Italy's daily Covid-19 death toll falls – latest updates

Sunday, May 10, 2020

Italy's daily death toll falls

Deaths from the epidemic in Italy rose by 165, against 194 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said as the daily tally of new cases fell to 802 from 1,083 on Saturday.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 30,560 the agency said.

France says total death toll from coronavirus rises by 70 

The number of people who have died from coronavirus infections in France rose by 70 to 26,380, the health ministry said, a smaller increase than the previous day as France prepared to emerge from lockdown on Monday.

The ministry said the number of people in intensive care units - a key measure of a health system's ability to deal with the epidemic - fell by 36 to 2,776, down from a peak of 7,148 seen on April 8. 

Turkey's active cases drop to 42,180

The total number of active coronavirus cases in Turkey has dropped to 42,180, the country’s health minister said.

At least 3,211 coronavirus patients have recovered over the last 24 hours, bringing the total number to 92,691, Fahrettin Koca said.

The death toll from the pandemic rose to 3,786 as the country saw 47 more deaths, Koca said on Twitter.

Canada's total deaths edge up by just 2.2 percent in a day

The total number of people killed by the virus in Canada rose by just 2.2 percent to 4,728, one of the lowest daily increases since the pandemic started, official public health data agency showed.

The figure for those diagnosed with the coronavirus rose to 67,996, according to a statement posted on the agency's website. 

India to 'gradually' restart rail operations

One of the world's largest train networks will "gradually" restart operations from Tuesday as India eases its coronavirus lockdown, as the number of cases past 60,000 with more than 2,000 deaths.

Some 30 train journeys – 15 pairs of return trips – will run from the capital New Delhi to other cities including Mumbai, Bangalore and Chennai, Indian Railways said.

"Indian Railways plans to gradually restart passenger train operations from 12th May, 2020... Thereafter, Indian Railways shall start more special services on new routes," the railways ministry added in a statement.

"It will be mandatory for the passengers to wear face cover and undergo screening at departure and only asymptomatic passengers will be allowed to board the train."

Britain's death toll rises by 269

Britain's death toll has risen by 269 to 31,855, according to the Department of Health.

The figures, collated by government agency Public Health England and equivalents in Wales, Northern Ireland and Scotland, comprise deaths in all settings following positive coronavirus tests and cover the period up to 1600 GMT on Saturday.

Bangladesh sees highest one-day virus death toll

Bangladesh suffered its highest daily death toll from the virus, with 14 people succumbing to the disease, according to the latest data from the government. The country has now recorded 228 deaths from the coronavirus.

Confirmed cases surpassed the 14,000 mark including 887 new infections, bringing the total to 14,657, said the Directorate General of Health Services (DGHS).

Older Turks enjoy walks outside

Turkey’s senior citizens got their first chance to venture outside in seven weeks under relaxed coronavirus restrictions.

People aged 65 and over – the age group most at risk from the virus – were subjected to a stay-at-home curfew on March 21.

As part of a rolling program of reduced controls, they are now allowed out for four hours. People under 20, who are also subject to a curfew, will be allowed outside for a similar period later this week.

China's Wuhan reports first virus infection in over a month

China reported the first case of coronavirus in over a month in Wuhan, the city where the outbreak first started in December last year.

China's National Health Commission also reported the first double-digit increase in countrywide cases in nearly 10 days, saying 14 new infections had been confirmed.

Two of the cases were imported into the country from overseas, the commission said.

Singapore reports 876 new cases

Singapore registered 876 new coronavirus infections, its health ministry said, taking the city-state's total to 23,336 cases.

The vast majority of the newly infected people are migrant workers living in dormitories, the health ministry said in a statement. Three are permanent residents.

Iran death rises by 51

The death toll from the outbreak increased by 51 in the past 24 hours to 6,640, Iran's state broadcaster reported, citing a statement by the Health Ministry.

The total number of diagnosed cases in Iran, one of the Middle Eastern countries hardest hit by the outbreak, has reached 107,603. 

Spain's daily death tolls falls again

Spain's daily death toll fell to 143, down from 179 the previous day, the health ministry reported.

It marks the lowest daily death toll since mid-March.

Overall deaths rose to 26,621 from 26,478 on Saturday and the number of diagnosed cases rose to 224,390 from 223,578 the day before, the ministry said. 

Malaysia reports 67 new cases with no new deaths

Malaysian health authorities reported 67 new coronavirus cases, bringing the cumulative total to 6,656

The health ministry reported no new deaths, with total fatalities at 108. 

Philippines reports 184 new cases, 15 more deaths

The Philippines' health ministry confirmed 184 new cases, taking the Southeast Asian nation's total reported infections to 10,794.

Fifteen more deaths related to Covid-19, the disease caused by the new virus, were recorded, bringing the toll to 719, while 82 patients have recovered to bring total recoveries to 1,924, it said in a bulletin.

Cases in Russia cases surge over 209,000

Russian authorities said they had recorded 11,012 new cases of the coronavirus in the last 24 hours, bringing the nationwide tally to 209,688.

Russia's task force said 88 people had died in the past day, pushing the national death toll to 1,915.

Russia cases overtook French and German infections this week to become the fifth highest in the world. 

Malaysia extends curbs on movement, businesses to June 9

Malaysia's government extended the time frame for movement and business curbs by another four weeks to June 9, amid a gradual reopening of economic activity stunted by the pandemic.

Earlier this week, businesses were allowed to resume business as usual, albeit under strict health guidelines, after having to close shop for two months as health authorities worked to contain the pandemic. Malaysia has so far reported 6,589 cases with 108 deaths.

Existing rules under a conditional movement control order remain in place until the new expiry date in June, which include practicing strict hygiene and social distancing, Prime Minister Muhyiddin Yassin said in a televised address.

Thailand reports five new cases, no new deaths

Thailand reported five new cases but no deaths, bringing the total to 3,009 cases and 56 deaths since the outbreak started in the country in January.

However, there are four more infected people from the resort island of Phuket, who will be included in figures to be reported on Monday, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, spokesman for the government's Centre for Covid-19 Situation Administration.

Of the new cases reported on Sunday, two were linked to previous cases and three had travelled abroad, he said.

Slowing numbers of new cases have prompted Thailand to allow some businesses to reopen after weeks of semi-lockdown.

Seoul closes bars and clubs over fears of second wave

South Korea's capital has ordered the closure of all clubs and bars after a burst of new cases sparked fears of a second virus wave as President Moon Jae-in urged the public to remain vigilant.

The nation has been held up as a global model in how to curb the virus, but the order from the Seoul mayor on Saturday followed the new infection cluster in Itaewon, one of the city's busiest nightlife districts.

More than two dozen cases were linked to a 29-year-old man who tested positive after spending time at five clubs and bars in Itaewon last weekend.

Of the 34 new cases, 26 were domestically transmitted infections and eight were imported cases, the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said.

Sunday's total was the highest since April 9. After battling the first major epidemic outside China, South Korea posted zero or very few domestic cases over the past 10 days, with the daily tally hovering around 10 or less in recent weeks.

Sweden admits failure to protect elderly in care homes

Bjorn Branngard's mother died in a Stockholm nursing home where five of the eight people in her section and more than a third of residents have so far succumbed to the virus.

"They didn't have time to take care of my mother," he told AFP.

Her test came back negative two days after her death, but Branngard, who claims she died of neglect, says the nursing home staff lacked protective gear and were spreading the virus around the home.

Sweden, whose softer approach to the pandemic has garnered international attention, admits it has failed to adequately protect the elderly, with around half of Covid-19 deaths occurring among nursing home residents. 

Australia's biggest state to ease lockdown from May 15

Australia's biggest state, home to Sydney, will allow cafes and restaurants, playgrounds and outdoor pools to reopen on Friday as extensive testing has shown the spread has slowed sharply, New South Wales state's premier said.

The state has been worst hit in Australia, with about 45% of the country's confirmed cases and deaths. However it recorded just two new cases on Saturday out of nearly 10,000 people tested, clearing the way for a cautious loosening of lockdown measures.

From May 15, New South Wales will allow cafes and restaurants to seat 10 patrons at a time, permit outdoor gatherings of up to 10 people, and visits of up to five people to a household.

Playgrounds and outdoor pools will also be allowed to reopen with strict limits.

The moves are in line with a three-step plan to relax lockdown measures outlined by t he Australian government on Friday, which would see nearly 1 million people return to work by July.

3 members of White House virus task force in quarantine

Three members of the White House coronavirus task force, including Dr. Anthony Fauci, placed themselves in quarantine after contact with someone who tested positive for Covid-19, another stark reminder that not even one of the nation’s most secure buildings is immune from the virus.

Fauci, the director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases and a leading member of the task force, has become nationally known for his simple and direct explanations to the public about the disease. 

Also quarantining are Dr. Robert Redfield, director of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, and the commissioner of the Food and Drug Administration, Stephen Hahn.

Fauci's institute said that he has tested negative for Covid-19 and will continue to be tested regularly. It added that he is considered at “relatively low risk” based on the degree of his exposure, and that he would be “taking appropriate precautions" to mitigate the risk to personal contacts while still carrying out his duties. While he will stay at home and telework, Fauci will go to the White House if called and take every precaution, the institute said.

Redfield will be “teleworking for the next two weeks" after it was determined he had a “low risk exposure" to a person at the White House, the CDC said in a statement Saturday evening. 

The statement said he felt fine and has no symptoms.

All three men are scheduled to testify before a Senate committee on Tuesday. Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn ., the chairman of the panel, said the White House will allow Redfield and Hahn to testify by videoconference, a one-time exception to the administration's policies on hearing testimony. The statement was issued before Fauci's quarantine was announced.

In leaked call, Obama describes Trump handling of virus as chaotic

Former President Barack Obama described President Donald Trump's handling of the pandemic as "chaotic" in a conference call with former members of his administration, a source said.

Obama has largely kept out of the fray even as Trump has blamed him and his Democratic administration for a variety of problems related to having sufficient supplies to battle the pandemic that has killed more than 75,000 Americans.

But in his call on Friday with 3,000 members of the Obama Alumni Association, people who served in his administration, Obama urged his supporters to get behind Democratic presidential candidate Joe Biden, who is trying to unseat Trump in the November 3 election.

The contents of the call were first reported by Yahoo News. A source familiar with the call confirmed them to Reuters.

Brazil tops 10,000 deaths

Brazil, the hardest-hit Latin American country, has surpassed 10,000 deaths, according to figures released by the Ministry of Health.

Brazil has now recorded 10,627 deaths and 155,939 confirmed cases.

There have been more than 277,000 coronavirus deaths worldwide.

Panama cases rise to 8,282, deaths reach 237

Confirmed cases in Panama reached 8,282 on Saturday, a rise of 212 from the previous day, the health ministry said.

The central American country's deaths climbed by six to 237, the ministry added.

Nigeria's Lagos risks new lockdown if distancing flouted

Africa's largest city Lagos could return to lockdown if residents continue to ignore social distancing rules, the governor warned. 

Nigeria's economic hub emerged on Monday from a five-week stay at home order that left the city's large number of poor struggling to make ends meet. 

But since the easing of the restrictions people have been seen thronging markets and banks despite orders remaining in place to avoid mass gatherings.  

"It is disappointing to see the crowd at banks and markets across the state flouting the guidelines," Lagos governor Babajide Sanwo-Olu wrote on Twitter.

"We will be forced to take the painful decision of bringing the state under lockdown if it remains clear that Lagosians are determined to flout the rules."

Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation, has confirmed 3,912 infections and 117 deaths from the novel coronavirus. 

NY's Cuomo criticised over highest nursing home death toll

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, who has won bipartisan praise for rallying supplies for his ravaged hospitals and helping slow the coronavirus, is coming under increasing criticism for not bringing that same level of commitment to a problem that has so far stymied him: nursing homes.

In part-lecture, part-cheerleading briefings that have made him a Democratic counter to President Donald Trump, Cuomo has often seemed dismissive and resigned to defeat when asked about his state leading the nation in nursing home deaths.

“We’ve tried everything to keep it out of a nursing home, but it’s virtually impossible,” Cuomo told reporters.

“Now is not the best time to put your mother in a nursing home. That is a fact.”

Of the nation’s more than 26,000 deaths in nursing homes and long-term care facilities, a fifth of them — about 5,300 — are in New York, according to a count by The Associated Press, and the toll has been increasing by an average of 20 to 25 deaths a day for the past few weeks.

“The numbers, the deaths keep ticking up," said MaryDel Wypych, an advocate for older adults in the Rochester area.