KRAZY KATS

Welcome to Krazy Kats - a friendly informal online community discussing life issues that we care about. Open 24/7 for chat & chill. Come and join us!

    Coronavirus - 19 April

    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 09:11

    Summary for Sunday, 19th April


    • UK minister Michael Gove has said it is too early to lift restrictions on movement in the UK
    • Overnight, the One World: Together At Home show included more than 100 artists playing live from their homes
    • The eight-hour event was run by the Global Citizen movement and the WHO was live-streamed and broadcast on TV
    • Lady Gaga, who helped organise the concert, also performed
    • At his White House briefing on Saturday evening, President Donald Trump praised the production of hospital goods in the US: "V for victory, V for ventilator!"
    • Britain's Queen Elizabeth has asked that there be no gun salutes to mark her birthday on Tuesday
    • As world coronavirus deaths pass 150,000, more than 4.5 billion people are under containment to slow the pandemic.


    Welcome back

    We'll be bringing you the latest breaking news and expert analysis about the coronavirus pandemic from around the world.
    In the latest headlines:


    • At a briefing on Saturday, President Donald Trump said China should face consequences if it is found they were “knowingly responsible" for the outbreak
    • His comments came as further protests were held in some parts of the US by conservative activists. They want local lockdown measures to be relaxed, despite the growing outbreak and death toll
    • Spain’s Prime Minister, Pedro Sanchez, said he hopes to relax lockdown restrictions so that children kept indoors due to Covid-19 can “get some fresh air”
    • According to Johns Hopkins University tracking, there are now more than 2.3m cases of coronavirus around the world and more than 160,000 deaths


    UK care home deaths 'far higher' than official figures

    New data has added to growing evidence that the number of deaths linked to coronavirus in UK care homes may be far higher than those recorded so far.
    The National Care Forum (NCF) estimates that more than 4,000 elderly and disabled people have died across all residential and nursing homes.
    Its report comes amid calls for accurate data on virus-linked deaths.
    Only 217 such care home deaths have been officially recorded in England and Wales up to 3 April.
    Separately, analysis from Care England, which represents large care home providers in England, claims that there have been 7,500 more deaths in care home - from all causes - in the last two weeks than would be expected at this time of year.

    The things we spotted during concert

    Last night the World Health Organization and Global Citizen teamed up, with the help of pop superstar Lady Gaga, to pay tribute to healthcare staff working tirelessly during the coronavirus pandemic.
    Mark Savage, the BBC's music reporter, stayed up late to watch the mammoth eight-hour concert.
    He's written up a list of the nine things he noticed during Together at Home - including one star who didn't even make their bed for the occasion!
    You can read more here

    'No 10 ignored warning' and 'PM takes back control' - UK papers

    Many of Sunday's front pages focus on the UK's possible exit strategy from the coronavirus lockdown and the role of prime minister Bors Johnson,
    The Sunday Times reports a "crucial" five-week period was "lost" in the UK's fight against coronavirus, during which Mr Johnson missed high-level meetings to discuss Covid-19.
    Separately it says ministers have drawn up a three-phase plan to lift the lockdown restrictions, which could see schools reopen as early as 11 May. Under the proposals, it says pupils would return to classes part-time - depending on their age - to aid social distancing.
    The Sun on Sunday calls it a "traffic-light master plan", which would see non-essential shops reopen within three weeks as part of a "red phase", before some restaurants are allowed to operate a fortnight later in the "amber phase".

    'No decision' to reopen UK schools

    UK Education Secretary Gavin Williamson has said that "no decision" has been made as to when schools might reopen.
    The minister tweeted on Sunday morning: "I can reassure schools and parents that they will only reopen when the scientific advice indicates it is the right time to do so."
    Schools across the UK were closed last month to all pupils except the children of key workers, such as doctors, nurses and delivery drivers, some vulnerable children and those with more serious special educational needs.

    UK not thinking of lifting restrictions yet - Gove

    Michael Gove has said that reports the UK is looking to gradually lift some lockdown restrictions, such as re-opening schools and allowing some small social gatherings, are "not correct".
    "It would be wrong to get ahead of ourselves here," the senior minister told Sky's Sophy Ridge on Sunday, insisting the country must maintain the current measures until death rates begin to fall.
    He said the facts and advice were "clear" that we should not be lifting the restrictions yet.

    Captain Tom guest at hospital opening after raising £25m

    A 99-year-old war veteran who has raised more than £25m for the NHS is to be guest of honour at the opening of a new UK field hospital.
    Captain Tom Moore originally aimed to raise £1,000 for NHS Charities Together by completing 100 laps of his Bedfordshire garden before his 100th birthday.
    The veteran will appear via video link at the opening of the Nightingale hospital in Harrogate on Tuesday
    He said it was an honour and a chance to thank NHS workers directly.

    UK government under fire for 'missed opportunities'

    The UK government has been accused of missing a number of opportunities to lessen the impact of the coronavirus.
    The Sunday Times reports that Boris Johnson missed five meetings of the emergency Cobra committee as the health crisis was looming and the government is accused of losing weeks in the fight against Covid-19.
    The government is facing criticism over its preparedness for the crisis, over testing, the timing of the lockdown and personal protective equipment.
    Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove told Sky there were aspects of the newspaper report that were "slightly off", and would not be drawn on accusations that the UK sent 266,000 pieces of protective equipment to China.
    Shadow health secretary, Jonathan Ashworth, was damning of the senior minister's comments.
    Mr Ashworth told Sky: "Michael Gove's line that one or two aspects of this story are off beam is possibly the weakest rebuttal of a detailed expose in British political history."

    'We are not prepared at all':  Haiti on the edge
    With barely 60 ventilators for 11 million people, Haiti is the most vulnerable nation in the Americas to the coronavirus. While many countries would struggle to cope with a serious spread of Covid-19, Haiti might never recover from one.
    Read more

    Hudeidi: The Somali 'king of oud' who was felled by coronavirus
    Coronavirus - 19 April _1117710

    Ahmed Ismail Hussein Hudeidi, a founding father of modern Somali music, died in London after contracting coronavirus at the age of 91. The BBC's Mary Harper was a friend of his.
    Whenever Hudeidi played his oud, it was impossible to keep still.
    Bodies swayed, hands clapped and fingers snapped. His music was transporting and somehow possessed your whole being.
    But there was even more to Hudeidi, or the "king of oud" as he was popularly known, than his sublime music.
    He was a life force; warm, generous, humble and funny.
    Read more

    Spanish children to 'get some fresh air'

    Because of strict measures to curb the spread of Covid-19, Spanish children have been kept at home since 14 March.
    Now Prime Minister Pedro Sánchez has said he plans to relax the rule later this month so they can "get some fresh air".
    It comes after Barcelona's mayor Ada Colau - herself a mother - pleaded with the government to change their stance.
    Read more

    UK doctors 'extremely worried' they are not protected

    Doctors are "extremely worried" that they are not adequately protected, the chairman of the British Medical Association has said.
    Dr Chaand Nagpaul said doctors and other healthcare workers were treating colleagues in intensive care on ventilators and seeing them die.
    "This is extremely emotionally taxing and it's showing its toll on the healthcare workforce," he told Sky.
    He added: "At the beginning of the pandemic we were assured that we had sufficient stockpiles... and we believed that we were well catered for."
    He said the government had been warned last weekend that there were "critically low shortages of full-length gowns".
    The government has been criticised over a lack of personal protective equipment for healthcare workers.
    Healthcare workers have been advised to re-use gowns or wear different kit if stocks in England run low, raising concerns the new guidance could put hospital staff and patients at risk.

    Orthodox Christians mark Easter

    The world's Orthodox Christians are marking their holiest festival in a very different way this year.
    Most worshipers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa were urged not to attend Easter services because of the risk of spreading coronavirus.
    Some were able to follow by watching television or online broadcasts.
    Read more about how the festival is being marked around the world

    Vaccine clinical trials to start within days

    Scientists working on a coronavirus vaccine in Britain hope to start clinical trials towards the end of next week, the leader of the team has told the BBC.
    Professor Sarah Gilbert, from Oxford University, said nobody had been immunised yet but her team had been given permission to start recruiting volunteers and hoped to start trials within the next few days.
    She told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "We are waiting for the final safety tests to be done on the vaccine and the final approvals to be given."
    She would not be drawn on who would receive any future vaccine first, adding: "We want to make it available across the world and we want to be able to make it available at a price that everybody can afford."
    Prof Gilbert added that researchers needed support from the UK government to help accelerate manufacturing.
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Re: Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 10:31

    Saudi clerics: Don't gather for prayer during Ramadan

    Saudi Arabia's top religious body has urged Muslims around the world not to congregate for prayer during the holy month of Ramadan in order to curb the spread of coronavirus.
    The Council of Senior Scholars said Muslims should "avoid gatherings, because they are the main cause of the spread of infection", the state-run Saudi Press Agency reports.
    Sunni-majority Saudi Arabia has closed its mosques, including the world's holiest - the Grand Mosque in Mecca - as part of measures to try to stop people catching the virus.
    Meanwhile the Supreme Leader of Shia-ruled Iran, Ayatollah Khamenei, has said Muslims are not required to fast during Ramadan - one of its obligations - if doing so poses a threat to their health.

    Higher levels of debt is a 'price we have to pay'

    The economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic is "very bad" and everyone will have to pay a price to combat the crisis, says the secretary-general of the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), a group of mostly developed countries.
    Angel Gurria stressed that the lockdowns implemented globally would be hard on people but he said governments' main duty was "to protect".
    He told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "We’re all going to end up with higher levels of debt for government, higher levels of debt for corporations, maybe even higher levels of debt for households, but that is the price we’re all going to have to pay in order to deal with the crisis itself and also, hopefully, to avoid a second wave."

    Spain's death toll slows

    Spain's death toll from the Covid-19 outbreak rose by 410 on Sunday, down from 565 on Saturday, the health ministry said, bringing the total to 20,453 deaths in one of the world's hardest-hit countries.
    The number of overall coronavirus cases rose to 195,944 on Sunday from 191,726 on Saturday, it added.

    UK minister: 'All governments make mistakes'

    Senior UK minister Michael Gove has conceded that the government made mistakes in its handling of the coronavirus.
    He told the BBC's Andrew Marr: "All governments make mistakes, including our own. We seek to learn and to improve every day.
    "It is the case, I'm sure, at some point in the future, that there will be an opportunity for us to look back, to reflect and to learn some profound lessons."
    His comments come following accusations that the UK government was slow to act in preparing for the health crisis.

    Taiwan to test hundreds after navy cases

    Taiwan has quarantined some 700 navy officers, servicemen and cadets for testing after 24 members of their mission tested positive for Covid-19.
    Taiwan’s Health Minister, Chen Shih-chung, said 22 new daily cases had been confirmed, including 21 in the military.
    The cases were found on one of three ships in a fleet that visited the small Pacific island of Palau last month, according to officials.
    The mission returned on Wednesday to a ceremony where President Tsai Ing-wen was present but, according to her office, she only waved at the sailors from the shore.
    The latest confirmed cases bring the total on the island to 420, with six deaths.

    'It's not a given that we will make a vaccine'

    Coronavirus - 19 April A43cb110

    Sunday morning brings with it a flurry of political interviews and expert commentary. Let's loop back to some of the key speakers from this morning's political shows.
    Sir Jeremy Farrar, a member of the UK Government's Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies (Sage), said he thought the UK was past the peak of the "first wave" of the virus but warned that if lockdown measures were lifted too soon the virus could come back in a few weeks.
    The infectious diseases expert was hopeful the restrictions could be eased within about three or four weeks if the number of infections dropped "dramatically".
    He told Sky he was "optimistic" about finding a vaccine for Covid-19 but acknowledged: "The truth is we don't have another vaccine for any other human coronavirus."
    He added: "It's not a given that we will make a vaccine."

    US lockdown protests continue

    There have been a number of demonstrations across US states in recent days.
    Some activists believe restrictions to stop coronavirus have gone too far and are calling for them to be relaxed.
    Many worry the gatherings could spread Covid-19 further, with 39,000 deaths and 735,000 cases recorded throughout the US.
    President Donald Trump has also become involved in the growing row. He was accused of promoting the protests on Friday, when he posted a series of tweets encouraging people to “liberate” a number of states.

    Why the Danes are easing their lockdown

    While countries around the world are trying to prepare a lockdown exit strategy, Denmark is one of the first European nations to have already started lifting restrictions.
    Primary schools and nurseries are already open, and small businesses, including hairdressers and beauty clinics, are allowed to open from Monday.
    Danish ambassador to the UK Lars Thuesen told Sky: "All our key indicators are pointing in the right direction.
    "If we look at the number of people in hospital, the number of people in intensive care, the number of patients on ventilators, these numbers have been stable or have been coming down the last two weeks or so.
    “So we're definitely not out of the woods yet but we are moving in the right direction. And we can’t stay in a lockdown forever."
    More on Denmark's move

    Putin says virus under control in Easter message

    Sarah Rainsford - BBC Moscow Correspondent
    Coronavirus - 19 April 1788f310

    Millions of Orthodox believers in Russia are celebrating Easter with churches closed and services broadcast on TV and online in an attempt to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
    In Moscow the main Easter vigil was held with no congregation. The patriarch told those following at homes that this was to protect them from a "terrible illness".
    President Vladimir Putin, who normally attends Mass with the Patriarch, sent a video message to the nation instead. He assured people that things were "fully under control" and said Russia would come through the "trial" it had been sent.
    But the country announced another record rise in new cases on Sunday, taking the total infected so far close to 43,000.
    With more than 100,000 tests done each day, the number of cases detected here is growing and fast. Most are still in and around Moscow but the virus is increasingly spreading in the regions.
    Despite all this, some parishes do seem to have defied the lockdown to attend services in places.


    Brazilians protest against lockdown measures

    Coronavirus - 19 April 71affb10

    It's not just in the US that some people are protesting against the impact of lockdown measures.
    Hundreds of people took to the streets of Brazil's largest cities on Saturday to demand an end to the restrictions, which are also opposed by President Jair Bolsonaro.
    The demonstrators rode cars and other vehicles through Rio de Janeiro, Sao Paulo and Brasilia against lockdown rules put in place by Brazilian states.
    Bolsonaro has previously called coronavirus "a little flu" and recently fired his health minister, who had urged people to observe social distancing and stay indoors.
    The country has the largest number of confirmed coronavirus infections in Latin America, with almost 37,000 cases, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 2,000 people have died.
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Re: Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 13:56

    UK-bound shipment of protective gear delayed

    Coronavirus - 19 April Cc48f410

    A consignment of personal protective equipment (PPE) is not expected to arrive in the UK today after all.
    The government had said on Saturday that 84 tonnes of PPE, including 400,000 gowns, would arrive in the UK from Turkey today, following concerns that hospitals would run out of protective garments this weekend.
    Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick had described the extra resources as "very significant".
    The UK Foreign Office said they were working to ensure the PPE from Turkey was delivered "as soon as possible".

    Sixty ventilators between 11m people

    Coronavirus - 19 April 230d6810

    With barely 60 ventilators for 11 million people, Haiti is the most vulnerable nation in the Americas to coronavirus.
    The reality inside Haiti's intensive care units is even bleaker than that number - taken from a 2019 study - suggests. According to Stephan Dragon, a respiratory therapist in the capital, Port-au-Prince, the true number of ventilators is actually closer to 40, and maybe 20 of those are not working.
    So far, this impoverished nation has only registered three deaths and 40 confirmed cases but many more cases may be going unreported, especially in remote areas.
    It is 10 years since Haiti was hit by a devastating earthquake. More than 200,000 people died and a million people were left homeless.
    Read more here.

    Attenborough: Humans 'certainly' victims of their own success

    Coronavirus - 19 April 8cca8b10

    Sir David Attenborough has agreed that humans are victims of their own success, as he faced questions about the coronavirus pandemic.
    In an interview with the BBC's Andrew Marr, the environmentalist and veteran TV broadcaster said: “Anybody who knows anything about keeping animals of any kind, the more dense population you keep, the quicker the disease will spread.
    "And there's never been a denser population of human species until this moment.”
    When asked whether humans were victims of their own success, he replied: "Certainly."

    Welcome to the house of TikTok

    Coronavirus - 19 April Dc502310

    Six of the UK’s most popular TikTok content creators have moved in together and are trying to meet a surge in demand from teenagers in lockdown, despite some doubts about the timing.
    The Bytehouse collective planned the move prior to the coronavirus pandemic and completed it before the UK lockdown on 23 March. It is the UK's first "TikTok house", a phenomenon already established in the US.
    With a combined following of more than 14 million people, their clips currently reach more than 73 million people a week.
    The short-form video-sharing social media platform was 2019's second most downloaded app after WhatsApp.

    The countries easing shopping restrictions

    Iran has become the latest country to ease restrictions by allowing bazaars and shopping malls to reopen from Monday as part of an easing of lockdown restrictions. Some shops and businesses were allowed to open again on Saturday but Monday's openings will apply to "medium-risk" businesses.
    Officials say more than 5,000 people have died with coronavirus in Iran so far but the true figure is believed to be much higher.
    Other countries also plan to allow stores to begin operating again in the coming days:

    • Israel has already allowed some types of shop to reopen, although shopping malls must remain closed for the time being
    • Poland is gradually lifting lockdown measures from Sunday, with shops among the businesses allowed to reopen
    • Europe's largest economy, Germany, will allow shops of up to 800 square metres (8,611 square feet), as well as car dealers and bike shops, to open their doors again


    UK supermarket chain cancels orders with clothing suppliers

    Coronavirus - 19 April B3ab6210

    A quarter of orders with clothing suppliers are being cancelled by supermarket chain Asda because of a drop in demand.
    Asda has also told suppliers that it will only pay for part of such cancelled orders - a move which has angered suppliers, according to the Sunday Times .
    A spokesperson for the supermarket said Covid-19 had "had a significant impact" on the fashion industry.
    Asda told the BBC that suppliers would be paid 30% of the order value for those that had not yet been finished, and half for those that had. That rises to 60% for manufacturers based in Bangladesh.
    The chain has seen a surge in demand for groceries in the UK as consumers are staying at home amid lockdown measures.
    More here


    Fake mourners arrested for flouting Kenyan travel ban

    Richard Kagoe - BBC News, Nairobi
    Police in Kenya implementing coronavirus restrictions have arrested four people who disguised themselves as mourners taking a body for burial.
    They had left the capital, Nairobi, and travelled 370km (about 230 miles) west with an empty coffin in the vehicle before being intercepted, the health minister said on Saturday.
    Nearly two weeks ago, travel in and out of Nairobi was restricted, along with another three regions considered to be coronavirus hot spots.
    The group of fake mourners had managed to pass through several checkpoints before suspicious officers in Homa Bay County opened the coffin, Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said.
    The driver later tested positive for Covid-19, the respiratory illness caused by the virus. His three passengers have now been put into quarantine.
    The minister said officials were investigating various schemes allegedly being used to circumvent the travel ban, including reports that people had been bribing police at roadblocks.
    The East African nation has recorded 262 cases of Covid-19, including 12 deaths.
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Re: Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 16:17

    Matt Damon spending lockdown in Ireland

    Coronavirus - 19 April 8e30a010

    Lockdown in the Irish village of Dalkey, an affluent suburb of Dublin, has taken an unexpected turn since residents discovered that they currently number actor Matt Damon.
    The Bourne Identity star was in the Republic of Ireland to film The Last Duel, to be directed by Ridley Scott, and has been pictured on social media in Dalkey during the restrictions.
    His presence has prompted a journalist from the New York Times to ask people in Dalkey what it’s like to have the actor as a neighbour during the pandemic.

      :tweet:  ColumbiaPublicHealth:
    You’ve seen it everywhere, but there’s a reason. Contagion star Matt Damon explains why #SocialDistancing is the most critical thing you can do right now. Then head to http://bit.ly/ControltheContagion … to find out more.

    "Anyone living in Dalkey has a right to their privacy. Leave him alone, jesus, he’s only human,” said one response on Facebook.  Damon starred in the 2011 film Contagion - about the spread of a virus transmitted by respiratory droplets - along with Kate Winslet, Jennifer Ehle and Laurence Fishburne.
    In March, the stars of the film released public service announcements urging the public to social-distance and wash their hands.

    UK deaths pass 16,000

    The number of covid-19 patients who died in UK hospitals has risen to 16,060 as of 17:00 BST on Saturday, the Department of Health and Social Care say.
    That is an increase of 596 in 24 hours - down from the previous daily death toll of 888.
    As of 09:00 BST on Sunday, 482,063 tests have been conducted, with 21,626 tests carried out on Saturday.
    A total of 372,967 people have been tested of which 120,067 tested positive.

    Rise of the robots?

    Search and you will find many sci-fi books and films that predict a future world awash with robot workers replacing humans.
    As advances in such technology accelerate, the question is whether fiction is gradually turning into fact?
    BBC technology reporter Zoe Thomas investigates whether the current pandemic is speeding up the process.
    Read more here.

    Equipment delay is a 'real worry'

    Nick Triggle - Health Correspondent
    The delay to a consignment of personal protective equipment (PPE) from Turkey to the UK is a real worry both in the short-term and long-term.
    It is clear the pandemic stocks we have been largely relying on to date are running out, at least in terms of gowns and visors.
    It has left the country relying on international supply – certainly for gowns.
    Given the international demand for them, this threatens to be an ongoing issue that could cause problems for months to come.
    Staff are understandably worried – they are putting their lives at risk.
    Ministers and their officials are clearly working hard to do what they can.
    But in the future serious questions will need to be asked why this situation has arisen in the first place.

    The UK picture

    We should be hearing from the UK government in the next 30 minutes, but let’s take a look at the latest from the country first:


    One World: Together at Home event raises almost $128m

    The eight-hour One World: Together at Home music event - broadcast on TV and streamed across the world - raised almost $128m (£102m).
    More than 100 musicians took part including Lady Gaga, who helped organise the event, the Rolling Stones, Paul McCartney, Common and Taylor Swift.
    A statement by organisers Global Citizen said: "World leaders, corporate partners and philanthropists announced their support for the Covid-19 Solidarity Response Fund for the World Health Organisation during the event."
    The money raised will be used to help fund vaccine development and local and regional charities, it added.

    Williamson: These are not normal times

    Gavin Williamson begins the briefing by saying: "On any normal Sunday afternoon, many of you would have been out with family and friends enjoying the sunshine.
    "And tomorrow, many children would be going to school after a two week break."
    "But these are not normal times and we are asking you to stay at home.
    The education secretary thanks people for "all the sacrifices you have made and continued to make", saying it is the "surest way to protect the NHS and save lives".
    He confirms the total number of deaths of those in the UK hospitalised with coronavirus has reached 16,060.
    "We musn't forget behind every single statistic there is a heartbreaking story," he adds.
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Re: Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 18:12

    What have we learnt from today's UK briefing?

    The UK government's daily briefing has just come to a close, so what have we learnt?

    • Education Secretary Gavin Williamson began by thanking schools, nurseries and children's services for the "vital role" they are playing
    • But he said he could not give a date for when schools would re-open
    • Williamson listed a number of measures the government was introducing for disadvantaged children trying to learn at home, including buying laptops for those preparing for exams and giving 4G routers for those without internet
    • The minister said there was a "national effort" to ensure NHS staff and careworkers got the protective kit they needed
    • He also said PM Boris Johnson has been leading from the front, despite criticism that he had missed early meetings on the pandemic
    • Dr Jenny Harries, the deputy chief medical officer, said it was difficult to make like-for-like comparisons with other countries
    • She said the UK would need to wait 12 months or more to look back and examine what had led to the differences in death rates


    UK government waits for more data before acting on schools

    Education Secretary Gavin Williamson put it bluntly - he can’t tell parents, pupils and teachers when schools will re-open.
    There’s been a lot of speculation that this could be one of the first steps the government takes on the path back to normal life.
    But ministers say it’s still too soon to say when that could happen.
    There are many options to consider, including whether younger pupils and those with exams next year could return to the classroom first.
    The number of people in hospital with Covid-19 is plateauing or falling in most areas. But ministers are waiting for more scientific data before acting.
    Other countries are starting to lift restrictions and the UK will be watching and learning from their experiences.
    For now, they don’t want to dilute the message that staying at home and social distancing must continue.

    Pandemic forces US bomb memorial online

    Coronavirus - 19 April 59e9c210
    Staff placed fresh flowers on the memorial chairs since their loved ones could not

    On 19 April 1995 a bomb attack killed 168 people in Oklahoma City.
    Every year survivors and loved ones usually gather at the memorial site to pay tribute and pledge never to forget. But this year, because of coronavirus, the 25th anniversary plans had to change dramatically.
    A special pre-recorded remembrance ceremony was shown at 09:00 local time (14:00 GMT) online and on local television instead.
    Those watching were encouraged to use the hashtag #WeRemember to feel connected. The recording included 168 seconds of silence and each of the victims' names was also read aloud.
    “We gather virtually, not coming physically together, so hopefully lives may be saved,” Reverend Michael B Curry said. “We gather virtually so that our health may be preserved and the health of others – even people we don’t know.”
    “We gather virtually as an act of love,” he added.
    You can read more about the attack here:


    Wuhan's quarantined footballers return home

    Michael Bristow - BBC World Service Asia Pacific Editor
    A football team from the Chinese city where the coronavirus originated last year has arrived home, after they were unable to return for more than three months.
    The players of Wuhan Zall were greeted by hundreds of chanting fans as they arrived at the city's railway station at the weekend.
    When Wuhan was placed under lockdown, the squad decided to stay on at their winter training camp in Spain.
    When they did return to China, via an extended layover in Germany, they were told to go into quarantine.The squad then had to wait for Wuhan to re-open to the rest of the country before they could finally return.Team members will now spend several days with their families before they resume training, although it's not clear when the postponed Chinese Super League will begin.

    New York couples can now tie the knot over Zoom

    New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has signed an order allowing virtual weddings as in-person weddings are cancelled amid social distancing restrictions.
    "There's now no excuse when the question comes up for marriage. No excuse," Cuomo joked at his daily briefing on Saturday. "You can do it by Zoom. Yes or no."
    Couples in New York will be able to apply for marriage licenses online, with clerks conducting the ceremonies virtually.
    Cuomo's announcement follows the news that New York State - epicentre of the US outbreak - will extend its lockdown measures until 15 May.
    Similar measures have been introduced in the US state of Colorado, where couples are allowed to apply for marriages online.

    Baseball game boils over in Taiwan

    Coronavirus - 19 April Ff968f10
    Fubon Guardians' Henry Sosa (second left) made a few enemies on Sunday

    To melee or not to melee during the age of Covid-19? That is the question for sports teams embroiled in a tense battle.
    On Sunday, players from two Chinese Pro Baseball League teams opted for the former after Fubon Guardians pitcher Henry Sosa struck the backside of Rakuten Monkeys pitcher Kuo Yen-Wen.
    Rakuten players left their bench incensed while their Fubon counterparts came rushing over from the other side of the field.
    The game in Taiwan's Taoyuan International Baseball Stadium featured no fans because of social distancing measures... although it seems the players threw caution to the wind for a few moments.
    Kitkat
    Kitkat

    Coronavirus - 19 April Empty Re: Coronavirus - 19 April

    Post by Kitkat Sun 19 Apr 2020, 20:27

    New York governor urges caution as state infections slow

    Coronavirus - 19 April 35d56010
    New York's infection rate is now slowing - Cuomo

    New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has said his state is "past the high point" of the virus outbreak but he urged caution as the death toll rose.
    "Whether or not the descent continues depends on what we do," Cuomo said at his daily briefing. "This is only halftime in this entire situation."
    "The outbreak is slowing, not growing," he said. But, he added, "We have a very small margin of error here."
    New York recorded 507 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, continuing its downward trend. It's good news, Cuomo said, "only compared to the terrible news we were living with: the constant increase".
    "We still have more to do," the governor said. And for local officials facing pressure over shuttering of schools, parks and businesses, he said, "Blame me."

    What is the risk to men over 50?

    There are more than 1.5 million people in the UK who are at the greatest risk of needing hospital treatment if they catch coronavirus.
    This includes people over the age of 70, regardless of whether they have a medical condition or not, and people of any age with underlying health conditions such as heart disease.
    People with cancer who have been receiving chemotherapy are also at greater risk, and they are being asked to stay at home all of the time to shield themselves from the virus.
    Coronavirus also appears to disproportionately affect men in their 50s and 60s to a certain degree, although they are not singled out as a high-risk group. But it is not that clear-cut.
    Read more here.

    Danish club plans football drive-in

    Football is suspended because of coronavirus across most of Europe, including Denmark where there have been no matches in the Superliga since 9 March.
    When games do resume they are likely to be played behind closed doors in empty stadiums due to social distancing measures.
    Danish Superliga leaders FC Midtjylland have come up with an idea to ensure their supporters are as close as possible to the action - while also remaining at a safe distance - after announcing plans for a drive-in on match days.
    The plans will allow around 2,000 cars to park outside their stadium in Herning and watch matches on two big screens.
    More than 350 people have died after contracting coronavirus in Denmark, and the country has had more than 7,300 confirmed cases, although beauty salons, hairdressers and tattoo parlours are set to reopen on Monday.
    Read more here.

    Ellie Goulding surprises online wedding couple

    Coronavirus - 19 April 07183d10

    Many weddings planned in March, April and May have been postponed because of the pandemic but that did not deter UK couple Hayley Pitman and Harvey Skelton.
    They were set to get married in Gloucestershire, England, last weekend but the ceremony was postponed.
    Instead, Hayley, an NHS nurse, and Harvey, a rugby coach, tied the knot on the internet, watched by family and friends via video link - and were joined by a surprise guest, Sky News reports.
    Pop star Ellie Goulding popped up on the link and performed her hit single Love Me Like You Do as the couple shared their first dance in their living room.
    "The appearance by one of our favourite singers was just the icing on the cake, I couldn't believe it," said Hayley.

    Madrid’s medical heroes in the fight of their lives

    Spain has seen more than 20,000 deaths and the Madrid region is at the heart of it: a capital city blighted by this virus.
    This city has seen 7,000 deaths, more than other European capitals.
    The contagion spread at a remarkable rate through the densely populated city and its cluster of suburbs.
    On the front line here, health workers say their resources are stretched to the point of collapse.
    "The shortages we had anyway have been brutally exposed," one doctor told the BBC.
    You can read more about the situation in Madrid's hospitals here.

    First patients released from London's Nightingale Hospital

    The NHS Nightingale Hospital in London, the 4000-bed emergency hospital set up to treat those suffering from coronavirus, discharged its first patients on Sunday evening.
    The field hospital, set up in east London's converted ExCel centre, took in its first patients on 7 April, four days after it opened.
    Health Secretary Matt Hancock sent his congratulations, praising the "brilliant team" working at the hospital on Twitter.

    The latest from around the world

    If you're just joining us, here are the latest coronavirus headlines from around the world:

    • In the UK, a total of 16,060 people hospitalised with the virus have now died. Minister Michael Gove said the government will take a “balanced judgement” on when to lift lockdown measures
    • New York Governor Andrew Cuomo said his state is "past the high point" of the virus outbreak. The state recorded 507 coronavirus deaths in the past 24 hours, continuing its downward trend
    • Also in the US, President Donald Trump said China should face consequences if it is found they were “knowingly responsible" for the outbreak
    • His comments came as further protests were held in some parts of the country by conservative activists. They want local lockdown measures to be relaxed, despite the growing death toll nationwide



    'Staff infected' in Afghan presidential palace

    Dozens of workers at Afghanistan's presidential palace have tested positive for coronavirus, according to media reports.
    Twenty cases were initially reported, but on Sunday the New York Times said the number had risen to 40.
    The Afghan government has not commented and there's no suggestion that President Ashraf Ghani - who reportedly lost part of his stomach to cancer in the 1990s - has been infected.
    There have been fewer than 1,000 confirmed cases of the virus in Afghanistan and 33 people have died.
    But the true number could be much higher as the country has limited access to testing and the health system has suffered under decades of conflict.
    There are also fears that the virus could have spread after more than 150,000 Afghans returned from virus-stricken Iran during March, while tens of thousands of others returned from Pakistan.
    Read more about the situation in Afghanistan here.

    Roma players to forgo salary - sports round-up



    How many confirmed cases are there in your area?

    There have sadly been more than 16,000 deaths in total in the UK of those confirmed to have coronavirus, while the number of confirmed cases is more than 120,000.
    The increase in deaths on Sunday - 596 - is lower than the 888 announced yesterday and the UK's lowest daily toll since 6 April - although generally figures have been observed to be lower at weekends.
    You can find out how many people have confirmed cases in your area by clicking here.

      Current date/time is Thu 28 Mar 2024, 11:37