T20Is at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 138.24. The 38-year-old Gambhir, now a BJP Member of Parliament, gave credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Rohit’s successful career. “Where Rohit is today, it is because of MS Dhoni. One good thing about MS was that he always kept Rohit in the talks, even if he was not part of the team, he was always part of the group. He never let him get sidelined,” Gambhir said. It’s the backing of captain that makes or breaks a player, Gambhir said. “You can talk about the selection committee and team management, but if you do not have the backing from your captain then it is all useless. Everything is in the hands of the captain. How MS Dhoni had backed Rohit Sharma over a period of time, I do not think any player has been given such support.” Rohit made his ODI debut for India in 2007, but it was only after Dhoni promoted him as an opener in 2013 that his career turned around. He said Kohli and Rohit should groom youngsters in the current team in the same way Dhoni groomed them. “Rohit is the prime example of how a player’s fortunes can turn around if he is nurtured by the seniors. I hope the young cricketers in the current generation, be it Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson, they also get similar kind of support. “And now when Rohit is a senior, I expect him to back youngsters.”
3 May 13:29 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/sport/cricket/rohit-has-an-edge-over-kohli-in-terms-of-impact-in-white-ball-format-gautam-gambhir-says-1.71304671Rating: 3.21
Rohit Sharma has an edge over Virat Kohli in terms of impact in white-ball format: Gautam Gambhir
NEW DELHI: Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit Sharma has been able to make more impact in white ball cricket compared to Virat Kohli despite Indian skipper's staggering statistics in shorter formats. Gambhir, however, believes that Kohli will end up scoring more runs than Rohit. "... for me white-ball cricket is all about impact. Kohli will end up getting many more runs than Rohit, and Kohli is among the greatest right now, but Rohit has an edge over Kohli because of the impact he has," Gambhir told Sports Tak, according to India Today website. "I think he (Rohit) is the best white-ball cricketer in the world right now. He is not the greatest overall but at the moment he is the best. He is the only player to have hit 3 ODI double hundreds, 5 World Cup hundreds (in one edition) and he is also the only player, who once gets past 100-run mark, people say that he missed a double century." Explore Briefs Talking further about Kohli and Rohit, the 2011 World Cup winner said, "It is very difficult to compare both of them. Virat Kohli is unbelievable. His stats prove that. "But when your reputation is such that when you get out after a hundred, people say he has missed out on double hundred, that speaks volumes about you." The 33-year-old Rohit has scored 9115 runs from 224 ODIs at an average of 49.27 at a strike rate of 88.92. He has 29 hundreds and 43 fifties to his name. In T20Is, Rohit has scored 2273 runs from 108 matches at an average of 32.62 and a strike rate of 138.78. The 31-year-old Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 11867 runs from 248 ODIs at an average of 59.33 at a strike rate of 93.25. He has scored 43 centuries and 58 half centuries. Kohli has also scored 2794 runs from 82 T20Is at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 138.24. The 38-year-old Gambhir, now a BJP Member of Parliament, gave credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Rohit's successful career. "Where Rohit is today, it is because of MS Dhoni. One good thing about MS was that he always kept Rohit in the talks, even if was not part of the team, he was always part of the group. He never let him get sidelined," Gambhir said. It's the backing of captain that makes or breaks a player, Gambhir said. "You can talk about the selection committee and team management, but if you do not have the backing from your captain than it is all useless. Everything is in the hands of the captain. How MS Dhoni had backed Rohit Sharma over a period of time, I do not think any player has been given such support." Rohit made his ODI debut for India in 2007, but it was only after Dhoni promoted him as an opener in 2013 that his career turned around. He said Kohli and Rohit should groom youngsters in the current team in the same way Dhoni groomed them. "Rohit is the prime example of how a player's fortunes can turn around if he is nurtured by the seniors. I hope the young cricketers in the current generation, be it Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson, they also get similar kind of support. "And now when Rohit is a senior, I expect him to back youngsters."
3 May 09:31 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/rohit-sharma-has-an-edge-over-virat-kohli-in-terms-of-impact-in-white-ball-format-gautam-gambhir/articleshow/75516888.cms?utm_source=twitter.com&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=TOIDesktopRating: 0.30
Rohit has an edge over Kohli in terms of impact in white-ball format: Gautam Gambhir
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit Sharma has been able to make more impact in white ball cricket compared to Virat Kohli despite Indian skipper's staggering statistics in shorter formats. Gambhir, however, believes that Kohli will end up scoring more runs than Rohit. "... for me white-ball cricket is all about impact. Kohli will end up getting many more runs than Rohit, and Kohli is among the greatest right now, but Rohit has an edge over Kohli because of the impact he has," Gambhir told Sports Tak, according to India Today website. "I think he (Rohit) is the best white-ball cricketer in the world right now. He is not the greatest overall but at the moment he is the best. He is the only player to have hit 3 ODI double hundreds, 5 World Cup hundreds (in one edition) and he is also the only player, who once gets past 100-run mark, people say that he missed a double century." Talking further about Kohli and Rohit, the 2011 World Cup winner said, "It is very difficult to compare both of them. Virat Kohli is unbelievable. His stats prove that. "But when your reputation is such that when you get out after a hundred, people say he has missed out on double hundred, that speaks volumes about you." The 33-year-old Rohit has scored 9115 runs from 224 ODIs at an average of 49.27 at a strike rate of 88.92. He has 29 hundreds and 43 fifties to his name. In T20Is, Rohit has scored 2273 runs from 108 matches at an average of 32.62 and a strike rate of 138.78. The 31-year-old Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 11867 runs from 248 ODIs at an average of 59.33 at a strike rate of 93.25. He has scored 43 centuries and 58 half centuries. Kohli has also scored 2794 runs from 82 T20Is at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 138.24. The 38-year-old Gambhir, now a BJP Member of Parliament, gave credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Rohit's successful career. "Where Rohit is today, it is because of MS Dhoni. One good thing about MS was that he always kept Rohit in the talks, even if was not part of the team, he was always part of the group. He never let him get sidelined," Gambhir said. It's the backing of a captain that makes or breaks a player, Gambhir said. "You can talk about the selection committee and team management, but if you do not have the backing from your captain than it is all useless. Everything is in the hands of the captain. How MS Dhoni had backed Rohit Sharma over a period of time, I do not think any player has been given such support." Rohit made his ODI debut for India in 2007, but it was only after Dhoni promoted him as an opener in 2013 that his career turned around. He said Kohli and Rohit should groom youngsters in the current team in the same way Dhoni groomed them. "Rohit is the prime example of how a player's fortunes can turn around if he is nurtured by the seniors. I hope the young cricketers in the current generation, be it Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson, they also get similar kind of support. "And now when Rohit is a senior, I expect him to back youngsters."
3 May 15:08 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket/rohit-has-an-edge-over-kohli-in-terms-of-impact-in-white-ball-format-gautam-gambhir-833001.htmlRating: 2.25
Kohli will end up with more ODI runs but Rohit has an edge because of his impact, says Gambhir
Former India opener Gautam Gambhir feels that Rohit Sharma has had more impact in white ball cricket than captain Virat Kohli, despite Indian skipper’s staggering statistics in shorter formats. “... for me white-ball cricket is all about impact. Kohli will end up getting many more runs than Rohit, and Kohli is among the greatest right now, but Rohit has an edge over Kohli because of the impact he has,” Gambhir told Sports Tak, according to India Today website. “I think he [Rohit] is the best white-ball cricketer in the world right now. He is not the greatest overall but at the moment he is the best. He is the only player to have hit three ODI double hundreds, five World Cup hundreds [in one edition] and he is also the only player, who once gets past 100-run mark, people say that he missed a double century.” Talking further about Kohli and Rohit, the 2011 World Cup winner said, “It is very difficult to compare both of them. Virat Kohli is unbelievable. His stats prove that. But when your reputation is such that when you get out after a hundred, people say he has missed out on double hundred, that speaks volumes about you.” Also read: The arcs of Virat Kohli and Rohit Sharma’s wildly contrasting ODI careers are finally meeting The 33-year-old Rohit has scored 9115 runs from 224 ODIs at an average of 49.27 at a strike rate of 88.92. He has 29 hundreds and 43 fifties to his name. In T20Is, Rohit has scored 2273 runs from 108 matches at an average of 32.62 and a strike rate of 138.78. The 31-year-old Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 11867 runs from 248 ODIs at an average of 59.33 at a strike rate of 93.25. He has scored 43 centuries and 58 half centuries. Kohli has also scored 2794 runs from 82 T20Is at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 138.24. The 38-year-old Gambhir, now a BJP Member of Parliament, gave credit to Mahendra Singh Dhoni for Rohit’s successful career. “Where Rohit is today, it is because of MS Dhoni. One good thing about MS was that he always kept Rohit in the talks, even if was not part of the team, he was always part of the group. He never let him get sidelined,” Gambhir said. “You can talk about the selection committee and team management, but if you do not have the backing from your captain than it is all useless. Everything is in the hands of the captain. How MS Dhoni had backed Rohit Sharma over a period of time, I do not think any player has been given such support.” Rohit made his ODI debut for India in 2007, but it was only after Dhoni promoted him as an opener in 2013 that his career turned around. He said Kohli and Rohit should groom youngsters in the current team in the same way Dhoni groomed them. “Rohit is the prime example of how a player’s fortunes can turn around if he is nurtured by the seniors. I hope the young cricketers in the current generation, be it Shubman Gill or Sanju Samson, they also get similar kind of support. “And now when Rohit is a senior, I expect him to back youngsters.” With PTI Inputs
3 May 10:59 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960912/kohli-will-end-up-with-more-odi-runs-but-rohit-has-an-edge-because-of-his-impact-says-gambhirRating: 0.30
Rohit Sharma has edge over Virat Kohli in white-ball cricket, says Gautam Gambhir
Rohit Sharma has an edge over Virat Kohli in cricket’s shorter formats even though Kohli will end up with more runs in his career, former India opener Gautam Gambhir said. He said this is because of the ‘impact’ Rohit has in ODIs and T20Is, adding that the current India opener is the ‘best white-ball cricketer in the world right now’. “For me white-ball cricket is all about impact. Kohli will end up getting many more runs than Rohit, and Kohli is among the greatest right now, but Rohit has an edge over Kohli because of the impact he has,” Gambhir told Sports Tak. “I think he (Rohit) is the best white-ball cricketer in the world right now. He is not the greatest overall but at the moment he is the best. He is the only player to have hit 3 ODI double hundreds, 5 World Cup hundreds (in one edition) and he is also the only player, who once gets past 100-run mark, people say that he missed a double century.” Gambhir also said that Kohli’s batting records speak enough about his class. The 33-year-old Rohit has scored 9115 runs from 224 ODIs at an average of 49.27 at a strike rate of 88.92. He has 29 hundreds and 43 fifties to his name. In T20Is, Rohit has scored 2273 runs from 108 matches at an average of 32.62 and a strike rate of 138.78. The 31-year-old Kohli, on the other hand, has scored 11867 runs from 248 ODIs at an average of 59.33 at a strike rate of 93.25. He has scored 43 centuries and 58 half centuries. Kohli has also scored 2794 runs from 82 T20Is at an average of 50.80 and a strike rate of 138.24. Gambhir also added that Rohit Sharma had prospered because of the backing he had received from MS Dhoni. “Where Rohit is today, it is because of MS Dhoni. One good thing about MS was that he always kept Rohit in the talks, even if was not part of the team, he was always part of the group. He never let him get sidelined,” Gambhir said. “I don’t think any player received such support,” he added. Speaking later in the chat, Gambhir also named his all-time Test XI for India. Gambhir’s all-time India Test XI – Sunil Gavaskar, Virender Sehwag, Rahul Dravid, Sachin Tendulkar, Virat Kohli, Kapil Dev, MS Dhoni, Harbhajan Singh, Anil Kumble (captain), Zaheer Khan and Javagal Srinath.
3 May 12:38 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/sports/cricket/rohit-sharma-better-virat-kohli-gautam-gambhir-6391976/Rating: 0.30
Pogba could have fewer suitors post-coronavirus - Juve chief
3 May 14:00
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7 articles
Weight: 1.95
Importance: 1.95
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:50
Average US: 8.582857142857142
Weighted average US: 12.53955611159201
Average GB: 19.595714285714287
Weighted average GB: 14.0153198664282
Average IN: 13.922857142857143
Weighted average IN: 21.736445664178294
Pogba could have fewer suitors post-coronavirus - Juve chief
Paul Pogba could have fewer suitors in the coming transfer window as clubs struggle to fund deals, according to Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici. Former Juve star Pogba has long been linked with a move away from current club Manchester United, with the Bianconeri, Inter and Real Madrid mooted as potential destinations. However, football has been suspended and in some cases abandoned for the season in Europe's top leagues amid the coronavirus pandemic. Elite clubs have been forced to seek agreements with players for wage cuts or deferrals in order to save money, with income from television deals in the balance and ticket sales unlikely to return soon. Paratici suggests Pogba is one example of a star name who could find his pathway blocked in the market. "[Pogba] is a great footballer, but this type of player could struggle to have the same interest as before," the Juve chief told Sky Sport Italia. Stressing a need to be "creative" with moves, Paratici explained: "In the near future, the transfer market will have less money. "We are going through a complicated time globally. We will have to rely on exchanges, on long loans. If you cannot buy a house, you rent. The same thing will happen in football. "It is a formula that will be used to dilute the payments and take advantage of the players required. "If we talk about the top 10 or 20 teams in the world exchanging players, the market values will not go down. "On the other hand, wages will drop, while if you sell a single player, his value could drop." World Cup winner Pogba is in his fourth season back at United, having returned to Old Trafford - where he came through the academy - after a successful four-year stint at Juve. While with the Serie A giants, Pogba won a quartet of Scudetti, two Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italianas and reached the 2014-15 Champions League final. Published 03 May 2020, 19:30 IST
3 May 14:00 • sportskeeda • https://www.sportskeeda.com/football/pogba-could-have-fewer-suitors-post-coronavirus-juve-chief?utm_source=feed&utm_medium=referral&utm_campaign=sportskeedaRating: 2.05
Juventus chief admits Paul Pogba wage demands are a problem
Pogba continues to be linked with a move away from Old Trafford, with Inter Milan, Paris Saint-Germain and Real Madrid believed to be interested in signing the 2018 World Cup winner this summer. Paratici, though, has claimed that the 27-year-old will struggle to find a club prepared to meet his salary demands due to the impact the coronavirus outbreak has had thus far and will continue to have in the coming months. "Pogba is a great player, but logically the salary demands someone of his level would've had before is now more difficult to get hold of, or at least he'll have fewer clubs prepared to pay that money." Paratici told Sky Sport Italia. Inter have allegedly emerged as the front runners for the France international as they are prepared to pay cash for the midfielder rather than offering a swap deal. Pogba, who could reportedly be available for £60m this summer, has not turned out for United in 2020 due to an ankle injury which ultimately required surgery. ID:398324:
3 May 18:24 • Sports Mole • https://www.sportsmole.co.uk/football/man-utd/transfer-talk/news/juve-chief-admits-pogba-wage-demands-are-a-problem_398324.htmlRating: 0.38
Paul Pogba sent transfer warning amid uncertain future at Man Utd
Paul Pogba has been warned he will have fewer options because of the financial impact of the coronavirus if he tries to quit Manchester United. Pogba attempted to leave United last summer and is wanted by Real Madrid and Juventus. Juventus’ chief football officer Fabio Paratici claims fewer clubs can afford Pogba’s wage demands because the shutdown is costing them millions. Pogba, 27, earns £290,000-a-week and Paratici says the landscape has changed. “Pogba is a great player, we know him as a champion,” Paratici told Sky Italia. “But something will change after the virus crisis because logically the salary demands someone of his level would have had before is now more difficult to get hold of, or at least he’ll have fewer clubs prepared to pay that money.” Paratici’s comments may be a ploy to persuade Pogba to lower his contract demands to secure a return to Juventus and he quit the Serie A giants in 2016 to rejoin United in a then world record £89million deal. Pogba claims he is still motivated to succeed, despite managing only eight appearances through injury before the shutdown. “We have got to stay motivated, there’s no other choice,” he said. “We don’t know how long it will be like this, but I still have goals in my head and one day hopefully this will stop. “And then we have to get back on the pitch, so we have to be ready. For myself, I have been out for a long time as well, so for me I just want to get back playing football.” Meanwhile, Marcos Rojo appears to have broken the lockdown rules in his native Argentina after the defender, who is on loan at Estudiantes, was filmed smoking and playing cards with a group of friends.
3 May 15:39 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/paul-pogba-sent-transfer-warning-21967214Rating: 2.39
Juventus make Paul Pogba Manchester United transfer admission
Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici has warned Manchester United midfielder Paul Pogba that any interested clubs may struggle to meet his salary demands due to the coronavirus crisis. Speculation over Pogba 's future continues with Real Madrid, Paris Saint-Germain and Juventus all linked with the Frenchman. Pogba's contract is due to expire next summer, though United have the option to extend it for a further year. MEN Sport understand United are yet to trigger the clause and are relaxed about his future. MEN Sport reported in February that the midfielder had told teammates he still wanted to leave the club after failing to secure a move last summer. Paratici believes Juventus and other interested parties may not be able to afford Pogba's wages if he does seek an exit in the upcoming transfer window. "Paul Pogba is a fantastic player, we know him as a champion," he told Sky Sport Italia . "But something will change after the coronavirus crisis, because logically the salary demands someone at his level would have had before is now more difficult to get hold of. "Or, at least, he’ll have fewer clubs prepared to pay that money." Cristiano Ronaldo is currently the top earner at the Serie A side and Paratici explained that Pogba could not be offered a similar salary to the former Manchester United superstar. The Italian feels clubs will need to find other solutions in the transfer market due to the financial climate. He added: "Cristiano is a different player to all the others. He brings incredible and exponential growth in revenue, representing a brand that is almost as big as a club. "Clubs will certainly have some more difficulties to deal with, so with less income, we’ll need to be more creative and elastic, finding a different formula for transfer deals. "I expect many exchanges of players, although obviously we can’t use the NBA draft because that is a closed system. "We should take more from the NBA and American sports in general. After all, the Premier League has this big advantage over the other leagues because they control the brand and represent the whole league rather than individual clubs."
3 May 14:24 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/pogba-man-utd-juventus-news-18192070Rating: 1.15
Arsenal in talks over summer sale of attacker in player-plus-cash deal
According to the Mirror, Arsenal have been in talks with Roma regarding the potential permanent sale of Henrikh Mkhitaryan as part of a player-plus-cash deal. The 31-year-old has been impressive for the Italian giants since joining on loan last summer, the Mirror add that the Gunners are ready to sell the star in a bid to raise transfer funds for the next window. It’s added that Roma are keen on keeping the playmaker in Italy on a permanent basis, manager Paul Fonseca confirmed as much in a recent interview, per the Daily Mirror. The Mirror suggest that Arsenal could receive around £10m for the Armenian star’s services, though Roma are yet to meet this valuation – which isn’t surprising considering the ace has just a year left on his contract. Whilst it’s reported that talks have been held regarding a player-plus-cash deal, the Mirror report that the Gunners would prefer a pure cash sale of Mkhitaryan. The Mirror add that as Mkhitaryan it out on loan, he wasn’t included in the discussions which led to most of Arsenal’s players agreeing a 12.5% pay cut for the next year in order to ease the financial impact that the Coronavirus pandemic has had on the Gunners. Based on this, we’d think that Arsenal should prioritise Mkhitaryan’s sale in the next transfer window as he’s a star that no longer plays an important first-team role and he’s reportedly one of their top earners. After difficult spells in England with both Manchester United and the Gunners, the ace has managed to rejuvenate himself in Italy – much like Roma teammate and Red Devils loanee Chris Smalling has. Despite some struggles with injuries earlier in the season, Mkhitaryan has bagged six goals and registered three assists from 17 appearances for Roma this season.
3 May 13:50 • CaughtOffside • https://www.caughtoffside.com/2020/05/03/arsenal-in-talks-over-summer-sale-of-attacker-in-player-plus-cash-deal/Rating: 0.46
Newcastle United plot stunning £26m transfer for Wolves target - reports
Newcastle United could table a stunning bid for long-term Wolverhampton Wanderers target Franck Kessie, according to reports. The midfielder has been linked to Wolves in each of the last two transfer windows with AC Milan reportedly ready to sell if the right offer comes in. It is believed that a fee of between £22m and £26m would be enough to sign the 23-year-old. Recent reports from Italy stated Kessie isn't likely to fit Ralf Rangnick's style with the German coach lined up to succeed Stefano Pioli as Milan boss. According to MilanLive, Newcastle could meet the Serie A side's demands to complete a deal in the next transfer window. The Magpies are in the process of being taken over by a wealthy consortium led by Amanda Staveley with backing from Saudi Arabia's Public Investment Fund. Kessie spent two seasons on loan at the San Siro before Milan completed his signing on permanent terms from Atalanta last year. As well as Wolves, Arsenal and West Ham United have also been linked with the Ivory Coast international who has made 25 appearances this season, scoring once.
3 May 17:03 • birminghammail • https://www.birminghammail.co.uk/sport/football/transfer-news/franck-kessie-newcastle-transfer-wolves-18192838Rating: 0.34
Pogba could have fewer suitors post-coronavirus - Juve chief
Paul Pogba could have fewer suitors in the coming transfer window as clubs struggle to fund deals, according to Juventus sporting director Fabio Paratici. Former Juve star Pogba has long been linked with a move away from current club Manchester United, with the Bianconeri, Inter and Real Madrid mooted as potential destinations. However, football has been suspended and in some cases abandoned for the season in Europe's top leagues amid the coronavirus pandemic. Elite clubs have been forced to seek agreements with players for wage cuts or deferrals in order to save money, with income from television deals in the balance and ticket sales unlikely to return soon. Paratici suggests Pogba is one example of a star name who could find his pathway blocked in the market. "[Pogba] is a great footballer, but this type of player could struggle to have the same interest as before," the Juve chief told Sky Sport Italia. Stressing a need to be "creative" with moves, Paratici explained: "In the near future, the transfer market will have less money. "We are going through a complicated time globally. We will have to rely on exchanges, on long loans. If you cannot buy a house, you rent. The same thing will happen in football. "It is a formula that will be used to dilute the payments and take advantage of the players required. "If we talk about the top 10 or 20 teams in the world exchanging players, the market values will not go down. "On the other hand, wages will drop, while if you sell a single player, his value could drop." World Cup winner Pogba is in his fourth season back at United, having returned to Old Trafford - where he came through the academy - after a successful four-year stint at Juve. While with the Serie A giants, Pogba won a quartet of Scudetti, two Coppa Italias, two Supercoppa Italianas and reached the 2014-15 Champions League final.
3 May 00:00 • SportsMax • https://sportsmax.tv/index.php/football/international/item/61839-pogba-could-have-fewer-suitors-post-coronavirus-juve-chiefRating: 0.30
NGUKU: Remember the needs of pregnant women in virus war
3 May 19:59
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3 articles
Weight: 1.94
Importance: 2.70
Age penalty: 0.72
Best date: 3 May 08:03
Average US: 12.39
Weighted average US: 19.331120193644317
Average GB: 4.136666666666667
Weighted average GB: 6.357905979838397
Average IN: 31.723333333333333
Weighted average IN: 14.107292698170713
NGUKU: Remember the needs of pregnant women in virus war
It is almost inevitable that the Covid-19 pandemic will leave major scars in many countries’ health systems. As it spreads across the world, it is creating a massive public health problem, with those most vulnerable bearing the brunt of its effects. It is no news that the pandemic is leaving health systems stretched in the rush to control its spread while attending to the already affected populations. This means other health services may suffer the consequences of neglect as efforts are reorganised to bring the disease to a halt. A key component in the management of any infectious disease outbreak is the care of most-at-risk and vulnerable populations. These include pregnant women, newborns, young children, nursing mothers, people living with disabilities, the elderly, refugees, and migrants. Covid-19 is not an exception, with of most its casualties being the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions, the pregnant and young children. Previous epidemics of many emerging viral infections have typically resulted in poor maternal health outcomes. A case in point was the 2014-2016 Ebola crisis in Guinea, Liberia and Sierra Leone, which left many pregnant women casualties of one of the worst epidemics to hit these West African nations. BLEAK FUTURE Many women stayed away from health facilities as a result of quarantine restrictions or myths and misconceptions about the virus’ transmission, and were forced to take the riskier route of home deliveries. Although most of the human coronavirus infections have been mild, according to studies, the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Sarc-CoV) and Middle East respiratory syndrome coronavirus (Mers-CoV) epidemics of the past two decades were especially grave, with approximately a third of infected pregnant women dying from the illness. To prevent a massive outbreak and curb transmissibility of the disease, many governments the world over, including here in Kenya, have put in place critical measures to reduce exposure and transmission of the virus across populations. While these actions have been designed to slow the spread of the disease, there has been little consideration in terms of messaging about the realities of the most vulnerable populations, including pregnant women. With an estimated 3.6 billion people worldwide lacking access to essential health services and a shortfall of 12.9 health workers globally, according to the World Health Organisation, the current crisis will no doubt be an added burden to different clusters of the population, given their susceptibilities and the realities of the already overstretched health care systems. Though hospital visits may increase the chance of infection, the lack of proper healthcare during pregnancy and childbirth may lead to worse consequences, including unwarranted deaths and lifelong disabilities. SUSTAINING GAINS According to 2019 WHO maternal mortality estimates, about 810 women died every day from preventable causes related to pregnancy and childbirth in 2017, with 94 per cent of all maternal deaths occurring in low and lower middle-income countries like Kenya. Kenya has made gains in the fight to end maternal mortality, according to recent estimates, with a recorded drop to 5,000 annual maternal deaths. For these gains to be sustained, there must be a deliberate, focused and responsive prioritisation of essential and quality reproductive maternal newborn and child health (RMNCH) services during the current global crisis. Women living in poverty face more vulnerabilities, with discrimination, exclusion and marginalisation on access to and utilisation of maternal health services being a norm. With Covid-19’s indiscriminate and sustained spread across continents and within countries like Kenya, we are likely to see pregnant and nursing women infected across all trimesters of pregnancy. RMNCH services are critical and need not be overlooked during any crisis. This is because even in such times, sexual reproductive health services, like any other health services, will be needed. Further, pregnant women will need antenatal care services, they will deliver, and complications will most likely arise like in normal times. Hence, a well-managed response system in healthcare — one that does not lock out the existing systems, and which allows women access to essential reproductive maternal health care services with minimum exposure to risk is critical during this pandemic — is important. KEY ISSUES This will require a deliberate and sustained focus not to neglect these vulnerable groups of the population. It is essential that protocols for pregnancy and childbirth during the pandemic are evidence-based and uphold the human rights of all women and their newborn. The WHO website has this updated on a rolling basis for different audiences to learn from. The White Ribbon Alliances-led "What Women Want Campaign" (2019) unearthed critical issues that need prioritisation for quality reproductive health to be realised in Kenya. Water, sanitation and hygiene in healthcare facilities — a top preventive measure in the current pandemic — respect and dignity, security for mothers and newborns, and provision of right information and menstrual hygiene were pointed as critical aspects that must be addressed to achieve positive maternal health outcomes. These need to be integrated in the current Covid-19 responsiveness. They should be coupled with the availability of an adequate, competent, supported and protected health workforce, which will be key to ensuring these services are available as and when needed. The government of Kenya should ensure that systems are instituted to facilitate access to essential reproductive maternal child health services, even in the prevailing travel restrictions and curfews. Failure to give these services the priority they deserve will leave more far-reaching consequences, including reversing the gains made so far in reproductive maternal newborn and child health. Ms Nguku is the founder and executive director of White Ribbon Alliance Kenya; anguku@whiteribbonalliance.org
3 May 19:59 • Daily Nation • https://www.nation.co.ke/oped/opinion/Remember-the-needs-of-pregnant-women-in-virus-war-/440808-5540674-hovmye/index.htmlRating: 1.96
Lockdown taking a toll on women's mental health
For working women, it becomes challenging to juggle both responsibilities. For home makers, the burden of the pre-existing thankless, unpaid work increases twofold. For all women, the heightened stress level of the burden of care, work and coping with the pandemic has an extremely negative impact on mental health Unarguably, the pandemic has been devastating across the world, affecting everyone irrespective of any parameter. Dishaa Desai, psychologist and outreach associate, Mpower - The Centre, Mumbai, talks about some brutal inequalities in societies all over the world on different constraints, including the various ways in which affects women's mental health: Domestic violence and abusive relationships While home is a safe haven where the dwellers unwind and be at peace alleviating emotional and physical stresses, however, for many, it ceases to be a place of security and turns into one of danger, with nowhere to go. This period of quarantine has seen a twofold rise in cases of domestic violence, across India, according to the National Commission of Women (NCW). The chairperson of the NCW has reported that many women are unable to go to the police during this lockdown and also fear an increase in abuse if they do. Forced to be at home and being disconnected with their social support network, victims of intimate partner violence find themselves completely helpless. Abuse can also take many different forms, especially when partners are forced to stay together during the lockdown. Apart from punching, slapping, throwing objects, physical abuse can also include being locked out of the house and even withholding money, food, medicine, soap, sanitiser, etc,. Psychological abuse could include using the heightened stress of the pandemic to justify the abusive behaviour; ex-partners may also use the pandemic as a reason to 'reconcile' or 'help with the kid(s)'. Burden of care Globally, women have been found to be the primary caretakers in home environment. Especially in India, the lockdown has a clear cut gendered lens since the burden of care falls on women and there is really no equitable distribution of responsibilities. According to The Organisation of Economic Cooperation and Development's survey (2015), Indian women engage in six extra hours of unpaid care work (i.e. housework) as compared to Indian men who have been found to contribute barely an hour's work per day. For working women, it becomes challenging to juggle both responsibilities. For home makers, the burden of the pre-existing thankless, unpaid work increases twofold. For all women, the heightened stress of the burden of care, work and coping with the pandemic has an extremely negative impact on mental health. Disruption in women's health services During this pandemic, all health services and resources are being diverted to deal with the outbreak and mounting cases. While this is the need of the hour, this also leads to outcomes such as a disruption in reproductive health services for women, riskier home births resulting in maternal and infant mortality, exposure to the virus whilst being in an already physically vulnerable state (i.e. being pregnant) and an unmet need for contraception (UNFPA). On an individual level, it is equally important to view the steps you can take, as a member of your family, to ease the burden of care on the women in your family as well as being vigilant of the signs of the different types of abuse in one's own personal dynamic, family dynamic and even for fellow female friends.
3 May 19:32 • The Hans India • https://www.thehansindia.com/featured/womenia/lockdown-taking-a-toll-on-womens-mental-health-620592Rating: 1.10
While the west fixates on Covid-19, vulnerable countries pay the price
People in low-income and conflict-affected countries have so far largely escaped the high levels of Covid-19 infection seen in western Europe and the US, although this may be changing.The pandemic is killing them in different ways: lost jobs, ruined businesses, increased poverty, rising malnutrition and risk of famine, and a prospective increase in untreated, non-Covid preventable illnesses. For many of the most vulnerable, the developed world’s cures are proving worse than the disease. At the extreme, families must choose between going hungry and getting ill. And their plight is exacerbated by Covid-style “underlying conditions” – chronic, pre-existing political, security, economic, and climate problems that grow ever more unsustainable. A Covid tidal wave may be about to hit sub-Saharan Africa and other less resilient regions, the International Rescue Committee warned last week. Without urgent international action, the virus could cause 1bn infections and 3.2m deaths in 34 fragile states, including Afghanistan and Syria, it said.The World Health Organization has issued similar alerts. Yet even if these worst-case outcomes are somehow avoided, poorer countries already face enormous collateral damage. According to UN estimates, half a billion people, or 8% of the world’s population, could be pushed into destitution by the year’s end, largely due to the pandemic. The fight against poverty would be set back 30 years. The crisis could produce famines of “biblical proportions”, with the number of people facing hunger almost doubling to more than 250 million, the World Food Programme (WFP) said. Shortfalls in donor funding and food aid meant 30 million people could die within a matter of months, it added. Vanishing demand, collapsed distribution chains, and disrupted export markets are pushing people to the brink, affecting groups as diverse as Ethiopian and Kenyan flower producers, Sri Lankan tea-growers, and Bangladeshi garment workers whose contracts have reportedly been cancelled by UK supermarkets.The Democratic Republic of the Congo, Sudan, South Sudan, Nigeria, Venezuela and Haiti are among the countries most at risk, the WFP said: “Millions can only eat if they earn a wage.”War-torn Yemen is worse off than most. About 12 million Yemenis rely on food aid that is threatened by renewed fighting. A repeat cholera outbreak is under way. The detection last week of a Covid-19 cluster in Aden may be the least of its worries.South Sudan is another conflict-scarred country with little or no capacity to handle a Covid-19 emergency. In 2019, 61% of the population faced food insecurity. Drought and locust infestations were contributory factors. Yet with only 34 confirmed Covid cases so far, and no deaths, South Sudan’s main worry at present is the pandemic’s indirect impact on humanitarian aid, food supply and livelihoods.This perspective is shared by many in South Africa, the continent’s second largest economy. The official death toll is just over 100, yet the government’s lockdown is said to be costing £570m a day. Some restrictions were eased last Friday amid fears that 1.7 million people could lose the means to make a living.Looked at globally, the pandemic’s impact on jobs is devastating. The International Labour Organization reported last week that 1.6 billion workers in the informal economy – nearly half the world’s total workforce of 3.3 billion – “stand in immediate danger of having their livelihoods destroyed”. “The first month of the crisis is estimated to have resulted in a drop of 60% in the income of informal workers globally. This translates into a drop of 81% in Africa and the Americas,” it said.If lockdowns continue or expand, this situation will only get worse. More than 436 million enterprises were at risk, the ILO’s Guy Ryder said. “For millions of workers, no income means no food, no security, and no future.” The west’s self-absorption threatens to obscure the virus’s harmful impact on treatment of non-Covid, preventable diseases. Just as UK cancer deaths are forecast to rise due to a diversion of resources, so measles and other immunisation programmes in poorer nations are being undercut. The WHO announced last week that polio vaccinations for up to 12 million children in Africa will be delayed as resources are switched to fighting Covid-19. It admitted the move would inevitably lead to more child polio cases. Disrupted vaccination programmes have frequently led to “explosive” outbreaks of life-threatening diseases previously held in abeyance, warned vaccine specialist Edward Parker. “Without systematic efforts to maintain immunisation programmes, the virus’s legacy could include a disastrous surge in childhood deaths.”The pandemic is providing cover for malign governments to pursue or accelerate policies that place lives at risk, regardless of Covid-19. A striking example is Myanmar, where the army has renewed its repression of minorities in Rakhine and Chin states. Yanghee Lee, the UN’s human rights rapporteur, said last week she feared a repeat of the alleged genocide in 2017 when 700,000 Rohingya Muslims were forced to flee. The resulting densely populated refugee camps created in next-door Bangladesh are potentially lethal Covid-19 hotspots. And Kashmir reveals more Covid collateral damage. The continuation of last year’s illegal Indian government lockdown is now justified by the need to contain the disease. Spiralling mental health problems, including depression, anxiety, suicide, and domestic violence, are among the results.Not to be left out, the Trump administration is ignoring a UN call to lift sanctions on struggling, virus-hit countries such as Iran, Cuba and Venezuela while also blocking a global ceasefire.World Bank and IMF billions offered in assistance and debt relief to poorer countries and fragile states cannot begin to repair all this hurt. Right now, western responses to the virus are imperilling more people worldwide than the virus itself.
3 May 08:03 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/may/03/while-the-west-fixates-on-covid-19-vulnerable-countries-pay-the-priceRating: 5.39
Philippines coronavirus cases surpass 9,000, death toll rises
3 May 08:24
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Philippines coronavirus cases surpass 9,000, death toll rises
MANILA (Reuters) - The number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines climbed to 9,223 after the Health Ministry reported 295 new infections on Sunday. The ministry also recorded four more deaths related to COVID-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the tally to 607. Another 90 people recovered, it added, bringing total recoveries to 1,214.
3 May 08:24 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-philippines-cases-idUSKBN22F08MRating: 4.04
Philippines coronavirus cases surpass 9,000, death toll rises
MANILA, May 3 — The number of coronavirus cases in the Philippines climbed to 9,223 after the Health Ministry reported 295 new infections today. The ministry also recorded four more deaths related to Covid-19, the disease caused by the new coronavirus, bringing the tally to 607. Another 90 people recovered, it added, bringing total recoveries to 1,214. — Reuters
3 May 09:48 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/philippines-coronavirus-cases-surpass-9000-death-toll-rises/1862626Rating: 1.42
Egypt's coronavirus cases surpass 6,000
Cairo – Mubasher: The Egyptian Ministry of Health confirmed the detection of 298 new coronavirus (COVID-19) cases and nine new deaths. In addition, 62 cases recovered and were discharged from the quarantine hospital during the last 24 hours, the spokesman of the health ministry Khaled Megahed said in a statement on Saturday. The total number of infections reached 6,193, including 1,522 recoveries and 415 deaths. Source: Mubasher Source: {{details.article.source}}
3 May 10:46 • english.mubasher.info • https://english.mubasher.info/news/3635648/Egypt-s-coronavirus-cases-surpass-6-000?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+en%2FTDWL%2Fnews+%28TDWL+News+English%29Rating: 1.94
Furloughed from work? It pays to know your rights
3 May 08:00
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Furloughed from work? It pays to know your rights
Until the coronavirus rampaged through the economy, “furlough” was an unused term in UK employment law. Now it’s a legal lifeline for businesses in lockdown. Under the Coronavirus Job Retention Scheme (CJRS), the government will pay 80% of employee wages up to £2,500 a month, plus employer National Insurance and pension contributions. For companies, it means they can retain their workforce while they are unable to trade; for employees it means effective paid gardening leave, albeit with a hit to their income if their employer can’t top up the government grant. The scheme opened on 20 April and 67,000 claims were lodged within 30 minutes. However, the complex and evolving bailout rules have left many confused as to their rights. The Observer has put some of readers’ questions to Julia Wilson, an employment specialist at the international law firm, Baker McKenzie. My employer is requesting that all furloughed staff check in with their line manager every week, undertake online training and report back on what they’ve achieved. I am a furloughed manager and this will require me to continue providing employee support, plus researching appropriate online training for them. Is an employer allowed to require their employees to take on training and, if I do as requested, would I be jeopardising furlough pay by doing work? Your employer is, indeed, risking disqualification from the government grant since it’s asking you to perform regular services while on furlough. This is not permitted. Training is allowed, but only if it does not provide services to, or generate revenue for, the employer. It must also be directly relevant to an employee’s role and must be first agreed between the employer and the employee. The approach being taken by your employer doesn’t appear consistent to this. Your employer’s requests are probably well-intentioned to keep staff morale and motivation going, but if their actions disqualify them from a grant under the CJRS, you should still be entitled to furlough pay as it’s one of the conditions of the scheme. My partner has been furloughed from his job as a delivery driver at a builder’s merchant, but staff may be asked to return on rota after the minimum three-week furlough period is up. Can he be forced to return? We are concerned that the company is overstepping the guidelines by delivering non-essential supplies to customers which will put him at risk. The simple answer here is that the employer is allowed to ask your partner to return to work, and he will not normally have the right to choose or refuse. Employees can be rotated on furlough (three weeks on, three weeks off) or brought back to work as normal if the demand for work is there. Your partner should think carefully before refusing to return to work, as that could be treated as unauthorised absence. If he has serious health and safety concerns then he could refuse to work whilst the concerns are addressed - he should raise those so that his employer can respond. However, the fact that an employer has decided to stay open for business is not likely, by itself, to create the sort of health and safety concerns that would allow your partner to refuse to work. The government has published detailed guidance on social distance, shift-working and staggering processes that will support businesses to remain open for business safely. That includes specific guidance for delivery drivers. My partner started his new retail job on the 1 March and worked there full time for three weeks until the shop closed due to the pandemic. However, the furlough scheme only applies to those who were employed up until 28 February. We will be unable to stay in our flat as universal credit does not come close to covering his share of our rent. It seems ludicrous that 24 hours has meant the difference between a supporting wage and almost nothing. Your partner was in the same boat as an estimated 200,000 others who were left with no support because they’d just changed jobs, which is why the Treasury has now extended the cut-off date to 19 March. To qualify, the employee must have been on the PAYE payroll on or before 19 March so if your partner had been paid by that date he would certainly be eligible. If not, it’s less clear cut. However, new guidance permits employees who had left jobs to work elsewhere after the cut-off date, to be rehired and furloughed by their former employers.The decorating company I work for is now re-opening all stores and staff, who had been furloughed until the end of June, have to decide whether to return to work for a non-essential service or take unpaid leave. The company will only now furlough those who can provide evidence of their own or a household member’s risky health condition. I live with someone who meets the vulnerable criteria, but because they haven’t received a letter confirming this, I’m being forced to put theirs and my health at risk as I can’t afford to take unpaid leave. Unfortunately, there is no right for any employee to be furloughed, regardless of their personal circumstances. Your employer is acting reasonably in seeking to safeguard those at risk while trying to keep the business going. The issue seems to be that the person you live with has not received a letter confirming that they are at risk. This is an issue you need to raise with your local authority or their GP. If you have concerns about health and safety you should raise these with your employer, and if you believe there is a serious and imminent danger where you work you can remain at home until it is resolved. However, your employer’s decision to re-open or end furlough, by itself, is unlikely to count as such a danger. I work for a digital agency where my boss has placed employees from the design, development and accounts departments on furlough. However, I spotted on a local jobs page they are actively currently looking to hire a new developer. Is this allowed? There is nothing in the government guidance which prevents an employer from recruiting for new positions. The job may be a different role, skill set or one due to start when the furlough period ends, which would be fine. However, if they’re seeking someone to fulfil the role of a furloughed employee but on lower pay, that feels wrong and HMRC may decide the company had abused the scheme should it decide to audit its use of it. My employer went into administration on 25 March and I was made redundant. The government furlough guidance promisingly said that the administrator will be able to access the CJRS, but the administrators say that it only applies to companies with an active payroll and, since it has not been possible to sell the business, we don’t qualify. The government guidance has been a little unhelpful on this. It starts promisingly, as you say, but it goes on to say that administrators should only apply to the scheme if there is “reasonable likelihood” of rehiring the workers. The implication is that administrators should not be using the scheme where there is no realistic prospect of a sale. This does seem to produce an unfair result - the government employee guidance allows an employer to make an employee redundant whilst on furlough, but in the case of administration a different standard is applied. The government hasn’t explained the rationale for this.
3 May 08:00 • the Guardian • https://www.theguardian.com/money/2020/may/03/furloughed-from-work-it-pays-to-know-your-rightsRating: 5.39
NACCIMA, NECA, LCCI, seek FG’s grant for salary payment, tax relief
Our Reporters Following the disruptions in the business environment caused by the coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown imposed by the government to contain its spread, business associations and employers in the country have asked for stimulus packages that could help to minimise the shocks and reduce the degree of job loss. The Nigerian Association of Chamber of Commerce, Industry, Mines and Agriculture, the Nigeria Employers’ Consultative Association, the Lagos Chamber of Commerce and Industry and some state chapters of the Manufacturers Association of Nigeria told Sunday PUNCH in different interviews. The Director-General, NACCIMA, Ambassador Ayo Olukanni, said, “We are also in support of the call for tax deferment, moratorium on loan payments among others to help keep private sectors from going under completely. But to prevent and discourage sacking of workers, consideration should also be given to what has been described as Pay-Check Protection Programme and Job Security Programme for the private sector.” Also, the Director-General, LCCI, Dr Muda Yusuf, said retaining the pre-coronavirus workforce would be very difficult for most businesses, adding that the current shocks to businesses were severe and devastating. He added, “The government could provide some palliatives and stimulus like tax reliefs and concessions; tariff concessions for some critical sectors; review of regulatory fees and charges; moratorium and interest concessions on commercial bank loans; and concessions on workers’ PAYE by states to boost consumer demand. These could provide some succour and reduce the risk of job losses.” He said though government currently has limited fiscal space to offer stimulus, he hoped the crisis would throw up new opportunities. The DG, NECA, Mr Timothy Olawale, also said, “Government should give more support in the form of a Job Retention Scheme that would enable employers to pay part of employees’ salaries while government pays the other part.” The Chairman of Rivers State chapter of MAN, Senator Adawari Pepple, said, “Government should consider doing what is happening in other climes by giving manufacturers grants to take care of the wages of their employees.” Also, the Chairman of MAN in Kwara and Kogi states, Alhaji Kamaldeen Yusuph, said COVID-19 had caused incalculable damages to manufacturers in the two states. He said what manufacturers really need is a dedicated intervention and expansion fund with not more than five per cent interest. He added, “If we are able to expand our manufacturing bade, then we can increase our output and we can take more Nigerians into our employment and then our Gross Domestic Product can go up. Also, the National Public Relations Officer, Petroleum and Natural Gas Senior Staff Association of Nigeria, Fortune Obi, noted that foreign companies were among the biggest operators in the oil and gas sector and that government could give them some form of tax relief within this period. He added, “There could be some moratorium on loans collected by some of these oil companies to enable them keep workers. There are limits to palliatives which the Federal Government can give them, this is why tax havens can help out and make them retain workers.” The NLC President, Ayuba Wabba, had in his address on Workers’ Day noted that the advent of the pandemic had placed additional burden on businesses and put thousands of workers under the threat of job losses. By Tunde Ajaja, Chukwudi Akasike, success nwogu and Okechukwu Nnodim Copyright PUNCH.All rights reserved. This material, and other digital content on this website, may not be reproduced, published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed in whole or in part without prior express written permission from PUNCH. Contact: theeditor@punchng.com
3 May 04:56 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/naccima-neca-lcci-seek-fgs-grant-for-salary-payment-tax-relief/Rating: 0.30
Downside of 'free' childcare proves costly
Everybody loves the federal government's "free" childcare. Except if you were a profitable childcare owner now losing money or struggling to earn a profit. Except if you're a parent whose centre is reducing hours to cut costs to offset the government-directed fixed revenue stream. Except if you're a mum or dad trying to enrol your child and being rejected. Except if you're a childcare worker on a foreign worker visa ineligible for JobKeeker. Unintended consequences from the emergency $1.6 billion free childcare package are rippling through the sector. The government is paying centres that remain open half their pre-March revenue, which previously consisted of parent fees and government subsidies based on parental income. Childcare providers employing eligible workers can also receive the $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper payments for those staff. For the next three to six months, centres are banned from charging parents any fees under the temporary system. Teddybears Childcare Centre in Canberra owner Mark Gillett says his income has been slashed by the government and he can't recover the losses. "For the struggling centres it helps, but for the successful centres it's a killer," Gillett says. "I'm really borderline scraping along the bottom and having to scrimp and save. "It's a shame and I want to go back to the old system." The revenue subsidy for each centre is calculated on their enrolment numbers in late February and fixed regardless of how many children now attend. Centres now provide care for additional families at zero incremental revenue and lose money for every additional attending child that requires extra staff, food, activities and nappies. In this upside-down world, successful centres with lots of children attending have become losers. Struggling centres without many of their regular children attending are winners. To be sure, the government's rushed rescue package was well-intended. Many parents in March withdrew their kids due to health concerns about the coronavirus pandemic and financial stress after parents lost their jobs. The government wanted to avoid a repeat of the collapse of ABC Learning in 2008. As fears about the virus escalated in March, industry sources say average child absentee rates suddenly spiked from about 8 per cent to about 50 per cent in just two weeks. Education Minister Dan Tehan says the sector was on the verge of collapse. "My plea to the sector is this is a Team Australia event," Tehan said last week. "All of us need to be making sacrifices to get through the three to six months." JobKeeper payments flowing from early May will help ease the cash flow problems of centres, Tehan says. About 60 per cent of childcare service costs are wages for staff who receive relatively low pay. Early Learning and Care Council of Australia chief executive Elizabeth Death says the relief package was designed to work in concert with JobKeeper. "It's a viability package and not designed to give parity of income prior to COVID-19." However, many centres employ foreign visa workers who are not eligible for the $1500 fortnightly JobKeeper wage subsidies. Teddybears' Gillett says five of his 50 staff across his two centres in Canberra are employed on foreign visas and they have paid tens of thousands of dollars to move to Australia with their families. "They are extremely highly qualified people who want to become Australians," he says. "It's hard to get local people to work in childcare, especially in Canberra where the public service wages are so high. "If I was to let my staff go, they would be deported because their visa is tied to their employment. "I have to pay them out of my back pocket when the government has cut my revenue." Tehan acknowledges the issue for foreign workers and says it will be considered during a one-month mark review that is now under way. On Sunday, he flagged the possibility of "top-up" payments for centres with a large proportion of staff employed on foreign worker visas. Small and medium childcare operators with turnover below $50 million can also claim additional small business cash flow help from the federal government and payroll tax relief in some states if they are a "for-profit" centre. Centres experiencing 100 per cent or more than their pre-March attendance rates can apply for special assistance from the Education Department. Australian Childcare Alliance President Paul Mondo admits service providers are trying to navigate the complex range of government payments that are available. "There may be some providers where it is still having an impact on their capacity to operate," he says. "The sector is taking a revenue hit with the packages that are available but for a large majority of the sector it should ensure their survival on the other side. "The goal of the package was to provide assurances to the sector for the continuing escalation of the COVID crisis." With the virus now under control, Tehan says child attendance rates at centres are steadily climbing, though still only about 40-60 per cent. Attendance capacity normally averages about 75 per cent, according to industry sources. More children are expected to return in coming weeks when social distancing restrictions are gradually eased by governments, schools reopen and parents return to work. "As we see restrictions ease and more people going back to work and the attendance rates begin to lift, then we can look at whether we need to move back to the old system," Tehan says. The crucial issue facing centres and parents is if the government ends the temporary system after three months or mandates free childcare for six months.
3 May 04:26 • Australian Financial Review • https://www.afr.com/politics/federal/downside-of-free-childcare-proves-costly-for-sector-20200422-p54m6xRating: 1.94
Kokua Line: Some Hawaii gig workers in limbo; need denial to get new aid | Honolulu Star-Advertiser
Question: I am confused about applying for Pandemic Unemployment Assistance and I think the state is too. Their instructions have been conflicting. Do we have to be rejected for regular Unemployment Insurance before we can apply for PUA or not? Answer: It depends. “Individuals whose sole income is through self-employed activities can file for PUA without first being denied for UI. However, individuals who have income from other employment, like being an employee of an employer that took taxes out of your paycheck, must file for regular UI and must be found ineligible for regular UI first, before filing for PUA,” Bill Kunstman, a spokesman for the state Department of Labor and Industrial Relations, said Friday. Anyone who earned more than about $120 in calendar year 2019 from an employer (or employers) that took taxes out of their paycheck must first apply for regular unemployment insurance, the DLIR website said as of Friday afternoon. The PUA form geared to self-employed individuals, independent contractors and gig workers is now online; applications may be submitted, but they aren’t being processed yet. This has prompted questions from many such workers, who said they’ve filed for regular UI as the DLIR initially advised, but have heard nothing back, even weeks later. Having been neither approved nor denied for regular UI, they’re now asking whether they can go ahead and file for PUA too, or, alternatively, withdraw an unresolved UI application and apply instead for PUA. As of early Saturday, the answers to those questions were no. The DLIR’s website stated: Q: If I have already applied for regular UC (unemployment compensation), should I also apply for PUA? A: “No, you should not apply for PUA if you have a pending application for regular UC. If you have applied for and did not qualify or were denied regular UC, then you should apply for PUA if you are out of work due to COVID-19. If you are eligible for or receiving regular UC, you may neither apply for nor will be eligible for PUA.” Q: I applied for regular UC, but I have not received a decision regarding whether I am eligible. Can I withdraw my regular UC application and apply for PUA? A: “No, you cannot withdraw a regular UC application in order to file for PUA. You must wait until you have been denied regular UC benefits before you can apply for PUA. If your claim for regular UC is approved, you must exhaust all of those benefits, including extensions, before you can apply for PUA.” With the COVID-19 pandemic shutting down vast swaths of the U.S. economy, Congress passed and President Trump approved the CARES Act in late March, boosting traditional unemployment insurance and extending unemployment benefits to people who previously didn’t qualify. These are distinct programs. Traditional UI covers employees for whom employers paid payroll taxes — for example, people whose income is reported on W-2 forms. PUA is for the self-employed, freelancers and others ineligible for traditional UI; for example, people whose income is reported on 1099-MISC forms. A person cannot receive both UI or PUA at the same time. In Hawaii, the maximum weekly payment per person in either program is $1,248, Kunstman said. The oft-cited $600 a week is but a portion of either payment, he said. UI’s and PUA’s separate online applications are found on the labor department’s website, labor.hawaii.gov. At the rate laid out by DLIR director Scott Murakami at a legislative hearing last week, it could take at least five weeks and possibly more than two months to process tens of thousands pending UI claims. Processing of PUA claims, meanwhile, isn’t even expected to begin until about May 15. State Sen. Laura Thielen, who processes unemployment claims as a volunteer, is calling on the Legislature and Gov. David Ige to get money in unemployed people’s pockets now. Read about her plan on her Facebook page, @Senator LauraThielen. We’ll write more about it next week. Write to Kokua Line at Honolulu Star-Advertiser, 7 Waterfront Plaza, Suite 210, 500 Ala Moana Blvd., Honolulu 96813; call 529-4773; fax 529-4750; or email kokualine@staradvertiser.com.
3 May 10:05 • Star-Advertiser • https://www.staradvertiser.com/2020/05/03/hawaii-news/kokua-line/kokua-line-some-hawaii-gig-workers-in-limbo-need-denial-to-get-new-aid/Rating: 0.30
Relief sought for poultry sector
LAHORE: The Ministry of National Food Security and Research has given a proposal to facilitate the country’s emerging poultry sector, which is bearing the brunt of Covid-19 pandemic just like other sectors. In a document prepared by the ministry, it has urged the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) to delay bank instalments and mark-up on the loans availed by the poultry sector for one year – a scheme which would require approximately Rs4.7 billion. The proposal was made after the government of Pakistan announced a relief package of over Rs1.2 trillion to aid the economy in the wake of Covid-19 pandemic. Out of this package, an amount of Rs100 billion has been earmarked to provide relief to small and medium enterprises (SMEs) and the agriculture sector. It remains unclear whether the poultry sector will be accommodated under the package announced for small business or not. Under the said package, the government will facilitate commercial users and pay their three months’ electricity bills. Officials from Pakistan Poultry Association (PPA) seem to be unaware of the recent development from the food ministry as they claimed that they were already in contact with concerned authorities to help pay off three months’ electricity bills of control sheds. “This amount (Rs4.7 billion) is meant to support the country’s poultry sector to pay off their three months’ electricity bills and it is not aimed at delay in loans and interest repayments,” insisted PPA General Secretary Javaid Bukhari while talking to The Express Tribune. Chicken meat is the most popular protein diet for Pakistani masses as its cost is largely within the reach of the majority of people. Unlike mutton (red meat) which does not fall within the affordability of middle and lower middle class, the rates of white meat hover at an average of Rs200 per kilogramme. Sometimes, the price of per kg chicken falls even lower than some of the major pulses consumed in Pakistan. Chicken meat has attracted many small and medium scale investors in the past who invested in control sheds and other forms of poultry farming. According to PPA, currently there are around 18,000 poultry farms in Pakistan with an annual turnover of Rs1.1 trillion which has decreased to Rs800 billion due to Covid-19. Some stakeholders said that the recent move of the food ministry would not benefit farmers because the majority of them had not availed any loan facility. “Many farmers convert their life-long savings into poultry investments to secure their future,” said a stakeholder on condition of anonymity. “The proposal of food ministry can benefit some industrial groups who are dealing with poultry feed or have a complete supply chain since they are running industries and have availed the lending facilities.” The official detailed that establishing a poultry farm is a one-time investment with a few running expenses which a farmer can manage by selling his stock. It would be much better for farmers if the ministry could devise a policy, which might lower the prices of poultry feed either by direct subsidy or through the exemption of duties on different raw materials. Published in The Express Tribune, May 3rd, 2020.
3 May 04:07 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2212684/2-relief-sought-poultry-sector/Rating: 1.80
Enhance ESI subsidy of wages, hotel owners urge Centre
The Tamil Nadu Hotels Association (TNHA) has urged the Centre to subsidise wages of employees through the Atal Beemit Vyakthi Kalyan Yojana Scheme of the Employees State Insurance Act. In a letter to the Centre and State governments, association president M. Venkadasubbu said that since it would take at least a year for the travel and tourism industry to get back on its feet, this was pertinent. “The scheme has a provision to subsidise 25% of wages. We are asking that it be enhanced so that both employees and employers do not suffer,” he said. There were around 50,000 restaurants and hotels in the State employing over one lakh people and indirect employment to four lakh people. Association secretary R. Srinivasan said that bank liabilities, including repayment of EMI and interest, should be deferred by 12 months with the extended period to be added to the overall tenure of the loans. “We are also asking that GST on cooking gas refills supplied to stand alone restaurants be charged at 5%. They should not be treated on a par with large hotels,” he said. The association has sought waiver of licence fees for all government licenses for one year; GST holiday for standalone restaurants: rentals to all government buildings, including municipal buildings, property taxes and licences such as exercise fees be suspended for one year and utility charges such as electricity tariff be charged on actuals.
2 May 13:15 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/tamil-nadu/enhance-esi-subsidy-of-wages-hotel-owners-urge-centre/article31489808.eceRating: 0.30
Donohoe says no decision made yet on extending wage subsidy scheme
MINISTER FOR FINANCE Paschal Donohoe has said that the government is aware that “further decisions” will be needed in relation to the Covid Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme, but no decision has been made yet to extend it. So far, 49,000 employers have signed up to the wage subsidy scheme where the government pays 70% (or in some cases 85%) of a worker’s wages for companies adversely affected by the Covid-19 pandemic. The scheme aims to keep employees on the books for the duration of the crisis by paying a subsidy equal to up to 70% of an employee’s take home pay, up to €410 a week. It was introduced on 26 March for a period of 12 weeks. However, after the government published its roadmap for the Irish economy to reopen again last night, it became clear that many businesses will be unable to return to normal trading by the time the Temporary Wage Subsidy Scheme expires in mid-June. Speaking today when announcing new supports for businesses, Minister Donohoe said the wage subsidy scheme was something the government was looking at. “I’m absolutely aware of the approaching end point for those schemes, and also aware of the huge value that they are playing in supporting many companies still be viable and employing citizens today,” he said. Donohoe added he understood the need to get clarity in advance of that end date on the future of the scheme. This scheme and the Covid Unemployment Payment supports could cost the government nearly €5 billion in three months, according to a report from the Economic & Social Research Institute (ESRI). #Open journalism No news is bad news Support The Journal Your contributions will help us continue to deliver the stories that are important to you Support us now
2 May 12:32 • TheJournal.ie • https://www.thejournal.ie/wage-subsidy-scheme-extension-5090214-May2020/Rating: 1.13
Cricket Australia secures $50 million loan as safety cover
3 May 17:11
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Cricket Australia secures $50 million loan as safety cover
Cricket Australia has secured a loan of $50 million, an upfront payment as part of a larger $200 million credit, which it has sought to cover the losses if India fails to tour the country later this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report published in The Sydney Morning Herald, stakeholders have been informed that the loan with the Commonwealth Bank is a “done deal”. However, it raised fresh questions about CA’s decision to stand down 80% of its staff due to financial crisis. CA stood down more than 200 staff on 20% pay until the end of June with chief executive Kevin Roberts fearing they might run out of money by August if the drastic cuts were not made. The decision, which had saved CA about $3 million, is in question now with the governing body securing $50 million loan. While Roberts, himself, is still earning 80% of his salary, he is set to propose to state associations a 25% reduction in grants from CA, the reports said. CA is staring at losing a staggering A$300 million in the wake of the pandemic and India’s four-Test tour in December-January could provide relief to the struggling body. Former Test all-rounder Shane Watson, who is the president of Australian Cricketers’ Association Board, will convene a meeting early next week “to formalise a position on the state of the game’s finances”.
3 May 17:11 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/sport/cricket/cricket-australia-secures-50-million-loan-as-safety-cover/article31495743.eceRating: 0.30
Cricket Australia secures $50 million loan as safety cover for India Tests: Report
MELBOURNE: Cricket Australia has secured a loan of $50 million, an upfront payment as part of a larger $200 million credit, which it has sought to cover the losses if India fail to tour the country later this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report published in 'The Sydney Morning Herald', stakeholders have been informed that the loan with the Commonwealth Bank is a "done deal". However, it raised fresh questions about the governing body's decision to stand down 80 per cent of its staff last month due to financial crisis. CA stood down more than 200 staff on 20 per cent pay until the end of June with chief executive Kevin Roberts fearing they might run out of money by August if the drastic cuts were not made. Explore Briefs The decision, which had saved CA about $3 million, is in question now with the governing body securing $50 million loan. While Roberts, himself, is still earning 80 per cent of his salary, he is set to propose to state associations a 25 per cent reduction in grants from CA, the reports said. CA is staring at losing a staggering 300 million Australian dollars in the wake of the pandemic and India's four-Test tour in December-January could provide relief to the struggling body. Former Test all-rounder Shane Watson, who is the president of Australian Cricketers' Association Board, will convene a meeting early next week "to formalise a position on the state of the game's finances".
3 May 12:16 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/sports/cricket/news/cricket-australia-secures-50-million-loan-as-safety-cover-for-india-tests-report/articleshow/75518852.cmsRating: 0.30
Cricket Australia secures USD 50 million loan as safety cover for India Tests: Report
Cricket Australia has secured a loan of USD 50 million, an upfront payment as part of a larger USD 200 million credit, which it has sought to cover the losses if India fail to tour the country later this year due to the COVID-19 pandemic. According to a report published in 'The Sydney Morning Herald', stakeholders have been informed that the loan with the Commonwealth Bank is a "done deal". However, it raised fresh questions about the governing body's decision to stand down 80 per cent of its staff last month due to financial crisis. CA stood down more than 200 staff on 20 per cent pay until the end of June with chief executive Kevin Roberts fearing they might run out of money by August if the drastic cuts were not made. The decision, which had saved CA about USD 3 million, is in question now with the governing body securing USD 50 million loan. While Roberts, himself, is still earning 80 per cent of his salary, he is set to propose to state associations a 25 per cent reduction in grants from CA, the reports said. CA is staring at losing a staggering 300 million Australian dollars in the wake of the pandemic and India's four-Test tour in December-January could provide relief to the struggling body. Former Test all-rounder Shane Watson, who is the president of Australian Cricketers' Association Board, will convene a meeting early next week "to formalise a position on the state of the game's finances"
3 May 18:36 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/sports/cricket-australia-secures-usd-50-million-loan-as-safety-cover-for-india-tests-report-833079.htmlRating: 2.25
Cricket Australia gets $50 million loan as safety cover if India’s tour is cancelled: Report
Cricket Australia has secured a loan of $50 million, an upfront payment as part of a larger $200 million credit, which it has sought to cover the losses if India fail to tour the country later this year due to the coronavirus pandemic. According to a report published in The Sydney Morning Herald, stakeholders have been informed that the loan with the Commonwealth Bank is a “done deal”. However, it raised fresh questions about the governing body’s decision to stand down 80% of its staff last month due to financial crisis. CA stood down more than 200 staff on 20% pay until the end of June with chief executive Kevin Roberts fearing they might run out of money by August if the drastic cuts were not made. The decision, which had saved CA about $3 million, is in question now with the governing body securing $50 million loan. While Roberts, himself, is still earning 80% of his salary, he is set to propose to state associations a 25% reduction in grants from CA, the reports said. CA is staring at losing a staggering 300 million Australian dollars in the wake of the pandemic and India’s four-Test tour in December-January could provide relief to the struggling body. Former Test all-rounder Shane Watson, who is the president of Australian Cricketers’ Association Board, will convene a meeting early next week “to formalise a position on the state of the game’s finances”.
3 May 13:11 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/field/960932/cricket-australia-gets-50-million-loan-as-safety-cover-if-indias-tour-is-cancelled-reportRating: 0.30
Industry super funds to demand answers as ME Bank borrowers fume
Industry super fund shareholders of boutique lender Members Equity Bank will demand an urgent explanation on Monday following concerning claims of borrowers being cut off from personal funds without their consent or knowledge. The Age and Sydney Morning Heraldreported on Saturday that Melbourne-based ME Bank, owned by 26 industry superannuation funds, had blindsided customers by removing their access to money in redraw facilities in order to pay down home loans. Bill Watson, chief executive of the $3 billion industry fund First Super, described the news as "concerning". "I'll be seeking an explanation from the bank tomorrow," he said on Sunday. "Once we've received an explanation, we will determine what action needs to be taken from there. As a shareholder, clearly we don't want to see consumers disadvantaged." Gerard Noonan, the chairman of the $6 billion Media Super, said several members of the fund had raised questions about the ME Bank move. "We're looking into it," Mr Noonan said. "So far it seems like a readjustment of the way the bank has structured its drawdown facilities when customers have used their excess mortgage repayments as a source of back-up source of borrowing." Home loan redraw facilities allow borrowers who are ahead on their loan repayments to withdraw funds above their minimum repayment amounts if they need to use those funds for any other purpose. On its website, ME Bank promotes its redraw facility as a product that allows customers to make extra mortgage repayments and with the added flexibility of letting clients "redraw money from your loan at any time, for free." Other industry super fund directors said they had been seeking to speak with ME Bank over the weekend for information about what had occurred. "But I haven't been able to talk to anyone," said one. A number of customers last week contacted The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald after noticing between 10 and 50 per cent of their redraw funds were absorbed into their home loan without any notification. In a statement released on Saturday ME Bank acknowledged the changes had caused concern among some customers, "particularly in the current environment". The lender said the changes were designed to prevent customers from overusing their redraw to a point where they risked falling behind on their original repayment schedule. "This can put customers at risk of not meeting their repayment commitments, potentially leaving them open to financial hardship at the end of the loan term," ME Bank said. "No money has been removed from customer accounts. The adjustment made is to the amount available for redraw." ME Bank said staff were contacting affected customers and reviewing their circumstances to determine how they could help with their financial needs.
3 May 13:45 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/industry-super-funds-to-demand-answers-as-me-bank-borrowers-fume-20200503-p54pdq.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Industry super funds to demand answers as ME Bank borrowers fume
Industry super fund shareholders of boutique lender Members Equity Bank will demand an urgent explanation on Monday following concerning claims of borrowers being cut off from personal funds without their consent or knowledge. The Age and Sydney Morning Heraldreported on Saturday that Melbourne-based ME Bank, owned by 26 industry superannuation funds, had blindsided customers by removing their access to money in redraw facilities in order to pay down home loans. Bill Watson, chief executive of the $3 billion industry fund First Super, described the news as "concerning". "I'll be seeking an explanation from the bank tomorrow," he said on Sunday. "Once we've received an explanation, we will determine what action needs to be taken from there. As a shareholder, clearly we don't want to see consumers disadvantaged." Gerard Noonan, the chairman of the $6 billion Media Super, said several members of the fund had raised questions about the ME Bank move. "We're looking into it," Mr Noonan said. "So far it seems like a readjustment of the way the bank has structured its drawdown facilities when customers have used their excess mortgage repayments as a source of back-up source of borrowing." Home loan redraw facilities allow borrowers who are ahead on their loan repayments to withdraw funds above their minimum repayment amounts if they need to use those funds for any other purpose. On its website, ME Bank promotes its redraw facility as a product that allows customers to make extra mortgage repayments and with the added flexibility of letting clients "redraw money from your loan at any time, for free." Other industry super fund directors said they had been seeking to speak with ME Bank over the weekend for information about what had occurred. "But I haven't been able to talk to anyone," said one. A number of customers last week contacted The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald after noticing between 10 and 50 per cent of their redraw funds were absorbed into their home loan without any notification. In a statement released on Saturday ME Bank acknowledged the changes had caused concern among some customers, "particularly in the current environment". The lender said the changes were designed to prevent customers from overusing their redraw to a point where they risked falling behind on their original repayment schedule. "This can put customers at risk of not meeting their repayment commitments, potentially leaving them open to financial hardship at the end of the loan term," ME Bank said. "No money has been removed from customer accounts. The adjustment made is to the amount available for redraw." ME Bank said staff were contacting affected customers and reviewing their circumstances to determine how they could help with their financial needs.
3 May 13:45 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/industry-super-funds-to-demand-answers-as-me-bank-borrowers-fume-20200503-p54pdq.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Industry super funds to demand answers as ME Bank borrowers fume
Industry super fund shareholders of boutique lender Members Equity Bank will demand an urgent explanation on Monday following concerning claims of borrowers being cut off from personal funds without their consent or knowledge. The Age and Sydney Morning Heraldreported on Saturday that Melbourne-based ME Bank, owned by 26 industry superannuation funds, had blindsided customers by removing their access to money in redraw facilities in order to pay down home loans. Bill Watson, chief executive of the $3 billion industry fund First Super, described the news as "concerning". "I'll be seeking an explanation from the bank tomorrow," he said on Sunday. "Once we've received an explanation, we will determine what action needs to be taken from there. As a shareholder, clearly we don't want to see consumers disadvantaged." Gerard Noonan, the chairman of the $6 billion Media Super, said several members of the fund had raised questions about the ME Bank move. "We're looking into it," Mr Noonan said. "So far it seems like a readjustment of the way the bank has structured its drawdown facilities when customers have used their excess mortgage repayments as a source of back-up source of borrowing." Home loan redraw facilities allow borrowers who are ahead on their loan repayments to withdraw funds above their minimum repayment amounts if they need to use those funds for any other purpose. On its website, ME Bank promotes its redraw facility as a product that allows customers to make extra mortgage repayments and with the added flexibility of letting clients "redraw money from your loan at any time, for free." Other industry super fund directors said they had been seeking to speak with ME Bank over the weekend for information about what had occurred. "But I haven't been able to talk to anyone," said one. A number of customers last week contacted The Age and The Sydney Morning Herald after noticing between 10 and 50 per cent of their redraw funds were absorbed into their home loan without any notification. In a statement released on Saturday ME Bank acknowledged the changes had caused concern among some customers, "particularly in the current environment". The lender said the changes were designed to prevent customers from overusing their redraw to a point where they risked falling behind on their original repayment schedule. "This can put customers at risk of not meeting their repayment commitments, potentially leaving them open to financial hardship at the end of the loan term," ME Bank said. "No money has been removed from customer accounts. The adjustment made is to the amount available for redraw." ME Bank said staff were contacting affected customers and reviewing their circumstances to determine how they could help with their financial needs.
3 May 13:45 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/banking-and-finance/industry-super-funds-to-demand-answers-as-me-bank-borrowers-fume-20200503-p54pdq.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Reports | CA secure $50 million loan from Commonwealth Bank as cover for India series
Cricket Australia President Kevin Roberts recently revealed that the board has cashflow issues which resulted in drastic cuts to the salaries of staff who have been stood down. That surprised many because the board had always claimed that they have sufficient reserves in the bank but later it was revealed that they had put money in the share markets in the form of equity. An India series cancellation might have a cascading effect but reports have surfaced that the BCCI might extend their helping hand to lengthen the series to drive money into the CA account. In the wake of that possibility, Sydney Morning Herald reported that Cricket Australia secured $50 million loan from Commonwealth Bank as cover after seeking an up-front loan as part of its application for a larger amount of up to $200m. Meanwhile, Australian Cricketers’ Association, headed by Shane Watson, will convene a meeting this week to formalise a position on the state of the game’s finances. Another meeting has been scheduled between CA and state associations around the proposal for them to take a 25 percent reduction in grants from head office. The players have been communicated through an email from Australian Cricketers Association while Justin Langer, whose salary has been deducted by 50 %, has stated that another avenue might open up in such a case.
3 May 14:14 • SportsCafe • https://sportscafe.in/cricket/articles/2020/may/03/cricket-australia-secures-50-million-loan-from-commonwealth-bank-as-cover-for-india-series?utm_medium=rssRating: 0.30
Demi Lovato's Ruched Swimsuit Is So Romantic, Her Boyfriend Is All Heart Eyes Over It
3 May 19:46
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18 articles
Weight: 1.93
Importance: 1.94
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 12:36
Average US: 26.033888888888885
Weighted average US: 22.584847537036218
Average GB: 2.0983333333333336
Weighted average GB: 4.912387447815776
Average IN: 13.316666666666666
Weighted average IN: 15.671550484659223
Demi Lovato's Ruched Swimsuit Is So Romantic, Her Boyfriend Is All Heart Eyes Over It
As POPSUGAR editors, we independently select and write about stuff we love and think you'll like too. POPSUGAR has affiliate and advertising partnerships so we get revenue from sharing this content and from your purchase. Swipe to see how I discovered the self-timer feature for taking pics. @angelokritikos - you in trouble boo boo 😝🌴 A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on May 2, 2020 at 6:43pm PDT Demi Lovato is perfecting the art of self-timer photo shoots while social distancing, and her series of swimsuit snaps show just how good she's getting. The "I Love Me" singer recently shared pictures of herself wearing a romantic one-piece on Instagram, and it's more elegant than you'd expect from everyday swimwear. The strapless ruched magenta suit is so chic it might cause you to do a double take. It certainly caught the attention of her pals, Ashley Graham and JoJo, along with her boyfriend, Max Ehrich, who responded with a heart-eyes emoji. I think Ashley put it best when she wrote, "My girl is straight fire 🔥" — Demi certainly is! Continue admiring her one-piece ahead, and shop similar swimsuit styles for yourself. Swipe to see how I discovered the self-timer feature for taking pics. @angelokritikos - you in trouble boo boo 😝🌴 A post shared by Demi Lovato (@ddlovato) on May 2, 2020 at 6:43pm PDT Self-Portrait Two-Tone Strapless One Piece ($290) Karla Colletto Ruched Swimsuit ($209, originally $299) Anne Cole Twist Front Bandeau Tankini Top ($36, originally $72) and Anne Cole Signature Live in Color Skirted Bikini Bottom ($26) Maryan Mehlhorn Elements Bandeau Swimsuit ($88, originally $219)
3 May 19:46 • POPSUGAR Fashion • https://www.popsugar.com/fashion/demi-lovato-wearing-swimsuit-in-self-timer-instagram-photos-47439291Rating: 1.91
Demi Lovato Goes Makeup-Free for Swimsuit Selfies
Demi Lovato seems to be spending her weekend in one of the best ways possible — by hanging out poolside. On Saturday, the singer posted a couple of photos on Instagram in which she donned a makeup-free look whilst donning a swimsuit. And, of course, the snaps were nothing short of stunning. In her caption, Lovato related that she learned how to use the self-timer feature in order to capture her selfies. She got to put her new skill to use as she posed in a crimson swimsuit for a couple of seriously stylish and beautiful snaps. The "Cool for the Summer" singer's post has already garnered plenty of reactions from fans and friends alike. Model Ashley Graham even commented on the post to write, "my girl is straight fire," and she's definitely not wrong. This isn't the first time that Lovato has chosen to go a makeup-free route on Instagram. In September 2019, the singer took things a step further by posting a completely unedited photo of herself wearing a bikini. At the time, she noted that she wanted to post the photo because she wants the new chapter in her life to be an authentic one. "This is my biggest fear. A photo of me in a bikini unedited. And guess what, it’s CELLULIT!!!! I’m just literally sooooo tired of being ashamed of my body, editing it (yes the other bikini pics were edited - and I hate that I did that but it’s the truth) so that others think I’m THEIR idea of what beautiful is, but it’s just not me," she explained. "This is what I got. I want this new chapter in my life to be about being authentic to who I am rather than trying to meet someone else’s standards. So here’s me, unashamed, unafraid and proud to own a body that has fought through so much and will continue to amaze me when I hopefully give birth one day." As she continued on in her caption, she hoped that by posting the snap that she can inspire others to be authentically themselves, as well. "Anyway, here’s me, RAW, REAL! And I love me," Lovato continued. "And you should love you too! Now back to the studio.. I’m working on an anthem.. also. Just so everyone’s clear.. I’m not stoked on my appearance BUT I am appreciative of it and sometimes that’s the best I can do. I hope to inspire someone to appreciate their body today too."
3 May 18:52 • popculture. • https://popculture.com/celebrity/news/demi-lovato-goes-makeup-free-swimsuit-selfies/Rating: 0.74
January Jones, 42, Stuns In Tiny Green Bikini Top As She Wishes Her Mom A Happy Birthday — See Pic
January Jones, 42, is looking better than ever while in quarantine and her latest photo proves it! The actress shared an eye-catching photo of herself smiling and posing in a green bikini while going for a morning swim and in it, she looked fantastic. She also wore sunglasses and jewelry, including hoop earrings and a necklace in the snapshot and used the caption for the photo to give a shout-out to her mom for her birthday. “Morning lap swim! Happy Birthday Mom! 💙” the caption read. The blonde beauty also shared a few pics from her lap to her Instagram story and left a caption that advised her followers by writing “don’t forget your flotation devices.” It didn’t take long for fans to leave positive comments on January’s pic once she posted it. “Truly a beautiful woman 💙💚” one follower wrote while another agreed by writing “beautiful picture of you.” Others simply said, “Wow” and exclaimed that she is “so pretty!” This isn’t the first time January stunned in something green. Who could forget her amazing green jumpsuit at the 2015 Emmy Awards? The epic fashion choice was strapless and helped her show off her slim figure on the red carpet. She also looks great in other colors too like red, which she showed off when she wore a red dress in some pics she posted to Instagram in Dec. 2019. The dress included a plunging neckline with a lacy lining, a fitted waist and a draping skirt bottom. Since we’re used to being impressed by January’s awesome fashion sense and fitting figure, her latest photos are no surprise and we hope to see more soon. It’s great to know she’s staying healthy and active in quarantine!
3 May 16:37 • Hollywood Life • https://hollywoodlife.com/2020/05/03/january-jones-green-bikini-pic-photo/Rating: 1.32
11 celebrities who have reached for hair dye while they’re bored at home
Though they might not have access to hairstylists and makeup artists while they practice social distancing, celebrities are still finding ways to experiment with their looks. One of the most popular methods seems to be through hair dye. In recent weeks, celebrities including Ricky Martin, Hilary Duff, and Dua Lipa have all taken to Instagram with photos of themselves wearing bright new styles. Coincidentally, almost every star that’s done so has chosen either a pink or blue shade. Here are some of the celebrities taking part in Hollywood’s latest beauty trend. He showed off his newly-pink hair in an Instagram video about the importance of social distancing posted on March 19. “This quarantine’s got me feeling extra blue,” the country star wrote in an Instagram post on March 19. “Probably gonna stay that way teal it’s over.” Though she still had blue hair in an Instagram video posted on April 10, she now seems to be back to her natural blonde shade. In an Instagram post on April 8, the actor wrote: “Today I will be channeling Sir Woody of the woodpeckers #woodywoodpecker #redhairdontcare.” She revealed the color via her Instagram Story on March 25. While it’s unclear as to what color her hair is now, Fanning’s strands did look significantly less pink in a photo she posted on April 13. On March 29, Stewart’s hairstylist CJ Romero shared a photo of her new color, writing: “Who said you can’t be cute in quarantine!? ????????♂️Hair cut on @emmaroberts and Cut and Color on Kristen!! ????????♀️????????♂️????????.” He later shared more details about how to achieve her bright-orange hair, which he describes as being a “cosmic rust” color. “The smile of a girl who just did at-home hot-pink highlights because what else can I do right now!” she wrote in an Instagram post on April 1. “Thanks @limecrimemakeup, these hair conditioners are easy and so fun! @nikkilee901 don’t be mad lol. I really miss you! Hey @911onfox, new look for Maddie?!” On April 4, the model and actress wrote about experimenting with box-dye on Instagram. “I added some pink in my hair and it was my first box-dye experience and I didn’t fry my hair off weeeeehooooo,” she wrote. She shared a photo of her new style and color to Instagram on April 12, writing: “????????♀️yea.” She later appeared on a live Instagram video with her husband Matthew Koma, who took credit for dyeing her hair. She also wrote about her new color on Instagram as part of a “Quarantine diaries” entry on April 16. “This week’s experiment… pink hair,” she wrote. “That’s kind of it really – I haven’t acquired a new skill but I have joined World of Warcraft and I have two pets on it called mintsaws and little sheena (one’s a dragonhawk and one’s a tiger).” Lipa revealed her new color through Instagram on April 26. In the caption of her post, she called her new shade “orangina quarantina ????.” On Instagram, she said she’d wear the temporary dye until it washes out. “Well, because we’re still in quarantine, I had to think of a new and creative way to embarrass my children,” she said in her video on April 28. “Quarancolor!” In an Instagram post on May 1, the actress wrote: “What can I say!? Sometimes you just need to feel blue and other times you need pink to lighten your day.”
3 May 17:49 • Business Insider Malaysia • https://www.businessinsider.my/celebrities-who-dyed-hair-social-distancing-photosRating: 0.30
Demi Rose Wears The Tiniest And Tightest Bikini After Cleaning Up And Enjoying A Hot Bath-PIC INSIDE
While in quarantine, Demi Rose doesn’t miss out on any chance to keep her fans worldwide entertained. The British model recently shared pictures and videos as she wore the tiniest and tightest bikini after cleaning up and enjoying a hot bath. Check it out! Demi Rose is entertaining her fans across the world during these lockdown days with super interesting and hot pictures. The British model quite well knows the trick to keep the traffic running on her social media account and keeps fans hooked and engaged with her revealing pictures. While in quarantine, as Demi Rose doesn’t miss out on any chance to keep her fans entertained, the British model recently shared pictures and videos as she wears the tiniest and tightest bikini after cleaning up and enjoying a hot bath. Taking to her Instagram stories, Demi Rose shared pictures and videos busy cleaning up her home. The model shared a picture flaunting her sexy legs and captioned it, “the vibes after cleaning all the house and taking a hot bath.” Through the post, Demi explained how she feels good after cleaning her house during the lockdown and then enjoying a hot bath. While Demi shares with fans about enjoying taking a hot bath, the model manages to get into a sexy bikini showing off her hot body. Demi Rose shared another picture on her Instagram story as she gets into the tiniest and tightest bikini. In the picture, the British model is spotted lying down on her sexy flat stomach pressing herself down on the couch. Demi gets snapped flaunting her backside and her curvaceous body in the picture. While Demi Rose shows off some skin in the picture, the model is dressed in a black with golden shimmer bikini. Meanwhile, as Demi Rose gives us another drool-worthy picture, the model looks like an absolute stunner. Clearly, the British model is a beauty, and there’s just no one like her in the whole goddamn world. Also Read: Demi Rose Rocks A Shimmery Monokini, Flaunts Her Sexy Cleavage As She Soaks In Some Vitamin D Image source: Instagram/ Demi Rose
3 May 12:56 • SPOTBOYE • http://spotboye.com/hollywood/hollywood_news/demi-rose-wears-the-tiniest-and-tightest-bikini-after-cleaning-up-and-enjoying-a-hot-bath-pic-inside/5eaebf84de28444fe9eb63feRating: 0.72
11 celebrities who have reached for hair dye while they're bored at home, Business Insider - Business Insider Singapore
Though they might not have access to hairstylists and makeup artists while they practice social distancing, celebrities are still finding ways to experiment with their looks. One of the most popular methods seems to be through hair dye. In recent weeks, celebrities including Ricky Martin, Hilary Duff, and Dua Lipa have all taken to Instagram with photos of themselves wearing bright new styles. Coincidentally, almost every star that’s done so has chosen either a pink or blue shade. Here are some of the celebrities taking part in Hollywood’s latest beauty trend. He showed off his newly-pink hair in an Instagram video about the importance of social distancing posted on March 19. captionLauren Alaina first rose to fame on “American Idol.” “This quarantine’s got me feeling extra blue,” the country star wrote in an Instagram post on March 19. “Probably gonna stay that way teal it’s over.” Though she still had blue hair in an Instagram video posted on April 10, she now seems to be back to her natural blonde shade. In an Instagram post on April 8, the actor wrote: “Today I will be channeling Sir Woody of the woodpeckers #woodywoodpecker #redhairdontcare.” She revealed the color via her Instagram Story on March 25. While it’s unclear as to what color her hair is now, Fanning’s strands did look significantly less pink in a photo she posted on April 13. captionKristen Stewart typically wears her hair in blonde and brown shades. On March 29, Stewart’s hairstylist CJ Romero shared a photo of her new color, writing: “Who said you can’t be cute in quarantine!? ????????♂️Hair cut on @emmaroberts and Cut and Color on Kristen!! ????????♀️????????♂️????????.” He later shared more details about how to achieve her bright-orange hair, which he describes as being a “cosmic rust” color. “The smile of a girl who just did at-home hot-pink highlights because what else can I do right now!” she wrote in an Instagram post on April 1. “Thanks @limecrimemakeup, these hair conditioners are easy and so fun! @nikkilee901 don’t be mad lol. I really miss you! Hey @911onfox, new look for Maddie?!” On April 4, the model and actress wrote about experimenting with box-dye on Instagram. “I added some pink in my hair and it was my first box-dye experience and I didn’t fry my hair off weeeeehooooo,” she wrote. She shared a photo of her new style and color to Instagram on April 12, writing: “????????♀️yea.” She later appeared on a live Instagram video with her husband Matthew Koma, who took credit for dyeing her hair. She also wrote about her new color on Instagram as part of a “Quarantine diaries” entry on April 16. “This week’s experiment… pink hair,” she wrote. “That’s kind of it really – I haven’t acquired a new skill but I have joined World of Warcraft and I have two pets on it called mintsaws and little sheena (one’s a dragonhawk and one’s a tiger).” Lipa revealed her new color through Instagram on April 26. In the caption of her post, she called her new shade “orangina quarantina ????.” On Instagram, she said she’d wear the temporary dye until it washes out. “Well, because we’re still in quarantine, I had to think of a new and creative way to embarrass my children,” she said in her video on April 28. “Quarancolor!” In an Instagram post on May 1, the actress wrote: “What can I say!? Sometimes you just need to feel blue and other times you need pink to lighten your day.”
3 May 17:49 • www.businessinsider.sg • https://www.businessinsider.sg/celebrities-who-dyed-hair-social-distancing-photosRating: 0.30
Demi Lovato Stuns In Sultry Pool Pics And Her Man Is Loving It!
Demi Lovato is taking advantage of the free time she has because of the quarantine orders to learn new skills including how to use the self timer on her phone and take steamy pool pics! She shared a couple of snaps on her Instagram and it’s safe to say that her boyfriend, Max Ehrich was impressed and so were her followers! Demi looked stunning and sultry with no makeup on and wearing a strapless one piece swimsuit while she posed by the pool. In the caption, she jokingly wrote: ‘Swipe to see how I discovered the self-timer feature for taking pics. @angelokritikos [her photographer] – you in trouble boo boo 😝🌴.’ The photographer was quick to respond, playing along: ‘BRING IT ON BOO 🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥 😍😍😍😍.’ In the meantime, her boyfriend also took to the comment section to show her some love by simply leaving a heart-eyes emoji! Fellow celebs gushed over Demi as well, including Ashley Graham and JoJo. Demi and her new man haven’t been together for very long but they already seem like they have a great bond. One insider dished that they really love spending time together so the joint quarantine is no problem. Speaking of relationships, during an interview on the I Weigh podcast with actress Jameela Jamil, Demi revealed that she is not in touch with any of her ex boyfriends. ‘I kind of used to have this mentality that if I had a negative experience with somebody, I needed to mend it or needed to make things right. The fact of the matter is that I’m not really friends with any of my exes because I had to realize that that was not healthy either.’ ‘Now that I have been able to fully let go of people, that is another thing I had to learn when it comes to cutting the toxic people out of your life – if they are an ex, it is for a reason,’ she dished.
3 May 20:57 • Celebrity Insider • https://celebrityinsider.org/demi-lovato-stuns-in-sultry-pool-pics-and-her-man-is-loving-it-393432/Rating: 0.30
Has Adele shaved all her hair off in new picture?
Singer Adele is the last person we would expect to join the shaved head lockdown trend — but the British songstress would seemingly outdo just about everyone with a new buzzed ‘do. A picture of the ‘Someone Like You’ artist went viral. In it, her head is shaved and what’s left of her short hair is dyed blonde. The image landed online after Adele’s make-up artist shared a cryptic post telling everyone to ‘get ready’ and revealed that ‘exciting news [is] coming soon’, leading people to believe that a new album was on the way. Soon after, the picture of Adele made its way onto Twitter with the caption ‘ADELE?!!!!’ “This album is about to send us all to therapy,” was the caption of a viral retweet, which has 245 million likes and more than 57 thousand retweets. A quick visit to the verified Instagram (@hey_reilly) that shared the photo shows that its specialised in edited celebrity photos. In fact, the illustrator and graphic artist has in the past digitally shaven off Timothee Chalamet’s locks, given president Barack Obama a footballer-worthy leopard dye job, and turned Queen Eilzabeth into an avant-garde editorial titled ‘Elizabeth McQueen’. So, who is @hey_reilly? Tagging his photos with H_R, @hey_reilly is a Scottish-born digital artist, who graduated from the Royal College of Art, and is known for putting a tongue-in-cheek twist on pop culture images. He has more than 169 thousand followers and is verified on Instagram.
3 May 12:36 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/entertainment/music/has-adele-shaved-all-her-hair-off-in-new-picture-1.71303730Rating: 3.21
Not able to hit the gym due to lockdown? Priyanka Chopra shows how to workout at ft. little kid
Priyanka Chopra is currently living in the US with her husband Nick Jonas. The actress is quite active on social media and keeps her fans updated about her day-to-day activities through regular posts. The actress is also spreading awareness about the Coronavirus pandemic through her social media posts. And now she took to her Instagram account to share a video of how she is doing the workout as she couldn't hit the gym due to lockdown. In the video, she can be seen sitting on the sofa while pulling up a kid with her hands. She had a perfect caption for the post which read, "No gym, no problem. @sky.krishna @divya_jyoti" Check out the post here: Meanwhile, the actress recently took in WHO's live stream an event 'ONE WORLD: TOGETHER AT HOME' to raise funds for COVID-19. She will also feature in another live fundraising event along with a number of Bollywood celebs. On the work front, PeeCee was last seen in Shonali Bose's 'The Sky Is Pink'. The film failed to make its mark at the box office. Fans are waiting for her to announce her next project.
2 May 23:08 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/not-able-to-hit-the-gym-due-to-lockdown-priyanka-chopra-shows-how-to-workout-at-ft-little-kid/articleshow/75513120.cmsRating: 0.30
Kylie Jenner names daughter Stormi her greatest achievement with adorable poolside snap
Billionaire Kylie Jenner has named what she considers he greatest achievement - her daughter Stormi. The reality star and makeup mogul shares the two year old with ex and rapper Travis Scott, and paid tribute to her beautiful girl with a cute snap by the pool. Stormi has a mischievous grin on her face as doting mum Kylie wraps a towel about her head to dry her curls. "The greatest thing I've ever done," Kylie captioned the snap. Pals and fans alike were quick to gush over the iconic mother-daughter duo. Malika Haqq, the best mate of Kylie's sister Khloe Kardashian and fellow mum, wrote: "Stop the cuteness!" Kylie's bestie Anastasia Karanikolaou commented: "sweeeeeeetest baby girl." Yris Palmer, meanwhile, just shared a string of heart emojis. Kylie's had a hell of a year already, not least because she was named by Forbes, at the age of 22, as the world's youngest billionaire for the second year running. She's had fans tongue-wagging recently with a declaration of love for Stormi's dad Travis - the pair aren't together, but a loving Instagram post for his birthday has some hopeful that a reunion might be on the cards. "DADA," she wrote, "Happy birthday to daddy of the year! "I'm slowly but surely starting to accept the fact that Storm is a daddy's girl. But whatever. We went half on greatness! "The most beautiful, smart, funny and loving little baby. The best gift. "OK I'm crying. Love you forever! @travisscott." The pair announced they would be taking a break from their relationship late last year - and while no romantic rekindling has been confirmed, they've successfully co-parented Stormi.
2 May 21:54 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/3am/celebrity-news/kylie-jenner-names-daughter-stormi-21965140Rating: 2.39
Kylie Jenner names daughter Stormi her greatest achievement with adorable poolside snap
Billionaire Kylie Jenner has named what she considers he greatest achievement - her daughter Stormi. The reality star and makeup mogul shares the two year old with ex and rapper Travis Scott, and paid tribute to her beautiful girl with a cute snap by the pool. Stormi has a mischievous grin on her face as doting mum Kylie wraps a towel about her head to dry her curls. "The greatest thing I've ever done," Kylie captioned the snap. Pals and fans alike were quick to gush over the iconic mother-daughter duo. Malika Haqq, the best mate of Kylie's sister Khloe Kardashian and fellow mum, wrote: "Stop the cuteness!" Kylie's bestie Anastasia Karanikolaou commented: "sweeeeeeetest baby girl." Yris Palmer, meanwhile, just shared a string of heart emojis. Kylie's had a hell of a year already, not least because she was named by Forbes, at the age of 22, as the world's youngest billionaire for the second year running. She's had fans tongue-wagging recently with a declaration of love for Stormi's dad Travis - the pair aren't together, but a loving Instagram post for his birthday has some hopeful that a reunion might be on the cards. "DADA," she wrote, "Happy birthday to daddy of the year! "I'm slowly but surely starting to accept the fact that Storm is a daddy's girl. But whatever. We went half on greatness! "The most beautiful, smart, funny and loving little baby. The best gift. "OK I'm crying. Love you forever! @travisscott." The pair announced they would be taking a break from their relationship late last year - and while no romantic rekindling has been confirmed, they've successfully co-parented Stormi.
2 May 21:54 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/kylie-jenner-names-daughter-stormi-21965189Rating: 0.56
Pooja Hegde Took Indirect Dig at Rakul?
Pooja Hegde’s Instagram feed shows her latest uploads had been basic; just a cooking pic, pics of her quarantine life and of course, while she is reading something. She didn’t share fitness videos like many actresses out there. The onset of corona pandemic created a void for the working women, especially actresses who started sharing some fitness Gyan along with their workout videos on fitness and health. Pooja thinks that she isn’t much qualified to post something about fitness and regardless, there have been enough fitness videos from others. It seems as if she is taking a dig at others as our heroines aka Rakul Preet Singh has totally been into uploading workout videos and pics, regularly. Like others, she isn’t into preaching and again she says, there are many out there who have already been doing it. Looks like a clear dig at someone. Got it!
2 May 21:00 • MIRCHI9 • https://www.mirchi9.com/movienews/pooja-hegde-took-indirect-dig-at-rakul/Rating: 0.97
Future’s Bae Lori Harvey Reminds Everyone She’s Team iPhone 11 Pro Max In New Flawless Selfie
Atlanta rapper Future‘s girlfriend can do no wrong these days. Vixen Lori Harvey has warmed up everyone’s T.G.I.F. goals with a new selfie showing big love to the iPhone 11 Pro Max. Harvey went to her Instagram page Friday with the unexpected selfie. The shot features Lori flexing her curves and natural beauty to her 2.1 million Instagram followers. In April 2020, Lori turned back the hands of time. She shared a few flashback pics from her childhood. Over the past few weeks, Harvey has come through with some major Woman Crush Everyday vibes. Miss Lori has relied on her IG page to share a bunch of selfie goals. In early April 2020, buzz developed about Lori having a bun in the oven. Footage surfaced from her Instagram Story appearing to show a sonogram in the background.
2 May 02:16 • SOHH • https://www.sohh.com/futures-bae-lori-harvey-reminds-everyone-shes-team-iphone-11-pro-max-in-new-flawless-selfie/Rating: 0.30
Georgina breaks the internet by hanging up washing in thong!
Georgina has done it again. Cristiano Ronaldo's girlfriend has set social media alight by showing her behind whilst doing a daily task: hanging up washing. Well yes, it seems that Georgina Rodríguez's buttock workouts are working. Cristiano's partner does not miss her routines to reggaetón music, either alone or in the company of the forward or one of her children, and the result is obvious. That the model lights up social media now isn't news, with her famous exercises or with revealing photographs in a bikini, but she has done it again and this time she surprised again, because of her clothes... or rather, lack of them. And it's not easy to get more than 2.7 million likes on Instagram with a post doing something as routine as hanging up the washing, but if you are Georgina and do it in a thong then things change. Main links "Airborne wipes" Ronaldo's girlfriend wrote, who boasted an enviable figure and buttocks, along with a peach and bomb emoji. On Saturday, the model made the most of the sunny day to go to the mountains with Ronaldo and the players' eldest son, Cristiano Jr and put it on her Instagram the same as the forward.
2 May 00:00 • BeSoccer • https://www.besoccer.com/new/georgina-breaks-the-internet-by-hanging-up-washing-in-thong-829423Rating: 1.07
January Jones Stuns In A Teal Bikini: ‘Happy Birthday Mom!’
May 2, 2020 Treva Bowdoin January revealed that she was going for a morning swim. January Jones kicked off the weekend by flaunting her fit figure in a chic bikini. However, when she shared a photo of her stylish swimwear with her 985,000 Instagram followers, the caption she included with it had a few of her followers scratching their heads. The 42-year-old Mad Men star wished her mother, Karen, a happy birthday. She also wrote that she was participating in a “morning lap swim” when her photo was taken. The latter revelation led to one of January’s followers making an observation about the array of accessories she was wearing with her two-piece. The actress was rocking a gold medallion necklace with a thick chain, a pair of large textured gold hoop earrings, and retro cat-eye sunglasses with metallic frames and dark lenses. “Lap swim with necklace, earrings and sunglasses?” the seemingly skeptical commenter wrote. “Gold doesn’t rust. and it was more a water aerobics situation,” January explained. The teal swimsuit that January chose for her workout featured a halter neck design with adjustable sliding cups. A small panel of aqua fabric looped around the top of the bikini’s thick halter strap. The string underneath the bust was also the light cyan shade, and the entire bathing suit was trimmed with the color. January was wearing the cups of her bikini top scrunched inwards to expose a generous amount of her ample cleavage, including more than a hint of sideboob spillage. She was standing in chest-deep water, but, because it was crystal-clear, the bottom half of her bathing suit was still visible. January was wearing a pair of high-waisted briefs that hit her right below the bellybutton. The bottoms had wide sides with low-cut leg openings that showed off her athletic thighs and a hint of her pert posterior. Her two-piece also showcased her trim waist and flat stomach. The actress was wearing her chin-length blond hair loosely pulled back. Her pale skin was flawless, and her lips were a soft, natural shade of pink. She was flashing a big smile at the camera as she held her arms out to the sides. Over the span of an hour, January’s morning workout photo racked up over 47,000 likes. Her followers also flocked to the comments section to share their thoughts about the snapshot. “I’m relieved to see you using flotation devices…” read a popular response from actor Will Kemp. “Hold up, my jaw fell, have to go back an pick it up,” another commenter wrote. “Wow!!!!!!! You just made me take a deep breath. Flawless,” a third Instagrammer remarked. The X-Men: First Class star isn’t the only stunning blond celebrity who has left her fans awestruck by flaunting her bikini body on Instagram. As previously reported by The Inquisitr, Jessica Simpson treated her followers to a sizzling swimsuit snap that also received rave reviews.
2 May 18:27 • The Inquisitr • https://www.inquisitr.com/6030676/january-jones-bikini-birthday-mom/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29Rating: 0.30
Kylie Jenner Reveals The Best Thing She Has Ever Done, But Some Fans Say Travis Scott Deserves Most Of The Credit
Kylie Jenner has touched fans with her grace and gratitude. Travis Scott’s baby mama won her followers this week when she revealed the best thing she ever did in life. The business mogul made the revelation when she posted a photo of daughter Stormi Webster Friday. One commenter stated: “Who… done what..!!! Sorry but this’s all travis work you were the egg just you carried her so….. thank you.” A second observer replied: “You clearly don’t know how much work it is to carry a baby in your body for 9 months.” A third follower added: “Technically the best thing you ever did was her daddy cuz you had to do him in order to get her😂 but look at those cute curls OMG 🥰.” Kylie has a lot of reasons to simile in addition to baby Stormi, she just bought a huge mansion in California. According to recent reports, Kylie has just expanded her real estate empire with a new impressive home in the worth of $36.5 million. The makeup mogul also owns a house in Hidden Hills, which she bought back in 2016 for $12 million and an investment property in Beverly Hills for $13 million that she shares with the father of her child, Travis. The luxurious estate is situated in the prestigious neighborhood in Holmby Hills and is spanning over 15,000 square feet and offers seven bedrooms and 14 bathrooms. Also, the property has various bars, games rooms, a sports area, and a professionally equipped kitchen. The mansion, which was labeled as a “resort compound,” is also said to offer immaculate security with its 24/7 guardhouse, as privacy must be important for Kylie, who is the youngest self-made billionaire. Even though the initial price of the property was $45 million, the younger sister of Kim Kardashian got a lucrative discount by the previous owner, who reportedly has collaborated professionally with Kylie in the past. For the time being, it remains unknown if Kylie is going to live full-time in her new estate, or she will continue to be situated in her current main house in Hidden Hills. Meanwhile, it was reported that now Kylie was not the only billionaire in her family as, according to Forbes, the net worth of Jenner’s brother-in-law, Kanye West, is about $1.26 billion. However, according to West, his fortune was much more than that and stated that he had $3.3 billion.
2 May 09:52 • Celebrity Insider • https://celebrityinsider.org/kylie-jenner-reveals-the-best-thing-she-has-ever-done-but-some-fans-say-travis-scott-deserves-most-of-the-credit-392989/Rating: 0.30
Kylie Jenner sends fans wild with incredible bum snap as she models stylish co-ords at home in LA
KYLIE Jenner sent fans wild yesterday as she showed off her famous bum in a stunning Instagram snap. The entrepreneur emphasised her curves with a powerful pose in her LA garden as she modelled a stylish two piece that showed off her tum. She played down her makeup for a more natural look and gave the camera a sultry stare. The compliments flooded in, with one writing: "Looking like a SNACK 😋❤️🍧🍰." Another said: "Such a vibe." While a third wrote: "yes ma’am KYLIE😍😍." It came as Kylie revealed she's scared after someone close to her tested positive for coronavirus. "It's scary when it's someone so close to home...HAS tested positive," she said in a teaser for the September return of Keeping Up With The Kardashians. The beauty appeared to have filmed the confessional herself, as the Kar-Jenner clan are seen locking down as the coronavirus pandemic breaks out. Kylie has been locked down with her daughter Stormi, Stormi's dad Travis Scott and her bff Stassi, during the stay at home order. It's likely she's referring to one of the first diagnosed cases of coronavirus on March 6, which was a father and his two sons who returned from a ski-trip in Italy and lived nearby to her Calabasas home. The season 18 mid-season trailer, documents the coronavirus shut down affecting the famous family. As a sound bite from Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is heard, announcing the city's stay-at-home order, the family is shown doing exactly what the rest of the country currently is also doing: nothing. Kim Kardashian appears to says she has directly spoke to the White House to discuss the virus, as she explained they have told her it's "serious." The mother-of-four documents the madness of trying to homeschool her kids,. Momager Kris Jenner is seen wearing a mask, and getting particularly emotional during a phone call with Khloe. "I wish I could hug you," she tells her. Khloe kept her energy up with a dance party indoors with True Thompson. While, Scott Disick joked that he's going "stir crazy," during the sneak peek. While video conferencing with Kim, Khloe and Kris, Scott asks the question on everyone's lips - whether or not Khloe has slept with her ex Tristan Thompson again. "Oh, 100 percent," Kim replied. "That's what I said!" Scott said, "She says no." There was plenty more tensions caught on camera before filming was halted, as things still appear to be difficult between Khloe and Kourtney. "You and Khlo seem disconnected," Scott said to Kourtney after Khloe tells her she's "not participating" with the rest of them. We pay for videos too. Click here to upload yours.
2 May 08:49 • The Sun • https://www.thesun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/11532363/kylie-jenner-sends-fans-wild-bum-snap/Rating: 2.72
Mira Rajput kickstarts the weekend with a good hair day selfie
If there’s anyone who knows how to start a weekend on the right note, it is Bollywood star Shahid Kapoor’s wife Mira Rajput. She has taken to her social media handle to share her good hair day selfie, which believe it or not is every girl’s dream. In the click, Meera can be seen looking right into the lens while her silky hair falling freely and beautifully. She is wearing a multi-hued top and her face is looking fresh as a daisy with minimum make up and natural glow. Check out the picture here: Mira is one of the most active celebs on social media. Just two days back she shared a very beautiful post giving a shout out to the kids staying indoors. The mother of two applauded for all the children who are showing their patience and staying at home. She called them little heroes. Sharing the post, Meera wrote - “Love them. Hug them. Ask them how they feel and let them cry if they’re not okay. Kiss them. Paint with them and let their clothes and the walls get dirty. Watch their favourite cartoon with them. Snuggle up with them. Give them extra ketchup if they ask for it that day. And when you’re tired after doing the dishes and cooking dinner and they say “Mumma can you play with me” remember this time isn’t forever. Little hands. Big hearts. Love them.”
2 May 06:24 • The Times of India • https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/entertainment/hindi/bollywood/news/mira-rajput-kickstarts-the-weekend-with-a-good-hair-day-selfie/articleshow/75502028.cmsRating: 0.30
Meghan & Harry Will Reportedly Spill Some Royal Tea In A Tell-All Biography
3 May 21:01
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4 articles
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Meghan & Harry Will Reportedly Spill Some Royal Tea In A Tell-All Biography
Could Prince Harry, Duke of Sussex and Meghan, Duchess of Sussex soon spill some royal tea? Meghan and Harry reportedly granted an interview for an upcoming tell-all biography titled Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making Of A Modern Royal Family. According to a Deadline report published on May 3, Finding Freedom authors Omid Scobie, royal editor for Harper's Bazaar, and Carolyn Durand, royal contributor for Elle and O, The Oprah Magazine, reportedly interviewed Meghan and Harry prior to their move from the UK to Canada (and later, Los Angeles). Bustle has reached out to Meghan and Harry's rep for comment. Finding Freedom, available on August 11, will go “beyond the headlines” and chronicle “unknown details” about Meghan and Harry’s life together, as well as dispel the “rumors and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond,” per the biography’s blurb on Amazon. With Scobie and Durand’s “unique access” and the “participation of those closest to the couple,” the biography promises an intimate portrait of the “confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition” and “determined to create a new path away from the spotlight.” The reported interview will be one of the first since Meghan and Harry officially stepped down as senior members of the royal family in March. Since their relocation to Los Angeles with son Archie that same month, the two have been spotted out and about delivering groceries to families in need with charity Project Angel Food during the global health crisis, surgical masks and gloves in tow. The tell-all would mark Meghan’s second project post-royal split. The duchess last narrated the Disney+ nature documentary Elephant, which follows a herd of resilient African elephants as they journey across the Kalahari Desert. In partnership with Elephants Without Borders, Disney donated Meghan's voiceover fees to the charity dedicated to wildlife conservation in Botswana. “She was absolutely intrigued by the elephants, and transfixed, especially by the female empowerment side,” co-director Vanessa Berlowitz told PEOPLE of Meghan’s involvement in April. “How important the matriarchs are to the story; it really is all about female leadership. It’s a different form of power. She was absolutely fascinated by that.” Since Elephant’s release, Meghan has also popped up in Zoom calls to chat with members of the UK’s Hubb Community Kitchen and to surprise a Smarts Work client before a job interview. As for what could be next for the Harry and Meghan, perhaps Finding Freedom will provide some insights.
3 May 21:01 • Bustle • https://www.bustle.com/p/meghan-harry-reportedly-gave-interview-for-a-tell-all-biography-22868219Rating: 1.99
Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Reportedly Agree to Tell-All Biography
Forget about the adorable elephant documentary, this is the juicy stuff we’ve been waiting for. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry, who are now more than a month into their unceremonious exit from the British royal family, have reportedly cooperated with journalists who penned a tell-all biography about their new life. Deadline reports that Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of a Modern Royal Family, written by Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, secured an interview with the couple just before they left the United Kingdom for sunnier pastures in Canada (and now Los Angeles). The book, set for an August 20 release, is teased as going “beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan’s life together,” in addition to getting participation “of those closest to the couple.” Our hearts say it’s a cooing baby Archie, but our minds say Meghan’s yogi momma.
3 May 17:55 • VULTURE • https://www.vulture.com/2020/05/meghan-markle-and-prince-harry-to-have-tell-all-biography.htmlRating: 1.45
Harry & Meghan Reportedly Agreed To Spicy Tell-All Bio & Somewhere, Lizzy Is Clenching
The Duke and Duchess of Sussex, otherwise known as Harry and Meghan, have reportedly given their blessing to an upcoming royal biography about them. Deadline reports the couple even gave an interview to the book’s authors before they waved ta-ta to the UK. Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family was written by journalists Omid Scobie and Carolyn Durand, who have extensively covered the British Royal Family over the years. “For the very first time, Finding Freedom goes beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan’s life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond,” part of the synopsis on Amazon reads. “With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, Finding Freedom is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world.” The biography will be released on August 11, you can suss out more details about it right here. And then there’s the other book, the one called Kensington Palace: An Intimate Memoir From Queen Mary To Meghan Markle, which will be released in September. In an excerpt from the book published by the couple’s fave, the Daily Mail, anonymous sources told stories of Meghan’s behaviour in Kensington Palace. One source, a former servant, described an incident that contributed to the couple’s decision to split their household from William and Kate‘s. Apparently “Meghan shouted at a member of Kate’s staff”, which was “definitely the beginning of discussions about leaving Kensington Palace.” Other sources claimed Meghan was jealous of Kate, because “she is not married to the next king.” Bummer. The anonymous sources threw more of the same shit at Meghan, even adding that she was jealous that her former home, Frogmore Cottage in Windsor, was “tiny in comparison to the vast apartment complex where Kate and William live.” In conclusion, it’s just another day on the royal beat. Image: Getty Images / Chris Jackson
3 May 22:36 • Pedestrian TV • https://www.pedestrian.tv/entertainment/harry-and-meghan-agree-to-royal-biography-finding-freedom/Rating: 0.62
Revealed: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's bombshell biography is called 'Finding Freedom' and promises an 'up-close portrait' of the 'confident' couple
The name of the Duke and Duchess of Sussex's bombshell biography has been revealed as Finding Freedom. Finding Freedom: Harry and Meghan and the Making of A Modern Royal Family is set to be released worldwide online on August 11, with the hard copy on sale from August 20. A description of the biography on Amazon promises to offer an 'honest, up-close, and disarming portrait' of the 'confident, influential, forward' Prince Harry, 35, and Meghan Markle, 38. Last month, the Mail on Sunday reported that the Duke and Duchess had co-operated with Omid Scobie and Catherine Durand on the explosive new book that risks inflicting further anguish on the royal family. Publishing house Harper Collins, which owns Dey Street Books, the publisher of the biography released a brief description of Meghan and Prince Harry's collaboration with the two journalists. The book's description says that 'few know the true story of Harry and Meghan'. It promises to go 'beyond the headlines to reveal unknown details of Harry and Meghan's life together, dispelling the many rumours and misconceptions that plague the couple on both sides of the pond'. It continues: 'With unique access and written with the participation of those closest to the couple, Finding Freedom is an honest, up-close, and disarming portrait of a confident, influential, and forward-thinking couple who are unafraid to break with tradition, determined to create a new path away from the spotlight, and dedicated to building a humanitarian legacy that will make a profound difference in the world.' Meanwhile the cover features a beaming Prince Harry and Meghan as they visited their namesake county in October 2018 for the first time. Palace insiders expect the biography to paint a flattering portrait of the couple. There are fears it will also be a score-settling exercise in which Harry and Meghan's strained relationship with the Royal Family and painful decision to quit Britain are revisited in uncomfortable detail. The Mail on Sunday were told that before moving to North America, the privacy-obsessed Sussexes gave an interview to the book's authors, both journalists. One of them, Omid Scobie,is an acknowledged Meghan cheerleader and was one of the favoured journalists given details of the couple's video call to the Queen last week in which they wished her a happy 94th birthday. Echoing Princess Diana's secret involvement in the blockbuster biography, Diana: Her True Story, when she encouraged her friends to speak to author Andrew Morton, questions are being asked whether members of Meghan's inner circle were being urged to help Scobie and his American co-author, Carolyn Durand. The 320-page biography, due to be released in August, is expected to be a global bestseller.
3 May 09:44 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/femail/article-8281911/Prince-Harry-Meghan-Markles-biography-bombshell-called-Finding-Freedom.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Mosques and schools to reopen in Iran's low-risk areas
3 May 10:33
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Mosques and schools to reopen in Iran's low-risk areas
DUBAI (Reuters) - Iran plans to reopen mosques and schools in areas that have been consistently free of the coronavirus as President Hassan Rouhani’s government starts to ease restrictions that were aimed at containing the outbreak. With mosques closed and religious gatherings banned since mid-March as the outbreak spread in the Middle East’s worst-hit country, ordinary Iranians have turned to drive-ins for ceremonies during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. State TV and videos on social media showed people in their cars watching a religious ceremony on a big screen in a Tehran car park. “Mosques will reopen in 132 low-risk or ‘white cities’ and towns from Monday. Friday prayer sermons will resume in those areas as well ... However, all these steps will be taken by respecting the health protocols,” Rouhani said in a televised meeting. Iran’s health ministry has divided the country into white, yellow and red areas based on the number of infections and deaths. The ministry said on Saturday that the trajectory of infections has started a “gradual” downward trend in Iran. On Sunday the health ministry said the country’s coronavirus death toll had risen to 6,203 and the total number of diagnosed cases had reached 97,424. Iran has already lifted a ban on inter-city trips and malls, with large shopping centres resuming activities despite warnings by some health officials of a new wave of infections. School and university closures were maintained and cultural and sports gatherings are also still banned, though Rouhani said the plan is for some schools to reopen soon. “The schools in the white and low-risk areas will reopen from May 16 ... However, we will continue to review the situation,” he said.
3 May 10:33 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/us-health-coronavirus-iran-idUSKBN22F090Rating: 4.04
COVID-19: Mosques and schools to reopen in Iran's low-risk areas
TEHRAN: Iran plans to reopen mosques and schools in areas that have been consistently free of COVID-19 as President Hassan Rouhani's government starts to ease restrictions that were aimed at containing the outbreak. With mosques closed and religious gatherings banned since mid-March as the outbreak spread in the Middle East's worst-hit country, ordinary Iranians have turned to drive-ins for ceremonies during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramadan. State TV and videos on social media showed people in their cars watching a religious ceremony on a big screen in a Tehran car park. "Mosques will reopen in 132 low-risk or 'white cities' and towns from Monday. Friday prayer sermons will resume in those areas as well ... However, all these steps will be taken by respecting the health protocols," Rouhani said in a televised meeting. Iran's health ministry has divided the country into white, yellow and red areas based on the number of infections and deaths. The ministry said on Saturday that the trajectory of infections has started a "gradual" downward trend in Iran, where the death toll is 6,156 and total number of diagnosed cases has reached 96,448. Iran has already lifted a ban on inter-city trips and malls, with large shopping centres resuming activities despite warnings by some health officials of a new wave of infections. School and university closures were maintained and cultural and sports gatherings are also still banned, though Rouhani said the plan is for some schools to reopen soon. "The schools in the white and low-risk areas will reopen from May 16 ... However, we will continue to review the situation," he said. Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
3 May 18:04 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/world/covid-19-mosques-and-schools-to-reopen-in-iran-s-low-risk-areas-12697960Rating: 3.25
Mosques and schools to reopen in Iran's low-risk areas
IRAN: Iran plans to reopen mosques and schools in areas that have been consistently free of the coronavirus as President Hassan Rouhani’s government starts to ease restrictions that were aimed at containing the outbreak. With mosques closed and religious gatherings banned since mid-March as the outbreak spread in the Middle East’s worst-hit country, ordinary Iranians have turned to drive-ins for ceremonies during the holy Muslim fasting month of Ramazan. State TV and videos on social media showed people in their cars watching a religious ceremony on a big screen in a Tehran car park. “Mosques will reopen in 132 low-risk or ‘white cities’ and towns from Monday. Friday prayer sermons will resume in those areas as well. However, all these steps will be taken by respecting the health protocols,” Rouhani said in a televised meeting. Iran’s health ministry has divided the country into white, yellow and red areas based on the number of infections and deaths. The ministry said on Saturday that the trajectory of infections has started a “gradual” downward trend in Iran, where the death toll is 6,156 and total number of diagnosed cases has reached 96,448. Iran has already lifted a ban on inter-city trips and malls, with large shopping centres resuming activities despite warnings by some health officials of a new wave of infections. School and university closures were maintained and cultural and sports gatherings are also still banned, though Rouhani said the plan is for some schools to reopen soon. “The schools in the white and low-risk areas will reopen from May 16. However, we will continue to review the situation,” he said.
3 May 09:39 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2213112/3-mosques-schools-reopen-irans-low-risk-areas/Rating: 1.80
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
3 May 13:53
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7 articles
Weight: 1.89
Importance: 1.89
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:53
Average US: 6.228571428571429
Weighted average US: 5.016844156772918
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 16.857142857142854
Weighted average IN: 25.653615443258538
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
Washington - Military jets flew over US cities on Saturday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation's capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. "Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity," first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. "They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honor to fly for them today," the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicenter New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia. Read MoreEiffel Tower caps 'Heroes Shine Bright' tribute The nine-day #HeroesShineBright initiative started on April 24 in New York and each night a different colour is used there to salute various groups including health care staff, transit workers, and police or military personnel, SETE added. Read MoreAustralia fights virus clusters as parts of country ease restrictions "What I'm worried about is the unknown unknowns," Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said at a televised briefing, urging more people to get tested. Read MoreWith fighter jets and army bands, India's military thank health workers In the financial capital of Mumbai, television showed fighter jets roaring over the famous Marine Drive, which runs parallel to the Arabian Sea, as some residents craned for a view from their balconies.
3 May 13:53 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Military-jets-fly-over-US-cities-to-salute-frontline-workersRating: 3.14
COVID-19: Military jets fly over US to salute frontline workers
Military jets flew over US cities on Saturday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation’s capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. “Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity,” first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. “They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honor to fly for them today,” the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicenter New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia. (AFP)
3 May 07:02 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/covid-19-military-jets-fly-over-us-to-salute-frontline-workers/Rating: 0.30
COVID-19: US Air Force and Navy stage spectacular flypast to salute frontline workers
The US Air Force and Navy pilots staged a rare joint flyover in three American cities, including Washington, to salute the frontline coronavirus responders and essential workers as the country, the worst hit by the pandemic, fought a grim battle against the "invincible enemy". Scores of people descended upon the National Mall here on Saturday as the elite pilots of the Thunderbirds and the Blue Angles performed a rare joint flyover over Washington, Baltimore and Atlanta called 'America Strong' to thank the frontline workers, some of whom have sacrificed their lives. The Thunderbirds and the Blue Angels performed flyovers in Maryland, Virginia and Washington, DC, on Saturday before the aircraft travelled to Atlanta, Georgia. A formation of six F-16C/D Fighting Falcon and 6 F/A-18C/D Hornet aircraft conducted the flyover. Washington is under a stay-at-home order to slow down the spread of the virus but that did not stop crowds from gathering between the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. While many people practised social distancing and some wore masks, the sidewalks around the mall were crowded, US media reports said. The novel coronavirus, which originated from the Chinese city of Wuhan in December last year, has claimed 243,922 lives and has infected over 3.4 million people globally, according to Johns Hopkins University data. The US has the highest number of infections at 1,133,069 and over 67,400 people have died due to the disease. "During today's tribute, viewers were encouraged to watch the flyover online from the safety of their home quarantine and asked to refrain from traveling to landmarks, hospitals and gathering in large groups," an Air Force official told CNN. They are the US military's flight demonstration squadrons, and this is the second joint flyover mission being conducted to salute the health care workers, first responders, military and other essential workers risking their lives during the pandemic. The first joint flight was conducted on Tuesday across New York, New Jersey and Pennsylvania. The joint operation is part of a series of multi-city flyovers being conducted over the next two weeks. "Beautiful, thank you to our GREAT@BlueAngles and @AFThunderbirds," President Donald Trump, who has described the coronavirus as an"“invisible enemy", tweeted. Trump's wife and first lady Melania Trump also tweeted and said it was a proud moment to see the American military saluting the healthcare and frontline workers. "Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @Blueangels for this beautiful display of solidarity," she tweeted. The White House also joined, taking note of the flypast to honour the country's incredible healthcare workers, first responders and essential personnel fighting the coronavirus. Manhattan's Dr Sarah Vossoughi, a clinical pathologist at NewYork-Presbyterian/Columbia thanked the US military for showing solidarity with medical professionals like her. "For them to show us that sign of respect and that sign of honour, for them to do that for us, that makes me feel really special, and it makes it worth it," Vossoughi was quoted as saying by the CBSNews. "We salute the healthcare workers and first responders who are at the forefront of our nation's fight against COVID-19. They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honour to fly for them today," the official handle of the Thunderbirds tweeted. "We couldn't have asked for clearer weather today while we honoured our frontline healthcare workers and essential employees. We saw you, Washington, D.C., Baltimore, and Atlanta, and we’re #InThisTogether!” the official Twitter handle of the Blue Angeles tweeted. The two teams are now planning more "America Strong" flyovers — an airborne show of thanks bearing the message, "We're all in this together."
3 May 15:40 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-trending/covid-19-us-air-force-and-navy-stage-spectacular-flypast-to-salute-frontline-workers-833013.htmlRating: 2.25
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
WASHINGTON: Military jets flew over US cities on Saturday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation's capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. "Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity," first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. "They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honor to fly for them today," the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicenter New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
3 May 02:47 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/military-jets-fly-over-us-cities-to-salute-frontline-workers/articleshow/75513647.cmsRating: 0.30
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
WASHINGTON, May 3 — Military jets flew over US cities yesterday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation’s capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy’s Blue Angels and the Air Force’s Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. “Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity,” first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. “They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honour to fly for them today,” the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicentre New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia. — AFP
3 May 01:32 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/life/2020/05/03/military-jets-fly-over-us-cities-to-salute-frontline-workers/1862529Rating: 1.42
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
Military jets flew over US cities on Saturday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation's capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. "Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity," first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. "They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honor to fly for them today," the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicenter New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia.
3 May 00:10 • Digital Journal • http://www.digitaljournal.com/news/world/military-jets-fly-over-us-cities-to-salute-frontline-workers/article/571110Rating: 0.78
Military jets fly over US cities to salute frontline workers
Military jets flew over US cities on Saturday to salute frontline workers in the country with the highest coronavirus caseload and death toll in the world. Residents of the nation's capital Washington, as well as Baltimore and Atlanta were treated to sights of the Navy's Blue Angels and the Air Force's Thunderbirds arcing across the sky. Crowds turned out on the National Mall to see the jets fly in formation past sites such as the US Capitol and the Washington Monument. Most of those in attendance appeared to be following social distancing rules, and many wore face masks. "Proud to see the #AmericaStrong salute to our healthcare & frontline workers with a spectacular flyover today in Washington, D.C. Thank you to the @AFThunderbirds and @BlueAngels for this beautiful display of solidarity," first lady Melania Trump tweeted, including a photo of herself watching the fly-by from outside the White House. The Thunderbirds hailed health workers and first responders battling the novel coronavirus, which has infected more than 1.1 million in the US and killed more than 66,000. "They are an inspiration for the entire country during these challenging times and it was an honor to fly for them today," the group said on Twitter. The Blue Angels and Thunderbirds last month flew over US virus epicenter New York City, as well as Newark and Trenton, New Jersey and Philadelphia. acb/st https://www.facebook.com/policies
3 May 00:08 • Pulse Live • https://www.pulselive.co.ke/news/world/military-jets-fly-over-us-cities-to-salute-frontline-workers/45jdgheRating: 0.51
High school graduations loom as possible pandemic casualty
3 May 18:43
•
6 articles
Weight: 1.88
Importance: 1.89
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 15:05
Average US: 2.7999999999999994
Weighted average US: 5.111434480350852
Average GB: 0.06666666666666667
Weighted average GB: 0.11466356606311921
Average IN: 1.5
Weighted average IN: 2.345824021942175
High school graduations loom as possible pandemic casualty
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they'll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. "I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months," the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. "And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person." It's not just graduation -- Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she'll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents' home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot -- a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. "We pretty much grew up together," she said. "Our graduation would be our last time together -- all together -- in person. And now that might not happen." The French-language board to which Persaud's school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario's education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province's largest -- the Toronto District School Board -- announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed "until at least the end of the school year." "As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances," reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province's 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for "positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health." So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn't be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. "But it just takes away the whole idea," she said. "My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It's really upsetting. It's like one moment, you're just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything's cancelled." Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online -- something she attributes to a lack of distractions -- the school experience has gotten far harder. "I don't get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?" she said. "Like, I don't wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it's sad." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 18:43 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/high-school-graduations-loom-as-possible-pandemic-casualty-1.4922903Rating: 2.87
Canadian high school grads-to-be grapple with possible ceremony cancellations
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they’ll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. “I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months,” the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. ”And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person.” It’s not just graduation — Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she’ll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents’ home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot — a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. “We pretty much grew up together,” she said. “Our graduation would be our last time together — all together — in person. And now that might not happen.” The French-language board to which Persaud’s school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario’s education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province’s largest — the Toronto District School Board — announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed “until at least the end of the school year.” “As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances,” reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. VIDEO: Dr. Bonnie Henry offers words of encouragement to B.C.’s 2020 graduating class In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province’s 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for “positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health.” So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn’t be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. “But it just takes away the whole idea,” she said. ”My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It’s really upsetting. It’s like one moment, you’re just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything’s cancelled.” Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online — something she attributes to a lack of distractions — the school experience has gotten far harder. “I don’t get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?” she said. ”Like, I don’t wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it’s sad.” Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
3 May 23:00 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/canadian-high-school-grads-to-be-grapple-with-possible-ceremony-cancellations/Rating: 0.30
High school grads-to-be grapple with possible ceremony cancellations
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they'll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. "I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months," the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. "And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person." It's not just graduation -- Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she'll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents' home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot -- a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. "We pretty much grew up together," she said. "Our graduation would be our last time together -- all together -- in person. And now that might not happen." The French-language board to which Persaud's school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario's education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province's largest -- the Toronto District School Board -- announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed "until at least the end of the school year." "As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances," reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province's 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for "positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health." So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn't be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. "But it just takes away the whole idea," she said. "My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It's really upsetting. It's like one moment, you're just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything's cancelled." Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online -- something she attributes to a lack of distractions -- the school experience has gotten far harder. "I don't get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?" she said. "Like, I don't wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it's sad." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 16:02 • CP24 • https://www.cp24.com/news/high-school-grads-to-be-grapple-with-possible-ceremony-cancellations-1.4922797Rating: 1.66
High school grads-to-be grapple with possible ceremony cancellations
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they'll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. "I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months," the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. "And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person." It's not just graduation — Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she'll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents' home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot — a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. "We pretty much grew up together," she said. "Our graduation would be our last time together — all together — in person. And now that might not happen." The French-language board to which Persaud's school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario's education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province's largest — the Toronto District School Board — announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed "until at least the end of the school year." "As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances," reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province's 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for "positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health." So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn't be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. "But it just takes away the whole idea," she said. "My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It's really upsetting. It's like one moment, you're just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything's cancelled." Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online — something she attributes to a lack of distractions — the school experience has gotten far harder. "I don't get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?" she said. "Like, I don't wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it's sad." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 15:21 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-graduations/cp1164232749Rating: 0.30
High school grads-to-be grapple with possible ceremony cancellations
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they'll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. "I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months," the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. "And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person." It's not just graduation — Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she'll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents' home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot — a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. "We pretty much grew up together," she said. "Our graduation would be our last time together — all together — in person. And now that might not happen." The French-language board to which Persaud's school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario's education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province's largest — the Toronto District School Board — announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed "until at least the end of the school year." "As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances," reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province's 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for "positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health." So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn't be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. "But it just takes away the whole idea," she said. "My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It's really upsetting. It's like one moment, you're just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything's cancelled." Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online — something she attributes to a lack of distractions — the school experience has gotten far harder. "I don't get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?" she said. "Like, I don't wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it's sad." This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. Nicole Thompson, The Canadian Press
3 May 15:21 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/high-school-grads-to-be-grapple-with-possible-ceremony-cancellations-2320666Rating: 0.30
High school grads-to-be grapple with possible ceremony cancellations
Urmila Persaud spent months picturing herself walking across a stage to collect her high-school diploma in front of friends and family. But the COVID-19 pandemic has replaced that vision with a big question mark as schools and boards across Canada grapple with how to handle graduation ceremonies because of COVID-19 restrictions. For soon-to-be graduates like Persaud, this typically joyous milestone is fraught with uncertainty about whether they’ll get a chance to celebrate the end of their high school chapter, and the murky future that lies ahead. “I imagined and dreamed about my graduation for months,” the 17-year-old from Richmond Hill, Ont., said. “And before March break, I had no idea that might be the last time I see my class in person.” It’s not just graduation – Persaud had imagined moving into a dorm and starting university come September, but that picture has been supplanted by questions about whether she’ll have to take her first post-secondary courses online from her parents’ home. But the ceremony is a particular sore spot – a final hurrah with her tight-knit class of just 17 students. “We pretty much grew up together,” she said. “Our graduation would be our last time together – all together – in person. And now that might not happen.” The French-language board to which Persaud’s school belongs cancelled graduation dances but has yet to make a formal decree on graduation ceremonies, a spokeswoman said. A spokeswoman for Ontario’s education minister said a decision on such ceremonies would be left with the school boards, and the province’s largest – the Toronto District School Board – announced Friday that all of its graduation ceremonies would be either cancelled or postponed “until at least the end of the school year.” “As there are still many unknowns, the rescheduling of postponed events will be handled at the school level, depending on local circumstances,” reads a letter to parents from TDSB director of education John Malloy. In Prince Edward Island, meanwhile, Education Minister Brad Trivers said graduation ceremonies at the province’s 15 secondary schools will be held the week of June 22, along with other end-of-year activities. And a spokeswoman said that if commencement ceremonies in New Brunswicks go ahead, they will be different than usual as the Department of Education looks for “positive alternatives to traditional graduation ceremonies that would meet the restrictions recommended by Public Health.” So too for 17-year-old Trinity Parchment of Barrie, Ont., who learned on Friday that her school wouldn’t be holding a graduation ceremony, but would try to do something to mark the occasion online. “But it just takes away the whole idea,” she said. “My friends and I were planning on decorating our caps and just making it a whole thing. It’s really upsetting. It’s like one moment, you’re just getting an extra long March break. And then the next moment, everything’s cancelled.” Parchment said that while her grades have gone up since classes moved online – something she attributes to a lack of distractions – the school experience has gotten far harder. “I don’t get to wake up and have purpose. You know what I mean?” she said. “Like, I don’t wake up excited for something new, excited to see my friends. I just wake up to wake up, and it’s sad.” Our Morning Update and Evening Update newsletters are written by Globe editors, giving you a concise summary of the day’s most important headlines. Sign up today.
3 May 15:05 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-several-schools-boards-across-canada-cancelling-high-school/Rating: 2.18
Iran: Nuclear deal will 'die forever' if arms embargo continues - Middle East
3 May 20:58
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5 articles
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Iran: Nuclear deal will 'die forever' if arms embargo continues - Middle East
Iran warned Sunday that the 2015 nuclear deal signed by the US and its European allies with Tehran would “die forever” if the US is able to maintain an arms embargo on the Islamic republic. In a tweet Sunday morning, Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, accused the US of using the arms embargo on Tehran to maintain what he dubbed America’s “declining hegemony”, and said that if the embargo is not halted, it will mean the end of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action – better known as the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. “#JCPOA will die forever by circumventing 2231 Resolution & continuing #Iran's illegal weapons sanctions. Sanctions' virus is the US tool for survival of its declining hegemony. What will #EU do: Save dignity & support multilateralism or Accept humiliation & help unilateralism?” Under the 2015 nuclear deal, the arms embargo on Iran is set to be lifted progressively beginning in October. But the United States, which withdrew from the JCPOA in May 2018, has pushed to have the ban on conventional arms sales to the Islamic republic be extended.
3 May 20:58 • Israel National News • http://www.israelnationalnews.com/News/News.aspx/279606Rating: 0.83
Iran warns of nuclear deal 'death' if arms embargo extended
Tehran: A top Iranian official on Sunday warned that a nuclear deal the US withdrew unilaterally from would "die forever" if an arms embargo on Tehran is extended. The United States is campaigning to extend the ban on selling conventional weapons to Iran, which is set to be progressively lifted as of October. The ban's lifting is part of a 2015 United Nations Security Council resolution that blessed the nuclear accord reached between Iran and world powers. Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran's Supreme National Security Council, on Sunday tweeted that the nuclear deal "will die forever" by "circumventing 2231 Resolution & continuing Iran's illegal weapons sanction". He also questioned what would Iran's EU partners to the deal do in such a case. "What will #EU do: Save dignity & support multilateralism or accept humiliation & help unilateralism?" Shamkhani said. Iran and the United States have been at loggerheads for decades. Tensions escalated in 2018 when President Donald Trump unilaterally withdrew the US from the nuclear deal and reimposed sanctions as part of a campaign of "maximum pressure". Tehran has progressively rolled up its commitments to the deal known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action or JCPOA in retaliation to the US pulling out of the accord. The other partners to the JCPOA are Britain, China, France, Germany and Russia. The accord gave the Islamic republic relief from international sanctions in return for limits on its nuclear programme. US Secretary of States Mike Pompeo said last month he would ask the UN Security Council to prolong the ban. Washington would use a legal argument based on an interpretation of Resolution 2231 that it remains a "participant" in the nuclear deal despite renouncing it, and can extend the arms embargo on Tehran or see more stringent sanctions reimposed. Iran, for its part, accuses the US of violating the resolution over its 2018 withdrawal.
3 May 17:44 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Iran-warns-of-nuclear-deal-death-if-arms-embargo-extendedRating: 3.14
Iran Nuclear Deal Will ‘Die Forever’ If US Uses ‘Sanctions Virus’ to Extend Arms Embargo – Tehran
The Trump administration has been searching for options to try to extend the United Nations ban on the sale of conventional weapons to Iran beyond October, proposing sanctions and even considering making the argument that the US is still effectively a party to the Iran nuclear deal, despite its decision to walk out of the agreement in 2018. The Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) nuclear deal will “die forever” if the UN arms embargo against Tehran is not lifted, Ali Shamkhani, chief of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council, has warned. “Sanctions’ virus is the US tool for survival of its declining hegemony. What will #EU do: Save dignity and support multilateralism or Accept humiliation and help unilateralism,” Shamkhani added, in an apparent dig against the JCPOA’s European signatories’ failure to circumvent crushing US sanctions and fulfill their obligations under the nuclear deal. The United States recently stepped up efforts to try to extend the global arms embargo against Iran, despite the lack of a legal justification for doing so. On Thursday, Secretary of State Mike Pompeo suggested that the US had the power to extend the ban on conventional arms sales to Iran under Resolution 2231, despite abandoning the Iran nuclear deal to which it is linked two years ago. Days earlier, Pompeo similarly referred to Resolution 2231 following Iran’s launch of a military satellite. Also last week, US Special Representative for Iran Brian Hook suggested that Russia and China had no reason to vote against or veto the prolongation of the arms embargo on Iran. On Wednesday, Russian Deputy Foreign Minister Sergei Ryabkov told Sputnik that there was no case to be made to extend the arms embargo, and as far as Moscow was concerned, the issue was “closed.” He added that Washington had no right to talk about the provisions of Resolution 2231, given its own decision to stop adhering to the resolution and attempts to pressure other countries to stop complying with its provisions by introducing unilateral sanctions. Pompeo had earlier promised to “urge” Washington’s European partners to “make sure” that Iran remains unable to purchase conventional weapons from abroad. Iran’s Foreign Minister Mohammad Javad Zarif has called on Pompeo to “stop dreaming” about extending the embargo, saying the US had no legal case for doing so. The United States unilaterally scrapped its commitments to the Iran nuclear deal in May 2018, slapping Iran with tough banking an energy sanctions. Amid the deal’s European signatories’ failure to create a package of measures to soften the economic blow caused by US actions, Iran has reneged on some of the nuclear deal’s provisions, including limitations on its uranium stockpile and enrichment. Tehran has stressed however that it has no intention of pursuing nuclear weapons or any other weapons of mass destruction, claiming the pursuit of such weapons run counter to the country’s Islamic faith.
3 May 10:03 • Sputniknews • https://sputniknews.com/world/202005031079180868-iran-nuclear-deal-will-die-forever-if-us-uses-sanctions-virus-to-extend-arms-embargo--tehran/Rating: 3.96
Attempts to Prevent Iranian Arms Trade Unlikely to Succeed
The United States’ attempts to prevent the relaxation of Iran’s arms embargo have little chance of success at the United Nations, despite the weight of the US House of Representatives behind it, according to a lawmaker.“The evil anti-Iran plot of American Congress is doomed to fail,” Hossein Naqavi, spokesman of Majlis National Security and Foreign Policy Commission, told ICANA. The UN arms embargo on Iran is set to expire in October as per the Security Council’s Resolution 2231 that endorsed the 2015 nuclear deal, formally known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. Although US President Donald Trump abandoned the deal in 2018, his administration is now arguing that Washington still remains an original “participant” under the terms of the resolution that enshrined it.Based on the argument, the US State Department has prepared a draft UN resolution that would strike the expiration of the arms embargo from Resolution 2231. Recently, an overwhelming majority of the US House of Representatives members have signed a letter urging the Trump administration to increase its diplomatic action at the UN to renew the restrictions on Iran, according to sources who spoke to Reuters on Thursday. Iranian officials, however, see a very low probability that the UN Security Council would heed the US call. Naqavi predicted UN Security Council members that signed the nuclear deal to oppose the move. “JCPOA parties have witnessed Iran’s fulfillment of its commitments. Therefore, if Europeans do not wish to stand against US policies, countries such as China and Russia will,” he said. Russia and China, two veto-wielding permanent members of the UNSC, have already argued in favor of the UN embargo’s removal and are expected to mount stiff opposition. Jalal Mirzaei, another lawmaker, predicted that the arms sanctions will be removed in the near future.“The White House measures against our country seem unlikely to lead anywhere at the UN Security Council,” he said. Washington has also threatened to trigger the deal’s so-called “snapback” mechanism to return all UN sanctions on Iran as leverage to get backing from the 15-member Security Council.“The US is no longer a party to the nuclear deal and has no say in whether or not its terms should or should not be put into effect,” Naqavi said. He said Iran has fulfilled its obligations under JCPOA and it is now time for it to enjoy the deal’s benefits, including the easing of restrictions on the purchase of conventional weapons as a key element of the agreement. Iran’s diplomatic body has a great responsibility now, according to Naqavi, and needs to foil the US plot through extensive consultations.
2 May 19:30 • Financial Tribune • https://financialtribune.com/articles/national/103149/attempts-to-prevent-iranian-arms-trade-unlikely-to-succeedRating: 0.30
Iran warns US of ‘harsh response’ if arms embargo is extended
BEIRUT, LEBANON (4:30 P.M.) – The Iranian government said it had informed Washington that an extension of the U.S. arms embargo would “face a severe response.” According to Iranian state media, government spokesperson, Ali Rabei, said at a press conference on Saturday that “we have informed the United States of America and Europe that the extension of the international community’s arms embargo against Iran is inconsistent with previous agreements and will face a harsh response.” Rabiei stressed that this procedure “will have serious repercussions on the nuclear agreement and beyond the nuclear agreement, and will have negative repercussions on the security and stability of the region.” “We talked to the member states of the nuclear agreement and they informed us that they will not accept the United States’ method of extending our arms embargo.” A spokesman for the Iranian government continued: “The United States of America must realize that the world and international agreements are not a game in their hands.” He considered that any extension of the embargo would indicate that the United States is balking at the laws and unilaterally using international treaties. “The United States cannot bully the international scene and we believe that the permanent members of the U.N. Security Council will oppose the extension of the embargo, just as the United States cannot use the nuclear agreement and UN resolution 2231 without abiding by its nuclear obligations,” he continued. Rabiei stressed that there is no international or legal destination for Washington’s attempt to use the nuclear agreement to extend the arms embargo on Iran, stating: “America withdrew from the nuclear agreement and cannot use its content to achieve its goals, and it can express its opinion as a member of the agreement if it returns to it and fulfills its obligations.”
2 May 13:43 • AMN • https://www.almasdarnews.com/article/iran-warns-us-of-harsh-response-if-arms-embargo-is-extended/Rating: 0.63
For Muslims in the U.S., Ramadan Presents Unprecedented Obstacles and Opportunities
3 May 13:38
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For Muslims in the U.S., Ramadan Presents Unprecedented Obstacles and Opportunities
For Jamilah Shakir, the first week of Ramadan has been an adjustment. She typically spends every night of the month at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam or another mosque nearby. Now Ramadan has come, and mosques are closed to worshippers to prevent spread of the coronavirus. So Shakir and her family have had to improvise. “It feels a little weird,” she says. “Not praying in community has been very, very different.” For Muslims in the United States, there is no other time more centered around gathering in congregation than the holy month of Ramadan. In every corner of the country, believers attend community iftar meals to break the fast and then pack neatly into tight rows for nightly prayers at the mosque. On weekends, especially, some may linger longer as they catch up, share in the pre-dawn suhoor meal and line up again for the fajr, dawn, prayers. “The mosque plays a more significant role in being also a community center for American Muslims,” says Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at American Islamic College. “Because Muslims are a minority, they have to go the extra mile to create that unique communal experience that’s unique to Ramadan.” But this year, Ramadan falls during a global pandemic. In the U.S., with the world's highest COVID-19 death toll, that means being forced to mark the month in different, more virtual and sometimes solitary ways. As they re-imagine some of the spiritual and social rituals, many are relying on a mix of at-home worship and a myriad of online religious programming. Virtual iftar options have sprung up so the devout don’t have to break their fast alone. But not all moments can be recreated on a screen. There will be dishes not shared, prayers not lifted together, hugs not given. Hugs and congregational prayers are the two things Shakir misses the most. But she looks for the blessings. She lives in a close-knit community in South Atlanta with dozens of other Muslim families. She still plans to catch her neighbors — at a distance — on the days she and her sons might be grilling meat for iftar outside. “Although it’s very different from how we normally gather, I’m still so grateful that Allah put us in this Islamic community during this time.” Around the country, Muslims are adapting to the unprecedented challenges. From a recent convert observing his first Ramadan to a respiratory therapist balancing her faith with a job on the frontline of the battle, The Associated Press follows a few of their journeys. HOUSTON: RICARDO RAMIREZ, 28 Ricardo Ramirez became a Muslim before a crowd of believers. As soon as he uttered the shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith, the faithful broke into chants of “Allahu Akbar.” He was told that day that “all of these brothers and sisters are your brothers and sisters.” There were handshakes, pats on the back and hugs. So many hugs. Since then, he says, the community has been there for him. But Ramirez is experiencing a milestone in his faith journey — his first Ramadan as a Muslim — as the virus disrupts worship and mosques close. “It’s going to be really difficult,” he said before Ramadan started. “I do have a lot of questions, and there’s a lot I want to observe and ask about.” It was a conversation about Ramadan that sparked Ramirez’s interest in Islam. In 2017, he noticed a co-worker wouldn’t eat during the day. She told him she was fasting. Something resonated. “I’ve never seen anybody speak about their religion the way she did,” he says. “Even with everything going on in the world negatively toward Muslims, she was still very excited to tell me.” Born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent, Ramirez was baptized Catholic. But growing up, he experienced Catholicism as largely confined to culture and celebrations. His mom was upset when he told her he was considering Islam. “A lot of people seem to have that same conversation with their parents,” he says. Eventually, she came around. While on work trips to Saudi Arabia, she got him a prayer mat, a copy of the Quran, prayer beads and some dates. He has been saving the dates for breaking his fast during Ramadan. The first day of the Islamic holy month left him feeling “accomplished.” But he also missed being around others observing it. Attending virtual iftars — “being able to share that moment with other people” — has helped. And in the compulsory solitude, he’s determined to find strength. “The more I think about it, I think this is the path that Allah has set for me as a challenge ... to know that this religion is for me.” CHICAGO: JUMANA AZAM, 33 On the first night of Ramadan, respiratory therapist Jumana Azam stayed up through suhoor and only slept after making the prayer at dawn. She had come home at 2 A.M. from an odd shift in the ICU of Rush University Medical Center. Just weeks ago, Azam's own mortality weighed heavy. She worried that while caring for dying patients, she could contract the new coronavirus herself and end up on the very ventilators she was operating nonstop. “I was upset and confused, and I didn’t know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to be a frontliner,” she says. At times, she says, her faith wavered. As Chicago experienced a surge of COVID-19 patients in early April, Azam’s days quickly turned into 16-hour shifts, with barely a break to eat or make one of the five daily prayers. The physical demands of the job have taken a toll on her, and while abstaining from any food or drink for 15-hour Ramadan fasts, Azam worries she won’t be able to keep up. She started observing the holy month at about age 10, she recalls. For the first time since then, she considered not fasting as the month approached. “Emotionally and spiritually, this was really hard for me to even reflect on,” she says. Azam looks forward to this month every year, saying her struggle with hunger, especially while at work, gives her day meaning and purpose. Last year, Azam, like many other professional Muslims observing the month, decreased her working hours slightly to make the days more manageable. This year, she knows that won’t be possible. Still, Azam is planning to wake up each morning to eat before dawn and try. “I’m going to take it in stages and try to fast while I’m at work,” she says. “But if I feel like I’m getting light-headed, I’m going to have to break it.” NEW YORK CITY: IMAM MUFTI MOHAMMED ISMAIL, 38 The An-Noor Cultural Center and masjid is located blocks from Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, where patients have been dying from COVID-19 at an alarming rate. The immigrant-rich neighborhood has been deemed one of New York City's hardest-hit areas. Imam Mufti Mohammed Ismail is the principal of the religious school at An-Noor. Most who are part of the center are Bangladeshi. “We have lost a lot of Muslim brothers and sisters in my community,” Imam Ismail says. A prayer of “protection from diseases” is printed in Arabic and English on a paper posted to the mosque wall, and Ismail says the Bangladeshi community has lost “close to 150 people” to COVID-19 across New York City, many from this neighborhood. As deaths rise, Imam Ismail is trying to serve community members suffering in other ways. With mosques shuttered as the city reels, volunteers from An-Noor Cultural Center are preparing food boxes for those who would have relied on the center for iftar every evening. With so many from this immigrant community losing jobs, the demand has increased. “I’m receiving so many phone calls from families who are saying, ‘We are not poor, but the situation has (made) it so hard, so we need a food box,’” Imam Ismail says. On this day, volunteers, including the imam's son, help him sort food in the prayer area. When the time for afternoon prayer arrives, the men break and pray amid half-assembled food boxes filled with dates, cooking oil, vermicelli and potatoes, standing with a little extra room between them. They load the items into a car and head off to begin deliveries. Imam Ismail says this gives the center the opportunity to fulfill one of Ramadan's tenets — to serve those less fortunate, regardless of religion. “Once we receive a call asking for help, we never question about the caller’s faith. It’s just a family,” he says. “A human being. We are ready to serve them.” MINNEAPOLIS: IMAM SHARIF MOHAMED For all the things Muslims are doing without this year, one community in Minneapolis has gained a new voice during the holy month: the call to prayer. Throughout Ramadan, the azan, or adhan — which summons the faithful for prayers five times a day — will be broadcast over loudspeakers for the first time at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque. Mayor Jacob Frey facilitated the noise permit after community leaders requested the service. For Muslims feeling isolated at home, the sound of the azan will offer connection, says Imam Sharif Mohamed. It will also alert observant Muslims when it’s time to break fast or start abstaining from eating and drinking. “It’s calming and soothing for them,” he says. “The emotional and spiritual connection, I think, is beyond our imagination.” Mohamed walked around the neighborhood as the azan blared out from the mosque and into the streets and buildings surrounding it. Hearing that, he says, took him back to when he was in Somalia. For non-Muslims, the imam says, this can be an educational experience. And for Muslims, it can be deeply moving. “I am happy. I am going to cry,” Mohamed Salah, who lives near the mosque, said about hearing the azan from home. “Something is better than nothing.” WHEELING, ILLINOIS: SHAHEEN KHAN, 54 Over the last six weeks, Shaheen Khan has gotten a little more comfortable sitting in front of the camera and conducting online Islamic lessons. “Salam-alaikum, boys and girls,” she recites in a cheerful voice before launching into reading a storybook, “Allah Gives Us Food,” with an image of mosaic tiles from the Blue Mosque in Tabriz, Iran, as her Zoom background. The 54-year-old mother of four teaches at the Hadi School, a Montessori Islamic school in Schaumburg, Illinois, that provides Islamic teachings according to the Shia tradition. Khan arrived in the U.S. from India in 1990 and has been teaching ever since. But in 30 years, she’s never had to face the challenge of connecting with her students remotely day after day. Now, she’s trying to figure out how to offer new lessons about an unprecedented Ramadan, as she tries to make sense of the unique challenges herself. She’s realizing the increased time at home could be used as an opportunity for reflection “to come back to our roots.” “Maybe," she says, "this is Allah’s way of resetting a button for us.”
3 May 13:38 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/us-news/MAGAZINE-for-muslims-in-the-u-s-ramadan-presents-obstacles-and-opportunities-1.8815083Rating: 1.13
In US, Ramadan in COVID-19 presents obstacles, opportunities
New York: For Jamilah Shakir, the first week of Ramadan has been an adjustment. She typically spends every night of the month at the Atlanta Masjid of Al Islam or another mosque nearby. Now Ramadan has come, and mosques are closed to worshippers to prevent spread of the coronavirus. So Shakir and her family have had to improvise. “It feels a little weird,” she says. “Not praying in community has been very, very different.” For Muslims in the United States, there is no other time more centered around gathering in congregation than the holy month of Ramadan. In every corner of the country, believers attend community iftar meals to break the fast and then pack neatly into tight rows for nightly prayers at the mosque. On weekends, especially, some may linger longer as they catch up, share in the pre-dawn suhoor meal and line up again for the fajr, dawn, prayers. “The mosque plays a more significant role in being also a community centre for American Muslims,” says Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at American Islamic College. “Because Muslims are a minority, they have to go the extra mile to create that unique communal experience that’s unique to Ramadan.” But this year, Ramadan falls during a global pandemic. In the US, with the world’s highest COVID-19 death toll, that means being forced to mark the month in different, more virtual and sometimes solitary ways. As they re-imagine some of the spiritual and social rituals, many are relying on a mix of at-home worship and a myriad of online religious programming. Virtual iftar options have sprung up so the devout don’t have to break their fast alone. But not all moments can be recreated on a screen. There will be dishes not shared, prayers not lifted together, hugs not given. Hugs and congregational prayers are the two things Shakir misses the most. But she looks for the blessings. She lives in a close-knit community in South Atlanta with dozens of other Muslim families. She still plans to catch her neighbors - at a distance - on the days she and her sons might be grilling meat for iftar outside. “Although it’s very different from how we normally gather, I’m still so grateful that Allah put us in this Islamic community during this time.” Around the country, Muslims are adapting to the unprecedented challenges. From a recent convert observing his first Ramadan to a respiratory therapist balancing her faith with a job on the frontline of the battle, The Associated Press follows a few of their journeys. Ricardo Ramirez became a Muslim before a crowd of believers. As soon as he uttered the shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith, the faithful broke into chants of “Allahu Akbar.” He was told that day that “all of these brothers and sisters are your brothers and sisters.” There were handshakes, pats on the back and hugs. So many hugs. Since then, he says, the community has been there for him. But Ramirez is experiencing a milestone in his faith journey - his first Ramadan as a Muslim - as the virus disrupts worship and mosques close. “It’s going to be really difficult,” he said before Ramadan started. “I do have a lot of questions, and there’s a lot I want to observe and ask about.” It was a conversation about Ramadan that sparked Ramirez’s interest in Islam. In 2017, he noticed a co-worker wouldn’t eat during the day. She told him she was fasting. Something resonated. “I’ve never seen anybody speak about their religion the way she did,” he says. “Even with everything going on in the world negatively towards Muslims, she was still very excited to tell me.” Born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent, Ramirez was baptised Catholic. But growing up, he experienced Catholicism as largely confined to culture and celebrations. His mum was upset when he told her he was considering Islam. “A lot of people seem to have that same conversation with their parents,” he says. Eventually, she came around. While on work trips to Saudi Arabia, she got him a prayer mat, a copy of the Quran, prayer beads and some dates. He has been saving the dates for breaking his fast during Ramadan. The first day of the Islamic holy month left him feeling “accomplished.” But he also missed being around others observing it. Attending virtual iftars - “being able to share that moment with other people” - has helped. And in the compulsory solitude, he’s determined to find strength. “The more I think about it, I think this is the path that Allah has set for me as a challenge ... to know that this religion is for me.” On the first night of Ramadan, respiratory therapist Jumana Azam stayed up through suhoor and only slept after making the prayer at dawn. She had come home at 2am from an odd shift in the ICU of Rush University Medical Centre. Just weeks ago, Azam’s own mortality weighed heavy. She worried that while caring for dying patients, she could contract the new coronavirus herself and end up on the very ventilators she was operating nonstop. “I was upset and confused, and I didn’t know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to be a frontliner,” she says. At times, she says, her faith wavered. As Chicago experienced a surge of COVID-19 patients in early April, Azam’s days quickly turned into 16-hour shifts, with barely a break to eat or make one of the five daily prayers. The physical demands of the job have taken a toll on her, and while abstaining from any food or drink for 15-hour Ramadan fasts, Azam worries she won’t be able to keep up. She started observing the holy month at about age 10, she recalls. For the first time since then, she considered not fasting as the month approached. “Emotionally and spiritually, this was really hard for me to even reflect on,” she says. Azam looks forward to this month every year, saying her struggle with hunger, especially while at work, gives her day meaning and purpose. Last year, Azam, like many other professional Muslims observing the month, decreased her working hours slightly to make the days more manageable. This year, she knows that won’t be possible. Still, Azam is planning to wake up each morning to eat before dawn and try. “I’m going to take it in stages and try to fast while I’m at work,” she says. “But if I feel like I’m getting light-headed, I’m going to have to break it.” The An Noor Cultural Center and masjid is located blocks from Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, where patients have been dying from COVID-19 at an alarming rate. The immigrant-rich neighbourhood has been deemed one of New York City’s hardest-hit areas. Imam Mufti Mohammed Ismail is the principal of the religious school at An Noor. Most who are part of the centtr are Bangladeshi. “We have lost a lot of Muslim brothers and sisters in my community,” Imam Ismail says. A prayer of “protection from diseases” is printed in Arabic and English on a paper posted to the mosque wall, and Ismail says the Bangladeshi community has lost “close to 150 people” to COVID-19 across New York City, many from this neighbourhood. As deaths rise, Imam Ismail is trying to serve community members suffering in other ways. With mosques shuttered as the city reels, volunteers from An Noor Cultural Centre are preparing food boxes for those who would have relied on the centre for iftar every evening. With so many from this immigrant community losing jobs, the demand has increased. “I’m receiving so many phone calls from families who are saying, ‘We are not poor, but the situation has (made) it so hard, so we need a food box,”’ Imam Ismail says. On this day, volunteers, including the imam’s son, help him sort food in the prayer area. When the time for afternoon prayer arrives, the men break and pray amid half-assembled food boxes filled with dates, cooking oil, vermicelli and potatoes, standing with a little extra room between them. They load the items into a car and head off to begin deliveries. Imam Ismail says this gives the centre the opportunity to fulfil one of Ramadan’s tenets - to serve those less fortunate, regardless of religion. “Once we receive a call asking for help, we never question about the caller’s faith. It’s just a family,” he says. “A human being. We are ready to serve them.” For all the things Muslims are doing without this year, one community in Minneapolis has gained a new voice during the holy month: the call to prayer. Throughout Ramadan, the azan, or adhan - which summons the faithful for prayers five times a day - will be broadcast over loudspeakers for the first time at the Dar Al Hijrah Mosque. Mayor Jacob Frey facilitated the noise permit after community leaders requested the service. For Muslims feeling isolated at home, the sound of the azan will offer connection, says Imam Sharif Mohamed. It will also alert observant Muslims when it’s time to break fast or start abstaining from eating and drinking. “It’s calming and soothing for them,” he says. “The emotional and spiritual connection, I think, is beyond our imagination.” Mohamed walked around the neighbourhood as the azan blared out from the mosque and into the streets and buildings surrounding it. Hearing that, he says, took him back to when he was in Somalia. For non-Muslims, the imam says, this can be an educational experience. And for Muslims, it can be deeply moving. “I am happy. I am going to cry,” Mohamed Salah, who lives near the mosque, said about hearing the azan from home. “Something is better than nothing.” Over the last six weeks, Shaheen Khan has gotten a little more comfortable sitting in front of the camera and conducting online Islamic lessons. “Salam-alaikum, boys and girls,” she recites in a cheerful voice before launching into reading a storybook, “Allah Gives Us Food,” with an image of mosaic tiles from the Blue Mosque in Tabriz, Iran, as her Zoom background. The 54-year-old mother of four teaches at the Hadi School, a Montessori Islamic school in Schaumburg, Illinois, that provides Islamic teachings according to the Shiite tradition. Khan arrived in the US from India in 1990 and has been teaching ever since. But in 30 years, she’s never had to face the challenge of connecting with her students remotely day after day. Now, she’s trying to figure out how to offer new lessons about an unprecedented Ramadan, as she tries to make sense of the unique challenges herself. She’s realizing the increased time at home could be used as an opportunity for reflection “to come back to our roots.” “Maybe,” she says, “this is Allah’s way of resetting a button for us.”
3 May 14:00 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/americas/in-us-ramadan-in-covid-19-presents-obstacles-opportunities-1.71305236Rating: 3.21
Ramzan in United States amid coronavirus pandemic seems different for many Muslims
For Jamilah Shakir, the first week of Ramzan has been an adjustment. She typically spends every night of the month at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam or another mosque nearby. Now Ramzan has come, and mosques are closed to worshippers to prevent the spread of the coronavirus. So Shakir and her family have had to improvise. “It feels a little weird,” she says. “Not praying in the community has been very, very different.” For Muslims in the United States, there is no other time more centred around gathering in the congregation than the holy month of Ramzan. In every corner of the country, believers attend community iftar meals to break the fast and then pack neatly into tight rows for nightly prayers at the mosque. On weekends, especially, some may linger longer as they catch up, share in the pre-dawn suhoor meal and line up again for the fajr, dawn, prayers. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here “The mosque plays a more significant role in being also a community centre for American Muslims,” says Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at American Islamic College. “Because Muslims are a minority, they have to go the extra mile to create that unique communal experience that's unique to Ramzan.” But this year, Ramzan falls during a global pandemic. In the US, with the world's highest COVID-19 death toll, that means being forced to mark the month in different, more virtual and sometimes solitary ways. As they re-imagine some of the spiritual and social rituals, many are relying on a mix of at-home worship and a myriad of online religious programming. Virtual iftar options have sprung up so the devout don't have to break their fast alone. But not all moments can be recreated on a screen. There will be dishes not shared, prayers not lifted together, hugs not given. Hugs and congregational prayers are the two things Shakir misses the most. But she looks for the blessings. She lives in a close-knit community in South Atlanta with dozens of other Muslim families. She still plans to catch her neighbours — at a distance — on the days she and her sons might be grilling meat for iftar outside. “Although it's very different from how we normally gather, I'm still so grateful that Allah put us in this Islamic community during this time.” Around the country, Muslims are adapting to unprecedented challenges. From a recent convert observing his first Ramzan to a respiratory therapist balancing her faith with a job on the frontline of the battle, The Associated Press follows a few of their journeys. Ricardo Ramirez became a Muslim before a crowd of believers. As soon as he uttered the shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith, the faithful broke into chants of “Allahu Akbar.” He was told that day that “all of these brothers and sisters are your brothers and sisters.” There were handshakes, pats on the back and hugs. So many hugs. Since then, he says, the community has been there for him. But Ramirez is experiencing a milestone in his faith journey — his first Ramzan as a Muslim — as the virus disrupts worship and mosques close. “It's going to be really difficult,” he said before Ramzan started. “I do have a lot of questions, and there's a lot I want to observe and ask about.” It was a conversation about Raman that sparked Ramirez's interest in Islam. In 2017, he noticed a co-worker wouldn't eat during the day. She told him she was fasting. Something resonated. “I've never seen anybody speak about their religion the way she did,” he says. “Even with everything going on in the world negatively toward Muslims, she was still very excited to tell me.” Born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent, Ramirez was baptized Catholic. But growing up, he experienced Catholicism as largely confined to culture and celebrations. His mom was upset when he told her he was considering Islam. “A lot of people seem to have that same conversation with their parents,” he says. Eventually, she came around. While on work trips to Saudi Arabia, she got him a prayer mat, a copy of the Quran, prayer beads and some dates. He has been saving the dates for breaking his fast during Ramzan. The first day of the Islamic holy month left him feeling “accomplished.” But he also missed being around others observing it. Attending virtual iftars — “being able to share that moment with other people” — has helped. And in the compulsory solitude, he's determined to find strength. “The more I think about it, I think this is the path that Allah has set for me as a challenge ... to know that this religion is for me.” On the first day of Ramzan, respiratory therapist Jumana Azam slept through her alarm for suhoor. She had come home at 2 a.m. from an odd shift at the hospital. Still, when she woke up, she set her intention to fast, ignoring the doubts of whether she'd be able to keep it throughout the day. Then she changed back into scrubs and left to start another shift in the ICU of Rush University Medical Center. Just weeks ago, Azam's own mortality weighed heavy. She worried that while caring for dying patients, she could contract the new coronavirus herself and end up on the very ventilators she was operating nonstop. “I was upset and confused, and I didn't know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to be a frontliner,” she says. At times, she says, her faith wavered.
2 May 22:34 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/ramzan-in-united-states-amid-coronavirus-pandemic-seems-different-for-many-muslims-832860.htmlRating: 2.25
British MPs demand UK sanctions over Israel’s West Bank annexation plan
NEW YORK: For Jamilah Shakir, the first week of Ramadan has been an adjustment. She typically spends every night of the month at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam or another mosque nearby. Now Ramadan has come, and mosques are closed to worshippers to prevent spread of the coronavirus. So Shakir and her family have had to improvise.“It feels a little weird,” she says. “Not praying in community has been very, very different.” Jamilah Shakir discusses the observation of Ramadan on Wednesday, April 29, 2020, in Atlanta. (AP) For Muslims in the United States, there is no other time more centered around gathering in congregation than the holy month of Ramadan. In every corner of the country, believers attend community iftar meals to break the fast and then pack neatly into tight rows for nightly prayers at the mosque. On weekends, especially, some may linger longer as they catch up, share in the pre-dawn suhoor meal and line up again for the fajr, dawn, prayers.“The mosque plays a more significant role in being also a community center for American Muslims,” says Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at American Islamic College. “Because Muslims are a minority, they have to go the extra mile to create that unique communal experience that’s unique to Ramadan.”But this year, Ramadan falls during a global pandemic. In the U.S., with the world's highest COVID-19 death toll, that means being forced to mark the month in different, more virtual and sometimes solitary ways.As they re-imagine some of the spiritual and social rituals, many are relying on a mix of at-home worship and a myriad of online religious programming. Virtual iftar options have sprung up so the devout don’t have to break their fast alone. But not all moments can be recreated on a screen. There will be dishes not shared, prayers not performed together, hugs not given.Hugs and congregational prayers are the two things Shakir misses the most.But she looks for the blessings. She lives in a close-knit community in South Atlanta with dozens of other Muslim families. She still plans to catch her neighbors — at a distance — on the days she and her sons might be grilling meat for iftar outside.“Although it’s very different from how we normally gather, I’m still so grateful that Allah put us in this Islamic community during this time.”Around the country, Muslims are adapting to the unprecedented challenges. From a recent convert observing his first Ramadan to a respiratory therapist balancing her faith with a job on the frontline of the battle, The Associated Press follows a few of their journeys.Houston: Ricardo Ramirez, 28 Ricardo Ramirez is observing Ramadan for the first time as a Muslim after converting to Islam last year. (AP) Ricardo Ramirez converted to Islam before a crowd of Muslims.He was told that day that “all of these brothers and sisters are your brothers and sisters.” There were handshakes, pats on the back and hugs. So many hugs.Since then, he says, the community has been there for him. But Ramirez is experiencing a milestone in his faith journey — his first Ramadan as a Muslim — as the virus disrupts worship and mosques close.“It’s going to be really difficult,” he said before Ramadan started. “I do have a lot of questions, and there’s a lot I want to observe and ask about.”It was a conversation about Ramadan that sparked Ramirez’s interest in Islam. In 2017, he noticed a co-worker wouldn’t eat during the day. She told him she was fasting. Something resonated.“I’ve never seen anybody speak about their religion the way she did,” he says. “Even with everything going on in the world negatively toward Muslims, she was still very excited to tell me.”Born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent, Ramirez was baptized Catholic. But growing up, he experienced Catholicism as largely confined to culture and celebrations.His mom was upset when he told her he was considering Islam. “A lot of people seem to have that same conversation with their parents,” he says. Eventually, she came around. While on work trips to Saudi Arabia, she got him a prayer mat, a copy of the Quran, prayer beads and some dates. He has been saving the dates for breaking his fast during Ramadan.The first day of the Islamic holy month left him feeling “accomplished.” But he also missed being around others observing it. Attending virtual iftars — “being able to share that moment with other people” — has helped.And in the compulsory solitude, he’s determined to find strength. “The more I think about it, I think this is the path that Allah has set for me as a challenge ... to know that this religion is for me.”Chicago: Jumana Azam, 33 On the first night of Ramadan, respiratory therapist Jumana Azam stayed up through suhoor and only slept after making the prayer at dawn. She had come home at 2 a.m. from an odd shift in the ICU of Rush University Medical Center.Just weeks ago, Azam's own mortality weighed heavy. She worried that while caring for dying patients, she could contract the new coronavirus herself and end up on the very ventilators she was operating nonstop.“I was upset and confused, and I didn’t know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to be a frontliner,” she says. At times, she says, her faith wavered.As Chicago experienced a surge of COVID-19 patients in early April, Azam’s days quickly turned into 16-hour shifts, with barely a break to eat or make one of the five daily prayers.The physical demands of the job have taken a toll on her, and while abstaining from any food or drink for 15-hour Ramadan fasts, Azam worries she won’t be able to keep up. She started observing the holy month at about age 10, she recalls. For the first time since then, she considered not fasting as the month approached.“Emotionally and spiritually, this was really hard for me to even reflect on,” she says.Azam looks forward to this month every year, saying her struggle with hunger, especially while at work, gives her day meaning and purpose.Last year, Azam, like many other professional Muslims observing the month, decreased her working hours slightly to make the days more manageable. This year, she knows that won’t be possible. Still, Azam is planning to wake up each morning to eat before dawn and try.“I’m going to take it in stages and try to fast while I’m at work,” she says. “But if I feel like I’m getting light-headed, I’m going to have to break it.”New York City: Imam Mufti Mohammed Ismail, 38 The An-Noor Cultural Center and masjid is located blocks from Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, where patients have been dying from COVID-19 at an alarming rate.The immigrant-rich neighborhood has been deemed one of New York City's hardest-hit areas. Imam Mufti Mohammed Ismail is the principal of the religious school at An-Noor. Most who are part of the center are Bangladeshi.“We have lost a lot of Muslim brothers and sisters in my community,” Imam Ismail says.He says the Bangladeshi community has lost “close to 150 people” to COVID-19 across New York City, many from this neighborhood.As deaths rise, Imam Ismail is trying to serve community members suffering in other ways. With mosques shuttered as the city reels, volunteers from An-Noor Cultural Center are preparing food boxes for those who would have relied on the center for iftar every evening. With so many from this immigrant community losing jobs, the demand has increased.“I’m receiving so many phone calls from families who are saying, ‘We are not poor, but the situation has (made) it so hard, so we need a food box,’” Imam Ismail says.On this day, volunteers, including the imam's son, help him sort food in the prayer area. When the time for afternoon prayer arrives, the men break and pray amid half-assembled food boxes filled with dates, cooking oil, vermicelli and potatoes, standing with a little extra room between them.They load the items into a car and head off to begin deliveries. Imam Ismail says this gives the center the opportunity to fulfill one of Ramadan's tenets — to serve those less fortunate, regardless of religion. “Once we receive a call asking for help, we never question about the caller’s faith. It’s just a family,” he says. “A human being. We are ready to serve them.”Minneapolis: Imam Sharif Mohamed For all the things Muslims are doing without this year, one community in Minneapolis has gained a new voice during the holy month: the call to prayer.Throughout Ramadan, the adhan — which summons the faithful for prayers five times a day — will be broadcast over loudspeakers for the first time at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque.Mayor Jacob Frey facilitated the noise permit after community leaders requested the service. For Muslims feeling isolated at home, the sound of the adhan will offer connection, says Imam Sharif Mohamed. It will also alert observant Muslims when it’s time to break fast or start abstaining from eating and drinking.“It’s calming and soothing for them,” he says. “The emotional and spiritual connection, I think, is beyond our imagination.”Mohamed walked around the neighborhood as the adhan blared out from the mosque and into the streets and buildings surrounding it. Hearing that, he says, took him back to when he was in Somalia.For non-Muslims, the imam says, this can be an educational experience. And for Muslims, it can be deeply moving.“I am happy. I am going to cry,” Mohamed Salah, who lives near the mosque, said about hearing the adhan from home. “Something is better than nothing.”
2 May 17:46 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668651/worldRating: 1.72
In US, a virus-era Ramadan presents obstacles, opportunities
For Jamilah Shakir, the first week of Ramadan has been an adjustment. She typically spends every night of the month at the Atlanta Masjid of Al-Islam or another mosque nearby. Now Ramadan has come, and mosques are closed to worshippers to prevent spread of the coronavirus. So Shakir and her family have had to improvise. “It feels a little weird,” she says. “Not praying in community has been very, very different.” For Muslims in the United States, there is no other time more centred around gathering in congregation than the holy month of Ramadan. In every corner of the country, believers attend community iftar meals to break the fast and then pack neatly into tight rows for nightly prayers at the mosque. On weekends, especially, some may linger longer as they catch up, share in the pre-dawn suhoor meal and line up again for the fajr, dawn, prayers. “The mosque plays a more significant role in being also a community centre for American Muslims,” says Feryal Salem, associate professor of Arabic and Islamic studies at American Islamic College. “Because Muslims are a minority, they have to go the extra mile to create that unique communal experience that’s unique to Ramadan.” But this year, Ramadan falls during a global pandemic. In the U.S., with the world's highest COVID-19 death toll, that means being forced to mark the month in different, more virtual and sometimes solitary ways. As they re-imagine some of the spiritual and social rituals, many are relying on a mix of at-home worship and a myriad of online religious programming. Virtual iftar options have sprung up so the devout don’t have to break their fast alone. But not all moments can be recreated on a screen. There will be dishes not shared, prayers not lifted together, hugs not given. Hugs and congregational prayers are the two things Shakir misses the most. But she looks for the blessings. She lives in a close-knit community in South Atlanta with dozens of other Muslim families. She still plans to catch her neighbours — at a distance — on the days she and her sons might be grilling meat for iftar outside. “Although it’s very different from how we normally gather, I’m still so grateful that Allah put us in this Islamic community during this time.” Around the country, Muslims are adapting to the unprecedented challenges. From a recent convert observing his first Ramadan to a respiratory therapist balancing her faith with a job on the frontline of the battle, The Associated Press follows a few of their journeys. HOUSTON: RICARDO RAMIREZ, 28 Ricardo Ramirez became a Muslim before a crowd of believers. As soon as he uttered the shahada, the Islamic testimony of faith, the faithful broke into chants of “Allahu Akbar.” He was told that day that “all of these brothers and sisters are your brothers and sisters.” There were handshakes, pats on the back and hugs. So many hugs. Since then, he says, the community has been there for him. But Ramirez is experiencing a milestone in his faith journey — his first Ramadan as a Muslim — as the virus disrupts worship and mosques close. “It’s going to be really difficult,” he said before Ramadan started. “I do have a lot of questions, and there’s a lot I want to observe and ask about.” It was a conversation about Ramadan that sparked Ramirez’s interest in Islam. In 2017, he noticed a co-worker wouldn’t eat during the day. She told him she was fasting. Something resonated. “I’ve never seen anybody speak about their religion the way she did,” he says. “Even with everything going on in the world negatively toward Muslims, she was still very excited to tell me.” Born in Texas to parents of Mexican descent, Ramirez was baptized Catholic. But growing up, he experienced Catholicism as largely confined to culture and celebrations. His mom was upset when he told her he was considering Islam. “A lot of people seem to have that same conversation with their parents,” he says. Eventually, she came around. While on work trips to Saudi Arabia, she got him a prayer mat, a copy of the Qur’an, prayer beads and some dates. He has been saving the dates for breaking his fast during Ramadan. The first day of the Islamic holy month left him feeling “accomplished.” But he also missed being around others observing it. Attending virtual iftars — “being able to share that moment with other people” — has helped. And in the compulsory solitude, he’s determined to find strength. “The more I think about it, I think this is the path that Allah has set for me as a challenge ... to know that this religion is for me.” CHICAGO: JUMANA AZAM, 33 On the first night of Ramadan, respiratory therapist Jumana Azam stayed up through suhoor and only slept after making the prayer at dawn. She had come home at 2 a.m. from an odd shift in the ICU of Rush University Medical Center. Just weeks ago, Azam's own mortality weighed heavy. She worried that while caring for dying patients, she could contract the new coronavirus herself and end up on the very ventilators she was operating nonstop. “I was upset and confused, and I didn’t know if I was physically or mentally strong enough to be a frontliner,” she says. At times, she says, her faith wavered. As Chicago experienced a surge of COVID-19 patients in early April, Azam’s days quickly turned into 16-hour shifts, with barely a break to eat or make one of the five daily prayers. The physical demands of the job have taken a toll on her, and while abstaining from any food or drink for 15-hour Ramadan fasts, Azam worries she won’t be able to keep up. She started observing the holy month at about age 10, she recalls. For the first time since then, she considered not fasting as the month approached. “Emotionally and spiritually, this was really hard for me to even reflect on,” she says. Azam looks forward to this month every year, saying her struggle with hunger, especially while at work, gives her day meaning and purpose. Last year, Azam, like many other professional Muslims observing the month, decreased her working hours slightly to make the days more manageable. This year, she knows that won’t be possible. Still, Azam is planning to wake up each morning to eat before dawn and try. “I’m going to take it in stages and try to fast while I’m at work,” she says. “But if I feel like I’m getting light-headed, I’m going to have to break it.” NEW YORK CITY: IMAM MUFTI MOHAMMED ISMAIL, 38 The An-Noor Cultural Center and masjid is located blocks from Elmhurst Hospital Center in Queens, where patients have been dying from COVID-19 at an alarming rate. The immigrant-rich neighbourhood has been deemed one of New York City's hardest-hit areas. Imam Mufti Mohammed Ismail is the principal of the religious school at An-Noor. Most who are part of the centre are Bangladeshi. “We have lost a lot of Muslim brothers and sisters in my community,” Imam Ismail says. A prayer of “protection from diseases” is printed in Arabic and English on a paper posted to the mosque wall, and Ismail says the Bangladeshi community has lost “close to 150 people” to COVID-19 across New York City, many from this neighbourhood. As deaths rise, Imam Ismail is trying to serve community members suffering in other ways. With mosques shuttered as the city reels, volunteers from An-Noor Cultural Center are preparing food boxes for those who would have relied on the centre for iftar every evening. With so many from this immigrant community losing jobs, the demand has increased. “I’m receiving so many phone calls from families who are saying, ‘We are not poor, but the situation has (made) it so hard, so we need a food box,’” Imam Ismail says. On this day, volunteers, including the imam's son, help him sort food in the prayer area. When the time for afternoon prayer arrives, the men break and pray amid half-assembled food boxes filled with dates, cooking oil, vermicelli and potatoes, standing with a little extra room between them. They load the items into a car and head off to begin deliveries. Imam Ismail says this gives the centre the opportunity to fulfil one of Ramadan's tenets — to serve those less fortunate, regardless of religion. “Once we receive a call asking for help, we never question about the caller’s faith. It’s just a family,” he says. “A human being. We are ready to serve them.” MINNEAPOLIS: IMAM SHARIF MOHAMED For all the things Muslims are doing without this year, one community in Minneapolis has gained a new voice during the holy month: the call to prayer. Throughout Ramadan, the azan, or adhan — which summons the faithful for prayers five times a day — will be broadcast over loudspeakers for the first time at the Dar Al-Hijrah Mosque. Mayor Jacob Frey facilitated the noise permit after community leaders requested the service. For Muslims feeling isolated at home, the sound of the azan will offer connection, says Imam Sharif Mohamed. It will also alert observant Muslims when it’s time to break fast or start abstaining from eating and drinking. “It’s calming and soothing for them,” he says. “The emotional and spiritual connection, I think, is beyond our imagination.” Mohamed walked around the neighbourhood as the azan blared out from the mosque and into the streets and buildings surrounding it. Hearing that, he says, took him back to when he was in Somalia. For non-Muslims, the imam says, this can be an educational experience. And for Muslims, it can be deeply moving. “I am happy. I am going to cry,” Mohamed Salah, who lives near the mosque, said about hearing the azan from home. “Something is better than nothing.” WHEELING, ILLINOIS: SHAHEEN KHAN, 54 Over the last six weeks, Shaheen Khan has gotten a little more comfortable sitting in front of the camera and conducting online Islamic lessons. “Salam-alaikum, boys and girls,” she recites in a cheerful voice before launching into reading a storybook, “Allah Gives Us Food,” with an image of mosaic tiles from the Blue Mosque in Tabriz, Iran, as her Zoom background. The 54-year-old mother of four teaches at the Hadi School, a Montessori Islamic school in Schaumburg, Illinois, that provides Islamic teachings according to the Shia tradition. Khan arrived in the U.S. from India in 1990 and has been teaching ever since. But in 30 years, she’s never had to face the challenge of connecting with her students remotely day after day. Now, she’s trying to figure out how to offer new lessons about an unprecedented Ramadan, as she tries to make sense of the unique challenges herself. She’s realizing the increased time at home could be used as an opportunity for reflection “to come back to our roots.” “Maybe," she says, "this is Allah’s way of resetting a button for us.” ___ Fam reported from Winter Park, Florida and Deen from New York. ___ Associated Press religion coverage receives support from the Lilly Endowment through the Religion News Foundation. The AP is solely responsible for this content.
2 May 15:25 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/us-virus-outbreak-ramadan-in-america-1st-ld-writethru/cp1476330812Rating: 0.30
Eiffel Tower caps 'HeroesShineBright' tribute
3 May 15:00
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4 articles
Weight: 1.85
Importance: 1.86
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:39
Average US: 7.247499999999999
Weighted average US: 6.129849675771709
Average GB: 1.29
Weighted average GB: 0.9054450834334927
Average IN: 1.5124999999999997
Weighted average IN: 1.3348475320091502
Eiffel Tower caps 'HeroesShineBright' tribute
The Eiffel Tower joined other global landmarks Saturday in capping a sparkling tribute launched by the Empire State Building in New York to those battling the coronavirus. At 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), when people in France have been clapping daily from windows and balconies to thank health-care workers, the Paris landmark lit up in "sparkling white" to hail "the unfailing courage of care workers confronting the coronavirus pandemic," said SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower. A half hour later, the lights on the 20th century Montparnasse Tower, another tall landmark in the French capital, transitioned from white to red "to show its support even more intensively, like a beating heart," the company added. The nine-day #HeroesShineBright initiative started on April 24 in New York and each night a different color is used there to salute various groups including health care staff, transit workers and police or military personnel, SETE added. Other landmarks that have supported the initiative are the Euromast in Rotterdam, 360 Chicago, the UAE'S Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower in China, the Busan Tower in South Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia. If you want to help in the fight against COVID-19, we have compiled an up-to-date list of community initiatives designed to aid medical workers and low-income people in this article. Link: [UPDATED] Anti-COVID-19 initiatives: Helping Indonesia fight the outbreak
3 May 15:00 • The Jakarta Post • https://www.thejakartapost.com/news/2020/05/03/eiffel-tower-caps-heroesshinebright-tribute.htmlRating: 1.40
Eiffel Tower caps 'Heroes Shine Bright' tribute
Paris - The Eiffel Tower joined other global landmarks Saturday in capping a sparkling tribute launched by the Empire State Building in New York to those battling the coronavirus. At 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), when people in France have been clapping daily from windows and balconies to thank health-care workers, the Paris landmark lit up in "sparkling white" to hail "the unfailing courage of care workers confronting the coronavirus pandemic," said SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower. A half hour later, the lights on the 20th century Montparnasse Tower, another tall landmark in the French capital, transitioned from white to red "to show its support even more intensively, like a beating heart," the company added. The nine-day #HeroesShineBright initiative started on April 24 in New York and each night a different colour is used there to salute various groups including health care staff, transit workers, and police or military personnel, SETE added. Other landmarks that have supported the initiative are the Euromast in Rotterdam, 360 Chicago, the UAE'S Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower in China, the Busan Tower in South Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia. Read MoreS.Korea says Kim Jong Un did not have surgery, as two Koreas exchange gunfire After weeks of intense speculation about Kim's health and whereabouts, which included one report he had undergone cardiovascular surgery, North Korea's official media published photographs and a report Read MoreAustralia fights virus clusters as parts of country ease restrictions "What I'm worried about is the unknown unknowns," Victoria's Health Minister Jenny Mikakos said at a televised briefing, urging more people to get tested. Read MoreMore people hit China roads in first major holiday since coronavirus easing The country recorded more than 23 million domestic tourists on May 1, according to China's culture and tourism ministry.
3 May 13:39 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/03/05/2020/Eiffel-Tower-caps-Heroes-Shine-Bright-tributeRating: 3.14
Eiffel Tower lights up in 'Heroes Shine Bright' tribute to healthcare workers
At 8:00 pm (1800 GMT), when people in France have been clapping daily from windows and balconies to thank health-care workers, the Paris landmark lit up in "sparkling white" to hail "the unfailing courage of care workers confronting the coronavirus pandemic," said SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower. A half hour later, the lights on the 20th century Montparnasse Tower, another tall landmark in the French capital, transitioned from white to red "to show its support even more intensively, like a beating heart," the company added. The nine-day #HeroesShineBright initiative started on April 24 in New York and each night a different colour is used there to salute various groups including health care staff, transit workers, and police or military personnel, SETE added. Other landmarks that have supported the initiative are the Euromast in Rotterdam, 360 Chicago, the UAE'S Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower in China, the Busan Tower in South Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia. (AFP)
3 May 08:09 • France 24 • https://www.france24.com/en/20200503-eiffel-tower-lights-up-in-heroes-shine-bright-tribute-to-healthcare-workersRating: 2.48
Eiffel Tower caps 'HeroesShineBright' tribute
PARIS, France – The Eiffel Tower joined other global landmarks Saturday, May 2, in capping a sparkling tribute launched by the Empire State Building in New York to those battling the coronavirus. At 8:00 pm, when people in France have been clapping daily from windows and balconies to thank healthcare workers, the Paris landmark lit up in "sparkling white" to hail "the unfailing courage of care workers confronting the coronavirus pandemic," said SETE, the company that manages the Eiffel Tower. A half hour later, the lights on the 20th century Montparnasse Tower, another tall landmark in the French capital, transitioned from white to red "to show its support even more intensively, like a beating heart," the company added The 9-day #HeroesShineBright initiative started on April 24 in New York, and each night, a different colour is used there to salute various groups including health care staff, transit workers, and police or military personnel, SETE added. (READ: Spaniards flock outdoors as European countries ease lockdowns) Other landmarks that have supported the initiative are the Euromast in Rotterdam, 360 Chicago, the UAE'S Burj Khalifa, the world's tallest structure, the CN Tower in Toronto, the Macao tower in China, the Busan Tower in South Korea, the Ostankino TV Tower in Russia, the Tallinn TV Tower in Estonia and the OVNI Tower in Slovakia. – Rappler.com
3 May 04:50 • Rappler • https://www.rappler.com/world/regions/europe/259766-eiffel-tower-caps-heroes-shine-bright-tributeRating: 1.64
Some provinces to enjoy more freedom Monday as COVID-19 restrictions are loosened
3 May 13:01
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Weight: 1.84
Importance: 1.86
Age penalty: 0.99
Best date: 3 May 11:28
Average US: 2.890909090909091
Weighted average US: 4.987250681626928
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Weighted average GB: 0.09028066139028304
Average IN: 0.8090909090909092
Weighted average IN: 1.2812947934480223
Some provinces to enjoy more freedom Monday as COVID-19 restrictions are loosened
People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba’s schools still closed. “There’s definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages,” said Jonathan Alward, the federation’s director in Manitoba. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they’ll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba’s Minister of Conservation and Climate, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the campsite. “Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors,” Ms. Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province’s reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province’s chief public health officer said the aim of the province’s reopening plan is not just about the economy – it’s also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. “We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things,” Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. “This virus isn’t the only thing that affects people’s health.”
3 May 13:01 • The Globe and Mail • https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-some-provinces-to-enjoy-more-freedom-monday-as-covid-19-restrictions/Rating: 2.18
Looser COVID-19 rules mean more activity, but there may be some confusion
WINNIPEG -- People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers, and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba's schools still closed. "There's definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages," Jonathan Alward, the federation's director in Manitoba, said. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they'll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba's conservation and climate minister, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the camp site. "Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors," Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province's reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes, and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province's chief public health officer said the aim of the province's reopening plan is not just about the economy -- it's also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. "We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things," Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. "This virus isn't the only thing that affects people's health." -- With files from Ian Bickis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020
3 May 11:28 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/looser-covid-19-rules-mean-more-activity-but-there-may-be-some-confusion-1.4922672Rating: 2.87
These are the businesses that can reopen in Quebec today
MONTREAL -- After seven weeks of shutdowns and closures, Quebec has begun to gradually restart and reopen economic, educational and social activities across the province. Essential services remained open throughout the pandemic with construction, mining and landscaping added to the list in mid-April. Starting Monday, the Quebec government lifted restrictions on a number of sectors of the province. Monday, May 4 Schools, daycare services and educational childcare services are open for staff to prepare for reopenings. Retail stores with an exterior entrance (not shopping malls) can resume activities except those in the Communaute metropolitaine de Montreal (CMM), which can open a week later. Supply chain businesses for these retailers can also resume activities. Cottage country has begun to reopen and travel restrictions have been removed. Checkpoints have been lifted in regions for non-local traffic. For a full list of territories where access is now granted, visit the government of Quebec’s website. Monday, May 11 Preschools and elementary schools in “cold” regions, with the exception of those in Montreal, will be gradually reopened. Non-subsidized daycares, recognized and non-recognized family daycare centres will be reopened except for those in the MMC. Checkpoints will be lifted with access permitted in Outaouais except for trips from Ottawa to Gatineau, and access to the Saguenay-Lac-Saint-Jean and Abitibi-Temiscamingue regions will be permitted. The La Tuque populations centre for the Mauricie and Centre-du-Quebec regions is also opened. Monday, May 18 Montreal retailers with an exterior entrance can reopen. Originally, they were given the green light to open as of May 11, but the government delayed the reopening of all non-essential businesses in Montreal by a week. High numbers of COVID-19 cases and related hospitalizations were cited as part of the reason. All construction industry (residential, civil engineering and roads, institutional, commercial and industrial) worksites can resume work, as can their supply chains. The construction administrative sector, however, must continue teleworking. Manufacturing companies in all regions of Quebec can resume work with a limited staff. A maximum of 50 workers, and 50 per cent of the employees exceeding the 50-worker limit is permitted. For example, a manufacturer who employs 60 workers per shift regularly can operate with a maximum of 55 employees. COVID-19 cases by region in MontrealInfogram Checkpoints will be lifted to access the Bas-Saint Laurent, Gaspesie-Iles-de-la-Madeleine and Cote Nord regions except for the Minganie and Golfe-du-Saint-Laurent MRCs. Charlevoix and Charlevoix East will be reopened. Tuesday, May 19 Montreal preschools and elementary schools will be reopened. Childcare services in Montreal will reopen if the situation allows. Monday, May 25 Restrictions on number of employees in the manufacturing sector will be lifted, and full operations may resume. Though activites are permitted to resume, compliance with physical distancing measures must be maintained with handshakes, hugs and double kisses to be avoided. The government is asking all employees who can telework to continue to do so. Those employers looking for assistance properly equipping staff and workplaces with preventative measures can visit CNESST's website which includes toolkits and guides to preventing COVID-19 spread. COVID-19 CASES IN QUEBECInfogram
3 May 13:28 • Montreal • https://montreal.ctvnews.ca/these-are-the-businesses-that-can-reopen-in-quebec-today-1.4922697Rating: 0.30
Barbers, hairstylists sign petition to not be in first phase of B.C. economic reopening
More than 2,000 barbers and hairstylists in B.C. have signed a petition asking to not be among the first businesses to re-open. The Change.org petition, which had 2,039 signatures as of Sunday (May 3) afternoon, said opening hair salons and barbershops would put stylists and customers at risk. Our government has made incredible strides in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and must understand that a decision to reopen salons first would put our communities and economy at greater risk than benefit,” the petition said. The petition cited Alberta’s reopening plan, which has some personal services like hairstyling and barber shops scheduled to open on May 14. The authors of the petition posed a series of questions which they said must be answered before hair salons and barbershops reopen. “Will stylists have continued, unfettered access to personal protective equipment in B.C.? Will access to widespread testing be made more available?” the questions began. Others touched upon support for infected workers and the risk to the lives of staff and their families. Speaking Saturday, Dr. Bonnie Henry said hair salons would not be opened lightly. “We won’t be opening up barbers and stylists… until we’re all comfortable that we have an appropriate plan to be able to do that safely for everybody involved.” Hair stylists and barbers are not regulated in B.C. as their governing body was disbanded in 2003. READ MORE: Hints of COVID-19 relief for B.C. as restaurants, haircuts considered READ MORE: Under mounting pressure, Henry says reopening B.C. will happen ‘safely, slowly, methodically’
3 May 20:20 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/barbers-hairstylists-sign-petition-to-not-be-in-first-phase-of-b-c-economic-reopening/Rating: 0.30
Asia virus latest: Singapore to lift some restrictions, Mick Jagger signs up for India concert
- Advertisement - Here are the latest developments from Asia related to the novel coronavirus pandemic: – Singapore to ease restrictions as community spread slows –Singapore says it will gradually ease some restrictions aimed at limiting the spread of the coronavirus as community-spread infections have decreased. Pet food stores and hair salons will be allowed to re-open from May 12 and some students will be allowed to return to school in small groups a week later. But migrant workers living in dormitories will be required to stay indoors until June 1 as hundreds of new cases are reported in the crowded facilities each day. - Advertisement - – Mick Jagger, Will Smith to join India concert –Rock legend Mick Jagger and Hollywood’s Will Smith will be among dozens of international and Bollywood stars taking part in a livestreamed concert Sunday to raise funds for the battle against coronavirus in India, where the number of cases is surging. Cricket superstar Virat Kohli, actors Priyanka Chopra and Shah Rukh Khan are among the top domestic names set to perform or read messages from their homes. – Hong Kongers hit the beach –Hong Kongers flocked to country parks and the city’s outlying islands over a long holiday weekend, even as regulations limiting gatherings to four people remain in force. Long queues were seen outside shops and restaurants that openly support the city’s pro-democracy movement, which helped bring the financial hub to a standstill during months of civil unrest last year. The city’s social distancing regulations are due to expire on May 7, but authorities have not decided whether to extend them and have asked citizens to remain vigilant. – Philippines releases inmates as virus hits jails –The Philippines released nearly 10,000 prison inmates as the country races to halt coronavirus infections in its overcrowded jails. Social distancing is all but impossible in the country’s prison system, where cells are sometimes filled to five times their capacity due to inadequate infrastructure and an overburdened judicial system. – New infections spike in Malaysia –Malaysia recorded 105 new cases on Saturday in the biggest rise in over two weeks. Much of the country remains under a partial lockdown, with people only allowed to leave their homes to carry out essential tasks. Authorities detained large numbers of undocumented migrants in a series of Friday raids that a rights group said could trigger a ‘massive’ disease outbreak. – Sri Lanka to mark Buddhist festival without crowds –Sri Lanka said it would hold celebrations for a key Buddhist festival next week without public crowds to prevent the spread of the virus. Low-key ceremonies will begin on Monday to mark Vesak, the commemoration of Buddha’s birth, enlightenment and death. Public sermons by monks will be broadcast live while the usual giant lanterns and coloured lights will not be on display, as the country remains under curfew. – North Korea’s Kim reappears –North Korea’s Kim Jong Un made his first public appearance in nearly three weeks at the opening of a fertiliser factory, state media reported, following intense speculation that the leader of the nuclear-armed nation was seriously ill or possibly dead. As with previous public appearances during the global coronavirus pandemic, Kim and his entourage were not wearing face masks. Kim’s long absence from the spotlight led some to speculate that he may have caught the virus. The North has insisted that it has not seen a single case of coronavirus, although experts say that is unlikely. burs-rma/gle/rma © Agence France-Presse /AFP - Advertisement -
3 May 20:00 • The Independent • http://theindependent.sg/asia-virus-latest-singapore-to-lift-some-restrictions-mick-jagger-signs-up-for-india-concert/Rating: 0.39
Lockdown 3.0: Tamil Nadu allows industries to start ops with restrictions
Tamil Nadu government has extended the lockdown from May 4 to May 17, 2020, with a limited easing of restrictions on construction and other industries, provided thet take the necessary precautions. Public transport, all kinds of functions and gatherings, cinema halls, malls, air-conditioned jewelleries and textiles are not permitted during this period. Construction, textile, leather, IT and IT enabled services, SEZs among others are permitted to operate in certain locations with limited employees while adhering to social distancing and other standard operating procedures advised by the government. The order was issued after the Union Ministry of Home Affairs announced the extension of lockdown till May 17. All the relaxations are not applicable in the containment zones. The state has allowed the following activities: construction activities by utilising services of labourers who are at the sites and by bringing workers from outside on a one-time basis; all construction activities and road constrction work by the government and public sector undertakings; SEZ and Export Oriented Unites and export units except industrial estates, with 25 per cent workers (a minimum of 20 persons); IT and IT enabled services with 10 per cent employees or a minimum of 20 persons will be allowed to function in Greater Chennai region. Shops selling essential goods can function from 6 am to 5 pm. ALSO READ: Coronavirus LIVE: Confirmed cases cross 40,000, death toll at 1306 in India All standalone and neighbourhood shops except salons, spa and beauty parlours etc; shops selling construction hardware, cement, construction materials, sanitaryware, electrical materials and standalone shops selling and servicing mobile phones, computers, house hold applicances and sepctacles have been allowed to function from 11 am to 5 pm. Self-employed workers like plumbers, electricians, AC mechanics, carpenters and home care providers including household workers have also been allowed to work after obtaining necessary permissions from city police commissioner or the district collector. In locations other than Greater Chennai, all industries located outside the corporations and municipal limits, including textile industries are allowed to work with 50 per cent workers or a minimum of 20 persons. In town panchayats, where population is more than 15,000, the district collector may permit the operation of textile industries with 50 per cent workers based on local conditons. SEZs, industrial estates, industrial townships, including private estates, in rural and urban areas can operate with 50 per cent workers, adhering to strict control. ALSO READ: Unclear road back home; Odisha migrants arrive from Kerala on Shramik train Spinning mills in villages and town panchayats shall be permitted to function with 50 per cent workers. Leather and textile industries in municipalities and town panchayat areas shall be permitted to function on shift basis after taking the necessary precautions, with 30 per cent workers. IT hardware manufacturing units are allowed to operate with 50 per cent workers, while IT and IT enabled services with 50 per cent employees or a minimum of 20 persons. Agricultural and allied activities, plantations, marine and inland fishing, animal husbandry, poultry, milk and milk processing, are exempted from the lockdown. While the Central government has suggested some relaxations when it decided to continue lockdown until May 3, Tamil Nadu has decided not to implement the relaxations in the state. On Sunday, the state saw the total number of Covid-19 positive cases crossing 3,000 with 266 new cases reported in 24 hours. Out of this, 203 cases reported today were from Chennai, which currently has 1,458 reported cases. The total number of active cases is 1,611, while 1,379 patients have been discharged. The death toll increased to 30, after a 44 yeaer old male from Coimbatore died on Sunday.
3 May 14:33 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/lockdown-3-0-tamil-nadu-allows-industries-to-start-ops-with-restrictions-120050300859_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Looser COVID-19 rules mean more activity, but there may be some confusion
WINNIPEG — People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers, and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba’s schools still closed. “There’s definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages,” Jonathan Alward, the federation’s director in Manitoba, said. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they’ll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba’s conservation and climate minister, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the camp site. “Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors,” Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province’s reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes, and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province’s chief public health officer said the aim of the province’s reopening plan is not just about the economy — it’s also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. “We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things,” Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. “This virus isn’t the only thing that affects people’s health.” — With files from Ian Bickis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
3 May 09:00 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/03/looser-covid-19-rules-mean-more-activity-but-there-may-be-some-confusion/Rating: 0.77
Looser COVID-19 rules mean more activity, but there may be some confusion
WINNIPEG - People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers, and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba's schools still closed. "There's definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages," Jonathan Alward, the federation's director in Manitoba, said. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they'll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba's conservation and climate minister, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the camp site. "Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors," Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province's reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes, and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province's chief public health officer said the aim of the province's reopening plan is not just about the economy — it's also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. "We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things," Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. "This virus isn't the only thing that affects people's health." — With files from Ian Bickis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020
3 May 08:00 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-openings/cp1450388082Rating: 0.30
Looser COVID-19 rules mean more activity, but there may be some confusion
WINNIPEG — People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers, and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba's schools still closed. "There's definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages," Jonathan Alward, the federation's director in Manitoba, said. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they'll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba's conservation and climate minister, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the camp site. "Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors," Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province's reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes, and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province's chief public health officer said the aim of the province's reopening plan is not just about the economy — it's also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. "We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things," Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. "This virus isn't the only thing that affects people's health." — With files from Ian Bickis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
3 May 08:00 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/looser-covid-19-rules-mean-more-activity-but-there-may-be-some-confusion-2320290Rating: 0.30
Looser COVID-19 rules mean more activity, but there may be some confusion
WINNIPEG — People in some provinces will enjoy more freedom Monday as restrictions related to the COVID-19 pandemic are loosened. But the change appears set to leave some workers looking for child care, some employers looking for workers, and many people trying to figure out a new regimen for going about their daily routine. Manitoba is allowing many non-essential businesses, restaurant patios, museums, campgrounds and other facilities to reopen in one of the more aggressive restart-the-economy plans. At all venues, there will be rules in place to limit crowd gatherings and keep things sanitary in order to reduce the spread of the novel coronavirus. Businesses that had been forced to close because of the pandemic learned last Wednesday, with just a few days notice, that they will be allowed to open at reduced capacity and with strict requirements for physical distancing between customers, hand sanitizer dispensers and more. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business said some of its members are worried their employees may not come back right away for a variety of reasons, such as fear of catching COVID-19 or because they cannot find child care with Manitoba’s schools still closed. “There’s definitely going to be quite a few staff that are staying home and employers that are going to be having staff shortages,” Jonathan Alward, the federation’s director in Manitoba, said. Some hair salons have said they will not open immediately because they need time to acquire enough hand sanitizer, masks and other gear. A small clothing boutique posted on social media that it was scrambling to find a way to ensure customer and worker safety in the narrow floor space. There are also new rules at Manitoba campgrounds opening this week. One is that campers can use washrooms and outhouses, but they’ll have to bring their own toilet paper from home. Manitoba’s conservation and climate minister, Sarah Guillemard, said there will be signage at park entrances to remind people of the rules, which also include 10-person limits on gatherings and a requirement to fill up at gas stations close to home instead of near the camp site. “Social media will also be updated to help remind people, before they leave their home community, what they would do to prepare to go and enjoy the great outdoors,” Guillemard said Friday. Alberta started allowing golf courses to reopen on the weekend, and has told dentists, physiotherapists and other medical professionals they can start operating again Monday. Non-essential retail stores will begin to open May 14. The Saskatchewan government is allowing dentists, optometrists and other medical providers to restart Monday, and is also opening fishing shoreline areas and boat launches. Quebec is letting retail stores outside the Montreal area reopen Monday. Those in the Montreal area will have the right to operate a week later. Ontario announced Friday that it would allow some largely outdoor-based businesses and workplaces to open up starting Monday, though with certain restrictions in place. The province’s reopening list includes garden centres for curbside pickup, lawn care and landscaping companies, auto dealerships by appointment, automatic and self-serve car washes, and a broad list of essential construction projects. Golf courses and marinas will be allowed to start to prep for the season, but not yet open to the public. Back in Manitoba, restaurant patios will also be allowed to operate as of Monday, although at reduced capacity. The province’s chief public health officer said the aim of the province’s reopening plan is not just about the economy — it’s also about letting people resume parts of their normal lives and connect with others while still protecting them from the spread of COVID-19. “We need to still be cautious about this virus, but at the same time, we realize we have to start reopening things,” Dr. Brent Roussin said at his daily briefing Friday. “This virus isn’t the only thing that affects people’s health.” — With files from Ian Bickis. This report by The Canadian Press was first published on May 3, 2020 Steve Lambert, The Canadian Press
3 May 08:00 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/looser-covid-19-rules-mean-more-activity-but-there-may-be-some-confusion/Rating: 0.61
Hairstylists launch petition
Hundreds of B.C. barbers and hairstylists have signed a petition asking the provincial government not to single them out when COVID-19 restrictions begin to ease. Premier John Horgan is expected to announce B.C.’s plan for reopening the economy next week. However, the petition, launched on Change.org Friday (May 1), is urging the provincial government to not include hairstylists and barbers in the first phase of that economic reopening. Businesses in the personal service sector — including hair, nail, wax, spa and esthetician practices — have been closed since mid-March under a provincial health officer order. As of 2:45 p.m. Saturday, 994 people, and counting, had signed the online petition. The petition notes that it’s not possible for personal service businesses to practice social distancing with clients. “Our government has made incredible strides in controlling the spread of COVID-19 and must understand that a decision to reopen salons first would put our communities and economy at greater risk than benefit,” reads the petition. “We hope that businesses who operate in as close proximity to the public as nurses continue to remain closed at this time.” It’s worrying, notes the petition, that hair salons and barbershops are allowed to reopen in the first phase of Alberta’s plan, while the rest of that province’s personal service industry will remain closed. The petition questions whether hairstylists and barbers will have “continued, unfettered” access to personal protective equipment and whether there will be better access to more widespread testing. “Will workers and their families who are compromised be supported? Will people in a non-essential sector have to risk illness, death and heightened community spread because they have no choice but to touch large volumes of clients in enclosed areas?” the petition asks. “It is essential that these questions are answered before hair professionals return to work." However, B.C. provincial health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry said the province won’t reopen sectors such as hairstylists and barbershops until they’re confident they can operate safely, and can implement health and safety protocols. “We will not move forward with opening up different sectors until we’re ready, until we’re sure that they have a plan that is workable that have these precautions and protections in place,” said Henry Saturday. Henry said the outbreaks at poultry plants are a “cautionary tale” for the province. “That tells us that we need to make sure that we have the right safety measures in place in each different area of our economy to make sure we can all be comforted and understand that we are opening up safely, and slowly and methodically,” she said.
2 May 14:41 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/BC/298943/Hundreds-of-B-C-hairstylists-barbers-sign-petitionRating: 1.34
Top fives: Struggling to get motivated? YouTube is surprisingly helpful
3 May 20:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 20:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Top fives: Struggling to get motivated? YouTube is surprisingly helpful
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the best books, films, television shows and podcasts you might have missed. Here are five YouTube channels that are worth a look, and five music videos to motivate you to meet your workout goals. The School of Life Beautifully-produced clips containing essential wisdom and advice for these tough times. Sam HarrisGuided meditations (without the woo-woo) from the best-selling author and philosopher. Jansen’s DIYLearn how to make a room feel bigger and master the art of “lazy cleaning”. That Mitchell & Mack CollectionNeed a laugh? These clips from British comedy show Would I Lie To You? will do the trick. HASfitTerrific instructional exercise videos to help you stay healthy at home. Shake it Off – Taylor Swift At 160 beats per minute, this track is a perfect song to run on the treadmill to while using Taylor’s fantastic physique as your #fitspo. Single Ladies – Beyonce With little else to do in isolation, why not use the opportunity to learn the full choreography to Beyonce’s 2008 hit so you are performance ready when the clubs reopen. Call on Me – Eryk Prydz If full choreography isn’t for you, Call on Me offers 2.51 minute gym class that you can just watch on repeat until you feel fit. Blinding Lights – The Weeknd Bypass the official music video and find the complication of Tik Tok dances to craft the perfect workout to this '80s-like banger. Brave – Sara Bareilles This song should probably be our isolation anthem, but if you’re pushing through that 80th crunch, let Sara inspire you to get to 100.
3 May 20:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/culture/music/top-fives-struggling-to-get-motivated-youtube-is-surprisingly-helpful-20200415-p54k6m.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Top fives: Struggling to get motivated? YouTube is surprisingly helpful
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the best books, films, television shows and podcasts you might have missed. Here are five YouTube channels that are worth a look, and five music videos to motivate you to meet your workout goals. The School of Life Beautifully-produced clips containing essential wisdom and advice for these tough times. Sam HarrisGuided meditations (without the woo-woo) from the best-selling author and philosopher. Jansen’s DIYLearn how to make a room feel bigger and master the art of “lazy cleaning”. That Mitchell & Mack CollectionNeed a laugh? These clips from British comedy show Would I Lie To You? will do the trick. HASfitTerrific instructional exercise videos to help you stay healthy at home. Shake it Off – Taylor Swift At 160 beats per minute, this track is a perfect song to run on the treadmill to while using Taylor’s fantastic physique as your #fitspo. Single Ladies – Beyonce With little else to do in isolation, why not use the opportunity to learn the full choreography to Beyonce’s 2008 hit so you are performance ready when the clubs reopen. Call on Me – Eryk Prydz If full choreography isn’t for you, Call on Me offers 2.51 minute gym class that you can just watch on repeat until you feel fit. Blinding Lights – The Weeknd Bypass the official music video and find the complication of Tik Tok dances to craft the perfect workout to this '80s-like banger. Brave – Sara Bareilles This song should probably be our isolation anthem, but if you’re pushing through that 80th crunch, let Sara inspire you to get to 100.
3 May 20:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/culture/music/top-fives-struggling-to-get-motivated-youtube-is-surprisingly-helpful-20200415-p54k6m.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Top fives: Struggling to get motivated? YouTube is surprisingly helpful
Now is the perfect time to catch up on the best books, films, television shows and podcasts you might have missed. Here are five YouTube channels that are worth a look, and five music videos to motivate you to meet your workout goals. The School of Life Beautifully-produced clips containing essential wisdom and advice for these tough times. Sam HarrisGuided meditations (without the woo-woo) from the best-selling author and philosopher. Jansen’s DIYLearn how to make a room feel bigger and master the art of “lazy cleaning”. That Mitchell & Mack CollectionNeed a laugh? These clips from British comedy show Would I Lie To You? will do the trick. HASfitTerrific instructional exercise videos to help you stay healthy at home. At 160 beats per minute, this track is a perfect song to run on the treadmill to while using Taylor’s fantastic physique as your #fitspo. With little else to do in isolation, why not use the opportunity to learn the full choreography to Beyonce’s 2008 hit so you are performance ready when the clubs reopen. If full choreography isn’t for you, Call on Me offers 2.51 minute gym class that you can just watch on repeat until you feel fit. Bypass the official music video and find the complication of Tik Tok dances to craft the perfect workout to this '80s-like banger. This song should probably be our isolation anthem, but if you’re pushing through that 80th crunch, let Sara inspire you to get to 100.
3 May 20:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/culture/music/top-fives-struggling-to-get-motivated-youtube-is-surprisingly-helpful-20200415-p54k6m.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Southern Queensland dips below freezing as mercury hits minus 2 degrees
3 May 21:25
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 21:25
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Southern Queensland dips below freezing as mercury hits minus 2 degrees
The southern Queensland town of Applethorpe near the New South Wales border has plummeted to minus 2 degrees on Monday morning in a final chill for the state's weekend cold snap. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather to warm up from Tuesday and Wednesday in Queensland's coastal areas, while inland parts should get relief from Thursday to Saturday. On Monday, Darling Downs and Granite Belt was coldest with Applethorpe's minus 2 degrees, Oakey, near Toowoomba, had minus 0.2 and Warwick, south of Toowoomba, got 0.1. In the south-east, the Scenic Rim town of Canungra shivered through 2.4 degrees, the Logan suburb of Greenbank hit 3.8, the Ipswich suburb of Amberley recorded 3.9, the Scenic Rim town of Beaudesert experienced 4.1 and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley got 5.2 degrees. Brisbane dropped to 11.6 degrees on Monday, the Gold Coast Seaway recorded 12.5 and the Sunshine Coast Airport had a low of 12.4. In the Wide Bay and Burnett region, Kingaroy shivered through 1.7 degrees, Gympie had a minimum of 5.3 and Gayndah recorded 5.5. Roma, 430 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, in the Maranoa region dropped to 0.7 degrees. Weather bureau senior meteorologist Gabriel Branescu said the Sunshine Coast was 7 degrees below the May average on Sunday, while the Wide Bay region recorded 7-10 degrees below average. "We have a slow-moving high-pressure system in the Great Australian Bight directing the really dry and cool air mass directly across the state," he said. “Temperatures will start to moderate from Tuesday and Wednesday next week as the winds will tend more easterly and bring in more moisture from the ocean. "We’re expecting the minimum temperatures to stay about 13 or 14 degrees in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, around 11 or 12 degrees in the Gold Coast area. "Cool temperatures will remain inland for another two or three mornings until the warmer and more moist air mass makes its way to the Northern Territory border later next week." On Saturday, the mercury in Oakey, west of Toowoomba, sank to minus 0.4 degrees and Kingaroy, north-west of Brisbane, broke the freezing barrier by the narrowest of margins with minus 0.1.
3 May 21:25 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/queensland/southern-queensland-dips-below-freezing-as-mercury-hits-minus-2-degrees-20200504-p54pgy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Southern Queensland dips below freezing as mercury hits minus 2 degrees
The southern Queensland town of Applethorpe near the New South Wales border has plummeted to minus 2 degrees on Monday morning in a final chill for the state's weekend cold snap. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather to warm up from Tuesday and Wednesday in Queensland's coastal areas, while inland parts should get relief from Thursday to Saturday. On Monday, Darling Downs and Granite Belt was coldest with Applethorpe's minus 2 degrees, Oakey, near Toowoomba, had minus 0.2 and Warwick, south of Toowoomba, got 0.1. In the south-east, the Scenic Rim town of Canungra shivered through 2.4 degrees, the Logan suburb of Greenbank hit 3.8, the Ipswich suburb of Amberley recorded 3.9, the Scenic Rim town of Beaudesert experienced 4.1 and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley got 5.2 degrees. Brisbane dropped to 11.6 degrees on Monday, the Gold Coast Seaway recorded 12.5 and the Sunshine Coast Airport had a low of 12.4. In the Wide Bay and Burnett region, Kingaroy shivered through 1.7 degrees, Gympie had a minimum of 5.3 and Gayndah recorded 5.5. Roma, 430 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, in the Maranoa region dropped to 0.7 degrees. Weather bureau senior meteorologist Gabriel Branescu said the Sunshine Coast was 7 degrees below the May average on Sunday, while the Wide Bay region recorded 7-10 degrees below average. "We have a slow-moving high-pressure system in the Great Australian Bight directing the really dry and cool air mass directly across the state," he said. “Temperatures will start to moderate from Tuesday and Wednesday next week as the winds will tend more easterly and bring in more moisture from the ocean. "We’re expecting the minimum temperatures to stay about 13 or 14 degrees in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, around 11 or 12 degrees in the Gold Coast area. "Cool temperatures will remain inland for another two or three mornings until the warmer and more moist air mass makes its way to the Northern Territory border later next week." On Saturday, the mercury in Oakey, west of Toowoomba, sank to minus 0.4 degrees and Kingaroy, north-west of Brisbane, broke the freezing barrier by the narrowest of margins with minus 0.1.
3 May 21:25 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/queensland/southern-queensland-dips-below-freezing-as-mercury-hits-minus-2-degrees-20200504-p54pgy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_queenslandRating: 0.86
Southern Queensland dips below freezing as mercury hits minus 2 degrees
The southern Queensland town of Applethorpe near the New South Wales border has plummeted to minus 2 degrees on Monday morning in a final chill for the state's weekend cold snap. The Bureau of Meteorology expects the weather to warm up from Tuesday and Wednesday in Queensland's coastal areas, while inland parts should get relief from Thursday to Saturday. On Monday, Darling Downs and Granite Belt was coldest with Applethorpe's minus 2 degrees, Oakey, near Toowoomba, had minus 0.2 and Warwick, south of Toowoomba, got 0.1. In the south-east, the Scenic Rim town of Canungra shivered through 2.4 degrees, the Logan suburb of Greenbank hit 3.8, the Ipswich suburb of Amberley recorded 3.9, the Scenic Rim town of Beaudesert experienced 4.1 and Gatton in the Lockyer Valley got 5.2 degrees. Brisbane dropped to 11.6 degrees on Monday, the Gold Coast Seaway recorded 12.5 and the Sunshine Coast Airport had a low of 12.4. In the Wide Bay and Burnett region, Kingaroy shivered through 1.7 degrees, Gympie had a minimum of 5.3 and Gayndah recorded 5.5. Roma, 430 kilometres north-west of Brisbane, in the Maranoa region dropped to 0.7 degrees. Weather bureau senior meteorologist Gabriel Branescu said the Sunshine Coast was 7 degrees below the May average on Sunday, while the Wide Bay region recorded 7-10 degrees below average. "We have a slow-moving high-pressure system in the Great Australian Bight directing the really dry and cool air mass directly across the state," he said. “Temperatures will start to moderate from Tuesday and Wednesday next week as the winds will tend more easterly and bring in more moisture from the ocean. "We’re expecting the minimum temperatures to stay about 13 or 14 degrees in Brisbane and the Sunshine Coast, around 11 or 12 degrees in the Gold Coast area. "Cool temperatures will remain inland for another two or three mornings until the warmer and more moist air mass makes its way to the Northern Territory border later next week." On Saturday, the mercury in Oakey, west of Toowoomba, sank to minus 0.4 degrees and Kingaroy, north-west of Brisbane, broke the freezing barrier by the narrowest of margins with minus 0.1.
3 May 21:25 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/queensland/southern-queensland-dips-below-freezing-as-mercury-hits-minus-2-degrees-20200504-p54pgy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Perth FIFO worker shot dead after stabbing rampage had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication
3 May 22:15
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3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 22:15
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Perth FIFO worker shot dead after stabbing rampage had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication
The construction worker who went on a stabbing rampage in South Hedland, injuring seven people, had stopped taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication before he was shot dead by police. Police sources say Ashley Fildes suffered from serious mental health issues and had been noticeably deteriorating at work in the months leading up to Friday’s horrific stabbing frenzy. Detectives have uncovered no evidence of illicit drug use, after searching his accomodation in South Hedland. A recent drug test Fildes completed for work also came back negative, but the results of a post mortem toxicology report have not yet come back. Homicide Detectives have confirmed that all seven victims were randomly attacked and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Perth father-of-one was working in South Hedland on an asphalting contract when work colleagues became concerned about his erratic behaviour. On Friday, Fildes was asked to leave his work site by his boss, after he was ruled an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard. Police say his boss drove Fildes to The Lodge Motel where he had been staying, and that the 34-year-old left the car and headed straight in to the building. When he entered the lobby area he was greeted by a receptionist, who asked him how he was. She told police the 34-year-old did not answer, and had an expression of rage on his face. She said Fildes then headed straight in to the motel’s dining hall, despite her telling him he was not allowed in there. Police say Mr Fildes then seized a knife from the kitchen and grabbed the woman. After a brief struggle she managed to break free but he then chased her around the dining hall between tables. He then threw the knife at the woman, but missed, before taking a second knife from the kitchen and threatening the chef on the premises. The two staff members were able to escape Fildes, but moments later, he stabbed his first victim, a woman who had been staying at the motel and was standing outside her room. Fildes then continued on towards the South Hedland courthouse, where he stabbed a man waiting outside the complex. He then began walking towards the local McDonald’s where he stabbed another man, his third victim quickly followed by a fourth person, a man who had left the fast foood outler and was getting in to his vehicle. Police say that man tried to fight back, but couldn’t stop the knife attack. Fildes then stabbed his fifth victim, a 39-year-old man who was waiting outside the South Hedland Shopping Centre. His injuries are the most serious of the seven victims, and he was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital on Friday night in a critical condition. When Ashley Fildes entered the shopping centre, dozens of people began running and screaming for help as he charged forward with a knife in his hand, but said nothing. He then stabbed young mother Kimberley Abbott in the back as she pushed her one-year-old daughter Dakota in a trolley. Detectives say the CCTV captured of that attack is particularly distressing, and shows Ms Abbott desperately trying to protect her child. The two police officers who would initially Taser and shoot Mr Fildes dead were already in the shopping complex when Ms Abbott was stabbed, and heard the screams for help. They began running after Mr Fildes, but he didn’t stop, and stabbed another woman in the back before police Tasered him several times. But as the Tasering proved ineffective and the 34-year-old continued on, before one of the police officer fired three bullets. The first two did not stop Mr Fildes, but the third killed him. Ashley Fildes was previously a teacher in the remote Pilbara town of Nullagin, where he met his ex-wife and the mother of his child. The couple were married in 2011, and had a baby girl but have since separated. Police Union President Harry Arnott today praised the officers who shot Fildes dead, as heroes. “They’ve done exactly as they’ve been trained,” he said. “It’s pretty clear to everyone that this man had to be stopped.” Detectives say up to sixty people witnessed the horrific attacks. Concurrent Homicide and Internal Affairs investigations could take months to complete.
3 May 22:15 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-fifo-worker-shot-dead-after-stabbing-rampage-had-stopped-taking-anti-psychotic-medication-20200504-p54phf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Perth FIFO worker shot dead after stabbing rampage had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication
The construction worker who went on a stabbing rampage in South Hedland, injuring seven people, had stopped taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication before he was shot dead by police. Police sources say Ashley Fildes suffered from serious mental health issues and had been noticeably deteriorating at work in the months leading up to Friday’s horrific stabbing frenzy. Detectives have uncovered no evidence of illicit drug use, after searching his accomodation in South Hedland. A recent drug test Fildes completed for work also came back negative, but the results of a post mortem toxicology report have not yet come back. Homicide Detectives have confirmed that all seven victims were randomly attacked and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Perth father-of-one was working in South Hedland on an asphalting contract when work colleagues became concerned about his erratic behaviour. On Friday, Fildes was asked to leave his work site by his boss, after he was ruled an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard. Police say his boss drove Fildes to The Lodge Motel where he had been staying, and that the 34-year-old left the car and headed straight in to the building. When he entered the lobby area he was greeted by a receptionist, who asked him how he was. She told police the 34-year-old did not answer, and had an expression of rage on his face. She said Fildes then headed straight in to the motel’s dining hall, despite her telling him he was not allowed in there. Police say Mr Fildes then seized a knife from the kitchen and grabbed the woman. After a brief struggle she managed to break free but he then chased her around the dining hall between tables. He then threw the knife at the woman, but missed, before taking a second knife from the kitchen and threatening the chef on the premises. The two staff members were able to escape Fildes, but moments later, he stabbed his first victim, a woman who had been staying at the motel and was standing outside her room. Fildes then continued on towards the South Hedland courthouse, where he stabbed a man waiting outside the complex. He then began walking towards the local McDonald’s where he stabbed another man, his third victim quickly followed by a fourth person, a man who had left the fast foood outler and was getting in to his vehicle. Police say that man tried to fight back, but couldn’t stop the knife attack. Fildes then stabbed his fifth victim, a 39-year-old man who was waiting outside the South Hedland Shopping Centre. His injuries are the most serious of the seven victims, and he was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital on Friday night in a critical condition. When Ashley Fildes entered the shopping centre, dozens of people began running and screaming for help as he charged forward with a knife in his hand, but said nothing. He then stabbed young mother Kimberley Abbott in the back as she pushed her one-year-old daughter Dakota in a trolley. Detectives say the CCTV captured of that attack is particularly distressing, and shows Ms Abbott desperately trying to protect her child. The two police officers who would initially Taser and shoot Mr Fildes dead were already in the shopping complex when Ms Abbott was stabbed, and heard the screams for help. They began running after Mr Fildes, but he didn’t stop, and stabbed another woman in the back before police Tasered him several times. But as the Tasering proved ineffective and the 34-year-old continued on, before one of the police officer fired three bullets. The first two did not stop Mr Fildes, but the third killed him. Ashley Fildes was previously a teacher in the remote Pilbara town of Nullagin, where he met his ex-wife and the mother of his child. The couple were married in 2011, and had a baby girl but have since separated. Police Union President Harry Arnott today praised the officers who shot Fildes dead, as heroes. “They’ve done exactly as they’ve been trained,” he said. “It’s pretty clear to everyone that this man had to be stopped.” Detectives say up to sixty people witnessed the horrific attacks. Concurrent Homicide and Internal Affairs investigations could take months to complete.
3 May 22:15 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-fifo-worker-shot-dead-after-stabbing-rampage-had-stopped-taking-anti-psychotic-medication-20200504-p54phf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Perth FIFO worker had stopped taking anti-psychotic medication before going on stabbing rampage
The construction worker who went on a stabbing rampage in South Hedland, injuring seven people, had stopped taking prescribed anti-psychotic medication before he was shot dead by police. Police sources say Ashley Fildes suffered from serious mental health issues and had been noticeably deteriorating at work in the months leading up to Friday’s horrific stabbing frenzy. Detectives have uncovered no evidence of illicit drug use, after searching his accomodation in South Hedland. A recent drug test Fildes completed for work also came back negative, but the results of a post mortem toxicology report have not yet come back. Homicide Detectives have confirmed that all seven victims were randomly attacked and were simply in the wrong place at the wrong time. The Perth father-of-one was working in South Hedland on an asphalting contract when work colleagues became concerned about his erratic behaviour. On Friday, Fildes was asked to leave his work site by his boss, after he was ruled an Occupational Health and Safety Hazard. Police say his boss drove Fildes to The Lodge Motel where he had been staying, and that the 34-year-old left the car and headed straight in to the building. When he entered the lobby area he was greeted by a receptionist, who asked him how he was. She told police the 34-year-old did not answer, and had an expression of rage on his face. She said Fildes then headed straight in to the motel’s dining hall, despite her telling him he was not allowed in there. Police say Mr Fildes then seized a knife from the kitchen and grabbed the woman. After a brief struggle she managed to break free but he then chased her around the dining hall between tables. He then threw the knife at the woman, but missed, before taking a second knife from the kitchen and threatening the chef on the premises. The two staff members were able to escape Fildes, but moments later, he stabbed his first victim, a woman who had been staying at the motel and was standing outside her room. Fildes then continued on towards the South Hedland courthouse, where he stabbed a man waiting outside the complex. He then began walking towards the local McDonald’s where he stabbed another man, his third victim, quickly followed by a fourth person, a man who had left the fast food outlet and was getting into his vehicle. Police say that man tried to fight back, but couldn’t stop the knife attack. Fildes then stabbed his fifth victim, a 39-year-old man who was waiting outside the South Hedland Shopping Centre. His injuries are the most serious of the seven victims, and he was airlifted to Royal Perth Hospital on Friday night in a critical condition. When Ashley Fildes entered the shopping centre, dozens of people began running and screaming for help as he charged forward with a knife in his hand, but said nothing. He then stabbed young mother Kimberley Abbott in the back as she pushed her one-year-old daughter Dakota in a trolley. Detectives say the CCTV captured of that attack is particularly distressing, and shows Ms Abbott desperately trying to protect her child. The two police officers who would initially Taser and shoot Mr Fildes dead were already in the shopping complex when Ms Abbott was stabbed, and heard the screams for help. They began running after Mr Fildes, but he didn’t stop, and stabbed another woman in the back before police Tasered him several times. But as the Tasering proved ineffective and the 34-year-old continued on, before one of the police officer fired three bullets. The first two did not stop Mr Fildes, but the third killed him. Ashley Fildes was married in 2011. The couple had a baby girl but have since separated. Police Union President Harry Arnott today praised the officers who shot Fildes dead, as heroes. “They’ve done exactly as they’ve been trained,” he said. “It’s pretty clear to everyone that this man had to be stopped.” Detectives say up to sixty people witnessed the horrific attacks. Concurrent Homicide and Internal Affairs investigations could take months to complete.
3 May 22:15 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-fifo-worker-shot-dead-after-stabbing-rampage-had-stopped-taking-anti-psychotic-medication-20200504-p54phf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_western-australiaRating: 0.55
8@eight: ASX set to edge lower
3 May 22:23
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8@eight: ASX set to edge lower
The new month kicked off with volatility on Wall Street as stocks tumbled to close the week. the ASX is set to inch lower this morning, with futures at 8am pointing to a fall of 7 points at the open. 1. May kicks-off with upwell of volatility: The new month has been seized by the bears, with stock markets tumbling on Friday. The headlines of “sell in May and stay away” have been rampant, and perhaps justifiably. The losses for stock markets across the globe were steep, in what was something of a 180-degree change in the market sentiment that defined April’s trading. It ought to be said, activity was lower than average, and many major stock exchanges were closed throughout Asia and Europe. Nevertheless, for those that were open, it proved bearish day’s trade, with the S&P500 for one, shedding 2.81 per cent, as the VIX leapt back to the 37-mark. 2. Apple and Amazon disappoint the market: One catalyst for the tumble in global equities came as Amazon and Apple disappointed investors with its earnings on Friday morning. Although both companies delivered reasonable financial results for the last quarter, market participants were evidently underwhelmed by their appraisals regarding the future. Apple refused to deliver any guidance, citing the high degree of uncertainty in doing so. While Amazon flagged that though it expected a boost in top-line growth in the quarter ahead, higher expenses incurred from the fallout from the COVID-19 crisis will impact its future profitability. 3. A better week for US corporates: Apple and Amazon’s results, and the subsequent tumble in tech shares on Wall Street on Friday, belied what was an otherwise better than expected week for both the sector and the S&P500 more broadly from an earnings perspective. According to data compiled by Fact Set, the information technology sector has generally beaten analyst earnings expectations for the quarter, recording EPS growth of 4.2 per cent, above the 1.3 per cent estimates coming into the reporting period. The strong showing from the IT sector contributed to an improved blended EPS for the S&P500 for Q1, which rose to -13.7 per cent last week. 4. US-China trade tensions reinflame: The other major cause for Friday’s bearishness was of renewed trade tensions between the US and China, as both countries continue their feud about the origins of the COVID-19 crisis, and the culpability for the pandemic. US President Donald Trump floated the idea of re-introducing tariffs on certain Chinese goods, as punishment for what he says as China’s failure to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It was also reported on Friday in the financial media that President Trump is considering blocking a US Government investment fund from investing in Chinese equities on Security grounds. 5. ASX200 and AUD tumble: The possible return of a tit-for-tat trade-war pummelled Australian stocks and the AUD on Friday. The ASX200 shed 5.01 per cent to begin the new trading month, with the export sensitive materials and energy sectors pacing the index’s losses. The Australian Dollar also found itself victim to concerns about potential tariffs on the Chinese economy. Moving somewhat in lock-step with the off-shore Yuan, and as a proxy for the global growth outlook, the AUD/USD plunged 1.44 per cent to close the week’s trade at 0.6418. SPI Futures are pointing to a small drop for the ASX200 this morning. 6. Global growth pulse remains weak: Aside from the deleterious effects of another headwind to global trade, the global growth pulse is showing further signs of weakening. Though it proved a better than estimated result, US ISM Manufacturing data printed at its weakest since the GFC on Friday night. The US 10 Year Treasury yield remained mired 0.61 per cent, with the US yield curve flattening as a result. The US Dollar traded mixed, up against high beta-currencies and the Pound, but down against the Euro and Yen. And gold also bounced, rallying 0.83 per cent Friday to close trade at $US1700. 7. The week ahead: The data this week will home-in on earnings, central banks and macroeconomic data. Over 55 per cent of companies of the S&P500 have already reported, and although few market-moving names release earnings in the week ahead, market participants continue to track the aggregate earnings growth figure of the companies that are updating the market. The RBA and Bank of England both meet, and aren’t expected to materially change their policy suite. The RBA also delivers its Statement on Monetary Policy on Friday. And the big macroeconomic event will be US jobs data on Friday, which is forecast to reveal the US unemployment rate jumped to 16 per cent in April. 8. Market watch: ASX futures down 7 points or 0.1% to 5230 There was no Friday iron ore price data given the May 1 holiday in Asia This column was produced in commercial partnership between The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and IG Information is of a general nature only.
3 May 22:23 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/markets/8-eight-asx-set-to-edge-lower-20200504-p54ph5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
8@eight: ASX set to edge lower
The new month kicked off with volatility on Wall Street as stocks tumbled to close the week. the ASX is set to inch lower this morning, with futures at 8am pointing to a fall of 7 points at the open. 1. May kicks-off with upwell of volatility: The new month has been seized by the bears, with stock markets tumbling on Friday. The headlines of “sell in May and stay away” have been rampant, and perhaps justifiably. The losses for stock markets across the globe were steep, in what was something of a 180-degree change in the market sentiment that defined April’s trading. It ought to be said, activity was lower than average, and many major stock exchanges were closed throughout Asia and Europe. Nevertheless, for those that were open, it proved bearish day’s trade, with the S&P500 for one, shedding 2.81 per cent, as the VIX leapt back to the 37-mark. 2. Apple and Amazon disappoint the market: One catalyst for the tumble in global equities came as Amazon and Apple disappointed investors with its earnings on Friday morning. Although both companies delivered reasonable financial results for the last quarter, market participants were evidently underwhelmed by their appraisals regarding the future. Apple refused to deliver any guidance, citing the high degree of uncertainty in doing so. While Amazon flagged that though it expected a boost in top-line growth in the quarter ahead, higher expenses incurred from the fallout from the COVID-19 crisis will impact its future profitability. 3. A better week for US corporates: Apple and Amazon’s results, and the subsequent tumble in tech shares on Wall Street on Friday, belied what was an otherwise better than expected week for both the sector and the S&P500 more broadly from an earnings perspective. According to data compiled by Fact Set, the information technology sector has generally beaten analyst earnings expectations for the quarter, recording EPS growth of 4.2 per cent, above the 1.3 per cent estimates coming into the reporting period. The strong showing from the IT sector contributed to an improved blended EPS for the S&P500 for Q1, which rose to -13.7 per cent last week. 4. US-China trade tensions reinflame: The other major cause for Friday’s bearishness was of renewed trade tensions between the US and China, as both countries continue their feud about the origins of the COVID-19 crisis, and the culpability for the pandemic. US President Donald Trump floated the idea of re-introducing tariffs on certain Chinese goods, as punishment for what he says as China’s failure to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It was also reported on Friday in the financial media that President Trump is considering blocking a US Government investment fund from investing in Chinese equities on Security grounds. 5. ASX200 and AUD tumble: The possible return of a tit-for-tat trade-war pummelled Australian stocks and the AUD on Friday. The ASX200 shed 5.01 per cent to begin the new trading month, with the export sensitive materials and energy sectors pacing the index’s losses. The Australian Dollar also found itself victim to concerns about potential tariffs on the Chinese economy. Moving somewhat in lock-step with the off-shore Yuan, and as a proxy for the global growth outlook, the AUD/USD plunged 1.44 per cent to close the week’s trade at 0.6418. SPI Futures are pointing to a small drop for the ASX200 this morning. 6. Global growth pulse remains weak: Aside from the deleterious effects of another headwind to global trade, the global growth pulse is showing further signs of weakening. Though it proved a better than estimated result, US ISM Manufacturing data printed at its weakest since the GFC on Friday night. The US 10 Year Treasury yield remained mired 0.61 per cent, with the US yield curve flattening as a result. The US Dollar traded mixed, up against high beta-currencies and the Pound, but down against the Euro and Yen. And gold also bounced, rallying 0.83 per cent Friday to close trade at $US1700. 7. The week ahead: The data this week will home-in on earnings, central banks and macroeconomic data. Over 55 per cent of companies of the S&P500 have already reported, and although few market-moving names release earnings in the week ahead, market participants continue to track the aggregate earnings growth figure of the companies that are updating the market. The RBA and Bank of England both meet, and aren’t expected to materially change their policy suite. The RBA also delivers its Statement on Monetary Policy on Friday. And the big macroeconomic event will be US jobs data on Friday, which is forecast to reveal the US unemployment rate jumped to 16 per cent in April. 8. Market watch: ASX futures down 7 points or 0.1% to 5230 There was no Friday iron ore price data given the May 1 holiday in Asia This column was produced in commercial partnership between The Sydney Morning Herald, The Age and IG Information is of a general nature only.
3 May 22:23 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/markets/8-eight-asx-set-to-edge-lower-20200504-p54ph5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
8@eight: ASX set to edge lower
The new month kicked off with volatility on Wall Street as stocks tumbled to close the week. the ASX is set to inch lower this morning, with futures at 8am pointing to a fall of 7 points at the open. 1. May kicks-off with upwell of volatility: The new month has been seized by the bears, with stock markets tumbling on Friday. The headlines of “sell in May and stay away” have been rampant, and perhaps justifiably. The losses for stock markets across the globe were steep, in what was something of a 180-degree change in the market sentiment that defined April’s trading. It ought to be said, activity was lower than average, and many major stock exchanges were closed throughout Asia and Europe. Nevertheless, for those that were open, it proved bearish day’s trade, with the S&P500 for one, shedding 2.81 per cent, as the VIX leapt back to the 37-mark. 2. Apple and Amazon disappoint the market: One catalyst for the tumble in global equities came as Amazon and Apple disappointed investors with its earnings on Friday morning. Although both companies delivered reasonable financial results for the last quarter, market participants were evidently underwhelmed by their appraisals regarding the future. Apple refused to deliver any guidance, citing the high degree of uncertainty in doing so. While Amazon flagged that though it expected a boost in top-line growth in the quarter ahead, higher expenses incurred from the fallout from the COVID-19 crisis will impact its future profitability. 3. A better week for US corporates: Apple and Amazon’s results, and the subsequent tumble in tech shares on Wall Street on Friday, belied what was an otherwise better than expected week for both the sector and the S&P500 more broadly from an earnings perspective. According to data compiled by Fact Set, the information technology sector has generally beaten analyst earnings expectations for the quarter, recording EPS growth of 4.2 per cent, above the 1.3 per cent estimates coming into the reporting period. The strong showing from the IT sector contributed to an improved blended EPS for the S&P500 for Q1, which rose to -13.7 per cent last week. 4. US-China trade tensions reinflame: The other major cause for Friday’s bearishness was of renewed trade tensions between the US and China, as both countries continue their feud about the origins of the COVID-19 crisis, and the culpability for the pandemic. US President Donald Trump floated the idea of re-introducing tariffs on certain Chinese goods, as punishment for what he says as China’s failure to control the spread of the COVID-19 virus. It was also reported on Friday in the financial media that President Trump is considering blocking a US Government investment fund from investing in Chinese equities on Security grounds. 5. ASX200 and AUD tumble: The possible return of a tit-for-tat trade-war pummelled Australian stocks and the AUD on Friday. The ASX200 shed 5.01 per cent to begin the new trading month, with the export sensitive materials and energy sectors pacing the index’s losses. The Australian Dollar also found itself victim to concerns about potential tariffs on the Chinese economy. Moving somewhat in lock-step with the off-shore Yuan, and as a proxy for the global growth outlook, the AUD/USD plunged 1.44 per cent to close the week’s trade at 0.6418. SPI Futures are pointing to a small drop for the ASX200 this morning. 6. Global growth pulse remains weak: Aside from the deleterious effects of another headwind to global trade, the global growth pulse is showing further signs of weakening. Though it proved a better than estimated result, US ISM Manufacturing data printed at its weakest since the GFC on Friday night. The US 10 Year Treasury yield remained mired 0.61 per cent, with the US yield curve flattening as a result. The US Dollar traded mixed, up against high beta-currencies and the Pound, but down against the Euro and Yen. And gold also bounced, rallying 0.83 per cent Friday to close trade at $US1700. 7. The week ahead: The data this week will home-in on earnings, central banks and macroeconomic data. Over 55 per cent of companies of the S&P500 have already reported, and although few market-moving names release earnings in the week ahead, market participants continue to track the aggregate earnings growth figure of the companies that are updating the market. The RBA and Bank of England both meet, and aren’t expected to materially change their policy suite. The RBA also delivers its Statement on Monetary Policy on Friday. And the big macroeconomic event will be US jobs data on Friday, which is forecast to reveal the US unemployment rate jumped to 16 per cent in April. ASX futures down 7 points or 0.1% to 5230 There was no Friday iron ore price data given the May 1 holiday in Asia Information is of a general nature only.
3 May 22:23 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/markets/8-eight-asx-set-to-edge-lower-20200504-p54ph5.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
'He's a blatant liar': Accused Claremont serial killer's six-hour police interview to be played to court
3 May 22:23
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3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 22:23
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'He's a blatant liar': Accused Claremont serial killer's six-hour police interview to be played to court
Prosecutors who allege Bradley Edwards is the Claremont serial killer will wrap up their case this week, ending with the playing of his 6½ hour police interview from the day of his arrest. As the trial enters its seventh month, lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said the video would show the 51-year-old Telstra technician was a “blatant liar”. It will be the first time the Supreme Court trial will hear Mr Edwards speak, with the accused only ever uttering a few words while in the dock to confirm his name, or enter a plea. “During the course of the interview the accused provided an overview of his life including his family life, friendships, sexual relationships and employment history,” Ms Barbagallo said. “The state at the end of this trial will ask that in light of the repeated lies, Your Honour place no weight upon the accused’s denials and self-serving statements.” The lies Ms Barbagallo refers to are Mr Edwards' initial denials he abducted and raped a 17-year-old girl as she walked home from a night out at Club Bay View in Claremont a year before he is accused of murdering Sarah Spiers. He also denied attacking an 18-year-old woman as she slept in her bed in 1988 but later pleaded guilty to the offence after police recovered a kimono from the scene with his DNA on it. Mr Edwards’ DNA was also recovered from his rape victim and allegedly found under the fingernails of his third murder victim, Ciara Glennon, when her body was recovered from bushland in 1997. Ms Barbagallo said during the police interview, Mr Edwards “feigned disbelief” at his DNA being recovered from the three scenes as detectives told him “DNA doesn’t lie”. She said he also distanced himself from ever having been in Claremont, which the state claims is a “consciousness of guilt” lie. “For example, he denied his knowledge or involvement in relation to the [Karrakatta cemetery rape] offences, claiming that he didn’t know anything about any of this,” she said. “He claimed to have no idea where Rowe Park was, the very location from which he abducted [his victim]. “He claimed to have never been to the Karrakatta Cemetery at night or early hours in the morning. “He distanced himself from his association with the Claremont area by claiming that he attended only from about 2009 onwards.” Mr Edwards confessed to the rape and Huntingdale attack on the eve of his triple-murder trial. He denies murdering Ms Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Prominent Perth lawyer John Hammond said playing the police video as the last piece of the state’s evidence would leave it fresh in the mind of Justice Stephen Hall, who is tasked with deciding Mr Edwards’ fate. “It’s like any piece of evidence that’s put before the court, that if it has a very resounding impact on the judge or jury then it certainly doesn’t hurt the state to play that tape or put that evidence last in line,” he said. “The other argument that may be put by some lawyers is that given the trial has been very long, that that video will be very fresh in the court’s mind.” The recording will be played to the court from either Monday or Tuesday, when the state calls its final witness, Detective Senior Sergeant Joseph Marrapodi, a long-serving member of the Macro Taskforce who interviewed Mr Edwards 2½ hours after his dramatic early morning arrest at his Kewdale home on December 22, 2016. The trial continues.
3 May 22:23 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/he-s-a-blatant-liar-accused-claremont-serial-killer-s-six-hour-police-interview-to-be-played-to-court-20200503-p54pgf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
'He's a blatant liar': Accused Claremont serial killer's six-hour police interview to be played to court
Prosecutors who allege Bradley Edwards is the Claremont serial killer will wrap up their case this week, ending with the playing of his 6½ hour police interview from the day of his arrest. As the trial enters its seventh month, lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said the video would show the 51-year-old Telstra technician was a “blatant liar”. It will be the first time the Supreme Court trial will hear Mr Edwards speak, with the accused only ever uttering a few words while in the dock to confirm his name, or enter a plea. “During the course of the interview the accused provided an overview of his life including his family life, friendships, sexual relationships and employment history,” Ms Barbagallo said. “The state at the end of this trial will ask that in light of the repeated lies, Your Honour place no weight upon the accused’s denials and self-serving statements.” The lies Ms Barbagallo refers to are Mr Edwards' initial denials he abducted and raped a 17-year-old girl as she walked home from a night out at Club Bay View in Claremont a year before he is accused of murdering Sarah Spiers. He also denied attacking an 18-year-old woman as she slept in her bed in 1988 but later pleaded guilty to the offence after police recovered a kimono from the scene with his DNA on it. Mr Edwards’ DNA was also recovered from his rape victim and allegedly found under the fingernails of his third murder victim, Ciara Glennon, when her body was recovered from bushland in 1997. Ms Barbagallo said during the police interview, Mr Edwards “feigned disbelief” at his DNA being recovered from the three scenes as detectives told him “DNA doesn’t lie”. She said he also distanced himself from ever having been in Claremont, which the state claims is a “consciousness of guilt” lie. “For example, he denied his knowledge or involvement in relation to the [Karrakatta cemetery rape] offences, claiming that he didn’t know anything about any of this,” she said. “He claimed to have no idea where Rowe Park was, the very location from which he abducted [his victim]. “He claimed to have never been to the Karrakatta Cemetery at night or early hours in the morning. “He distanced himself from his association with the Claremont area by claiming that he attended only from about 2009 onwards.” Mr Edwards confessed to the rape and Huntingdale attack on the eve of his triple-murder trial. He denies murdering Ms Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Prominent Perth lawyer John Hammond said playing the police video as the last piece of the state’s evidence would leave it fresh in the mind of Justice Stephen Hall, who is tasked with deciding Mr Edwards’ fate. “It’s like any piece of evidence that’s put before the court, that if it has a very resounding impact on the judge or jury then it certainly doesn’t hurt the state to play that tape or put that evidence last in line,” he said. “The other argument that may be put by some lawyers is that given the trial has been very long, that that video will be very fresh in the court’s mind.” The recording will be played to the court from either Monday or Tuesday, when the state calls its final witness, Detective Senior Sergeant Joseph Marrapodi, a long-serving member of the Macro Taskforce who interviewed Mr Edwards 2½ hours after his dramatic early morning arrest at his Kewdale home on December 22, 2016. The trial continues.
3 May 22:23 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/western-australia/he-s-a-blatant-liar-accused-claremont-serial-killer-s-six-hour-police-interview-to-be-played-to-court-20200503-p54pgf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
'He's a blatant liar': Accused Claremont serial killer's six-hour police interview to be played to court
Prosecutors who allege Bradley Edwards is the Claremont serial killer will wrap up their case this week, ending with the playing of his 6½ hour police interview from the day of his arrest. As the trial enters its seventh month, lead prosecutor Carmel Barbagallo said the video would show the 51-year-old Telstra technician was a “blatant liar”. It will be the first time the Supreme Court trial will hear Mr Edwards speak, with the accused only ever uttering a few words while in the dock to confirm his name, or enter a plea. “During the course of the interview the accused provided an overview of his life including his family life, friendships, sexual relationships and employment history,” Ms Barbagallo said. “The state at the end of this trial will ask that in light of the repeated lies, Your Honour place no weight upon the accused’s denials and self-serving statements.” The lies Ms Barbagallo refers to are Mr Edwards' initial denials he abducted and raped a 17-year-old girl as she walked home from a night out at Club Bay View in Claremont a year before he is accused of murdering Sarah Spiers. He also denied attacking an 18-year-old woman as she slept in her bed in 1988 but later pleaded guilty to the offence after police recovered a kimono from the scene with his DNA on it. Mr Edwards’ DNA was also recovered from his rape victim and allegedly found under the fingernails of his third murder victim, Ciara Glennon, when her body was recovered from bushland in 1997. Ms Barbagallo said during the police interview, Mr Edwards “feigned disbelief” at his DNA being recovered from the three scenes as detectives told him “DNA doesn’t lie”. She said he also distanced himself from ever having been in Claremont, which the state claims is a “consciousness of guilt” lie. “For example, he denied his knowledge or involvement in relation to the [Karrakatta cemetery rape] offences, claiming that he didn’t know anything about any of this,” she said. “He claimed to have no idea where Rowe Park was, the very location from which he abducted [his victim]. “He claimed to have never been to the Karrakatta Cemetery at night or early hours in the morning. “He distanced himself from his association with the Claremont area by claiming that he attended only from about 2009 onwards.” Mr Edwards confessed to the rape and Huntingdale attack on the eve of his triple-murder trial. He denies murdering Ms Spiers, Jane Rimmer and Ciara Glennon. Prominent Perth lawyer John Hammond said playing the police video as the last piece of the state’s evidence would leave it fresh in the mind of Justice Stephen Hall, who is tasked with deciding Mr Edwards’ fate. “It’s like any piece of evidence that’s put before the court, that if it has a very resounding impact on the judge or jury then it certainly doesn’t hurt the state to play that tape or put that evidence last in line,” he said. “The other argument that may be put by some lawyers is that given the trial has been very long, that that video will be very fresh in the court’s mind.” The recording will be played to the court from either Monday or Tuesday, when the state calls its final witness, Detective Senior Sergeant Joseph Marrapodi, a long-serving member of the Macro Taskforce who interviewed Mr Edwards 2½ hours after his dramatic early morning arrest at his Kewdale home on December 22, 2016. The trial continues.
3 May 22:23 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/he-s-a-blatant-liar-accused-claremont-serial-killer-s-six-hour-police-interview-to-be-played-to-court-20200503-p54pgf.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_western-australiaRating: 0.55
Dutch coach Koeman admitted to hospital with heart problem
3 May 22:38
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Dutch coach Koeman admitted to hospital with heart problem
Amsterdam: Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Sunday, his agent told Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The 57-year-old was taken from his home by ambulance but after surgical intervention was in a stable condition, his wife Bartina told De Telegraaf. Koeman's agent Rob Jansen told NOS that the coach is expected to be released from hospital on Monday. Koeman has been the Dutch coach for just over two years and helped the country to qualify for Euro 2020, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former international defender, who as a player won the European Cup with both PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, managed Everton before he took charge of his native country's national team. Dutch international and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum wished Koeman a quick recovery in a post on Twitter.
3 May 22:38 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/sport/soccer/dutch-coach-koeman-admitted-to-hospital-with-heart-problem-20200504-p54pht.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Dutch coach Koeman admitted to hospital with heart problem
Amsterdam: Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Sunday, his agent told Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The 57-year-old was taken from his home by ambulance but after surgical intervention was in a stable condition, his wife Bartina told De Telegraaf. Koeman's agent Rob Jansen told NOS that the coach is expected to be released from hospital on Monday. Koeman has been the Dutch coach for just over two years and helped the country to qualify for Euro 2020, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former international defender, who as a player won the European Cup with both PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, managed Everton before he took charge of his native country's national team. Dutch international and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum wished Koeman a quick recovery in a post on Twitter.
3 May 22:38 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/soccer/dutch-coach-koeman-admitted-to-hospital-with-heart-problem-20200504-p54pht.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Dutch coach Koeman admitted to hospital with heart problem
Amsterdam: Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Sunday, his agent told Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The 57-year-old was taken from his home by ambulance but after surgical intervention was in a stable condition, his wife Bartina told De Telegraaf. Koeman's agent Rob Jansen told NOS that the coach is expected to be released from hospital on Monday. Koeman has been the Dutch coach for just over two years and helped the country to qualify for Euro 2020, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former international defender, who as a player won the European Cup with both PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, managed Everton before he took charge of his native country's national team. Dutch international and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum wished Koeman a quick recovery in a post on Twitter.
3 May 22:38 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/soccer/dutch-coach-koeman-admitted-to-hospital-with-heart-problem-20200504-p54pht.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Dutch coach Ronald Koeman admitted to hospital with heart problem
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Sunday, his agent told Dutch national broadcaster NOS. The 57-year-old was taken from his home by ambulance but after surgical intervention was in a stable condition, his wife Bartina told Dutch daily paper De Telegraaf. Koeman’s agent Rob Jansen told NOS that the coach is expected to be released from hospital on Monday. Koeman has been the Dutch coach for just over two years and helped the country to qualify for Euro 2020, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former international defender, who as a player won the European Cup with both PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, managed Everton before he took charge of his native country’s national team. Dutch international and Liverpool midfielder Georginio Wijnaldum wished Koeman a quick recovery in a post on Twitter.
3 May 18:30 • The Irish Times • https://www.irishtimes.com/sport/soccer/dutch-coach-ronald-koeman-admitted-to-hospital-with-heart-problem-1.4244145Rating: 1.99
Netherlands' Koeman has heart procedure
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman underwent a heart procedure Sunday at a hospital in Amsterdam after feeling pain in his chest, his management company said in a statement. The 57-year-old coach, who has also managed Premier League clubs Southampton and Everton, underwent a successful “heart catheterization" and will return home Monday, his management company Wasserman said. It did not elaborate on the nature of the procedure and nor did the Dutch soccer association. Dutch national broadcaster NOS cited Koeman's business manager, Rob Jansen, as saying that the former Barcelona player was hospitalized after feeling chest pain after a bike ride. “We are shocked and wish him a good recovery,” the Dutch national team's spokesman Bas Ticheler told The Associated Press. Koeman's management said the coach would be resting in coming days. Due to coronavirus restrictions, it in unclear when the Dutch team will play again. The European Championship that was due to start June 12 has been postponed due to the global pandemic. ___ More AP soccer: https://apnews.com/Soccer and https://twitter.com/AP_Sports
3 May 18:01 • TSN • https://www.tsn.ca/netherlands-coach-koeman-undergoes-heart-procedure-1.1472324Rating: 1.37
Dutch coach Koeman in hospital with heart problem
Share on FacebookShare on Twitter Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman was admitted to hospital with a heart problem on Sunday, the daily De Telegraaf reported on its website. The 57-year-old was taken from his home by ambulance but after surgical intervention was in a stable condition, his wife Bartina told the newspaper. Koeman has been the Dutch coach for just over two years and helped the country to qualify for Euro 2020, which has been postponed to next year due to the coronavirus pandemic. The former international defender, who as a player won the European Cup with both PSV Eindhoven and Barcelona, managed Everton before he took charge of his native country’s national team. Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked * Comment Name * Email * Website Yes, add me to your mailing list
3 May 21:06 • The Eagle Online • https://theeagleonline.com.ng/dutch-coach-koeman-in-hospital-with-heart-problem/Rating: 0.39
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman sent to hospital for heart issue
Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman underwent a heart procedure Sunday at a hospital in Amsterdam after feeling pain in his chest, his management company said in a statement. -Stream new episodes of ESPN FC Monday-Friday on ESPN+- Stream every episode of 30 for 30: Soccer Stories on ESPN+ The 57-year-old coach, who has also managed Premier League clubs Southampton and Everton, underwent a successful "heart catheterization" and will return home Monday, his management company Wasserman said. It did not elaborate on the nature of the procedure and nor did the Dutch football association. Dutch national broadcaster NOS cited Koeman's business manager, Rob Jansen, as saying that Koeman was hospitalized after feeling chest pain after a bike ride. "We are shocked and wish him a good recovery,'' the Dutch national team's spokesman Bas Ticheler told The Associated Press. Koeman's management said the coach would be resting in coming days. Due to coronavirus restrictions, it in unclear when the Dutch team will play again. The European Championship that was due to start June 12 has been postponed due to the global pandemic.
3 May 17:24 • ESPN • https://www.espn.co.uk/football/netherlands-ned/story/4091490/netherlands-coach-ronald-koeman-sent-to-hospitalRating: 0.82
Netherlands coach Koeman undergoes heart procedure
THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Netherlands coach Ronald Koeman underwent a heart procedure Sunday at a hospital in Amsterdam after feeling pain in his chest, his management company said in a statement. The 57-year-old coach, who has also managed Premier League clubs Southampton and Everton, underwent a successful “heart catheterization” and will return home Monday, his management company Wasserman said. It did not elaborate on the nature of the procedure and nor did the Dutch soccer association. Dutch national broadcaster NOS cited Koeman’s business manager, Rob Jansen, as saying that the former Barcelona player was hospitalized after feeling chest pain after a bike ride. “We are shocked and wish him a good recovery,” the Dutch national team’s spokesman Bas Ticheler told The Associated Press. Koeman’s management said the coach would be resting in coming days. Due to coronavirus restrictions, it in unclear when the Dutch team will play again. The European Championship that was due to start June 12 has been postponed due to the global pandemic.
3 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/3/netherlands-coach-koeman-undergoes-heart-procedure/Rating: 0.79
Perth to get first taste of winter after glorious autumn weather
3 May 23:23
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3 articles
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Perth to get first taste of winter after glorious autumn weather
A cold front bringing buckets of rain and damaging winds has sparked a severe weather warning for the Perth metropolitan area, the South West and parts of the Great Southern and Southern coastal districts. The Bureau of Meteorology said a cold front will move through the state, bringing showers, isolated thunderstorms and winds with speeds of up to 100km/h which could damage properties. The damaging winds are most likely to occur ahead of the leading edge of the storm but thunderstorms but showers and gusty winds will continue through much of Monday morning. Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett said the worst of the storm would hit Perth in the afternoon. "We are expecting some very localised gusty winds of up to 100 km/h. But the key thing with this front is the rain, we are expecting some decent falls out this one, round about 20 millimetres for Perth," he said. "The strongest winds will probably be about mid-afternoon and continuing with rain right through the afternoon and the evening and then slowly easing off." On Tuesday evening a much stronger cold front is expected to come through, bringing with it more thunderstorms affecting communities in Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Margaret River, Mount Barker and the Perth metropolitan area. "We are more concerned with a front due to arrive during Tuesday evening, it does look like it will be a particularly strong front," Mr Bennett said. He said the front is due to go through the state from mid-afternoon and winds with speeds of up to 125km/h were possible. "This is a very much stronger front ...[it] will be packing much more of a punch." The wet weather will continue throughout the rest of the week.
3 May 23:23 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-to-get-first-taste-of-winter-after-glorious-autumn-weather-20200504-p54pih.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Perth to get first taste of winter after glorious autumn weather
A cold front bringing buckets of rain and damaging winds has sparked a severe weather warning for the Perth metropolitan area, the South West and parts of the Great Southern and Southern coastal districts. The Bureau of Meteorology said a cold front will move through the state, bringing showers, isolated thunderstorms and winds with speeds of up to 100km/h which could damage properties. The damaging winds are most likely to occur ahead of the leading edge of the storm but thunderstorms but showers and gusty winds will continue through much of Monday morning. Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett said the worst of the storm would hit Perth in the afternoon. "We are expecting some very localised gusty winds of up to 100 km/h. But the key thing with this front is the rain, we are expecting some decent falls out this one, round about 20 millimetres for Perth," he said. "The strongest winds will probably be about mid-afternoon and continuing with rain right through the afternoon and the evening and then slowly easing off." On Tuesday evening a much stronger cold front is expected to come through, bringing with it more thunderstorms affecting communities in Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Margaret River, Mount Barker and the Perth metropolitan area. "We are more concerned with a front due to arrive during Tuesday evening, it does look like it will be a particularly strong front," Mr Bennett said. He said the front is due to go through the state from mid-afternoon and winds with speeds of up to 125km/h were possible. "This is a very much stronger front ...[it] will be packing much more of a punch." The wet weather will continue throughout the rest of the week.
3 May 23:23 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-to-get-first-taste-of-winter-after-glorious-autumn-weather-20200504-p54pih.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Perth to get first taste of winter after glorious autumn weather
A cold front bringing buckets of rain and damaging winds has sparked a severe weather warning for the Perth metropolitan area, the South West and parts of the Great Southern and Southern coastal districts. The Bureau of Meteorology said a cold front will move through the state, bringing showers, isolated thunderstorms and winds with speeds of up to 100km/h which could damage properties. The damaging winds are most likely to occur ahead of the leading edge of the storm but thunderstorms but showers and gusty winds will continue through much of Monday morning. Bureau of Meteorology spokesman Neil Bennett said the worst of the storm would hit Perth in the afternoon. "We are expecting some very localised gusty winds of up to 100 km/h. But the key thing with this front is the rain, we are expecting some decent falls out this one, round about 20 millimetres for Perth," he said. "The strongest winds will probably be about mid-afternoon and continuing with rain right through the afternoon and the evening and then slowly easing off." On Tuesday evening a much stronger cold front is expected to come through, bringing with it more thunderstorms affecting communities in Albany, Bunbury, Busselton, Mandurah, Margaret River, Mount Barker and the Perth metropolitan area. "We are more concerned with a front due to arrive during Tuesday evening, it does look like it will be a particularly strong front," Mr Bennett said. He said the front is due to go through the state from mid-afternoon and winds with speeds of up to 125km/h were possible. "This is a very much stronger front ...[it] will be packing much more of a punch." The wet weather will continue throughout the rest of the week.
3 May 23:23 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/western-australia/perth-to-get-first-taste-of-winter-after-glorious-autumn-weather-20200504-p54pih.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_western-australiaRating: 0.55
Laidley lawyers hit out after former North Melbourne coach's arrest
3 May 23:43
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3 articles
Weight: 1.80
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Best date: 3 May 23:43
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Laidley lawyers hit out after former North Melbourne coach's arrest
Lawyers for former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley are demanding an investigation into how photos of him inside a police station after his arrest were leaked. The 53-year-old was arrested on Saturday night outside a home in St Kilda and was charged with stalking and other offences. But his mug shot and a photo of him in a long blonde wig and wearing a dress, taken inside a police station, were leaked. "Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer," one of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, tweeted. "Police should investigate and those involved pull down immediately." Defence lawyer Dee Giannopoulos also voiced her anger. "Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical #grossbreachofprivacy," Giannopoulos tweeted. Victoria Police is investigating the dissemination of the images. "Professional standards command have been notified of the matter and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further," the force said in a statement. Laidley, a 1996 premiership winner and later coach with the Kangaroos, faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail. AAP
3 May 23:43 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/sport/afl/laidley-lawyers-hit-out-after-former-north-melbourne-coach-s-arrest-20200504-p54pj0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Laidley lawyers hit out after former North Melbourne coach's arrest
Lawyers for former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley are demanding an investigation into how photos of him inside a police station after his arrest were leaked. The 53-year-old was arrested on Saturday night outside a home in St Kilda and was charged with stalking and other offences. But his mug shot and a photo of him in a long blonde wig and wearing a dress, taken inside a police station, were leaked. "Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer," one of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, tweeted. "Police should investigate and those involved pull down immediately." Defence lawyer Dee Giannopoulos also voiced her anger. "Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical #grossbreachofprivacy," Giannopoulos tweeted. Victoria Police is investigating the dissemination of the images. "Professional standards command have been notified of the matter and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further," the force said in a statement. Laidley, a 1996 premiership winner and later coach with the Kangaroos, faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail. AAP
3 May 23:43 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/sport/afl/laidley-lawyers-hit-out-after-former-north-melbourne-coach-s-arrest-20200504-p54pj0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Laidley lawyers hit out after former North Melbourne coach's arrest
Lawyers for former AFL player and coach Dean Laidley are demanding an investigation into how photos of him inside a police station after his arrest were leaked. The 53-year-old was arrested on Saturday night outside a home in St Kilda and was charged with stalking and other offences. But his mug shot and a photo of him in a long blonde wig and wearing a dress, taken inside a police station, were leaked. "Disgraceful. Taking photos unlawfully and sharing them. And these were sneaky photos while in Police interview in Police Station by a Police Officer," one of his lawyers, Bill Doogue, tweeted. "Police should investigate and those involved pull down immediately." Defence lawyer Dee Giannopoulos also voiced her anger. "Outraged that pictures of my client, taken by some police officer, on the sly, when in custody in interview have hit the media. Typical #grossbreachofprivacy," Giannopoulos tweeted. Victoria Police is investigating the dissemination of the images. "Professional standards command have been notified of the matter and at this stage it would be inappropriate to comment further," the force said in a statement. Laidley, a 1996 premiership winner and later coach with the Kangaroos, faced Melbourne Magistrates' Court on Sunday and will remain in custody until May 11 after not applying for bail.
3 May 23:43 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/sport/afl/laidley-lawyers-hit-out-after-former-north-melbourne-coach-s-arrest-20200504-p54pj0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
The ACCC is facing a devilishly complex task in forcing Google and Facebook to pay publishers
3 May 14:15
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The ACCC is facing a devilishly complex task in forcing Google and Facebook to pay publishers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's new code of conduct designed to bring fairness to the digital advertising marketplace will be world-first. But will it be world-class? The fight between media companies such as News Corporation and Nine, owner of this newspaper, and Google and Facebook, pits print against digital, regulation against the open internet, market power against political influence, Canberra against California, Walkley Award winning investigations against cat videos. Our online advertising market is worth about $9 billion a year, and for every $100 spent by advertisers online, excluding classifieds, $47 goes to Google, $24 to Facebook and $29 elsewhere. But given the intricacies of social media ecosystems, the opacity of digital ad markets, the platform and publishers’ co-dependent but mutually antagonistic embrace, the fact that social media and search engines operate completely different revenue models, attempting to find a way forward will not be easy. Technically, the purpose of the ACCC code is to correct the "significant imbalance" between the bargaining power of digital platforms and the news media. In internet searches and social media, Google and Facebook are so dominant they are the gateways to the internet, "unavoidable trading partners" for those seeking to do business on the web. In declaring this the ACCC agrees with the publishers to an extent that has puzzled the web giants. As did the sudden intervention of the government, stung by the closure of local and regional newspapers thanks to the coronavirus advertising collapse. It dumped the voluntary negotiations and demanded a mandatory code. The platforms were blindsided. The ACCC says there is considerable vital and urgent work to be done. It has to formulate a way to value news content. Good luck. The internet is very good at ranking readership of stories, but if my Big Brother exclusive gets more clicks than your political investigation, it is more valuable, right? And you thought putting a price on carbon was hard. News Corp is alive to the risks if the publishers don’t adopt a uniform negotiating position and, say, Facebook closes a deal with Guardian Australia, but not News Corp. It wants a provision that bans data collection until all major news publishers have signed up. The task of designing a mandatory code, with enforcement, penalty and appeal provisions will be very difficult. Even more difficult: enforcing it. Litigation at some point appears certain. Some publishers advocate a licence system, where a designated body collects fees and distributes them to members. But are we ready for a media version of the Australian Wheat Board? Web giants would prefer a pay-per-click system, used in digital advertising. But publishers would shout blue murder, given platforms use "snippets", preview panes to display content, so readers get the story without leaving the site. The news industry must fight hard to avoid the experience of musicians, which get a pittance from the platforms. It took the star power of Taylor Swift to win a victory over Apple, which backed down after announcing it would not pay musicians during free the introductory launch of its streaming service. When Spain forced Google to pay a licence fee for news content, the company shut its local Google News operation down. France is attempting something similar right now. Let’s be clear. All those who consume the news must pay for it, whether they be digital web giants, or humble newspaper readers. But the ACCC must ensure its reforms are not just for the big publishers like News and Nine, but also for the 122-year-old Barrier Daily Truth, which stopped publishing two months ago. It is clear the internet killed print classified revenues just as video killed the radio star. But did those dollars all flow to Facebook and Google or to platforms like Domain and Carsales? We wish the ACCC luck, but it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.
3 May 14:15 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/the-accc-is-facing-a-devilishly-complex-task-in-forcing-google-and-facebook-to-pay-publishers-20200503-p54pdy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
The ACCC is facing a devilishly complex task in forcing Google and Facebook to pay publishers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's new code of conduct designed to bring fairness to the digital advertising marketplace will be world-first. But will it be world-class? The fight between media companies such as News Corporation and Nine, owner of this newspaper, and Google and Facebook, pits print against digital, regulation against the open internet, market power against political influence, Canberra against California, Walkley Award winning investigations against cat videos. Our online advertising market is worth about $9 billion a year, and for every $100 spent by advertisers online, excluding classifieds, $47 goes to Google, $24 to Facebook and $29 elsewhere. But given the intricacies of social media ecosystems, the opacity of digital ad markets, the platform and publishers’ co-dependent but mutually antagonistic embrace, the fact that social media and search engines operate completely different revenue models, attempting to find a way forward will not be easy. Technically, the purpose of the ACCC code is to correct the "significant imbalance" between the bargaining power of digital platforms and the news media. In internet searches and social media, Google and Facebook are so dominant they are the gateways to the internet, "unavoidable trading partners" for those seeking to do business on the web. In declaring this the ACCC agrees with the publishers to an extent that has puzzled the web giants. As did the sudden intervention of the government, stung by the closure of local and regional newspapers thanks to the coronavirus advertising collapse. It dumped the voluntary negotiations and demanded a mandatory code. The platforms were blindsided. The ACCC says there is considerable vital and urgent work to be done. It has to formulate a way to value news content. Good luck. The internet is very good at ranking readership of stories, but if my Big Brother exclusive gets more clicks than your political investigation, it is more valuable, right? And you thought putting a price on carbon was hard. News Corp is alive to the risks if the publishers don’t adopt a uniform negotiating position and, say, Facebook closes a deal with Guardian Australia, but not News Corp. It wants a provision that bans data collection until all major news publishers have signed up. The task of designing a mandatory code, with enforcement, penalty and appeal provisions will be very difficult. Even more difficult: enforcing it. Litigation at some point appears certain. Some publishers advocate a licence system, where a designated body collects fees and distributes them to members. But are we ready for a media version of the Australian Wheat Board? Web giants would prefer a pay-per-click system, used in digital advertising. But publishers would shout blue murder, given platforms use "snippets", preview panes to display content, so readers get the story without leaving the site. The news industry must fight hard to avoid the experience of musicians, which get a pittance from the platforms. It took the star power of Taylor Swift to win a victory over Apple, which backed down after announcing it would not pay musicians during free the introductory launch of its streaming service. When Spain forced Google to pay a licence fee for news content, the company shut its local Google News operation down. France is attempting something similar right now. Let’s be clear. All those who consume the news must pay for it, whether they be digital web giants, or humble newspaper readers. But the ACCC must ensure its reforms are not just for the big publishers like News and Nine, but also for the 122-year-old Barrier Daily Truth, which stopped publishing two months ago. It is clear the internet killed print classified revenues just as video killed the radio star. But did those dollars all flow to Facebook and Google or to platforms like Domain and Carsales? We wish the ACCC luck, but it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.
3 May 14:15 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/the-accc-is-facing-a-devilishly-complex-task-in-forcing-google-and-facebook-to-pay-publishers-20200503-p54pdy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
The ACCC is facing a devilishly complex task in forcing Google and Facebook to pay publishers
The Australian Competition and Consumer Commission's new code of conduct designed to bring fairness to the digital advertising marketplace will be world-first. But will it be world-class? The fight between media companies such as News Corporation and Nine, owner of this newspaper, and Google and Facebook, pits print against digital, regulation against the open internet, market power against political influence, Canberra against California, Walkley Award winning investigations against cat videos. Our online advertising market is worth about $9 billion a year, and for every $100 spent by advertisers online, excluding classifieds, $47 goes to Google, $24 to Facebook and $29 elsewhere. But given the intricacies of social media ecosystems, the opacity of digital ad markets, the platform and publishers’ co-dependent but mutually antagonistic embrace, the fact that social media and search engines operate completely different revenue models, attempting to find a way forward will not be easy. Technically, the purpose of the ACCC code is to correct the "significant imbalance" between the bargaining power of digital platforms and the news media. In internet searches and social media, Google and Facebook are so dominant they are the gateways to the internet, "unavoidable trading partners" for those seeking to do business on the web. In declaring this the ACCC agrees with the publishers to an extent that has puzzled the web giants. As did the sudden intervention of the government, stung by the closure of local and regional newspapers thanks to the coronavirus advertising collapse. It dumped the voluntary negotiations and demanded a mandatory code. The platforms were blindsided. The ACCC says there is considerable vital and urgent work to be done. It has to formulate a way to value news content. Good luck. The internet is very good at ranking readership of stories, but if my Big Brother exclusive gets more clicks than your political investigation, it is more valuable, right? And you thought putting a price on carbon was hard. News Corp is alive to the risks if the publishers don’t adopt a uniform negotiating position and, say, Facebook closes a deal with Guardian Australia, but not News Corp. It wants a provision that bans data collection until all major news publishers have signed up. The task of designing a mandatory code, with enforcement, penalty and appeal provisions will be very difficult. Even more difficult: enforcing it. Litigation at some point appears certain. Some publishers advocate a licence system, where a designated body collects fees and distributes them to members. But are we ready for a media version of the Australian Wheat Board? Web giants would prefer a pay-per-click system, used in digital advertising. But publishers would shout blue murder, given platforms use "snippets", preview panes to display content, so readers get the story without leaving the site. The news industry must fight hard to avoid the experience of musicians, which get a pittance from the platforms. It took the star power of Taylor Swift to win a victory over Apple, which backed down after announcing it would not pay musicians during free the introductory launch of its streaming service. When Spain forced Google to pay a licence fee for news content, the company shut its local Google News operation down. France is attempting something similar right now. Let’s be clear. All those who consume the news must pay for it, whether they be digital web giants, or humble newspaper readers. But the ACCC must ensure its reforms are not just for the big publishers like News and Nine, but also for the 122-year-old Barrier Daily Truth, which stopped publishing two months ago. It is clear the internet killed print classified revenues just as video killed the radio star. But did those dollars all flow to Facebook and Google or to platforms like Domain and Carsales? We wish the ACCC luck, but it will be difficult to put the genie back in the bottle.
3 May 14:15 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/companies/the-accc-is-facing-a-devilishly-complex-task-in-forcing-google-and-facebook-to-pay-publishers-20200503-p54pdy.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Google fires back as ACCC code of conduct talks ramp up
3 May 14:15
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3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:15
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Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
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Google fires back as ACCC code of conduct talks ramp up
Google has dismissed claims it has not worked constructively with Australian news organisations and rejected calls for it to directly pay publishers, as the search giant looks to safeguard its business from a major regulatory overhaul. Melanie Silva, Google Australia's managing director, on Sunday claimed in a blog post that the tech giant struggles to make money from news content as she attempted to break down "misconceptions" on the firm's relationships with publishers. The comments come as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ramps up industry consultations after it was charged by the Morrison government two weeks ago to create a mandatory code to oversee the commercial arrangements between digital platforms and news publishers. The deadline for submissions to the ACCC is June 5. Sources involved in the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Australia wants publishers to be able to individually strike payment deals with the digital giants, with the ACCC code of conduct serving as a backstop if they refuse to negotiate. Other publishers want the code to govern how much a publisher should be paid, but sources said all discussions are in the early stages. Ms Silva said that news content had "significant social value", but that Google did not make money from organic search results or news that appears in the 'News' tab. She said publishers benefit by appearing in Google search results. "In the offline print world, publishers have long paid retailers, news stands and kiosks to distribute their newspapers and magazines – acknowledging the value of acquiring audiences to a publisher's content and the advertising publishers sell alongside it," Ms Silva said. "In contrast, Google Search sends readers from Australia and all over the world to the publishers’ sites for free – helping them to generate advertising revenues from those audiences and convert them into paying subscribers. Everyone benefits from this exchange. While news content has significant social value, it is often difficult to make money from." Ms Silva added Google Search did not make "any money" when a user clicks on a news search result and that there were no ads on its news results tab. Experts, including former PwC partner Megan Brownlow, have been sceptical that Google and Facebook will ever pay publishers for content. Economists have previously warned that the Morrison government needed to be careful with plans to force digital giants to pay publishers for news content. Google closed its news service in Spain in 2014 in response to legislation requiring payment to publishers and when France attempted to make Google pay for publishers content last year, the tech giant said it would instead change the way articles appear in search results. Hannah Marshall, a partner at Marque Lawyers, said classifying Google and Facebook's news referral services as essential under consumer law was a way to avoid a revolt or refusal to pay for content. "The only way they are going to force Google to come to the party on things like paying for news snippets is to take away the opportunity for them to drop the news service altogether," Ms Marshall said. Australia's competition law currently allows mandated access to ‘facilities’ like telco infrastructure and railways, where an essential service is provided. Ms Marshall believes adding "virtual infrastructure" to the access regime, which would require a change in legislation, could resolve this problem. “From Google’s perspective, the news publishers aren’t their customers and the news referral that comes via their search results ... that’s not a service that they perceive as being a separate service and they certainly don’t perceive it as a supply that occurs in any kind of economic market," said Ms Marshall, a specialist in competition and defamation law. "The bottom line is the power these guys have to switch off the news referrals. That’s why they’ve got what we now call an imbalance in bargaining power. The solution to that is to tell them they have to [provide news referral services] by law."
3 May 14:15 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/google-fires-back-as-accc-code-of-conduct-talks-ramp-up-20200430-p54ori.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Google fires back as ACCC code of conduct talks ramp up
Google has dismissed claims it has not worked constructively with Australian news organisations and rejected calls for it to directly pay publishers, as the search giant looks to safeguard its business from a major regulatory overhaul. Melanie Silva, Google Australia's managing director, on Sunday claimed in a blog post that the tech giant struggles to make money from news content as she attempted to break down "misconceptions" on the firm's relationships with publishers. The comments come as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ramps up industry consultations after it was charged by the Morrison government two weeks ago to create a mandatory code to oversee the commercial arrangements between digital platforms and news publishers. The deadline for submissions to the ACCC is June 5. Sources involved in the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Australia wants publishers to be able to individually strike payment deals with the digital giants, with the ACCC code of conduct serving as a backstop if they refuse to negotiate. Other publishers want the code to govern how much a publisher should be paid, but sources said all discussions are in the early stages. Ms Silva said that news content had "significant social value", but that Google did not make money from organic search results or news that appears in the 'News' tab. She said publishers benefit by appearing in Google search results. "In the offline print world, publishers have long paid retailers, news stands and kiosks to distribute their newspapers and magazines – acknowledging the value of acquiring audiences to a publisher's content and the advertising publishers sell alongside it," Ms Silva said. "In contrast, Google Search sends readers from Australia and all over the world to the publishers’ sites for free – helping them to generate advertising revenues from those audiences and convert them into paying subscribers. Everyone benefits from this exchange. While news content has significant social value, it is often difficult to make money from." Ms Silva added Google Search did not make "any money" when a user clicks on a news search result and that there were no ads on its news results tab. Experts, including former PwC partner Megan Brownlow, have been sceptical that Google and Facebook will ever pay publishers for content. Economists have previously warned that the Morrison government needed to be careful with plans to force digital giants to pay publishers for news content. Google closed its news service in Spain in 2014 in response to legislation requiring payment to publishers and when France attempted to make Google pay for publishers content last year, the tech giant said it would instead change the way articles appear in search results. Hannah Marshall, a partner at Marque Lawyers, said classifying Google and Facebook's news referral services as essential under consumer law was a way to avoid a revolt or refusal to pay for content. "The only way they are going to force Google to come to the party on things like paying for news snippets is to take away the opportunity for them to drop the news service altogether," Ms Marshall said. Australia's competition law currently allows mandated access to ‘facilities’ like telco infrastructure and railways, where an essential service is provided. Ms Marshall believes adding "virtual infrastructure" to the access regime, which would require a change in legislation, could resolve this problem. “From Google’s perspective, the news publishers aren’t their customers and the news referral that comes via their search results ... that’s not a service that they perceive as being a separate service and they certainly don’t perceive it as a supply that occurs in any kind of economic market," said Ms Marshall, a specialist in competition and defamation law. "The bottom line is the power these guys have to switch off the news referrals. That’s why they’ve got what we now call an imbalance in bargaining power. The solution to that is to tell them they have to [provide news referral services] by law."
3 May 14:15 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/google-fires-back-as-accc-code-of-conduct-talks-ramp-up-20200430-p54ori.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Google fires back as ACCC code of conduct talks ramp up
Google has dismissed claims it has not worked constructively with Australian news organisations and rejected calls for it to directly pay publishers, as the search giant looks to safeguard its business from a major regulatory overhaul. Melanie Silva, Google Australia's managing director, on Sunday claimed in a blog post that the tech giant struggles to make money from news content as she attempted to break down "misconceptions" on the firm's relationships with publishers. The comments come as the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission ramps up industry consultations after it was charged by the Morrison government two weeks ago to create a mandatory code to oversee the commercial arrangements between digital platforms and news publishers. The deadline for submissions to the ACCC is June 5. Sources involved in the talks who spoke on the condition of anonymity said Rupert Murdoch's News Corp Australia wants publishers to be able to individually strike payment deals with the digital giants, with the ACCC code of conduct serving as a backstop if they refuse to negotiate. Other publishers want the code to govern how much a publisher should be paid, but sources said all discussions are in the early stages. Ms Silva said that news content had "significant social value", but that Google did not make money from organic search results or news that appears in the 'News' tab. She said publishers benefit by appearing in Google search results. "In the offline print world, publishers have long paid retailers, news stands and kiosks to distribute their newspapers and magazines – acknowledging the value of acquiring audiences to a publisher's content and the advertising publishers sell alongside it," Ms Silva said. "In contrast, Google Search sends readers from Australia and all over the world to the publishers’ sites for free – helping them to generate advertising revenues from those audiences and convert them into paying subscribers. Everyone benefits from this exchange. While news content has significant social value, it is often difficult to make money from." Ms Silva added Google Search did not make "any money" when a user clicks on a news search result and that there were no ads on its news results tab. Experts, including former PwC partner Megan Brownlow, have been sceptical that Google and Facebook will ever pay publishers for content. Economists have previously warned that the Morrison government needed to be careful with plans to force digital giants to pay publishers for news content. Google closed its news service in Spain in 2014 in response to legislation requiring payment to publishers and when France attempted to make Google pay for publishers content last year, the tech giant said it would instead change the way articles appear in search results. Hannah Marshall, a partner at Marque Lawyers, said classifying Google and Facebook's news referral services as essential under consumer law was a way to avoid a revolt or refusal to pay for content. "The only way they are going to force Google to come to the party on things like paying for news snippets is to take away the opportunity for them to drop the news service altogether," Ms Marshall said. Australia's competition law currently allows mandated access to ‘facilities’ like telco infrastructure and railways, where an essential service is provided. Ms Marshall believes adding "virtual infrastructure" to the access regime, which would require a change in legislation, could resolve this problem. “From Google’s perspective, the news publishers aren’t their customers and the news referral that comes via their search results ... that’s not a service that they perceive as being a separate service and they certainly don’t perceive it as a supply that occurs in any kind of economic market," said Ms Marshall, a specialist in competition and defamation law. "The bottom line is the power these guys have to switch off the news referrals. That’s why they’ve got what we now call an imbalance in bargaining power. The solution to that is to tell them they have to [provide news referral services] by law."
3 May 14:15 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/companies/google-fires-back-as-accc-code-of-conduct-talks-ramp-up-20200430-p54ori.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
First the Australian economy needs CPR. We’ll worry about reform later
3 May 14:15
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:15
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
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Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
First the Australian economy needs CPR. We’ll worry about reform later
I can’t take seriously all those people saying we mustn’t waste a crisis, but seize this great opportunity to introduce sweeping economic reform. It’s like telling a baby who hasn’t yet learnt to walk it should start training for the Olympics. It’s true, of course, that we won’t get back to economic life as we used to know it – that is, knew it before the global financial crisis, more than a decade ago – until we get back to reasonably strong annual improvement in the productivity of labour. But the plain fact is, you’ve got to have a functioning economy before you can worry about how fast its productivity is improving. So there’ll be a time to debate which policies would or wouldn't do most to enhance productivity, but we have more pressing matters to attend to. Some in the don’t-waste-the-crisis party can be forgiven because they’re under 50 and have no memory of what happens in recessions. But as my colleague Shane Wright has said, most of them are "the usual suspects, falling back on their usual agendas". They have no genuine concern about the economy’s present life-threatened state, but are business people engaged in rent-seeking, or economists running off faith in their economic model, whether or not it’s supported by empirical evidence their theory actually works. These urgers have forgotten that micro-economic reform seeks to increase economic growth by making the supply (production) side of the economy work more efficiently. It delivers results only over the medium to long term. It’s thus no substitute for macro-economic management, which deals with managing the demand side of the economy in the short term. Right now, the prospect of a 10 per cent unemployment rate tells us we have more supply than we’re able to use. Clearly, our problem’s that demand is insufficient. The improvement in economic efficiency we assume we could gain by, say, taxing land rather than the transfer of it, is minor compared with the monumental inefficiency we know for certain is occurring because 10 per cent of our workers can’t find work. Right now, we don’t even have an economy that’s functioning, much less functioning well. Much of it’s closed - locked up by government decree. We’re starting to ease the lockdown, but we won’t be opening our borders for another year or two. When we do have most of the lockdown removed, what will we see? The economy won’t snap back. Not even bounce back in any significant way. True, once businesses are allowed to reopen they’ll be making some sales rather than next to none. But with so many households unemployed, sales won’t go back to anything like where they were. Most households and businesses will be in cost-cutting mode. Firms have been incurring overheads while earning little. Even those households still working will be worried about their big mortgages and fearful of losing their own jobs. As Treasury secretary Dr Steven Kennedy has warned, “some jobs and businesses will have been lost permanently”. Most firms and households will be getting back to some semblance of normality, but few will be doing much that causes the economy to grow in any positive sense. As Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe has said, firms and households are suffering from a "high level of uncertainty about the future" and will engage in "precautionary behaviour". They’ll be saving not spending. Sound like a bounce-back, or an economy still in the intensive care unit? Ask yourself this: which are the forces that will propel the economy forward? It won’t be the main factor we’ve relied on in recent years – high immigration. Our population’s now falling, as people on temporary visas are sent home and not replaced. (Not that population growth does anything much to lift income per person.) It won’t be “external stimulus” because the rest of the world is growing faster than us (it isn’t), or a lower dollar is making our exports cheaper to foreigners because we’ll continue banning foreign tourists and overseas students. Export commodity prices aren’t rising. It won’t be growth in real wages (employers will compulsively demand a wage freeze) nor a "wealth effect" from rising house prices prompting households to cut their rate of saving. And a key missing piece: it won’t be big cuts in interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending. That leaves only "fiscal stimulus" – the budget. The huge government spending so far has merely limited the extent of the economy’s fall. Should Scott Morrison soon start winding it back as he says he plans to, we could fall even further. No, if we're to actually recover what will come next is a lot more government spending, particularly on useful projects. It can only be a government-led recovery. Ross Gittins is the Herald’s economics editor.
3 May 14:15 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/the-economy/first-the-australian-economy-needs-cpr-we-ll-worry-about-reform-later-20200503-p54pc7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
First the Australian economy needs CPR. We’ll worry about reform later
I can’t take seriously all those people saying we mustn’t waste a crisis, but seize this great opportunity to introduce sweeping economic reform. It’s like telling a baby who hasn’t yet learnt to walk it should start training for the Olympics. It’s true, of course, that we won’t get back to economic life as we used to know it – that is, knew it before the global financial crisis, more than a decade ago – until we get back to reasonably strong annual improvement in the productivity of labour. But the plain fact is, you’ve got to have a functioning economy before you can worry about how fast its productivity is improving. So there’ll be a time to debate which policies would or wouldn't do most to enhance productivity, but we have more pressing matters to attend to. Some in the don’t-waste-the-crisis party can be forgiven because they’re under 50 and have no memory of what happens in recessions. But as my colleague Shane Wright has said, most of them are "the usual suspects, falling back on their usual agendas". They have no genuine concern about the economy’s present life-threatened state, but are business people engaged in rent-seeking, or economists running off faith in their economic model, whether or not it’s supported by empirical evidence their theory actually works. These urgers have forgotten that micro-economic reform seeks to increase economic growth by making the supply (production) side of the economy work more efficiently. It delivers results only over the medium to long term. It’s thus no substitute for macro-economic management, which deals with managing the demand side of the economy in the short term. Right now, the prospect of a 10 per cent unemployment rate tells us we have more supply than we’re able to use. Clearly, our problem’s that demand is insufficient. The improvement in economic efficiency we assume we could gain by, say, taxing land rather than the transfer of it, is minor compared with the monumental inefficiency we know for certain is occurring because 10 per cent of our workers can’t find work. Right now, we don’t even have an economy that’s functioning, much less functioning well. Much of it’s closed - locked up by government decree. We’re starting to ease the lockdown, but we won’t be opening our borders for another year or two. When we do have most of the lockdown removed, what will we see? The economy won’t snap back. Not even bounce back in any significant way. True, once businesses are allowed to reopen they’ll be making some sales rather than next to none. But with so many households unemployed, sales won’t go back to anything like where they were. Most households and businesses will be in cost-cutting mode. Firms have been incurring overheads while earning little. Even those households still working will be worried about their big mortgages and fearful of losing their own jobs. As Treasury secretary Dr Steven Kennedy has warned, “some jobs and businesses will have been lost permanently”. Most firms and households will be getting back to some semblance of normality, but few will be doing much that causes the economy to grow in any positive sense. As Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe has said, firms and households are suffering from a "high level of uncertainty about the future" and will engage in "precautionary behaviour". They’ll be saving not spending. Sound like a bounce-back, or an economy still in the intensive care unit? Ask yourself this: which are the forces that will propel the economy forward? It won’t be the main factor we’ve relied on in recent years – high immigration. Our population’s now falling, as people on temporary visas are sent home and not replaced. (Not that population growth does anything much to lift income per person.) It won’t be “external stimulus” because the rest of the world is growing faster than us (it isn’t), or a lower dollar is making our exports cheaper to foreigners because we’ll continue banning foreign tourists and overseas students. Export commodity prices aren’t rising. It won’t be growth in real wages (employers will compulsively demand a wage freeze) nor a "wealth effect" from rising house prices prompting households to cut their rate of saving. And a key missing piece: it won’t be big cuts in interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending. That leaves only "fiscal stimulus" – the budget. The huge government spending so far has merely limited the extent of the economy’s fall. Should Scott Morrison soon start winding it back as he says he plans to, we could fall even further. No, if we're to actually recover what will come next is a lot more government spending, particularly on useful projects. It can only be a government-led recovery. Ross Gittins is the Herald’s economics editor.
3 May 14:15 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/the-economy/first-the-australian-economy-needs-cpr-we-ll-worry-about-reform-later-20200503-p54pc7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
First the Australian economy needs CPR. We’ll worry about reform later
I can’t take seriously all those people saying we mustn’t waste a crisis, but seize this great opportunity to introduce sweeping economic reform. It’s like telling a baby who hasn’t yet learnt to walk it should start training for the Olympics. It’s true, of course, that we won’t get back to economic life as we used to know it – that is, knew it before the global financial crisis, more than a decade ago – until we get back to reasonably strong annual improvement in the productivity of labour. But the plain fact is, you’ve got to have a functioning economy before you can worry about how fast its productivity is improving. So there’ll be a time to debate which policies would or wouldn't do most to enhance productivity, but we have more pressing matters to attend to. Some in the don’t-waste-the-crisis party can be forgiven because they’re under 50 and have no memory of what happens in recessions. But as my colleague Shane Wright has said, most of them are "the usual suspects, falling back on their usual agendas". They have no genuine concern about the economy’s present life-threatened state, but are business people engaged in rent-seeking, or economists running off faith in their economic model, whether or not it’s supported by empirical evidence their theory actually works. These urgers have forgotten that micro-economic reform seeks to increase economic growth by making the supply (production) side of the economy work more efficiently. It delivers results only over the medium to long term. It’s thus no substitute for macro-economic management, which deals with managing the demand side of the economy in the short term. Right now, the prospect of a 10 per cent unemployment rate tells us we have more supply than we’re able to use. Clearly, our problem’s that demand is insufficient. The improvement in economic efficiency we assume we could gain by, say, taxing land rather than the transfer of it, is minor compared with the monumental inefficiency we know for certain is occurring because 10 per cent of our workers can’t find work. Right now, we don’t even have an economy that’s functioning, much less functioning well. Much of it’s closed - locked up by government decree. We’re starting to ease the lockdown, but we won’t be opening our borders for another year or two. When we do have most of the lockdown removed, what will we see? The economy won’t snap back. Not even bounce back in any significant way. True, once businesses are allowed to reopen they’ll be making some sales rather than next to none. But with so many households unemployed, sales won’t go back to anything like where they were. Most households and businesses will be in cost-cutting mode. Firms have been incurring overheads while earning little. Even those households still working will be worried about their big mortgages and fearful of losing their own jobs. As Treasury secretary Dr Steven Kennedy has warned, “some jobs and businesses will have been lost permanently”. Most firms and households will be getting back to some semblance of normality, but few will be doing much that causes the economy to grow in any positive sense. As Reserve Bank governor Dr Philip Lowe has said, firms and households are suffering from a "high level of uncertainty about the future" and will engage in "precautionary behaviour". They’ll be saving not spending. Sound like a bounce-back, or an economy still in the intensive care unit? Ask yourself this: which are the forces that will propel the economy forward? It won’t be the main factor we’ve relied on in recent years – high immigration. Our population’s now falling, as people on temporary visas are sent home and not replaced. (Not that population growth does anything much to lift income per person.) It won’t be “external stimulus” because the rest of the world is growing faster than us (it isn’t), or a lower dollar is making our exports cheaper to foreigners because we’ll continue banning foreign tourists and overseas students. Export commodity prices aren’t rising. It won’t be growth in real wages (employers will compulsively demand a wage freeze) nor a "wealth effect" from rising house prices prompting households to cut their rate of saving. And a key missing piece: it won’t be big cuts in interest rates to encourage borrowing and spending. That leaves only "fiscal stimulus" – the budget. The huge government spending so far has merely limited the extent of the economy’s fall. Should Scott Morrison soon start winding it back as he says he plans to, we could fall even further. No, if we're to actually recover what will come next is a lot more government spending, particularly on useful projects. It can only be a government-led recovery.
3 May 14:15 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/the-economy/first-the-australian-economy-needs-cpr-we-ll-worry-about-reform-later-20200503-p54pc7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
International Jazz Day review: The art of getting distant and personal
3 May 14:02
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:02
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
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Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
International Jazz Day review: The art of getting distant and personal
MUSIC INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY LIVE STREAM ★★★★ April 30 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND International Jazz Day (April 30) has celebrated jazz's role in helping unite people the world over since 2011. This year, when the host nation was to have been South Africa, it was, instead, another reminder of a community splintered into an epidemic of isolation. But, thanks to a commendable collaboration between the Sydney Improvised Music Association and Johnston St Jazz, a 140-minute mini-festival occurred via two livestreams and one pre-recorded concert. If the bands chosen could have more thoroughly reflected the sheer diversity of what passes for jazz, they were all able to bridge the livestream remoteness. Over half the time was allotted to the final act, the Jeremy Rose Quartet, with Rose having become a composer of note, especially via his major work, Iron in the Blood, which was included in the distant memory that is this year's Sydney Festival. Although Rose's work for his quartet stays much closer to the jazz mainstream than does Iron in the Blood, he still finds fresh compositional ideas with which to prod the idiom and to stimulate improvising options. In the piano solo on the meditative Religion, for instance, Steve Barry could deploy all his capacity to tease, suspend or subvert the listener's expectations. The dark, edgy and aptly named Precipice began with solo bass from Noel Mason, which beckoned Rose's bass clarinet, the instrument on which he has developed his most distinctive voice and widest palette of colours. On the brilliantly evocative Aktau, Mason's bass seemed to convey the enormity of Kazakhstan's White Mountains, Rose's tenor the altitude, Barry's piano the crystalline air, and Alex Hirlian's drums the excitement. The Mezza/Ginsburg Ensemble, a collaboration co-led by Italian pianist Vittorio Mezza and Australian pianist Mark Ginsburg (with bassist Karl Dunnicliff and drummer Tim Firth) was filmed at last year's Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, and suddenly it was novel to see an audience on hand! Dunnicliff produced notably fine solos on two of Ginsburg's pieces: the gentle For You and Common Purpose, the latter made lush with the addition of a substantial choir. Vocalist Kate Wadey, pianist Andrew Scott and bassist Sam Dobson opened the celebration and, while Wadey's breathy, unforced singing was especially effective on I've Got a Crush on You, with the piano dancing behind her, the rest of the performance proved more uneven.
3 May 14:02 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/culture/music/international-jazz-day-review-the-art-of-getting-distant-and-personal-20200501-p54owp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
International Jazz Day review: The art of getting distant and personal
MUSIC INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY LIVE STREAM ★★★★ April 30 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND International Jazz Day (April 30) has celebrated jazz's role in helping unite people the world over since 2011. This year, when the host nation was to have been South Africa, it was, instead, another reminder of a community splintered into an epidemic of isolation. But, thanks to a commendable collaboration between the Sydney Improvised Music Association and Johnston St Jazz, a 140-minute mini-festival occurred via two livestreams and one pre-recorded concert. If the bands chosen could have more thoroughly reflected the sheer diversity of what passes for jazz, they were all able to bridge the livestream remoteness. Over half the time was allotted to the final act, the Jeremy Rose Quartet, with Rose having become a composer of note, especially via his major work, Iron in the Blood, which was included in the distant memory that is this year's Sydney Festival. Although Rose's work for his quartet stays much closer to the jazz mainstream than does Iron in the Blood, he still finds fresh compositional ideas with which to prod the idiom and to stimulate improvising options. In the piano solo on the meditative Religion, for instance, Steve Barry could deploy all his capacity to tease, suspend or subvert the listener's expectations. The dark, edgy and aptly named Precipice began with solo bass from Noel Mason, which beckoned Rose's bass clarinet, the instrument on which he has developed his most distinctive voice and widest palette of colours. On the brilliantly evocative Aktau, Mason's bass seemed to convey the enormity of Kazakhstan's White Mountains, Rose's tenor the altitude, Barry's piano the crystalline air, and Alex Hirlian's drums the excitement. The Mezza/Ginsburg Ensemble, a collaboration co-led by Italian pianist Vittorio Mezza and Australian pianist Mark Ginsburg (with bassist Karl Dunnicliff and drummer Tim Firth) was filmed at last year's Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, and suddenly it was novel to see an audience on hand! Dunnicliff produced notably fine solos on two of Ginsburg's pieces: the gentle For You and Common Purpose, the latter made lush with the addition of a substantial choir. Vocalist Kate Wadey, pianist Andrew Scott and bassist Sam Dobson opened the celebration and, while Wadey's breathy, unforced singing was especially effective on I've Got a Crush on You, with the piano dancing behind her, the rest of the performance proved more uneven.
3 May 14:02 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/culture/music/international-jazz-day-review-the-art-of-getting-distant-and-personal-20200501-p54owp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
International Jazz Day review: The art of getting distant and personal
MUSIC INTERNATIONAL JAZZ DAY LIVE STREAM ★★★★ April 30 Reviewed by JOHN SHAND International Jazz Day (April 30) has celebrated jazz's role in helping unite people the world over since 2011. This year, when the host nation was to have been South Africa, it was, instead, another reminder of a community splintered into an epidemic of isolation. But, thanks to a commendable collaboration between the Sydney Improvised Music Association and Johnston St Jazz, a 140-minute mini-festival occurred via two livestreams and one pre-recorded concert. If the bands chosen could have more thoroughly reflected the sheer diversity of what passes for jazz, they were all able to bridge the livestream remoteness. Over half the time was allotted to the final act, the Jeremy Rose Quartet, with Rose having become a composer of note, especially via his major work, Iron in the Blood, which was included in the distant memory that is this year's Sydney Festival. Although Rose's work for his quartet stays much closer to the jazz mainstream than does Iron in the Blood, he still finds fresh compositional ideas with which to prod the idiom and to stimulate improvising options. In the piano solo on the meditative Religion, for instance, Steve Barry could deploy all his capacity to tease, suspend or subvert the listener's expectations. The dark, edgy and aptly named Precipice began with solo bass from Noel Mason, which beckoned Rose's bass clarinet, the instrument on which he has developed his most distinctive voice and widest palette of colours. On the brilliantly evocative Aktau, Mason's bass seemed to convey the enormity of Kazakhstan's White Mountains, Rose's tenor the altitude, Barry's piano the crystalline air, and Alex Hirlian's drums the excitement. The Mezza/Ginsburg Ensemble, a collaboration co-led by Italian pianist Vittorio Mezza and Australian pianist Mark Ginsburg (with bassist Karl Dunnicliff and drummer Tim Firth) was filmed at last year's Sydney Con International Jazz Festival, and suddenly it was novel to see an audience on hand! Dunnicliff produced notably fine solos on two of Ginsburg's pieces: the gentle For You and Common Purpose, the latter made lush with the addition of a substantial choir. Vocalist Kate Wadey, pianist Andrew Scott and bassist Sam Dobson opened the celebration and, while Wadey's breathy, unforced singing was especially effective on I've Got a Crush on You, with the piano dancing behind her, the rest of the performance proved more uneven.
3 May 14:02 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/culture/music/international-jazz-day-review-the-art-of-getting-distant-and-personal-20200501-p54owp.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
'Never more critical': Government pressed on low-carbon recovery study
3 May 14:01
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'Never more critical': Government pressed on low-carbon recovery study
The Berejiklian government is being urged by a lower house committee to report within months how the promotion of low-carbon technologies can help revive NSW's economy as well as reducing its dependence on coal. The five-member lower house Committee on Environment and Planning - three of whom are Liberal MPs - last week agreed to ask the government for the study of the employment and investment opportunities that can be generated by the renewable energy sector and a shift to a low-carbon economy. Alex Greenwich, the independent MP who is also chair of the committee, said the workforce and economic opportunities from accelerating the take-up of wind and solar energy would be "critical" for the state's rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our committee has heard thousands of new jobs are waiting to be created and there has never been a more important time for this," Mr Greenwich said. The jobs range from construction related to the building of new transmission and storage for the power sector, investment in hydrogen technology, to stepping up energy efficiency in homes and businesses that would have lasting benefits. "There is a lot NSW can do to future proof our economy by increasing access and supply of renewable energy both locally and for export," he said. The committee had planned to hold hearings into its energy inquiry by now in places such as the Hunter Valley, before the coronavirus-linked lockdowns delayed the events. The recent collapse in export thermal coal prices - now trading at about half their levels of two years ago - has only added to the urgency of weaning the region off fossil fuels, Mr Greenwich said. "What is going to happen to this region when these exports and dependency [on coal] drop off further?" he said. "This has to be an area of priority." Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, who has said he aims to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy in NSW, said he would respond to the committee's request "shortly". “I welcome the committee’s support for ensuring a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19 and their approach to seeking expert input on this matter," Mr Kean said. The committee members include Liberal MPs, Felicity Wilson, James Griffin and Nathaniel Smith, and Labor's Anoulack Chanthivong. Rooftop solar energy installations were almost 900 megawatts in the first four months of this year, with new systems in April more than 50 per cent higher than the same month in 2019, Green Energy Markets reported on Friday. The impact on business of the coronavirus, however, will likely show a big fall in solar demand in coming months.
3 May 14:01 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/environment/climate-change/never-more-critical-government-pressed-on-low-carbon-recovery-study-20200503-p54pci.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
'Never more critical': Government pressed on low-carbon recovery study
The Berejiklian government is being urged by a lower house committee to report within months how the promotion of low-carbon technologies can help revive NSW's economy as well as reducing its dependence on coal. The five-member lower house Committee on Environment and Planning - three of whom are Liberal MPs - last week agreed to ask the government for the study of the employment and investment opportunities that can be generated by the renewable energy sector and a shift to a low-carbon economy. Alex Greenwich, the independent MP who is also chair of the committee, said the workforce and economic opportunities from accelerating the take-up of wind and solar energy would be "critical" for the state's rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our committee has heard thousands of new jobs are waiting to be created and there has never been a more important time for this," Mr Greenwich said. The jobs range from construction related to the building of new transmission and storage for the power sector, investment in hydrogen technology, to stepping up energy efficiency in homes and businesses that would have lasting benefits. "There is a lot NSW can do to future proof our economy by increasing access and supply of renewable energy both locally and for export," he said. The committee had planned to hold hearings into its energy inquiry by now in places such as the Hunter Valley, before the coronavirus-linked lockdowns delayed the events. The recent collapse in export thermal coal prices - now trading at about half their levels of two years ago - has only added to the urgency of weaning the region off fossil fuels, Mr Greenwich said. "What is going to happen to this region when these exports and dependency [on coal] drop off further?" he said. "This has to be an area of priority." Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, who has said he aims to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy in NSW, said he would respond to the committee's request "shortly". “I welcome the committee’s support for ensuring a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19 and their approach to seeking expert input on this matter," Mr Kean said. The committee members include Liberal MPs, Felicity Wilson, James Griffin and Nathaniel Smith, and Labor's Anoulack Chanthivong. Rooftop solar energy installations were almost 900 megawatts in the first four months of this year, with new systems in April more than 50 per cent higher than the same month in 2019, Green Energy Markets reported on Friday. The impact on business of the coronavirus, however, will likely show a big fall in solar demand in coming months.
3 May 14:01 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/environment/climate-change/never-more-critical-government-pressed-on-low-carbon-recovery-study-20200503-p54pci.htmlRating: 0.86
'Never more critical': Government pressed on low-carbon recovery study
The Berejiklian government is being urged by a lower house committee to report within months how the promotion of low-carbon technologies can help revive NSW's economy as well as reducing its dependence on coal. The five-member lower house Committee on Environment and Planning - three of whom are Liberal MPs - last week agreed to ask the government for the study of the employment and investment opportunities that can be generated by the renewable energy sector and a shift to a low-carbon economy. Alex Greenwich, the independent MP who is also chair of the committee, said the workforce and economic opportunities from accelerating the take-up of wind and solar energy would be "critical" for the state's rebound from the COVID-19 pandemic. "Our committee has heard thousands of new jobs are waiting to be created and there has never been a more important time for this," Mr Greenwich said. The jobs range from construction related to the building of new transmission and storage for the power sector, investment in hydrogen technology, to stepping up energy efficiency in homes and businesses that would have lasting benefits. "There is a lot NSW can do to future proof our economy by increasing access and supply of renewable energy both locally and for export," he said. The committee had planned to hold hearings into its energy inquiry by now in places such as the Hunter Valley, before the coronavirus-linked lockdowns delayed the events. The recent collapse in export thermal coal prices - now trading at about half their levels of two years ago - has only added to the urgency of weaning the region off fossil fuels, Mr Greenwich said. "What is going to happen to this region when these exports and dependency [on coal] drop off further?" he said. "This has to be an area of priority." Energy and Environment Minister Matt Kean, who has said he aims to accelerate the roll-out of renewable energy in NSW, said he would respond to the committee's request "shortly". “I welcome the committee’s support for ensuring a strong and sustainable economic recovery from COVID-19 and their approach to seeking expert input on this matter," Mr Kean said. The committee members include Liberal MPs, Felicity Wilson, James Griffin and Nathaniel Smith, and Labor's Anoulack Chanthivong. Rooftop solar energy installations were almost 900 megawatts in the first four months of this year, with new systems in April more than 50 per cent higher than the same month in 2019, Green Energy Markets reported on Friday. The impact on business of the coronavirus, however, will likely show a big fall in solar demand in coming months.
3 May 14:01 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/environment/climate-change/never-more-critical-government-pressed-on-low-carbon-recovery-study-20200503-p54pci.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
$300m clean energy fund to back fossil-fuel hydrogen projects
3 May 14:01
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:01
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
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Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
$300m clean energy fund to back fossil-fuel hydrogen projects
The Morrison government has committed $300 million to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and instructed it to invest in new hydrogen energy projects including those powered by fossil fuels. The move makes clear the government's position on the debate over the potential to develop an emissions-free hydrogen industry powered exclusively by renewable energy. "Gas and gas transmission networks already play an essential role in energy reliability, but gas has even more potential as a resource to produce and transmit hydrogen," said Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor. Renewable energy advocates, along with Labor-led governments in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT, argue fossil-fuelled hydrogen should be barred from public funds, which should flow to “green hydrogen” powered by renewables. State governments contribute to regulation of the energy sector through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). But crucially for Mr Taylor, he secured majority support at the November COAG meeting to develop a hydrogen industry under a "technology-neutral" approach including all power source options. Hydrogen has emerged in recent months as a key element of the Morrison government’s emissions reduction strategy, which Mr Taylor said would be based on a "technology investment road map". Mr Taylor said his goal was to back projects that could reach a long-term goal of producing hydrogen at $2 a kilogram – the point "where hydrogen becomes competitive with alternative energy sources in large-scale deployment across our energy systems". The announcement of the Advancing Hydrogen Fund follows a crash in the global oil market crash. The fall has flowed on to lower gas prices, which Mr Taylor said “provides us with an opportunity for strategic economic stimulus”. The government has estimated an Australian hydrogen industry could create more than 8000 jobs and generate about $11 billion a year in GDP by 2050. Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has said a domestic hydrogen industry could underpin an energy export boom for Australia, and Australia should develop it using renewables and fossil fuel to avoid the risks associated with reliance on any one fuel source. "By producing hydrogen from natural gas or coal, using carbon capture and permanent storage, we can add back two more lanes to our energy highway, ensuring we have four primary energy sources to meet the needs of the future – solar, wind, hydrogen from natural gas, and hydrogen from coal," Dr Finkel said. "Think for a moment of the vast amounts of steel, aluminium and concrete needed to support, build and service solar and wind structures. "What if there was a resources shortage? It would be prudent, therefore, to safeguard against any potential resource limitations with another energy source." In time, green hydrogen could take over and drive a net zero emissions global economy, according to Dr Finkel. The Advancing Hydrogen Fund will provide debt or equity finance to commercial projects requiring $10 million or more in capital, which Clean Energy Finance Corporation chief executive Ian Learmonth said would fill market gaps created by "technology, development or commercial challenges". Mr Taylor recently announced a $70 million fund for green hydrogen project development through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
3 May 14:01 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/300m-clean-energy-fund-to-back-fossil-fuel-hydrogen-projects-20200503-p54pdr.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 2.20
$300m clean energy fund to back fossil-fuel hydrogen projects
The Morrison government has committed $300 million to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and instructed it to invest in new hydrogen energy projects including those powered by fossil fuels. The move makes clear the government's position on the debate over the potential to develop an emissions-free hydrogen industry powered exclusively by renewable energy. "Gas and gas transmission networks already play an essential role in energy reliability, but gas has even more potential as a resource to produce and transmit hydrogen," said Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor. Renewable energy advocates, along with Labor-led governments in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT, argue fossil-fuelled hydrogen should be barred from public funds, which should flow to “green hydrogen” powered by renewables. State governments contribute to regulation of the energy sector through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). But crucially for Mr Taylor, he secured majority support at the November COAG meeting to develop a hydrogen industry under a "technology-neutral" approach including all power source options. Hydrogen has emerged in recent months as a key element of the Morrison government’s emissions reduction strategy, which Mr Taylor said would be based on a "technology investment road map". Mr Taylor said his goal was to back projects that could reach a long-term goal of producing hydrogen at $2 a kilogram – the point "where hydrogen becomes competitive with alternative energy sources in large-scale deployment across our energy systems". The announcement of the Advancing Hydrogen Fund follows a crash in the global oil market crash. The fall has flowed on to lower gas prices, which Mr Taylor said “provides us with an opportunity for strategic economic stimulus”. The government has estimated an Australian hydrogen industry could create more than 8000 jobs and generate about $11 billion a year in GDP by 2050. Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has said a domestic hydrogen industry could underpin an energy export boom for Australia, and Australia should develop it using renewables and fossil fuel to avoid the risks associated with reliance on any one fuel source. "By producing hydrogen from natural gas or coal, using carbon capture and permanent storage, we can add back two more lanes to our energy highway, ensuring we have four primary energy sources to meet the needs of the future – solar, wind, hydrogen from natural gas, and hydrogen from coal," Dr Finkel said. "Think for a moment of the vast amounts of steel, aluminium and concrete needed to support, build and service solar and wind structures. "What if there was a resources shortage? It would be prudent, therefore, to safeguard against any potential resource limitations with another energy source." In time, green hydrogen could take over and drive a net zero emissions global economy, according to Dr Finkel. The Advancing Hydrogen Fund will provide debt or equity finance to commercial projects requiring $10 million or more in capital, which Clean Energy Finance Corporation chief executive Ian Learmonth said would fill market gaps created by "technology, development or commercial challenges". Mr Taylor recently announced a $70 million fund for green hydrogen project development through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
3 May 14:01 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/300m-clean-energy-fund-to-back-fossil-fuel-hydrogen-projects-20200503-p54pdr.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 0.86
$300m clean energy fund to back fossil-fuel hydrogen projects
The Morrison government has committed $300 million to the Clean Energy Finance Corporation and instructed it to invest in new hydrogen energy projects including those powered by fossil fuels. The move makes clear the government's position on the debate over the potential to develop an emissions-free hydrogen industry powered exclusively by renewable energy. "Gas and gas transmission networks already play an essential role in energy reliability, but gas has even more potential as a resource to produce and transmit hydrogen," said Energy and Emissions Reduction Minister Angus Taylor. Renewable energy advocates, along with Labor-led governments in Queensland, Western Australia and the ACT, argue fossil-fuelled hydrogen should be barred from public funds, which should flow to “green hydrogen” powered by renewables. State governments contribute to regulation of the energy sector through the Council of Australian Governments (COAG). But crucially for Mr Taylor, he secured majority support at the November COAG meeting to develop a hydrogen industry under a "technology-neutral" approach including all power source options. Hydrogen has emerged in recent months as a key element of the Morrison government’s emissions reduction strategy, which Mr Taylor said would be based on a "technology investment road map". Mr Taylor said his goal was to back projects that could reach a long-term goal of producing hydrogen at $2 a kilogram – the point "where hydrogen becomes competitive with alternative energy sources in large-scale deployment across our energy systems". The announcement of the Advancing Hydrogen Fund follows a crash in the global oil market crash. The fall has flowed on to lower gas prices, which Mr Taylor said “provides us with an opportunity for strategic economic stimulus”. The government has estimated an Australian hydrogen industry could create more than 8000 jobs and generate about $11 billion a year in GDP by 2050. Chief Scientist Alan Finkel has said a domestic hydrogen industry could underpin an energy export boom for Australia, and Australia should develop it using renewables and fossil fuel to avoid the risks associated with reliance on any one fuel source. "By producing hydrogen from natural gas or coal, using carbon capture and permanent storage, we can add back two more lanes to our energy highway, ensuring we have four primary energy sources to meet the needs of the future – solar, wind, hydrogen from natural gas, and hydrogen from coal," Dr Finkel said. "Think for a moment of the vast amounts of steel, aluminium and concrete needed to support, build and service solar and wind structures. "What if there was a resources shortage? It would be prudent, therefore, to safeguard against any potential resource limitations with another energy source." In time, green hydrogen could take over and drive a net zero emissions global economy, according to Dr Finkel. The Advancing Hydrogen Fund will provide debt or equity finance to commercial projects requiring $10 million or more in capital, which Clean Energy Finance Corporation chief executive Ian Learmonth said would fill market gaps created by "technology, development or commercial challenges". Mr Taylor recently announced a $70 million fund for green hydrogen project development through the Australian Renewable Energy Agency.
3 May 14:01 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/300m-clean-energy-fund-to-back-fossil-fuel-hydrogen-projects-20200503-p54pdr.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 0.55
Strippers, scrap gold and a $3.9 million heist
3 May 14:01
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3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:01
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
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Weighted average GB: 0.0
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Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Strippers, scrap gold and a $3.9 million heist
A $3.9 million armed robbery in Melbourne's CBD last week, allegedly involving a man with a surgical mask, a gun and a trolley has exposed extraordinary security failings but also reveals the unusual business practices of the city's gold and precious gem dealers. In a nondescript building near the corner of Collins and Swanston streets, bags of gold jewellery are exchanged for cash, diamonds are used to secure high-interest loans and deposits worth millions of dollars are made into company bank accounts using pseudonyms such as 'Aghtogde'. Business has been booming in recent months, as the coronavirus battered global financial markets and spooked investors turned to gold bullion as a safe haven. Others had been forced to trade or pawn their old gold jewellery and watches after suddenly facing financial hardship. Last week, Karl Kachami, 48, from Hawthorn East, allegedly entered the building at 227 Collins Street where many of Melbourne's gold and diamond dealers ply their trade. At about 9.40am, he is accused of pointing a Glock pistol at the head of an employee of the Melbourne Gold Company based on the seventh floor, before leaving with almost $4 million worth of gold bullion, jewellery and cash. Mr Kachami was charged on April 30 with armed robbery, theft, false imprisonment and assault, after police found the loot buried at a rural property near the Gippsland town of Dollar. Lawyer Sazz Nasimi acts for Melbourne Gold Company and its owner Michael Kukulka, who was not present at the time of the robbery. Mr Nasimi said security was usually extremely tight. "This was a human error and protocols were not followed on the day," he said. Mr Nasimi said the safe was unusually full because the company had received a significant consignment of gold a few days earlier amid a surge in demand for the precious metal because of coronavirus. Mr Nasimi thanked police for the swift arrest and said it was business as usual at Mr Kukulka's company. However, Mr Kukulka's relationship with Victoria Police has not always been cordial. In January this year, Licensing Inspector Scott Johnson opposed an application by Mr Kukulka to reopen strip club Showgirls Bar 20 at a new site on King Street. Mr Kukulka invested $1.2 million in the relaunch of the notorious gentlemen's club, but Victoria Police raised concerns about his involvement in the gold industry. In an 18-page submission, police identify more than $6 million in irregular transactions in a bank account linked to his business, including dozens of payments from unidentified pseudonyms such as 'Gdetoagch' and 'Aghtogde.' Mr Kukulka has never been charged with any offence in connection with any of those transactions, and he is not accused of any wrongdoing. Despite the police objections, Mr Kukulka's application was approved last month by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, and the strip club is expected to open when social distancing guidelines are relaxed. The scale of Mr Kukulka's previous gold business MAK Precious Metals was revealed in a recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal case, where he was found to have provided almost $460 million in scrap gold to a Sydney-based company called ABC Refinery Pty Limited. Mr Kukulka sourced gold from a range of sources, including $1.5 million in just six days from Melbourne fraudster-turned-bullion dealer Rocco Calabrese, according to court documents. Calabrese, aka Rocco De Gonza, has been bankrupt twice, jailed for three dozen deception offences in 2002, and convicted again in 2014 for stealing 5500 kilograms of prawns worth $82,000. Mr Kukulka was not involved in any of Calabrese's wrongdoing. According to court documents, gold sourced from Mr Calabrese was referred to as ‘Rocco jobs’. Mr Kukulka's former business also appears to have offered short-term loans, usually secured by diamonds or gold bullion. Mr Kukulka's former business lent diamond dealer Ron Bensimon $334,000, which was never repaid when Bensimon's empire collapsed in 2016, after amassing personal and business debts of more than $10 million. Mr Nasimi said Mr Kukulka launched legal action to recoup the debt, but abandoned the claim when Bensimon was declared bankrupt.
3 May 14:01 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/strippers-scrap-gold-and-a-3-9-million-heist-20200503-p54pe7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_victoriaRating: 2.20
Strippers, scrap gold and a $3.9 million heist
A $3.9 million armed robbery in Melbourne's CBD last week, allegedly involving a man with a surgical mask, a gun and a trolley has exposed extraordinary security failings but also reveals the unusual business practices of the city's gold and precious gem dealers. In a nondescript building near the corner of Collins and Swanston streets, bags of gold jewellery are exchanged for cash, diamonds are used to secure high-interest loans and deposits worth millions of dollars are made into company bank accounts using pseudonyms such as 'Aghtogde'. Business has been booming in recent months, as the coronavirus battered global financial markets and spooked investors turned to gold bullion as a safe haven. Others had been forced to trade or pawn their old gold jewellery and watches after suddenly facing financial hardship. Last week, Karl Kachami, 48, from Hawthorn East, allegedly entered the building at 227 Collins Street where many of Melbourne's gold and diamond dealers ply their trade. At about 9.40am, he is accused of pointing a Glock pistol at the head of an employee of the Melbourne Gold Company based on the seventh floor, before leaving with almost $4 million worth of gold bullion, jewellery and cash. Mr Kachami was charged on April 30 with armed robbery, theft, false imprisonment and assault, after police found the loot buried at a rural property near the Gippsland town of Dollar. Lawyer Sazz Nasimi acts for Melbourne Gold Company and its owner Michael Kukulka, who was not present at the time of the robbery. Mr Nasimi said security was usually extremely tight. "This was a human error and protocols were not followed on the day," he said. Mr Nasimi said the safe was unusually full because the company had received a significant consignment of gold a few days earlier amid a surge in demand for the precious metal because of coronavirus. Mr Nasimi thanked police for the swift arrest and said it was business as usual at Mr Kukulka's company. However, Mr Kukulka's relationship with Victoria Police has not always been cordial. In January this year, Licensing Inspector Scott Johnson opposed an application by Mr Kukulka to reopen strip club Showgirls Bar 20 at a new site on King Street. Mr Kukulka invested $1.2 million in the relaunch of the notorious gentlemen's club, but Victoria Police raised concerns about his involvement in the gold industry. In an 18-page submission, police identify more than $6 million in irregular transactions in a bank account linked to his business, including dozens of payments from unidentified pseudonyms such as 'Gdetoagch' and 'Aghtogde.' Mr Kukulka has never been charged with any offence in connection with any of those transactions, and he is not accused of any wrongdoing. Despite the police objections, Mr Kukulka's application was approved last month by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, and the strip club is expected to open when social distancing guidelines are relaxed. The scale of Mr Kukulka's previous gold business MAK Precious Metals was revealed in a recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal case, where he was found to have provided almost $460 million in scrap gold to a Sydney-based company called ABC Refinery Pty Limited. Mr Kukulka sourced gold from a range of sources, including $1.5 million in just six days from Melbourne fraudster-turned-bullion dealer Rocco Calabrese, according to court documents. Calabrese, aka Rocco De Gonza, has been bankrupt twice, jailed for three dozen deception offences in 2002, and convicted again in 2014 for stealing 5500 kilograms of prawns worth $82,000. Mr Kukulka was not involved in any of Calabrese's wrongdoing. According to court documents, gold sourced from Mr Calabrese was referred to as ‘Rocco jobs’. Mr Kukulka's former business also appears to have offered short-term loans, usually secured by diamonds or gold bullion. Mr Kukulka's former business lent diamond dealer Ron Bensimon $334,000, which was never repaid when Bensimon's empire collapsed in 2016, after amassing personal and business debts of more than $10 million. Mr Nasimi said Mr Kukulka launched legal action to recoup the debt, but abandoned the claim when Bensimon was declared bankrupt.
3 May 14:01 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/strippers-scrap-gold-and-a-3-9-million-heist-20200503-p54pe7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Strippers, scrap gold and a $3.9 million heist
A $3.9 million armed robbery in Melbourne's CBD last week, allegedly involving a man with a surgical mask, a gun and a trolley has exposed extraordinary security failings but also reveals the unusual business practices of the city's gold and precious gem dealers. In a nondescript building near the corner of Collins and Swanston streets, bags of gold jewellery are exchanged for cash, diamonds are used to secure high-interest loans and deposits worth millions of dollars are made into company bank accounts using pseudonyms such as 'Aghtogde'. Business has been booming in recent months, as the coronavirus battered global financial markets and spooked investors turned to gold bullion as a safe haven. Others had been forced to trade or pawn their old gold jewellery and watches after suddenly facing financial hardship. Last week, Karl Kachami, 48, from Hawthorn East, allegedly entered the building at 227 Collins Street where many of Melbourne's gold and diamond dealers ply their trade. At about 9.40am, he is accused of pointing a Glock pistol at the head of an employee of the Melbourne Gold Company based on the seventh floor, before leaving with almost $4 million worth of gold bullion, jewellery and cash. Mr Kachami was charged on April 30 with armed robbery, theft, false imprisonment and assault, after police found the loot buried at a rural property near the Gippsland town of Dollar. Lawyer Sazz Nasimi acts for Melbourne Gold Company and its owner Michael Kukulka, who was not present at the time of the robbery. Mr Nasimi said security was usually extremely tight. "This was a human error and protocols were not followed on the day," he said. Mr Nasimi said the safe was unusually full because the company had received a significant consignment of gold a few days earlier amid a surge in demand for the precious metal because of coronavirus. Mr Nasimi thanked police for the swift arrest and said it was business as usual at Mr Kukulka's company. However, Mr Kukulka's relationship with Victoria Police has not always been cordial. In January this year, Licensing Inspector Scott Johnson opposed an application by Mr Kukulka to reopen strip club Showgirls Bar 20 at a new site on King Street. Mr Kukulka invested $1.2 million in the relaunch of the notorious gentlemen's club, but Victoria Police raised concerns about his involvement in the gold industry. In an 18-page submission, police identify more than $6 million in irregular transactions in a bank account linked to his business, including dozens of payments from unidentified pseudonyms such as 'Gdetoagch' and 'Aghtogde.' Mr Kukulka has never been charged with any offence in connection with any of those transactions, and he is not accused of any wrongdoing. Despite the police objections, Mr Kukulka's application was approved last month by the Victorian Commission for Gambling and Liquor Regulation, and the strip club is expected to open when social distancing guidelines are relaxed. The scale of Mr Kukulka's previous gold business MAK Precious Metals was revealed in a recent Administrative Appeals Tribunal case, where he was found to have provided almost $460 million in scrap gold to a Sydney-based company called ABC Refinery Pty Limited. Mr Kukulka sourced gold from a range of sources, including $1.5 million in just six days from Melbourne fraudster-turned-bullion dealer Rocco Calabrese, according to court documents. Calabrese, aka Rocco De Gonza, has been bankrupt twice, jailed for three dozen deception offences in 2002, and convicted again in 2014 for stealing 5500 kilograms of prawns worth $82,000. Mr Kukulka was not involved in any of Calabrese's wrongdoing. According to court documents, gold sourced from Mr Calabrese was referred to as ‘Rocco jobs’. Mr Kukulka's former business also appears to have offered short-term loans, usually secured by diamonds or gold bullion. Mr Kukulka's former business lent diamond dealer Ron Bensimon $334,000, which was never repaid when Bensimon's empire collapsed in 2016, after amassing personal and business debts of more than $10 million. Mr Nasimi said Mr Kukulka launched legal action to recoup the debt, but abandoned the claim when Bensimon was declared bankrupt.
3 May 14:01 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/victoria/strippers-scrap-gold-and-a-3-9-million-heist-20200503-p54pe7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Santos hopes for Narrabri gas verdict 'no later than August'
3 May 14:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Santos hopes for Narrabri gas verdict 'no later than August'
Energy giant Santos expects a ruling on its long-delayed Narrabri coal-seam gas project by the end of August after the introduction of new rules allowing public hearings to be held online during the coronavirus crisis. Santos has been waiting years to be given the go-ahead to develop the Narrabri gas fields in north-west New South Wales, believed to be capable of supplying half the state's gas needs. Its plan has been mired in red tape amid thousands of objections surrounding potential impacts to waterways and farmland, which are now being reviewed. The NSW planning umpire in March was given 12 weeks to make a determination before the timeline blew out due to coronavirus restrictions. Santos managing director Kevin Gallagher said ensuring the independent umpire could continue evaluating projects was "vitally important" in order to drive new investments, generate jobs and support the country's economic recovery once the worst of the lockdowns had eased. As the lockdown-driven oil price plunge forces producers to pull back billions of dollars of planned energy projects around the country, Mr Gallagher said the $3 billion Narrabri project could support at least 1300 jobs during development and was now "more important than ever". "We would expect a decision no later than August now that there are arrangements in place for public hearings," he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "That date is very important to us to allow us to start planning and preparation work, and it's very important for NSW customers too, who are paying more than they need to for gas from other states." Environmental group Lock The Gate, which opposes the Narrabri project, is urging NSW against allowing digital hearings, warning they may "prevent many people from having their say" due to unreliable access to phone or internet connections in some regional areas and older residents' lack of computer literacy. "Many people living in north-west NSW will struggle to participate in digital hearings because they live on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said the group's NSW coordinator, Georgina Woods. The evaluation of the project comes at a difficult time for Santos and other energy producers, as lockdowns cripple economic activity, cause steep oil and gas price falls and force a dramatic pull-back in the industry's investments in new developments. Santos, however, is pressing ahead with plans for Narrabri, saying it is confident the price turmoil would not endanger the economics of the project, and confirming on Sunday it wanted to invest in the project "as soon as we can". "Ours is a cyclical business," Mr Gallagher said. "We must not lose sight of the fact that the current low price and market conditions are not permanent." Because LNG is tied to oil prices, critics of the Narrabri project have called into question whether it will be economically viable, due to the threat of vastly cheaper LNG imports. However, Mr Gallagher said he was "confident Narrabri gas will be cheaper than LNG imports, especially when gas prices are high in Asia". "Demand, and with it, prices, will ultimately recover," he said. "Therefore, we must continue to focus on how and when we need to develop future gas sources at the lowest possible cost of supply to increase competition." The push to lift gas supply coming into the southern states has been taking on increasing urgency in recent years as manufacturers have begun blaming a three-fold hike in gas prices as they close their doors, while the federal government has made increasing local gas production a condition for states to receive multibillion-dollar energy funding deals.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/business/companies/santos-hopes-for-narrabri-gas-verdict-no-later-than-august-20200503-p54pb7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Santos hopes for Narrabri gas verdict 'no later than August'
Energy giant Santos expects a ruling on its long-delayed Narrabri coal-seam gas project by the end of August after the introduction of new rules allowing public hearings to be held online during the coronavirus crisis. Santos has been waiting years to be given the go-ahead to develop the Narrabri gas fields in north-west New South Wales, believed to be capable of supplying half the state's gas needs. Its plan has been mired in red tape amid thousands of objections surrounding potential impacts to waterways and farmland, which are now being reviewed. The NSW planning umpire in March was given 12 weeks to make a determination before the timeline blew out due to coronavirus restrictions. Santos managing director Kevin Gallagher said ensuring the independent umpire could continue evaluating projects was "vitally important" in order to drive new investments, generate jobs and support the country's economic recovery once the worst of the lockdowns had eased. As the lockdown-driven oil price plunge forces producers to pull back billions of dollars of planned energy projects around the country, Mr Gallagher said the $3 billion Narrabri project could support at least 1300 jobs during development and was now "more important than ever". "We would expect a decision no later than August now that there are arrangements in place for public hearings," he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "That date is very important to us to allow us to start planning and preparation work, and it's very important for NSW customers too, who are paying more than they need to for gas from other states." Environmental group Lock The Gate, which opposes the Narrabri project, is urging NSW against allowing digital hearings, warning they may "prevent many people from having their say" due to unreliable access to phone or internet connections in some regional areas and older residents' lack of computer literacy. "Many people living in north-west NSW will struggle to participate in digital hearings because they live on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said the group's NSW coordinator, Georgina Woods. The evaluation of the project comes at a difficult time for Santos and other energy producers, as lockdowns cripple economic activity, cause steep oil and gas price falls and force a dramatic pull-back in the industry's investments in new developments. Santos, however, is pressing ahead with plans for Narrabri, saying it is confident the price turmoil would not endanger the economics of the project, and confirming on Sunday it wanted to invest in the project "as soon as we can". "Ours is a cyclical business," Mr Gallagher said. "We must not lose sight of the fact that the current low price and market conditions are not permanent." Because LNG is tied to oil prices, critics of the Narrabri project have called into question whether it will be economically viable, due to the threat of vastly cheaper LNG imports. However, Mr Gallagher said he was "confident Narrabri gas will be cheaper than LNG imports, especially when gas prices are high in Asia". "Demand, and with it, prices, will ultimately recover," he said. "Therefore, we must continue to focus on how and when we need to develop future gas sources at the lowest possible cost of supply to increase competition." The push to lift gas supply coming into the southern states has been taking on increasing urgency in recent years as manufacturers have begun blaming a three-fold hike in gas prices as they close their doors, while the federal government has made increasing local gas production a condition for states to receive multibillion-dollar energy funding deals.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/business/companies/santos-hopes-for-narrabri-gas-verdict-no-later-than-august-20200503-p54pb7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Santos hopes for Narrabri gas verdict 'no later than August'
Energy giant Santos expects a ruling on its long-delayed Narrabri coal-seam gas project by the end of August after the introduction of new rules allowing public hearings to be held online during the coronavirus crisis. Santos has been waiting years to be given the go-ahead to develop the Narrabri gas fields in north-west New South Wales, believed to be capable of supplying half the state's gas needs. Its plan has been mired in red tape amid thousands of objections surrounding potential impacts to waterways and farmland, which are now being reviewed. The NSW planning umpire in March was given 12 weeks to make a determination before the timeline blew out due to coronavirus restrictions. Santos managing director Kevin Gallagher said ensuring the independent umpire could continue evaluating projects was "vitally important" in order to drive new investments, generate jobs and support the country's economic recovery once the worst of the lockdowns had eased. As the lockdown-driven oil price plunge forces producers to pull back billions of dollars of planned energy projects around the country, Mr Gallagher said the $3 billion Narrabri project could support at least 1300 jobs during development and was now "more important than ever". "We would expect a decision no later than August now that there are arrangements in place for public hearings," he told The Sydney Morning Herald and The Age. "That date is very important to us to allow us to start planning and preparation work, and it's very important for NSW customers too, who are paying more than they need to for gas from other states." Environmental group Lock The Gate, which opposes the Narrabri project, is urging NSW against allowing digital hearings, warning they may "prevent many people from having their say" due to unreliable access to phone or internet connections in some regional areas and older residents' lack of computer literacy. "Many people living in north-west NSW will struggle to participate in digital hearings because they live on the wrong side of the digital divide,” said the group's NSW coordinator, Georgina Woods. The evaluation of the project comes at a difficult time for Santos and other energy producers, as lockdowns cripple economic activity, cause steep oil and gas price falls and force a dramatic pull-back in the industry's investments in new developments. Santos, however, is pressing ahead with plans for Narrabri, saying it is confident the price turmoil would not endanger the economics of the project, and confirming on Sunday it wanted to invest in the project "as soon as we can". "Ours is a cyclical business," Mr Gallagher said. "We must not lose sight of the fact that the current low price and market conditions are not permanent." Because LNG is tied to oil prices, critics of the Narrabri project have called into question whether it will be economically viable, due to the threat of vastly cheaper LNG imports. However, Mr Gallagher said he was "confident Narrabri gas will be cheaper than LNG imports, especially when gas prices are high in Asia". "Demand, and with it, prices, will ultimately recover," he said. "Therefore, we must continue to focus on how and when we need to develop future gas sources at the lowest possible cost of supply to increase competition." The push to lift gas supply coming into the southern states has been taking on increasing urgency in recent years as manufacturers have begun blaming a three-fold hike in gas prices as they close their doors, while the federal government has made increasing local gas production a condition for states to receive multibillion-dollar energy funding deals.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/business/companies/santos-hopes-for-narrabri-gas-verdict-no-later-than-august-20200503-p54pb7.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Foxtel 'confident' it can fulfil under-represented sport obligations
3 May 14:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
Foxtel 'confident' it can fulfil under-represented sport obligations
Foxtel is "confident" it can fulfil its under-represented sport obligations even though the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated sporting codes across the country. The pay TV provider is required to broadcast under-represented sports such as women's football, basketball and soccer as part of a $30 million federal government grant. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is due to assess Foxtel's 12-month performance in July. The government will then determine whether the News Corp-owned broadcaster will be eligible for the grant's final instalment of $7.5 million. Coronavirus has disrupted almost a quarter of this year's sporting calendar. Major codes such as the AFL and NRL right through to softball and lawn bowls have all been affected. But Fox Sports boss Peter Campbell is confident Foxtel will pass the government's final assessment because the broadcaster had not only met but exceeded the 2019-20 benchmarks prior to COVID-19 shutdowns. "Fox Sports has worked hard over the past year to produce, televise and build audiences for women's and under-represented sport in Australia, which have struggled to secure coverage on free-to-air television," he said. "The careers of many athletes in under-represented sports, particularly female athletes, have flourished as a result of the coverage." Some critics have argued the federal government should have distributed the $30 million grant to public broadcasters so Australians can view such sports free of charge. However Mr Campbell said Foxtel was "uniquely placed" to boost coverage of niche and emerging sports thanks to eight dedicated 24-hour channels as well as its ties to streaming platform Kayo. "Obviously COVID-19 is impacting all sport at present," he said. "We are confident that women's and under-represented sport will be back and we can deliver strongly against the requirements of the grant again for 2020-21." An injection of $7.5 million would provide some relief for Foxtel's balance sheet. The company has undergone three rounds of job cuts this year and has been offering customers significant discounts to compensate for the loss of live sport. The company has also sought a multimillion-dollar discount for the resumed NRL season. A spokesman from the Communications department said the government would review Foxtel's latest expenditure breakdown, as well as its plan for the new financial year, in the coming months. "The department will make an assessment as to the basis for payment following receipt of these reports," he said.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/foxtel-confident-it-can-fulfil-under-represented-sport-obligations-20200501-p54oyb.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Foxtel 'confident' it can fulfil under-represented sport obligations
Foxtel is "confident" it can fulfil its under-represented sport obligations even though the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated sporting codes across the country. The pay TV provider is required to broadcast under-represented sports such as women's football, basketball and soccer as part of a $30 million federal government grant. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is due to assess Foxtel's 12-month performance in July. The government will then determine whether the News Corp-owned broadcaster will be eligible for the grant's final instalment of $7.5 million. Coronavirus has disrupted almost a quarter of this year's sporting calendar. Major codes such as the AFL and NRL right through to softball and lawn bowls have all been affected. But Fox Sports boss Peter Campbell is confident Foxtel will pass the government's final assessment because the broadcaster had not only met but exceeded the 2019-20 benchmarks prior to COVID-19 shutdowns. "Fox Sports has worked hard over the past year to produce, televise and build audiences for women's and under-represented sport in Australia, which have struggled to secure coverage on free-to-air television," he said. "The careers of many athletes in under-represented sports, particularly female athletes, have flourished as a result of the coverage." Some critics have argued the federal government should have distributed the $30 million grant to public broadcasters so Australians can view such sports free of charge. However Mr Campbell said Foxtel was "uniquely placed" to boost coverage of niche and emerging sports thanks to eight dedicated 24-hour channels as well as its ties to streaming platform Kayo. "Obviously COVID-19 is impacting all sport at present," he said. "We are confident that women's and under-represented sport will be back and we can deliver strongly against the requirements of the grant again for 2020-21." An injection of $7.5 million would provide some relief for Foxtel's balance sheet. The company has undergone three rounds of job cuts this year and has been offering customers significant discounts to compensate for the loss of live sport. The company has also sought a multimillion-dollar discount for the resumed NRL season. A spokesman from the Communications department said the government would review Foxtel's latest expenditure breakdown, as well as its plan for the new financial year, in the coming months. "The department will make an assessment as to the basis for payment following receipt of these reports," he said.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/foxtel-confident-it-can-fulfil-under-represented-sport-obligations-20200501-p54oyb.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Foxtel 'confident' it can fulfil under-represented sport obligations
Foxtel is "confident" it can fulfil its under-represented sport obligations even though the COVID-19 pandemic has decimated sporting codes across the country. The pay TV provider is required to broadcast under-represented sports such as women's football, basketball and soccer as part of a $30 million federal government grant. The Department of Infrastructure, Transport, Regional Development and Communications is due to assess Foxtel's 12-month performance in July. The government will then determine whether the News Corp-owned broadcaster will be eligible for the grant's final instalment of $7.5 million. Coronavirus has disrupted almost a quarter of this year's sporting calendar. Major codes such as the AFL and NRL right through to softball and lawn bowls have all been affected. But Fox Sports boss Peter Campbell is confident Foxtel will pass the government's final assessment because the broadcaster had not only met but exceeded the 2019-20 benchmarks prior to COVID-19 shutdowns. "Fox Sports has worked hard over the past year to produce, televise and build audiences for women's and under-represented sport in Australia, which have struggled to secure coverage on free-to-air television," he said. "The careers of many athletes in under-represented sports, particularly female athletes, have flourished as a result of the coverage." Some critics have argued the federal government should have distributed the $30 million grant to public broadcasters so Australians can view such sports free of charge. However Mr Campbell said Foxtel was "uniquely placed" to boost coverage of niche and emerging sports thanks to eight dedicated 24-hour channels as well as its ties to streaming platform Kayo. "Obviously COVID-19 is impacting all sport at present," he said. "We are confident that women's and under-represented sport will be back and we can deliver strongly against the requirements of the grant again for 2020-21." An injection of $7.5 million would provide some relief for Foxtel's balance sheet. The company has undergone three rounds of job cuts this year and has been offering customers significant discounts to compensate for the loss of live sport. The company has also sought a multimillion-dollar discount for the resumed NRL season. A spokesman from the Communications department said the government would review Foxtel's latest expenditure breakdown, as well as its plan for the new financial year, in the coming months. "The department will make an assessment as to the basis for payment following receipt of these reports," he said.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/culture/tv-and-radio/foxtel-confident-it-can-fulfil-under-represented-sport-obligations-20200501-p54oyb.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
I'm a privacy expert - and I've downloaded the COVIDSafe app
3 May 14:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
I'm a privacy expert - and I've downloaded the COVIDSafe app
As a privacy professional, I would normally be among the first to join the barricades opposing the new COVIDSafe app, which helps alert people who have come into contact with a COVID-19 case. But we’re in a genuine emergency. And the norms are out the window. Our government has long tended to put national security ahead of privacy and has a poor track record of technology deployments. Some fear the app could be tracking us and they reject assurances from Canberra that surveillance is not the intent. Critics claim the very idea of the app is unproven and its software not properly tested. The loudest objection is also the simplest: “I do not trust the government and I will not trust their app.” All these criticisms are valid. But it saddens me to see respected privacy advocates rehashing entrenched positions at a time like this. There’s very little wrong with the app itself, but people resent it because they resent the government. Yet I don’t see how we can afford that luxury right now. Do I wish that the COVIDSafe software had been commissioned in a better way? Of course I do. I wish the Department of Home Affairs had not been involved in the tender process and I wish that a certified Australian data centre had been selected to run the database instead of an American business. But given the circumstances, I am willing to climb off my moral high horse. For all the talk of “lost trust”, the Morrison government has done something big to earn my co-operation: it abandoned its fiscal ideology and without much fanfare went into enormous debt to safeguard Australians’ health and jobs. Now I am prepared to show comparable pragmatism around privacy and the contact tracing app. I am going to suspend my cynicism and give the Prime Minister a break. COVIDSafe is pretty innocuous. It works by anonymously logging each time another COVIDSafe user comes into range for a few minutes. The log is kept securely in the smartphone and rolls over every couple of weeks, with old records continually purged. If and when a user tests positive to coronavirus, they can upload the log to their state health department, which will then reach out to the logged contacts and arrange for them to quarantine and get tested. The app doesn’t track anyone but merely records when pairs of users have come close. By notifying people that they’ve been exposed before they show symptoms, community infection is reduced. Epidemiologists say COVIDSafe will be a useful addition to their existing disease management. The app won’t dramatically change contact tracing. Critics need to remember that COVID-19 is a notifiable disease and anyone who tests positive is already required by law to undergo an interview process with public health officials and account for their movements. Frankly, academic reference to “privacy risks” right now makes me a bit sick. Where is the proportionality? With people dying in unfathomable numbers elsewhere, we have a good chance to contain community transmission and save lives with better informed contact tracing. I am a privileged, relatively wealthy white male who has never really had a privacy problem. No software like COVIDSafe is ever going to harm me. I get how lucky I am and I understand that other sectors of the community have different risk profiles. By the same token, I admit my privacy advocacy is almost entirely ideological. Like most of my fellow professionals, I have the good fortune of being able to indulge in barbecue-stopping arguments about privacy at a time when tens of thousands are dying in countries just like Australia. It strikes me as self-indulgent to put one’s privacy principles first when, if we just chilled a little, we might deploy an innocent temporary smartphone app to help our public health system. So I’ve quit the highfalutin debates, and happily, even optimistically, installed COVIDSafe. Stephen Wilson is an independent privacy adviser.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/politics/federal/i-m-a-privacy-expert-and-i-ve-downloaded-the-covidsafe-app-20200503-p54pc6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 2.20
I'm a privacy expert - and I've downloaded the COVIDSafe app
As a privacy professional, I would normally be among the first to join the barricades opposing the new COVIDSafe app, which helps alert people who have come into contact with a COVID-19 case. But we’re in a genuine emergency. And the norms are out the window. Our government has long tended to put national security ahead of privacy and has a poor track record of technology deployments. Some fear the app could be tracking us and they reject assurances from Canberra that surveillance is not the intent. Critics claim the very idea of the app is unproven and its software not properly tested. The loudest objection is also the simplest: “I do not trust the government and I will not trust their app.” All these criticisms are valid. But it saddens me to see respected privacy advocates rehashing entrenched positions at a time like this. There’s very little wrong with the app itself, but people resent it because they resent the government. Yet I don’t see how we can afford that luxury right now. Do I wish that the COVIDSafe software had been commissioned in a better way? Of course I do. I wish the Department of Home Affairs had not been involved in the tender process and I wish that a certified Australian data centre had been selected to run the database instead of an American business. But given the circumstances, I am willing to climb off my moral high horse. For all the talk of “lost trust”, the Morrison government has done something big to earn my co-operation: it abandoned its fiscal ideology and without much fanfare went into enormous debt to safeguard Australians’ health and jobs. Now I am prepared to show comparable pragmatism around privacy and the contact tracing app. I am going to suspend my cynicism and give the Prime Minister a break. COVIDSafe is pretty innocuous. It works by anonymously logging each time another COVIDSafe user comes into range for a few minutes. The log is kept securely in the smartphone and rolls over every couple of weeks, with old records continually purged. If and when a user tests positive to coronavirus, they can upload the log to their state health department, which will then reach out to the logged contacts and arrange for them to quarantine and get tested. The app doesn’t track anyone but merely records when pairs of users have come close. By notifying people that they’ve been exposed before they show symptoms, community infection is reduced. Epidemiologists say COVIDSafe will be a useful addition to their existing disease management. The app won’t dramatically change contact tracing. Critics need to remember that COVID-19 is a notifiable disease and anyone who tests positive is already required by law to undergo an interview process with public health officials and account for their movements. Frankly, academic reference to “privacy risks” right now makes me a bit sick. Where is the proportionality? With people dying in unfathomable numbers elsewhere, we have a good chance to contain community transmission and save lives with better informed contact tracing. I am a privileged, relatively wealthy white male who has never really had a privacy problem. No software like COVIDSafe is ever going to harm me. I get how lucky I am and I understand that other sectors of the community have different risk profiles. By the same token, I admit my privacy advocacy is almost entirely ideological. Like most of my fellow professionals, I have the good fortune of being able to indulge in barbecue-stopping arguments about privacy at a time when tens of thousands are dying in countries just like Australia. It strikes me as self-indulgent to put one’s privacy principles first when, if we just chilled a little, we might deploy an innocent temporary smartphone app to help our public health system. So I’ve quit the highfalutin debates, and happily, even optimistically, installed COVIDSafe. Stephen Wilson is an independent privacy adviser.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/politics/federal/i-m-a-privacy-expert-and-i-ve-downloaded-the-covidsafe-app-20200503-p54pc6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 0.86
I'm a privacy expert - and I've downloaded the COVIDSafe app
As a privacy professional, I would normally be among the first to join the barricades opposing the new COVIDSafe app, which helps alert people who have come into contact with a COVID-19 case. But we’re in a genuine emergency. And the norms are out the window. Our government has long tended to put national security ahead of privacy and has a poor track record of technology deployments. Some fear the app could be tracking us and they reject assurances from Canberra that surveillance is not the intent. Critics claim the very idea of the app is unproven and its software not properly tested. The loudest objection is also the simplest: “I do not trust the government and I will not trust their app.” All these criticisms are valid. But it saddens me to see respected privacy advocates rehashing entrenched positions at a time like this. There’s very little wrong with the app itself, but people resent it because they resent the government. Yet I don’t see how we can afford that luxury right now. Do I wish that the COVIDSafe software had been commissioned in a better way? Of course I do. I wish the Department of Home Affairs had not been involved in the tender process and I wish that a certified Australian data centre had been selected to run the database instead of an American business. But given the circumstances, I am willing to climb off my moral high horse. For all the talk of “lost trust”, the Morrison government has done something big to earn my co-operation: it abandoned its fiscal ideology and without much fanfare went into enormous debt to safeguard Australians’ health and jobs. Now I am prepared to show comparable pragmatism around privacy and the contact tracing app. I am going to suspend my cynicism and give the Prime Minister a break. COVIDSafe is pretty innocuous. It works by anonymously logging each time another COVIDSafe user comes into range for a few minutes. The log is kept securely in the smartphone and rolls over every couple of weeks, with old records continually purged. If and when a user tests positive to coronavirus, they can upload the log to their state health department, which will then reach out to the logged contacts and arrange for them to quarantine and get tested. The app doesn’t track anyone but merely records when pairs of users have come close. By notifying people that they’ve been exposed before they show symptoms, community infection is reduced. Epidemiologists say COVIDSafe will be a useful addition to their existing disease management. The app won’t dramatically change contact tracing. Critics need to remember that COVID-19 is a notifiable disease and anyone who tests positive is already required by law to undergo an interview process with public health officials and account for their movements. Frankly, academic reference to “privacy risks” right now makes me a bit sick. Where is the proportionality? With people dying in unfathomable numbers elsewhere, we have a good chance to contain community transmission and save lives with better informed contact tracing. I am a privileged, relatively wealthy white male who has never really had a privacy problem. No software like COVIDSafe is ever going to harm me. I get how lucky I am and I understand that other sectors of the community have different risk profiles. By the same token, I admit my privacy advocacy is almost entirely ideological. Like most of my fellow professionals, I have the good fortune of being able to indulge in barbecue-stopping arguments about privacy at a time when tens of thousands are dying in countries just like Australia. It strikes me as self-indulgent to put one’s privacy principles first when, if we just chilled a little, we might deploy an innocent temporary smartphone app to help our public health system. So I’ve quit the highfalutin debates, and happily, even optimistically, installed COVIDSafe.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/politics/federal/i-m-a-privacy-expert-and-i-ve-downloaded-the-covidsafe-app-20200503-p54pc6.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_politics_federalRating: 0.55
NSW seeks to curb payouts to victims of child sexual abuse in custody
3 May 14:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
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Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
NSW seeks to curb payouts to victims of child sexual abuse in custody
A NSW government agency is seeking to limit compensation payments to victims of child sexual abuse in custody by relying on laws restricting the ability of offenders to recover personal injury payouts from prisons. In a letter to NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman, plaintiff law firm Shine Lawyers said the Department of Communities and Justice had indicated it would argue that laws restricting payouts to offenders for injuries sustained in custody applied to all claims relating to child sexual abuse in juvenile detention between 1987 and 2019. "We are writing to implore you to prioritise the needs of survivors of child sexual abuse and intervene," the firm said. The restrictions were introduced in 2004 to rein in compensation claims against prisons, but the law has since been changed to carve out child abuse claims relating to alleged conduct after January 2019. The general provisions which still apply to older child abuse cases prevent offenders or their families receiving damages for an injury in custody arising from a defendant's negligence, unless the injury resulted in their death or "permanent impairment" above a 15 per cent threshold. Shine Lawyers said there was no indication in 2004 that the laws would apply to child sexual abuse. Sheree Buchanan, an abuse law expert at Shine, said: "We believe it was never the intention [of legislators] for the pain and suffering of victims abused while in juvenile detention as children to be determined by this impairment threshold, but this is exactly what’s happening and it’s not right." Ms Buchanan said many survivors represented by the firm "have had their entire lives ruined by disgusting perpetrators who ran correction centres, yet defendants are using this 15 per cent injury impairment threshold to prevent them from receiving the compensation they rightly deserve." Victims of childhood sexual abuse suffered from a range of conditions including PTSD and anxiety, and may struggle to form relationships or use drugs and alcohol to deal with trauma. These were all "terrible outcomes that can’t be measured on an impairment scale", Ms Buchanan said. The firm says in the letter that similar restrictions do not apply in other Australian jurisdictions and the laws effectively punish victims twice because they had already been sentenced for their crimes. Mr Speakman said: "Child abuse, wherever it occurs, is abhorrent. "I have received a letter from Shine Lawyers and have asked the Department of Communities and Justice to provide me with advice on the issues raised." Opposition attorney-general spokesman Paul Lynch said: "These provisions seem to result in manifest injustice. They give rise to what seem entirely unintended consequences. "Government departments should not be relying on these provisions in this way. The government should review the legislation without delay." The state government has been responsive to calls to improve access to justice for survivors of child abuse and implemented all of the recommendations of the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission's report on redress and civil litigation.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-seeks-to-curb-payouts-to-victims-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-custody-20200429-p54o9g.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalRating: 2.20
NSW seeks to curb payouts to victims of child sexual abuse in custody
A NSW government agency is seeking to limit compensation payments to victims of child sexual abuse in custody by relying on laws restricting the ability of offenders to recover personal injury payouts from prisons. In a letter to NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman, plaintiff law firm Shine Lawyers said the Department of Communities and Justice had indicated it would argue that laws restricting payouts to offenders for injuries sustained in custody applied to all claims relating to child sexual abuse in juvenile detention between 1987 and 2019. "We are writing to implore you to prioritise the needs of survivors of child sexual abuse and intervene," the firm said. The restrictions were introduced in 2004 to rein in compensation claims against prisons, but the law has since been changed to carve out child abuse claims relating to alleged conduct after January 2019. The general provisions which still apply to older child abuse cases prevent offenders or their families receiving damages for an injury in custody arising from a defendant's negligence, unless the injury resulted in their death or "permanent impairment" above a 15 per cent threshold. Shine Lawyers said there was no indication in 2004 that the laws would apply to child sexual abuse. Sheree Buchanan, an abuse law expert at Shine, said: "We believe it was never the intention [of legislators] for the pain and suffering of victims abused while in juvenile detention as children to be determined by this impairment threshold, but this is exactly what’s happening and it’s not right." Ms Buchanan said many survivors represented by the firm "have had their entire lives ruined by disgusting perpetrators who ran correction centres, yet defendants are using this 15 per cent injury impairment threshold to prevent them from receiving the compensation they rightly deserve." Victims of childhood sexual abuse suffered from a range of conditions including PTSD and anxiety, and may struggle to form relationships or use drugs and alcohol to deal with trauma. These were all "terrible outcomes that can’t be measured on an impairment scale", Ms Buchanan said. The firm says in the letter that similar restrictions do not apply in other Australian jurisdictions and the laws effectively punish victims twice because they had already been sentenced for their crimes. Mr Speakman said: "Child abuse, wherever it occurs, is abhorrent. "I have received a letter from Shine Lawyers and have asked the Department of Communities and Justice to provide me with advice on the issues raised." Opposition attorney-general spokesman Paul Lynch said: "These provisions seem to result in manifest injustice. They give rise to what seem entirely unintended consequences. "Government departments should not be relying on these provisions in this way. The government should review the legislation without delay." The state government has been responsive to calls to improve access to justice for survivors of child abuse and implemented all of the recommendations of the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission's report on redress and civil litigation.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-seeks-to-curb-payouts-to-victims-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-custody-20200429-p54o9g.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
NSW seeks to curb payouts to victims of child sexual abuse in custody
A NSW government agency is seeking to limit compensation payments to victims of child sexual abuse in custody by relying on laws restricting the ability of offenders to recover personal injury payouts from prisons. In a letter to NSW Attorney-General Mark Speakman, plaintiff law firm Shine Lawyers said the Department of Communities and Justice had indicated it would argue that laws restricting payouts to offenders for injuries sustained in custody applied to all claims relating to child sexual abuse in juvenile detention between 1987 and 2019. "We are writing to implore you to prioritise the needs of survivors of child sexual abuse and intervene," the firm said. The restrictions were introduced in 2004 to rein in compensation claims against prisons, but the law has since been changed to carve out child abuse claims relating to alleged conduct after January 2019. The general provisions which still apply to older child abuse cases prevent offenders or their families receiving damages for an injury in custody arising from a defendant's negligence, unless the injury resulted in their death or "permanent impairment" above a 15 per cent threshold. Shine Lawyers said there was no indication in 2004 that the laws would apply to child sexual abuse. Sheree Buchanan, an abuse law expert at Shine, said: "We believe it was never the intention [of legislators] for the pain and suffering of victims abused while in juvenile detention as children to be determined by this impairment threshold, but this is exactly what’s happening and it’s not right." Ms Buchanan said many survivors represented by the firm "have had their entire lives ruined by disgusting perpetrators who ran correction centres, yet defendants are using this 15 per cent injury impairment threshold to prevent them from receiving the compensation they rightly deserve." Victims of childhood sexual abuse suffered from a range of conditions including PTSD and anxiety, and may struggle to form relationships or use drugs and alcohol to deal with trauma. These were all "terrible outcomes that can’t be measured on an impairment scale", Ms Buchanan said. The firm says in the letter that similar restrictions do not apply in other Australian jurisdictions and the laws effectively punish victims twice because they had already been sentenced for their crimes. Mr Speakman said: "Child abuse, wherever it occurs, is abhorrent. "I have received a letter from Shine Lawyers and have asked the Department of Communities and Justice to provide me with advice on the issues raised." Opposition attorney-general spokesman Paul Lynch said: "These provisions seem to result in manifest injustice. They give rise to what seem entirely unintended consequences. "Government departments should not be relying on these provisions in this way. The government should review the legislation without delay." The state government has been responsive to calls to improve access to justice for survivors of child abuse and implemented all of the recommendations of the Child Sexual Abuse Royal Commission's report on redress and civil litigation.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/nsw-seeks-to-curb-payouts-to-victims-of-child-sexual-abuse-in-custody-20200429-p54o9g.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
From the Archives, 1970: US campuses erupt in violence
3 May 14:00
•
3 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 14:00
Average US: 3.733333333333333
Weighted average US: 3.1681237569867884
Average GB: 0.0
Weighted average GB: 0.0
Average IN: 1.8333333333333333
Weighted average IN: 1.720587750415579
From the Archives, 1970: US campuses erupt in violence
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 6, 1970 THE ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE How do 'non-violent' demonstrations come to end in tragedy, as happened at Kent UniversityOhio? ROY MACARTNEY takes a typical case and tells how tensions build up. It is May Day on the historic old green of New Haven, home of the world-famed Yale University.Glorious sunshine bathes an idyllic scene. But New Haven is uptight, tense, nervous, the city already paralysed by mid-Friday, normally abusiness day. A "non-violent" demonstration is in progress on the historic green, and "non-violent" rallies nowadays usually end in violence. Shops around the green are shuttered with plywood, restaurants and bars closed, business houseslocked, staffs — including that of the telephone exchange — dispatched home early. Riot police,even National Guard troops, are deployed. Yale students, amused at this apparent "over-kill" reaction, are taking pictures of the ranksof the "other half" in a city with a long history of town versus gown. Police are edgy because 280 bayonet-mounted riot guns were stolen from a New Haven armoury the previous weekend. They also know this has been a season for dynamite, for bombs and bomb-makers from Manhattan to Chicago, from Greenwich Village to Maryland. Clown of the "Chicago 7," Abbie Hoffman, is haranguing a good-natured crowd of about 8,000. Hepromises to make members "the VC of America." They cheer his sallies at "the bastards in Washington." His best laugh comes when he waves atthe Courthouse and says, "We'll pick it up and send it to the moon," if Bobby Seale isconvicted. The rally has been called because the 33-year-old Black Panther leader Bobby Seale faces trialon a charge of murder in the templed white courthouse fronting the green. He is alleged to haveordered the killing of a Black Panther whose tortured body was found near New Haven in May lastyear. It is a complicated story of informers and counter-informers. Police say they seized a tape ofthe "trial" which preceded the victim's slaying in a raid on Black Panther headquarters twodays after the murder. Three of 16 Panthers arrested have confessed to a charge of seconddegree murder. On May Day, 1970, the rally is not only protesting Seale's innocence but demanding that he notface trial. Rallies protesting the Vietnam war and other causes have generally lost popularity in theUnited States, their moderate organisers convinced they generate more resentment than converts.But on the platform are the old Vietnam radicals - David Dellinger, Jerry Rubin, Rennie Davis,Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman - whose paths we have followed from the steps of the Pentagon tothe Conrad Hilton in Chicago. Now — released on bail over Judge Julius Hoffmann's protest that they are a menace to society —we find them in New Haven. Because the Black Panther body was dumped near New Haven and Sealemust be tried here, students from Yale University have become involved. "Chicago 7" attorney William Kunstler has visited the Yale campus and invoked student aid. Thefaculty — even Yale President Kingman Brewster — are going along. The radicals have all the ingredients for provoking trouble: a cause, well-meaningdemonstrators, a "non-violent" situation for exploitation. The Democratic Governor ofConnecticut so rates the promise of non-violence he has called up troops of the New HavenNational Guard and asked Washington to fly in another 4,000 Federal soldiers on stand-by. On the New Haven green, where revolutionaries 195 years ago seized the powder house and muskets and marched against the British, May Day 1970 looks none the less peaceful, a picture of youth culture: beads and braid, banded heads and liberated bosoms, sun worship and good humour, "legalise marihuana" and Cuban flags, pets and "love animals" admonitions— in short, love, not war. 'Yippies' But there is a fringe of helmeted "yippies" on the green. Leather-jacketed motor cyclists guntheir machines down adjacent streets with English names like Main, Chapel, Temple and the like, towards the Gothic buildings of nearby Yale. And on the platform, it is not all love and let live. Jerry Rubin harangues the crowd for over an hour, the voice of the former Berkeley firebrand filtering over loudspeakers at the back of the square like that of Hitler surging on radio 30 years before. Youths hand out angry pamphlets put out by the "Progressive Labour Party," a hardline group which split from the U.S. Communist party when Peking broke with Moscow. Hanoi-sympathiser David Dellinger, wearing coast and tie, advises the placid crowd: "Don't let the Establishment provoke us into a violent encounter." Today he is less profane than the other speakers, and remarks only that the hands of the U.S. Government are "dripping with blood:" In Chicago, he employed a crudity in the courtroom to describe testimony against him. This is the mod language of revolution. Police are "pigs," troops are unprintable; epithets heard from riot to riot insult, provoke, invite "police brutality" or frame pictures of bayoneted rifles at the ready. It is 10.30 p.m. now, back on the fringe of the green. Near the centre, a mob is milling around the high Victorian Gothic church which Yale's chaplain, Dr William Sloane Coffin, has made available to demonstrators so they can "come into the church and be disengaged from the police." It is an Orwellian scene: helmeted riot police bracing themselves at New Haven's Main Street in front of plywood-protected shops, holding two ear-splitting portable machines ready to project "pepper smoke" — science's last word. The beautiful spires of three churches on the green are bathed in floodlights, a trash fire is flickering near on the steps of the courthouse which Abbie has not yet sent to the moon. Then the mob comes, led by "yippies." Their white helmets show as they try to break past thepolice liner. Out of the dark whizz bottles and stones. The first bottle crashes on the pavement six feet from where the bare-headed Press arestanding. A shattered fragment hits one on the foot, other splinters cut the shins of the coffee shop waitress who served us not long before. Explosions The police toss smoke grenades into the crowd. They explode with a crack like a rifle shot. Theroaring "pepper smoke" machines drive the mob back to the chaplain's church. Yale students,acting as marshals, link hands shouting, "Move back" to the nearby campus. But the "yippies" come again, this time in an attempted outflanking move down Chapel Street.More smoke grenades, some tear gas this time, and National Guard troops are moved up to blockoff the street with fixed bayonets. Students pour out of nearby lecture rooms where they have been listening to tho "Chicago 7" —"There'll be a midnight sale at Macy's," Abbie Hoffman suggested to his group. But Macy's,wisely buried in an acre of plywood a block behind police lines, remains inviolate. The shouting turmoil continues well after midnight. The New Haven police chief rushes to every incident, restrains his men — now suffering a few bruises and excited as missiles continue whistling out of the darkness. It is no joke to be at the receiving end of unseen bottles. The cost We return down Chapel Street, led by a BBC correspondent preceded by his own spotlight and camera, bobbing along in a sea of helmeted maniacs saying "This is what it is like in New Haven," etcetera, etcetera, "end of take one, clapper board." A stick of dynamite explodes in the Yale skating rink. Many windows are shattered, no one is seriously injured. A quiet night really: only 17 arrests, not much damage. But a "non-violent" demonstration has held a fine city to ransom, cost Government and commerce over a million dollars and run the risk once more of smashed heads - even violent deaths.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/world/north-america/from-the-archives-1970-us-campuses-erupt-in-violence-20200430-p54ope.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 2.20
From the Archives, 1970: US campuses erupt in violence
First published in The Sydney Morning Herald on May 6, 1970 THE ANATOMY OF VIOLENCE How do 'non-violent' demonstrations come to end in tragedy, as happened at Kent UniversityOhio? ROY MACARTNEY takes a typical case and tells how tensions build up. It is May Day on the historic old green of New Haven, home of the world-famed Yale University.Glorious sunshine bathes an idyllic scene. But New Haven is uptight, tense, nervous, the city already paralysed by mid-Friday, normally abusiness day. A "non-violent" demonstration is in progress on the historic green, and "non-violent" rallies nowadays usually end in violence. Shops around the green are shuttered with plywood, restaurants and bars closed, business houseslocked, staffs — including that of the telephone exchange — dispatched home early. Riot police,even National Guard troops, are deployed. Yale students, amused at this apparent "over-kill" reaction, are taking pictures of the ranksof the "other half" in a city with a long history of town versus gown. Police are edgy because 280 bayonet-mounted riot guns were stolen from a New Haven armoury the previous weekend. They also know this has been a season for dynamite, for bombs and bomb-makers from Manhattan to Chicago, from Greenwich Village to Maryland. Clown of the "Chicago 7," Abbie Hoffman, is haranguing a good-natured crowd of about 8,000. Hepromises to make members "the VC of America." They cheer his sallies at "the bastards in Washington." His best laugh comes when he waves atthe Courthouse and says, "We'll pick it up and send it to the moon," if Bobby Seale isconvicted. The rally has been called because the 33-year-old Black Panther leader Bobby Seale faces trialon a charge of murder in the templed white courthouse fronting the green. He is alleged to haveordered the killing of a Black Panther whose tortured body was found near New Haven in May lastyear. It is a complicated story of informers and counter-informers. Police say they seized a tape ofthe "trial" which preceded the victim's slaying in a raid on Black Panther headquarters twodays after the murder. Three of 16 Panthers arrested have confessed to a charge of seconddegree murder. On May Day, 1970, the rally is not only protesting Seale's innocence but demanding that he notface trial. Rallies protesting the Vietnam war and other causes have generally lost popularity in theUnited States, their moderate organisers convinced they generate more resentment than converts.But on the platform are the old Vietnam radicals - David Dellinger, Jerry Rubin, Rennie Davis,Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman - whose paths we have followed from the steps of the Pentagon tothe Conrad Hilton in Chicago. Now — released on bail over Judge Julius Hoffmann's protest that they are a menace to society —we find them in New Haven. Because the Black Panther body was dumped near New Haven and Sealemust be tried here, students from Yale University have become involved. "Chicago 7" attorney William Kunstler has visited the Yale campus and invoked student aid. Thefaculty — even Yale President Kingman Brewster — are going along. The radicals have all the ingredients for provoking trouble: a cause, well-meaningdemonstrators, a "non-violent" situation for exploitation. The Democratic Governor ofConnecticut so rates the promise of non-violence he has called up troops of the New HavenNational Guard and asked Washington to fly in another 4,000 Federal soldiers on stand-by. On the New Haven green, where revolutionaries 195 years ago seized the powder house and muskets and marched against the British, May Day 1970 looks none the less peaceful, a picture of youth culture: beads and braid, banded heads and liberated bosoms, sun worship and good humour, "legalise marihuana" and Cuban flags, pets and "love animals" admonitions— in short, love, not war. 'Yippies' But there is a fringe of helmeted "yippies" on the green. Leather-jacketed motor cyclists guntheir machines down adjacent streets with English names like Main, Chapel, Temple and the like, towards the Gothic buildings of nearby Yale. And on the platform, it is not all love and let live. Jerry Rubin harangues the crowd for over an hour, the voice of the former Berkeley firebrand filtering over loudspeakers at the back of the square like that of Hitler surging on radio 30 years before. Youths hand out angry pamphlets put out by the "Progressive Labour Party," a hardline group which split from the U.S. Communist party when Peking broke with Moscow. Hanoi-sympathiser David Dellinger, wearing coast and tie, advises the placid crowd: "Don't let the Establishment provoke us into a violent encounter." Today he is less profane than the other speakers, and remarks only that the hands of the U.S. Government are "dripping with blood:" In Chicago, he employed a crudity in the courtroom to describe testimony against him. This is the mod language of revolution. Police are "pigs," troops are unprintable; epithets heard from riot to riot insult, provoke, invite "police brutality" or frame pictures of bayoneted rifles at the ready. It is 10.30 p.m. now, back on the fringe of the green. Near the centre, a mob is milling around the high Victorian Gothic church which Yale's chaplain, Dr William Sloane Coffin, has made available to demonstrators so they can "come into the church and be disengaged from the police." It is an Orwellian scene: helmeted riot police bracing themselves at New Haven's Main Street in front of plywood-protected shops, holding two ear-splitting portable machines ready to project "pepper smoke" — science's last word. The beautiful spires of three churches on the green are bathed in floodlights, a trash fire is flickering near on the steps of the courthouse which Abbie has not yet sent to the moon. Then the mob comes, led by "yippies." Their white helmets show as they try to break past thepolice liner. Out of the dark whizz bottles and stones. The first bottle crashes on the pavement six feet from where the bare-headed Press arestanding. A shattered fragment hits one on the foot, other splinters cut the shins of the coffee shop waitress who served us not long before. Explosions The police toss smoke grenades into the crowd. They explode with a crack like a rifle shot. Theroaring "pepper smoke" machines drive the mob back to the chaplain's church. Yale students,acting as marshals, link hands shouting, "Move back" to the nearby campus. But the "yippies" come again, this time in an attempted outflanking move down Chapel Street.More smoke grenades, some tear gas this time, and National Guard troops are moved up to blockoff the street with fixed bayonets. Students pour out of nearby lecture rooms where they have been listening to tho "Chicago 7" —"There'll be a midnight sale at Macy's," Abbie Hoffman suggested to his group. But Macy's,wisely buried in an acre of plywood a block behind police lines, remains inviolate. The shouting turmoil continues well after midnight. The New Haven police chief rushes to every incident, restrains his men — now suffering a few bruises and excited as missiles continue whistling out of the darkness. It is no joke to be at the receiving end of unseen bottles. The cost We return down Chapel Street, led by a BBC correspondent preceded by his own spotlight and camera, bobbing along in a sea of helmeted maniacs saying "This is what it is like in New Haven," etcetera, etcetera, "end of take one, clapper board." A stick of dynamite explodes in the Yale skating rink. Many windows are shattered, no one is seriously injured. A quiet night really: only 17 arrests, not much damage. But a "non-violent" demonstration has held a fine city to ransom, cost Government and commerce over a million dollars and run the risk once more of smashed heads - even violent deaths.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/world/north-america/from-the-archives-1970-us-campuses-erupt-in-violence-20200430-p54ope.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 0.86
From the Archives, 1970: US campuses erupt in violence
How do 'non-violent' demonstrations come to end in tragedy, as happened at Kent UniversityOhio? ROY MACARTNEY takes a typical case and tells how tensions build up. It is May Day on the historic old green of New Haven, home of the world-famed Yale University.Glorious sunshine bathes an idyllic scene. But New Haven is uptight, tense, nervous, the city already paralysed by mid-Friday, normally abusiness day. A "non-violent" demonstration is in progress on the historic green, and "non-violent" rallies nowadays usually end in violence. Shops around the green are shuttered with plywood, restaurants and bars closed, business houseslocked, staffs — including that of the telephone exchange — dispatched home early. Riot police,even National Guard troops, are deployed. Yale students, amused at this apparent "over-kill" reaction, are taking pictures of the ranksof the "other half" in a city with a long history of town versus gown. Police are edgy because 280 bayonet-mounted riot guns were stolen from a New Haven armoury the previous weekend. They also know this has been a season for dynamite, for bombs and bomb-makers from Manhattan to Chicago, from Greenwich Village to Maryland. Clown of the "Chicago 7," Abbie Hoffman, is haranguing a good-natured crowd of about 8,000. Hepromises to make members "the VC of America." They cheer his sallies at "the bastards in Washington." His best laugh comes when he waves atthe Courthouse and says, "We'll pick it up and send it to the moon," if Bobby Seale isconvicted. The rally has been called because the 33-year-old Black Panther leader Bobby Seale faces trialon a charge of murder in the templed white courthouse fronting the green. He is alleged to haveordered the killing of a Black Panther whose tortured body was found near New Haven in May lastyear. It is a complicated story of informers and counter-informers. Police say they seized a tape ofthe "trial" which preceded the victim's slaying in a raid on Black Panther headquarters twodays after the murder. Three of 16 Panthers arrested have confessed to a charge of seconddegree murder. On May Day, 1970, the rally is not only protesting Seale's innocence but demanding that he notface trial. Rallies protesting the Vietnam war and other causes have generally lost popularity in theUnited States, their moderate organisers convinced they generate more resentment than converts.But on the platform are the old Vietnam radicals - David Dellinger, Jerry Rubin, Rennie Davis,Tom Hayden and Abbie Hoffman - whose paths we have followed from the steps of the Pentagon tothe Conrad Hilton in Chicago. Now — released on bail over Judge Julius Hoffmann's protest that they are a menace to society —we find them in New Haven. Because the Black Panther body was dumped near New Haven and Sealemust be tried here, students from Yale University have become involved. "Chicago 7" attorney William Kunstler has visited the Yale campus and invoked student aid. Thefaculty — even Yale President Kingman Brewster — are going along. The radicals have all the ingredients for provoking trouble: a cause, well-meaningdemonstrators, a "non-violent" situation for exploitation. The Democratic Governor ofConnecticut so rates the promise of non-violence he has called up troops of the New HavenNational Guard and asked Washington to fly in another 4,000 Federal soldiers on stand-by. On the New Haven green, where revolutionaries 195 years ago seized the powder house and muskets and marched against the British, May Day 1970 looks none the less peaceful, a picture of youth culture: beads and braid, banded heads and liberated bosoms, sun worship and good humour, "legalise marihuana" and Cuban flags, pets and "love animals" admonitions— in short, love, not war. But there is a fringe of helmeted "yippies" on the green. Leather-jacketed motor cyclists guntheir machines down adjacent streets with English names like Main, Chapel, Temple and the like, towards the Gothic buildings of nearby Yale. And on the platform, it is not all love and let live. Jerry Rubin harangues the crowd for over an hour, the voice of the former Berkeley firebrand filtering over loudspeakers at the back of the square like that of Hitler surging on radio 30 years before. Youths hand out angry pamphlets put out by the "Progressive Labour Party," a hardline group which split from the U.S. Communist party when Peking broke with Moscow. Hanoi-sympathiser David Dellinger, wearing coast and tie, advises the placid crowd: "Don't let the Establishment provoke us into a violent encounter." Today he is less profane than the other speakers, and remarks only that the hands of the U.S. Government are "dripping with blood:" In Chicago, he employed a crudity in the courtroom to describe testimony against him. This is the mod language of revolution. Police are "pigs," troops are unprintable; epithets heard from riot to riot insult, provoke, invite "police brutality" or frame pictures of bayoneted rifles at the ready. It is 10.30 p.m. now, back on the fringe of the green. Near the centre, a mob is milling around the high Victorian Gothic church which Yale's chaplain, Dr William Sloane Coffin, has made available to demonstrators so they can "come into the church and be disengaged from the police." It is an Orwellian scene: helmeted riot police bracing themselves at New Haven's Main Street in front of plywood-protected shops, holding two ear-splitting portable machines ready to project "pepper smoke" — science's last word. The beautiful spires of three churches on the green are bathed in floodlights, a trash fire is flickering near on the steps of the courthouse which Abbie has not yet sent to the moon. Then the mob comes, led by "yippies." Their white helmets show as they try to break past thepolice liner. Out of the dark whizz bottles and stones. The first bottle crashes on the pavement six feet from where the bare-headed Press arestanding. A shattered fragment hits one on the foot, other splinters cut the shins of the coffee shop waitress who served us not long before. The police toss smoke grenades into the crowd. They explode with a crack like a rifle shot. Theroaring "pepper smoke" machines drive the mob back to the chaplain's church. Yale students,acting as marshals, link hands shouting, "Move back" to the nearby campus. But the "yippies" come again, this time in an attempted outflanking move down Chapel Street.More smoke grenades, some tear gas this time, and National Guard troops are moved up to blockoff the street with fixed bayonets. Students pour out of nearby lecture rooms where they have been listening to tho "Chicago 7" —"There'll be a midnight sale at Macy's," Abbie Hoffman suggested to his group. But Macy's,wisely buried in an acre of plywood a block behind police lines, remains inviolate. The shouting turmoil continues well after midnight. The New Haven police chief rushes to every incident, restrains his men — now suffering a few bruises and excited as missiles continue whistling out of the darkness. It is no joke to be at the receiving end of unseen bottles. We return down Chapel Street, led by a BBC correspondent preceded by his own spotlight and camera, bobbing along in a sea of helmeted maniacs saying "This is what it is like in New Haven," etcetera, etcetera, "end of take one, clapper board." A stick of dynamite explodes in the Yale skating rink. Many windows are shattered, no one is seriously injured. A quiet night really: only 17 arrests, not much damage. But a "non-violent" demonstration has held a fine city to ransom, cost Government and commerce over a million dollars and run the risk once more of smashed heads - even violent deaths.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/world/north-america/from-the-archives-1970-us-campuses-erupt-in-violence-20200430-p54ope.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_worldRating: 0.55
There's nothing like a dame for easing the shutdown blues
3 May 14:00
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There's nothing like a dame for easing the shutdown blues
Opera Australia has launched a free online streaming service featuring interviews and recordings of past productions, with a particular emphasis on the company’s vast collection of performances by the legendary Dame Joan Sutherland. OATV launches today with a recording of 2012’s inaugural opera on Sydney Harbour performance of La Traviata plus a 1988 production of The Merry Widow with Sutherland as the eponymous Hanna Glawari. Artistic director Lyndon Terracini said the project had been in the works for some time but that the virus-driven shutdown had accelerated development. “Hopefully, people will feel it has a bit more substance than what you usually see online,” he said. Terracini was personally devastated when the shutdown was announced. "It was frankly extremely depressing,” he said. “I was a bit down for a few weeks and then I had to figure out what I was going to do so I started doing OATV and working on other projects to keep busy. If I’m not busy I get depressed and that's not good.” Terracini said he felt for all the artists left high and dry by the crisis, particularly singers such as rising star Natalie Aroyan, who managed only two performances as Odabella in Verdi’s Attila and soprano Stacey Alleaume, who was to sing Violetta in La Traviata on the harbour stage this year. But despite the uncertainly about when audiences will be allowed to return to the opera theatre, Terracini insisted Opera Australia continued to plan for the future. "As far as we are concerned, we hope to be up and running before too long but having said that I think we all realise the world is going to be a very different place.” He likened the current situation to that in 2009, when he first took the reins of OA in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. “The company was in a pretty terrible state and we had to do things differently,” he said. “I introduced Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, the musicals and a different sort of repertoire. Last year and 2018 were unbelievably successful years for the company and were the culmination of 10 years’ work but now we will have to start again. That's all gone. “It’s a depressing and daunting task but that's the way it is. It’s happened and we can’t do anything about that. We will just have to be more creative and think about who and what we are going to be from next year on.” Terracini also dropped his strongest hint yet that this year’s much anticipated La Traviata, which was to have opened on the harbour on March 27, will be shifted to 2021. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t want Stacey [Alleaume] or Con [director Constantine Costi] or any of the other artists who have worked so hard on Traviata for this year not to be given a chance to do it,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/culture/opera/there-s-nothing-like-a-dame-for-easing-the-shutdown-blues-20200502-p54p9v.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
There's nothing like a dame for easing the shutdown blues
Opera Australia has launched a free online streaming service featuring interviews and recordings of past productions, with a particular emphasis on the company’s vast collection of performances by the legendary Dame Joan Sutherland. OATV launches today with a recording of 2012’s inaugural opera on Sydney Harbour performance of La Traviata plus a 1988 production of The Merry Widow with Sutherland as the eponymous Hanna Glawari. Artistic director Lyndon Terracini said the project had been in the works for some time but that the virus-driven shutdown had accelerated development. “Hopefully, people will feel it has a bit more substance than what you usually see online,” he said. Terracini was personally devastated when the shutdown was announced. "It was frankly extremely depressing,” he said. “I was a bit down for a few weeks and then I had to figure out what I was going to do so I started doing OATV and working on other projects to keep busy. If I’m not busy I get depressed and that's not good.” Terracini said he felt for all the artists left high and dry by the crisis, particularly singers such as rising star Natalie Aroyan, who managed only two performances as Odabella in Verdi’s Attila and soprano Stacey Alleaume, who was to sing Violetta in La Traviata on the harbour stage this year. But despite the uncertainly about when audiences will be allowed to return to the opera theatre, Terracini insisted Opera Australia continued to plan for the future. "As far as we are concerned, we hope to be up and running before too long but having said that I think we all realise the world is going to be a very different place.” He likened the current situation to that in 2009, when he first took the reins of OA in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. “The company was in a pretty terrible state and we had to do things differently,” he said. “I introduced Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, the musicals and a different sort of repertoire. Last year and 2018 were unbelievably successful years for the company and were the culmination of 10 years’ work but now we will have to start again. That's all gone. “It’s a depressing and daunting task but that's the way it is. It’s happened and we can’t do anything about that. We will just have to be more creative and think about who and what we are going to be from next year on.” Terracini also dropped his strongest hint yet that this year’s much anticipated La Traviata, which was to have opened on the harbour on March 27, will be shifted to 2021. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t want Stacey [Alleaume] or Con [director Constantine Costi] or any of the other artists who have worked so hard on Traviata for this year not to be given a chance to do it,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/culture/opera/there-s-nothing-like-a-dame-for-easing-the-shutdown-blues-20200502-p54p9v.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
There's nothing like a dame for easing the shutdown blues
Opera Australia has launched a free online streaming service featuring interviews and recordings of past productions, with a particular emphasis on the company’s vast collection of performances by the legendary Dame Joan Sutherland. OATV launches today with a recording of 2012’s inaugural opera on Sydney Harbour performance of La Traviata plus a 1988 production of The Merry Widow with Sutherland as the eponymous Hanna Glawari. Artistic director Lyndon Terracini said the project had been in the works for some time but that the virus-driven shutdown had accelerated development. “Hopefully, people will feel it has a bit more substance than what you usually see online,” he said. Terracini was personally devastated when the shutdown was announced. "It was frankly extremely depressing,” he said. “I was a bit down for a few weeks and then I had to figure out what I was going to do so I started doing OATV and working on other projects to keep busy. If I’m not busy I get depressed and that's not good.” Terracini said he felt for all the artists left high and dry by the crisis, particularly singers such as rising star Natalie Aroyan, who managed only two performances as Odabella in Verdi’s Attila and soprano Stacey Alleaume, who was to sing Violetta in La Traviata on the harbour stage this year. But despite the uncertainly about when audiences will be allowed to return to the opera theatre, Terracini insisted Opera Australia continued to plan for the future. "As far as we are concerned, we hope to be up and running before too long but having said that I think we all realise the world is going to be a very different place.” He likened the current situation to that in 2009, when he first took the reins of OA in the aftermath of the global financial crisis. “The company was in a pretty terrible state and we had to do things differently,” he said. “I introduced Handa Opera on Sydney Harbour, the musicals and a different sort of repertoire. Last year and 2018 were unbelievably successful years for the company and were the culmination of 10 years’ work but now we will have to start again. That's all gone. “It’s a depressing and daunting task but that's the way it is. It’s happened and we can’t do anything about that. We will just have to be more creative and think about who and what we are going to be from next year on.” Terracini also dropped his strongest hint yet that this year’s much anticipated La Traviata, which was to have opened on the harbour on March 27, will be shifted to 2021. “Let’s just say I wouldn’t want Stacey [Alleaume] or Con [director Constantine Costi] or any of the other artists who have worked so hard on Traviata for this year not to be given a chance to do it,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/culture/opera/there-s-nothing-like-a-dame-for-easing-the-shutdown-blues-20200502-p54p9v.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
'Socially irresponsible': Meriton bypasses council to build 1900 apartments
3 May 14:00
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3 articles
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Best date: 3 May 14:00
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'Socially irresponsible': Meriton bypasses council to build 1900 apartments
A dispute has erupted between the company owned by billionaire developer Harry Triguboff and Randwick City Council over plans to build 1900 apartments at Little Bay. Meriton lodged its plans with the NSW Planning Department on Thursday because the council had not made a final decision about new planning controls. A Meriton spokeswoman said the company would “build tomorrow” if planning approvals were issued for the proposal, which she said would provide up to 7800 jobs and $750 million in government taxes. “It is evident that it is unlikely we will receive an objective and fair decision in the council chambers,” she said. The department will prepare a report on the proposal for the Sydney East Planning Panel, which will determine Meriton’s rezoning request. Meriton’s Little Bay development was not among the 24 projects chosen last week by the state government to be fast-tracked through its Planning System Acceleration Program, which included the Snowy Hydro 2.0 energy storage scheme, the Ivanhoe public housing estate in Ryde, three housing developments in North Sydney and the revitalisation of Bankstown's town centre. “Should the government determine that the Little Bay project meets the criteria for inclusion in the program, then the necessary time frames can be achieved,” Meriton’s spokeswoman said. Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the program sought to fast-track projects to boost the economy and create jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. “It is not an invitation to rush projects through without the normal checks, balances and community consultation,” he said. Meriton submitted an alternative concept for the project in March after the council raised concerns about the initial plans for 1900 apartments in buildings up to 22-storeys or 73 metres. Meriton purchased the site for $245 million in 2017 with an approved masterplan for 450 dwellings. The company’s new plans still involve the construction of 1900 apartments in towers up to 17 floors and a hotel. A council spokesman said Meriton’s proposal was under assessment. “We do not believe the project is far enough advanced in the planning process for it to be considered as part of the acceleration program,” he said. Meriton’s plans have also met opposition from community group Save Little Bay, whose spokesman Olde Lorenzen said it “completely disregards” local planning controls and an “enormous oversupply” of high-rise development in the area. He also said Meriton had exaggerated the number of jobs that would be created. “It is socially irresponsible, meets unanimous community opposition and is lacking strategic merit in every aspect,” he said. In response, Meriton’s spokeswoman said the developer was “cognisant” of local concerns and had sought to mitigate the impact of the development on the surrounding community. “We note that there are some locals speaking in support but they are quickly accosted by others who do not share the same view,” she said. The project was nominated as “shovel-ready” that could be commenced within six months by developers’ lobby group, the Urban Taskforce, in a letter sent to the NSW Treasury and Planning Department in March. Other projects suggested included the redevelopment of the Bondi Junction and Roseville RSLs, a brewery in Newtown, the Eastlakes shopping centre and a golf resort in the Hunter Valley. Urban Taskforce head Tom Forrest said there was “clearly significant pent-up frustration” among developers with what they perceived as a slowdown in the planning system over the past two years. “The COVID-19 induced slow-down is an opportunity to push through some important economy saving reforms,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/nsw/socially-irresponsible-meriton-bypasses-council-to-build-1900-apartments-20200502-p54p83.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
'Socially irresponsible': Meriton bypasses council to build 1900 apartments
A dispute has erupted between the company owned by billionaire developer Harry Triguboff and Randwick City Council over plans to build 1900 apartments at Little Bay. Meriton lodged its plans with the NSW Planning Department on Thursday because the council had not made a final decision about new planning controls. A Meriton spokeswoman said the company would “build tomorrow” if planning approvals were issued for the proposal, which she said would provide up to 7800 jobs and $750 million in government taxes. “It is evident that it is unlikely we will receive an objective and fair decision in the council chambers,” she said. The department will prepare a report on the proposal for the Sydney East Planning Panel, which will determine Meriton’s rezoning request. Meriton’s Little Bay development was not among the 24 projects chosen last week by the state government to be fast-tracked through its Planning System Acceleration Program, which included the Snowy Hydro 2.0 energy storage scheme, the Ivanhoe public housing estate in Ryde, three housing developments in North Sydney and the revitalisation of Bankstown's town centre. “Should the government determine that the Little Bay project meets the criteria for inclusion in the program, then the necessary time frames can be achieved,” Meriton’s spokeswoman said. Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the program sought to fast-track projects to boost the economy and create jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. “It is not an invitation to rush projects through without the normal checks, balances and community consultation,” he said. Meriton submitted an alternative concept for the project in March after the council raised concerns about the initial plans for 1900 apartments in buildings up to 22-storeys or 73 metres. Meriton purchased the site for $245 million in 2017 with an approved masterplan for 450 dwellings. The company’s new plans still involve the construction of 1900 apartments in towers up to 17 floors and a hotel. A council spokesman said Meriton’s proposal was under assessment. “We do not believe the project is far enough advanced in the planning process for it to be considered as part of the acceleration program,” he said. Meriton’s plans have also met opposition from community group Save Little Bay, whose spokesman Olde Lorenzen said it “completely disregards” local planning controls and an “enormous oversupply” of high-rise development in the area. He also said Meriton had exaggerated the number of jobs that would be created. “It is socially irresponsible, meets unanimous community opposition and is lacking strategic merit in every aspect,” he said. In response, Meriton’s spokeswoman said the developer was “cognisant” of local concerns and had sought to mitigate the impact of the development on the surrounding community. “We note that there are some locals speaking in support but they are quickly accosted by others who do not share the same view,” she said. The project was nominated as “shovel-ready” that could be commenced within six months by developers’ lobby group, the Urban Taskforce, in a letter sent to the NSW Treasury and Planning Department in March. Other projects suggested included the redevelopment of the Bondi Junction and Roseville RSLs, a brewery in Newtown, the Eastlakes shopping centre and a golf resort in the Hunter Valley. Urban Taskforce head Tom Forrest said there was “clearly significant pent-up frustration” among developers with what they perceived as a slowdown in the planning system over the past two years. “The COVID-19 induced slow-down is an opportunity to push through some important economy saving reforms,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/nsw/socially-irresponsible-meriton-bypasses-council-to-build-1900-apartments-20200502-p54p83.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
'Socially irresponsible': Meriton bypasses council to build 1900 apartments
A dispute has erupted between the company owned by billionaire developer Harry Triguboff and Randwick City Council over plans to build 1900 apartments at Little Bay. Meriton lodged its plans with the NSW Planning Department on Thursday because the council had not made a final decision about new planning controls. A Meriton spokeswoman said the company would “build tomorrow” if planning approvals were issued for the proposal, which she said would provide up to 7800 jobs and $750 million in government taxes. “It is evident that it is unlikely we will receive an objective and fair decision in the council chambers,” she said. The department will prepare a report on the proposal for the Sydney East Planning Panel, which will determine Meriton’s rezoning request. Meriton’s Little Bay development was not among the 24 projects chosen last week by the state government to be fast-tracked through its Planning System Acceleration Program, which included the Snowy Hydro 2.0 energy storage scheme, the Ivanhoe public housing estate in Ryde, three housing developments in North Sydney and the revitalisation of Bankstown's town centre. “Should the government determine that the Little Bay project meets the criteria for inclusion in the program, then the necessary time frames can be achieved,” Meriton’s spokeswoman said. Planning Minister Rob Stokes said the program sought to fast-track projects to boost the economy and create jobs during the COVID-19 crisis. “It is not an invitation to rush projects through without the normal checks, balances and community consultation,” he said. Meriton submitted an alternative concept for the project in March after the council raised concerns about the initial plans for 1900 apartments in buildings up to 22-storeys or 73 metres. Meriton purchased the site for $245 million in 2017 with an approved masterplan for 450 dwellings. The company’s new plans still involve the construction of 1900 apartments in towers up to 17 floors and a hotel. A council spokesman said Meriton’s proposal was under assessment. “We do not believe the project is far enough advanced in the planning process for it to be considered as part of the acceleration program,” he said. Meriton’s plans have also met opposition from community group Save Little Bay, whose spokesman Olde Lorenzen said it “completely disregards” local planning controls and an “enormous oversupply” of high-rise development in the area. He also said Meriton had exaggerated the number of jobs that would be created. “It is socially irresponsible, meets unanimous community opposition and is lacking strategic merit in every aspect,” he said. In response, Meriton’s spokeswoman said the developer was “cognisant” of local concerns and had sought to mitigate the impact of the development on the surrounding community. “We note that there are some locals speaking in support but they are quickly accosted by others who do not share the same view,” she said. The project was nominated as “shovel-ready” that could be commenced within six months by developers’ lobby group, the Urban Taskforce, in a letter sent to the NSW Treasury and Planning Department in March. Other projects suggested included the redevelopment of the Bondi Junction and Roseville RSLs, a brewery in Newtown, the Eastlakes shopping centre and a golf resort in the Hunter Valley. Urban Taskforce head Tom Forrest said there was “clearly significant pent-up frustration” among developers with what they perceived as a slowdown in the planning system over the past two years. “The COVID-19 induced slow-down is an opportunity to push through some important economy saving reforms,” he said.
3 May 14:00 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/nsw/socially-irresponsible-meriton-bypasses-council-to-build-1900-apartments-20200502-p54p83.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Making that sale during tough times
3 May 13:59
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3 articles
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Best date: 3 May 13:59
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Making that sale during tough times
Melbourne real estate agents face an uphill battle selling property under COVID-19 conditions but claim there’s still interest if sellers are motivated. Developer John Woodman, the prolific political donor and planner at the centre of a corruption probe into dodgy planning decisions at Casey Council, could be one of the lucky ones. Mornington Peninsula agents have secured $4 million selling the Flinders estate and hobby vineyard controlled by a company linked to Woodman and his son, Heath. Documents relating to the sale list Gregory Beilby, an executive general manager inside Raphael Geminder’s PACT Group packaging company, as the buyer. Another document related to the property has listed Susan Chadwick on the title deeds. The pair share the same Haverbrack Avenue residence in Malvern. It’s been almost six weeks since the Independent Broad-based anti-Corruption Commission put its probe into Casey Council on ice as it waits out the COVID-19 threat. In IBAC hearings at the end of 2019, commissioners heard Woodman had allegedly paid councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett more than $1.2 million in allegedly corrupt payments in a bid for favourable planning decisions. It was in early March when TheAge revealed Woodman was trying to raise more than $6 million by offloading waterfront and beachside properties held by companies that he controlled or owned. All this was happening as the corruption watchdog circled. Others mentioned in the hearings, including Aziz, have had their assets frozen. Spare a thought for the lawyers at Corrs Chambers Westgarth who go directly to LinkedIn whenever chief executive Gavin MacLaren announces the appointment of new partners. Inevitably, there’s an Allens connection. MacLaren, as this column has previously reported, was a senior partner at Allens for a decade. He arrived at Corrs in 2017 after a short stint at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. But since his arrival, it’s been a one-way street of Allens lawyers getting the most lucrative gigs at Corrs. So far, the Allens alumni who have made partner at Corrs have included Abigail Gill, Craig Phillips, Alexandra Feros and Nathaniel Popelianski. And it seems MacLaren has become sensitive to anger brewing among senior Corrs lawyers waiting on the sidelines for their own call up to partner. On Friday, MacLaren announced two new partners joining the firm: Anthony Arrow and Jennee Chan. Arrow, MacLaren wrote in a staff email, “has more than two decades of experience advising government, sponsors, developers and contractors across the full suite of procurement models”. Chan, he said, brings “significant experience and expertise”. No mention of where they got this experience. Allens, of course. Arrow, who is currently at American giant Pinsent Masons, was an Allens partner for six years until 2016. Chan has been at Allens for more than a decade. Both start in Corrs’ Melbourne office in July. That was quick. Australia Post’s former international boss Annette Carey has scored a new job. She has been re-employed by Lindsay Fox, who has installed the well-regarded executive at the head of his cash delivery arm, Linfox Armaguard. Readers will recall Carey was a shock exit from Australia Post in early April, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic supposedly accelerating some elements of chief executive Christine Holgate’s cost-cutting drive. Carey’s left at the same time as parcels business boss Bob Black, who’s much-publicised plan for a European sabbatical was made er, permanent on the same day. Black remains overseas, meanwhile, Carey found luck immediately with her old employer. Prior to joining Australia Post, Carey was Linfox Logistics chief executive. The legal community has been characteristically direct when talking about how the coronavirus has made the job of administering the law more difficult. The Australian Bar Council, headed by Perth silk Matthew Howard, SC, brought in PwC in late March to provide advice for barristers dealing with a sudden slowdown in cases. Both Howard and Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris, QC, have been frank about their approaches to Attorney General Christian Porter and Victorian Attorney General Jill Hennessy about how some lawyers are struggling. Meanwhile, there has been some financial relief in the sector. Last week the Law Institute of Victoria slashed membership fees for full-fee paying members by 80 per cent to $99. The institute represents solicitors, and also performs some accreditation functions for the Legal Services Board. A mail-out from president Sam Pandya last week announced the fee cut but drew the line at reducing the price of other services. Harris’ Bar Council has taken similar steps, writing to members last week to advise them of membership fee cuts operating on a sliding scale, as well as an option to defer payment of professional indemnity insurance until November 30. Meanwhile, there’s been reprieve on rents too. Barristers Chambers Limited, a property company owning barristers' chambers along William Street, offered a moratorium on rent for April. Rental assistance is now being offered on a case-by-case basis.
3 May 13:59 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/making-that-sale-during-tough-times-20200503-p54pf0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_nationalRating: 2.20
Making that sale during tough times
Melbourne real estate agents face an uphill battle selling property under COVID-19 conditions but claim there’s still interest if sellers are motivated. Developer John Woodman, the prolific political donor and planner at the centre of a corruption probe into dodgy planning decisions at Casey Council, could be one of the lucky ones. Mornington Peninsula agents have secured $4 million selling the Flinders estate and hobby vineyard controlled by a company linked to Woodman and his son, Heath. Documents relating to the sale list Gregory Beilby, an executive general manager inside Raphael Geminder’s PACT Group packaging company, as the buyer. Another document related to the property has listed Susan Chadwick on the title deeds. The pair share the same Haverbrack Avenue residence in Malvern. It’s been almost six weeks since the Independent Broad-based anti-Corruption Commission put its probe into Casey Council on ice as it waits out the COVID-19 threat. In IBAC hearings at the end of 2019, commissioners heard Woodman had allegedly paid councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett more than $1.2 million in allegedly corrupt payments in a bid for favourable planning decisions. It was in early March when TheAge revealed Woodman was trying to raise more than $6 million by offloading waterfront and beachside properties held by companies that he controlled or owned. All this was happening as the corruption watchdog circled. Others mentioned in the hearings, including Aziz, have had their assets frozen. Spare a thought for the lawyers at Corrs Chambers Westgarth who go directly to LinkedIn whenever chief executive Gavin MacLaren announces the appointment of new partners. Inevitably, there’s an Allens connection. MacLaren, as this column has previously reported, was a senior partner at Allens for a decade. He arrived at Corrs in 2017 after a short stint at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. But since his arrival, it’s been a one-way street of Allens lawyers getting the most lucrative gigs at Corrs. So far, the Allens alumni who have made partner at Corrs have included Abigail Gill, Craig Phillips, Alexandra Feros and Nathaniel Popelianski. And it seems MacLaren has become sensitive to anger brewing among senior Corrs lawyers waiting on the sidelines for their own call up to partner. On Friday, MacLaren announced two new partners joining the firm: Anthony Arrow and Jennee Chan. Arrow, MacLaren wrote in a staff email, “has more than two decades of experience advising government, sponsors, developers and contractors across the full suite of procurement models”. Chan, he said, brings “significant experience and expertise”. No mention of where they got this experience. Allens, of course. Arrow, who is currently at American giant Pinsent Masons, was an Allens partner for six years until 2016. Chan has been at Allens for more than a decade. Both start in Corrs’ Melbourne office in July. That was quick. Australia Post’s former international boss Annette Carey has scored a new job. She has been re-employed by Lindsay Fox, who has installed the well-regarded executive at the head of his cash delivery arm, Linfox Armaguard. Readers will recall Carey was a shock exit from Australia Post in early April, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic supposedly accelerating some elements of chief executive Christine Holgate’s cost-cutting drive. Carey’s left at the same time as parcels business boss Bob Black, who’s much-publicised plan for a European sabbatical was made er, permanent on the same day. Black remains overseas, meanwhile, Carey found luck immediately with her old employer. Prior to joining Australia Post, Carey was Linfox Logistics chief executive. The legal community has been characteristically direct when talking about how the coronavirus has made the job of administering the law more difficult. The Australian Bar Council, headed by Perth silk Matthew Howard, SC, brought in PwC in late March to provide advice for barristers dealing with a sudden slowdown in cases. Both Howard and Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris, QC, have been frank about their approaches to Attorney General Christian Porter and Victorian Attorney General Jill Hennessy about how some lawyers are struggling. Meanwhile, there has been some financial relief in the sector. Last week the Law Institute of Victoria slashed membership fees for full-fee paying members by 80 per cent to $99. The institute represents solicitors, and also performs some accreditation functions for the Legal Services Board. A mail-out from president Sam Pandya last week announced the fee cut but drew the line at reducing the price of other services. Harris’ Bar Council has taken similar steps, writing to members last week to advise them of membership fee cuts operating on a sliding scale, as well as an option to defer payment of professional indemnity insurance until November 30. Meanwhile, there’s been reprieve on rents too. Barristers Chambers Limited, a property company owning barristers' chambers along William Street, offered a moratorium on rent for April. Rental assistance is now being offered on a case-by-case basis.
3 May 13:59 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/making-that-sale-during-tough-times-20200503-p54pf0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Making that sale during tough times
Melbourne real estate agents face an uphill battle selling property under COVID-19 conditions but claim there’s still interest if sellers are motivated. Developer John Woodman, the prolific political donor and planner at the centre of a corruption probe into dodgy planning decisions at Casey Council, could be one of the lucky ones. Mornington Peninsula agents have secured $4 million selling the Flinders estate and hobby vineyard controlled by a company linked to Woodman and his son, Heath. Documents relating to the sale list Gregory Beilby, an executive general manager inside Raphael Geminder’s PACT Group packaging company, as the buyer. Another document related to the property has listed Susan Chadwick on the title deeds. The pair share the same Haverbrack Avenue residence in Malvern. It’s been almost six weeks since the Independent Broad-based anti-Corruption Commission put its probe into Casey Council on ice as it waits out the COVID-19 threat. In IBAC hearings at the end of 2019, commissioners heard Woodman had allegedly paid councillors Sam Aziz and Geoff Ablett more than $1.2 million in allegedly corrupt payments in a bid for favourable planning decisions. It was in early March when TheAge revealed Woodman was trying to raise more than $6 million by offloading waterfront and beachside properties held by companies that he controlled or owned. All this was happening as the corruption watchdog circled. Others mentioned in the hearings, including Aziz, have had their assets frozen. Spare a thought for the lawyers at Corrs Chambers Westgarth who go directly to LinkedIn whenever chief executive Gavin MacLaren announces the appointment of new partners. Inevitably, there’s an Allens connection. MacLaren, as this column has previously reported, was a senior partner at Allens for a decade. He arrived at Corrs in 2017 after a short stint at Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer. But since his arrival, it’s been a one-way street of Allens lawyers getting the most lucrative gigs at Corrs. So far, the Allens alumni who have made partner at Corrs have included Abigail Gill, Craig Phillips, Alexandra Feros and Nathaniel Popelianski. And it seems MacLaren has become sensitive to anger brewing among senior Corrs lawyers waiting on the sidelines for their own call up to partner. On Friday, MacLaren announced two new partners joining the firm: Anthony Arrow and Jennee Chan. Arrow, MacLaren wrote in a staff email, “has more than two decades of experience advising government, sponsors, developers and contractors across the full suite of procurement models”. Chan, he said, brings “significant experience and expertise”. No mention of where they got this experience. Allens, of course. Arrow, who is currently at American giant Pinsent Masons, was an Allens partner for six years until 2016. Chan has been at Allens for more than a decade. Both start in Corrs’ Melbourne office in July. That was quick. Australia Post’s former international boss Annette Carey has scored a new job. She has been re-employed by Lindsay Fox, who has installed the well-regarded executive at the head of his cash delivery arm, Linfox Armaguard. Readers will recall Carey was a shock exit from Australia Post in early April, as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic supposedly accelerating some elements of chief executive Christine Holgate’s cost-cutting drive. Carey’s left at the same time as parcels business boss Bob Black, who’s much-publicised plan for a European sabbatical was made er, permanent on the same day. Black remains overseas, meanwhile, Carey found luck immediately with her old employer. Prior to joining Australia Post, Carey was Linfox Logistics chief executive. The legal community has been characteristically direct when talking about how the coronavirus has made the job of administering the law more difficult. The Australian Bar Council, headed by Perth silk Matthew Howard, SC, brought in PwC in late March to provide advice for barristers dealing with a sudden slowdown in cases. Both Howard and Victorian Bar president Wendy Harris, QC, have been frank about their approaches to Attorney General Christian Porter and Victorian Attorney General Jill Hennessy about how some lawyers are struggling. Meanwhile, there has been some financial relief in the sector. Last week the Law Institute of Victoria slashed membership fees for full-fee paying members by 80 per cent to $99. The institute represents solicitors, and also performs some accreditation functions for the Legal Services Board. A mail-out from president Sam Pandya last week announced the fee cut but drew the line at reducing the price of other services. Harris’ Bar Council has taken similar steps, writing to members last week to advise them of membership fee cuts operating on a sliding scale, as well as an option to defer payment of professional indemnity insurance until November 30. Meanwhile, there’s been reprieve on rents too. Barristers Chambers Limited, a property company owning barristers' chambers along William Street, offered a moratorium on rent for April. Rental assistance is now being offered on a case-by-case basis.
3 May 13:59 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/making-that-sale-during-tough-times-20200503-p54pf0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Early release of prisoners a worthy idea, but risks too high
3 May 13:51
•
3 articles
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Importance: 1.80
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Best date: 3 May 13:51
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Early release of prisoners a worthy idea, but risks too high
Last week, human rights lawyers filed an ultimately unsuccessful injunction for the early release of a Victorian prisoner with multiple medical conditions. This followed recent calls to immediately release vulnerable prisoners from custody nationwide. The impulse for this advocacy is intuitively reasonable. Custodial environments are susceptible to a COVID-19 outbreak given the confined conditions and potential for overcrowding. Moreover, prison populations are vulnerable, possessing poorer physical and mental health and other social challenges (substance misuse, homelessness) compared to the general population. As of writing, Australian governments have yet to immediately release select prisoners into the community as part of efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, despite recent advocacy to do so. Experts across a number of sectors have recommended the early release of prisoners from vulnerable groups where possible, including Indigenous Australians, the elderly, victims of domestic violence and those with chronic health issues. However, the proposed de-carceration strategy (which the author is sympathetic to) requires an assessment of its potential community consequences, and most importantly, its immediate impact on the health and wellbeing of candidate prisoners for release. Stage three restrictions have now been in effect state-wide for one month. Victorian prisons have yet to record a case of COVID-19. A number of safety mechanisms were introduced by correctional facilities to help contain potential transmission of the virus. These include, but are not are not limited to: the infra-red temperature testing of all staff before entry to the facility; staff who present with high temperatures are sent home and required to undertake a COVID-19 test before returning to work; isolating all new prison admissions for 14 days; closing group programs to abide with physical distancing; allowing prisoners to connect with family members on tablet devices as an alternative to in-prison visitation. Moreover, conventional health and (cultural) support systems continue to be available to prisoners. With no confirmed cases and ongoing efforts to restrict the materialisation of COVID-19 in Victorian custodial settings, the potential costs of releasing vulnerable prisoners into the community necessitates further scrutiny. Any prisoners released under anti-coronavirus measures will return to a general community enduring stage-three shutdown restrictions and a societal-wide economic disruption. Support services that are ordinarily available to released offenders are currently compromised or are experiencing significant delays. Moreover, Centrelink services which are heavily relied upon by individuals post-release, are currently overwhelmed as they service thousands of newly unemployed clients. Mental health services are also strained as they adjust to remote service delivery and contend with a sharp spike in community-wide help-seeking. The reduced capacity for intensive case management, monitoring and re-entry assistance for released prisoners is a serious concern given their higher levels of mental and chronic health concerns, substance misuse and histories of unemployment and homelessness. Australian research points to high rates of mortality and self-harm shortly after release from custody. Predictors of post-release mortality include mental disorder, suicide and substance abuse – concerns which transitional support programs and other re-entry interventions will be unable to fully support during shutdown. This scenario poses elevated health risk for released prisoners, compounding their vulnerability and increasing the likelihood of problem behaviour. Without readily available coping strategies, released prisoners with histories of violence, aggression, impulsivity and serious mental illness, may put themselves and others (particularly co-habitants) at risk. Calls to release prisoners who are survivors of domestic violence must also consider the heightened risk of re-victimisation post-release. Moreover, physical distancing may not be adhered to for those whose behavioural and psychological needs are untreated. Proposals to immediately release vulnerable prisoners are worthy objectives. However it is important to balance the relative safety risks of remaining in custody – where in Victorian prisons there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 - with early release into a community with weakened social support and wellbeing services in the midst of a state of emergency shutdown. The potential for a COVID-19 outbreak in custody is a genuine concern, notwithstanding proactive measures employed in Victorian prisons. However, the real prospect of deleterious outcomes for immediately released vulnerable prisoners must also be weighed heavily during this demanding period. Stephane Shepherd is Associate Professor (Forensic Psychology) at Swinburne University.
3 May 13:51 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/national/victoria/early-release-of-prisoners-a-worthy-idea-but-risks-too-high-20200501-p54oy0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_national_victoriaRating: 2.20
Early release of prisoners a worthy idea, but risks too high
Last week, human rights lawyers filed an ultimately unsuccessful injunction for the early release of a Victorian prisoner with multiple medical conditions. This followed recent calls to immediately release vulnerable prisoners from custody nationwide. The impulse for this advocacy is intuitively reasonable. Custodial environments are susceptible to a COVID-19 outbreak given the confined conditions and potential for overcrowding. Moreover, prison populations are vulnerable, possessing poorer physical and mental health and other social challenges (substance misuse, homelessness) compared to the general population. As of writing, Australian governments have yet to immediately release select prisoners into the community as part of efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, despite recent advocacy to do so. Experts across a number of sectors have recommended the early release of prisoners from vulnerable groups where possible, including Indigenous Australians, the elderly, victims of domestic violence and those with chronic health issues. However, the proposed de-carceration strategy (which the author is sympathetic to) requires an assessment of its potential community consequences, and most importantly, its immediate impact on the health and wellbeing of candidate prisoners for release. Stage three restrictions have now been in effect state-wide for one month. Victorian prisons have yet to record a case of COVID-19. A number of safety mechanisms were introduced by correctional facilities to help contain potential transmission of the virus. These include, but are not are not limited to: the infra-red temperature testing of all staff before entry to the facility; staff who present with high temperatures are sent home and required to undertake a COVID-19 test before returning to work; isolating all new prison admissions for 14 days; closing group programs to abide with physical distancing; allowing prisoners to connect with family members on tablet devices as an alternative to in-prison visitation. Moreover, conventional health and (cultural) support systems continue to be available to prisoners. With no confirmed cases and ongoing efforts to restrict the materialisation of COVID-19 in Victorian custodial settings, the potential costs of releasing vulnerable prisoners into the community necessitates further scrutiny. Any prisoners released under anti-coronavirus measures will return to a general community enduring stage-three shutdown restrictions and a societal-wide economic disruption. Support services that are ordinarily available to released offenders are currently compromised or are experiencing significant delays. Moreover, Centrelink services which are heavily relied upon by individuals post-release, are currently overwhelmed as they service thousands of newly unemployed clients. Mental health services are also strained as they adjust to remote service delivery and contend with a sharp spike in community-wide help-seeking. The reduced capacity for intensive case management, monitoring and re-entry assistance for released prisoners is a serious concern given their higher levels of mental and chronic health concerns, substance misuse and histories of unemployment and homelessness. Australian research points to high rates of mortality and self-harm shortly after release from custody. Predictors of post-release mortality include mental disorder, suicide and substance abuse – concerns which transitional support programs and other re-entry interventions will be unable to fully support during shutdown. This scenario poses elevated health risk for released prisoners, compounding their vulnerability and increasing the likelihood of problem behaviour. Without readily available coping strategies, released prisoners with histories of violence, aggression, impulsivity and serious mental illness, may put themselves and others (particularly co-habitants) at risk. Calls to release prisoners who are survivors of domestic violence must also consider the heightened risk of re-victimisation post-release. Moreover, physical distancing may not be adhered to for those whose behavioural and psychological needs are untreated. Proposals to immediately release vulnerable prisoners are worthy objectives. However it is important to balance the relative safety risks of remaining in custody – where in Victorian prisons there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 - with early release into a community with weakened social support and wellbeing services in the midst of a state of emergency shutdown. The potential for a COVID-19 outbreak in custody is a genuine concern, notwithstanding proactive measures employed in Victorian prisons. However, the real prospect of deleterious outcomes for immediately released vulnerable prisoners must also be weighed heavily during this demanding period. Stephane Shepherd is Associate Professor (Forensic Psychology) at Swinburne University.
3 May 13:51 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/national/victoria/early-release-of-prisoners-a-worthy-idea-but-risks-too-high-20200501-p54oy0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Early release of prisoners a worthy idea, but risks too high
Last week, human rights lawyers filed an ultimately unsuccessful injunction for the early release of a Victorian prisoner with multiple medical conditions. This followed recent calls to immediately release vulnerable prisoners from custody nationwide. The impulse for this advocacy is intuitively reasonable. Custodial environments are susceptible to a COVID-19 outbreak given the confined conditions and potential for overcrowding. Moreover, prison populations are vulnerable, possessing poorer physical and mental health and other social challenges (substance misuse, homelessness) compared to the general population. As of writing, Australian governments have yet to immediately release select prisoners into the community as part of efforts to mitigate the spread of coronavirus, despite recent advocacy to do so. Experts across a number of sectors have recommended the early release of prisoners from vulnerable groups where possible, including Indigenous Australians, the elderly, victims of domestic violence and those with chronic health issues. However, the proposed de-carceration strategy (which the author is sympathetic to) requires an assessment of its potential community consequences, and most importantly, its immediate impact on the health and wellbeing of candidate prisoners for release. Stage three restrictions have now been in effect state-wide for one month. Victorian prisons have yet to record a case of COVID-19. A number of safety mechanisms were introduced by correctional facilities to help contain potential transmission of the virus. These include, but are not are not limited to: the infra-red temperature testing of all staff before entry to the facility; staff who present with high temperatures are sent home and required to undertake a COVID-19 test before returning to work; isolating all new prison admissions for 14 days; closing group programs to abide with physical distancing; allowing prisoners to connect with family members on tablet devices as an alternative to in-prison visitation. Moreover, conventional health and (cultural) support systems continue to be available to prisoners. With no confirmed cases and ongoing efforts to restrict the materialisation of COVID-19 in Victorian custodial settings, the potential costs of releasing vulnerable prisoners into the community necessitates further scrutiny. Any prisoners released under anti-coronavirus measures will return to a general community enduring stage-three shutdown restrictions and a societal-wide economic disruption. Support services that are ordinarily available to released offenders are currently compromised or are experiencing significant delays. Moreover, Centrelink services which are heavily relied upon by individuals post-release, are currently overwhelmed as they service thousands of newly unemployed clients. Mental health services are also strained as they adjust to remote service delivery and contend with a sharp spike in community-wide help-seeking. The reduced capacity for intensive case management, monitoring and re-entry assistance for released prisoners is a serious concern given their higher levels of mental and chronic health concerns, substance misuse and histories of unemployment and homelessness. Australian research points to high rates of mortality and self-harm shortly after release from custody. Predictors of post-release mortality include mental disorder, suicide and substance abuse – concerns which transitional support programs and other re-entry interventions will be unable to fully support during shutdown. This scenario poses elevated health risk for released prisoners, compounding their vulnerability and increasing the likelihood of problem behaviour. Without readily available coping strategies, released prisoners with histories of violence, aggression, impulsivity and serious mental illness, may put themselves and others (particularly co-habitants) at risk. Calls to release prisoners who are survivors of domestic violence must also consider the heightened risk of re-victimisation post-release. Moreover, physical distancing may not be adhered to for those whose behavioural and psychological needs are untreated. Proposals to immediately release vulnerable prisoners are worthy objectives. However it is important to balance the relative safety risks of remaining in custody – where in Victorian prisons there are no confirmed cases of COVID-19 - with early release into a community with weakened social support and wellbeing services in the midst of a state of emergency shutdown. The potential for a COVID-19 outbreak in custody is a genuine concern, notwithstanding proactive measures employed in Victorian prisons. However, the real prospect of deleterious outcomes for immediately released vulnerable prisoners must also be weighed heavily during this demanding period.
3 May 13:51 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/national/victoria/early-release-of-prisoners-a-worthy-idea-but-risks-too-high-20200501-p54oy0.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Once we've spent big, structural reform is our next weapon
3 May 13:32
•
6 articles
Weight: 1.80
Importance: 1.80
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 13:32
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Once we've spent big, structural reform is our next weapon
The Morrison government’s economic policy response to the COVID-19 shock has so far been about supporting businesses and workers affected by the downturn. As the government begins to shift from medical emergency management and job stabilisation to plan jobs recovery, it needs to consider the most effective ways to thaw the economy from the deep freeze – the so-called "hiber-cession". It also faces some binding constraints. Whatever approach the government takes, it cannot rely on further stimulus through either arm of macroeconomic policy. This is because both monetary and fiscal policy levers have effectively been “spent” in crisis management. What remains? Essentially, structural reform. That is, improving the mix of taxes and spending along with other market structures in a way that enhances competition and/or productivity. Applied pragmatically and fairly, this can be a no-regrets outcome. What is needed now are initiatives to shore up private capital expenditure. The idea is to help the economy rebound and recover with vigour. The backdrop to the COVID-19 shock was a decade-long weakness in business capital expenditure in OECD economies, seemingly due to low expectations of future income growth and over-reliance on unorthodox central bank stimuli. This caused a vicious downward cycle. Low business expenditure reduced trend growth, which further lowered investment. The superannuation sector is a willing partner to assist government in designing, funding and implementing any economic recovery measures. The federal and state governments could consider drawing upon long‑term equity investors such as super funds to help shape their plans to pull the Australian economy out of the COVID-19 downturn. There are structural reforms the government could announce with the prospect of cross-party support to create jobs and generate wealth in the Australian economy for years to come. First, infrastructure. Governments could reach out to institutional investors, presenting them with a shopping list or league table of medium- to high-value project priorities and asking who wants to be the long-term owner. The idea is to tender these out to equity participants and leave them to contract out construction activities. This would leave governments to line up planning approvals. Projects that didn't meet super funds' risk-return profiles could be supported by the public in terms of sharing patronage risk until volumes were established. Second, tax reform. Economists Ross Garnaut and Craig Emerson remind us of the prevalence of "economic rents" in the Australian economy and the need to replace company taxes and stamp duties with a cash-flow tax and land taxes. Such tax reforms could be achieved on a revenue-neutral basis. A cash-flow tax allows for the immediate write-off of capital expenditure by business. It forces big foreign tech companies to pay their fair share of tax. It leaves most enterprises non-taxable over time. It would also be a huge spur to institutional investors, such as super funds, to fund greenfield investment and so build the industries of the future. Third, strategic supply chain investments in each major Australian export commodity would help to target infrastructure and industry policy bottlenecks. These should include logistics, processing and distribution channels with a view to enhancing domestic value-adding. There are some obvious supply chains within the Australian economy that could and should have been dedicated to high-growth markets in commodities (such as wheat, wool, milk and beef). We should follow the example of many other smaller nations, such as New Zealand, and purposefully fuse these operations into an internationally competitive conglomerate. Super fund investment across supply chains can help to make this a reality. Fourth, build to-rent and affordable housing. Governments surely realise that if they are not prepared to deliver affordable housing directly via public balance sheets (i.e. public housing), they must provide equivalent subsidy to private balance sheets, probably via not-for-profit community-housing providers. The simple way to fund this is to limit negative gearing to new homes and provide a tradeable tax credit to long-term equity capital to build housing for the community housing sector. Fifth, small- and medium-size enterprise lending. It seems there is a genuine market failure limiting capital provision (debt and equity) to SMEs. This is supported by RBA firm-level research, which has quantified this funding gap at about 500 basis points, controlling for all other factors including risk. Anthony Pratt has done much to publicise this matter. Super funds want to work with banks (and possibly others) to provide longer term debt and equity. Funds could outsource credit "assessment" activities to banks or non-banks and specialist investment managers acting on their behalf or investing in other structures (such as RMBS or ABS securitisation) that provide them with exposure to the small business sector. Looking at the five proposals, they would barely affect federal or state budgets, but all could significantly and speedily affect business investment by way of the private sector. Also, the cash-flow tax would provide a significant upfront stimulus to the economy when it is needed most. All these proposals could be implemented quickly with the backing of long‑term equity investors such as super funds, which have deep experience in managing infrastructure and property projects. Stephen Anthony is Industry Super Australia’s chief economist.
3 May 13:32 • The Age • https://www.theage.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/once-we-ve-spent-big-structural-reform-is-our-next-weapon-20200501-p54p0s.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 2.20
Once we've spent big, structural reform is our next weapon
The Morrison government’s economic policy response to the COVID-19 shock has so far been about supporting businesses and workers affected by the downturn. As the government begins to shift from medical emergency management and job stabilisation to plan jobs recovery, it needs to consider the most effective ways to thaw the economy from the deep freeze – the so-called "hiber-cession". It also faces some binding constraints. Whatever approach the government takes, it cannot rely on further stimulus through either arm of macroeconomic policy. This is because both monetary and fiscal policy levers have effectively been “spent” in crisis management. What remains? Essentially, structural reform. That is, improving the mix of taxes and spending along with other market structures in a way that enhances competition and/or productivity. Applied pragmatically and fairly, this can be a no-regrets outcome. What is needed now are initiatives to shore up private capital expenditure. The idea is to help the economy rebound and recover with vigour. The backdrop to the COVID-19 shock was a decade-long weakness in business capital expenditure in OECD economies, seemingly due to low expectations of future income growth and over-reliance on unorthodox central bank stimuli. This caused a vicious downward cycle. Low business expenditure reduced trend growth, which further lowered investment. The superannuation sector is a willing partner to assist government in designing, funding and implementing any economic recovery measures. The federal and state governments could consider drawing upon long‑term equity investors such as super funds to help shape their plans to pull the Australian economy out of the COVID-19 downturn. There are structural reforms the government could announce with the prospect of cross-party support to create jobs and generate wealth in the Australian economy for years to come. First, infrastructure. Governments could reach out to institutional investors, presenting them with a shopping list or league table of medium- to high-value project priorities and asking who wants to be the long-term owner. The idea is to tender these out to equity participants and leave them to contract out construction activities. This would leave governments to line up planning approvals. Projects that didn't meet super funds' risk-return profiles could be supported by the public in terms of sharing patronage risk until volumes were established. Second, tax reform. Economists Ross Garnaut and Craig Emerson remind us of the prevalence of "economic rents" in the Australian economy and the need to replace company taxes and stamp duties with a cash-flow tax and land taxes. Such tax reforms could be achieved on a revenue-neutral basis. A cash-flow tax allows for the immediate write-off of capital expenditure by business. It forces big foreign tech companies to pay their fair share of tax. It leaves most enterprises non-taxable over time. It would also be a huge spur to institutional investors, such as super funds, to fund greenfield investment and so build the industries of the future. Third, strategic supply chain investments in each major Australian export commodity would help to target infrastructure and industry policy bottlenecks. These should include logistics, processing and distribution channels with a view to enhancing domestic value-adding. There are some obvious supply chains within the Australian economy that could and should have been dedicated to high-growth markets in commodities (such as wheat, wool, milk and beef). We should follow the example of many other smaller nations, such as New Zealand, and purposefully fuse these operations into an internationally competitive conglomerate. Super fund investment across supply chains can help to make this a reality. Fourth, build to-rent and affordable housing. Governments surely realise that if they are not prepared to deliver affordable housing directly via public balance sheets (i.e. public housing), they must provide equivalent subsidy to private balance sheets, probably via not-for-profit community-housing providers. The simple way to fund this is to limit negative gearing to new homes and provide a tradeable tax credit to long-term equity capital to build housing for the community housing sector. Fifth, small- and medium-size enterprise lending. It seems there is a genuine market failure limiting capital provision (debt and equity) to SMEs. This is supported by RBA firm-level research, which has quantified this funding gap at about 500 basis points, controlling for all other factors including risk. Anthony Pratt has done much to publicise this matter. Super funds want to work with banks (and possibly others) to provide longer term debt and equity. Funds could outsource credit "assessment" activities to banks or non-banks and specialist investment managers acting on their behalf or investing in other structures (such as RMBS or ABS securitisation) that provide them with exposure to the small business sector. Looking at the five proposals, they would barely affect federal or state budgets, but all could significantly and speedily affect business investment by way of the private sector. Also, the cash-flow tax would provide a significant upfront stimulus to the economy when it is needed most. All these proposals could be implemented quickly with the backing of long‑term equity investors such as super funds, which have deep experience in managing infrastructure and property projects. Stephen Anthony is Industry Super Australia’s chief economist.
3 May 13:32 • Brisbane Times • https://www.brisbanetimes.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/once-we-ve-spent-big-structural-reform-is-our-next-weapon-20200501-p54p0s.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.86
Once we've spent big, structural reform is our next weapon
The Morrison government’s economic policy response to the COVID-19 shock has so far been about supporting businesses and workers affected by the downturn. As the government begins to shift from medical emergency management and job stabilisation to plan jobs recovery, it needs to consider the most effective ways to thaw the economy from the deep freeze – the so-called "hiber-cession". It also faces some binding constraints. Whatever approach the government takes, it cannot rely on further stimulus through either arm of macroeconomic policy. This is because both monetary and fiscal policy levers have effectively been “spent” in crisis management. What remains? Essentially, structural reform. That is, improving the mix of taxes and spending along with other market structures in a way that enhances competition and/or productivity. Applied pragmatically and fairly, this can be a no-regrets outcome. What is needed now are initiatives to shore up private capital expenditure. The idea is to help the economy rebound and recover with vigour. The backdrop to the COVID-19 shock was a decade-long weakness in business capital expenditure in OECD economies, seemingly due to low expectations of future income growth and over-reliance on unorthodox central bank stimuli. This caused a vicious downward cycle. Low business expenditure reduced trend growth, which further lowered investment. The superannuation sector is a willing partner to assist government in designing, funding and implementing any economic recovery measures. The federal and state governments could consider drawing upon long‑term equity investors such as super funds to help shape their plans to pull the Australian economy out of the COVID-19 downturn. There are structural reforms the government could announce with the prospect of cross-party support to create jobs and generate wealth in the Australian economy for years to come. First, infrastructure. Governments could reach out to institutional investors, presenting them with a shopping list or league table of medium- to high-value project priorities and asking who wants to be the long-term owner. The idea is to tender these out to equity participants and leave them to contract out construction activities. This would leave governments to line up planning approvals. Projects that didn't meet super funds' risk-return profiles could be supported by the public in terms of sharing patronage risk until volumes were established. Second, tax reform. Economists Ross Garnaut and Craig Emerson remind us of the prevalence of "economic rents" in the Australian economy and the need to replace company taxes and stamp duties with a cash-flow tax and land taxes. Such tax reforms could be achieved on a revenue-neutral basis. A cash-flow tax allows for the immediate write-off of capital expenditure by business. It forces big foreign tech companies to pay their fair share of tax. It leaves most enterprises non-taxable over time. It would also be a huge spur to institutional investors, such as super funds, to fund greenfield investment and so build the industries of the future. Third, strategic supply chain investments in each major Australian export commodity would help to target infrastructure and industry policy bottlenecks. These should include logistics, processing and distribution channels with a view to enhancing domestic value-adding. There are some obvious supply chains within the Australian economy that could and should have been dedicated to high-growth markets in commodities (such as wheat, wool, milk and beef). We should follow the example of many other smaller nations, such as New Zealand, and purposefully fuse these operations into an internationally competitive conglomerate. Super fund investment across supply chains can help to make this a reality. Fourth, build to-rent and affordable housing. Governments surely realise that if they are not prepared to deliver affordable housing directly via public balance sheets (i.e. public housing), they must provide equivalent subsidy to private balance sheets, probably via not-for-profit community-housing providers. The simple way to fund this is to limit negative gearing to new homes and provide a tradeable tax credit to long-term equity capital to build housing for the community housing sector. Fifth, small- and medium-size enterprise lending. It seems there is a genuine market failure limiting capital provision (debt and equity) to SMEs. This is supported by RBA firm-level research, which has quantified this funding gap at about 500 basis points, controlling for all other factors including risk. Anthony Pratt has done much to publicise this matter. Super funds want to work with banks (and possibly others) to provide longer term debt and equity. Funds could outsource credit "assessment" activities to banks or non-banks and specialist investment managers acting on their behalf or investing in other structures (such as RMBS or ABS securitisation) that provide them with exposure to the small business sector. Looking at the five proposals, they would barely affect federal or state budgets, but all could significantly and speedily affect business investment by way of the private sector. Also, the cash-flow tax would provide a significant upfront stimulus to the economy when it is needed most. All these proposals could be implemented quickly with the backing of long‑term equity investors such as super funds, which have deep experience in managing infrastructure and property projects.
3 May 13:32 • WAtoday • https://www.watoday.com.au/money/super-and-retirement/once-we-ve-spent-big-structural-reform-is-our-next-weapon-20200501-p54p0s.html?ref=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_source=rss_feedRating: 0.55
Need to speed up work on infra to make up for time lost on Covid-19: PM Modi
Prime Minister Narendra Modi has stressed the need to take speedy measures to commence work on new infrastructure projects and speed up works in the infra sector to make up for the time lost on Covid-19. Projects taken up under the National Infrastructure Pipeline must be reviewed at the highest level frequently so as to avoid time delays and enable creation of jobs, Modi said at a meeting with the Finance Minister and senior officials here on Saturday. The meeting was held to discuss interventions in the financial sector as well structural reforms to spur growth and welfare in the current context. It comes at a time when the government is expected to roll out one more “stimulus package” to help the economy become self-reliant and turn the Covid-19-induced crisis into an opportunity. Indian economy has been hit hard by the nationwide lockdown. The government on Friday announced gradual lifting of the lockdown over two weeks starting from May 4 even while continuing the restrictions in the red zones of the country. Meanwhile, at the Saturday meeting, the Prime Minister discussed new structural reforms in the areas of corporate governance, credit markets and infrastructure sectors besides underscoring the need to strengthen major structural reforms undertaken in the past, an official release said. Modi also discussed strategies and interventions to support MSMEs and farmers, enhance liquidity and strengthen credit flows. He also discussed ways and means to ensure financial stability in the wake of Covid-19 and measures taken to enable businesses to recover quickly, the release added. Dwelling on the issue of welfare of workers and the common man, PM pointed out the need to generate gainful employment opportunities by helping businesses overcome difficulties caused by Covid-19. It was also felt that the reform initiatives undertaken by the various ministries should continue and action should be taken in a time-bound manner to remove obstacles to investment flows and capital formation. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, Finance Minister, Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance along with other senior officials of the government.
3 May 06:30 • BusinessLine • https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/national/need-to-speed-up-work-on-infra-to-make-up-for-time-lost-on-covid-19-pm-modi/article31493686.eceRating: 1.98
Lockdown 3.0: PM Modi discusses plan to spur growth in MSMEs as India heads for partial reopening
PM Modi discussed generating employment opportunities by helping businesses overcome difficulties due to disruptions caused by COVID-19; stressed on need to strengthen new structural reforms in corporate governance, credit markets and infrastructure sectors Prime Minister Narendra Modi held a meeting to discuss strategies to restart the economy and initiate structural reforms in the MSME (Ministry of Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises) sector to spur growth in the wake of coronavirus pandemic. He discussed strategies to support MSMEs and farmers by enhancing liquidity and strengthening credit flows and talked about ways to ensure financial stability to enable businesses severely hit by the nation-wide lockdown. The meeting was held with Finance Minister Nirmala Sitharaman, Home Minister Amit Shah, secretaries of the Ministry of Finance and other top officials. The key meeting was held a day before the second phase of lockdown ends on Sunday. The Centre has already extended the lockdown by two more weeks while giving some relaxations in red, orange and green zones. Also read:RBI cancels licence of CKP Co-operative Bank; depositors to get up to Rs 5 lakh PM Modi pointed out the need to generate gainful employment opportunities by helping businesses overcome difficulties due to disruptions caused by COVID-19. He stressed on the need to strengthen major structural reforms undertaken in the past and new structural reforms in corporate governance, credit markets and infrastructure sectors were also discussed, a government statement said. The PM also stressed the need to take speedy measures to commence work on new infrastructure projects and initiate speedy work in the infrastructure sector to make up for the time lost in COVID-19. Modi has said the projects taken up under the National Infrastructure Pipeline should be reviewed at the highest level frequently to avoid time delays and enable jobs creation. PM Modi also discussed the reform initiatives undertaken by various ministries. He said that they continue unabated and action should be taken in a time-bound manner to remove obstacles in investment flows and capital formation. Meanwhile, over 2,293 new novel coronavirus cases and 71 deaths were reported in India in the last 24 hours. The country's total number of COVID-19 cases now stands at 37,776, including 26,535 active cases, 10,017 recoveries, 1 migrated and 1,223 deaths, the Union Ministry of Health data says. Also read:Coronavirus India Live Updates: Lockdown 3.0! 2,644 new cases in 24 hours; biggest 1-day spike; tally-37,776
3 May 04:19 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/lockdown-3-pm-modi-discusses-plan-to-spur-growth-in-msmes-as-india-heads-for-partial-reopening/story/402715.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=WEBRating: 2.10
PM Modi for new structural reforms to revive economy hit by COVID-19
New Delhi, May 02: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Saturday underlined the need for new structural reforms and expedite work on infrastructure projects to revive the economy reeling under the impact of coronavirus-induced lockdown. He made these observations during a series of meetings held on Saturday to discuss strategies and interventions in the financial sector as well as structural reforms to spur growth and welfare in the current context. The series of meetings with key Cabinet ministers, officials of economic ministries is likely to culminate into a second stimulus package for sectors, including MSME and the farm sector, hit hard by the outbreak of COVID-19 pandemic. Dwelling on the issue of welfare of workers and the common man, the Prime Minister pointed out the need to generate gainful employment opportunities by helping businesses overcome difficulties due to disruptions caused by COVID-19, an official statement said. The Prime Minister also stressed on the need to strengthen major structural reforms undertaken in the past and new structural reforms in the areas of corporate governance, credit markets and infrastructure sectors were also discussed, it said. He also stressed the need to take speedy measures to commence work on new infrastructure projects and speed up works in the infrastructure sector so as to make up for the time lost in COVID-19. He wanted the projects taken up under the National Infrastructure Pipeline (NIP) be reviewed at the highest level frequently to avoid time delays and enable the creation of jobs. The task force on NIP has recently submitted a report which projected a staggering Rs 111 lakh crore investment in the infrastructure sector by 2024-25. The statement further said that it was also discussed that the reform initiatives undertaken by the various Ministries should continue unabated and the action should be taken in a time-bound manner to remove any obstacles to investment flows and capital formation. The meeting was attended by the Home Minister, the Finance Minister, Secretaries of the Ministry of Finance along with senior officials of the Government of India. At a meeting with the finance minister and officials, the prime minister discussed strategies and interventions to support MSMEs and farmers, enhance liquidity and strengthen credit flows. He also discussed ways and means to ensure financial stability in the wake of COVID-19 and measures taken to enable businesses to recover quickly from the impacts. Earlier in the day, MSME Minister Nitin Gadkari said that his ministry has suggested a relief package to the prime minister and the finance minister for the medium, small and micro sector and exuded confidence that an announcement would be made soon. "Chaired a meeting on strengthening our MSME sector, which plays a pivotal role in economic development. There were extensive discussions on ways to make this sector more vibrant, attractive and ready to embrace new opportunities," the prime minister said in a tweet after the meeting. The Prime Minister in another tweet said, "Held a meeting to discuss subjects related to the financial world, including structural reforms that will give a boost to growth and public welfare. We reviewed strategies to support the MSME sector and ensure liquidity & credit supply." The central government is focused on ensuring welfare of workers, helping businesses overcome the difficulties arising in the wake of COVID-19, reforms in corporate governance, credit markets and the infra sector, he said. During another meeting concerning the farm sector, various reforms in agriculture marketing, management of marketable surplus, access of farmers to institutional credit and freeing the agriculture sector of various restrictions with appropriate backing of the statute were discussed. The focus was on making strategic interventions in the existing marketing eco-system and bringing appropriate reforms in the context of rapid agricultural development, an official statement said. "Concessional credit flow to strengthen agriculture infrastructure, special Kisan Credit Card saturation drive for PM-Kisan beneficiaries and facilitating inter and intra-state trade of agriculture produce to ensure the fairest return to farmer were some of the important areas covered. Developing e-NAM into a platform of platforms to enable e-commerce was one of the important topics of discussion," it said. A discussion also emanated on the possibilities of the uniform statutory framework in the country to facilitate new ways for farming which will infuse capital and technology in agrarian economy, it said, adding, the pros and cons of bio-technological developments in crops or enhancement of productivity and reduction in input costs were also deliberated. During the deliberations, each ministry made recommendations and possible steps to be taken in the short run to prop up the sector administered by them. After a detailed review of every sector, a relief and stimulus package will be worked out, sources said. The prime minister already had meetings with different ministries including civil aviation, labour and power on Friday. He had detailed deliberation with commerce and industry ministry among others on Thursday. To mitigate hardships faced by the bottom of the pyramid, the government in late March had announced a Rs 1.7 lakh crore stimulus package comprising free foodgrains and cooking gas to poor and cash doles to poor women and elderly.
2 May 11:49 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/india/pm-modi-meets-amit-shah-sitharaman-over-2nd-economic-stimulus-package-report-3081756.htmlRating: 0.30
Delayed vaccinations could imperil children, say experts
3 May 18:06
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Delayed vaccinations could imperil children, say experts
The vaccination schedule of children in the State appears to have been disturbed following the lockdown to contain COVID-19. Vaccinations have dipped by 50% in the past one month as these could not be administered on children in the first two weeks of the lockdown, thereby creating a huge backlog. The situation is alarming, especially in pockets where the immunisation rates are already suboptimal, says M. Narayanan, State president, Indian Academy of Paediatrics (IAP), Kerala. If immediate intervention is not made, there are chances of outbreaks of vaccine-preventable diseases such as measles and diphtheria in vulnerable areas. To cover lost ground, the IAP, Kerala, has joined hands with the government in a drive to deny emergence of vaccine-preventable diseases in the State when the government and front-line health workers are fighting the pandemic. The government has issued an advisory for restarting the immunisation activities both in public and private sector institutions. At the public health centre (PHC) level, parents of unimmunised and partially immunised children will be informed about the date, time, and place of immunisation in advance by the junior public health nurse. No mass vaccination campaigns would be conducted till the pandemic subsides. The IAP has come out with a plan called Filling the Blanks to encourage parents to bring their children for the missed vaccines. Paediatricians will enter in an app the vaccination status of children at the outpatient department. The app will send text messages to the parent’s mobile three days prior to the vaccination date. Unprotected children get exposed to diseases easily as against the herd immunity that protects them when there is 85% or more vaccination, says Dr. Narayanan. Measles is one of the most transmissible infections, with an attack rate of 12 against the 1.4 to 5.7 for COVID-19. Attack rate denotes the number of persons who will be infected from a single patient. Vaccinations for pneumococcal disease, chickenpox, hepatitis A, and typhoid also have dropped. The sales figures of these vaccines show a drop of 5% to 30% compared to previous months, says Dr. Narayanan.
3 May 18:06 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/kerala/delayed-vaccinations-could-imperil-children-say-experts/article31496219.eceRating: 0.30
Millions of minors in Middle East, N Africa risk missing vaccines
The coronavirus pandemic could jeopardise vaccination campaigns across the Middle East and North Africa, the United Nations children's agency (UNICEF) has said, warning that millions of children could miss out on polio and measles immunisations. "As a result, one in five children or 10 million children under the age of five risk missing their polio vaccination," UNICEF said in a statement on Sunday. "Nearly 4.5 million children under the age of 15 risk missing their measles vaccination." Ted Chaiban, UNICEF's regional director, said it was "absolutely critical that every child gets immunised against deadly diseases including polio, measles, diphtheria and hepatitis". He said measures including disinfection, protective clothing and physical distancing meant that "immunisation for children is possible" even in the time of the new coronavirus, which causes a highly infectious respiratory disease known as COVID-19. "COVID-19 pandemic is overstretching health systems, as frontline workers are supporting the outbreak response. Despite that, nearly 1.5 million children on average are getting their vaccines every month," Chaiban said. UNICEF said most countries in the region were continuing with routine campaigns, under strict controls to prevent the spread of the virus. But the UN body warned that some vaccination campaigns had been suspended as health workers were diverted to fighting COVID-19. UNICEF and the World Health Organization warned in mid-April that approximately 117 million children worldwide risked contracting measles as dozens of countries curtailed vaccination programmes to battle the pandemic. In many parts of Africa, medical aid projects that might normally include measles and other vaccine campaigns have stalled as countries closed their borders and limited routine health services.
3 May 10:01 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/millions-minors-middle-east-africa-risk-missing-vaccines-200503080455132.htmlRating: 2.44
Nicotine patch test on Covid patients, healthcare workers to see if smokers are ‘protected’
New Delhi: French researchers are now preparing to launch nicotine patch trials on healthcare workers and patients, after a study in France found that smokers are less likely to be infected by the novel coronavirus than non-smokers. The French study, published in April, found that the people who smoke are 80 per cent less likely to catch Covid-19 than non-smokers of the same age and sex. Its authors — Jean-Pierre Changeux, emeritus professor of neuroscience at France’s Pasteur Institute, and Zahir Amoura, professor at Paris’ Pitie-Salpetriere University Hospital — are conducting the follow-up human trials. “Compared to the French general population, the Covid-19 population exhibited a significantly weaker current daily smoker rate by 80.3 per cent for outpatients and by 75.4 percent for inpatients,” it said. “Thus, current smoking status appears to be a protective factor against the infection by SARS-CoV-2,” said the study, which found that only 5 per cent of 482 Covid-19 cases detected between 28 February and 9 April were daily smokers. Overall, 25 per cent of the French population are daily smokers. Also read:How smokers are getting by without cigarettes in Covid-19 lockdown (it’s helping many quit) While nicotine does not attack the virus directly, it is likely to play an indirect role, involving a cell-membrane protein, ACE2, to which the virus plugs. Researchers suspect that nicotine binds to the same membrane, and so, prevents the virus from attaching itself. Under the planned trial, nicotine patches will be tested on a sample group of 1,500 health professionals and 400 patients. “They will be assessed to see if they catch the virus, and whether those wearing the nicotine patches are more resistant than their colleagues wearing the placebo patches,” Reutersreported. The French study clearly warned against the use of nicotine for other purposes, and about the serious consequences of smoking on health. “One should not forget that nicotine is a drug of abuse responsible for smoking addiction. Smoking has severe pathological consequences and remains a serious danger for health. Yet, under controlled settings, Nicotinic agents could provide an efficient treatment for an acute infection such as Covid-19,” it stated. Following the study, France’s government has limited the sales of nicotine. The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned against smoking, saying it increases the susceptibility of transmission. “Smokers are likely to be more vulnerable to Covid-19 as the act of smoking means that fingers (and possibly contaminated cigarettes) are in contact with lips, which increases the possibility of transmission of virus from hand to mouth. Smokers may also already have lung disease or reduced lung capacity, which would greatly increase risk of serious illness,” it said. “Conditions that increase oxygen needs or reduce the ability of the body to use it properly will put patients at higher risk of serious lung conditions such as pneumonia,” the WHO said. A study conducted at the Indian Institute of Technology, Jodhpur, has contradicted the French study, finding that smokers “could be living on the edge of contracting Covid-19 infection”. The IIT study, titled ‘Neurological insights of Covid-19 pandemic’, was published in an international journal of the American Chemical Society. “The likeliness of Covid-19 patients to contract neurological infections can be exacerbated by secondary factors like smoking. According to a pilot study, smoking can enhance the chances of contracting Covid-19 based neuroinfections due to the functional interactions between human receptor and nicotinic receptor,” it had said. Neither the French study nor the one from IIT-Jodhpur is peer-reviewed. ThePrint is now on Telegram. For the best reports & opinion on politics, governance and more, subscribe to ThePrint on Telegram. Subscribe to our YouTube channel.
3 May 09:02 • ThePrint • https://theprint.in/health/nicotine-patch-test-on-covid-patients-healthcare-workers-to-see-if-smokers-are-protected/413513/Rating: 1.95
UN: Virus efforts jeopardise vaccines for millions of MENA children
AMMAN, May 3 — The coronavirus pandemic could jeopardise vaccination campaigns in the Middle East and North Africa, Unicef warned today, saying millions of children could miss out on polio and measles immunisations. The UN agency said most countries in the region were continuing with routine campaigns, under strict controls to prevent the spread of the virus. But it warned that some vaccination campaigns had been suspended as health workers were diverted to fighting the Covid-19 illness. “As a result, one in five children or 10 million children under the age of five risk missing their polio vaccination,” it said in a statement. “Nearly 4.5 million children under the age of 15 risk missing their measles vaccination.” Ted Chaiban, Unicef’s regional director, said it was “absolutely critical that every child gets immunised against deadly diseases including polio, measles, diphtheria and hepatitis”. He said measures including disinfection, protective clothing and social distancing meant that “immunisation for children is possible even in the time of Covid”. UNICEF and the World Health Organization warned in mid-April that around 117 million children worldwide risked contracting measles as dozens of countries curtailed vaccination programmes to battle the pandemic. The head of the global organisation fighting polio told AFP in early April that the novel coronavirus had dealt an unprecedented blow to mass immunisation drives, risking a resurgence of the disease. — AFP
3 May 08:48 • Malaymail • https://www.malaymail.com/news/world/2020/05/03/un-virus-efforts-jeopardise-vaccines-for-millions-of-mena-children/1862606Rating: 1.42
Virus efforts jeopardise vaccines for millions of MENA children: UN
Amman, Jordan. The coronavirus pandemic could jeopardise vaccination campaigns in the Middle East and North Africa, UNICEF warned Sunday, saying millions of children could miss out on polio and measles immunisations.The UN agency said most countries in the region were continuing with routine campaigns, under strict controls to prevent the spread of the virus.But it warned that some vaccination campaigns had been suspended as health workers were diverted to fighting the COVID-19 illness."As a result, one in five children or 10 million children under the age of five risk missing their polio vaccination," it said in a statement."Nearly 4.5 million children under the age of 15 risk missing their measles vaccination."Ted Chaiban, UNICEF's regional director, said it was "absolutely critical that every child gets immunised against deadly diseases including polio, measles, diphtheria and hepatitis".He said measures including disinfection, protective clothing and social distancing meant that "immunisation for children is possible even in the time of COVID".UNICEF and the World Health Organization warned in mid-April that around 117 million children worldwide risked contracting measles as dozens of countries curtailed vaccination programmes to battle the pandemic.The head of the global organisation fighting polio told AFP in early April that the novel coronavirus had dealt an unprecedented blow to mass immunisation drives, risking a resurgence of the disease.
3 May 00:00 • THE CITIZEN • https://www.thecitizen.co.tz/news/-Virus-efforts-jeopardise-vaccines-for-millions-of-MENA/1840386-5541344-4nm0ta/index.htmlRating: 0.30
Some preventive measures for malaria you can follow by staying indoors
Malaria is a life-threatening disease caused by malarial parasites that are transmitted through the bites of infected mosquitoes. It is seasonal and most commonly seen during the monsoons in India. Enhanced malaria prevention and control measures are dramatically reducing the malaria burden in many places. WHO strongly encourages countries not to suspend the planning for or implementation of mosquito control activities, while ensuring these services are delivered using best practices to protect health workers and communities from COVID-19 infection. “The estimated number of malaria deaths in 2018 stood at 405,000, a similar number to the previous year. As per WHO, India contributes 77 per cent of cases in South-East Asia. The diagnosis of malaria depends on the symptoms along with physical examination and blood test. There is a variety of drugs now available for the treatment of malaria which should be taken under medical supervision only,” says Dr Santosh Datar, Medical Director, Ziqitza Healthcare. Look out for these signs and symptoms The common symptoms of malaria are chills, fever, sweating, headache, muscle pain, nausea and vomiting. Severe cases may exhibit symptoms such as jaundice, convulsions and coma especially with Falciparum malaria. Initial symptoms may be similar to many bacterial, viral and parasitic infections and that may pose a challenge for an accurate diagnosis. The symptoms may repeat every 48 to 72 hours with asymptomatic intervals. Since we are all under lockdown in India, here are some preventive measures of malaria you can follow by staying indoors: * Keep the windows and doors closed in the evening in mosquito-infested regions. * Have screens/wire mesh to cover windows and doors and check their integrity. * Use a mosquito net over your bed (Permethrin-coated nets, if available). * Use / plugin mosquito repellents to avoid mosquito bites. * Apply mosquito repellent to the exposed skin. * Empty and refill the flower vases regularly at least once a week. * Indoor residual spraying of walls may be another mosquito control measure. However, these measures should be followed not only during the lockdown period but under regular circumstances as well.
2 May 16:59 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/lifestyle/health/some-preventive-measures-of-malaria-you-can-follow-by-staying-indoors-6390266/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus 'more likely' to claim lives of people with vitamin D deficiency
People with vitamin D deficiency could be more likely to die from coronavirus, a study has suggested. As the UK continues following strict lockdown measures – which include restrictions on time outdoors – research has shown that a vitamin usually procured from natural sunlight could help boost Covid-19 survival rates. In the study, scientists from Queen Elizabeth Hospital Foundation Trust and the University of East Anglia write: “We believe, that we can advise Vitamin D supplementation to protect against SARS-CoV2 infection.” The paper, published on Research Square, states that vitamin D levels are found to be severely low in the ageing population, especially in Spain, Italy and Switzerland. This is also the group most vulnerable for Covid-19. It reads: "Severe deficiency is defined as a serum 25(OH)D lower than 30nmol/L. In Switzerland, mean vitamin D levels are 23(nmol/L) in nursing homes and in Italy 76% of women over 70 years of age have been found to have circulating levels below 30nmol/L. "These are countries with high number of cases of COVID–19 and the aging people is the group with the highest risk for morbidity and mortality with SARS-Cov2. "The research has not yet been peer-reviewed by other scientists and only offers up tentative evidence at this point." The authors of the paper also acknowledge: “The number of cases/country is affected by the number of tests performed.” Currently the NHS website recommends people consider taking 10 micrograms of vitamin D per day. It adds: “This is because you may not be getting enough vitamin D from sunlight if you’re indoors most of the day.” But while the NHS acknowledges emerging reports of vitamin D reducing the risk of coronavirus, it states that currently there is no evidence that this is the case. It also warns people to refrain from buying more vitamin D than they need. Last week, Dr Rachel Neale said that 10 minutes of sunshine a day could trigger the production of Vitamin D and potentially help reduce the risk of coronavirus, as she has found it does with other respiratory infections. Dr Neale, a researcher at Brisbane’s QIMR Berghofer Medical Research Institute, says it would "make sense" if having low levels of vitamin D left people more vulnerable to worse symptoms of coronavirus. However, she added that research was needed to confirm whether or not this is the case.
2 May 11:51 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/coronavirus-more-likely-claim-lives-21962628Rating: 2.39
What if we already have a coronavirus vaccine?
by Melinda Wenner MoyerAs the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, tens of thousands of people could die. But some scientists believe a vaccine might already exist. Surprising new research in a niche area of immunology suggests that certain live vaccines that have been around for decades could, possibly, protect against the coronavirus. The theory is that these vaccines could make people less likely to experience serious symptoms — or even any symptoms — if they catch it. At more than 25 universities and clinical centers around the world, researchers have begun clinical trials, primarily in health care workers, to test whether a live tuberculosis vaccine that has been in use for 99 years called the bacillus Calmette-Guérin, or B.C.G., vaccine, could reduce the risks associated with the coronavirus. Another small but esteemed group of scientists is raising money to test the potential protective effects of a 60-year-old live polio vaccine called O.P.V. It’s counterintuitive to think that old vaccines created to fight very different pathogens could defend against the coronavirus. The idea is controversial in part because it challenges the dogma about how vaccines work. But scientists’ understanding of an arm of immunology known as innate immunity has shifted in recent years. A growing body of research suggests that live vaccines, which are made from living but attenuated pathogens (as opposed to inactivated vaccines, which use dead pathogens) provide broad protection against infections in ways that no one anticipated. “We can’t be certain as to what the outcome will be, but I suspect it’ll have an effect” on the coronavirus, said Jeffrey Cirillo, a microbiologist and immunologist at Texas A&M University who is leading one of the B.C.G. trials. “Question is, how big will it be?” Scientists stress that these vaccines will not be a panacea. They might make symptoms milder, but they probably won’t eliminate them. And the protection, if it occurs, would most likely last only a few years. Still, “these could be a first step,” said Dr. Mihai Netea, an immunologist at Radboud University in the Netherlands who is leading another one of the trials. “They can be the bridge until you have the time to develop a specific vaccine.” The first evidence to suggest that live vaccines could be broadly protective trickled in nearly a century ago, but no one knew what to make of it. In 1927, soon after B.C.G. was rolled out, Carl Naslund of the Swedish Tuberculosis Society observed that children vaccinated with the live tuberculosis vaccine were three times less likely to die of any cause compared with kids who weren’t. “One is tempted to explain this very low mortality among vaccinated children by the idea that B.C.G. vaccine provokes a nonspecific immunity,” he wrote in 1932. Then, in clinical trials conducted in the 1940s and ’50s in the United States and Britain, researchers found that B.C.G. reduced nonaccidental deaths from causes other than tuberculosis by an average of 25 percent. Also in the 1950s, Russian researchers, including Marina Voroshilova of the Academy of Medical Science in Moscow, noticed that people who had been given the live polio vaccine, compared with people who hadn’t, were far less likely to fall ill with the seasonal flu and other respiratory infections. She and other scientists undertook a clinical trial involving 320,000 Russians to more carefully test these mysterious effects. They found that among individuals who had received the live polio vaccine, “the incidence of seasonal influenza was reduced by 75 percent,” said Konstantin Chumakov, Voroshilova’s son, who is now an associate director for research in the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review. Recent studies have produced similar findings. In a 2016 review of 68 papers commissioned by the World Health Organization, a team of researchers concluded that B.C.G., along with other live vaccines, “reduce overall mortality by more than would be expected through their effects on the diseases they prevent.” The W.H.O. has long been skeptical about these “nonspecific effects,” in part because much of the research on them has involved observational studies that don’t establish cause and effect. But in a recent report incorporating newer results from some clinical trials, the organization described nonspecific vaccine effects as “plausible and common.” Dr. Stanley Plotkin, a vaccinologist and emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania who developed the rubella vaccine but has no involvement in the current research, agreed. “Vaccines can affect the immune system beyond the response to the specific pathogen,” he said. Peter Aaby, a Danish anthropologist who has spent 40 years studying the nonspecific effects of vaccines in Guinea-Bissau, in West Africa, and whose findings have been criticized as implausible, is hopeful that these trials will be a tipping point for research in the field. “It’s kind of a golden moment in terms of actually having this taken seriously,” he said. The possibility that vaccines could have nonspecific effects is brow-furrowing in part because scientists have long believed that vaccines work by stimulating the body’s highly specific adaptive immune system. After receiving a vaccine against, say, polio, a person’s body creates an army of polio-specific antibodies that recognize and attack the virus before it has a chance to take hold. Antibodies against polio can’t fight off infections caused by other pathogens, though — so, based on this framework, polio vaccines should not be able to reduce the risk associated with other viruses, such as the coronavirus. But over the past decade, immunologists have discovered that live vaccines also stimulate the innate immune system, which is less specific but much faster. They have found that the innate immune system can be trained by live vaccines to better fight off various kinds of pathogens. For instance, in a 2018 study, Dr. Netea and his colleagues vaccinated volunteers with either B.C.G. or a placebo and then infected them all with a harmless version of the yellow fever virus. Those who had been given B.C.G. were better able to fight off yellow fever. Research by Dr. Netea and others shows that live vaccines train the body’s immune system by initiating changes in some stem cells. Among other things, the vaccines initiate the creation of tiny marks that help cells turn on genes involved in immune protection against multiple pathogens. This area of innate immunity “is one of the hottest areas in fundamental immunology today,” said Dr. Robert Gallo, the director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and co-founder of the Global Virus Network, a coalition of virologists from more than 30 countries. In the 1980s, Dr. Gallo helped to identify H.I.V. as the cause of AIDS. Dr. Gallo is leading the charge to test the O.P.V. live polio vaccine as a treatment for coronavirus. He and his colleagues hope to start a clinical trial on health care workers in New York City and Maryland within six weeks. O.P.V. is routinely used in 143 countries, but no longer in the United States. An inactivated polio vaccine was reintroduced here in 1997, in part because one out of every 2.7 million people who receive the live vaccine can actually develop polio from it. But O.P.V. does not pose this risk to Americans who have received a polio vaccine in the past. “We believe this is very, very, very safe,” Dr. Gallo said. It’s also inexpensive at 12 cents a dose, and is administered orally, so it doesn’t require needles. Some scientists have raised concerns over whether these vaccines could increase the risk for “cytokine storms” — deadly inflammatory reactions that have been observed in some people weeks after they have been infected with the coronavirus. Dr. Netea and others said that they were taking these concerns seriously but did not anticipate problems. For one thing, the vaccines will be given only to healthy people — not to people who are already infected. Also, B.C.G. may actually be able to ramp up the body’s initial immune response in ways that reduce the amount of virus in the body, such that an inflammatory response never occurs. It may “lead to less infection to start with,” said Dr. Moshe Arditi, the director of the Infectious and Immunological Diseases Research Center at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles, who is leading one of the trial arms. The science on this is still early days. Several pre-prints — scientific papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed — published over the past few months support the idea that B.C.G. could protect against the coronavirus. They have reported, for instance, that death rates are lower in countries that routinely vaccinate children with B.C.G. But these studies can be fraught with bias and difficult to interpret; it’s impossible to know whether the vaccinations, or something else, provided the protection. Such studies are “at the very bottom of the evidence hierarchy,” said Dr. Christine Stabell Benn, who is raising funds for a Danish B.C.G trial. She added that the protective effects of a dose of B.C.G given to adults decades ago, when they were infants, may well differ from the protective effects the vaccine could provide when given to adults during an outbreak. “In the end,” said Dr. Netea, “only the clinical trials will give the answer.” Thankfully, that answer will come very soon. Initial results from the trials that are underway may be available within a few months. If these researchers are right, these old vaccines could buy us time — and save thousands of lives — while we work to develop a new one.
2 May 07:16 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/international/world-news/what-if-we-already-have-a-coronavirus-vaccine/articleshow/75502684.cmsRating: 0.30
What if we already have a coronavirus vaccine?
As the world waits for a coronavirus vaccine, tens of thousands of people could die. But some scientists believe a vaccine might already exist. Surprising new research in a niche area of immunology suggests that certain live vaccines that have been around for decades could, possibly, protect against the coronavirus. The theory is that these vaccines could make people less likely to experience serious symptoms — or even any symptoms — if they catch it. At more than 25 universities and clinical centres around the world, researchers have begun clinical trials, primarily in health care workers, to test whether a live tuberculosis vaccine that has been in use for 99 years called the bacillus Calmette-Guerin, or BCG, vaccine, could reduce the risks associated with the coronavirus. Another small but esteemed group of scientists is raising money to test the potential protective effects of a 60-year-old live polio vaccine called OPV. It’s counterintuitive to think that old vaccines created to fight very different pathogens could defend against the coronavirus. The idea is controversial in part because it challenges the dogma about how vaccines work. But scientists’ understanding of an arm of immunology known as innate immunity has shifted in recent years. A growing body of research suggests that live vaccines, which are made from living but attenuated pathogens (as opposed to inactivated vaccines, which use dead pathogens) provide broad protection against infections in ways that no one anticipated. “We can’t be certain as to what the outcome will be, but I suspect it’ll have an effect” on the coronavirus, said Jeffrey Cirillo, a microbiologist and immunologist at Texas A & M University who is leading one of the BCG trials. “Question is, how big will it be?” Scientists stress that these vaccines will not be a panacea. They might make symptoms milder, but they probably won’t eliminate them. And the protection, if it occurs, would most likely last only a few years. Still, “these could be a first step,” said Dr. Mihai Netea, an immunologist at Radboud University in the Netherlands who is leading another one of the trials. “They can be the bridge until you have the time to develop a specific vaccine.” The first evidence to suggest that live vaccines could be broadly protective trickled in nearly a century ago, but no one knew what to make of it. In 1927, soon after BCG was rolled out, Carl Naslund of the Swedish Tuberculosis Society observed that children vaccinated with the live tuberculosis vaccine were three times less likely to die of any cause compared with kids who weren’t. “One is tempted to explain this very low mortality among vaccinated children by the idea that BCG vaccine provokes a non-specific immunity,” he wrote in 1932. Then, in clinical trials conducted in the 1940s and ‘50s in the United States and Britain, researchers found that BCG reduced non-accidental deaths from causes other than tuberculosis by an average of 25 per cent. Also in the 1950s, Russian researchers, including Marina Voroshilova of the Academy of Medical Science in Moscow, noticed that people who had been given the live polio vaccine, compared with people who hadn’t, were far less likely to fall ill with the seasonal flu and other respiratory infections. She and other scientists undertook a clinical trial involving 320,000 Russians to more carefully test these mysterious effects. They found that among individuals who had received the live polio vaccine, “the incidence of seasonal influenza was reduced by 75 per cent,” said Konstantin Chumakov, Voroshilova’s son, who is now an associate director for research in the US Food and Drug Administration’s Office of Vaccines Research and Review. Recent studies have produced similar findings. In a 2016 review of 68 papers commissioned by the World Health Organisation, a team of researchers concluded that BCG, along with other live vaccines, “reduce overall mortality by more than would be expected through their effects on the diseases they prevent.” The WHO has long been sceptical about these “non-specific effects,” in part because much of the research on them has involved observational studies that don’t establish cause and effect. But in a recent report incorporating newer results from some clinical trials, the organisation described non-specific vaccine effects as “plausible and common.” Dr. Stanley Plotkin, a vaccinologist and emeritus professor at the University of Pennsylvania who developed the rubella vaccine but has no involvement in the current research, agreed. “Vaccines can affect the immune system beyond the response to the specific pathogen,” he said. Peter Aaby, a Danish anthropologist who has spent 40 years studying the non-specific effects of vaccines in Guinea-Bissau, in West Africa, and whose findings have been criticised as implausible, is hopeful that these trials will be a tipping point for research in the field. “It’s kind of a golden moment in terms of actually having this taken seriously,” he said. The possibility that vaccines could have non-specific effects is brow-furrowing in part because scientists have long believed that vaccines work by stimulating the body’s highly specific adaptive immune system. After receiving a vaccine against, say, polio, a person’s body creates an army of polio-specific antibodies that recognise and attack the virus before it has a chance to take hold. Antibodies against polio can’t fight off infections caused by other pathogens, though — so, based on this framework, polio vaccines should not be able to reduce the risk associated with other viruses, such as the coronavirus. But over the past decade, immunologists have discovered that live vaccines also stimulate the innate immune system, which is less specific but much faster. They have found that the innate immune system can be trained by live vaccines to better fight off various kinds of pathogens. For instance, in a 2018 study, Dr. Netea and his colleagues vaccinated volunteers with either BCG or a placebo and then infected them all with a harmless version of the yellow fever virus. Those who had been given B.C.G. were better able to fight off yellow fever. Research by Dr. Netea and others shows that live vaccines train the body’s immune system by initiating changes in some stem cells. Among other things, the vaccines initiate the creation of tiny marks that help cells turn on genes involved in immune protection against multiple pathogens. This area of innate immunity “is one of the hottest areas in fundamental immunology today,” said Dr. Robert Gallo, the director of the Institute of Human Virology at the University of Maryland School of Medicine and co-founder of the Global Virus Network, a coalition of virologists from more than 30 countries. In the 1980s, Dr. Gallo helped to identify HIV as the cause of AIDS. Dr. Gallo is leading the charge to test the OPV live polio vaccine as a treatment for coronavirus. He and his colleagues hope to start a clinical trial on health care workers in New York City and Maryland within six weeks. OPV is routinely used in 143 countries, but no longer in the United States. An inactivated polio vaccine was reintroduced here in 1997, in part because one out of every 2.7 million people who receive the live vaccine can actually develop polio from it. But OPV does not pose this risk to Americans who have received a polio vaccine in the past. “We believe this is very, very, very safe,” Dr. Gallo said. It’s also inexpensive at 12 cents a dose, and is administered orally, so it doesn’t require needles. Some scientists have raised concerns over whether these vaccines could increase the risk for “cytokine storms” — deadly inflammatory reactions that have been observed in some people weeks after they have been infected with the coronavirus. Dr. Netea and others said that they were taking these concerns seriously but did not anticipate problems. For one thing, the vaccines will be given only to healthy people — not to people who are already infected. Also, BCG may actually be able to ramp up the body’s initial immune response in ways that reduce the amount of virus in the body, such that an inflammatory response never occurs. It may “lead to less infection to start with,” said Dr. Moshe Arditi, the director of the Infectious and Immunological Diseases Research Centre at Cedars-Sinai Medical Centre in Los Angeles, who is leading one of the trial arms. The science on this is still early days. Several pre-prints — scientific papers that have not yet been peer-reviewed — published over the past few months support the idea that BCG could protect against the coronavirus. They have reported, for instance, that death rates are lower in countries that routinely vaccinate children with BCG. But these studies can be fraught with bias and difficult to interpret; it’s impossible to know whether the vaccinations, or something else, provided the protection. Such studies are “at the very bottom of the evidence hierarchy,” said Dr. Christine Stabell Benn, who is raising funds for a Danish BCG trial. She added that the protective effects of a dose of BCG given to adults decades ago, when they were infants, may well differ from the protective effects the vaccine could provide when given to adults during an outbreak. “In the end,” said Dr. Netea, “only the clinical trials will give the answer.” Thankfully, that answer will come very soon. Initial results from the trials that are underway may be available within a few months. If these researchers are right, these old vaccines could buy us time — and save thousands of lives — while we work to develop a new one. — Melinda Wenner Moyer is a science and health writer and the author of a forthcoming book on raising children.
2 May 03:21 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/opinion/op-eds/what-if-we-already-have-a-coronavirus-vaccine-1.71284417Rating: 3.21
Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
3 May 17:42
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10 articles
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Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
OTTAWA - An Ottawa biotech company is voluntarily recalling a rapid test for COVID-19 after Health Canada expressed concern about its effectiveness, dealing a setback to expanded testing in the country. Spartan Bioscience said Sunday that the concerns centre around the proprietary swab used in the test, but that the Health Canada report out Friday did not raise concerns about the accuracy of the test reagents and portable analyzer device. The company said it would recall the 5,500 test shipped nationally and work on additional clinical studies to assess the sampling method and swab. "Spartan will be working as quickly as possible to address the concerns and bring its test to market," the company said in a statement. Spartan declined an interview request. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Sunday at a news conference that real-world trials of the test so far haven't delivered necessary outcomes. "While the Spartan system, or the device, performed very well in a laboratory setting, and along the specifications the manufacturer had provided, it was in the real-life setting, in the clinical setting, where it didn't perform well." Tam said the recall won't affect the national testing goal of 60,000 people a day, since that figure is based on systems already in use, but that it could affect the speed of further test increases and especially affect rural communities where local in-clinic tests would be especially useful. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government has moved to accelerate approvals for testing and other potentially life-saving measures, but also needs to be ready to respond quickly to new information. "That is why we are being as nimble as we possibly can to respond to what's working, to what perhaps isn't working as well as we hoped that it would, and we will always need to adjust every step of the way as new information comes in on a daily basis through this pandemic, through this crisis." Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. The federal government announced it had approved the hand-held DNA analyzer on April 13. The need for greater testing is widely acknowledged as key to understanding the true scope of COVID-19 infection in Canada, and how best to deploy suppression strategies. Canada was hoping to send the devices to remote and Indigenous communities where access and timely results have been hindered by distance and limited resources. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 17:42 • iNFOnews.ca • https://infotel.ca/newsitem/covid-testing/cp1656395835Rating: 0.30
Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
OTTAWA — An Ottawa biotech company is voluntarily recalling a rapid test for COVID-19 after Health Canada expressed concern about its effectiveness, dealing a setback to expanded testing in the country. Spartan Bioscience said Sunday that the concerns centre around the proprietary swab used in the test, but that the Health Canada report out Friday did not raise concerns about the accuracy of the test reagents and portable analyzer device. The company said it would recall the 5,500 test shipped nationally and work on additional clinical studies to assess the sampling method and swab. "Spartan will be working as quickly as possible to address the concerns and bring its test to market," the company said in a statement. Spartan declined an interview request. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Sunday at a news conference that real-world trials of the test so far haven't delivered necessary outcomes. "While the Spartan system, or the device, performed very well in a laboratory setting, and along the specifications the manufacturer had provided, it was in the real-life setting, in the clinical setting, where it didn't perform well." Tam said the recall won't affect the national testing goal of 60,000 people a day, since that figure is based on systems already in use, but that it could affect the speed of further test increases and especially affect rural communities where local in-clinic tests would be especially useful. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government has moved to accelerate approvals for testing and other potentially life-saving measures, but also needs to be ready to respond quickly to new information. "That is why we are being as nimble as we possibly can to respond to what's working, to what perhaps isn't working as well as we hoped that it would, and we will always need to adjust every step of the way as new information comes in on a daily basis through this pandemic, through this crisis." Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. The federal government announced it had approved the hand-held DNA analyzer on April 13. The need for greater testing is widely acknowledged as key to understanding the true scope of COVID-19 infection in Canada, and how best to deploy suppression strategies. Canada was hoping to send the devices to remote and Indigenous communities where access and timely results have been hindered by distance and limited resources. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 17:42 • KitchenerToday.com • https://www.kitchenertoday.com/national-news/rapid-test-for-covid-19-recalled-after-health-canada-expresses-concerns-2320735Rating: 0.30
Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
OTTAWA -- An Ottawa biotech company is voluntarily recalling a rapid test for COVID-19 after Health Canada expressed concern about its effectiveness, dealing a setback to expanded testing in the country. Spartan Bioscience said Sunday that the concerns centre around the proprietary swab used in the test, but that the Health Canada report out Friday did not raise concerns about the accuracy of the test reagents and portable analyzer device. The company said it would recall the 5,500 test shipped nationally and work on additional clinical studies to assess the sampling method and swab. "Spartan will be working as quickly as possible to address the concerns and bring its test to market," the company said in a statement. Spartan declined an interview request. Chief public health officer Dr. Theresa Tam said Sunday at a news conference that real-world trials of the test so far haven't delivered necessary outcomes. "While the Spartan system, or the device, performed very well in a laboratory setting, and along the specifications the manufacturer had provided, it was in the real-life setting, in the clinical setting, where it didn't perform well." Tam said the recall won't affect the national testing goal of 60,000 people a day, since that figure is based on systems already in use, but that it could affect the speed of further test increases and especially affect rural communities where local in-clinic tests would be especially useful. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said the federal government has moved to accelerate approvals for testing and other potentially life-saving measures, but also needs to be ready to respond quickly to new information. "That is why we are being as nimble as we possibly can to respond to what's working, to what perhaps isn't working as well as we hoped that it would, and we will always need to adjust every step of the way as new information comes in on a daily basis through this pandemic, through this crisis." Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. The federal government announced it had approved the hand-held DNA analyzer on April 13. The need for greater testing is widely acknowledged as key to understanding the true scope of COVID-19 infection in Canada, and how best to deploy suppression strategies. Canada was hoping to send the devices to remote and Indigenous communities where access and timely results have been hindered by distance and limited resources. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020.
3 May 15:51 • Coronavirus • https://www.ctvnews.ca/health/coronavirus/rapid-test-for-covid-19-recalled-after-health-canada-expresses-concerns-1.4922786Rating: 2.87
Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
Health Canada has restricted the use of a recently approved test for COVID-19 to research purposes only, leading to a recall. In a Sunday (May 3) email, Health Canada said it’s placed conditions of Spartan Biosciences’s authorization to restrict the use of the portable test until “adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided.” The test, which promised to provide results in under an hour and eliminated the need to travel to a lab, was approved on April 13. Ontario, Alberta, Quebec and the federal government had already ordered the tests. B.C. was not among the provinces that ordered the Ottawa-based company’s test. Spartan Bioscience said it as voluntarily recalling its test and performing additional studies. Spartan said Health Canada was concerned about the “efficacy of the proprietary swab” for the testing product. The company says Health Canada had no concerns about the accuracy and analytical performance of the product. On Sunday, chief medical officer Dr. Theresa Tam said this highlighted the importance of quality assurance. “It was in the real life setting that it didn’t perform well,” Tam said, noting the recall did not affect any patient diagnoses. READ MORE: Health Canada approves portable COVID-19 test that can provide results within an hour
3 May 15:55 • North Delta Reporter • https://www.northdeltareporter.com/news/rapid-test-for-covid-19-recalled-after-health-canada-expresses-concerns/Rating: 0.30
Rapid test for COVID-19 recalled after Health Canada expresses concerns
OTTAWA — A rapid test developed for COVID-19 has experienced a setback. Ottawa’s Spartan Bioscience says it is voluntarily recalling its COVID-19 product and performing additional studies after Health Canada expressed some concerns Friday. Spartan says Health Canada was concerned about the “efficacy of the proprietary swab” for the testing product. The company says Health Canada had no concerns about the accuracy and analytical performance of the product. Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. The federal government announced it had approved the hand-held DNA analyzer on April 13. The need for greater testing is widely acknowledged as key to understanding the true scope of COVID-19 infection in Canada, and how best to deploy suppression strategies. Canada was trying to send the devices to remote and Indigenous communities where access and timely results have been hindered by distance and limited resources. This report by The Canadian Press was first published May 3, 2020. The Canadian Press
3 May 15:38 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/03/rapid-test-for-covid-19-recalled-after-health-canada-expresses-concerns/Rating: 0.61
Health Canada restricts use of rapid COVID-19 test
Health Canada is limiting the use of a rapid COVID-19 test to research purposes only after the National Microbiology Laboratory found the device did not perform well with patients. During a news conference on Sunday, Canada’s Chief Public Health Officer Theresa Tam said Ottawa-based Spartan Bioscience's portable test kit was approved by Health Canada on April 11 on an interim order as part of a move to accelerate access to new forms of COVID-19 testing. However, Tam said the device, which is the size of a coffee cup, still had to be validated in clinical – or real-life – settings. Although the test kit performed well in labs, she said it did not perform well when used on patients at clinical sites in three provinces. “It may be related to the proprietary swab that goes with the system,” she said. “What Health Canada is doing is to amend the authorized intended use for research use only so that more clinical validation can be done once the manufacturer adjusts its system.” Asked whether the setback would impact Canada’s target of conducting 60,000 COVID-19 tests per day, Tam said that it will not because that target is based on lab tests not point-of-care tests. “Really, there’s been no use of this test kit in a way that would have impacted patient diagnostic outcomes because you’re doing this in the context of actual clinical trial evaluation,” she said. Spartan's test was approved to great fanfare at a time when Canada's testing capabilities were struggling to catch up with international jurisdictions that were seeing widespread testing contributing to downward trends in new COVID-19 cases. The test was intended to be used in rural and Indigenous communities that lack high-volume lab testing capabilities. It is automated and can be operated by non-laboratory personnel in a variety of settings. The kits use test cartridges and proprietary swabs and is manufactured in Ottawa. Anita Anand, minister of public services and procurement, added that the tests are not being recalled by the government. During the ministers' news conference, she explained that this turn of events is an expected part of the process of ramping up new forms of testing. “We were not expecting that they would be ready at this moment in any case,” she said, adding the product is not defective. “Spartan will continue to produce and review and revise the technology that it is producing for the rapid test kits and then, as the testing warrants, they will be able to be used across the country.” In a statement, Spartan said the company was made aware of the concerns around the test's proprietary swab on May 1, but the the National Microbiology Lab did not have “concerns regarding the accuracy and analytical performance of Spartan’s test reagents and portable DNA analyzer device.” Reagents are the chemicals used in COVID-19 testing. Spartan is voluntarily recalling the test kits to undertake additional clinical studies on the swab. The company said it has shipped 5,500 tests nationally for validation to provincial and federal government health agencies. Ontario purchased nearly 1 million test kits from Spartan prior to Health Canada's approval and Alberta Health Services have signed a $9.5-million contract for 250 handheld devices, along with 100,000 test kits. @KevinRitchie
3 May 13:10 • NOW • https://nowtoronto.com/lifestyle/health/health-canada-restricts-use-of-rapid-covid-19-test/Rating: 0.32
BMC temporarily suspends private testing for lab over delay in reports
The civic body has asked private laboratory, Thyrocare, to tests only swabs taken by BMC from suspected COVID-19 patients and temporarily stop all private testing. On April 22, BMC had issued a notice to the private lab over incomplete details of patients that led to difficulties in contact tracing at ward level. The lab had then provided details sought by the BMC on April 23 and was allowed to resume testing. On Saturday, Additional Municipal Commissioner Suresh Kakani, however, temporarily suspended private testing for the lab. “We have asked them to test only samples given by BMC. We will provide them over 200 samples daily. There was an issue of late reporting as they were taking swabs of more samples than their capacity,” Kakani said. “I have not seen the notification, even BMC didn’t inform us. We are not testing any asymptomatic patients after BMC’s order. This notification, if at all, is only applicable to Mumbai and suburban areas,” said Sachin Salve from Thyrocare.
3 May 22:02 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/mumbai/bmc-temporarily-suspends-private-testing-for-lab-over-delay-in-reports-6392492/Rating: 0.30
Rapid virus test recalled
OTTAWA - A rapid test developed for COVID-19 has experienced a setback. Ottawa's Spartan Bioscience says it is voluntarily recalling its COVID-19 product and performing additional studies after Health Canada expressed some concerns Friday. Spartan says Health Canada was concerned about the "efficacy of the proprietary swab" for the testing product. The company says Health Canada had no concerns about the accuracy and analytical performance of the product. Health Canada says the product is restricted to research use only until adequate evidence of clinical performance can be provided. The federal government announced it had approved the hand-held DNA analyzer on April 13. The need for greater testing is widely acknowledged as key to understanding the true scope of COVID-19 infection in Canada, and how best to deploy suppression strategies. Canada was trying to send the devices to remote and Indigenous communities where access and timely results have been hindered by distance and limited resources.
3 May 08:49 • Castanet • https://www.castanet.net/news/Canada/298974/Rapid-test-for-COVID-19-recalled-after-Health-Canada-expresses-concernsRating: 1.34
Results of indigenous test kits to be out soon
THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: At a time when the state is worried about community transmission of Covid-19, its plan to conduct community surveillance came a cropper due to the unavailability of rapid antibody test kits. However, Indian Council of Medical Research deputy director Dr Raman Gangakhedkar said that a validation exercise is currently on for three indigenously-developed kits. According to him, there will soon be a decision on the kits developed by Sree Chitra Tirunal Institute of Medical Sciences and Technology (SCTIMST), Rajiv Gandhi Centre for Biotechnology and HLL Lifecare Ltd. He said this while attending an online interaction conducted by the state Health Department. Said Dr B Ekbal, who heads the expert panel that advises the government on prevention of Coronavirus, “The state had meticulously worked out a plan to deal with community transmission. A couple of proposals was also there from the Achutha Menon Centre for Health Science Studies and the National Institute of Epidemiology. Unfortunately, rapid antibody kits are unavailable.” “What is needed is validation. Once it is received, all the three are ready to market their products. In fact, SCTIMST says it has the capacity to manufacture 75 lakh kits a month, enabling us to even send them to other states,” he added. Earlier, attending the interaction, Gangakhedkar said that India has evolved a strong Covid- 19 testing regime over the past three months and the country is now in a position to ramp up tests up to 1.25 lakh a day in the government sector.
3 May 06:39 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2020/may/03/results-of-indigenous-test-kits-to-be-out-soon-2138451.htmlRating: 2.04
COVID-19 swab testing lab begins operation
The much-awaited COVID-19 swab testing lab started its operation at the District Government Hospital here on Saturday after getting clearance from the government. According to officials, the lab has the capacity to test four samples every two hours and could test some 24 samples in a day. The district administration has decided to use the lab only for emergency cases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Infection, and Influenza-Like Illness or for those positive cases who have completed 14 days’ and have to be discharged after conducting final tests. Deputy Commissioner Y.S. Patil said that while the lab will be testing emergency cases, other samples would be sent to Bangaluru as usual. After the number of COVID-19 cases began rising in the district, the demand for opening a lab started gaining momentum. While the demand was first made before the previous district in-charge Minister B.C. Patil, it got met during the tenure of the present in-charge Minister Shashikala Jolle. During her last interaction with mediapersons here about a fortnight ago, she had promised to get a lab granted.
2 May 11:35 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/covid-19-swab-testing-lab-begins-operation/article31489056.eceRating: 0.30
Eurostar says its passengers must wear face masks
3 May 12:33
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12 articles
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Average IN: 4.674999999999999
Weighted average IN: 4.515691695695809
Eurostar says its passengers must wear face masks
Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against Covid-19, effective from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, “in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments”. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. It says any mask is “suitable” if it effectively covers the nose and mouth. The company has dramatically reduced its services connecting Brussels with Paris and London. There are currently only four trains a day.
3 May 12:33 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/world-news/2020/05/02/eurostar-says-its-passengers-must-wear-face-masks/Rating: 0.38
While Brits Are on Lockdown, 100,000 People From Abroad Arrive at Airports Every Week
While Brits remain on lockdown and most domestic flights are cancelled, it has been revealed that 100,000 people are arriving at British airports from abroad every single week. The detail was revealed in a London Times article about three British airports requiring passengers to cover their faces from this week onwards. “While most domestic flights are grounded, more than 100,000 passengers a week are still arriving at UK airports,” reports the newspaper. A policy for those arrivals to be asked to quarantine themselves for 14 days has yet to be put in place. The fact that Britain’s borders are still very much open despite the movements of the country’s population being tightly restricted is obviously a massive double standard. As we have previously highlighted, there have been numerous instances of police officers getting the lockdown law wrong and harassing people for perfectly legal behavior. In one case, a family received a police visit because their children were playing in their own front garden. Police surveillance drones have also been used to track people taking their dogs for a walk in remote countryside. Meanwhile, travelers from abroad are allowed straight in and immediately able to use Britain’s public transport network having gone through little or no health checks. SUBSCRIBE on YouTube:
3 May 17:33 • Infowars • https://www.infowars.com/while-brits-are-on-lockdown-100000-people-from-abroad-arrive-at-airports-every-week/Rating: 1.61
Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports will force travellers to wear masks to travel as Eurostar passengers face two-week quarantine in France
Manchester, Stansted and East Midlands airports will this week begin requiring travellers to wear face masks and gloves. The three airports are also trialling temperature checks and looking at plans to ask all passengers to make a health declaration before entering. Passengers will be expected to bring their own gloves and masks, but the airports will have some PPE supplies on standby. A Manchester Airport spokesman said: 'Manchester Airport can confirm it will be piloting various new safety measures that are being put in place across Manchester Airports Group (which also owns and operates Stansted and East Midlands) later this week. 'They are designed to help the small number of passengers currently making essential journeys through our airports feel safer and more confident about flying at this time.' It comes as the Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against Covid-19, effective from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, 'in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments'. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. Travellers to France, including French citizens returning home, will face a compulsory two-week quarantine and possible isolation when they arrive in the country to help slow the spread of coronavirus, the health minister said on Saturday. 'This quarantine will be imposed on any person returning on French soil,' Health Minister Olivier Veran told a press briefing after the weekly cabinet meeting. It was not immediately clear whether the quarantine would only apply to people arriving from outside Europe's open-border Schengen area, whether they would need to self-isolate at home or in hotels, and for how long the measures would be in place. The news of the requirement to wear a mask and gloves at the three UK airports comes as ministers have been accused of being 'slow to work with airports' on how air travel will function when the lockdown is lifted. The Department for Transport set up a taskforce - the Recovery and Restart Group - weeks ago to discuss what measures should be brought in but it is thought it failed to consult with airports. Charlie Cornish, boss of Manchester Airports Group told the Sunday Telegraph: 'Government has been slow to work with the UK aviation industry. It is vital we work together to establish a workable set of proposals. 'UK airports have put a package of measures on the table for discussion. We now need the Government to work urgently with airports and airlines to agree how we operate in the future.' If the public decide to go on last-minute summer holidays after lockdown is lifted it is feared that airports will struggle to cope with a wave of travellers. Michael O'Leary, the boss of Europe's biggest airline Ryanair said that he expects 'a rush to get to the beaches in July and August'. Last week it was disclosed that British officials were drawing up plans based on the 14-day 'stay home' notices currently issued to Singaporean citizens returning to their country from abroad. A poll then found overwhelming support for proposals for those flying into the UK to be asked to self-isolate for two weeks - with 92 per cent agreeing a scheme should be in place. An ORB International survey of 2,082 people found only four per cent of people disagreed that both British citizens and those from abroad should be 'forced to quarantine' for a period of two weeks after flying into UK airports. It comes as the debate over the effectiveness of wearing face masks rumbles on. This week at a daily press briefing the PM Boris Johnson said face masks will be 'useful' as part of coming out of lockdown, both for disease control and for making people feel safe on public transport. Current UK Government advice is for Britons to avoid all non-essential global travel indefinitely, but people are able to fly for other reasons such as to return home after being stranded overseas or if they are travelling for work.
3 May 08:55 • Mail Online • https://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/article-8281807/Manchester-Stansted-East-Midlands-airports-force-travellers-wear-masks-travel.html?ns_mchannel=rss&ns_campaign=1490&ito=1490Rating: 4.11
Many international train passengers required to wear masks from Monday
Train passengers traveling from the Netherlands through Belgium will be required to wear face masks during their journeys beginning on Monday. Dutch rail service NS, and international train operators Eurostar and Thalys all issued warnings about the new rule change over the weekend. Starting on May 4, all passengers on the Thalys headed to Belgium or France must have a mask in order to board the train. Homemade masks, medical masks, and respirators would all be acceptable and in keeping with guidelines provided by the Belgian authorities, the Thalys said. Eurostar strongly recommended people carry a mask with them when they travel. "If you don’t have a mask you may be refused travel on our services. We’d like to advise you that fines may be imposed in France and Belgium if you’re not wearing a mask," Eurostar said. "Any type of mask is suitable as long as it effectively covers your nose and mouth," Eurostar added. The NS also said passengers on international trains could use a cloth, scarf or shirt. The NS also recommended that people traveling to Germany wear mouth and nose protection, noting that different German states have different rules, but their is an obligation to cover the mouth and nose when using many forms of public transit there. From May 11, a mask or scarf covering both the nose and mouth will also be required when using public transit in France, the NS and Thalys said.
3 May 07:27 • NL Times • https://nltimes.nl/2020/05/03/many-international-train-passengers-required-wear-masks-mondayRating: 0.33
Eurostar passengers will have to wear face coverings from next week
Eurostar passengers will have to cover their faces to prevent the spread of coronavirus from Monday. Anyone refusing to do so may not be allowed to board services, the train operator announced last night. It says that any type of covering can be worn, provided it "effectively covers your nose and mouth". In a statement, the rail company has asked passengers to ensure they have masks before travelling. Eurostar says the safety measure applies on board its train and in stations, and is in line with French and Belgian government guidelines. For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, read our liveblog here Fines could be handed out to anyone without a covering in these countries. Eurostar is currently operating significantly reduced services to Paris and Brussels from London, due to travel restrictions in wake of the coronavirus pandemic. It comes after Cabinet Minister Michael Gove revealed that Britain is stockpiling face masks for use on public transport and in shops. The MP revealed that a "domestic effort" has been launched to produce masks that "limit the droplets that each of us might be responsible for", to slow the spread of the deadly virus. His commitment comes after Scottish First Minister Nicola Sturgeon gazumped the UK government in advising Scots to wear masks. She told her daily briefing that coverings should be worn in enclosed spaces, such as shops or on public transport. It is thought that her advice could also become UK-wide guidance in the coming days, although the government in Westminster has so far stopped short of it. Under plans to gradually begin easing lockdown measures in the coming weeks, ministers are also understood to be considering asking commuters to check their temperatures before boarding public transport.
2 May 23:47 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/eurostar-passengers-wear-face-coverings-21965323Rating: 2.39
Eurostar says all passengers must wear face masks from next week
Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against coronavirus from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, ‘in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments’. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. It says any mask is ‘suitable’ if it effectively covers the nose and mouth. The company has dramatically reduced its services connecting Brussels with Paris and London and there are currently only four trains a day. It comes after Boris Johnson said Britons will get new guidance over face masks next week. Under current guidelines, people are not advised to wear them unless they have symptoms of Covid-19 or are treating a patient. But there have been calls for this to be changed with evidence in some countries suggesting they can act as a defence against catching the virus when out and about. And the PM hinted usage may be made mandatory when out in public. Speaking at his first daily press briefing since his return to work, the PM said face masks will be ‘useful’ as part of coming out of lockdown, both for disease control and for making people feel safe on public transport. He said: ‘I think what SAGE is saying, and what I certainly agree with, is that as part of coming out of the lockdown, I do think that face coverings will be useful, both for epidemiological reasons but also for giving people confidence that they can go back to work and you be hearing more about that next week.’ Television doctor Hilary Jones told Good Morning Britain presenters Piers Morgan and Susanna Reid on Wednesday that ‘it makes sense’ to use face masks. ‘I think if it’s not possible to physically distance by two meters in enclosed spaces with other people who are strangers to you, it makes sense to cover your nose and mouth with some sort of covering,’ Dr Hilary said. ‘It’s especially important on public transport and in shops and pharmacies. ‘If you cough or sneeze, whether you’re symptomatic or not, you’re likely to expel large droplets of liquids which may contain the virus. ‘Anything that covers your nose and mouth can trap some of that, but not all of it, so you’re protecting other people if you wear a mask. ‘If you cough or sneeze due to hay fever when you are asymptomatically carrying the virus then a covering protects other people.’ Boris Johnson added the government will finally publish the UK’s exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown next week. He pledged to set out how to get the economy moving, reopen schools and allow people to travel back to work. Mr Johnson confirmed ‘for the first time’ that the country is now ‘past the peak’ and ‘on the downward slope’ on Thursday. Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
2 May 16:31 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/02/eurostar-said-passengers-must-wear-face-masks-next-week-12645728/Rating: 2.18
Eurostar says its passengers must wear face masks
Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against Covid-19, effective from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, “in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments”. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. It says any mask is “suitable” if it effectively covers the nose and mouth. The company has dramatically reduced its services connecting Brussels with Paris and London. There are currently only four trains a day.
2 May 13:32 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/02/eurostar-says-its-passengers-must-wear-face-masks/Rating: 0.30
Eurostar says its passengers must wear face masks
The move is to comply with guidelines from the French and Belgian governments. Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against Covid-19, effective from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, “in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments”. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. It says any mask is “suitable” if it effectively covers the nose and mouth. The company has dramatically reduced its services connecting Brussels with Paris and London. There are currently only four trains a day.
2 May 13:31 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/02/eurostar-says-its-passengers-must-wear-face-masks/Rating: 0.30
Eurostar says its passengers must wear face masks
Eurostar says all its passengers must wear face masks as a safeguard against Covid-19, effective from Monday. In a tweet in French and in English, the international high-speed train service says the policy will apply to both its trains and its stations, “in line with guidelines announced by the French and Belgian governments”. It warned passengers without a mask could be refused travel. It says any mask is “suitable” if it effectively covers the nose and mouth. The company has dramatically reduced its services connecting Brussels with Paris and London. There are currently only four trains a day.
2 May 13:30 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/world-news/eurostar-says-its-passengers-must-wear-face-masks-39175529.htmlRating: 1.21
Ferry passengers to remain in cars to reduce virus risk?
The operator is formulating a plan to reboot its passenger services when lockdown restrictions are eased. Although freight operations have continued, all passenger crossings were suspended on 24 March, and will not resume until at least 22 May. And new measures will be put in place to enable travellers to practise social-distancing, including capping the number of bookings per service and possibly allowing passengers to avoid the seating area. In today’s Saturday Interview (see page 10), the firm’s chief executive, Paul Luxon, said: ‘We had no option but to stop passenger services when France closed its borders and the UK and Channel Island governments banned non-essential travel, which effectively closed borders. ‘But we are now planning a reintroduction of passenger services. We are monitoring the position of the relevant governments. ‘When we do restart, we will significantly reduce the number of passengers and cars to give people more adequate space,’ said Mr Luxon. When asked if car passengers would be allowed to stay in their vehicles, he replied: ‘It is something we are exploring with the authorities which govern the operation of our high-speed craft. We are looking at this as an option for our shorter journeys.’ A number of travel firms have also announced measures to protect passengers when lockdowns are eased. Earlier this month easyJet, which operates flights between Jersey and several destinations including Gatwick, Manchester and Liverpool, said the middle seat would remain empty to enable passengers to practise social-distancing on flights. Mr Luxon said that one advantage ferries had over air travel was that it was easier for passengers to maintain distance between each other. ‘In an airport, you are in an enclosed and busy space and you are moved through to various areas such as check-in and eventually through to duty-free and the gate and then into this cigar-shaped metal tube, and you are surrounded by people. ‘Ports are much more open and there is much more outside space and obviously the ferries are much bigger. The whole experience is different.’ Mr Luxon said that he expected lower passenger numbers this year compared to 2019, but that there was also the possibility that figures could be boosted by UK holidaymakers choosing a ‘staycation’ in Jersey and Guernsey, rather than a foreign trip.
2 May 15:12 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/2020/05/02/ferry-passengers-to-remain-in-cars-to-reduce-virus-risk/Rating: 0.38
Qatar Airways still flying to many cities around the world
Doha: Qatar Airways is still operating flights to 35 cities around the world including London, Paris, Frankfurt, and Sydney, helping thousands of passengers get home safely. “We are still operating flights to 35 destinations around the world while upholding the safety and security of our passengers and employees at all times,” the airline said on Twitter. The airline also cautioned passengers that schedules may change at short notice as government around the world are imposing various restrictions on entry. It also urged travellers to check the entry restrictions of their destination country before travelling. “Please be advised that, due to the current operating context of entry restrictions imposed by governments to limit the spread of coronavirus, our schedules may change at short notice. Passengers are advised to check our real-time Flight Status page for the latest information,” Qatar Airways said in a statement on its website. “Please also note that a number of countries have issued restrictions on entry for overseas travellers. We strongly recommend all passengers check the information published by the Government of their destination country before travelling,” it added. The airports Qatar Airways currently serving are: Americas • Chicago O'Hare International Airport (ORD) • Dallas Fort Worth International Airport (DFW) • Montreal Pierre Elliott Trudeau International Airport (YUL) • São Paulo Guarulhos International Airport (GRU) • Washington Dulles International Airport (IAD) Asia and Pacific • Colombo Bandaranaike International Airport (CMB) • Bangkok Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) • Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) • Jakarta Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK) • Kuala Lumpur International Airport (KUL) • Manila Ninoy Aquino International Airport (MNL) • Melbourne Tullamarine Airport (MEL) • Perth Airport (PER) • Seoul Incheon International Airport (ICN) • Singapore Changi Airport (SIN) • Sydney Kingsford Smith Airport (SYD) • Tokyo Narita International Airport (NRT) Europe • Amsterdam Airport Schiphol (AMS) • Athens Eleftherios Venizelos International Airport (ATH) • Brussels Airport (BRU) • Copenhagen Airport (CPH) • Dublin Airport (DUB) • Frankfurt Airport (FRA) • Helsinki Vantaa International Airport (HEL) • London Heathrow Airport (LHR) • Manchester International Airport (MAN) • Munich Airport (MUC) • Oslo Gardermoen Airport (OSL) • Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport (CDG) • Rome Fiumicino International Airport (FCO) • Stockholm Arlanda Airport (ARN) • Vienna International Airport (VIE) • Zurich Airport (ZRH) Middle East • Kuwait International Airport (KWI) • Tehran Imam Khomeini International Airport (IKA) Read More776 new COVID-19 cases on May 2 as 98 recover Ministry of Public Health today announced 776 confirmed new cases of COVID-19, and 98 new recovered cases, bringing the total number of recovered cases in Qatar to 1,534 Read MoreTwo parked Qatar Airways planes collide due to strong winds on Thursday Qatar Airways announced through a statement posted on its account on Twitter, that due to the difficult weather conditions, with storms and high winds of 70 knots
2 May 14:18 • The Peninsula • https://thepeninsulaqatar.com/article/02/05/2020/Qatar-Airways-still-flying-to-many-cities-around-the-worldRating: 3.14
Wizz Air resumes overseas flights from Luton as passengers 'sit 2m apart'
Wizz Air has become the first European airline to restart commercial flights after services to Portugal, Hungary, Romania and Bulgaria left the UK yesterday. Passengers took off from Luton Airport wearing face masks and sitting two metres away from each other, Mail Online reports. The Hungarian budget airline has also removed in-flight magazines and brought in new cleaning measures to reduce the risk of travellers getting infected with coronavirus. Passengers are also being encouraged to make all payments via contactless card and to watch a new safety video. Wizz re-opened a number of routes from Luton, its UK base, on Friday after grounding flights due to the coronavirus pandemic. For the latest on the coronavirus pandemic, read our liveblog here Among the services which have now restarted are flights to and from Sofia in Bulgaria, Budapest and Lisbon. Many passengers are understood to be seasonal workers planning to help pick fruit and vegetables on British farms. Another plane left Gatwick for Cluj-Napoca in Romania last night. The company's chief executive Jozsef Varadi told the Aviation Week webcast earlier this week that around 10% of its fleet would be in the air by Friday. It is understood that the company hopes to restore flights to Tenerife and Tel Aviv next. Owain Jones, Wizz Air's UK managing director, said: "As we restart selected Luton flights to provide an essential service to passengers who need to travel, our primary concern is the health, safety and well-being of our customers and crew. "The protective measures that we are implementing will ensure the most sanitary conditions possible. "We encourage our customers to watch our new video on how to stay safe when travelling, as well as for more details on our new health and safety measures." Luton Airport confirmed in a statement that Wizz has resumed three routes. "The safety of our passengers and staff is our top priority and we continue to rigorously implement all Government guidance," a spokesman said. "Air links for both passengers and freight have been recognised as essential services and the Government has asked airports to remain open where possible to ensure they can continue. "The decision to operate individual routes is a matter for each airline. As well as adhering to travel restrictions in the country of travel passengers also need to follow those imposed in the UK." Current UK government advice is for Britons to avoid all non-essential global travel indefinitely. As a result numerous airlines have grounded nearly all their planes, with EasyJet flights suspended indefinitely and Ryanair saying a normal schedule will not be in place until June 17 at the earliest. Meanwhile British Airways is set to make up to 12,000 workers redundant due to Covid-19 travel restrictions. The airline's owner, International Airlines Group (IAG), announced the planned job cuts as it revealed that revenues plunged 13% in the first quarter of 2020.
2 May 04:03 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/wizz-air-resumes-overseas-flights-21961645Rating: 2.39
Daniel Pearl: Parents of murdered journalist launch appeal in Pakistan
3 May 07:53
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Weight: 1.76
Importance: 2.58
Age penalty: 0.68
Best date: 3 May 07:53
Average US: 4.699999999999999
Weighted average US: 10.462513902833274
Average GB: 13.55
Weighted average GB: 34.16653666628285
Average IN: 22.099999999999998
Weighted average IN: 25.988930459640486
Daniel Pearl: Parents of murdered journalist launch appeal in Pakistan
The parents of murdered US journalist Daniel Pearl have filed an appeal with Pakistan's Supreme Court to reverse a ruling overturning the convictions of four men in the case. Pearl was kidnapped and beheaded in 2002 while investigating Islamist militants in Karachi, Pakistan. Last month a court in Karachi overturned the death sentence of the man convicted of masterminding the killing, and acquitted three others. The ruling was widely condemned. Pearl was the Wall Street Journal's Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and killed. A graphic video of his killing was sent to the US consulate a month later. In a video statement, his father Judea Pearl said: "We have filed an appeal of this decision to the Pakistan Supreme Court. "We are standing up for justice not only for our son, but for all our dear friends in Pakistan so they can live in a society free of violence and terror and raise their children in peace and harmony." Their petition adds to one already filed by prosecutors. The accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is being held at Guantanamo Bay detention centre, has said he personally beheaded Pearl. Mohammed told US interrogators he killed the journalist with his "blessed right hand", according to the Pentagon. The confession was made under torture and Mohammed - whose trial date for the 11 September 2001 attacks has been set for next year - has not been charged with Pearl's murder. Shortly after their acquittal the four men - including the convicted mastermind Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh - were re-arrested. They will be held for at least three months as the appeals play out. Sheikh's death sentence had been reduced to seven years in prison for kidnapping. The Committee to Protect Journalists voiced its support for the appeal, and said that releasing the four men in the case "would only add to the threats facing journalists in Pakistan and deepen Pakistan's reputation as a haven for terrorists". Pearl went missing in January 2002. He had been researching links between Islamist militant activity in Karachi and Richard Reid, who tried to blow up a passenger plane using bombs hidden in his shoes. According to prosecutors, Sheikh lured him to a meeting with an Islamic cleric. The two had built up a relationship discussing concerns about their wives, who were both pregnant at the time. Almost a month later, a video showing the 38-year-old's beheading was sent to the US consulate in Karachi. Pearl's son, Adam, was born in May 2002. Sheikh was convicted of Pearl's murder in July 2002 by an anti-terrorism court, and has been on death row since. Sheikh was born in London in 1973, where he attended public school before going on to study at the London School of Economics. He did not graduate, failing to return after driving aid to conflict-wracked Bosnia after his first year. He was arrested for involvement in the kidnapping of four tourists - three British and one American - in Delhi in 1994. Sheikh was released from prison as part of demands by militants who hijacked a plane in 1999. According to news agency Reuters, police in India later accused him of transferring money to one of the militants who flew a plane into the World Trade Center on 9/11.
3 May 07:53 • BBC News • https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-asia-52518015Rating: 4.85
Daniel Pearl: Parents of murdered journalist launch appeal in Pakistan
The parents of murdered US journalist Daniel Pearl have filed an appeal with Pakistan's Supreme Court to reverse a ruling overturning the convictions of four men in the case. Pearl was kidnapped and beheaded in 2002 while investigating Islamist militants in Karachi, Pakistan. Last month a court in Karachi overturned the death sentence of the man convicted of masterminding the killing, and acquitted three others. The ruling was widely condemned. Pearl was the Wall Street Journal's Asia bureau chief when he was abducted and killed. A graphic video of his killing was sent to the US consulate a month later. In a video statement, his father Judea Pearl said: "We have filed an appeal of this decision to the Pakistan Supreme Court. "We are standing up for justice not only for our son, but for all our dear friends in Pakistan so they can live in a society free of violence and terror and raise their children in peace and harmony." Their petition adds to one already filed by prosecutors. The accused mastermind of the 9/11 attacks, Khalid Sheikh Mohammed, who is being held at Guantanamo Bay detention centre, has said he personally beheaded Pearl. Mohammed told US interrogators he killed the journalist with his "blessed right hand", according to the Pentagon. The confession was made under torture and Mohammed - whose trial date for the 11 September 2001 attacks has been set for next year - has not been charged with Pearl's murder. Shortly after their acquittal the four men - including the convicted mastermind Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh - were re-arrested. They will be held for at least three months as the appeals play out. Sheikh's death sentence had been reduced to seven years in prison for kidnapping. The Committee to Protect Journalists voiced its support for the appeal, and said that releasing the four men in the case "would only add to the threats facing journalists in Pakistan and deepen Pakistan's reputation as a haven for terrorists". Pearl went missing in January 2002. He had been researching links between Islamist militant activity in Karachi and Richard Reid, who tried to blow up a passenger plane using bombs hidden in his shoes. According to prosecutors, Sheikh lured him to a meeting with an Islamic cleric. The two had built up a relationship discussing concerns about their wives, who were both pregnant at the time. Almost a month later, a video showing the 38-year-old's beheading was sent to the US consulate in Karachi. Pearl's son, Adam, was born in May 2002. Sheikh was convicted of Pearl's murder in July 2002 by an anti-terrorism court, and has been on death row since. Sheikh was born in London in 1973, where he attended public school before going on to study at the London School of Economics. He did not graduate, failing to return after driving aid to conflict-wracked Bosnia after his first year. He was arrested for involvement in the kidnapping of four tourists - three British and one American - in Delhi in 1994. Sheikh was released from prison as part of demands by militants who hijacked a plane in 1999. According to news agency Reuters, police in India later accused him of transferring money to one of the militants who flew a plane into the World Trade Center on 9/11.
3 May 07:53 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/daniel-pearl-parents-murdered-journalist-225046690.htmlRating: 0.30
Daniel Pearl's parents approach Pakistan Supreme Court against acquittal of accused in their son's murder case
The parents of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl on Saturday filed an appeal to Pakistan's Supreme Court seeking reversal of the Sindh High Court verdict that overturned convictions of four men in their son's kidnapping and murder case. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country's powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. On April 2, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench overturned the death sentence of British-born 46-year-old al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of Pearl in 2002. He has been in jail for the past 18 years. The court also acquitted his three aides - Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil- serving life sentences in the case. The bench announced the verdict on the appeals filed by the four convicts 18 years ago. Two criminal petitions have been filed by renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi on behalf of the parents - Ruth Pearl and Judie Pearl - against the acquittal and release of the four accused, the Express Tribune reported on Saturday. "The decision by the Sindh High Court to free the men in the murder of Daniel Pearl is a complete miscarriage of justice. It is a defining case for the Pakistani state and its judicial system, involving freedom of the press, the sanctity of every life, freedom from terror and the manifestation of a welcoming and safe Pakistan to the world. Rarely has any court case embodied and risked such fundamental values,” the lawyer said. According to the petition, the Sindh High Court has failed to note that this was a brutal murder as a result of international terrorism and the principle of the standard of proof, as well as the benefit of doubt in cases of international terrorism, has to be applied keeping in the context that the nature and type of evidence available in such terrorism cases cannot be equated with cases involving non-terrorism crimes. "Therefore, it is obvious and apparent that the impugned judgment is clearly erroneous because it is fundamentally based on a misinterpretation of law and misreading of the entire record of Special Case No.26 of 2002,” the petition stated, and added that the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside. The petition stated that the court further erred in failing to take into consideration that Sheikh has a history of involvement in international terrorism. The petition further states that keeping in mind the arguments, the judgment is fundamentally based on a misinterpretation of the law and on a misreading and selective reading of the entire record of the case. Siddiqi further added in the petition submitted that the provincial high court’s judgment, has itself held that the present case is a “very sensitive case where a foreign journalist was murdered in the most brutal circumstances that would have spread terror amongst other foreigners in Pakistan and the journalist community as a whole”. "Therefore, in light of its own finding and the strong incriminating evidence establishing the case for kidnapping for ransom of the deceased person, Sindh High Court has erred in giving the aforementioned findings,” said the petition. Two days after the Sindh High Court overturned Sheikh's conviction on April 2, the Sindh government invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep the convicts in jail. Pearl's murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. The Sindh government filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court decision on April 22, and on April 28 asked for an early hearing. "The matter is of great urgency, therefore, the application for the suspension of April 2 Sindh High Court judgement be heard as early as possible," it said in its application.
2 May 20:13 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/daniel-pearls-parents-approach-pakistan-supreme-court-against-acquittal-of-accused-in-their-sons-murder-case-832787.htmlRating: 2.25
Daniel Pearl case | Late scribe’s parents approach Pakistan SC against acquittal of accused
The parents of slain American journalist Daniel Pearl on Saturday filed an appeal to Pakistan’s Supreme Court seeking reversal of the Sindh High Court verdict that overturned convictions of four men in their son’s kidnapping and murder case. Also read:Opinion | Mockery of justice Mr. Pearl, the 38-year-old South Asia bureau chief for The Wall Street Journal, was abducted and beheaded while he was in Pakistan investigating a story in 2002 on the alleged links between the country’s powerful spy agency ISI and al-Qaeda. On April 2, a two-judge Sindh High Court bench overturned the death sentence of British-born 46-year-old al-Qaeda leader Ahmed Omar Saeed Sheikh, who was convicted in the abduction and murder of Pearl in 2002. He has been in jail for the past 18 years. The court also acquitted his three aides — Fahad Naseem, Salman Saqib and Sheikh Adil — serving life sentences in the case. The bench announced the verdict on the appeals filed by the four convicts 18 years ago. Two criminal petitions have been filed by renowned lawyer Faisal Siddiqi on behalf of the parents — Ruth Pearl and Judie Pearl — against the acquittal and release of the four accused, the Express Tribune reported on Saturday. “The decision by the Sindh High Court to free the men in the murder of Daniel Pearl is a complete miscarriage of justice. It is a defining case for the Pakistani state and its judicial system, involving freedom of the press, the sanctity of every life, freedom from terror and the manifestation of a welcoming and safe Pakistan to the world. Rarely has any court case embodied and risked such fundamental values, the lawyer said. Also read:Daniel Pearl murder: U.S. slams Pakistan court’s overturning of death sentence, calls it ‘affront’ to victims of terrorism According to the petition, the Sindh High Court has failed to note that this was a brutal murder as a result of international terrorism and the principle of the standard of proof, as well as the benefit of doubt in cases of international terrorism, has to be applied keeping in the context that the nature and type of evidence available in such terrorism cases cannot be equated with cases involving non-terrorism crimes. “Therefore, it is obvious and apparent that the impugned judgment is clearly erroneous because it is fundamentally based on a misinterpretation of law and misreading of the entire record of Special Case No.26 of 2002, the petition stated, and added that the impugned judgment is liable to be set aside. The petition stated that the court further erred in failing to take into consideration that Sheikh has a history of involvement in international terrorism. The petition further states that keeping in mind the arguments, the judgment is fundamentally based on a misinterpretation of the law and on a misreading and selective reading of the entire record of the case. Mr. Siddiqi further added in the petition submitted that the provincial high court’s judgment, has itself held that the present case is a very sensitive case where a foreign journalist was murdered in the most brutal circumstances that would have spread terror amongst other foreigners in Pakistan and the journalist community as a whole . “Therefore, in light of its own finding and the strong incriminating evidence establishing the case for kidnapping for ransom of the deceased person, Sindh High Court has erred in giving the aforementioned findings, said the petition. Two days after the Sindh High Court overturned Sheikh’s conviction on April 2, the Sindh government invoked the Maintenance of Public Order to keep the convicts in jail. Mr. Pearl’s murder took place three years after Sheikh, along with Jaish-e-Mohammad chief Masood Azhar and Mushtaq Ahmed Zargar, was released by India in 1999 and given safe passage to Afghanistan in exchange for the nearly 150 passengers of hijacked Indian Airlines Flight 814. He was serving prison term in India for kidnappings of Western tourists in the country. The Sindh government filed an appeal to the Supreme Court against the High Court decision on April 22, and on April 28 asked for an early hearing. “The matter is of great urgency, therefore, the application for the suspension of April 2 Sindh High Court judgement be heard as early as possible,” it said in its application.
2 May 13:59 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/international/daniel-pearl-case-late-scribes-parents-approach-pakistan-sc-against-acquittal-of-accused/article31490033.eceRating: 0.30
Keith Lemon breaks silence as Holly Willoughby quits Celebrity Juice
3 May 15:02
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4 articles
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Keith Lemon breaks silence as Holly Willoughby quits Celebrity Juice
Keith Lemon has broken his silence following the news that Holly Willoughby has quit Celebrity Juice after 12 years. The comedian paid tribute to his former team captain shortly after she confirmed that was stepping down from the ITV panel show in a lengthy statement, and shared a heartfelt video of all their best bits and photographs together. Alongside the clip, Keith wrote: ‘Goodbye @hollywilloughby. ‘I’ve had a lovely time working with you. You are the best! I hope I’m lucky enough to work with you again one day. ‘If I don’t see ya through the week I’ll see ya through the window. Big hugs KL x’ Holly announced her departure from the series hours after rumours had circulated that she had quit. ‘Thank you Celebrity Juice for 12 years of fantastic chaos… I can’t quite believe what we’ve done and how quick that time has gone,’ she penned. ‘ Thank you to you all for watching..we’ve always had the loudest and best audiences. ‘Also a huge thank you to ITV2 for believing in the show in the first place and for all of your support…Over the years the production team has changed, however to anyone lucky enough to have worked on the show, they will know that we really do have the best time, it’s never felt like work and always been to me like a night out..’ Holly went on to add: ‘Thank you for making me laugh for twelve years… I’ll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check… if I don’t see you through a week or next week or the week after… know you are always in my heart..’ It’s not yet been confirmed who will be replacing Holly on the show, but Our Girl star Michelle Keegan is currently the bookies favourite. Got a story? If you’ve got a celebrity story, video or pictures get in touch with the Metro.co.uk entertainment team by emailing us celebtips@metro.co.uk, calling 020 3615 2145 or by visiting our Submit Stuff page – we’d love to hear from you.
3 May 15:02 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/keith-lemon-breaks-silence-holly-willoughby-quits-celebrity-juice-12648357/Rating: 2.18
Holly Willoughby's heartfelt message as she quits Celebrity Juice
Holly Willoughby's paid an emotional tribute to her co-stars and fans as she quit Celebrity Juice. The This Morning star has been a team captain on the ITV2 show - which is fronted by Keith Lemon - since it started more than 12 years ago. Holly, 39, said in her announcement on Instagram that "all good things must come to an end" and that "nothing lasts for ever." Alongside a collage of photos from her time on the panel show, she wrote to her 6.6m followers: "Thank you @celebjuiceofficial for 12 years of fantastic chaos... "I can’t quite believe what we’ve done and how quick that time has gone. "Thank you to you all for watching..we’ve always had the loudest and best audiences." The mum-of-three goes on to say: "It's never felt like work and always been to me like a night out... Thank you for all your ingenious ideas and hard work... all good things must come to an end and nothing lasts forever... "It's time for me to hand over my team captain seat to some lucky lucky person... whoever that is, know you are about to get one of the best jobs in telly working with one of comedies finest... @keithlemon ..." Paying tribute to the show's host she continued: "Where to begin... I remember starting this journey with you and saying ‘I think this might work’... my goodness me it did... three friends, you me and @fearnecotton ... and that is what is at the heart of it.. friendship... I love the bones of you Lemon! "Thank you for making me laugh for twelve years... I’ll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check... "If I don’t see you through a week or next week or the week after... know you are always in my heart...," she ended the post in a nod to Keith's show phrase. Fearne Cotton, 38, quit the long-running series back in 2018. Keith responded to the post: "I’m in tears x" And fans are gutted she's leaving the chaotic show too. "Won't be the same without you Holly," one said. Another commented: "Always loved the show! Not been the same without Fearne and will be even worse without you Holly." "Noooooooooooooooo this can’t be won’t be the same," echoed a third. Keith had already paid tribute to Holly before her announcement with a rather sweary video clip that he shared on Instagram. In the short clip, Keith is seen reacting in shock as Holly screamed “F***!” at the camera. He captioned the video: "Love this woman. What an incredible sport. Always willing to get her hands dirty and join in. One of the boys but all woman. "A wicked sense of humour and very easy to look at. Don't look into her eyes though, cos she can make you do anything. What a lady!" He added: "The one and only @hollywilloughby face of an angel but can have the potty mouth of... well me I guess."
3 May 12:25 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/showbiz-news/holly-willoughbys-heartfelt-message-quits-18191549Rating: 1.15
Holly Willoughby's final Celebrity Juice episode already filmed as she quits show
Keith Lemon has confirmed that Holly Willoughby's final episode of Celebrity Juice has already been filmed. Holly announced she had quit the ITV2 series after 12 years on Sunday, leaving viewers gutted. She follows former co-stars Fearne Cotton and Rufus Hound who have also left in recent years, while Keith is the only original cast member remaining. Keith took to social media to say goodbye to his close friend after her decision was made public. He wrote: "I’ve had a lovely time working with you. You are the best! I hope I’m lucky enough to work with you again one day. Goodbye @hollywills x." Now, he appears to have confirmed that Holly's final Celebrity Juice has been filmed. The show has been recorded differently this series due to the coronavirus lockdown, and studio filmed episodes halting in March. The team including new panellist Mel B all returned and filmed the show from their homes to meet social distancing rules, and the last episodes of the series are filmed in the same way. As fans took to Twitter to share their sadness, many asked Keith about whether there would be a goodbye show for Holly. One viewer told him directly: "Keith we need a goodbye show..best bits...cakie..ect ect ect..x." Keith replied, confirming it was already filmed - while later tweeting to another fan that there weren't many episodes left in the current series. He said: "Filmed it already. Shame it was whilst lockdown was happening. No hugs." Keith later tweeted: "One more juice next week then a comp show then that’s it." While many viewers fear this is the end of the show, Keith appeared to suggest otherwise as he continued to tweet as though the show will go on without Holly - amid speculation Michelle Keegan may replace her. Keith was also forced to remind people Holly was quitting the show and not TV in general, while Holly herself revealed she would return for appearances on the series. He said: "Don’t worry you’ll get more Holly. She isn’t stopping telly Just not on celeb juice anymore. Sad times." Meanwhile, Holly revealed: "I'll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check... if I don’t see you through a week or next week or the week after... know you are always in my heart." Celebrity Juice continues on Thursday at 10pm on ITV2.
3 May 15:59 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/tv/tv-news/holly-willoughbys-final-celebrity-juice-21967247Rating: 2.39
Holly Willoughby says ‘all good things come to an end’ as she pays tribute to Keith Lemon after quitting Celebrity Juice
HOLLY Willoughby has paid a heartfelt tribute to Celebrity Juice and its host Keith Lemon after quitting the show. The TV star shared a collection of her best times with Keith on Instagram and wrote how "all good things must come to an end". She said: "Thank you @celebjuiceofficial for 12 years of fantastic chaos... I can’t quite believe what we’ve done and how quick that time has gone. "Thank you to you all for watching.. we’ve always had the loudest and best audiences. "...it’s never felt like work and always been to me like a night out... Thank you for all your ingenious ideas and hard work... all good things must come to an end and nothing lasts forever... Holly told her yet to be named successor they were in for an incredible time. She continued: "It’s time for me to hand over my team captain seat to some lucky lucky person... whoever that is, know you are about to get one of the best jobs in telly working with one of comedies finest... @keithlemon ... "Where to begin... I remember starting this journey with you and saying ‘I think this might work’... my goodness me it did... three friends, you me and @fearnecotton ... and that is what is at the heart of it.. friendship... "I love the bones of you Lemon! Thank you for making me laugh for twelve years... I’ll be back as a guest and just to make sure someone is keeping you in check... if I don’t see you through a week or next week or the week after... know you are always in my heart... ❤️." Last night The Sun exclusively revealed quit the comedy game show after 12 years. The TV presenter, 39, who has three children with her producer husband Dan Baldwin, 45, wants to spend more time with her family. Holly told the ITV2 show’s producers about her decision last week after filming several lockdown editions with host Leigh Francis, 47. Since launching the panel series in 2008 Holly — mum to Harry, ten, Belle, eight, and Chester, five — has become one of the UK’s most successful female TV presenters. She fronts ITV daytime show This Morning, alongside Phillip Schofield, 58, and filled in for Ant McPartlin, 44, two years ago on I’m A Celebrity . . . Get Me Out Of Here. Holly’s decision to quit Celebrity Juice comes after pal and fellow panellist Fearne Cotton, 38, left the series in 2018 to focus on new projects. A TV source said: “Holly has absolutely loved her time on the show — it’s been a huge part of her life, and has really helped to expand her fanbase over the years. “But she feels now is the right time to bow out and wants to free up a bit more of her busy schedule to spend with her family. “She’s still the best of pals with Leigh Francis and will continue to support the series.” Yesterday comic Leigh posted a touching tribute to the star on his alias Keith Lemon’s Instagram page. He wrote: “Love this woman. What an incredible sport. Always willing to get her hands dirty and join in. “One of the boys but all woman. A wicked sense of humour and very easy to look at. “Don’t look into her eyes though, ’cos she can make you do anything. What a lady! King of the ladies! “The queen of the milk beasts! The one and only @hollywilloughby face of an angel but can have the potty mouth of . . . well me I guess. "Super rad! Super nice! My mate! “I salute all your wonderfulness. Massive hugs.” Holly replied: “Aww . . . what a lovely thing to say . . . love you Lemon.”
3 May 09:31 • The Scottish Sun • https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/tvandshowbiz/5556752/holly-willoughby-keith-lemon-quits-celebrity-juice/Rating: 0.30
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
3 May 12:46
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14 articles
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Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organisation.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the Covid-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.”
3 May 12:46 • DAWN.COM • https://www.dawn.com/news/1554195Rating: 2.87
Journalism has effectively become a crime in Egypt in past 4 years: Report
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Donald Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.”
3 May 13:08 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/journalism-has-effectively-become-a-crime-in-egypt-in-past-4-years-report/story-4tfheKeFyRL9x1AzpqTu8M.htmlRating: 0.30
Journalism now ‘a crime’ in Egypt – Amnesty report
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International has said in a report. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organisation”. Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. One directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not adhere to the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work”.
3 May 12:38 • Jersey Evening Post • https://jerseyeveningpost.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/journalism-now-a-crime-in-egypt-amnesty-report/Rating: 0.38
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government's escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt's television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country's intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn't spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry's coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt's public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt's crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump's proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan's violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state's political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work."
3 May 08:16 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/international/world-news-politics/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-press-crackdown-832926.htmlRating: 2.25
Saudi residents spreading ‘fake news’ face five years’ jail
CAIRO: Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday.As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis.“The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director.Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent.An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds.Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah El-Sisi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service.But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said.One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.”Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported.The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and El-Sisi have cultivated close ties.Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.”Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.”
3 May 06:07 • Arab News • https://www.arabnews.com/node/1668851/mediaRating: 1.72
Journalism has become a crime in Egypt: Amnesty International
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International has said in a new report. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information instead of upholding transparency during the crisis, according to the London-based rights group's report on Sunday. "The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished," said Philip Luther, Amnesty's Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists arrested in the government's escalating crackdown on press freedom, many charged with "spreading false news" or "misusing social media" under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. Marking World Press Freedom Day on Sunday, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists - and to release those held "solely for carrying out their work". There was no comment by Egypt's government but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Among the media workers imprisoned in Egypt is Al Jazeera's Mahmoud Hussein, a Doha-based journalist who was arrested in 2016 during a visit to his family in Cairo. He has been detained without charge for more than 1,200 days, and there are concerns for his health during the coronavirus pandemic. Mostefa Souag, Al Jazeera Media Network's director general, called on the world leaders in a letter published on Sunday to join "the call to action for the immediate release of Mahmoud Hussein and all other journalists imprisoned around the world". "At Al Jazeera we stand in solidarity with all our colleagues in the media," he said. "We believe that no journalist should be intimidated, persecuted or imprisoned for carrying out their duty. We believe in the fundamental truth that freedom of speech is the very basic building block to uphold the values of democracy." Mahmoud Hussein has been detained without a charge for more than 1,200 days [Al Jazeera] Since general-turned-President Abdel Fattah el-Sisi seized power in 2013, most of Egypt's television programmes and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately-owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country's intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice has not spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, Amnesty's report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the health ministry's coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly arrested on suspicion of "joining a terrorist organisation". Egypt's public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread "false news" about the coronavirus pandemic may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have so far been caught up in the coronavirus-motivated crackdown, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt's crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and what to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle United States President Donald Trump's proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan's violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sisi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not tow the official line, including praising prison conditions and smearing the state's political opponents, "lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned", one journalist was quoted as saying by Amnesty. "I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply."
3 May 07:56 • Aljazeera • https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/05/journalism-crime-egypt-amnesty-international-200503063513164.htmlRating: 2.44
Amnesty Reports Chilling Details of Egypt's Press Crackdown Amid Coronavirus Pandemic
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished," said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Coronavirus tracker: Live statistics of cases and deaths in Israel and around the world >> Latest coronavirus stories Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi's rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country's intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt's crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state's political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work."
3 May 08:59 • Haaretz • https://www.haaretz.com/middle-east-news/egypt/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-s-press-crackdown-amid-coronavirus-1.8815887Rating: 1.13
Journalism now ‘a crime’ in Egypt – Amnesty report
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International has said in a report. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice has not spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organisation”. Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. One directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not adhere to the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work”.
3 May 02:51 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-03/journalism-now-a-crime-in-egypt-amnesty-report/Rating: 0.88
Journalism now ‘a crime’ in Egypt – Amnesty report
Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International has said in a report. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice has not spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organisation”. Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. One directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not adhere to the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work”.
3 May 02:49 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/journalism-now-a-crime-in-egypt-amnesty-report/Rating: 0.30
Journalism now ‘a crime’ in Egypt – Amnesty report
Marking World Press Freedom day on Sunday, the human rights group has condemned the Egyptian government’s increasing clampdowns on the media. Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International has said in a report. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice has not spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organisation”. Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. One directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not adhere to the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work”.
3 May 02:49 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/journalism-now-a-crime-in-egypt-amnesty-report/Rating: 0.30
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
CAIRO — Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.” The Associated Press
3 May 00:02 • 680News • https://www.680news.com/2020/05/02/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-press-crackdown/Rating: 0.61
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
CAIRO (AP) — Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. Advertising But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.” The Associated Press
2 May 17:01 • The Seattle Times • https://www.seattletimes.com/nation-world/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-press-crackdown/Rating: 0.74
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
CAIRO — Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported. The journalists interviewed by Amnesty reported increasingly direct state intervention in their coverage. Many working for government-owned or aligned papers said they receive specific instructions via WhatsApp on what to report and to omit. For instance, a directive on how to handle President Trump’s proposal to end the Israeli-Palestinian conflict this year asked reporters not to mention the plan’s violations of long-standing Arab policies, as Trump and el-Sissi have cultivated close ties. Those who do not hew the official line, such as by praising prison conditions and smearing the state’s political opponents, “lost their jobs, were interrogated or imprisoned,” one journalist was quoted as saying. “I cannot even imagine that someone could refuse to comply.” Marking World Press Freedom Day, Amnesty urged Egyptian authorities to halt their censorship, harassment and intimidation of journalists — and to release those detained “solely for carrying out their work.” The Associated Press
2 May 13:02 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-press-crackdown/Rating: 0.77
Amnesty reports chilling details of Egypt press crackdown
CAIRO (AP) - Journalism in Egypt has effectively become a crime over the past four years, as authorities clamp down on media outlets and muzzle dissent, Amnesty International said in a report released Sunday. As the number of coronavirus infections in Egypt continues to rise, the government is strengthening its control over information, the London-based rights group said, instead of upholding transparency during the public health crisis. “The Egyptian authorities have made it very clear that anyone who challenges the official narrative will be severely punished,” said Philip Luther, Amnesty’s Middle East and North Africa director. Amnesty documented 37 cases of journalists detained in the government’s escalating crackdown on press freedoms, many charged with “spreading false news” or “misusing social media” under a broad 2015 counterterrorism law that has expanded the definition of terror to include all kinds of dissent. An Egyptian press officer did not respond to multiple calls seeking comment, but authorities have previously denied rights violations and justified arrests on national security grounds. Following general-turned-president Abdel Fattah el-Sissi’s rise to power in 2013, most of Egypt’s television programs and newspapers have taken the government position and steered clear of criticism, or else disappeared. Many privately owned Egyptian news outlets have been quietly acquired by companies affiliated with the country’s intelligence service. But even a pro-government voice hasn’t spared 12 journalists working for state-owned media outlets, who have landed in jail for expressing various private views on social media, the report said. One of them is Atef Hasballah, editor-in-chief of the AlkararPress website. When he challenged the Health Ministry’s coronavirus case count on his Facebook page last month, he was promptly bundled into a police van and detained on suspicion of “joining a terrorist organization.” Egypt’s public prosecutor warned in a recent statement that those who spread “false news” about the coronavirus may face up to five years imprisonment and steep fines. At least 12 individuals have been caught up in the COVID-19-motivated crackdown so far, according to Amnesty. Last month, authorities blocked a local news site that covered calls by activists to release political prisoners over fears of the coronavirus spreading in Egypt’s crowded prisons. Separately, Egypt expelled a correspondent for The Guardian newspaper over an article that indicated the coronavirus infection rate may be higher than officially reported.
2 May 00:00 • The Washington Times • https://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2020/may/2/amnesty-reports-chilling-details-of-egypt-press-cr/?utm_source=RSS_Feed&utm_medium=RSSRating: 0.79
Non-essential shops to reopen in red zones in Maharashtra
3 May 20:23
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Importance: 1.87
Age penalty: 0.92
Best date: 3 May 09:30
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Non-essential shops to reopen in red zones in Maharashtra
The Maharashtra government on Sunday allowed standalone shops of non-essential commodities, including liquor vendors, to open in red zones such as Mumbai, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon. The move comes barely 24 hours after the government announced guidelines for the third phase of the lockdown. No shops will be opened in containment areas in red and orange zones, the fresh guidelines on Sunday said. “All standalone shops, colony shops and shops in residential complexes, without any distinction of essential and non-essential, are permitted to remain open in urban areas excluding containment zones,” said the new notification. It said, however only up to five shops selling non-essential commodities will be allowed to open in a single lane in the Mumbai Metropolitan Region and areas under the Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon municipal corporations. These will be besides essential goods shops, to which the restriction does not apply. Principal Secretary Bhushan Gagrani said that along with non-essential shops, liquor shops too can remain open. “All shops in rural areas, except in malls, are permitted to remain open, without any distinction of essential and non-essential,” the notification said. As per the guidelines announced on Saturday, liquor shops will have to ensure a six feet distance between customers and that only up to five people are present at one time in the shop. Mr. Gagarani also said private construction sites can be opened in the red zone if the required labour is in situ. The State Excise Department late on Sunday said retail liquor shops can only remain open from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m., and drinking within or near the shop is prohibited. Reopening liquor shops is expected to boost the State exchequer dented by the halt in economic activity over the past two months. In 2018-19, the State earned ₹15,323 crore as excise from liquor, while in 2019-20 the figure was ₹17, 977 crore. The State government said the non-essential category includes shops such as electrical goods, mobile shops, stationery and liquor. E-commerce companies can deliver goods to all zones, excluding containment zones. The Federation of Retail Traders Welfare Association (FRTWA) said it is awaiting clarity on the opening of shops in red zone areas like Mumbai and Pune. FRTWA president Viren Shah said the association is yet to confirm that this order applies to standalone stores in Mumbai. “If yes, then there is a need for definition of standalone stores and a lot of questions unanswered. None of the ward officers are aware of this news in Mumbai,” Mr. Shah said. In a statement, Mr. Shah asked who will sanitise the shops and decide which five shops in a lane would operate. “There is more confusion. How will staff commute without public transport? What will the timings of standalone stores be like? Only an order issued on Twitter without any guidelines won’t help. We will wait for proper clarification,” Mr. Shah said. (With inputs from Aditya Anand)
3 May 20:23 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/mumbai/non-essential-shops-to-reopen-in-red-zones/article31496616.eceRating: 0.30
Non-essential shops in Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune to open today
From Monday, liquor shops, electronic stores, mobile phone stores and stationary shops will be allowed to reopen in Mumbai and Pune, the Maharashtra government announced on Sunday. The state, however, capped the total number of “non-essential” and “standalone” shops that can reopen on any lane, street or road to a maximum of five, and that too only outside containment zones in these metropolitan areas. The new order released by the state government on Sunday stated: “All standalone (single) shops, neighbourhood (colony) shops and shops in residential complexes, without any distinction of essential and non-essential, are permitted to remain open in urban areas excluding containment zones.” Meanwhile, in line with the guidelines issued by the government, the state excise department issued a notification allowing retail liquor shops to remain open from 10 am to 6 pm in Mumbai Metropolitan Region (MMR) and municipal corporations areas of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon. However, wholesale liquor shops will remain open only till 5 pm. Prohibiting the drinking of alcohol in liquor shops, the notification added that no more than five consumers should queue up in front of the shops at a time. “The shopowners must conduct thermal scanning of all workers and consumers. If anyone has any symptoms of cold, cough and fever, then the person should not be given entry into the shop,” it said. “The shop and surrounding area has to be sanitised after every two hours,” it added. However, later in the day, the Pune Municipal Corporation (PMC) declared 69 “micro containment zones” – reporting maximum number of cases – which would be completely sealed from midnight till May 17. In areas outside the micro containment zones, the amended directives issued by the state government on Sunday would be applicable. In an order, Municipal Commissioner Shekhar Gaikwad said, “The entire PMC area was declared a containment zone and restrictions were put on public movement across the city. Now, it has been noticed that most cases are concentrated in certain pockets. So, it is necessary to identify micro containment zones and enforce restrictions of containment zones only in these areas.” Shops of essential commodities will operate in these zones from 10 am to 2 pm. Last Friday, the Union Home Ministry had announced that all standalone shops, neighbouring shops and shops in residential complexes would be be permitted to remain open in areas outside containment zones in red zones or hotspot districts on certain conditions. But a state government notification, issued on Saturday, had stated that this exemption would not be extended to any shop located in municipal corporations areas within the MMR, Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon, which collectively account for 91 per cent of cases in the state. With Sunday’s notification, the government seems to have had a change of heart to loosen the restrictions a little. Chief Secretary Ajoy Mehta, in his order on Sunday, said: “…in areas under Mumbai Metropolitan Region, Pune Municipal Corporation, Pimpri Chinchwad Municipal Corporation and Malegaon Municipal Corporation, if there are more than five shops in a lane/road, then besides all shops selling essential goods, up to a maximum five shops selling non-essential goods in that lane/road, will be permitted to remain open.” Bhushan Gagrani, principal secretary in the government’s Corona Control Room, emphasised that only standalone shops outside containment zones of these areas can stay open. As of Saturday, there were 1,459 containment zones in areas falling under Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation’s jurisdiction. “The non-essential shops include liquor, electronic goods, mobile and stationary among others. Liquor shops can be opened if they are standalone and are not part of malls, restaurants and hotels,” said Gagrani. He added that while no more than five non-essential shops will be allowed in a lane to avoid crowding, there is no such cap on the numbers of essential shops. “The local administration will take a call which five standalone non-essential shops will stay open,” said Gagrani. He further said that social distancing measures have to be followed strictly at shops in these areas. While construction projects have also been allowed in these regions if the industries have made accommodation arrangements for the workers on site, private offices will not be allowed to open in these areas, said Gagarani. All shops will, however, remain open in orange and green zones. Sources in the government said that it is a part of a graded exit strategy from the lockdown. “Except MMR and municipal corporations areas of Pune, Pimpri-Chinchwad and Malegaon, we have allowed activities in rest of the state. Some activities have not been permitted in these areas, as a large number of cases have been reported from these places,” said an official, adding that allowing liquor shops to operate will help the state generate revenue.
3 May 23:27 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/non-essential-shops-in-mumbai-metropolitan-region-pune-to-open-today-6392539/Rating: 0.30
Wine stores, shops selling non essential goods to open in Mumbai
Standalone shops selling non essential items and wine stores can resume business in Mumbai Metropolitan Region and Pune Metropolitan Region subject to certain conditions, Maharashtra governement announced on Sunday. Only five stores selling non essential items and wine or liquor will be allowed to remain open in a lane to avoid crowding. Sale of liquor will not be allowed in malls, restaurants and permit rooms. The restrictions on the sale of non-essential items and liquor will continue to remain in force in containment zones in Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions. Maharashtra earns around Rs 16,000 crore annually in excise from the sale of liquor. With virtually no car and property registrations, state government revenue has taken a hit. Sale of liquor will thus thus help governement fill it's coffers. ALSO READ: India Covid-19 cases zoom past 40,000, 83 deaths recorded in a day According to the government order issued on Saturday, shopping complexes and markets will continue to remain shut in urban areas. The state government had allowed the opening of standalone stores in all urban areas except Mumbai and Pune and this restriction has now been eased to cover these two cities as well. Governement offices too, can function in Mumbai and Pune metropolitan regions with 5 per cent attendance. However, private offices in the two regions will remain shut, governement said.
3 May 13:47 • Business-Standard • https://www.business-standard.com/article/current-affairs/wine-stores-shops-selling-non-essential-goods-to-open-in-mumbai-120050300774_1.htmlRating: 0.30
Coronavirus lockdown: Standalone liquor shops to open in Maharashtra
As per the guidelines, only five shops selling non-essential items will be allowed in each lane, while there is no restriction on numbers for essential shops Two days after the central government released revised guidelines for the third phase of coronavirus lockdown, Maharashtra, the worst-hit state in the country, has allowed standalone liquor shops in "Red zones" outside containment areas, news agency ANI reported. This will not apply to COVID-19 containment zones. The state government in its guidelines specified that liquor shops would be allowed to open in green, orange and red zones (except in containment) areas. However, the shops in market complexes and malls will remain closed. As per the guidelines, only five shops selling non-essential items will be allowed in each lane, while there is no restriction on numbers for essential shops. The shopkeepers must follow the social distancing rules enforced to contain the spread of the virus. The new norms will be effective from May 4. The timings for all shops will be decided by the local authorities, the government said. Also Read: Lockdown 3.0: Maharashtra sees no easing of restrictions in Mumbai, Pune The Maharashtra Chief Minister's Office also issued a document, which specified about what is allowed and not allowed in the state during the extended period of lockdown. The document, which carried details of zone-wise activity, said that liquor shops will be allowed to remain open. The central government on Friday allowed liquor shops to resume operations with certain restrictions during the third phase of the lockdown, beginning May 4. They will be allowed to open in green and orange zones, according to sources, even though the government has not clearly spelled it out in the new guidelines. Liquor shops will also be allowed outside containment areas or hotspots in red zones, India Today reported citing sources. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown 3.0: Delhi govt to soon allow liquor sale as it battles revenue dip Maharashtra, which has the highest number of COVID-19 cases in India, has not allowed easing of any restrictions in the third phase of the two-week lockdown that starts on Monday. There are 14 districts in Maharashtra which are red zones, including Greater Mumbai, Navi Mumbai, Thane, Palghar, and Nashik. 16 districts are orange zones, and six are in the safe green zone. Of the 14 red zone districts, five are in the MMR, Pune, and Malegaon, where curbs have been tightened over the next two weeks. Nine other districts have been allowed some activities, but with restrictions. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: Liquor shops to open from Monday but conditions apply By Chitranjan Kumar
3 May 13:12 • Business Today • https://www.businesstoday.in/current/economy-politics/coronavirus-lockdown-standalone-liquor-shops-to-open-in-maharashtra/story/402753.htmlRating: 2.10
Lockdown 3.0: Liquor shops in non-containment zones to open in Uttar Pradesh from tomorrow
Liquor shops in Uttar Pradesh will finally open from Monday as Lockdown 3.0 kicks in from tomorrow. As per new Ministry of Home Affairs guidelines, standalone liquor shops will be allowed to open in some areas from May 4 in light of relaxations given in the new phase of the lockdown. Sale of liquor will be allowed with certain conditions in all zones, barring containment areas, in standalone shops, not in markets or malls. UP excise department authorities have announced that standalone liquor shops will be allowed to open in all areas in the state except containment zones in red zones. The liquor shops will remain open from 10 am to 7 pm. Authorities also clarified that alcohol sale will not be permitted at hotels and restaurants. However, all necessary measures will be taken to ensure social distancing is followed. Only five people will be allowed to buy liquor from a shop at one time. The third phase of the countrywide lockdown begins Monday with "considerable relaxations", but curbs will continue in containment areas so that the gains achieved so far in the fight against COVID-19 are not "squandered away", officials said Sunday. The country has been divided into three zones -- Red, Orange and Green - based on coronavirus risk-profiling. The extended lockdown is slated to last till May 17. Uttar Pradesh currently has 19 Red Zone districts, 36 Orange Zone districts and 20 Green Zone districts. (You can find full list of red, orange and green zones in your state here.) This means that people in cities like Agra, Lucknow, Saharanpur, Kanpur, Moradabad, Noida, Greater Noida and Meerut, which all fall under red zone districts, will be able to buy alcohol from tomorrow if they live in non-containment zones. The number of coronavirus cases in Uttar Pradesh rose to 2,579 with 92 more people testing positive for the infection on Sunday, officials said. The virus has claimed 43 lives in the state so far.
3 May 11:13 • India Today • https://www.indiatoday.in/india/story/lockdown-3-0-liquor-shops-in-non-containment-zones-to-open-in-uttar-pradesh-from-tomorrow-1673924-2020-05-03Rating: 0.30
COVID-19 in Maharashtra: Liquor Stores to Open as State Allows Opening of Shops in Red Zones Too
New Delhi: Liquor shops are all set to re-open in Maharashtra, after the state government on Sunday gave permission for standalone shops, including liquor shops, to open even in red zones, except in containment zones. Also Read - Liquor Jugaad: Alcohol From Hand Sanitizer, Bottles Hidden Under Cucumber In its order, the state government further said that while five non-essential shops can be opened in each lane, there is no restriction on the number for essential shops. Notably, on Friday, when the Centre announced the extension of the lockdown for a further two weeks, till May 17, it had also announced certain relaxations, including opening of shops, in orange and green zones. However, a day later, among its many clarification on the relaxations, the central government also gave permission for opening liquor shops in allthree zones, except in containment zones. The Centre’s permission to open liquor shops, notably, came after requests from various states in this regard. A number of states have announced opening of liquor shops after getting the nod. The relaxations will come into effect from Monday, which will be the first day of ‘lockdown 3.0.’ With nearly 13,000 cases and over 500 casualties, Maharashtra is the worst COVID-19 affected state in the country. For breaking news and live news updates, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter and Instagram. Read more on India Latest News on India.com. Comments - Join the Discussion
3 May 11:04 • India News, Breaking News, Entertainment News | India.com • https://www.india.com/news/india/coronavirus-in-maharashtra-liquor-stores-to-open-as-state-allows-opening-of-standalone-shops-in-red-zones-too-4018451/Rating: 0.30
Karnataka Permits Opening Of Standalone Liquor Outlets Across The State Except In Containment Zones (Timing 9 am-7 pm)
Karnataka has permitted the sale of liquor in all standalone outlets except those located in containment zones, the state government announced on Saturday (May 2). As part of easing the lockdown restrictions, liquor shops would be allowed to reopen across Karnataka, including in red zones but not in the containment zones, state Excise Minister H. Nagesh announced on Saturday (May 2). "Liquor shops or their retail outlets are allowed to reopen from May 4 across the state, including in red zones like Bengaluru and Mysuru, except the hotspots listed by the state health care department," Nagesh told reporters here. "The licensed shops will remain open for business from 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. daily and should not allow more than five customers inside it at a time to maintain physical/social distancing," Nagesh asserted. "While liquor will not be sold in the hotspots, people are also banned from taking drinks or drinking them in the containment zones in the red zones," Nagesh pointed out. Liquor shops have already been allowed to reopen in the green zones across the state where no virus case was reported over the last 28 days. "Drunken driving and liquor induced brawls or violence are not allowed," the minster added. Though Bengaluru urban district is classified as a Red Zone under the methodology followed by Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare , the state government clarified that businesses outside containment zones will be allowed to reopen. There are 23 containment zones in Bengaluru and 123 in the state. The state government is losing around Rs 60 crore revenue every day due to closure of liquour shops due to the lockdown.
3 May 09:34 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/karnataka-permits-opening-of-standalone-liquor-outlets-across-the-state-except-in-containment-zones-timing-9-am-7-pmRating: 1.22
Lockdown: Collectors to decide on opening liquor shops in MP
Amid the extension of lockdown, collectors of districts in Madhya Pradesh have been asked to decide on opening liquor shops from Monday by following the physical distancing norms and adopting other measures to prevent the spread of coronavirus, an official said. The state excise department on Saturday issued a circular to district collectors, saying liquor and bhaang shops can be opened from 7 am to 7 pm only. For latest updates on coronavirus outbreak, click here A decision on opening these shops should be taken in accordance with guidelines issued by the Centre for green, orange and red zones, an official from the state public relations department said. Passes for operating these shops will be issued only to the licensees and their employees, he said.
3 May 09:30 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/national/lockdown-collectors-to-decide-on-opening-liquor-shops-in-mp-832936.htmlRating: 2.25
Covid-19: Centre says liquor, paan shops can open in all areas except containment zones from Monday
The Centre has clarified that liquor and paan shops will be allowed to reopen in red, orange and green zones from Monday amid the coronavirus pandemic, The News Minute reported on Saturday. But they will not be permitted in containment areas. The Centre had on Friday issued guidelines permitting all standalone shops to open in all three zones, except in containment areas. However, as the notification did not mention whether liquor shops could open in red zones, a clarification was issued. “Sale of liquor, paan, tobacco to be allowed after ensuring minimum six-feet social distancing; not more than five persons at one time at shop,” guidelines issued by the Union Ministry of Home Affairs said. All six metros – Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata, Chennai, Hyderabad and Bengaluru – have been designated “hotspots” for the large number of coronavirus cases in these cities, and fall under red zones. The Delhi government has asked all liquor shops run by its departments to provide details about standalone shops that can reopen, NDTV reported. “I am directed to request you to provide lists of L-6 and L-8 shops immediately, which conform to the criteria prescribed by Ministry of Home Affairs,” Excise Commissioner Ashok Daryani said in a letter to the government corporations that are allowed to sell liquor. The Delhi government has made it mandatory for all liquor shops to observe social distancing. Karnataka Excise Minister H Nagesh told The News Minute that standalone liquor shops will be allowed to reopen in the state, provided that social distancing is maintained and only parcels are provided. The shops will be allowed to stay open between 9 am and 7 pm. International Spirits and Wines Association of India Chairperson Amrit Kiran Singh said the group, which represents several liquor brands, has committed to the Centre that social distancing will be observed. “As soon as the latest guidelines come into force, we will begin a programme called ‘Safe Shield’, under which signs will be put outside all shops about social distancing,” he said. “Sanitisers will be placed outside shops. There will be contactless sales through trays kept at the counter.” Prime Minister Narendra Modi had announced a nationwide lockdown on March 25 to combat Covid-19, which has so far infected over 39,900 people. The lockdown was first extended to May 3, and on Friday, to May 17. Meanwhile, the Maharashtra government clarified in an order on Saturday night that shops selling non-essential commodities will not be allowed to reopen in four out of 14 “hotspot” districts in the state, The Indian Express reported. These districts are Mumbai, Mumbai (Suburban), Thane and Pune. Shops within the boundaries of the Malegaon municipal corporation will also remain shut. While liquor shops will be permitted to operate in 10 districts, they will not be allowed to reopen in the above mentioned areas, officials said. As of Sunday morning, Maharashtra had reported 12,296 cases of the coronavirus, including 521 deaths, making it the epicentre of the virus in the country, according to the Union Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
3 May 06:07 • Scroll.in • https://scroll.in/latest/960890/covid-19-centre-says-liquor-paan-shops-can-open-in-all-areas-except-containment-zones-from-mondayRating: 0.30
States allow sale of liquor from tomorrow, Kerala decides to wait
New Delhi, May 03: Many states have decided to open up liquor stores, but Kerala has decided to wait. States like Karnataka, Maharashtra and Assam have decided to open liquor stores, but Kerala said that it would take a call soon. Kerala's Chief Minister, Pinarayi Vijayan said that there is no need to worry. It is only a temporary measure and it would reviewed soon, he also said. In those states which have decided to allow the sale of liquor, the excise department said that shops will have to comply with social distancing norms. Moreover not more than five persons shall be allowed at one time, the department also said. Liquor stores will be allowed to open in all zones, provided they are not in malls or shopping complexes. There was some confusion about this, but the Centre has clarified on the same, Karnataka's excise minister, H Nagesh said. However liquor stores will not be allowed inside containment zones, the minister also clarified.
3 May 02:48 • Oneindia • https://www.oneindia.com/india/states-allow-sale-of-liquor-from-tomorrow-kerala-decides-to-wait-3081996.htmlRating: 0.30
UP permits standalone liquor shops to open in red zones
The Uttar Pradesh government, in a letter on May 3 said that standalone liquor shops can be opened in the green, orange and red zones from 10 am to 7 pm, though no such shop is allowed to remain open in containment zones. The state government has also said that malls, hotels, restaurants will remain closed but e-commerce activity has been allowed to resume in green and orange zones. The core industries in non-contaminated areas of red zone can function with not more than 50 percent workforce. Earlier, the Maharashtra government had allowed not more than five standalone shops to function in red zones which are not containment zones. The Maharashtra government had also said that if labour is available in-situ, private construction can be carried out in regions deemed red zones. However, all non-essential shops and construction will remain shut in containment zones. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) on May 1 extended the national lockdown by two more weeks but with considerable easing of restrictions in areas classified as orange and green zones. The government had said that it will continue the strict measures it has enforced in places classified as red zones — such as New Delhi and Mumbai — and orange zones, which show no abatement in the number of people affected by the coronavirus. Coronavirus pandemic | Is your city a COVID-19 hotspot? Find out here ' Follow our full coverage of the coronavirus outbreak hereMoneycontrol Ready ReckonerNow that payment deadlines have been relaxed due to COVID-19, the Moneycontrol Ready Reckoner will help keep your date with insurance premiums, tax-saving investments and EMIs, among others.Download a copy
3 May 00:00 • Moneycontrol • https://www.moneycontrol.com/news/trends/current-affairs-trends/up-permits-standalone-liquor-shops-to-open-in-red-zones-5216681.htmlRating: 0.30
Indore on recovery path? Recovered COVID-19 patients outnumber new cases for second day
3 May 21:20
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Indore on recovery path? Recovered COVID-19 patients outnumber new cases for second day
BHOPAL: After witnessing a surge in COVID-19 cases for over a month, Indore - one of the COVID-19 hotspots of the country – could be on the path of recovery. Indore had become the COVID-19 capital of Madhya Pradesh. But since the last two days, the city is witnessing a positive trend of patients having recovered from the deadly infection outnumbering new cases reported. On Saturday, as many as 121 coronavirus patients were discharged from various hospitals in the city, after two of their last test reports were found negative for the infection. The number of patients discharged from MRTB Hospital, SAIMS Hospital and Index Hospital was five times more than the new positive cases reported on Saturday, which stood at 23. The positive development began on Friday when 42 patients were discharged from various hospitals, which were 10 more than the 32 new positive cases reported the same day. “Since the last two days, the number of patients discharged from various hospitals has been greater than the new positive cases. We hope that this trend will continue in the coming days also,” Indore district chief medical and health officer Dr Pravin Jadia told The New Indian Express. But the encouraging trend isn’t confined to the total number of discharged patients outnumbering the new positive cases. Even the percentage of samples tested positive out of the total samples tested too is declining. As per figures with the health department in Indore, on April 27, out of the 820 total samples tested, 165 samples (20.12%) had tested positive for COVID-19. On April 28, the figure slid to 14.6%, which further declined to 9.82% on April 30, before further dropping to 6.31% on May 1. On Saturday, out of the 515 samples that were tested, just 23 (4.46%) tested positive, which was an all-time low. Till date, out of the 8948 samples tested - 1568 (17.52%) have tested positive. “The number of patients discharged from hospitals in Indore on Saturday being five times more than the new positive cases means that we are moving in the right direction. In the coming days, the situation is going to improve further,” said Dr Ravi Dosi, the senior pulmonologist at SAIMS Hospital, where the bulk of the COVID-19 patients are admitted. Also, the four critical patients at SAIMS Hospital to whom Plasma Therapy is being administered are showing signs of improvement. “They are no longer on oxygen support and their Chest X-rays have shown remarkable improvement. All the four patients are now talking to us with ease, which is very encouraging,” Dr Dosi informed.
3 May 21:20 • The New Indian Express • https://www.newindianexpress.com/nation/2020/may/03/indore-on-recovery-path-recovered-covid-19-patients-outnumber-new-cases-for-second-day-2138718.htmlRating: 2.04
457 dead as coronavirus cases surpass 20,000 in Pakistan
LAHORE (Dunya News) – Pakistan has reported 17 more fatalities from novel coronavirus as the death toll in the country has reached 457, Dunya News reported on Sunday. The nationwide tally of COVID-19 patients jumped to 20,084 while 981 cases were reported in 24 hours. PROVINCE-WISE DETAILS According to the latest figures by the National Command and Operation Center, Punjab remains the worst-hit province by the pandemic followed by Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan. Till now 7,106 coronavirus cases have been confirmed in Punjab, 7,102 in Sindh, 2,907 in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, 1,172 in Balochistan, 393 in Islamabad, 356 in Gilgit-Baltistan and 67 in Azad Kashmir. RECOVERIES Number of patients recovered from Coronavirus is 4,817 now. LOCKDOWN VIOLATIONS On the other hand, the coronavirus lockdown continues in Sindh and Punjab but it has become a routine for people to commit violations. Traffic numbers remain high on major roads of Lahore, Karachi and many other cities. People are not taking precautionary measures in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan also.
3 May 23:05 • Dunya News • https://dunyanews.tv/en/Pakistan/543727-Coronavirus-Pakistan-reports-32-more-fatalities-1297-cases-24-hoursRating: 1.71
Coronavirus | Six more deaths in Madhya Pradesh
Madhya Pradesh on Sunday reported six deaths owing to COVID-19, taking the total to 156, the Directorate of Health Services said. Three persons died in Ujjain, two in Indore and one in Khandwa. The fatality rate in Ujjain, which has registered 156 cases and 30 deaths so far, climbed to 19.2%. The State-wide rate touched 5.5%, according to a bulletin issued by the Directorate. Forty-nine fresh cases were reported. The tally now stands at 2,837. One hundred and seventy-four patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery. As many as 798 persons, or 28% of those testing positive, had recovered. Till Sunday, around 17 samples were tested before a positive case was discovered. The test positivity rate came down to 5.8%. The State has conducted 590 tests per million so far. Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan, in an address to the people, said that even he couldn’t reach the worst-hit cities owing to the lockdown. “I am bound by the lockdown, and even the party has instructed me not to go there now. But my soul is with the people,” he said. Mr. Chouhan said the situation in the State was more or less under control. “The fatality rate is declining as is the positivity rate, but the crisis is not over yet. It is important to be attentive. If we are to win over it completely, we have to be disciplined and stick to the law,” he said. At a review meeting, I.C.P. Keshari, Additional Chief Secretary, Commercial Tax Department, and in-charge of the State Control Room, said around 4,000 workers were brought back from Gujarat on Sunday. Around 42,000 workers trapped in different districts of the State were transported to their native places in the past 8 days. So far, 59,000 workers have been brought back to the State.
3 May 16:32 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/other-states/coronavirus-six-die-in-madhya-pradesh/article31495586.eceRating: 0.30
Random Covid-19 tests in Afghanistan find third of people have virus
Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar described the results as ‘concerning’. A third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Afghanistan’s capital came back positive, health officials have said, raising fears of widespread undetected infections. The results of the random tests in the Afghan capital of Kabul are “concerning”, Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar said. Afghanistan has performed only limited testing so far – close to 12,000, with more than 2,700 confirmed infections in a nation of 36.6 million. As more testing becomes available, the country’s confirmed infection numbers will likely rise sharply, Mr Mayar said, who urged residents to stay at home. Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. The death toll – officially at 85 – could also be much higher. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from Iran since the beginning of the year, fanning out across their country without being tested or quarantined. Anecdotal reports have emerged of dozens of returnees dying of Covid-19. Testing in Afghanistan has been sporadic and some of those infected have been hiding their symptoms, in part because of local stigma. The Government has faced criticism for responding too slowly to the crisis. Only recently, the Government started testing in western Herat province, where the hundreds of thousands of people have returned from Iran.
3 May 13:49 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/random-covid-19-tests-in-afghanistan-find-third-of-people-have-virus/Rating: 0.30
Random Covid-19 tests in Afghanistan find third of people have virus
A third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Afghanistan’s capital came back positive, health officials have said, raising fears of widespread undetected infections. The results of the random tests in the Afghan capital of Kabul are “concerning”, Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar said. Afghanistan has performed only limited testing so far – close to 12,000, with more than 2,700 confirmed infections in a nation of 36.6 million. As more testing becomes available, the country’s confirmed infection numbers will likely rise sharply, Mr Mayar said, who urged residents to stay at home. Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. The death toll – officially at 85 – could also be much higher. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from Iran since the beginning of the year, fanning out across their country without being tested or quarantined. Anecdotal reports have emerged of dozens of returnees dying of Covid-19. Testing in Afghanistan has been sporadic and some of those infected have been hiding their symptoms, in part because of local stigma. The Government has faced criticism for responding too slowly to the crisis. Only recently, the Government started testing in western Herat province, where the hundreds of thousands of people have returned from Iran.
3 May 13:49 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/world-news/2020/05/03/random-covid-19-tests-in-afghanistan-find-third-of-people-have-virus/Rating: 0.30
Random Covid-19 tests in Afghanistan find third of people have virus
A third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Afghanistan’s capital came back positive, health officials have said, raising fears of widespread undetected infections. The results of the random tests in the Afghan capital of Kabul are “concerning”, Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar said. Afghanistan has performed only limited testing so far – close to 12,000, with more than 2,700 confirmed infections in a nation of 36.6 million. As more testing becomes available, the country’s confirmed infection numbers will likely rise sharply, Mr Mayar said, who urged residents to stay at home. Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. The death toll – officially at 85 – could also be much higher. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from Iran since the beginning of the year, fanning out across their country without being tested or quarantined. Anecdotal reports have emerged of dozens of returnees dying of Covid-19. Testing in Afghanistan has been sporadic and some of those infected have been hiding their symptoms, in part because of local stigma. The Government has faced criticism for responding too slowly to the crisis. Only recently, the Government started testing in western Herat province, where the hundreds of thousands of people have returned from Iran.
3 May 13:47 • independent • https://www.independent.ie/world-news/random-covid-19-tests-in-afghanistan-find-third-of-people-have-virus-39177204.htmlRating: 1.21
Madhya Pradesh: Cases dip, but high fatality rate in Ujjain cause for worry
While Madhya Pradesh reported a decline in the number of active cases for the second consecutive day, Ujjain continued to be a spot of bother for the government, as the death toll rose to 32 on Sunday. Alarmed by the high fatality rate in the temple town, the government sent a special team from Indore to check on its treatment facility. While Ujjain did not report many positive cases, seven people have lost their lives over the last two days. The death toll was 15 on April 25, but it more than doubled in the last eight days to climb to 32. The fatality rate is more than 20 per cent. The state death toll climbed to 158. Though Indore has reported 76 deaths, the fatality rate has come down to five. Click here for more Ujjain divisional commissioner Anand Sharma told The Indian Express that Jansapura locality has reported most cases, but people are still apprehensive to report illness. “The infection is reported very late, which makes treatment difficult,” he said. While about 50 positive cases were reported from different parts of the state, 174 persons were discharged in the last 24 hours, bringing the active case count to 1,889. ACS Mohammed Suleman said the state has ramped up testing facility to conduct 2,600 tests daily. Meanwhile,Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan said the state had requested for 31 trains to bring back migrant labourers stranded in other parts of the country. The plan includes 22 trains from Maharashtra, two from Gujarat and from Goa. The government said the tollfree (0755/2411180) number started for workers stranded outside MP is receiving 1,300 calls per minute.
3 May 22:22 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/india/madhya-pradesh-cases-dip-but-high-fatality-rate-in-ujjain-cause-for-worry-6392497/Rating: 0.30
In a random Covid test, one-third of Afghanistan’s population detected positive
One-third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Afghanistan’s capital came back positive, health officials said Sunday, raising fears of widespread undetected infections in one of the world’s most fragile states. Neighboring Iran, meanwhile, said it would reopen schools and mosques in some locations, even though the nation has been the regional epicenter of the pandemic since mid-February. The results of the random tests in the Afghan capital of Kabul are “concerning,” said Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar. Afghanistan has performed only limited testing so far — close to 12,000, with more than 2,700 confirmed infections, in a nation of 36.6 million. As more testing becomes available, the country’s confirmed infection numbers will likely rise sharply, said Mayar. He urged residents to stay home. Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. The death toll — officially at 85 — could also be much higher. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from Iran since the beginning of the year, fanning out across their country without being tested or quarantined. Anecdotal reports have emerged of dozens of returnees dying of Covid-19, the disease caused by the virus. At a recent briefing, a senior government official said 40 people died of the virus in Sarobi district, barely 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Kabul. The Health Ministry said it could not confirm the claim. The country’s health care system, devastated by four decades of war, is woefully unprepared for a major outbreak. It has only 400 ventilators. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. Testing in Afghanistan has been sporadic and some of those infected have been hiding their symptoms, in part because of local stigma. In parts of the country, there have been reports of Covid-19 patients being shunned by their neighbours and even refused food from the local markets. The government, embroiled in political turmoil, has also faced criticism for responding too slowly to the crisis. Only recently, the government started testing in western Herat province where the hundreds of thousands of returnees from Iran have transited. Afghanistan has two presidents, both of whom claim to have won last year’s election. American efforts to find a compromise have failed, causing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to threaten to cut $1 billion in aid. The bickering has also delayed implementation of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in February to allow Washington to end its longest military engagement, end Afghanistan’s decades of war and bring more than 12,000 U.S. soldiers home. In Iran, authorities said Sunday that 47 people had died in the preceding 24-hour period, the lowest daily toll in two months. Still, Iran remains the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, with more than 97,000 cases and more than 6,200 deaths. President Hassan Rouhani announced Sunday that schools and mosques would reopen in some low-risk locations. Schools and universities have been shut down since late February. Also Sunday, the U.N. children’s agency urged six countries in the Middle East to green-light special polio and measles vaccination campaigns that were put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, nearly 10.5 million children under the age of five are at risk of missing their polio vaccination, UNICEF said. Nearly 4.5 million children under the age of 15 could miss their measles vaccinations. Routine vaccinations for other diseases such as rubella and diphtheria are continuing, but special campaigns for polio and measles were put on hold in some countries because health systems were overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic or governments wanted to avoid crowding at clinics. The polio campaigns are on hold in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Iraq, while measles vaccinations are suspended in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Djibouti, the agency said. In Israel, the city of Tel Aviv announced it is postponing its annual gay pride parade, along with those in the cities of Haifa, Jerusalem and Beersheba. The annual event in Tel Aviv, which was scheduled for early June, drew over 250,000 people in 2019, making it one of the largest in the Mideast.
3 May 13:51 • Hindustan Times • https://www.hindustantimes.com/world-news/in-a-random-covid-test-one-third-of-afghanistan-s-population-detected-positive/story-0F4vOY4hdTM9G7bXk1LvGL.htmlRating: 0.30
Ian Blackford says coronavirus outbreak in care home has 'shocked' Isle of Skye as all residents and staff are tested
Covid-19 is an invisible virus that can strike any community and it has now become a reality for those of us who live on the Island of Skye. Fifty-four residents and staff of the Home Farm care home in Portree have tested positive for the virus in one short week, and it has shaken many of us. Our thoughts are with all those who have the virus, their family and friends. The public agencies, the NHS and Highland Council have shown remarkable leadership in responding to the outbreak, supporting those with Covid-19, their families and the wider community. Enhanced case monitoring has been put in place, public health guidance has been reinforced and steps have been taken to ensure the family members of those affected are fully supported. As well as putting in place testing for all residents and staff members, the availability of testing at the NHS hospital in Portree will be complemented by a mobile testing unit being established at Broadford from Monday, run by the 3 Scots battalion of the army. Critically, contact tracing is going to be an important part of our capability in dealing with the outbreak of Covid-19, this will be an important part of NHS Highland’s response. The NHS and Highland Council have responded quickly to this outbreak and I would commend them for their actions. The public on Skye now have their part to play. I know the strength of community spirit on this island and I know that we will support all those who have the virus, their family and friends. Now more than ever we have a responsibility to make sure we are taking all appropriate measures to stop the spread of this virus. We must all adhere to the public health advice: stay at home, only go outside for essential food, health and work reasons, stay two metres away from other people, wash your hands regularly and wash your hands as soon as you get home. Having such an outbreak as we have on Skye is shocking and worrying. By supporting the NHS and our care staff, by protecting all our frontline workers, and by taking all necessary hygiene steps we can contain the spread of this virus and do our bit to save lives, not just on Skye but in every community.
3 May 18:02 • dailyrecord • https://www.dailyrecord.co.uk/news/scottish-news/ian-blackford-says-coronavirus-outbreak-21967776Rating: 0.35
Coronavirus Scotland: 54 residents and staff test positive for Covid-19 at Isle of Skye care home
A STAGGERING number of residents and staff at an Isle of Skye care home have tested positive for coronavirus. SNP MP Ian Blackford announced today that there had been 54 positive cases at the Home Farm care home since the outbreak first began. ⚠️ Read our coronavirus live blog for the latest news & updates on Covid-19 He revealed that 28 out of the 34 residents tested positive, as well as 26 of the 52 staff members. It came as he revealed testing had been put in place for all residents and staff. He said:“Covid-19 is an invisible virus that can strike any community and it has now become a reality for those of us who live on the Island of Skye. “Fifty-four residents and staff of the Home Farm care home in Portree have tested positive for the virus in one short week, and it has shaken many of us. Our thoughts are with all those who have the virus, their family and friends." He added: “Enhanced case monitoring has been put in place, public health guidance has been reinforced and steps have been taken to ensure the family members of those affected are fully supported. “As well as putting in place testing for all residents and staff members, the availability of testing at the NHS hospital in Portree will be complemented by a mobile testing unit being established at Broadford from today, run by the 3 Scots battalion of the army. “Critically, contact tracing is going to be an important part of our capability in dealing with the outbreak of Covid-19, this will be a vital part of NHS Highland’s response. “The public agencies, the NHS, and Highland Council have shown remarkable leadership in responding to the outbreak.” MSP Katie Forbes added: "Having such an outbreak as we have on Skye is shocking and worrying. By supporting the NHS and our care staff, by protecting all our frontline workers, and by taking all necessary hygiene steps, we can contain the spread of this virus and do our bit to save lives - not just on Skye but in every community.” NHS Highlands and the Highland Council confirmed that "a significant number of care home residents and staff" had tested positive for the virus. They also announced that NHS Highland’s Public Health Team is currently working working with health and social care colleagues, as well as local community nursing teams and Portree General Practitioners to prevent any further spread of Covid-19 within the care home and to the wider community. The independent care home has also put in extra staffing while a NHS Highlands support team has also been made available to help. Dr Ken Oates, Director of Public Health at NHS Highland, said: “There is no evidence at this stage that Covid infection has spread further into the community. The Assessment Centre in Portree and local GPs are not reporting an increase of cases. The measures that have been put in place will support us in ensuring, as best as we can, that the outbreak is as contained as possible. “It is really important at this time that the local community continue to adhere to the government’s social distancing guidance and do not put vulnerable residents in the area, or themselves, at risk. The key messages are to stay at home and only leave the house for essential purposes. “We will continue to support Home Farm until this outbreak is over and all those affected are no longer infectious.” The Chief Executive of The Highland Council, Donna Manson added: “We are working closely with NHS Highland and other partners and local elected Members in responding to this outbreak and seeking to delay the spread within the wider community of Skye. “This is bound to be a very worrying time for residents, staff and their families and for the local community. "The Council will continue to work closely with NHS Highland and other agencies to do everything possible to mitigate the risks to all concerned. Environmental Health will be providing additional support and advice locally and extra measures have been taken to protect those working from the local Humanitarian Assistance hub in Portree. “Meanwhile, everyone can do their part by staying at home and following the public health guidance to delay the spread of coronavirus and protect essential services and NHS resources.” It came as the Scottish Government confirmed that the number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland had topped 12,000. A further 12 Scots died overnight - taking the death toll to 1,571.
3 May 15:45 • The Scottish Sun • https://www.thescottishsun.co.uk/news/5557268/coronavirus-scotland-skye-care-home-farm/Rating: 0.30
Coronavirus: health service, government clash over homeless COVID-19 testing
The ACT government and the health service for Aboriginal people have clashed over testing homeless people for coronavirus. It comes as shelters for all homeless people in Canberra fail to open for the winter because of virus fears. Some Aboriginal people are not being tested for COVID-19 because of the lack of accommodation where they can isolate, according to Julie Tongs, chief executive of Winnunga Nimmityjah Aboriginal Health and Community Services. But the ACT government said: "ACT Health can provide assistance to anybody who is required to quarantine or isolate but does not have a suitable place to do so, including people who need to quarantine while they await test results." Ms Tongs has voiced her anger to the government over what she thinks is a neglect of poorer people in Canberra, including Aboriginal people with mental health and drug issues. "We've got a lot of people living in poverty," she said. The health centre in Narrabundah has about 1800 clients, of whom about 500 have problems with addiction or mental health, she said. "When people get tested, they have to isolate while they wait for the results but often they are living in over-crowded houses." For what she calls "high-risk clients" - those with serious mental or addiction problems - testing is another pressure. "At the moment, we are trying not to test for high-risk clients because we don't want to complicate what they already have." READ MORE: She had sent angry emails to the ACT government highlighting the dilemma. The ACT authorities and agencies have been wrestling with how homeless people fit into a system of quarantine and self-isolation. Safe Shelter ACT would normally have opened shelters for the winter but didn't this year because of the risks to the homeless and staff. "Safe Shelter believes that encouraging homeless men to congregate in our shelters this winter would be contrary to the national COVID-19 strategy, which is to increase the levels of isolation in the population to reduce the rate of the spread of the virus," a statement said. Earlier in April, Minister for Housing Yvette Berry indicated to the ACT Legislative Assembly the scale of homelessness would likely increase in the territory. Ms Berry told the assembly work had been done to develop an alternative model in the wake of Safe Shelter's closure. Our COVID-19 news articles relating to public health and safety are free for anyone to access. However, we depend on subscription revenue to support our journalism. If you are able, please subscribe here. If you are already a subscriber, thank you for your support. If you're looking to stay up to date on COVID-19, you can also sign up for our twice-daily digest here.
3 May 14:00 • The Canberra Times • https://www.canberratimes.com.au/story/6740839/clash-on-testing-homeless-for-coronavirus-as-shelters-fail-to-open/Rating: 0.81
Virus Outbreak Afghanistan
1 / 9A health worker checks the temperature of car passengers in an effort to help stop the spread of the coronavirus, as they enter the city in the Paghman district of Kabul, Afghanistan, Sunday, May 3, 2020. (AP Photo/Rahmat Gul) KABUL, Afghanistan (AP) — One-third of 500 random coronavirus tests in Afghanistan's capital came back positive, health officials said Sunday, raising fears of widespread undetected infections in one of the world's most fragile states. Neighboring Iran, meanwhile, said it would reopen schools and mosques in some locations, even though the nation has been the regional epicenter of the pandemic since mid-February. The results of the random tests in the Afghan capital of Kabul are “concerning,” said Public Health Ministry spokesman Wahid Mayar. Afghanistan has performed only limited testing so far — close to 12,000, with more than 2,700 confirmed infections, in a nation of 36.6 million. As more testing becomes available, the country's confirmed infection numbers will likely rise sharply, said Mayar. He urged residents to stay home. Kabul and most other cities are in lockdown, but compliance has not been widespread. The death toll — officially at 85 — could also be much higher. More than 250,000 Afghans returned home from Iran since the beginning of the year, fanning out across their country without being tested or quarantined. Anecdotal reports have emerged of dozens of returnees dying of COVID-19, the disease caused by the virus. At a recent briefing, a senior government official said 40 people died of the virus in Sarobi district, barely 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Kabul. The Health Ministry said it could not confirm the claim. The country’s health care system, devastated by four decades of war, is woefully unprepared for a major outbreak. It has only 400 ventilators. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death. Testing in Afghanistan has been sporadic and some of those infected have been hiding their symptoms, in part because of local stigma. In parts of the country, there have been reports of COVID-19 patients being shunned by their neighbors and even refused food from the local markets. The government, embroiled in political turmoil, has also faced criticism for responding too slowly to the crisis. Only recently, the government started testing in western Herat province where the hundreds of thousands of returnees from Iran have transited. Afghanistan has two presidents, both of whom claim to have won last year's election. American efforts to find a compromise have failed, causing U.S. Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to threaten to cut $1 billion in aid. The bickering has also delayed implementation of a U.S.-Taliban peace deal signed in February to allow Washington to end its longest military engagement, end Afghanistan's decades of war and bring more than 12,000 U.S. soldiers home. In Iran, authorities said Sunday that 47 people had died in the preceding 24-hour period, the lowest daily toll in two months. Still, Iran remains the hardest-hit country in the Middle East, with more than 97,000 cases and more than 6,200 deaths. President Hassan Rouhani announced Sunday that schools and mosques would reopen in some low-risk locations. Schools and universities have been shut down since late February. Also Sunday, the U.N. children’s agency urged six countries in the Middle East to green-light special polio and measles vaccination campaigns that were put on hold because of the coronavirus pandemic. Currently, nearly 10.5 million children under the age of five are at risk of missing their polio vaccination, UNICEF said. Nearly 4.5 million children under the age of 15 could miss their measles vaccinations. Routine vaccinations for other diseases such as rubella and diphtheria are continuing, but special campaigns for polio and measles were put on hold in some countries because health systems were overwhelmed by the coronavirus pandemic or governments wanted to avoid crowding at clinics. The polio campaigns are on hold in Syria, Sudan, Yemen and Iraq, while measles vaccinations are suspended in Iraq, Lebanon, Yemen and Djibouti, the agency said. In Israel, the city of Tel Aviv announced it is postponing its annual gay pride parade, along with those in the cities of Haifa, Jerusalem and Beersheba. The annual event in Tel Aviv, which was scheduled for early June, drew over 250,000 people in 2019, making it one of the largest in the Mideast. _____ Vahdat reported from Tehran, Iran. Associated Press Writer Kathy Gannon in Islamabad and Karin Laub in Amman, Jordan contributed to this report.
3 May 13:30 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/random-test-500-afghan-capital-133009641.htmlRating: 0.30
COVID-19: Lagos discharges 22 more patients
Kindly Share This Story: The Lagos State Government on Saturday discharged 22 more patients who tested negative twice to coronavirus disease. Gov. Babajide Sanwo-Olu, made the disclosure in a statement issued to newsmen, saying that the number of patients treated and discharged from the isolation centres now stands at 247. ”Good people of Lagos, today, 22 more persons; 8 females and 14 males, all Nigerians were discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba, LUTH and Lekki to reunite with the society. ”The patients; 19 from Lagos University Teaching Hospital, two from the Mainland Infectious Disease Hospital, Yaba and one from our Isolation Facility at Lekki were discharged having fully recovered and tested negative to COVID-19 in two consecutive readings. ”This brings to 247 the number of COVID-19 confirmed cases that have been successfully managed and discharged in Lagos. ”As we look forward to more great news in the coming days, I implore you all to support our offensive against the disease,” Sanwo-Olu said. The governor said that the use of face mask, code named: “MaskUpLagos”, social distancing and regular hand washing would help break the chain of community transmission. He urged Lagos residents to take responsibility for themselves and their communities. Vanguard Kindly Share This Story:
3 May 12:03 • Vanguard News • https://www.vanguardngr.com/2020/05/covid-19-lagos-discharges-22-more-patients/Rating: 2.43
Covid-19: Borno confirms 11 deaths as 16 health workers test positive
- Sixty-nine persons, including 16 health workers, have tested positive for coronavirus in Borno state - The state deputy governor, Usman Umar Kadafur, appealed to the public to be careful of the dangers COVID-19 poses - On his part, the state commissioner for health, Aliyu Salisu Kwaya Bura, said those with underlying ailments are prone to complications as a result of COVID-19 infection - PAY ATTENTION: Click “See First” under the “Following” tab to see Legit.ng News on your Facebook News Feed! A total of 69 persons have tested positive for coronavirus in Borno state. The state government has confirmed that sixteen health workers are among those who tested positive. The state has also recorded 11 deaths, The Cable reports. This was disclosed on Saturday, May 2, by Usman Umar Kadafur, deputy governor and chairman of the response team for the prevention and control of the spread of coronavirus in Borno state during a press briefing. Coronavirus: Two Nigeria police officers test positive for COVID-19 Speaking to newsmen, Kadafur said the committee has been working really hard to ensure the disease does not spread. According to him, the situation has been contained and brought under control by medical and surveillance teams, which also informed the need to increase the number of isolation centres in the state. The deputy governor urged members of the public to be wary of the dangers posed by the coronavirus. Also speaking, the state commissioner for health, and secretary of the response committee on coronavirus, Aliyu Salisu Kwaya Bura, gave reasons for the increase in the number of deaths. Bura explained that some who had underlying ailments like diabetes, typhoid, asthma, pneumonia, high fever and kidney disease are prone to complications as a result of COVID-19 infection. The commissioner called on the media to help spread the word on the need for the public to maintain proper personal hygiene, wear face masks, maintain social distancing even at burials and continue to obey the standing rules. Breaking: FG gives new details about COVID-19, says about 40 health workers tested positive for disease He also appealed to the media to cooperate and show understanding in the coverage of the COVID-19 situation in the state and activities of response committee in order not to create panic and mislead the public. NAN reports that he said about 2,000 Personal Protection Equipment (PPE), had been ordered by the state. “At the moment, none of our patients is at a critical state. They are at the isolation centres receiving medical attention; though the kind of attention varies for those with mild symptoms and those with moderate symptoms,” Kwaya-Bura added. The Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC) reported 220 cases of the novel coronavirus in Nigeria on Saturday, May 2. According to the report, Lagos state has the highest number with 62 cases while Federal Capital Territory, Abuja followed with 52 cases. Kaduna came third with 31 cases and followed by Sokoto which has 13 cases. Borno confirms state now has 4 official Covid-19 cases as Zulum-led government announces result of 48 suspected cases PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigeria’s #1 news app Kebbi has 10 cases while Yobe has nine. Borno recorded six cases while Edo and Bauchi have five cases each. Gombe, Enugu and Oyo also record four cases each. Zamfara has three cases while Nasarawa, Osun, Ebonyi, Kwara, Kano, and Plateau have two cases each. NAIJ.com (naija.ng) -> Legit.ng We keep evolving to serve our readers better. How I go sitdon for house when I no get husband? - Market woman - Legit TV
3 May 06:49 • Legit • https://www.legit.ng/1326303-covid-19-borno-confirms-11-deaths-16-health-workers-test-positive.htmlRating: 0.30
253 children below 10 test positive for Covid-19 in Sindh
KARACHI : As many as 253 children below the age of 10 have tested positive for Covid-19 in Sindh. In a video message provincial spokesperson Barrister Murtaza Wahab stated that women and children have contracted the virus due to people’s negligence. “Out of the total tally of 7,102 Covid-19 cases in Sindh 253 are children while 26% of the total are women,” he said. “The number of cases among women has increased in recent days, which is alarming,” he said adding that the pandemic cannot be controlled until we maintain social distancing. The latest report released by the Sindh government states that it has conducted around 3,259 tests in last 24 hours and found 427 new positive cases. “Since the outbreak of this disease, we have conducted 61,020 Covid-19 tests of which 7,102 are positive,” CM Syed Murad Ali Shah in his video message said on Saturday. He added that a total 5,639 people with positive signs are under treatment of which 4,390 are in isolation at their homes and the rest are being treated either at government run centers or hospitals. He was of the view that 54 people are in critical condition and 18 are on ventilators.
2 May 11:12 • The Express Tribune • https://tribune.com.pk/story/2212350/1-253-children-10-test-positive-covid-19-sindh/Rating: 1.80
All residents and staff at nursing homes to be tested for COVID-19, some employees to be housed on-site or at hotels
SINGAPORE: All residents and employees at nursing homes and other such facilities serving the elderly will be tested for COVID-19, said the Ministry of Health (MOH) and Ministry of Social and Family Development (MSF) in a joint news release on Saturday (May 2). The additional measure covers nursing homes, welfare homes, sheltered homes and adult disability homes. “Homes serve highly vulnerable and frail seniors, who are at higher risk of developing serious health complications if infected with COVID-19," said the ministries. "MOH and MSF will therefore prioritise testing for residents and staff in all homes serving the elderly," they added. “This will ensure that any COVID-19 infections in the homes are detected as early as possible for treatment, as well as to limit transmission." MOH said it started testing on Apr 29 and aims to complete the process by next week, while MSF began testing on Apr 30 and hopes to complete this by Saturday. Before this announcement, the authorities have been "actively testing" symptomatic residents and staff members. The ministries added that they will fully pay for the costs of all tests as well as all follow-up treatment that is required. SOME EMPLOYEES TO MOVE TO DESIGNATED ACCOMMODATION Authorities are also working with the homes to provide alternative housing arrangements for employees who interact with elderly residents. These employees will be housed at designated facilities on-site or at hotels, to reduce their exposure to the community during the "circuit breaker" period. "We will arrange for staff of the homes to stay at hotels if the home they work at is unable to house them on-site," said MOH and MSF. “For staff who have to move into hotels, we will provide funding for the accommodation and for the homes to provide meals, dedicated transport and daily necessities for the staff. "MOH will also provide support for nursing homes to enhance onsite accommodation spaces to improve safe distancing, where necessary." Affected employees will be given a S$500 allowance to help them with the transition. “We understand that the move could cause inconvenience to the affected staff and appreciate their sacrifices and efforts in keeping our elderly safe," said the ministries. Several nursing homes in Singapore have been hit by the COVID-19 outbreak, raising concerns about vulnerable seniors. Following the outbreak of the coronavirus at Lee Ah Mooi Age Home in Thomson Lane on Mar 31, visitors were no longer allowed in nursing homes, and infection control measures were put in place. In a Facebook post on Saturday, Senior Minister of State for Health Lam Pin Min said that the current precautionary measures put in place by nursing homes have been effective, but that authorities "cannot be complacent". "We need to do more to protect our seniors, who are at higher risk of developing serious health complications if infected with COVID-19," he wrote. "We also need to protect our nursing home staff, whose work is crucial in ensuring the well-being of our elderly home residents. This is why we are prioritising homes serving the elderly." Dr Lam thanked nursing home staff for their hard work amid the COVID-19 pandemic. “Since the start of the COVID-19 outbreak, our nursing homes have been working very hard to ensure that our vulnerable seniors remain protected and well cared for,” he said. “These are unprecedented times, but through collective efforts, we will be better able to tackle the COVID-19 outbreak and protect those who are more vulnerable in our community.” Download our app or subscribe to our Telegram channel for the latest updates on the coronavirus outbreak: https://cna.asia/telegram
2 May 21:25 • CNA • https://www.channelnewsasia.com/news/singapore/covid-19-testing-nursing-homes-priority-accommodation-staff-12696850Rating: 3.25
Coronavirus: 22 More Patients Recover, Discharged In Lagos
The Lagos State Ministry of Health said on Saturday that 22 additional patients have recovered from coronavirus infection and have been discharged from the state’s isolation facilities. The recovered patients, eight females and 14 males, were reunited with the society after testing negative to coronavirus two consecutive times. This brings the total discharged cases in the state to 247, as of Saturday. “22 more #COVID19 Lagos patients; 8 females & 14 males, all Nigerians were today discharged from our Isolation facilities at Yaba, LUTH & Lekki to reunite with the society. “The patients; 19 from LUTH, 2 from IDH, Yaba & 1 from our Isolation Centre at Lekki have fully recovered & tested negative twice consecutively to COVID19. “With this, number of patients successfully managed & discharged in Lagos is now 247,” the ministry wrote. Four new deaths from COVID-19 were also recorded in state and announced by the ministry on Saturday. The state has 1,022 confirmed cases of coronavirus, 732 active cases, 247 discharged cases, two evacuated cases, 16 transferred cases and 25 deaths. Lagos residents are urged to continue practising social distancing, good personal hygiene, avoid large gatherings and use face masks in public places. Complaints and issues about coronavirus in the state can be registered to the Ministry through the toll-free line; 08000CORONA.
2 May 17:29 • Premium Times Nigeria • https://www.premiumtimesng.com/regional/ssouth-west/391078-coronavirus-22-more-patients-recover-discharged-in-lagos.html?utm_source=dlvr.it&utm_medium=twitterRating: 0.30
Lagos discharges 22 coronavirus patients
Lagos State Government has discharged 22 coronavirus patients after recovering from the disease. The total of persons discharged in Lagos is currently 247. Of the 22 patients discharged by the state government, eight are female Nigerians while the rest are 14 males. Confirming their discharge from isolation centres, the State Ministry of Health, in a statement on its official social media handle on Saturday, disclosed that the patients were treated at the Isolation facilities at Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi araba and Lekki isolation centre. “The 22 more COVID-19 patients discharged today include eight females and 14 males who are all Nigerians from our Isolation facilities at Infectious Disease Hospital (IDH) in Yaba, Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH), Idi araba and Lekki isolation center, to reunite with the society.” “Out of the 22 patients; 19 were managed at LUTH, two from IDH in Yaba and one from our Isolation Centre at Lekki have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19”, the ministry said.
2 May 17:39 • The Guardian • https://guardian.ng/news/lagos-discharges-22-coronavirus-patients/Rating: 0.30
More staff have virus at Sydney aged home
Another two staff members at Sydney’s Newmarch House nursing home have tested positive for COVID-19 following the deaths of 13 residents. Anglicare Sydney confirmed the positive tests despite what it called “strict procedures and enforced infection control practices”. More than 60 people – 24 staff and 37 residents – at the nursing home near Penrith have tested positive to COVID-19 since the outbreak on April 11. “We are investigating further as to how this occurred and we continue to work closely with the NSW Public Health Unit on this,” Anglicare Sydney said in a statement on Saturday morning. “Additional positive cases associated with Newmarch House are very distressing for our staff, our residents, and their families.” The news of two more cases being confirmed in tests on Friday comes after three residents tested positive on Thursday. On Saturday it was announced that NSW Health have deployed two infection control nurses to the facility to review its procedures. “We’ve clearly seen transmission that on the surface looks like there’s been breaches of infection control amongst particularly the staff,” NSW chief medical officer Kerry Chant said. “And that’s obviously a concern. There are have been some elements where consistent application of infection control practice has not occurred.” NSW Health minister Brad Hazzard defended the government’s handling of the outbreak amid a second wave of infection at the facility, and said he had expressed his disappointment to Anglicare management. “I made my views very clear to Anglicare. That’s all I’ll say,” he said. He defended the staff who had spread infection, saying dealing with the virus was “like almost going to the moon”. But he conceded there had been breaches of health protocols. “Some of those people may or may not known exactly how to use the equipment in the most appropriate way,” he said. “It only takes a moment. Our doctors are highly trained, but like everybody else you can make a mistake.” Anglicare Sydney chief executive Grant Millard said “it would seem that’s fairly obvious that there have been failings”. “The use of PPE (personal protective equipment) is foreign to a lot of people,” Mr Millard told Seven News on Saturday. When asked whether there would come a point where Anglicare would decide to remove some residents from the aged care home, Mr Millard said the option would be brought up with those living at Newmarch House. “In small number to date that we’ve had discussions and this is something that we’re going to raise with residents in our communication shortly,” Mr Millard said. NSW Labor leader Jodi McKay called on the government to give all Newmarch residents, even ones who were healthy, the option of being moved to the public hospital system. “It’s clear COVID-19 is not in control in Newmarch House, it is in fact out of control,” she said. Federal Aged Care Minister Richard Colbeck said residents were receiving the best possible care supported by the local public health unit. Newmarch House has been criticised by residents’ relatives for a lack of communication. In an attempt to improve communications, the nursing home has started window visits. “We are further improving our pastoral care for residents and their families by offering access to Anglicare Sydney’s counselling and chaplaincy services as well as continuing the successful window visits between residents and families,” Anglicare Sydney said in the statement. “Additionally, Anglicare Sydney was relieved to hear that the outbreak of COVID-19 at Dorothy Henderson Lodge has now been dealt with. “This gives us great hope that we will overcome this devastating virus at Newmarch House.” © AAP 2020
2 May 18:26 • myGC.com.au • http://www.mygc.com.au/more-staff-have-virus-at-sydney-aged-home/Rating: 0.30
UPDATED: Lagos discharges 22 more COVID-19 patients
Dayo Ojerinde The Lagos State Government on Saturday announced the discharge of 22 more COVID-19 patients who have recovered from the infection. The state Ministry of Health, via its official Twitter handle, @LSMOH, said 247 patients have now been discharged from the isolation centres in the state. It tweeted, “22 more COVID-19 Lagos patients; eight females and 14 males, all Nigerians were today discharged from our isolation facilities at Yaba, @LUTHofficial and Lekki to reunite with the society. “The patients; 19 from @LUTHofficial, two from IDH, Yaba and one from our isolation centre at Lekki have fully recovered and tested negative twice consecutively to COVID-19. “With this, the number of patients successfully managed and discharged in Lagos is now 247.”
2 May 17:04 • Punch Newspapers • https://punchng.com/breaking-lagos-discharges-22-more-covid-19-patients/Rating: 0.30
George W. Bush's coronavirus video has critics nostalgic
3 May 18:38
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George W. Bush's coronavirus video has critics nostalgic
Former President George W. Bush says Americans should come together as one to confront the coronavirus pandemic that has claimed the lives of over 66,000 in the country so far. In a video released on Saturday, the 43rd U.S. president said, "We are not partisan combatants. We're human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God." Bush's presidential center posted the message on Twitter, tagging @TheCallToUnite, a livestream for celebrities and public figures to post encouraging videos during the pandemic. It got the Republican, who left office in January 2009 and typically keeps a low profile, trending on the social media site, where the video had been viewed 5 million times by midday Sunday. His comments come as Republicans and Democrats spar over the nation's response to the Covid-19 pandemic. Even some of Bush's critics - and many remain hostile, particularly because of the war in Iraq - praised the message of unity. One person unimpressed by the message was President Donald Trump, who tweeted early Sunday that Bush "was nowhere to be found in speaking up against the greatest Hoax in American history," referring to his impeachment. In the roughly three-minute video, Bush speaks over images of Americans in a variety of settings, starting in black-and-white and then switching to color. "We cannot allow physical separation to become emotional isolation," he says. "This requires us to not only be compassionate but creative in our outreach," he said. "Let us remember that empathy and simple kindness are essential, powerful tools of national recovery." Bush added that the suffering experienced by the nation "does not fall evenly." It was important to care "in practical ways," for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed, said Bush.
3 May 18:38 • Gulf News • https://gulfnews.com/world/offbeat/george-w-bushs-coronavirus-video-has-critics-nostalgic-1.1588531500328Rating: 3.21
'We are not partisan combatants': George W Bush posts emotional coronavirus video calling for unity
Former President George W. Bush called for unity in an emotional video this weekend, urging Americans to remember that "we are not partisan combatants". The video was posted on the official Twitter account of the George W. Bush Presidential Center and tagged @TheCallToUnite, a livestream where celebrities and public figures have been posting video messages during the pandemic. There have been more than 65,000 deaths in the US from the coronavirus. The video featured a voiceover from Bush set against an array of images of Americans social distancing, frontline workers and also included emotional scenes of Bush during his presidency, comforting people following 9/11. He said: “We are not partisan combatants. We’re human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God.” It continued: "We cannot allow physical separation to become emotional isolation. “This requires us to not only be compassionate but creative in our outreach. Let us remember that empathy and simple kindness are essential, powerful tools of national recovery.” The video highlighted that impacts of the coronavirus “does not fall evenly" and the importance of caring for the elderly, the ill and the unemployed. The video had more than 4m views as of Sunday morning. Trump replaces watchdog that found ‘severe shortages’ at hospitals How to make sure Trump never returns to power McConnell and Pelosi decline Trump’s offer of rapid coronavirus tests Trump campaign split on how to attack Joe Biden Trump says glad to see Kim Jong-un ‘back and well’
3 May 13:23 • Yahoo • https://news.yahoo.com/not-partisan-combatants-george-w-132312273.htmlRating: 0.30
George W. Bush Shares Empathetic Message Of Unity Amid COVID-19 Pandemic, Twitter Responds With Both Praise & Disgust
Over the weekend, the George W. Bush Presidential Center released a video featuring the former POTUS calling on Americans to recognize that we are all in this battle together against COVID-19. He reminded everyone that we should be helping each other out during the global pandemic and put partisan politics aside, but the video had mixed reviews on Twitter. The nearly-three minute video features Bush’s voice over various black-and-white images that mostly included people holding American flags. As the country faces skyrocketing unemployment, a shut-down economy, and a rising COVID-19 death count, Bush says that we should remember that the differences between people are small. “Let us remember how small our differences are in the face of this shared threat,” said Bush. “In the final analysis, we are not partisan combatants — we are human beings, equally vulnerable and equally wonderful in the sight of God. We rise or fall together and we are determined to rise.” Bush said this is a challenging and solemn time in the life of our nation, as a “remorseless, invisible enemy threatens the eldery and vulnerable among us.” He added that we are all deeply grateful for the risks medical professionals have taken regarding their own health so they could save lives. “Officials at every level are setting out the requirements of public health that protect us all, and we all need to do our part,” he continued. “The disease also threatens broader damage, harm to our sense of safety, security and community. The larger challenge we share is to confront an outbreak of fear and loneliness. And it is frustrating that many of the normal tools of compassion — a hug, a touch — can bring the opposite of the good we intend. In this case, we serve our neighbor by separating from them.” Bush said we can’t allow physical separation to become emotional isolation. This means we have to be compassionate and creative, and people all over America are using the “tools of technology and the cause of solidarity.” He also referenced 9/11, saying that in the aftermath we saw a great nation to rise as one to honor the brave and grieve. President Bush’s video immediately started trending on Twitter after it was posted on Saturday. Many were thrilled to hear such inspiring and kind words from the former President, but others weren’t impressed. One Twitter user wrote that the rehabilitation of George W. Bush was one of the “ugliest indictments of liberalism” they had ever seen. They pointed out that the Bush administration was responsible for killing thousands of Iraqis because of the Iraq War, not to mention his mishandling of Hurricane Katrina. Another skeptic wrote: “The Democratic leadership’s rehabilitation of George W. Bush is repulsive. Torture. Maiming. Drones. Mass surveillance. A war based on lies. Katrina. The list goes on…Yet, Dem leaders are determined to bolster Bush’s image. Ask yourself why.” One supporter of the President’s message said that in a million years, they never thought they would be crying watching Bush’s video and thinking how much better we’d all feel if Bush were president today.
3 May 19:44 • Celebrity Insider • https://celebrityinsider.org/george-w-bush-shares-empathetic-message-of-unity-amid-covid-19-pandemic-twitter-responds-with-both-praise-disgust-393265/Rating: 0.30
Karnataka Announces Free Intra-state Bus Travel For Migrant Labourers Wanting To Return To Their Native Districts
3 May 12:19
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Karnataka Announces Free Intra-state Bus Travel For Migrant Labourers Wanting To Return To Their Native Districts
The Karnataka government today (May 3) announced that migrant labourers returning home could travel for free for the next three days on intra-state buses. Acoording to a official release by the Chief Minister's Office, the decision to permit free trips in the state buses would be applicable till Tuesday and KSRTC buses would not charge any fares to migrant labourers wanting to return to their native districts within the state. On Saurday, Karnataka government had announced that it will charge only one-way fare for ferrying migrant workers in buses to their native places across the state. "Chief Minister B.S. Yediyurappa has directed the state-run transport corporation to charge migrant workers only one-way fare for commuting to their native places," the official said in a statement on Saturday. The decision was taken after the migrant workers complained to the state government that the Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) was charging them to and fro fare as the buses will return to the depots empty after dropping them at their respective places. In the last week of April, KSRTC faciliated the return of at least 15,000 stranded migrant labourers from the state to their home towns by plying 518 exclusive buses for them. The state has also limited the number of passengers. Each bus with a capacity of 55 passengers will run with 30 people. Though the idea is to maintain distance between individuals during the travel, the government has charged the migrants for the vacant seats
3 May 12:19 • Swarajya • https://swarajyamag.com/insta/karnataka-announces-free-intra-state-bus-travel-for-migrant-labourers-wanting-to-return-to-their-native-districtsRating: 1.22
Karnataka announces three-day free travel on buses for migrant workers within state
In a relief for thousands of migrant workers in Karnataka longing to travel back to their native places in the state amid the coronavirus lockdown, the BS Yediyurappa government Sunday announced free travel on state-run buses for the next three days. “Workers and poor wage laborers have been allowed to travel in KSRTC buses free of charge from district centers and capital city Bengaluru to their hometowns in Karnataka for three days from today (Sunday),” a statement from the Karnataka Chief Minister’s Office (CMO) read. To the delight of thousands of such workers waiting at Bengaluru’s Kempegowda Bus Stand (Majestic) on Sunday, the announcements were made through public announcement systems in the terminal. On Saturday, the government had announced that it would charge only one-way fare. “Only one-way fare will be collected and not two-way fare. Earlier, the bus transport facility was considered as a contract carriage since only 30 passengers were being allowed. It has now been decided to collect only one-way fare and the labour department will bear the remaining cost,” Karnataka Education Minister Suresh Kumar had said. The state government had drawn widespread criticism for demanding inflated fares from migrant workers for their travel back home to rural areas in the state from cities as 60-seat buses would carry 30 passengers for physical distancing and return vacant. For instance, labourers alleged that for a 500-km trip to Bagalkot district in north Karnataka, KSRTC demanded around Rs 1,300 from each passenger, over four times more than the regular fare of Rs 300. However, even after the CM’s repeated requests to maintain social distancing in public places, norms continued to be compromised at the bus stand on Sunday, with few people around to control the crowds.
3 May 07:45 • The Indian Express • https://indianexpress.com/article/cities/bangalore/karnataka-lockdown-free-travel-on-buses-for-migrant-workers-6391619/Rating: 0.30
Karnataka government directs KSRTC to arrange free travel for labourers for next 3 days
Under fire from all sections for charging double fare to migrant labourers on their return to their native places, the Karnataka government has decided to organise free travel facilities for the next three days, starting today. In a statement released on Sunday, Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa informed that he has directed the State run Karnataka State Road Transport Corporations (KSRTC) to provide free travel facility for all labourers who wish to return to their homes. Opposition parties and human rights organisations had slammed the government for charging double fare to distressed and jobless labourers stranded in Bengaluru following the lockdown. Mirror had, on May 2, reported that the KSRTC ferried about 1,000 people to districts such as Raichur and Yadgir on Friday. It charged anywhere between Rs 1,000 to Rs 1,400 per passenger. Also, the buses used for ferrying the workers will be sanitised and social distancing norms will be maintained. In the meantime, following demands of the state governments, the Indian Railways ran ‘Shramik Special’ trains to move the stranded labourers, pilgrims, tourists and students. The first special train from Karnataka with 1,190 migrant workers left Chikkabanavara station in Bengaluru east at 9:26 am today for Bhubaneswar. You may also like to watch:KSRTC buses ferry people to their destinations from Kempegowda Bus Station00:34
3 May 06:31 • Bangalore Mirror • https://bangaloremirror.indiatimes.com/bangalore/others/karnataka-government-directs-ksrtc-to-arrange-free-travel-for-labourers-for-next-3-days/articleshow/75515336.cmsRating: 0.30
Coronavirus lockdown: Karnataka announces free bus travel for labourers
The Karnataka government on Sunday announced that migrant labourers returning home could travel for free for the next three days on state-run buses. Track live updates on coronavirus hereA release by the Chief Minister's Office said that the decision would be applicable till Tuesday and KSRTC buses would not charge any fares to migrant labourers wanting to return to their native districts within the state. Also Read: Coronavirus lockdown: After migrant workers' cries, Karnataka govt cancels costly bus fares The order came after widespread criticism against the government's decision to levy high ticket charges for labourers returning home, which was subsequently reduced on Saturday. A day later, however, the government decided to ensure free transport facilities for their benefit. Also Read: Coronavirus India update: State-wise total number of confirmed cases Karnataka CM B S Yediyurappa has urged the labourers to maintain social distancing at the bus station and assured adequate facilities would be provided for them..
3 May 11:37 • Deccan Herald • https://www.deccanherald.com/state/top-karnataka-stories/coronavirus-lockdown-karnataka-announces-free-bus-travel-for-labourers-832952.htmlRating: 2.25
Karnataka govt. announces free transportation for migrant workers after facing flak for high fares
After facing flak for charging exorbitant fares to transport stranded migrants, the State Government on Sunday morning announced that they will ferry migrants to their respective districts without any fare for three days starting from Sunday. The services will be available from Sunday till Tuesday from BMTC Bus Stand, Majestic. Also read:Shramik special trains | Migrant workers, other stranded people to pay ₹50 more to get home Meanwhile, Karnataka Pradesh Congress Committee (KPCC) on Sunday donated ₹1 crore to KSRTC to facilitate free ferrying of stranded labourers to their respective districts. In a letter to KSRTC MD, KPCC president-designate D.K.Shivakumar said that the amount be used to ferry stranded migrants. "If necessity arises, KPCC is ready to contribute more," the letter read. Also read:Hundreds throng Majestic to find a bus to take them home On Saturday, Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation (KSRTC) operated 120 buses from Majestic in Bengaluru to various districts in which 3,600 people had travelled paying single charge. Earlier, KSRTC came under attack for charging exorbitant amounts after which Chief Minister B.S. YediyurappA intervened and directed KSRTC to charge only single fares. He directed the Labour Department to bear the other side’s fare. The first Shramik special train from the city left to Bhubaneswar on Sunday morning. The train, with 1190 people, left Chikbanawara Station in Bengaluru at 9.26 a.m. The State government had arranged BMTC buses to ferry people to the railway station.
3 May 06:31 • The Hindu • https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/karnataka/karnataka-govt-announces-free-transportation-for-stranded-migrant-workers-after-facing-flak-for-high-fares/article31493692.eceRating: 0.30
Free inter-district bus facility for stranded people to travel within Karnataka for 3 days
Bengaluru: In a bid to help people, including large number of labourers, from Karnataka stranded within the state due to the COVID-19 lockdown, Chief Minister B S Yediyurappa said free bus services would be operated for three days from Sunday for them to reach their native places. The expenses will be borne by the government, he said appealing to the people to make use of the opportunity that will be available till Tuesday and not to create rush at bus stands. "Keeping in mind the situation of poor labourers, for three days from today, free KSRTC (Karnataka State Road Transport Corporation) bus facilities will be made available for those travelling to their native places in Karnataka from various district headquarters and capital Bengaluru city," the Chief Minister said in a statement. The move came amid complaints that the fare charged by the state-run transport corporation was too high. The high fare, fixed since the buses were operated on a contract basis and not as regular services, also drew criticism from various quarters including opposition parties. State Congress President D K Shivakumar said the party was contributing Rs 1 crore to the transport corporation for ensuring 'free' travel to the workers and said if the government wanted more funds would be made available. Allowing one-time inter state and inter district movement of those stranded, the government had earlier said, those wanting to travel will have to bear the travel expenses, and buses will be made available if required. Thousands of labourers on Saturday expressed their inability to pay the higher fare that was fixed for commuting in KSRTC buses as the services were being arranged on a contract basis. However, following the intervention of the Chief Minister later it was decided to charge single fare tariff for workers travelling by KSRTC buses within the state. In further relief, Yediyurappa issued orders on Sunday making it free travel. Officials said buses will be available from 10 am to 6 pm at the Bengaluru Metropolitan Transport Corporation's bus stand at Majestic here and requested the public to maintain social distancing while coming to board the buses. The passengers would also be subjected to screening to detect if they have any COVID-19 symptoms such as fever. There are adequate number of buses for travel, and required health check up will be made before boarding the bus, the officials said. "No one will be allowed to get down from the bus in between and all passengers will be dropped at designated bus stand, where once again health checkup will be done and home quarantine related information will be give," they added. Shivakumar tweeted: "Giving Rs 1 crore cheque to KSRTC from the KPCC for ensuring free transport to our working class & labour people who are suffering to reach home because of the rates being charged by the Karnataka Govt. Govt should let us know if they need more, the KPCC will fulfill that as well." "Bus facilities for those wanting to go home have been very inadequate. Thousands are suffering without food & water at bus stands. Karnataka Govt must wake up to their sufferings," he said in another tweet.
3 May 08:03 • The Economic Times • https://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/politics-and-nation/free-inter-district-bus-facility-for-stranded-people-to-travel-within-karnataka-for-3-days/articleshow/75516155.cmsRating: 0.30
Congress forces Karnataka govt to arrange free transport for migrant workers
Karnataka government has decided to transport migrant workers free after drawing a flak from Opposition party Congress for charging exorbitant two-way fares. After lockdown was relaxed, the State government announced ‘one-day, one-way one-time’ travel for migrant workers to reach their homes in the districts. On hearing this, migrant workers rushed to KSRTC bus stand in Bengaluru city on Saturday, but were shocked as they had to pay two-way fare. Chief Minister BS Yediyurappa had to intervene and directed the transport corporation to charge workers only single fare. He directed the Labour Department to bear the rest. The State government and KSRTC drew criticism for charging exorbitantly. The Opposition Congress stepped in on Saturday and tried to donate ₹1 crore to KSRTC to facilitate free travel. However, the state government on Sunday announced that all migrant workers will be ferried without any fare for three days till Tuesday from BMTC Bus Stand. On Sunday, as migrants were sent to their respective districts, Indian Railways arranged two trains each to Patna and Bhubaneswar and one to Hatia. The first Shramik special train from Bengaluru city left to Bhubaneswar. The train, with 1,190 people, left Chikbanawara Station in Bengaluru at 9.26 am. The second train left for Patna with nearly 1,200 passengers from Malur railway station at 2.35 pm. As per the Karnataka Health and Family Welfare Department’s bulletin, 13 new cases of Covid-19 were confirmed on Sunday. With this the state’s total tally of cases is 614 and total death 25. Of the remaining 295 cases, 292 positive patients are at designated hospitals. ICMR-Union Ministry of Health Research has approved KIMS-Hubli hospital and research centre for conducting the clinical trials for Convalescent Plasma Therapy for Covid-19. This will be the second hospital to take up Plasma Therapy after at Bangalore Medical College’s (BMC) Victoria Hospital.
3 May 14:02 • BusinessLine • https://www.thehindubusinessline.com/news/congress-forces-karnataka-govt-free-transport-for-migrant-workers/article31494963.eceRating: 1.98
Kate surprises new parents during video-call to London hospital
3 May 20:56
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Kate surprises new parents during video-call to London hospital
A new mum and dad received an unexpected surprise when the Duchess of Cambridge paid them a virtual bedside visit. Kate said hello during a video call to midwives she had worked with at Kingston Hospital last year. She chatted to Rebecca Attwood and John Gill with their baby Max nearby, and when she was told the infant had been born the night before, the royal said: ‘My goodness, you must be exhausted.’ She added Max was ‘so sweet’ before congratulating the new mum and dad. Midwives told the duchess the coronavirus outbreak had left some mothers suffering from anxiety, concerned about catching Covid-19. During another video call with experts from the sector, the duchess raised concerns about new parents, saying they should ‘reach out and ask for help’ if they need it. The call was made on April 22 to staff at the maternity unit of Kingston Hospital in south-west London, where she spent two days on a work placement last November. During her video chat from her Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, Kate spoke to midwives she had met before, and their colleagues, about how the experiences of expectant mothers and new parents have changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. To maintain social distancing, three pairs of midwives took it in turns to join the chat, while another was filmed putting on personal protective equipment (PPE) before taking the laptop in to introduce the duchess to baby Max and his parents. Ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week which begins on Monday, Kate spoke to a group of experts last week, including Dr Alain Gregoire, chairman of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, and Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The duchess, who has spent much of her public work highlighting the importance of the early years development of children and parental wellbeing, said to the group: ‘Parents do need to go out and reach out to those who can support them, particularly those who can provide knowledgeable resource as well. ‘It’s important to access and reach out for help when you do need it.’ Get in touch with our news team by emailing us at webnews@metro.co.uk. For more stories like this, check our news page.
3 May 20:56 • Metro • https://metro.co.uk/2020/05/03/kate-surprises-new-parents-video-call-london-hospital-12649356/Rating: 2.18
Kate Middleton Did Another Secret Zoom Call—With a New Mom
Bringing a new child into the world can already be an anxiety-ridden experience, but add in a pandemic, and you've reached a whole new level of difficulty. For the U.K.’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week, which beings tomorrow, Kate Middleton hopped on Zoom with midwives, health visitors, parents, and leading experts to talk about the impact that the coronavirus crisis has had on families and healthcare workers, per Entertainment Tonight. During her Zoom call rounds, the Duchess of Cambridge also talked to a new mom and dad in the U.K. after they welcomed their son. The mom, who was still in her hospital bed, spoke with the duchess, who expressed her best wishes to the couple. "Very nice to meet you," Kate said, laughing, as she spoke to the new parents, who sat in their hospital room. "This is definitely a first, I think. Well, firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?" The camera panned over to the newborn, and Kate said, "He's so sweet. Aww, congratulations." During the video, Kate also spoke to healthcare experts and providers what their main concerns are during this pandemic. "Social isolation" was among the biggest worries from healthcare professionals, who said that many new parents aren't able to see their family members leading up to or after the birth. "It creates anxiety because we all know how important those key relationships are in those early days," one woman said. Kate has long been an advocate for the importance of postpartum mental health At a 2017 event for Best Beginnings, a charity partner of the royal mental health charity, Heads Together, she spoke about how quickly things shift in a new parent's life after giving birth. "Nothing can really prepare you for you the sheer overwhelming experience of what it means to become a mother. It is full of complex emotions of joy, exhaustion, love, and worry, all mixed together," she said then. "Your fundamental identity changes overnight. You go from thinking of yourself as primarily an individual, to suddenly being a mother, first and foremost." Like the rest of us, Kate and Prince William have become well acquainted with Zoom in recent weeks. They have also talked with teachers and students who are adjusting to remote learning right now. "Self-isolation and social distancing can pose huge challenges to our mental health—in recent weeks The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge have been in regular contact with organizations and patronages to understand the issues they are facing during this difficult time," they wrote on the Kensington Palace Instagram account in March.
3 May 15:14 • Elle • https://www.elle.com/culture/celebrities/a32355620/kate-middleton-zoom-call-new-mom/Rating: 2.02
Kate Middleton Surprised These New Parents Over Video Call to Deliver Her Personal Congrats
Kate Middleton is continuing her efforts to raise awareness about early childhood development and the realities of motherhood, even while social distancing. The Duchess of Cambridge recently shared a video, via the royal family's YouTube account, which shows her discussions with parents, midwives, and experts about the impact of the novel coronavirus pandemic on families. These conversations are especially timely as the United Kingdom prepares to celebrate Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week starting May 4. The Kensington Palace Twitter account posted an extended video of the adorable interaction with the brand-new mom and dad. "He's so sweet!" Kate says in the clip, admiring the newborn. After the mom reveals she gave birth the night before, Kate responds, "Oh my goodness, you must be exhausted!" As a mother of three, Kate can sympathize with the demands of childbirth (she used hypnobirthing during her delivery!) and the sleepless nights with infants. Watch the video above to see part of their sweet chat, as well as Kate's full conversation with healthcare professionals from around the UK.
3 May 20:41 • POPSUGAR Family • https://www.popsugar.com/family/kate-middleton-maternal-mental-health-awareness-video-47439331Rating: 1.91
Kate Middleton congratulates new mother over video chat: 'He's so sweet'
Kate Middleton is sending a message -- mother to mother. The Duchess of Cambridge, 38, recently spoke with a new mother over a video chat shared online as part of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. "Hello, very nice to meet you, this is definitely a first, I think," said Middleton. Prince William to appear in BBC documentary examining mental health in soccer Upon seeing the newborn over the chat, Middleton said, "He's so sweet." The new mother revealed that she just gave birth the previous night. "Oh my goodness, you must be exhausted," said the Duchess with a laugh. The video then briefly showed a clip of Middleton saying hello to a midwife wearing a mask. KENSINGTON PALACE RELEASES PHOTOS OF PRINCESS CHARLOTTE AHEAD OF HER FIFTH BIRTHDAY "I'm smiling, can you tell?" said the medical worker. "With your eyes, yes I can," Middleton replied. To finish off the video, Middleton could be seen chatting with a handful of experts on maternal mental health. One of the professionals urged: "If you need help, get help. We're here to help." The video was shared by Kensington Palace on Twitter on Saturday. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP "The Duchess of Cambridge has spoken with midwives, health visitors, parents and leading sector experts ahead of the UK’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week #MaternalMHmatters," read the caption.
3 May 16:15 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/entertainment/kate-middleton-congratulates-new-mother-video-chatRating: 3.32
Kate Middleton giggles and coos as she meets newborn baby and his proud parents
Smitten Kate Middleton has been filmed cooing on camera as she virtually met a newborn baby and his parents. The Duchess Of Cambridge was introduced to the tot during a video call ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. As she said hello to the proud mum and dad, Kate giggled and said: "It's nice to meet you. This is definitely a first I think!" Kate, 38, was then introduced to their little bundle. Cooing, she gasped: "He is so sweet. Ah, congratulations." The tot's tired mum revealed she had only given birth to her son the night before. "My goodness. You must be exhausted," Kate sympathised. Read more: Kate Middleton shares new photo of Charlotte on her fifth birthday In the footage, which has been posted on Kensington Palace's social media accounts, Kate also meets a range of staff from the midwifery sector. Mum-of-three Kate tells them: "As organisations, you are playing such a vital role. "Giving key information, you are hugely trusted by the public. Therefore, the information you provide is a lifeline to a lot of people at this time." One of the medics explains to Kate that it is important to "get the message out about mental health". He then urges new parents: "If you need help, get help." Kate also spoke to midwives about the impact that the coronavirus pandemic is having on them. She asked them how they were, saying: "There's stress and anxieties out there for families anyway, but you're still working and there's extra pressure and worry. "And also trying to wear very uncomfortable kit as well. Kate added: "Babies come all the time, so the fact you have to work in these difficult times...well done." Both Kate and her husband, Prince William, work tirelessly to promote mental health awareness. Her latest efforts have been applauded by their fans. One tweeted: "The baby is cute. keep up the good work duchess Kate, mental health is really important." Read more: The Queen marks Princess Charlotte's birthday with family snaps Another added: "I think it’s wonderful that the Royals are using ways online to speak directly to their people. It’s so lovely to see them. God bless them all.' A third remarked: "Love her, she’s going to be a brilliant Queen one day." Meanwhile, it was celebrations all round in Kate and William's household on Saturday (May 2, 2020). The couple's middle child, Princess Charlotte, turned five. Kate and William shared a beautiful photo of their daughter to mark the special occasion. Leave us a comment on our Facebook page @EntertainmentDailyFix and let us know what you think of this story. Duchess Of CambridgeKate Middleton
3 May 11:17 • Entertainment Daily • https://www.entertainmentdaily.co.uk/royals/kate-middleton-gmeets-newborn-baby-parents/Rating: 0.30
Kate calls midwives and parents to highlight mental health issues
LONDON (Reuters) - British royal Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, has video-called a number of new parents, midwives and other maternity service professionals to promote her message of mental health awareness during the coronavirus pandemic. In a video posted on Twitter by Kensington Palace, the residence and office of Kate and her husband Prince William, the mother-of-three could be seen chatting via video-link with a woman who had given birth the night before, a midwife, and various others. “As organisations you’re playing such a vital role, giving key information, you’re hugely trusted by the public in general, and therefore the information that you provide is a lifeline to many people at this time,” Kate told professionals from not-for-profit mental health organisations on a group call. The video was issued to mark Britain’s Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week. In a separate snippet, Kate could be seen chatting with a new mother on her hospital bed, congratulating her on the birth of her son and acknowledging the strangeness of having the conversation via video-link due to social distancing measures. “This is definitely a first,” she said, laughing along with the new mother. A midwife also appeared from a hospital ward on the video-montage, asking whether Kate could tell that she was smiling underneath her protective face mask. “With your eyes, yes I can,” the duchess replied. Kate and William have long campaigned to raise awareness of mental health issues. Last week, the couple launched a new service called OurFrontline, which provides round-the-clock mental health support to key workers involved in the response to the coronavirus crisis. William’s grandmother, 94-year-old Queen Elizabeth, has issued a number of rallying messages to the nation since it went into lockdown in March, including a televised address that was only the fifth of her 68-year reign. More than 28,000 people have died of COVID-19 across the United Kingdom.
3 May 08:36 • Reuters • https://www.reuters.com/article/uk-health-coronavirus-britain-kate-idUSKBN22F08IRating: 4.04
Kate Middleton Congratulates Parents On Their Newborn In Surprise Phone Call
May 2, 2020 Joe Allen The new mother was operating on two hours of sleep when she spoke with the Duchess of Cambridge. Even as she’s quarantined with her family, Kate Middleton is still finding ways to bring some love to families across the United Kingdom. The Duchess of Cambridge recently surprised a pair of new parents with a video chat in which she congratulated them on their new child, People reports. Middleton was introduced to the couple, Rebecca and John, at Kingston Hospital, where Middleton did some work shadowing last November. “Very nice to meet you. This is definitely a first. Well, firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?” Middleton said on the call. After the couple told the duchess that it was a boy, Middleton offered even more congratulations. “He’s so sweet. Congratulations!,” the royal mother said. In speaking with People, Rebecca said that her conversation with a member of the royal family had come as a shock to her. “Having a baby is an extraordinary experience at any time, but having one during lockdown and then having a surprise conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge after two hours sleep was particularly surreal!,” she said. Rebecca continued by saying that Middleton had asked what it was like to give birth during the coronavirus pandemic. She said that the midwives in the maternity ward had tried to make the process as normal as possible. The new mother said that apart from the masks, this birth was almost identical to when she had her first son in 2015. On her call, Middleton also checked in with the hospital’s staff to see how they’d been coping in light of the virus. “Are you very aware of a difference, or a shift in a mother’s emotional and mental wellbeing in comparison to before the pandemic?” Middleton asked. The staff told the duchess that the situation had led to an increase in anxiety, and then praised the staff for their ability to work through the challenge. The midwives on the call discussed the impact the coronavirus had had on them, and the importance of continued support for frontline workers. Last week, Middleton and Prince William launched Our Frontline, an initiative designed to provide 24-hour mental health support for frontline staff and key workers dealing with the virus. Throughout her time as a royal, Middleton has prioritized childhood development and the mental health of parents as two of her key issues. On the call, she told the staff that babies come regardless of the circumstances in the world, and said she was grateful to them for continuing to do the work they do in these new circumstances.
2 May 23:35 • The Inquisitr • https://www.inquisitr.com/6031413/kate-middleton-congratulates-parents-on-their-newborn-in-surprise-phone-call/?utm_source=feedburner&utm_medium=feed&utm_campaign=Feed%3A+google%2FyDYq+%28The+Inquisitr+-+News%29Rating: 0.30
Kate coos over newborn baby during virtual chat with parents
The Duchess of Cambridge has made a virtual bedside visit to new parents during a video call to midwives she worked alongside last year. Kate chatted to Rebecca Attwood and John Gill with their baby Max nearby, and when she was told the infant had been born the night before, the royal said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted.” Midwives told the duchess the coronavirus outbreak had left some mothers suffering from anxiety, concerned about catching Covid-19. During another video call with experts from the sector, the duchess raised concerns about new parents, saying they should “reach out and ask for help” if they need it. The video call was made on April 22 to staff at the maternity unit of Kingston Hospital in south-west London, where she spent two days on a work placement last November. Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. When the duchess, who is mother to six-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, who celebrated her fifth birthday on Saturday, and two-year-old Prince Louis, began chatting with the parents of baby Max, she said: “Well firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?” “It’s a little boy,” Ms Attwood told her, as she sat up in her hospital bed with her newborn son alongside her in a cot. Given a closer look at little Max, the duchess cooed: “He’s so sweet. Ah, congratulations. When did you have him?” Told he had arrived at 10pm the previous night, Kate said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted,” and his mother replied “Yes. I’m pretty tired now.” During her video chat, Kate spoke to midwives she had met before, and their colleagues, about how the experiences of expectant mothers and new parents has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. To maintain social distancing, three pairs of midwives took it in turns to join the chat, while another was filmed putting on personal protective equipment before taking the laptop in to introduce the duchess to baby Max and his parents. From her Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, the duchess watched as the hospital birth centre’s lead midwife Sam Frewin, whom she had met during her work placement last November, appeared on camera in a mask and disposable apron. “I’m smiling, can you tell?” joked Sam. “I know,” gasped Kate, surprised by her appearance. Looking closer, she laughed, adding: “With your eyes, I can.” Later Jennifer Tshibamba, an antenatal midwife who is part of a team offering ultrasound scans and blood tests for genetic conditions, said wearing masks was an added challenge when giving parents difficult news. She said: “It’s the aspect of having that face-to-face contact and being at a distance and having your mask on and not seeing someone’s facial expressions and knowing that she might be hesitating to say something.” During the video call, the duchess asked about the concerns of mothers and was told by Jo Doumouchtsi, a perinatal mental health midwife, there had been an increase in referrals for anxiety. She said: “The main issues that women are having at the moment really are around coming into hospital and worries about catching Covid, but also about the isolation after the baby is born. “They have to self-isolate, so they are having limited support from their other family members.” Sorry, this content isn't available on your device. Ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week which begins on Monday, Kate spoke to a group of experts last week, including Dr Alain Gregoire, chairman of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, and Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The duchess, who has spent much of her public work highlighting the importance of the early years development of children and parental wellbeing, said to the group: “Parents do need to go out and reach out to those who can support them, particularly those who can provide knowledgeable resource as well. “It’s important to access and reach out for help when you do need it.” She added: “You speak to six mums and all of you realise you are going through the same thing. Before that, you’re worried that actually what you’re experiencing, you’re the only one who’s going through it.”
2 May 23:01 • ITV News • https://www.itv.com/news/2020-05-03/kate-coos-over-newborn-baby-during-virtual-chat-with-parents/Rating: 0.88
Kate Middleton coos over newborn during surprise virtual maternity ward visit
A newborn received a royal welcome when the Duchess of Cambridge paid a virtual visit over the internet. Kate, who has a keen interest in early years development, spoke to parents Rebecca Atwood and John Gill about what it was like to have a baby during the lockdown. The Duchess, 38, cooed at baby Max, who was just 16 hours old, and said: “Hello! Very nice to meet you! This is definitely a first, I think!” After sending “huge congratulations” to his parents, Kate added: “He is so sweet. When did you have him?” When told he had arrived at 10pm the previous night, she replied: “My goodness, you must be exhausted!" Kate’s surprise ‘bedside visit’ came during a call to staff at Kingston Hospital’s Maternity Unit on April 22. She did a two-day work placement at the south west London hospital last November, and this time heard from staff about their experiences during the pandemic. Six midwives took it in turns to join the chat, while one pulled on personal protective equipment and took a laptop to introduce mum-of-three Kate to baby Max and his parents. The Duchess dialled in from Anmer Hall in Norfolk – where the Cambridges have been staying during the lockdown – and heard that the hospital had dealt with a rise in referrals for anxiety. Jo Doumouchtsi, perinatal mental health midwife, said: “The main issues women are having are around coming into hospital and catching Covid, but also about the isolation after the baby is born. “They have to self-isolate, so they are having limited support from their other family members.” And midwife Jennifer Tshibamba added: “We want women to know we’re here, we’re still open. “Even with what’s going on, we’re here to listen to you, we’re still here to make sure we provide you with the best care for your pregnancy, for your baby and support your family.” The hospital’s perinatal mental health team – which includes psychiatrists and mental health nurses – sends out a weekly newsletter that gives mums advice for coping during the pandemic and lists what services are available. Kate said: “That’s probably such a valuable tool for them now. To you all there, you do an amazing job, honestly, as you say, babies come all the time. “The fact you’re having to work in these difficult times… well done.” Kate told the midwives how she and husband William had spoken to NHS staff about the importance of reaching out if they were feeling low. She said: “They don’t feel they can reach out because they feel guilty for doing it, which is extraordinary. “With new mums and parents and families, they don’t want to feel like they’re overburdening but it is so important to reach out and ask for help when you do need it.” As part of their work to support people during the pandemic, the Duke and Duchess have created a new text service dedicated to key workers. Leading mental health charities will work together to provide 24-hour support to those under pressure while millions of us stay at home to save lives. Mind, Samaritans, Shout, Hospice UK and the Cambridges’ Royal Foundation will provide support and online resources to the key workers keeping Britain moving through the crisis. William, 37, said the text service would be their “top priority” in the coming months. And ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week – which starts tomorrow – Kate said new mums should also speak up if they need help. Typically, around one in 10 women experience a mental illness during pregnancy or in the first year after giving birth. Kate said that in her experience, talking to other mums helped. She said: “You realise you are going through the same thing. Before that, you’re worried that actually, what you’re experiencing, you’re the only one going through it. “To be able to share it in whatever way, whether it’s on the phone, through social media – in any form – it does normalise some of these anxieties.” Using a video call to connect with others was exactly what Princess Charlotte did on her fifth birthday on Saturday. Kate and William threw a party for their daughter at home, with lots of fun and games for her and brothers, George, six and Louis, two. A source said Charlotte also made Zoom calls to members of her family, including the Queen. Kensington Palace yesterday released five photos of the princess to mark her birthday – all of which were taken by mum Kate. The sweet images showed a smiling Charlotte helping to deliver care packages to vulnerable Norfolk residents during the lockdown.
2 May 21:30 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/uk-news/kate-middleton-coos-over-newborn-21964165Rating: 2.39
Kate coos over newborn baby during virtual chat with parents
The Duchess of Cambridge has continued her video call meetings with health professionals and frontline workers. The Duchess of Cambridge has made a virtual bedside visit to new parents during a video call to midwives she worked alongside last year. Kate chatted to Rebecca Attwood and John Gill with their baby Max nearby, and when she was told the infant had been born the night before, the royal said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted.” Midwives told the duchess the coronavirus outbreak had left some mothers suffering from anxiety, concerned about catching Covid-19. During another video call with experts from the sector, the duchess raised concerns about new parents, saying they should “reach out and ask for help” if they need it. The video call was made on April 22 to staff at the maternity unit of Kingston Hospital in south-west London, where she spent two days on a work placement last November. When the duchess, who is mother to six-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, who celebrated her fifth birthday on Saturday, and two-year-old Prince Louis, began chatting with the parents of baby Max, she said: “Well firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?” “It’s a little boy,” Ms Attwood told her, as she sat up in her hospital bed with her newborn son alongside her in a cot. Given a closer look at little Max, the duchess cooed: “He’s so sweet. Ah, congratulations. When did you have him?” Told he had arrived at 10pm the previous night, Kate said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted,” and his mother replied “Yes. I’m pretty tired now.” During her video chat, Kate spoke to midwives she had met before, and their colleagues, about how the experiences of expectant mothers and new parents has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. To maintain social distancing, three pairs of midwives took it in turns to join the chat, while another was filmed putting on personal protective equipment before taking the laptop in to introduce the duchess to baby Max and his parents. From her Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, the duchess watched as the hospital birth centre’s lead midwife Sam Frewin, whom she had met during her work placement last November, appeared on camera in a mask and disposable apron. “I’m smiling, can you tell?” joked Sam. “I know,” gasped Kate, surprised by her appearance. Looking closer, she laughed, adding: “With your eyes, I can.” Later Jennifer Tshibamba, an antenatal midwife who is part of a team offering ultrasound scans and blood tests for genetic conditions, said wearing masks was an added challenge when giving parents difficult news. She said: “It’s the aspect of having that face-to-face contact and being at a distance and having your mask on and not seeing someone’s facial expressions and knowing that she might be hesitating to say something.” During the video call, the duchess asked about the concerns of mothers and was told by Jo Doumouchtsi, a perinatal mental health midwife, there had been an increase in referrals for anxiety. She said: “The main issues that women are having at the moment really are around coming into hospital and worries about catching Covid, but also about the isolation after the baby is born. “They have to self-isolate, so they are having limited support from their other family members.” Ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week which begins on Monday, Kate spoke to a group of experts last week, including Dr Alain Gregoire, chairman of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, and Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The duchess, who has spent much of her public work highlighting the importance of the early years development of children and parental wellbeing, said to the group: “Parents do need to go out and reach out to those who can support them, particularly those who can provide knowledgeable resource as well. “It’s important to access and reach out for help when you do need it.” She added: “You speak to six mums and all of you realise you are going through the same thing. Before that, you’re worried that actually what you’re experiencing, you’re the only one who’s going through it.”
2 May 21:31 • Shropshire Star • https://www.shropshirestar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/kate-coos-over-newborn-baby-during-virtual-chat-with-parents/Rating: 0.30
Kate coos over newborn baby during virtual chat with parents
The Duchess of Cambridge has made a virtual bedside visit to new parents during a video call to midwives she worked alongside last year. Kate chatted to Rebecca Attwood and John Gill with their baby Max nearby, and when she was told the infant had been born the night before, the royal said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted.” Midwives told the duchess the coronavirus outbreak had left some mothers suffering from anxiety, concerned about catching Covid-19. During another video call with experts from the sector, the duchess raised concerns about new parents, saying they should “reach out and ask for help” if they need it. The video call was made on April 22 to staff at the maternity unit of Kingston Hospital in south-west London, where she spent two days on a work placement last November. When the duchess, who is mother to six-year-old Prince George, Princess Charlotte, who celebrated her fifth birthday on Saturday, and two-year-old Prince Louis, began chatting with the parents of baby Max, she said: “Well firstly, huge congratulations. Is it a little boy or a little girl?” “It’s a little boy,” Ms Attwood told her, as she sat up in her hospital bed with her newborn son alongside her in a cot. Given a closer look at little Max, the duchess cooed: “He’s so sweet. Ah, congratulations. When did you have him?” Told he had arrived at 10pm the previous night, Kate said: “My goodness, you must be exhausted,” and his mother replied “Yes. I’m pretty tired now.” During her video chat, Kate spoke to midwives she had met before, and their colleagues, about how the experiences of expectant mothers and new parents has changed because of the coronavirus pandemic. To maintain social distancing, three pairs of midwives took it in turns to join the chat, while another was filmed putting on personal protective equipment before taking the laptop in to introduce the duchess to baby Max and his parents. From her Anmer Hall home in Norfolk, the duchess watched as the hospital birth centre’s lead midwife Sam Frewin, whom she had met during her work placement last November, appeared on camera in a mask and disposable apron. “I’m smiling, can you tell?” joked Sam. “I know,” gasped Kate, surprised by her appearance. Looking closer, she laughed, adding: “With your eyes, I can.” Later Jennifer Tshibamba, an antenatal midwife who is part of a team offering ultrasound scans and blood tests for genetic conditions, said wearing masks was an added challenge when giving parents difficult news. She said: “It’s the aspect of having that face-to-face contact and being at a distance and having your mask on and not seeing someone’s facial expressions and knowing that she might be hesitating to say something.” During the video call, the duchess asked about the concerns of mothers and was told by Jo Doumouchtsi, a perinatal mental health midwife, there had been an increase in referrals for anxiety. She said: “The main issues that women are having at the moment really are around coming into hospital and worries about catching Covid, but also about the isolation after the baby is born. “They have to self-isolate, so they are having limited support from their other family members.” Ahead of Maternal Mental Health Awareness Week which begins on Monday, Kate spoke to a group of experts last week, including Dr Alain Gregoire, chairman of the Maternal Mental Health Alliance, and Dr Edward Morris, president of the Royal College of Obstetrics and Gynaecology. The duchess, who has spent much of her public work highlighting the importance of the early years development of children and parental wellbeing, said to the group: “Parents do need to go out and reach out to those who can support them, particularly those who can provide knowledgeable resource as well. “It’s important to access and reach out for help when you do need it.” She added: “You speak to six mums and all of you realise you are going through the same thing. Before that, you’re worried that actually what you’re experiencing, you’re the only one who’s going through it.”
2 May 21:31 • Express & Star • https://www.expressandstar.com/news/uk-news/2020/05/02/kate-coos-over-newborn-baby-during-virtual-chat-with-parents/Rating: 0.30
Baby name Kate Middleton 'had heart set on' and almost picked for Prince George
Picking a baby name is no easy task as Kate Middleton found out when she was expecting her first child, Prince George. Kate, the Duchess of Cambridge, 38, and husband Prince William, 37, decided not to find out the gender of their firstborn, whom would become third in line to the throne. Instead they had a list of potential names lined up depending on whether they welcomed a baby girl or boy. And although we know the couple went on to call their son George Alexander Louis, there was another boy's name Kate is said to have been particularly fond of. Royal expert Katie Nicholl previously revealed in Vanity Fair: “Courtiers insisted the pair had not found out the sex of their unborn baby, and friends close to the couple claim William wanted a surprise. “Although Kate apparently suspected it was a boy and had set her heart on the name Alexander, they had not yet decided what to call their firstborn.” Ms Nicholl continued: “Kate was reported to have affectionately referred to her bump as ‘our little grape’ while she was pregnant, and there was a flurry of betting on possible names.” A friend of the couple also told the author: ”When I saw William a few weeks before the birth he said they didn't know [the baby's gender] and didn't want to find out. "He said there are so few surprises in life — this was one he wanted to keep. “Kate said she thought it was a boy because the baby kicked so much." The couple eventually settled on George for their little boy, which hails back to the Queen’s father, King George VI. The Duke and Duchess did however retain Kate’s favourite name as one of George’s middle names. The little prince is now affectionately known to pals by his nicknames, which include PG, or PG Tips, after his initials. Meanwhile, Kate admitted it ”slightly terrifying” becoming a first-time mum in 2013 and standing on the steps of the Lindo Wing hours after giving birth. As she clutched her new baby boy in her arms the clicking of dozens of photographers and their flashing cameras went off. Speaking about George's debut, she told Giovanna Fletcher's Happy Mum, Happy Baby podcast: "[It was] slightly terrifying, slightly terrifying, I'm not going to lie. "Everyone had been so supportive and both William and I were really conscious that this was something that everyone was excited about and, you know, we're hugely grateful for the support that the public had shown us. "And actually for us to be able to share that joy and appreciation with the public, I felt was really important. "But equally it was coupled with a newborn baby, and inexperienced parents, and the uncertainty of what that held, so there were all sorts of mixed emotions." Asked what it was like holding her son for the first time, she said: "Amazing, amazing. It is extraordinary as I’ve said. How can the human body do that? It is utterly extraordinary actually. And he was very sweet. "And also sort of relieved that he was a happy, healthy boy." Kate also admitted she finds herself in the "constant challenge" of balancing her parenting duties. She added: "You're always sort of questioning your own decisions, and your own judgments, and things like that, and I think that starts from the moment you have a baby."
2 May 20:40 • Irish Mirror • https://www.irishmirror.ie/showbiz/celebrity-news/baby-name-kate-middleton-had-21964853Rating: 0.56
Kate Middleton Makes Surprise Call To New Mother Ahead Of Mental Health Awareness Week
As Mental Health Awareness Week in the U.K. is about to start, Kate Middleton hopped on a Zoom call with staff and patients at Kingston Hospital in London. As part of a roundtable, midwife Jennifer Tshibamba noted, “We want women to know we’re still here, we’re still open. Even with what’s going on, we’re here to listen to you, we’re still here to make sure we provide you with the best care for your pregnancy, for your baby and support your family.” As an advocate for maternal mental health care, the Duchess of Cambridge has been busy with calls including speaking to online support groups for moms including Katie Massie-Taylor, co-founder of Mush, and Julia McGinley, Head of Parent Support at Netmums, a U.K parenting site. “As organizations, you’re playing such a vital role giving key information. You’re hugely trusted by the public and therefore the information you provide is a lifeline to a lot of people,” Kate said of the sites during the pandemic. There was also a virtual visit to new mom Rebecca Attwood, who had only given birth to her son the night before. “This is definitely a first, I think! Huge congratulations,” Kate said laughing. Speaking to the Daily Mailabout the call, Attwood said, “Having a surprise conversation with the Duchess of Cambridge after two hours’ sleep was particularly surreal. The Duchess asked us about having a baby at such an unusual time, and our experience on the maternity ward was that all the midwives made it as normal as possible – apart from the masks!” A press release from Kensington Palace pointed out, “Typically more than 1 in 10 women will experience a mental illness during pregnancy or in the first postnatal year, and around 7 in 102 will hide or underplay the severity of their illness.” Watch Video
2 May 19:59 • ET Canada • https://etcanada.com/news/637151/kate-middleton-makes-surprise-call-to-new-mother-ahead-of-mental-health-awareness-week/Rating: 0.31
Aguero explains why deceptive Van Dijk is just so good
3 May 15:03
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4 articles
Weight: 1.66
Importance: 1.66
Age penalty: 1.00
Best date: 3 May 15:03
Average US: 9.200000000000001
Weighted average US: 13.807792755642602
Average GB: 16.65
Weighted average GB: 18.526937776302972
Average IN: 4.95
Weighted average IN: 6.664987120139671
Aguero explains why deceptive Van Dijk is just so good
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has explained why Liverpool defender Virgil van Dijk is so difficult to play against. The star attacker believes the centre-back is one of the best defenders in world football, citing the Dutchman's patient approach and imposing physical nature as just two of his world-class attributes. Van Dijk signed for the Reds in January 2018 and transformed the backline, playing a huge part in the Champions League success last term and incredible Premier League run over the last two seasons. "We all know Van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He's strong, tall, has an incredible body," Aguero told El Chiringuito. "He's very strong face to face, he plays with his body. Also, given he is so tall, he has those long legs... "It looks like he isn't fast but he is, because of his long legs – he can reach everywhere. Two steps from him are 50 for me! "What I like the most is the way he is so smart when defending. "He's not anxious when marking, he's very careful and patient. That makes it difficult for many strikers. "In my case, I'm pretty fast and I like to dribble, so I need the defender to come. But if he holds he can wait for help from another defender. He's very good at this."
3 May 15:03 • Liverpool Echo • https://www.liverpoolecho.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/man-citys-sergio-aguero-explains-18192452Rating: 0.83
Sergio Aguero names surprising thing about Liverpool FC defender Virgil van Dijk
Manchester City star Sergio Aguero has explained why Liverpool centre-back Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world and spoken about why it is so hard to play against him. Van Dijk has been highly influential for Liverpool since moving to Anfield from Southampton in January 2018, playing a huge role in Liverpool's Champions League win in 2019 and this season's incredible run in the Premier League. And Aguero says it is the defender's patient approach and imposing physical nature that make him a tricky proposition for attackers. "We all know Van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He's strong, tall, has an incredible body," Aguero told El Chiringuito. "He's very strong face to face, he plays with his body. Also, given he is so tall, he has those long legs..." Aguero suggested Van Dijk could surprise some players with his deceptive pace. "It looks like he isn't fast but he is, because of his long legs – he can reach everywhere," Aguero added. "Two steps from him are 50 for me! "What I like the most is the way he is so smart when defending. He's not anxious when marking, he's very careful and patient. That makes it difficult for many strikers. "In my case, I'm pretty fast and I like to dribble, so I need the defender to come. But if he holds he can wait for help from another defender. He's very good at this."
3 May 13:30 • men • https://www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/sport/football/football-news/aguero-manchester-city-van-dijk-18191446Rating: 1.15
Sergio Aguero explains why Virgil van Dijk is so difficult for strikers to play against
Sergio Aguero says Virgil van Dijk's "long legs" make him a nightmare for forwards like him to face. The Manchester City star has come up against Liverpool's Van Dijk in Premier League and Champions League tussles since the Dutchman joined the Reds from Southampton in January 2018. City's all-time top goalscorer has kept up an impressive record of scoring seven times against Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium throughout his time in England, but incredibly he has never netted at Anfield across 11 appearances for City and former club Atletico Madrid. Van Dijk is one of the key reasons for that record currently, and the Argentinean is full of praise for the defender. "We all know Van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He's strong, tall, has an incredible body," Aguero told El Chiringuito, via Goal.com. "He's very strong face to face, he plays with his body. Also, given he is so tall, he has those long legs. "It looks like he isn't fast but he is, because of his long legs – he can reach everywhere. Two steps from him are 50 for me! "What I like the most is the way he is so smart when defending. He's not anxious when marking, he's very careful and patient. That makes it difficult for many strikers. "In my case, I'm pretty fast and I like to dribble, so I need the defender to come. But if he holds he can wait for help from another defender. He's very good at this." City had been due to face Liverpool at the Etihad Stadium on the first weekend on April in a match that could have seen the Reds take their Premier League crown, but it remains to be seen where and when the fixture will take place.
3 May 15:10 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/football/news/sergio-aguero-explains-virgil-van-21967067Rating: 2.39
Sergio Aguero explains what makes Virgil van Dijk “one of the best centre-backs in the world”
Manchester City striker Sergio Aguero has admitted that Liverpool superstar Virgil van Dijk is one of the best defenders in the world. The Argentine explained that the Dutch captain’s ability to be patient in his approach, combined with his physical attributes, makes him the complete defender. “We all know van Dijk is one of the best centre-backs in the world. He’s strong, tall, has an incredible body,” Aguero told El Chiringuito (via GOAL). “He’s very strong face to face, he plays with his body. Also, given he is so tall, he has those long legs. It looks like he isn’t fast but he is, because of his long legs – he can reach everywhere. Two steps from him are 50 for me! “What I like the most is the way he is so smart when defending. He’s not anxious when marking, he’s very careful and patient. That makes it difficult for many strikers. “In my case, I’m pretty fast and I like to dribble, so I need the defender to come. But if he holds he can wait for help from another defender. He’s very good at this.” MORE: ‘My winger’: Many LFC fans react as Salah bodies Sky Sports for embarrassing article The City man has played against big Virg on a number of occasions, at club and international level, so you know he’s speaking from experience. It’s nice to hear one big name in the beautiful game talk about another in such a way, putting rivalries aside. Aguero is one of the best forwards the Premier League has seen, I’m not too shy to admit it, and he’s played against some of the best defenders in the world. For him to talk about van Dijk (a star player of a rival club) like this is a breath of fresh air. With the Dutchman at the heart of the team, Liverpool were on course to win the domestic title before the coronavirus pandemic brought the world to a standstill. The No.4 has played a massive part in our success, with both him and Alisson completely transforming our defensive line-up ahead of our record sixth Champions League triumph last season.
3 May 15:28 • The Empire of The Kop • https://www.empireofthekop.com/2020/05/03/sergio-aguero-explains-what-makes-virgil-van-dijk-one-of-the-best-centre-backs-in-the-world/Rating: 0.30
Body of missing Amish child found after Kentucky horse-and-buggy storm accident
3 May 15:41
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5 articles
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Body of missing Amish child found after Kentucky horse-and-buggy storm accident
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. The body of the fifth Amish child who perished after a family's horse and buggy was swept away in a Kentucky storm last week was recovered Saturday following a four-day search, authorities said. “As of this time, the fifth missing Amish child has been recovered,” Bath County Judge-Executive Bobby C. Rogers said in a Facebook post on Saturday. “All Search and Rescue crews are safe, and will be leaving the area now that their mission is done. Please continue to pray for the family. I for one appreciate all efforts made, along with those volunteering to recover this child.” An Amish mother and her five children were attempting to cross a low-water bridge around 4:45 p.m. on Wednesday in Bath County in the town of Owingsville, about 50 miles east of Lexington, the Lexington Herald-Leader reported. CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Their horse and buggy “was swept away by floodwaters this evening after the heavy rain," Rogers said on Facebook Wednesday. The mother managed to make it to the bank of the stream, Kentucky State Police said. Four children were found and pronounced dead at the scene by the Bath County Coroner by 1 a.m. Thursday, the Herald-Leader reported. They all died from drowning. CLICK HERE TO GET THE FOX NEWS APP The fifth child's body was found at 11:22 a.m. Saturday. At least 50 members of the National Guard had joined the search, Rogers said. A private funeral for the children -- ages 1 to 12 years old -- will be held by the Hochstetler family, the coroner's office said. Fox News' Travis Fedschun contributed to this report.
3 May 15:41 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/us/kentucky-amish-horse-buggy-flood-fifth-child-foundRating: 3.32
Body of fifth Amish child found days after buggy accident
OWINGSVILLE, Ky. — Search crews on Saturday recovered the body of the last of five Amish children who died when their buggy was swept away in a swollen Kentucky creek while trying to cross a low-water bridge. Six people were in the horse and buggy that overturned Wednesday in Bath County in eastern Kentucky. The adult in the buggy made it to the stream bank and called for help. Four of the children were found dead Wednesday. The fifth child’s body was found Saturday, Kentucky State Police said. In a Facebook post, Bath County Judge-Executive Bobby C. Rogers said: “All search and rescue crews are safe and will be leaving the area now that their mission is done. Please continue to pray for the family.” Kentucky National Guard troops helped in search efforts in the remote area, where people were searching on foot, on ATVs and in kayaks, state police had said. The Associated Press
2 May 19:49 • City NEWS 1130 • https://www.citynews1130.com/2020/05/02/body-of-fifth-amish-child-found-days-after-buggy-accident/Rating: 0.77
Fifth child in Amish buggy swept away in Ky. found dead
PEASTICKS, Ky. (WKYT) - The tragic story of an Amish family has grown even more heartbreaking after the last of the five children swept away in a buggy earlier this week has been found dead. The child was found at about 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. In a Facebook post, Bath County Judge-Executive Bobby Rogers wrote, "All Search and Rescue crews are safe, and will be leaving the area now that their mission is done. Please continue to pray for the family. I for one appreciate all efforts made, along with those volunteering to recover this child." Search crews had already located the four other children, none of whom survived. The five children and an adult were crossing a low water bridge along Adams Road on Wednesday when the carriage was swept away in the water. The adult was able to get to the banks and went to get help. First responders rushed to the scene and began searching the area for the children. They were able to find four of them who were pronounced dead, and have since continued searching for the fifth child. Copyright WYKT via Gray Media, Inc. All rights reserved
2 May 18:07 • Hawaii News Now • https://www.hawaiinewsnow.com/2020/05/02/fifth-child-amish-buggy-swept-away-ky-found-dead/Rating: 0.30
Fifth child in Amish buggy swept away in Ky. found dead
PEASTICKS, Ky. (WKYT) - The tragic story of an Amish family has grown even more heartbreaking after the last of the five children swept away in a buggy earlier this week has been found dead. The child was found at about 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. In a Facebook post, Bath County Judge-Executive Bobby Rogers wrote, "All Search and Rescue crews are safe, and will be leaving the area now that their mission is done. Please continue to pray for the family. I for one appreciate all efforts made, along with those volunteering to recover this child." Search crews had already located the four other children, none of whom survived. The five children and an adult were crossing a low water bridge along Adams Road on Wednesday when the carriage was swept away in the water. The adult was able to get to the banks and went to get help. First responders rushed to the scene and began searching the area for the children. They were able to find four of them who were pronounced dead, and have since continued searching for the fifth child.
2 May 18:07 • NewsChannel 10 • https://www.newschannel10.com/2020/05/02/fifth-child-amish-buggy-swept-away-ky-found-dead/Rating: 0.30
Fifth child in Amish buggy swept away in Ky. found dead
PEASTICKS, Ky. (WKYT) - The tragic story of an Amish family has grown even more heartbreaking after the last of the five children swept away in a buggy earlier this week has been found dead. The child was found at about 11:20 a.m. on Saturday. In a Facebook post, Bath County Judge-Executive Bobby Rogers wrote, "All Search and Rescue crews are safe, and will be leaving the area now that their mission is done. Please continue to pray for the family. I for one appreciate all efforts made, along with those volunteering to recover this child." Search crews had already located the four other children, none of whom survived. The five children and an adult were crossing a low water bridge along Adams Road on Wednesday when the carriage was swept away in the water. The adult was able to get to the banks and went to get help. First responders rushed to the scene and began searching the area for the children. They were able to find four of them who were pronounced dead and have since continued searching for the fifth child. Copyright WYKT via Gray Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Read the original version of this article at wkyt.com.
2 May 13:07 • KNOE 8 News • https://www.knoe.com/content/news/Fifth-child-in-Amish-buggy-swept-away-in-KY-found-deceased-570144511.htmlRating: 0.30
Heavy rains wreak havoc across Kenya - VIDEO
3 May 11:31
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4 articles
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Average IN: 1.3575
Weighted average IN: 0.7868679872629727
Heavy rains wreak havoc across Kenya - VIDEO
As heavy rains flowed into the month of May, floods have continued to spell disaster as they displaced hundreds from their homes and destroyed infrastructure such as road and bridges. KISII In Kisii County, massive landslides have hit part of the region leaving about 50 households displaced from their homes. Magenche and Bosoti-Sengera Wards in Bomachoge Borabu and Bomachoge Chache constituencies have been greatly affected. The landslides started on Friday and have continued to cause damage. Kenyenya Deputy County Commissioner David Mbevi confirmed 31 families have been affected, though locals claim the number could be over 50. “Some houses were covered by soil while others are uninhabitable because water is seeping from underground. Trees and crops in farms have also been destroyed,” said Mr Mbevi, adding that they have already submitted reports to necessary authorities. “We are asking the government and well-wishers to intervene and offer humanitarian help,” said Zachariah Bichanga, one of those displaced. Gladys Moguche said though no deaths have been reported in the area, the destruction caused by the landslides is massive. “We were lucky that we were not in our homes when the landslide struck,” said Ms Moguche. Mr Joel Omagwa, former Bomachoge Borabu Constituency Development Fund Chairman, said more households in the area may be affected if the heavy rains continue. “There is a big fault line here. Authorities need to take action to avoid deaths,” said Mr Omagwa. BUSIA In Busia County, two deaths have been reported after River Nzoia burst its banks and displaced over 40,000 people. Hundreds others are marooned by the raging waters that have submerged villages in Budalangi Sub-county, spreading to neighbouring Alego Usonga in Siaya County. A joint operation effort led by the Kenya Coast Guard Service and disaster management humanitarian organisations navigated the expansive area in a search and rescue mission for people trapped in their homes after flash floods hit the region on Friday night. The bodies of a two-year-old girl and a boy who died at Busagwa area are yet to be retrieved while the situation has been made worse by the buildup of waters whose levels continue to rise by the day. "We are only relying on one boat after other vessels were moved to Mageta Island to rescue people after a water bus capsized in Lake Victoria on Saturday evening," said Mr Thomas Mango of Busia Community Development (Bucodev). Due to the shallow waters, the rescue boats could not access some areas. "We are overwhelmed by calls from desperate people who have been trapped in their houses," said Mr Mango who is in charge of the operation. The places affected include Bunyala Central, Khajula, Bunyala South, Bunyala West, Bunyala East and Bunyala North. The flood victims are being are being evacuated to 15 designated rescue centres including primary schools in Bukhoma, Bunyofu, Bumadeya, Starlet Academy, Port Mixed, Bubango, Bulemia, Nandekere, Mundere, Namalo, Budalangi, Sifugwe, Bukhoma Secondary, Bunyala Cultural Centre and Mundere Campus. Due to the government directive to avoid overcrowding at camps as a way of curbing the spread Covid-19, the locals are being encouraged to stay with their friends and relatives. KILIFI In Kilifi County, hundreds of families in Malindi and Magarini constituencies have lost their homes and property after River Sabaki broke its banks following heavy rains upstream. Those affected are Miwani, Goshi, Kisiwani complex, Magongoloni, Bate, Langobaya, Chakama and Madunguni residents who have been forced to move to safe grounds while others went to their relatives' homes as the river continued to cause disaster since last Friday. "We broke our houses and moved to our neighbourhood to set camp. Some items were swept away during the time we were moving to safe ground," he said. Jacqueline Mweni, a Nyumba Kumi elder in Magongoloni, said residents are having sleepless nights over fears that the damage could be more severe and cause more disaster. "The households affected are over 40 and we fear the numbers could rise," she said. Those worst affected are the ones who had farms along the river as all the crops that were about to be harvested were washed away. The Kenya Red Cross coordinator in Kilifi County, Cornel Ndombi, said they are currently conducting assessments in collaboration with the county and national government to assess damage and begin action on the areas affected. TWO DEAD, TWO MISSING IN TURKANA Two people have been confirmed dead and two others missing after they were swept away by flash floods along the Lodwar-Lokichoggio Highway in Turkana County. Turkana West Sub-county Police Commander Suiyanka Cunningham said that the two who lost their lives were among eight occupants of a Toyota Hilux that was swept away at 6.30 pm on Saturday by Lomunyenakirienok River between Kakuma and Lokichoggio towns. Mr Cunningham said that the eight, China Railway No. 5 Engineering Group Co. Ltd employees working on Kalobeyei River-Nadapal road, were heading back to their campsite in Lokichoggio town when the driver tried to cross the river. "The vehicle was swept away by violent flash floods. Six managed to swim to safety while bodies of two others who had been reported missing were retrieved early Sunday morning," The police boss said. He noted that despite a distress call from the six who had saved themselves, a team comprising of police officers, the Chinese construction company and Lotus Kenya Action for Development Organization could not access them due to other flooded rivers along the way. In a separate incident, a Toyota Landcruiser Hardtop was also swept at around 6 am on Sunday. The driver and his passenger who were heading to Kakwanyang from Lodwar are still missing and the vehicle not yet located. Kawalase River has been flooded since yesterday with hundreds of motorists and villagers spending cold nights on both sides of the 100-metre wide seasonal river. Turkana County Police Commander Samwel Ndanyi said that with support from local divers, they have launched an operation to retrieve the vehicle and trace the two. Turkana West MP Daniel Epuyo said careless driving and poor judgement by some drivers was to blame for the deaths. "You can't fight nature by misjudging the depth and speed of flash floods. Save your lives and that of your passengers by being patient until the water levels completely subside," Mr Epuyo said. In Nakuru County, residents woke up to a collapsed road on Sunday morning. Read more here. While in Meru and Kirinyaga Counties, families have been displaced by rains and a boy drowned in the swollen Thiba River. READ: Nakuru residents wake up to collapsed road ALSO READ: Agony as Meru families displaced by heavy rains Report by Ruth Mbula, Charles Lwanga, Victor Raballa and Sammy Lutta
3 May 11:31 • Daily Nation • https://www.nation.co.ke/counties/Heavy-rains-wreak-havoc-across-Kenya/1107872-5541386-os9ohhz/index.htmlRating: 1.96
Kenya flooding, landslides leaves more than 100 dead, over 1,800 homeless
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. At least 100 are dead and nearly 2,000 are homeless after heavy rains and thunderstorms led to severe flooding and landslides across Kenya in recent days. Eugene Wamalwa, cabinet secretary of the Ministry of Devolution, said Thursday that at least 116 people had died in the country due to the flooding, which spans across 29 counties. Massive landslides were also reported starting on Friday, leaving dozens displaced in the Kisii County region. 'GARGANTUAN' HAIL FROM THUNDERSTORM IN ARGENTINA MAY HAVE SHATTERED WORLD RECORD “Some houses were covered by soil, while others are uninhabitable because water is seeping from underground" Kenyenya Deputy County Commissioner David Mbevi told Kenya's Daily Nation. "Trees and crops in farms have also been destroyed." Flooding along the River Nzoia also left many homes submerged, with more than 1,800 now homeless across western Kenya. Images showed residents setting up makeshift shelters on the raised ground near floodwaters. "It has been flooding for three days now; I think the government is not even aware but now we are telling them," said one resident, Vincent Ochieng, according to Sky News. "We are asking if there are any plans to assist us, only two boats are here for evacuating people." CLICK HERE FOR MORE WEATHER COVERAGE FROM FOX NEWS The Kenya Red Cross has also asked county governments for additional shelters, due to concerns that coronavirus could spread due to overcrowding. The relief agency's secretary-general, Asha Mohammed, told the Daily Nation much more needed to be done for the people affected. "We will be doing mobile outreaches with the county department of health to provide medicines and treat minor illnesses," she said. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP Additional heavy rain upstream may cause additional flooding in already besieged communities over the next week.
3 May 16:16 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/world/kenya-flooding-landslides-heavy-rain-east-africa-severe-weatherRating: 3.32
Floods destroy crop gardens in Busia district
Busia, Uganda | THE INDEPENDENT | Floods have destroyed homes and crop gardens in some parts of Busia district. The floods have been triggered by high water levels on River Malaba. River Malaba burst its banks on Thursday evening and water has kept sweeping into gardens of rice, maize, yams among others. The floods have mainly affected two sub counties of Busitema and Buteba in Busia district. Uncontrollable volumes of water have also cut off the major bridge that connects Busia to Tororo district leaving means of transport paralyzed and also entered into people’s homes. Steven Okunyuku, the LC3 chairman for Buteba sub county says that the high level of water has destroyed crops that were about to be harvested. He says the problem is beyond their level as a sub county and now the district should take up the matter and inform the government for possible interventions so that residents can be helped. Fidelis Okwara, a resident of Manakor village says that too much water is coming from the Kenyan side pouring in the bridge that can’t hold. He says that water has swept away his one acre of rice that was meant to be harvested next week. Hadija Kalim, another resident says that the floods swept through all her garden of beans and cassava. She is now worried about food shortage especially during this period of the Coronavirus pandemic. Godffrey Ojim, the district councilor for Buteba has appealed to government to speed up plans of tarmacking the 24 kilometer road from Busia to Totoro and expand on the bridges along the road so that they can accommodate large volumes of water. Jimmy Ngolobe, the Busia district environmental officer says that residents have encroached on the river banks to illegally practice farming. ***** URN Share on: WhatsApp
2 May 15:00 • The Independent Uganda: • https://www.independent.co.ug/floods-destroy-crop-gardens-in-busia-district/Rating: 0.30
400 Families Narrowly Escape Death After Dam Breaks Banks
Over 400 families are breathing a sigh of relief, despite their homes being swept away by floods, as they managed to narrowly escape death after a dam (Marumanet) in Ndabibi, Naivasha burst and spilt over. In a report aired by KTN News on Saturday, May 2, that the incident occurred at midnight on Friday, May 1 and the water spillage destroyed property worth millions was destroyed. The roads in the area, 60 km from Naivasha Town were also destroyed as 10 people were reported missing. The effects of water spillage after a dam burst in Naivasha County on Friday night, May 1, 2020File "We heard running water and upon stepping outside, we found that trees and our crops were being carried away. We then alerted our neighbours downhill who also rescued themselves," one resident stated. "We found ourselves surrounded with water and our cattle were immersed in water," another resident lamented as many others urged the government to offer aid. Area MCA Gathariki Kamanu affirmed that his office had initiated a headcount as they offered more safety directives. "We asked them to move to higher grounds," the MCA stated. Citizen TV on Saturday, May 2, added that a woman was forced to deliver by the roadside in Nanyuki County, after heavy rains made the roads impassable, hindering her from accessing services at the nearest health centre. On Friday, May 1, Nanyuki residents demonstrated after the incident occurred. They planted bananas stems on the road as police watched them protest, ready to dispel the crowd if the demonstrations turned rowdy. "The roads are impassable ever since the rains started. Some who were attending a burial service could not do so," one resident cried out as they pleaded with Nanyuki Governor Ndiritu Muriithi to develop roads in the region. Naivasha residents count loses after a dam burst in the region on Friday, May 1, 2020File
2 May 12:04 • Kenyans.co.ke • https://www.kenyans.co.ke/news/52756-400-families-cheat-deathRating: 1.04
Rome seagulls hunt rats, pigeons as coronavirus lockdown deprives them of human scraps
3 May 16:56
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3 articles
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Weighted average GB: 8.68440045049932
Average IN: 6.2
Weighted average IN: 5.772525518595288
Rome seagulls hunt rats, pigeons as coronavirus lockdown deprives them of human scraps
Get all the latest news on coronavirus and more delivered daily to your inbox. Sign up here. The coronavirus lockdowns in Italy have forced seagulls to “return” to hunting live animals for food, according to reports. Once described as “the size of pterodactyls” by former deputy Prime Minister Matteo Salvini, seagulls in Rome mainly survive off the scraps left behind by tourists, restaurants and bars. Italy’s lockdown has kept people off the streets and businesses closed for two months, depriving seagulls of their main food source. To survive, seagulls have started to hunt rats, pigeons and other small birds. “They are going back to being predators,” Bruno Cignini, a zoologist from the University Tor Vergata, told the Corriere della Sera. “They are catching mostly pigeons but also swallows and blackbirds. They’re also going after fish in the Tiber. Luckily, they are also eating rats. Animals are changing their habits as we change ours.” CLICK HERE FOR FULL CORONAVIRUS COVERAGE Hunting and killing is not a particularly new trend for seagulls. On occasion, they have taken food straight out of people’s hands when they have the chance, as Neil Fraser in Aberdeen attested to last year. “The seagull flew in from behind me,” Fraser, a manager at the Old Schoolhouse pub, told the New York Times. A seagull had swooped down and snatched his bacon-and-chicken sandwich from his hand. “The sandwich and the seagull were both gone.” Just a few weeks ago, a camera on the island of Skomer, in Wales, captured footage of a great black-backed gull eating an entire rabbit whole. Rome has a notorious trash problem, occasionally accumulating so much garbage that the city cannot clear it out fast enough. The trash sometimes even rots. CLICK HERE FOR THE FOX NEWS APP While the situation is unbearable for people, it is a haven for wildlife. In addition to the incredible seagull population, Rome sees wild boars and coypu, a South American rodent, roaming their streets and sewers.
3 May 16:56 • Fox News • https://www.foxnews.com/science/rome-seagulls-hunt-rats-pigeonsRating: 3.32
Seagulls are eating rats and preying on pigeons in Rome during lockdown
Seagulls in Rome are going “back to being predators” after the closure of cafes, restaurants and shops have left them without any scraps to feed on. The streets of Rome, usually buzzing with tourists, have been empty for the last two months since Italy went into lockdown on March 9. This has meant seagulls have had to change their routine and feed on rats, pigeons and other smaller birds “Animals are changing their habits as we change ours”, said zoologist Bruno Cignini. Mr Cignini, who works at Rome University Tor Vergata, told local newspaper Corriere della Sera: “They are catching mostly pigeons but also swallows and black birds. “They’re also going after fish in the Tiber. Luckily, they are also eating rats.” The seagull population in Rome has grown in recent years to the tens of thousands, according to some experts. Many locals consider them a nuisance and think they give the town a bad image. Former deputy prime minister and head of centre-Right League party said the birds were “the size of pterodactyls”. He made the comments in a Twitter row with Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi last year, after she accused him of not providing the capital with additional police. From Monday Italy will be lifting some lockdown measures as it moves into ‘phase two’. Last week Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte announced that manufacturing and construction companies would be able to resume business from Monday, with retail trade reopening a fortnight later on 18 May. People will be allowed to visit close relatives as long as they respect social distancing guidelines and wear a mask. Travel will remain limited to within specific regions and only for work and health reasons.
3 May 05:50 • mirror • https://www.mirror.co.uk/news/world-news/seagulls-eating-rats-preying-pigeons-21964486Rating: 2.39
Rome’s seagulls hunt rats and pigeons as lockdown starves them of scraps
Seagulls in Rome are “returning” to their natural status as predators, hunting down rats, pigeons, and other smaller birds as the lack of humans on the streets mean no food scraps are to be found. Italy has been in lockdown for nearly two months to slow the spread of coronavirus, since 9 March. All restaurants and cafes have closed and the capital’s streets have been devoid of the humans the gulls usually pick scraps of food up from. Bruno Cignini, a zoologist from the Rome University Tor Vergata, told local newspaper Corriere della Sera the gulls “are going back to being predators”. “They are catching mostly pigeons but also swallows and black birds. They’re also going after the fish in the Tiber,” he said. “Luckily, they are also eating rats. Animals are changing their habits as we change ours.” Eating pigeons and rats are not a new dietary choice for the seagulls, but they usually peck at the prey in the form of road kill. Now, the species known as Yellow-Legged Gulls are honing their killer instincts for survival. The seagull population in Rome has grown to the tens of thousands and they are largely considered aggressive pests who dive bomb unsuspecting tourists and snatch food straight out of the hands of pedestrians. The city’s rubbish problem – branded a “crisis” by Rome’s doctors last year – attracts the gulls and other unwelcome animals such as wild boar, coypu – a South America rodent originally introduced to Italy to be farmed for their fur – and parakeets, making it a health hazard. Last year, Matteo Salvini, former deputy prime minister and head of centre-Right League party, said the gulls were “the size of pterodactyls”. He made the comments in a Twitter row with Rome’s mayor Virginia Raggi, who is from the anti-establishment Five Star Movement, after she accused him of not providing the capital with additional police.
2 May 17:33 • The Independent • https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/europe/coronavirus-lockdown-rome-sea-gulls-hunting-rats-pigeons-scraps-a9495826.htmlRating: 2.71