#DailyUpdate #Mar20 #COVID19
COVID-19 Updates (20/3)
At the time of writing, 246,275 cases of the coronavirus have been reported worldwide with 10,038 deaths.
China only recorded only 39 new cases of the virus - all imported cases.
As the epicenter of the pandemic shifts to Europe, Italy, Spain and Germany have been hit the hardest in terms of the number of cases reported. All 3 countries have reported over 16,000 cases with death rates sky-rocketing. The number of deaths in Italy and Spain have reached 3405 and 833 respectively. Italy has reported 41,035 cases.
Only a hand full of countries and territories have not reported any cases of the coronavirus as it continues to spread in Africa.
Niger confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus.
In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and universities by 24 March in a bid to control and minimise the outbreak. So far, no Covid-19 case has been confirmed.
New York City expects to run out of medical supplies in 2 to 3 weeks.
Bavaria restricts personal movement.
The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has asked 65,000 nurses and doctors who retired in the last three years to return and help tackle the “greatest global health threat” in a century.
The Changing the Guard ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace has been cancelled until further notice in light of the coronavirus outbreak, Royal Communications said in a statement Friday.
India’s capital city of New Delhi announced restrictions on businesses and government services starting Friday, as did the country's second-most populous state of Maharashtra.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on the Isle of Man for breaching coronavirus self-isolation rules, according to a police spokesman.
Both Hong Kong and Taiwan confirms the largest single-day increase in cases as residents rush back before it is too late.
The European Union is open to requests from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit deadline in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Malaysia's armed forces will be deployed to help police enforce the nationwide Movement Control Order starting Sunday.
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said the organization is not considering canceling the quadrennial summer games in Tokyo due to the coronavirus.
People stuck at home can take a virtual look at Japan's blooming sakura. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qClEMVG2V8w
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all 1.3 billion people in the country to be vigilant and work together to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in his televised address to the nation Thursday.
South Korea to test all travelers from Europe for coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia to suspend all domestic flights and public transport for 14 days.
45 million people have been ordered to stay home as Argentina enacts a nationwide lockdown.
California's governor has ordered all 40 million residents to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Indian government has prohibited the export of masks, ventilators and raw textile materials for masks and coveralls.
US State Department issues worldwide "Do Not Travel" advisory.
Source: CNN, BBC, John Hopkins University
COVID-19 Updates (20/3)
At the time of writing, 246,275 cases of the coronavirus have been reported worldwide with 10,038 deaths.
China only recorded only 39 new cases of the virus - all imported cases.
As the epicenter of the pandemic shifts to Europe, Italy, Spain and Germany have been hit the hardest in terms of the number of cases reported. All 3 countries have reported over 16,000 cases with death rates sky-rocketing. The number of deaths in Italy and Spain have reached 3405 and 833 respectively. Italy has reported 41,035 cases.
Only a hand full of countries and territories have not reported any cases of the coronavirus as it continues to spread in Africa.
Niger confirmed their first cases of the coronavirus.
In Zimbabwe, President Emmerson Mnangagwa ordered the closure of all schools, colleges and universities by 24 March in a bid to control and minimise the outbreak. So far, no Covid-19 case has been confirmed.
New York City expects to run out of medical supplies in 2 to 3 weeks.
Bavaria restricts personal movement.
The United Kingdom's National Health Service (NHS) has asked 65,000 nurses and doctors who retired in the last three years to return and help tackle the “greatest global health threat” in a century.
The Changing the Guard ceremony at London's Buckingham Palace has been cancelled until further notice in light of the coronavirus outbreak, Royal Communications said in a statement Friday.
India’s capital city of New Delhi announced restrictions on businesses and government services starting Friday, as did the country's second-most populous state of Maharashtra.
A 26-year-old man has been arrested on the Isle of Man for breaching coronavirus self-isolation rules, according to a police spokesman.
Both Hong Kong and Taiwan confirms the largest single-day increase in cases as residents rush back before it is too late.
The European Union is open to requests from UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend the Brexit deadline in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak, according to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.
Malaysia's armed forces will be deployed to help police enforce the nationwide Movement Control Order starting Sunday.
Thomas Bach, the president of the International Olympic Committee, said the organization is not considering canceling the quadrennial summer games in Tokyo due to the coronavirus.
People stuck at home can take a virtual look at Japan's blooming sakura. Link: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qClEMVG2V8w
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi asked all 1.3 billion people in the country to be vigilant and work together to combat the spread of the novel coronavirus in his televised address to the nation Thursday.
South Korea to test all travelers from Europe for coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia to suspend all domestic flights and public transport for 14 days.
45 million people have been ordered to stay home as Argentina enacts a nationwide lockdown.
California's governor has ordered all 40 million residents to stay home to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The Indian government has prohibited the export of masks, ventilators and raw textile materials for masks and coveralls.
US State Department issues worldwide "Do Not Travel" advisory.
Source: CNN, BBC, John Hopkins University
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満開になったと思ったら、あっという間に散ってしまう桜たち。なかなか忙しく時間も取れない人が多いはずです。
そんなみなさんに、桜の満開の姿を収めた３６０度のお花見VR動画での桜鑑賞がオススメ♪
http://weathernews.jp/s/sakura/vr/index.html
#WuhanPneumonia
Microbiologist predicts a spike of coronavirus cases as citizens return home from hard-hit countries and regions
//“There might be hidden virus-carriers who may spread the virus in the community, Hong Kong needs to be in a battle mode to treat this epidemic,” Dr. Ho Pak-leung of HKU said.
Ho also said home quarantine is not an ideal method, as the living spaces in Hong Kong are usually cramped. It would be difficult for households to provide a separate room and toilet for the quarantined person to use. He suggested the government rent hotels for isolation, where arriving persons can be sent directly from the airport.
Leung said businesses might consider shortening hours and restricting access to facilitate social distancing, while measures should be taken to protect elderly people and foreign domestic helpers.//
Source: Hong Kong Free Press; RTHK #Mar20
Microbiologist predicts a spike of coronavirus cases as citizens return home from hard-hit countries and regions
//“There might be hidden virus-carriers who may spread the virus in the community, Hong Kong needs to be in a battle mode to treat this epidemic,” Dr. Ho Pak-leung of HKU said.
Ho also said home quarantine is not an ideal method, as the living spaces in Hong Kong are usually cramped. It would be difficult for households to provide a separate room and toilet for the quarantined person to use. He suggested the government rent hotels for isolation, where arriving persons can be sent directly from the airport.
Leung said businesses might consider shortening hours and restricting access to facilitate social distancing, while measures should be taken to protect elderly people and foreign domestic helpers.//
Source: Hong Kong Free Press; RTHK #Mar20
#ChinaPropaganda #StateMedia
China's State Media accuses U.S. for scapegoating China and criticizes their "long standing arrogance"
Xinhua news agency published an article, claiming that U.S. politicians used the new coronavirus outbreak to stigmatize China, and the U.S. media also published insulting articles with obvious racist connotations. Chinese state media comdemns that these words and actions have exposed the "long-standing arrogance in the United States", their "anti-China" mentality and "racism".
China criticized the U.S. of creating a wide gap between countries and cultures, undermining cross-country collaboration in the fight against the epidemic.
The article also pointed out that whenever the world is facing a pandemic threat or a global crisis, some powers will jump out to scapegoat a country or a race, making use people's anxiety to incite hatred and xenophobia for their interests.
Source: RTHK
#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #ChinesePropaganda
China's State Media accuses U.S. for scapegoating China and criticizes their "long standing arrogance"
Xinhua news agency published an article, claiming that U.S. politicians used the new coronavirus outbreak to stigmatize China, and the U.S. media also published insulting articles with obvious racist connotations. Chinese state media comdemns that these words and actions have exposed the "long-standing arrogance in the United States", their "anti-China" mentality and "racism".
China criticized the U.S. of creating a wide gap between countries and cultures, undermining cross-country collaboration in the fight against the epidemic.
The article also pointed out that whenever the world is facing a pandemic threat or a global crisis, some powers will jump out to scapegoat a country or a race, making use people's anxiety to incite hatred and xenophobia for their interests.
Source: RTHK
#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak #ChinesePropaganda
#WuhanPneumonia
Chinese Passengers Refuse to be Quarantined and Occupy Hong Kong Airport
The Hong Kong SAR government imposes a new regulation: All passengers arriving from countries other than China, Macau and Taiwan shall undergo self-isolation for 14 days.
In the morning of March 20, some 20 to 30 Chinese passengers refused to follow the new regulations. Since 10am, they refused to leave the airport and kept on shouting "[let us] go back to Shenzhen". Some Chinese passengers were sent to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge link by cars arranged by the Hong Kong Government.
Source: InMedia #Mar20
https://bit.ly/2J6d5Vi
Chinese Passengers Refuse to be Quarantined and Occupy Hong Kong Airport
The Hong Kong SAR government imposes a new regulation: All passengers arriving from countries other than China, Macau and Taiwan shall undergo self-isolation for 14 days.
In the morning of March 20, some 20 to 30 Chinese passengers refused to follow the new regulations. Since 10am, they refused to leave the airport and kept on shouting "[let us] go back to Shenzhen". Some Chinese passengers were sent to the Hong Kong-Zhuhai-Macau bridge link by cars arranged by the Hong Kong Government.
Source: InMedia #Mar20
https://bit.ly/2J6d5Vi
#FailedState #HongKongAirport
Hong Kong Government Implement New quarantine Measures, Disorganising the Capacity of Existing Health Care System
Preventing the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak, the HKSAR government implemented new quarantine measures on Thursday, March 19, requiring all arrivals from abroad to undergo mandatory quarantine or medical surveillance for 14 days.
Student, nicknamed 'Y', has just returned from Finland and said the quarantine measures at the Hong Kong Airport were in disarray on the first day.
Upon his arrival in the morning, he informed the immigration officer that he had a mild cough. He was then taken to wait in isolation for further examination. The quarantine facility in the airport was roughly constructed and separated from other areas with fabric curtains. Only water and dry food were provided to 20 to 30 civilians in the quarantine area. No arrangement was made for them to retrieve their luggage.
Having waited for more than 10 hours, they were still not sent for medical inspection, due to the insufficient room in the hospital. Student Y criticised the arrangement as chaotic, as it was implemented without considering the capacity of the city's health care system.
Source: City Broadcasting Channel
#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak
Hong Kong Government Implement New quarantine Measures, Disorganising the Capacity of Existing Health Care System
Preventing the second wave of Coronavirus outbreak, the HKSAR government implemented new quarantine measures on Thursday, March 19, requiring all arrivals from abroad to undergo mandatory quarantine or medical surveillance for 14 days.
Student, nicknamed 'Y', has just returned from Finland and said the quarantine measures at the Hong Kong Airport were in disarray on the first day.
Upon his arrival in the morning, he informed the immigration officer that he had a mild cough. He was then taken to wait in isolation for further examination. The quarantine facility in the airport was roughly constructed and separated from other areas with fabric curtains. Only water and dry food were provided to 20 to 30 civilians in the quarantine area. No arrangement was made for them to retrieve their luggage.
Having waited for more than 10 hours, they were still not sent for medical inspection, due to the insufficient room in the hospital. Student Y criticised the arrangement as chaotic, as it was implemented without considering the capacity of the city's health care system.
Source: City Broadcasting Channel
#Mar20 #ChinesePneumonia #GlobalOutbreak
#FailedState #DistrictCouncil #WuhanPneumonia
Government halts District Council's distribution of Anti-epidemic Kits
Pro-democracy Councilor: “Politics overriding human lives”
The Wanchai District Council began the distribution of disinfectant packs from this week. However, the Home Affairs Department suddenly called off the campaign, claiming that the distributed brochures contained wrong information, as the “Wuhan Pneumonia” wordings printed on them should be corrected to “COVID-19”.
Chairwoman of the Wan Chai District Council Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying believed that such an action from the Home Affairs Department conveyed the message that citizens’ lives were worth nothing compared to political duty.
Yeung stressed that the major targets of the the packs were singleton elderly and families with low income, and the distribution campaign could not be halted only because of a name.
Source: InMedia #Mar20
https://bit.ly/3a7wIZf
Government halts District Council's distribution of Anti-epidemic Kits
Pro-democracy Councilor: “Politics overriding human lives”
The Wanchai District Council began the distribution of disinfectant packs from this week. However, the Home Affairs Department suddenly called off the campaign, claiming that the distributed brochures contained wrong information, as the “Wuhan Pneumonia” wordings printed on them should be corrected to “COVID-19”.
Chairwoman of the Wan Chai District Council Clarisse Yeung Suet-ying believed that such an action from the Home Affairs Department conveyed the message that citizens’ lives were worth nothing compared to political duty.
Yeung stressed that the major targets of the the packs were singleton elderly and families with low income, and the distribution campaign could not be halted only because of a name.
Source: InMedia #Mar20
https://bit.ly/3a7wIZf
#Newspaper
Italian army transports coffins to neighboring towns for cremation
Editor's note: Over 4,800 people have died and 53,578 are infected from the coronavirus in Italy, as of March 21, 2020.
//The Italian army is transporting coffins from Bergamo, northern Italy, to remote cremation sites because local crematorium and morgues can’t cope with the long waiting list for burials. Coffins were stacking up at hospital and cemetery morgues.
Under the country's strict lockdown, many families have been unable to see their loved ones during treatment or to attend their funerals.
"I think it's worse than a war," Marta Testa, whose father died of the Wuhan pneumonia. "Dad is waiting to be buried. And we are here waiting to tell him goodbye." Testa never saw her father again after he was taken to a hospital on March 7.
Giorgio Gori, the mayor of Bergamo, said that the number of coronavirus deaths may be far higher than reported: “There are significant numbers of people who have died but whose death hasn’t been attributed to the coronavirus because they died at home or in a nursing home and so they weren’t swabbed."//
Source: Business Insider #Mar20
#Italy #Coronavirus
Italian army transports coffins to neighboring towns for cremation
Editor's note: Over 4,800 people have died and 53,578 are infected from the coronavirus in Italy, as of March 21, 2020.
//The Italian army is transporting coffins from Bergamo, northern Italy, to remote cremation sites because local crematorium and morgues can’t cope with the long waiting list for burials. Coffins were stacking up at hospital and cemetery morgues.
Under the country's strict lockdown, many families have been unable to see their loved ones during treatment or to attend their funerals.
"I think it's worse than a war," Marta Testa, whose father died of the Wuhan pneumonia. "Dad is waiting to be buried. And we are here waiting to tell him goodbye." Testa never saw her father again after he was taken to a hospital on March 7.
Giorgio Gori, the mayor of Bergamo, said that the number of coronavirus deaths may be far higher than reported: “There are significant numbers of people who have died but whose death hasn’t been attributed to the coronavirus because they died at home or in a nursing home and so they weren’t swabbed."//
Source: Business Insider #Mar20
#Italy #Coronavirus
Michael Spavor: Canadian spy trial in China ends without verdict
A Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was arrested two years ago along with fellow Canadian and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.
Mr Spavor's trial took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong and just lasted for two hours. A group of foreign diplomats gathered outside the court, but all of whom were denied entry. Canadian diplomats were also refused access to Mr Spavor before his trial, and that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access". The closely-watched trial ended with no verdict.
Mr Kovrig is due to go on trial next week. Both Canadians have been held in prison since their arrest in December 2018.
Source: BBC #Mar20
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56452981
#Canadian #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #China
A Canadian businessman Michael Spavor was arrested two years ago along with fellow Canadian and former diplomat Michael Kovrig.
Mr Spavor's trial took place in the northern Chinese city of Dandong and just lasted for two hours. A group of foreign diplomats gathered outside the court, but all of whom were denied entry. Canadian diplomats were also refused access to Mr Spavor before his trial, and that they were "disappointed by the lack of transparency and the lack of access". The closely-watched trial ended with no verdict.
Mr Kovrig is due to go on trial next week. Both Canadians have been held in prison since their arrest in December 2018.
Source: BBC #Mar20
https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-china-56452981
#Canadian #MichaelSpavor #MichaelKovrig #China
'Tough' U.S.-China talks signal rocky start to relations under Biden
U.S. and Chinese officials concluded on Mar 19 what Washington called “tough and direct” talks in Alaska. The talks appeared to yield no diplomatic breakthroughs as expected, but the bitter rivalry on display suggested the two countries had little common ground to reset relations that have sunk to the lowest level in decades.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was not surprised that the United States got a “defensive response” from China after it raised allegations of Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong as well as cyberattacks and pressure on Taiwan.
Source: Reuters #Mar20
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-alaska/top-american-chinese-diplomats-clash-publicly-at-start-of-first-talks-of-biden-presidency-idUSKBN2BA2A7
#USChinaAlaskaTalk #US #China
U.S. and Chinese officials concluded on Mar 19 what Washington called “tough and direct” talks in Alaska. The talks appeared to yield no diplomatic breakthroughs as expected, but the bitter rivalry on display suggested the two countries had little common ground to reset relations that have sunk to the lowest level in decades.
U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken said he was not surprised that the United States got a “defensive response” from China after it raised allegations of Chinese human rights abuses in Xinjiang, Tibet, and Hong Kong as well as cyberattacks and pressure on Taiwan.
Source: Reuters #Mar20
https://www.reuters.com/article/us-usa-china-alaska/top-american-chinese-diplomats-clash-publicly-at-start-of-first-talks-of-biden-presidency-idUSKBN2BA2A7
#USChinaAlaskaTalk #US #China
#ChineseVaccine
Hong Kong's immunised who died of #Covid19 mainly got #Sinovac vaccine: Media
//Almost 87 per cent of Hong Kongers who died from Covid-19 after getting at least one dose of vaccine received China-made Sinovac Biotech Ltd's shot, Ming Pao reported, though most deaths occurred among those who weren't immunised.
Most deaths in Hong Kong have occurred among under-vaccinated senior citizens, particularly those living in elderly care homes.
There have been more than 5,400 fatalities in the latest Omicron-driven outbreak, making the city's death per capita the world's highest.//
Read the full article:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kongs-immunised-who-died-of-covid-19-mainly-got-sinovac-vaccine-media
Source: Bloomberg; Strait Times; Mingpao #Mar20
#Omicron #Pandemic #5thWave #Death #Vaccination #WuhanPneumonia
Hong Kong's immunised who died of #Covid19 mainly got #Sinovac vaccine: Media
//Almost 87 per cent of Hong Kongers who died from Covid-19 after getting at least one dose of vaccine received China-made Sinovac Biotech Ltd's shot, Ming Pao reported, though most deaths occurred among those who weren't immunised.
Most deaths in Hong Kong have occurred among under-vaccinated senior citizens, particularly those living in elderly care homes.
There have been more than 5,400 fatalities in the latest Omicron-driven outbreak, making the city's death per capita the world's highest.//
Read the full article:
https://www.straitstimes.com/asia/east-asia/hong-kongs-immunised-who-died-of-covid-19-mainly-got-sinovac-vaccine-media
Source: Bloomberg; Strait Times; Mingpao #Mar20
#Omicron #Pandemic #5thWave #Death #Vaccination #WuhanPneumonia
#Pandemic
#China locks down millions more as #Covid19 spreads, reports first deaths in over a year
//More than 4,000 new infections were reported across China on Sunday, March 20, 2022 — with two-thirds in #Jilin province, which borders Russia and North Korea.
Since March 11, Changchun’s nine million people have only been allowed out once every two days to buy food.
Tens of millions of people are currently in lockdown in other Chinese regions and authorities are scrambling to create hospital beds, fearing the outbreak could put the healthcare system under strain.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/20/china-locks-down-millions-more-as-covid-spreads-reports-first-deaths-in-over-a-year/
Source: AFP; Hong Kong Free Press #Mar20
#WuhanPneumonia #Lockdown
#China locks down millions more as #Covid19 spreads, reports first deaths in over a year
//More than 4,000 new infections were reported across China on Sunday, March 20, 2022 — with two-thirds in #Jilin province, which borders Russia and North Korea.
Since March 11, Changchun’s nine million people have only been allowed out once every two days to buy food.
Tens of millions of people are currently in lockdown in other Chinese regions and authorities are scrambling to create hospital beds, fearing the outbreak could put the healthcare system under strain.//
Read the full article:
https://hongkongfp.com/2022/03/20/china-locks-down-millions-more-as-covid-spreads-reports-first-deaths-in-over-a-year/
Source: AFP; Hong Kong Free Press #Mar20
#WuhanPneumonia #Lockdown