Singapore secures top spot as international shipping centre for 7th consecutive year - The Straits Times
Singapore secures top spot as international shipping centre for 7th consecutive year - The Straits Times |
- Singapore secures top spot as international shipping centre for 7th consecutive year - The Straits Times
- The Latest: Virus infections continue steady rise in S Korea - Federal News Network
- The Latest: WHO says outbreaks add to childbirth death risk - Martinsville Bulletin
- The Latest: WHO says Brazil’s health system still is coping - Sentinel & Enterprise
| Posted: 10 Jul 2020 06:00 PM PDT  SINGAPORE - Singapore retained its position as the world's most important shipping hub on the Xinhua-Baltic International Shipping Centre Development (ISCD) Index. This is the seventh consecutive year Singapore is ranked first on the index, thanks to its advantages of geographical location, shipping industry ecosystem and supportive government policies, according to the Xinhua-Baltic Report 2020 which was released on July 11. The ISCD Index is published by the Baltic Exchange in collaboration with Chinese state news agency Xinhua. The index provides an independent ranking of the performance of the world's largest cities that offer port and shipping business services. Baltic Exchange CEO Mark Jackson said that while the latest report reflects the pre-Covid-19 period, port cities that continue to build on their strengths will be able to communicate a clear vision for the future. "We call on all the main shipping hubs to continue investing in education, R&D and new services; remain open to global talent and offer an attractive international business environment," he said. The Baltic Exchange, which is headquartered in London, was acquired by Singapore Exchange in November 2016. Maritime and Port Authority of Singapore chief executive Quah Ley Hoon said: "This good news comes amidst the Covid-19 gloom. The real test will be how we bounce back in a world shaken by an unprecedented crisis." She said that Singapore will continue to rally governments and the global shipping community to work together and emerge stronger from the crisis caused by the pandemic. "Within Singapore, we stand united with our maritime companies, industry partners and unions, and will strive to maintain our position as a leading International Maritime Centre and a global hub port," she said. The report showed London climbing back to the second place on the ISCD Index thanks to advantages accruing from providing high-end shipping finance, insurance and legal services. In 2018 and 2019, London occupied the third place on the index. Shanghai, the biggest port in terms of container throughput, climbed to the third spot this year, helped by steady improvement in port facilities and shipping service levels. Meanwhile, Hong Kong fell to fourth place mainly due to a decrease in cargo throughput and a drop in rankings relative to other centres in areas such as ship brokerage, insurance and legal services. Dubai, the preeminent shipping hub in the Middle East, ranked fifth for the third consecutive year. Rotterdam and Hamburg have also retained their positions since 2018, ranking sixth and seventh respectively. Benefiting from an improving business environment, Athens rose to the eighth slot. New York-New Jersey slipped by one place to the ninth position, while Tokyo rose one spot, returning to the ranks of the top 10. Mr Xu Yu Chang, president of the China Economic Information Service, a wholly-owned company of Xinhua, said: "I believe the continued release of the Index will further contribute to sustainable global economic growth by optimising shipping resources worldwide as well as promoting the scientific development of international shipping centres." |
| The Latest: Virus infections continue steady rise in S Korea - Federal News Network Posted: 17 Jun 2020 12:00 AM PDT  SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 59 COVID-19 cases as infections steadily rise in the capital area where half the country's 51 million people live. The figures announced Thursday by South Korea's Centers for Disease Control and Prevention bring the national caseload to 12,257, including 280 deaths. The agency says 39 of the new cases are in Seoul and the surrounding region, where authorities are trying to stem transmissions amid increased economic activity and eased attitudes on social distancing. Eight new cases were linked to international arrivals. Officials are concerned the resurgence of the virus in China could bring more imported cases. South Korea has tied at least 1,379 cases to international arrivals and is requiring two-week quarantines on all passengers arriving from abroad. ___ HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: — World Health Organization says more understanding needed on steroid that was shown in a British trial to reduce deaths among critically ill patients. — Germany says the impact of the pandemic on developing countries could have security implications for Europe unless steps are taken to help struggling nations. — President of Honduras tests positive for coronavirus. — Pakistan announces plans to repatriate tens of thousands of citizens stranded around the world. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: CANBERRA, Australia — The two universities in Australia's capital plan to fly in 350 foreign students as the country's international education sector reopens after the coronavirus lockdown. Australian National University and Canberra University said Thursday they expect the chartered aircraft to fly to Canberra from Singapore in late July. Priority will be given to students involved in research that can't be done online. The students will be quarantined at a hotel for two weeks. They are likely to be the first foreign students to return to Australian campuses since the lockdown. Prime Minister Scott Morrison told Sydney Radio 2GB he supports the universities' plan. Tourism Minister Simon Birmingham says it's likely Australia won't allow general international travel before next year. ___ BEIJING — China's capital has reported a decline in newly confirmed coronavirus cases as the city continues to press stricter measures to contain a new outbreak. Beijing reported 21 cases Thursday, down from 31 a day earlier. Officials reported 28 new cases in all nationwide. Of the cases outside Beijing, four were brought by Chinese travelers from outside the country and three were reported in the city of Tianjin and Hebei province, both of which border Beijing. No new deaths were reported, leaving the total number of fatalities at 4,634. Beijing this week moved to suspend classes and restrict tourism and travel in and out of the city to stem any further spread in the latest outbreak traced to the city's largest wholesale market. ___ AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Gov. Greg Abbott says local governments are free to mandate that businesses require customers and workers to wear face masks because of the coronavirus pandemic. His comment Wednesday comes after one the state's most populous counties ordered such a measure amid record numbers of new cases of coronavirus and hospitalizations. The order for Bexar County, which includes San Antonio, takes affect Monday and businesses could face fines up to $1,000 for failing to comply. The governor has declined to issue a statewide order for individuals to wear masks, preferring to leave it to local leaders. Texas set new daily highs for new cases with 3,129 and for COVID-19 hospitalizations with 2,793. The hospitalization mark sets a daily record for the 10th time in 11 days. ASPEN, Colo. — A national trade association for the U.S. ski industry says ski businesses lost at least $2 billion over the winter because of the economic collapse caused by the coronavirus pandemic. The Aspen Times reports that the Denver-based National Ski Areas Association announced Wednesday that skier visits fell 14% during the latest season, compared with the 2018-2019 season. There were about 51.1 million visits in the shortened season. Resorts were forced to closed in March following state restrictions intended to limit the spread of the coronavirus. It is unclear how the pandemic will affect the 2020-2021 season. But the economic loss tied to the pandemic could increase to about $5 billion if the downtown continues. ___ ST. PETERSBERG, Florida — Miami-Dade County Mayor Carlos Gimenez says that due to a rise COVID-19 cases enforcement will be stepped up to shut down businesses not following rules put in place to safely reopen during the pandemic. St. Petersburg Mayor Rick Kriseman, meanwhile, said Wednesday that all employees who have contact with the public will be required to wear masks. That is something that some South Florida cities hard hit by the virus have been doing for weeks. Kriseman is also preparing a second ordinance to require residents to wear masks when inside businesses or other public spaces. He criticized Flordia Gov. Ron DeSantis for only encouraging people to use masks rather than requiring their use. ___ PHOENIX — Arizona hospitals are treating a record number of coronavirus patients amid a surge of new cases that has made the state a U.S. virus hotspot. The state's Health Services Department reported a record number of emergency room visits for the virus as well. The agency confirmed 1,827 new cases and 20 new deaths Wednesday, bringing the total confirmed cases to 40,924 and deaths to 1,239. Hospitals were treating 1,582 patients on Tuesday, an increase of more than 500 from two weeks earlier. Emergency room visits for patients with virus symptoms soared to nearly 1,100. On June 3, hospitals reported seeing 638 patients in the ER. The new records come as Republican Gov. Doug Ducey is under increasing pressure to take steps to stop a major increase in cases. Health providers and Democratic politicians are urging him to require people to wear masks in public, but so far he has rejected a mandate while suggesting mask-wearing. ___ JOHANNESBURG — South Africa's president has reminded China that African nations are seeking significant debt relief as they battle the coronavirus pandemic. South African President Cyril Ramaphosa addressed Chinese President Xi Jinping during an online China-Africa summit to discuss the virus that has infected more than 260,000 people across Africa. African nations early in the pandemic called for a two-year suspension of debt payments and other relief that would allow them to focus resources on the health crisis. But China, Africa's biggest creditor, has not indicated it will offer a sweeping solution and experts say it will focus instead on bilateral arrangements with countries. South Africa's president urged China to offer more relief "or to propose alternative solutions," warning that "the worst is still to come" for Africa in the pandemic. The Chinese president in his speech said he hopes the international community, "especially developed countries and multilateral financial institutions, will act more forcefully on debt relief and suspension for Africa." ___ ISLAMABAD — Pakistan is announcing plans to repatriate all of its those citizens stranded around the globe, including in the Middle East, as a result of the pandemic. Syed Zulfiqar Bukhari, who advises Prime Minister Imran Khan about Pakistanis living abroad, told a news conference Wednesday that between 40,000 and 45,000 of their nationals will be brought home every week, starting June 20. He said all international passenger flights are being allowed to resume their operations at 25 percent capacity as per social distancing regulations. About 120,000 Pakistanis are expected to return in the coming weeks and they will have to quarantine themselves at homes for 14 days. In recent months, about 75,000 Pakistanis have already returned home through special and regular flights amid a surge in COVID-19 deaths and infections. On Wednesday, Pakistan reported 116 more COVID-19 deaths, the highest single-day number of fatalities from the new coronavirus, raising its total of cases to 154,760, including 2,975 deaths. In a bid to contain the virus, Pakistan has sealed off high risk residential areas across the country. ___ LONDON — The emergencies chief of the World Health Organization welcomed the news this week that dexamethasone, a cheap steroid, was shown in a British trial to reduce deaths among patients critically ill with the coronavirus, but said it was too soon to change how patients are treated. "It's one of the breakthroughs we're going to need to effectively deal with COVID-19, but it's still preliminary data," said Dr. Michael Ryan at a press briefing on Wednesday. "We will pull together the necessary expert group… and come to a decision around our clinical advice to countries." Ryan said that "this is not the time to rush to change clinical practice" and that it was crucial to understand issues like what dose should be used on patients, how patients would be assessed and if there were adequate supplies of the drug. On Tuesday, when the British researchers announced their findings, the department of health said the dexamethasone had been approved to treat all hospitalized COVID-19 patients, effectively immediately. WHO director-general Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus noted that in the last two months, more than 6 million coronavirus cases have been logged and said cases were still accelerating globally. In the first two months, only 85,000 cases were reported, mostly from China. ___ WASHINGTON — U.S. health regulators have pulled their authorization of a COVID-19 blood test after determining it could deliver inaccurate results. The Food and Drug Administration said late Tuesday that the problems with the test from Chembio Diagnostic System could mislead patients about whether they have had COVID-19. The move comes as FDA regulators attempt to verify the accuracy of dozens of antibody tests that the agency allowed onto the market earlier this year without evidence that they worked. Critics said that approach created a 'Wild West' of unregulated tests. Last month the FDA said testing companies must submit testing data to remain on the market. Antibody tests are different from the nasal swab tests currently used to diagnose active infections. Instead, the tests look for blood proteins called antibodies, which indicate someone had a previous infection but fought off the virus. Most of the tests use a finger-prick of blood on a test strip. The Chembio test was one of the first tests that the FDA authorized as meeting federal standards. However, the FDA said follow-up data submitted by the company showed the test delivered an unacceptable number of false results. As a result, the test can no longer be sold. The FDA has granted emergency authorization to 21 other antibody tests. Meanwhile, roughly 190 antibody tests launched under the agency's previous policy are awaiting FDA review. ___ ATHENS, Greece — Authorities in Greece have reported 55 new confirmed cases of COVID-19 and two new deaths — a relatively high number of new infections compared with the average seen in recent weeks. Authorities are keeping a close eye on the daily tally after the country formally launched its tourism season Monday, relaxing restrictions for air travelers and reopening the airport in Greece's second-largest city, Thessaloniki. The Health Ministry Wednesday did not provide any details on the new infections. The death toll has reached 187 while the total number of confirmed infections is 3,203. More travel restrictions are due to be lifted on July 1 when airports on the Greek islands and other regional destinations are due to be lifted. ___ ROME — As it has since the first days of Italy's COVID-19 outbreak in late February, the northern region of Lombardy accounted for by far the biggest share of the country's daily new cases. According to Health Ministry figures Wednesday evening, 242 of the 329 coronavirus infections confirmed in the nation in the last 24 hours were registered in Lombardy. In comparison, the region with the next highest daily new case figure was neighboring Piedmont, with 41 confirmed new infections. Overall, Italy counts 237,828 confirmed cases, but since many persons who aren't hospitalized or have only mild symptoms aren't tested, the total number is presumed to be much higher. There were 43 deaths of infected patients in the same 24-hour period ending Wednesday, raising to 34,448 the number of those who died with confirmed COVID-19 infections. ___ SKOPJE, North Macedonia — Authorities in North Macedonia have introduced a rotation system for medical staff on a nationwide basis following a spike in COVID-19 cases. Doctors and other staff from regional public hospitals were brought to the capital Wednesday to replace exhausted colleagues who have been grappling with a post-lockdown increase in cases. Health Minister Venko Filipce On Wednesday announced 193 new confirmed infections and nine deaths in the latest 24-hour recording period, bringing the total number of confirmed infections to 4,482 and the death toll to 210. ___ UNITED NATIONS — The president of the United Nations General Assembly has banged his gavel to open U.N. elections under dramatically different voting procedures because of the coronavirus pandemic. The U.N. headquarters complex in New York remains open for essential workers, but Secretary-General Antonio Guterres ordered staff members to work from home until July 31 as a health precaution. So instead of ambassadors from the 193 U.N. member nations gathering in the horseshoe-shaped General Assembly chamber for the elections that include filling two seats on the U.N. Security Council., a new voting process using spaced time slots was adopted. And instead of voting separately for the next General Assembly president, five new members of the Security Council, and 18 new members of the Economic and Social Council, the three elections are being held concurrently by secret ballot. Among the early voters were U.S. Ambassador Kelly Craft and the ambassadors of Poland and Turkey. ___ AUSTIN, Texas — Texas Supreme Court Justice Debra Lehrman says her COVID-19 symptoms were "quite severe" but she has recovered. Lehrman is one of nine judges on the U.S. state's highest court for civil law. She announced May 21 that she and her husband tested positive for the coronavirus despite being diligent about following social distancing guidelines. She is the highest-ranking state official in Texas known to have gotten the virus. Texas set record highs for both new coronavirus cases and the number of COVID-19 patients hospitalized on Tuesday. Lehrman did not give details about her treatment but says she plans to donate blood plasma to help other patients. ___ BERLIN — The foreign minister of Germany says the impact of the coronavirus pandemic on developing countries could have security implications for Europe unless steps are taken to help struggling nations. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Wednesday that Germany would try to use its presidency of the U.N. Security Council and of the European Union starting next month to help prevent a health crisis from becoming a humanitarian emergency. Maas said Germany's particular focus will be on Africa, the western Balkans, non-EU members in Eastern Europe and Central Asia, and the Middle East. A German Cabinet paper obtained by The Associated Press says further destabilization of countries in Africa and the Middle East could fuel existing conflicts, terrorism and irregular migration with "serious consequences also for Germany and the EU." The paper stresses the importance of the World Health Organization in leading and coordinating the global response to the pandemic, and other agencies in helping develop vaccines and effective drugs. –By Frank Jordans in Berlin. ___ MALE, Maldives — The Parliament of the Maldives was shut for decontamination after a staff member tested positive for the new coronavirus. Officials say health authorities began sterilizing the building Wednesday and tracing those who came into contact with the staff member. The Maldives capital of Male has been under a lockdown since April because of the virus. Lawmakers recently resumed meetings at the Parliament building after meeting online. The archipelago state has reported 2,094 virus cases and eight deaths. ___ VILNIUS, Lithuania — Lithuania has ended its three-month long lockdown regime imposed due the coronavirus pandemic but the government says the Baltic nation will continue its emergency declaration. The quarantine that began March 16 was lifted Wednesday and the Lithuanian government hals halted most restrictions to curb the spread of COVID-19. Among other things, larger public gatherings are allowed and protective facemasks are no longer required in public places. Most European citizens are allowed to enter the country except residents of Britain, Portugal and Sweden. As of Tuesday, a total of 1,776 coronavirus cases and 76 deaths had been recorded in Lithuania, a nation of nearly 3 million. ___ DHAKA, Bangladesh — Bangladesh's coronavirus caseload is nearing 100,000 as the country reported another 4,008 new positive cases and another 43 deaths. Nasima Sultana of the Health Directorate said Wednesday the death toll from the virus reached 1,305 with the latest fatalities and the total number of infections stood at 98,489. The country's Commerce Minister Tipu Munshi was among the new positive cases. Bangladesh, a nation of 160 million people, has a weak healthcare system. that is being heavily tested during the pandemic. ___ MEXICO CITY — Honduran President Juan Orlando Hernández has tested positive for the novel coronavirus. A statement issued by the presidency late Tuesday said Hernández had followed recommended health precautions but "because of the nature of his work, it wasn't possible to remain in total isolation." His office said Hernández began to feel ill over the weekend and his viral infection was confirmed on Tuesday. The statement said he was being treated with microdacyn, azithromycin, ivermectin and zinc. It said the first lady has shown no COVID-19 symptoms. Honduras has reported more than 9,100 confirmed virus cases and 322 deaths. Copyright © 2020 . All rights reserved. This website is not intended for users located within the European Economic Area. |
| The Latest: WHO says outbreaks add to childbirth death risk - Martinsville Bulletin Posted: 12 Jun 2020 12:25 AM PDT   A heath worker takes a nasal swab sample during a public testing for the new coronavirus conducted at a market in Bali, Indonesia on Friday, June 12, 2020.  A store staff member works to prepare the shop for reopening, ahead of the reopening of the non-essential businesses on Monday, June 15, as some of the coronavirus lockdown measures are eased, in London, Friday, June 12, 2020. The British economy shrank by a colossal 20.4% in April, the first full month that the country was in its coronavirus lockdown, official figures showed Friday.  A firefighter wearing gear to protect against the coronavirus disinfects an ambulance outside the COVID-19 unit at San Juan de Dios hospital in Guatemala City, Monday, June 8, 2020.  FILE - In this Nov. 16, 2016, file photo, a U.S. Customs and Border Patrol agent walks with suspected immigrants caught entering the country illegally along the Rio Grande in Hidalgo, Texas. The Trump administration has quietly shut down the nation's asylum system for the first time in decades amid coronavirus concerns, largely because holding people in custody is considered too dangerous.  Check in Kiosks are covered in plastic at the domestic check in, at Vancouver International Airport, Tuesday, June 9, 2020. Airlines in Canada and around the world are suffering financially due to the lack of travel and travel bans due to COVID-19.  In this Thursday, June 11, 2020 photo, technicians begin gathering samples from area residents as part of a free COVID-19 testing center at the Family Resource Center on South Church Street in Tupelo, Miss.  A security guard wears protective gears as a precaution against the new coronavirus at a community health center in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, June 12, 2020.  A security guard checks the body temperature of a resident at a community health center, amid coronavirus outbreak in Jakarta, Indonesia, Friday, June 12, 2020.  Women wait for a public testing for the new coronavirus conducted at a market in Bali, Indonesia on Friday, June 12, 2020.  Cesar Garcia rests on his oxygen cylinder as he waits to refill it at a shop in Lima, Peru, Thursday, June 11, 2020. Garcia waited more than 7 hours to refill the oxygen cylinder for his 29-year-old stepson Mario Solis who is suffering from COVID-19. The oxygen in the cylinder itself will only last about 24 hours before it needs to be refilled.  A worker delivers a refilled oxygen cylinder to Cesar Garcia outside a shop in Lima, Peru, Thursday, June 11, 2020. Garcia waited more than 7 hours to refill the oxygen cylinder which he needs for his 29-year-old stepson Mario Solis who is suffering from COVID-19. The oxygen in the cylinder itself will only last about 24 hours before it needs to be refilled.  Breathing oxygen from a cylinder that was brought to him by his stepfather, Mario Solis who is suffering from COVID-19, lies isolated in an upstairs room at his home in Lima, Peru, Thursday, June 11, 2020.  A laborer carries cement inside a makeshift quarantine facility for patients diagnosed with the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) in Mumbai, India, Friday, June 12, 2020. Two and a half months of nationwide lockdown kept numbers of infections relatively low in India. But with restrictions easing in recent weeks, cases have shot up, raising questions about whether authorities have done enough to avert catastrophe.  Shoppers wearing face masks to help curb the spread of the coronavirus push their shopping cart at shopping mall in Bangkok, Thailand, Friday, June 12, 2020. The Thai government continues to ease restrictions related to running business in capital Bangkok that were imposed weeks ago to combat the spread of COVID-19.  A woman wearing a face mask walks near a banner showing precautions against the new coronavirus at an exhibition and convention center in Goyang, South Korea, Friday, June 12, 2020.  FILE - In this Friday, May 15, 2020 file photo, protesters hold a rally against Pennsylvania's coronavirus stay-at-home order at the state Capitol in Harrisburg, Pa.  People buy groceries ahead of lockdown to help to contain the spread of coronavirus, in Islamabad, Pakistan, Friday, June 12, 2020. Capital administration is planning to seal few areas of Islamabad following the decision taken on the advice of the Health Department and epidemiologists after hundreds of cases were reported from these areas.  FILE - In this Monday, April 13, 2020 file photo, medical students test a self-designed computer-controlled ventilator prototype at the Chandaria Business and Incubation Centre of Kenyatta University in Nairobi, Kenya. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions.  FILE - In this file photo taken on Saturday, Nov. 23, 2019, President Volodymyr Zelenskiy and his wife Olena pay tribute at a monument to victims of the Great Famine in Kyiv, Ukraine. Olena Zelenska, the wife of Ukraine's President Volodymyr Zelenskiy, announced Friday she tested positive for the coronavirus.  FILE - In this Thursday, April 16, 2020 file photo, relatives grieve coffee shop manager Benedict Somi Vilakasi, who died of a COVID-19 infection in a Johannesburg hospital, at his burial ceremony at the Nasrec Memorial Park outside Johannesburg. More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions.  Principal Vance Fishback presents diplomas to graduates of the class of 2020 from Cabarrus Early College of Technology at the Charlotte Motor Speedway during a graduation event in Concord, N.C., Friday, June 12, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic Cabarrus County schools participated in a first-of-its-kind commencement ceremony for students and family.  On-campus staff working on the grounds of the Hebrew Home at Riverdale wait to be tested for COVID-19 by nasal swab before they can begin their shifts, Friday, June 12, 2020, in the Bronx borough of New York. The testing operation began on May 20 and processes an average of 350 swab tests a day with a 24-hour turnaround time on results. All staff members, including construction contractors, security personnel, food services and maintenance members, in addition to critical medical staff, are tested twice a week.  Russian President Vladimir Putin, right, congratulates the president of the Scientific Research Institute for Emergency Children's Surgery and Traumatology Leonid Roshal during a ceremony of handing Gold Stars medals to heroes of labor marking the Day of Russia holiday in Moscow, Russia, on Friday, June 12, 2020. The ceremony marked the first big public event Putin attended since announcing a nationwide lockdown more than two months ago.  A woman and children wearing face masks to protect against coronavirus, walk in a public garden, in Ankara, Turkey, Friday, June 12, 2020. Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan revealed on Tuesday new plans to ease restrictions in place to curb the spread of the coronavirus, including the July 1 reopening of theaters, cinemas and other entertainment centers.  Class of 2020 graduates from Cabarrus Early College of Technology are congratulated as they drive on the Charlotte Motor Speedway track to receive their diplomas during a graduation event in Concord, N.C., Friday, June 12, 2020. Due to the coronavirus pandemic Cabarrus County schools participated in a first-of-its-kind commencement ceremony for students and family.  An employee wearing a face mask to help protect against the spread of the new coronavirus cleans the widows of his shoe store at a shopping street in Seoul, South Korea, Friday, June 12, 2020.  Cemetery workers exhume the remains of people buried three years ago at the Vila Formosa cemetery, which does not charge families for the gravesites, in Sao Paulo, Brazil, Friday, June 12, 2020. Three years after burials, remains are routinely exhumated and stored in plastic bags to make room for more burials, which have increased amid the new coronavirus.  A view of cardboards with photographs of medical staff on the stands prior to a Turkish Super League soccer match between Fenerbahce and Kayserispor in Istanbul, Friday, June 12, 2020. The banner reads in Turkish: 'To all our medical staff with respect and gratefulness'. The Turkish Super Lig resumed its season on Friday without spectators after it had suspended games since March 20 due to the coronavirus pandemic, later than many other European leagues.  A woman wearing a protective face mask and face shield, stands behind of a plastic sheet set up as a measure to curb the spread of the new coronavirus, at a cell phone technology store in Caracas, Venezuela, Friday, June 5, 2020. President Nicolas Maduro and Venezuela's opposition, led by Juan Guaido, have agreed to measures for battling the new coronavirus to be overseen by international health workers, a first step in years toward cooperation between bitter political rivals for the benefit of the country.  FILE - In this March 2, 2020 file photo, President Donald Trump speaks during a campaign rally in Charlotte, N.C. Trump's re-election campaign is planning a large indoor rally next week raising concern among health experts about how it might spread the coronavirus. Oklahoma health authorities say anyone who attends a large public event should get tested for COVID-19 shortly after.  FILE - In this May 19, 2020, file photo, Kaiden Melton, 12, has her temperature taken during a daycare summer camp at Legendary Blackbelt Academy in Richardson, Texas. Coronavirus cases are rising in nearly half the U.S. states, as states are rolling back lockdowns.  Security officials stand outside the entrance to a building holding a beef and lamb market in Beijing that was closed by authorities after it was visited by a person who tested positive for COVID-19, Friday, June 12, 2020. Local authorities announced on Thursday a 52-year-old man had become the city's first confirmed case of local transmission in weeks after he arrived at a clinic complaining of fever. The official Xinhua News Agency said two other cases of COVID-19 were confirmed in Beijing on Friday. SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 49 new coronavirus cases. Most most of them are in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings and low-income workers who can't afford to stay home. The figures released Saturday brought national totals to 12,051 cases and 277 deaths. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 44 of the new cases are in greater capital area, which is home to half the country's 51 million people. Agency director Jung Eun-kyeong is urging residents in the capital area to stay home over the weekend, saying there is "high concern" that increased public activity will lead to widespread circulation of the virus. HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: — World Health Organization says pandemic puts women at 'heightened risk' of dying in childbirth. — China reports Beijing's first locally transmitted virus case in weeks — Airlines sue British government over country's quarantine for most incoming travelers — More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. — Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. And while the jury's still out, now scientists are testing if the donations might also prevent infection in the first place. — Among the numerous rural areas across the U.S. that have recently experienced coronavirus outbreaks are migrant farmworker communities in Florida. Immokalee is one of them. The poor town of 25,000 north of the Everglades has become a hot spot, with cases more than doubling in the past two weeks. Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY: GUATEMALA CITY — The spread of the coronavirus is encroaching on Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei. He says 58 employees in the presidential offices have tested positive for the virus, up from 18 on Sunday. Those who have tested positive include people from administration and security areas. Giammattei says he has been tested multiple times, but always has come out negative. On Friday, Guatemala reported more than 8,600 infections and 351 deaths. BEIJING — Officials in China's capital are moving quickly to stem a new coronavirus outbreak after the discovery of seven cases the past two days. The National Health Commission said six of the cases were confirmed in Beijing on Friday, a day after the first was reported. They are the first locally transmitted cases in the city in more than 50 days. Chinese media said at least two of the infected people had visited a wholesale market dealing in fresh food. Authorities said all workers at the Xinfadi market were being tested for the virus and testing of food and environmental samples had been ordered for all Beijing's wholesale food markets. Earlier, the city said it was delaying the planned reopening of school Monday for first to third graders because of the new cases. SAN DIEGO — A top U.S. Border Patrol official says coronavirus cases are on the rise in certain pockets of the agency. Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz said Friday that 93 Border Patrol employees and 16 people in custody have tested positive for the virus. He says that is "relatively low" but adds that "we are not out of the woods just yet." Ortiz tells employees that there have been "indications of localized increases" among Border Patrol personnel. He doesn't say where in an email to agents that was obtained by The Associated Press, and the agency didn't immediately respond to questions. AP reported Thursday that border states Arizona and Texas have seen a recent rise in coronavirus cases. AUSTIN, Texas — Daily coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas have reached a new high for a third time in four days as state officials continue to loosen restrictions on public activities. Health officials said Friday that 2,166 patients were in Texas hospitals with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. That is 13 more than the previous high reached Wednesday. Nineteen more COVID-19 deaths also were reported Friday, bringing the state's overall toll to 1,939. Officials said almost 2,100 new coronavirus infections had been confirmed, bringing the state's total to 83,680. The actual number is likely higher because many people have not been tested. Studies have found that many people can be infected and not feel sick, so may not seek testing. TORONTO — Air travelers in Canada will need to have their temperatures checked before they are allowed to board planes, although the country's transport minister says the system will take months to get going. The measure is meant to keep the coronavirus from spreading as more people start flying again. Transport Minister Marc Garneau says the requirement will be phased in, starting at the end of June for international flights into Canada. By the end of July, the program will expand to Canada's four largest airports — Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Eleven more Canadian airports serving mostly domestic travelers will be added at the end of September. SAO PAULO — Brazil's health ministry says the country has recorded a total of 41,828 deaths during the coronavirus pandemic, meaning it has surpassed the United Kingdom and now has the second highest total in the world, according to tallies by Johns Hopkins University. Brazilian officials on Friday reported 909 deaths over the previous 24 hours. It is the hardest-hit nation in Latin America, with more than 828,000 confirmed virus cases. The news came as states and cities across Brazil start to ease restrictive measures introduced more than two months ago in hopes of limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Shops and malls are being allowed to open for four hours a day in Sao Paulo, the epicenter of Brazil's crisis. Stores have been crowded in smaller cities. JACKSON, Miss. — Officials in Mississippi say calls from people in the state to the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline have increased 20% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The chief of staff at the state Department of Mental Health said Friday that mental health challenges can arise from changes in eating or sleeping habits, anxiety about one's health or the health of loved ones and stress over the loss of a job. Wendy Bailey said problems can also be spurred by increased drug or alcohol use, something that is common during a major event like the pandemic. Bailey spoke at a news conference with Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. The governor said "There is fear, there is pain and there is anxiety in this country and in our state and those cannot be overstated." CARACAS, Venezuela — Authorities in Venezuela are extending its coronavirus lockdown keeping residents at home except for essential chores such as food shopping. The announcement Friday extends the lockdown through mid-July. Officials have already allowed some sectors to reopen, including banks and construction. Doctors and dentists can also see patients. Next week, shopping centers and gyms will be allowed to reopen as well as sporting activities without live audiences. According to official figures, 23 people have died in Venezuela since the first coronavirus cases were diagnosed in mid-March. Officials say fewer than 3,000 people have fallen ill in the country of roughly 25 million. However, experts outside the government worry a wave of illnesses is still a danger for Venezuela. OKLAHOMA CITY — Health officials in Oklahoma say a spike in coronavirus cases in the Tulsa area is linked to indoor events and are warning people attending such events to take health safety precautions. The Tulsa Health Department's warning Friday comes a week before President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, which has a listed seating capacity of 19,199. Department spokesperson Leanne Stephens says an undetermined number of the latest coronavirus cases were linked to two recent indoor gatherings, but declined to name those events. She says the department has not had contact with the Trump campaign and the warning is unrelated to the planned rally. JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has seen its largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases — 3,359. A health ministry update says South Africa now has more than 61,000 cases, or well over a quarter of the cases across the African continent, including 1,354 deaths. Nearly two-thirds of South Africa's cases are in the Western Cape province centered on the city of Cape Town, where the World Health Organization's Africa chief has said the trend "seems to be similar to what was happening in Europe and in the U.S." The total number of cases across the 54-nation continent is now above 218,000 and WHO says the pandemic is "accelerating" in Africa, even though the cases make up less than 3% of the global total. South Africa has conducted more than 1 million tests for the virus, roughly one-third of all testing in Africa. SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Kate Brown's shutdown orders aimed at stemming the coronavirus pandemic, and she put the brakes on loosening restrictions amid a spike in cases. The Supreme Court overturned a ruling by a judge in a conservative, rural part of the state who had determined that Brown's restricting of activities during the coronavirus pandemic were subjected to a time limit and were thus "null and void." The high court said Friday that Brown's powers under a state of emergency, declared on March 8, continue until the state of emergency is ended by either herself or the Legislature. The Oregon Health Authority reported 178 new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, marking the highest daily count in the state since the start of the pandemic. "As I've said before, reopening comes with real risk," Brown told a news conference Friday. She said the "pause" will give health officials time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and determine the way forward. SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador -- Three months into a mandatory lockdown, Salavdorans are awaiting a reaction from President Nayib Bukele after the country's congress passed legislation over his strong objections that would let them leave their homes. The Legislative Assembly passed legislation early Friday that would extend a state of emergency in the country for another two weeks, but eliminate the nearly universal mandatory stay-at-home order except for those who tested positive for COVID-19 and those returning from abroad. The body approved it after failing to reach an agreement with administration negotiators, so it was unclear whether Bukele would accept it. Bukele has imposed the strictest measures in the region to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, including sending people caught violating the order to government-run containment centers for month-long stays. He has resisted loosening the stay-at-home order, arguing that the country's medical system could be quickly overwhelmed, resulting in much greater loss of life. PHOENIX -- The number of jail inmates in metro Phoenix who have tested positive for the coronavirus has surpassed the total among state prisoners. Officials say 290 of Maricopa County's 4,400 inmates had tested positive as of Thursday. That compares to 249 confirmed cases among the nearly 41,000 inmates in Arizona's prisons. The sharp growth of cases in the county's jails has been attributed to more testing and contact tracing within the jails. Arizona is one of several states that has seen a surge in new COVID-19 cases after stay-at-home orders were lifted last month. ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey is reporting an increase in the number of daily confirmed infections, some two weeks after relaxing many of the restrictions in place to curb its spread. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday reported 1,195 new cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of infections in the country to 175,218. It was the first time the daily infections jumped past the 1,000-mark after hovering around 800 or 900 for nearly two weeks. Meanwhile, Koca also reported 15 new deaths on his Twitter account — the lowest day-to-day fatality in more than two months. The total number of deaths now stands at 4,778. Turkey reopened restaurants, cafes, gyms, parks, beaches and museums on June 1 and eased stay-at-home orders for senior citizens and minors earlier this week. People crowded sea fronts and parks in the first weekend after the relaxation, often without masks or flouting social distancing. Koca warned that "false optimism" is causing the virus to spread and urged the public to wear masks and abide by government advice on distancing and hygiene. OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and state schools superintendent Joy Hofmeister say schools in the state are eligible to apply for federal funds available to respond to the coronavirus. Grants of $50,000 to $500,000 are available, based on a school's student enrollment as of Oct. 1, 2019 for measures including improved access to distance learning and mental health support for students. Public schools statewide were closed for the remainder of the school year and to turn to distance learning. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A third California state prison has had an inmate die of suspected coronavirus as fatalities spread beyond what had been the prisons' epicenter for such deaths. Officials said Friday that an inmate from Chuckawalla Valley State Prison near Blythe in Riverside County died Thursday at an outside hospital from what appear to be coronavirus complications. It was the prison system's 15th virus-related inmate death, with 13 of those at the California Institution for Men in Chino. Officials said the first death outside that prison came Tuesday, when an inmate from the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, died at an outside hospital. Statewide, more than 2,440 inmates have tested positive and more than 660 have recovered. ATLANTA — U.S. health officials on Friday released long-awaited guidance for Americans who want to reduce their risk of coronavirus infection while attempting some semblance of normal life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggestions include: Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym. The CDC also offered tips for organizing and attending big gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies. Those guidelines are "not intended to endorse any particular type of event," the CDC's Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters. The guidelines are long overdue, some health experts say. LONDON — The director-general of the World Health Organization says he is "truly concerned" about divisions the coronavirus pandemic has created globally and within countries, calling it an "invisible but a very small virus causing havoc." WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Friday that the novel coronavirus "is a very dangerous virus, and it's very hard to fight this virus in a divided world,. Comparing the ongoing outbreak to the devastating Spanish influenza pandemic more than a century ago, Tedros called on nations "to do better" and to learn from history.. SACRAMENTO, Calif. -- A third California state prison has had an inmate die of suspected COVID-19 as virus-related deaths of prisoners spread beyond the institution that has been the epicenter. Officials said Friday that an inmate from Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, located near Blythe in Riverside County, died Thursday at an outside hospital from what appear to be COVID-19 complications. It was the state prison system's 15th virus-related inmate death, 13 of which involved prisoners at the California Institution for Men in Chino. Officials said the first death outside the Chino prison took place Tuesday, when an inmate from the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, died at an outside hospital. Statewide, more than 2,440 inmates have tested positive for the virus and more than 660 have recovered. ROME — The northern Italian region where Europe's COVID-19 outbreak began has registered for another day by far the most new coronavirus cases in Italy. Italian Health Ministry figures showed the Lombardy region had 272 confirmed cases in the 24-hour period ending Friday evening. The region with the next-highest daily caseload, Emilia-Romagna, reported 33 new cases. Nationwide, Italy had nearly 400 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 236,305. The Health Ministry's daily update included 56 virus-related deaths, raising the country's death toll of people with confirmed infections to 34,223. Authorities say since many people with COVID-19 symptoms weren't tested, the actual numbers of infections and deaths are likely to be significantly higher. GENEVA — The World Health Organization's emergencies chief is expressing concern about Brazil's ability to manage surging coronavirus case numbers, but said the health system so far is coping. Dr. Michael Ryan said Friday that some of Brazil's 27 administrative areas "have quite a bit of pressure on the intensive care system" and there are "clear hot spots in heavily populated areas." The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University says Brazil has tallied more than 802,000 confirmed virus cases as of Friday, the second-largest number in the world after the United States, and over 40,000 COVID-19 deaths. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected ordering quarantines, and many Brazilians have criticized him for opposing city and state measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and other steps meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Copyright 2020 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed without permission. Sign up now to get the most recent coronavirus headlines and other important local and national news sent to your email inbox daily. |
| The Latest: WHO says Brazil’s health system still is coping - Sentinel & Enterprise Posted: 12 Jun 2020 10:03 AM PDT  By The Associated Press SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported 49 new coronavirus cases. Most most of them are in the densely populated Seoul metropolitan area, where health authorities have been struggling to slow transmissions linked to entertainment and leisure activities, church gatherings and low-income workers who can't afford to stay home. The figures released Saturday brought national totals to 12,051 cases and 277 deaths. The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says 44 of the new cases are in greater capital area, which is home to half the country's 51 million people. Agency director Jung Eun-kyeong is urging residents in the capital area to stay home over the weekend, saying there is "high concern" that increased public activity will lead to widespread circulation of the virus. ___ HERE'S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW TODAY ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: — World Health Organization says pandemic puts women at 'heightened risk' of dying in childbirth. — China reports Beijing's first locally transmitted virus case in weeks — Airlines sue British government over country's quarantine for most incoming travelers — More than two dozen international aid organizations have told the U.S. government they are "increasingly alarmed" that "little to no U.S. humanitarian assistance has reached those on the front lines" of the coronavirus pandemic as the number of new cases picks up speed in some of the world's most fragile regions. — Survivors of COVID-19 are donating their blood plasma in droves in hopes it helps other patients recover from the coronavirus. And while the jury's still out, now scientists are testing if the donations might also prevent infection in the first place. — Among the numerous rural areas across the U.S. that have recently experienced coronavirus outbreaks are migrant farmworker communities in Florida. Immokalee is one of them. The poor town of 25,000 north of the Everglades has become a hot spot, with cases more than doubling in the past two weeks. ___ Follow AP pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE'S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING TODAY: GUATEMALA CITY — The spread of the coronavirus is encroaching on Guatemala President Alejandro Giammattei. He says 58 employees in the presidential offices have tested positive for the virus, up from 18 on Sunday. Those who have tested positive include people from administration and security areas. Giammattei says he has been tested multiple times, but always has come out negative. On Friday, Guatemala reported more than 8,600 infections and 351 deaths. ___ BEIJING — Officials in China's capital are moving quickly to stem a new coronavirus outbreak after the discovery of seven cases the past two days. The National Health Commission said six of the cases were confirmed in Beijing on Friday, a day after the first was reported. They are the first locally transmitted cases in the city in more than 50 days. Chinese media said at least two of the infected people had visited a wholesale market dealing in fresh food. Authorities said all workers at the Xinfadi market were being tested for the virus and testing of food and environmental samples had been ordered for all Beijing's wholesale food markets. Earlier, the city said it was delaying the planned reopening of school Monday for first to third graders because of the new cases. ___ SAN DIEGO — A top U.S. Border Patrol official says coronavirus cases are on the rise in certain pockets of the agency. Deputy Chief Raul Ortiz said Friday that 93 Border Patrol employees and 16 people in custody have tested positive for the virus. He says that is "relatively low" but adds that "we are not out of the woods just yet." Ortiz tells employees that there have been "indications of localized increases" among Border Patrol personnel. He doesn't say where in an email to agents that was obtained by The Associated Press, and the agency didn't immediately respond to questions. AP reported Thursday that border states Arizona and Texas have seen a recent rise in coronavirus cases. ___ AUSTIN, Texas — Daily coronavirus hospitalizations in Texas have reached a new high for a third time in four days as state officials continue to loosen restrictions on public activities. Health officials said Friday that 2,166 patients were in Texas hospitals with COVID-19, the illness caused by the virus. That is 13 more than the previous high reached Wednesday. Nineteen more COVID-19 deaths also were reported Friday, bringing the state's overall toll to 1,939. Officials said almost 2,100 new coronavirus infections had been confirmed, bringing the state's total to 83,680. The actual number is likely higher because many people have not been tested. Studies have found that many people can be infected and not feel sick, so may not seek testing. ___ TORONTO — Air travelers in Canada will need to have their temperatures checked before they are allowed to board planes, although the country's transport minister says the system will take months to get going. The measure is meant to keep the coronavirus from spreading as more people start flying again. Transport Minister Marc Garneau says the requirement will be phased in, starting at the end of June for international flights into Canada. By the end of July, the program will expand to Canada's four largest airports — Toronto, Montreal, Vancouver and Calgary. Eleven more Canadian airports serving mostly domestic travelers will be added at the end of September. ___ SAO PAULO — Brazil's health ministry says the country has recorded a total of 41,828 deaths during the coronavirus pandemic, meaning it has surpassed the United Kingdom and now has the second highest total in the world, according to tallies by Johns Hopkins University. Brazilian officials on Friday reported 909 deaths over the previous 24 hours. It is the hardest-hit nation in Latin America, with more than 828,000 confirmed virus cases. The news came as states and cities across Brazil start to ease restrictive measures introduced more than two months ago in hopes of limiting the spread of the coronavirus. Shops and malls are being allowed to open for four hours a day in Sao Paulo, the epicenter of Brazil's crisis. Stores have been crowded in smaller cities. ___ JACKSON, Miss. — Officials in Mississippi say calls from people in the state to the national Suicide Prevention Lifeline have increased 20% since the start of the coronavirus pandemic. The chief of staff at the state Department of Mental Health said Friday that mental health challenges can arise from changes in eating or sleeping habits, anxiety about one's health or the health of loved ones and stress over the loss of a job. Wendy Bailey said problems can also be spurred by increased drug or alcohol use, something that is common during a major event like the pandemic. Bailey spoke at a news conference with Mississippi Gov. Tate Reeves. The governor said "There is fear, there is pain and there is anxiety in this country and in our state and those cannot be overstated." ___ CARACAS, Venezuela — Authorities in Venezuela are extending its coronavirus lockdown keeping residents at home except for essential chores such as food shopping. The announcement Friday extends the lockdown through mid-July. Officials have already allowed some sectors to reopen, including banks and construction. Doctors and dentists can also see patients. Next week, shopping centers and gyms will be allowed to reopen as well as sporting activities without live audiences. According to official figures, 23 people have died in Venezuela since the first coronavirus cases were diagnosed in mid-March. Officials say fewer than 3,000 people have fallen ill in the country of roughly 25 million. However, experts outside the government worry a wave of illnesses is still a danger for Venezuela. ___ OKLAHOMA CITY — Health officials in Oklahoma say a spike in coronavirus cases in the Tulsa area is linked to indoor events and are warning people attending such events to take health safety precautions. The Tulsa Health Department's warning Friday comes a week before President Donald Trump is scheduled to hold a campaign rally at the BOK Center in Tulsa, which has a listed seating capacity of 19,199. Department spokesperson Leanne Stephens says an undetermined number of the latest coronavirus cases were linked to two recent indoor gatherings, but declined to name those events. She says the department has not had contact with the Trump campaign and the warning is unrelated to the planned rally. ___ JOHANNESBURG — South Africa has seen its largest single-day increase in coronavirus cases — 3,359. A health ministry update says South Africa now has more than 61,000 cases, or well over a quarter of the cases across the African continent, including 1,354 deaths. Nearly two-thirds of South Africa's cases are in the Western Cape province centered on the city of Cape Town, where the World Health Organization's Africa chief has said the trend "seems to be similar to what was happening in Europe and in the U.S." The total number of cases across the 54-nation continent is now above 218,000 and WHO says the pandemic is "accelerating" in Africa, even though the cases make up less than 3% of the global total. South Africa has conducted more than 1 million tests for the virus, roughly one-third of all testing in Africa. ___ SALEM, Ore. — The Oregon Supreme Court has upheld Gov. Kate Brown's shutdown orders aimed at stemming the coronavirus pandemic, and she put the brakes on loosening restrictions amid a spike in cases. The Supreme Court overturned a ruling by a judge in a conservative, rural part of the state who had determined that Brown's restricting of activities during the coronavirus pandemic were subjected to a time limit and were thus "null and void." The high court said Friday that Brown's powers under a state of emergency, declared on March 8, continue until the state of emergency is ended by either herself or the Legislature. The Oregon Health Authority reported 178 new confirmed coronavirus cases Thursday, marking the highest daily count in the state since the start of the pandemic. "As I've said before, reopening comes with real risk," Brown told a news conference Friday. She said the "pause" will give health officials time to assess what factors are driving the spread of the virus and determine the way forward. —- SAN SALVADOR, El Salvador — Three months into a mandatory lockdown, Salavdorans are awaiting a reaction from President Nayib Bukele after the country's congress passed legislation over his strong objections that would let them leave their homes. The Legislative Assembly passed legislation early Friday that would extend a state of emergency in the country for another two weeks, but eliminate the nearly universal mandatory stay-at-home order except for those who tested positive for COVID-19 and those returning from abroad. The body approved it after failing to reach an agreement with administration negotiators, so it was unclear whether Bukele would accept it. Bukele has imposed the strictest measures in the region to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus, including sending people caught violating the order to government-run containment centers for month-long stays. He has resisted loosening the stay-at-home order, arguing that the country's medical system could be quickly overwhelmed, resulting in much greater loss of life. ___ PHOENIX — The number of jail inmates in metro Phoenix who have tested positive for the coronavirus has surpassed the total among state prisoners. Officials say 290 of Maricopa County's 4,400 inmates had tested positive as of Thursday. That compares to 249 confirmed cases among the nearly 41,000 inmates in Arizona's prisons. The sharp growth of cases in the county's jails has been attributed to more testing and contact tracing within the jails. Arizona is one of several states that has seen a surge in new COVID-19 cases after stay-at-home orders were lifted last month. ___ ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey is reporting an increase in the number of daily confirmed infections, some two weeks after relaxing many of the restrictions in place to curb its spread. Health Minister Fahrettin Koca on Friday reported 1,195 new cases in the past 24 hours, pushing the total number of infections in the country to 175,218. It was the first time the daily infections jumped past the 1,000-mark after hovering around 800 or 900 for nearly two weeks. Meanwhile, Koca also reported 15 new deaths on his Twitter account — the lowest day-to-day fatality in more than two months. The total number of deaths now stands at 4,778. Turkey reopened restaurants, cafes, gyms, parks, beaches and museums on June 1 and eased stay-at-home orders for senior citizens and minors earlier this week. People crowded sea fronts and parks in the first weekend after the relaxation, often without masks or flouting social distancing. Koca warned that "false optimism" is causing the virus to spread and urged the public to wear masks and abide by government advice on distancing and hygiene. ___ OKLAHOMA CITY — Oklahoma Gov. Kevin Stitt and state schools superintendent Joy Hofmeister say schools in the state are eligible to apply for federal funds available to respond to the coronavirus. Grants of $50,000 to $500,000 are available, based on a school's student enrollment as of Oct. 1, 2019 for measures including improved access to distance learning and mental health support for students. Public schools statewide were closed for the remainder of the school year and to turn to distance learning. ___ SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A third California state prison has had an inmate die of suspected coronavirus as fatalities spread beyond what had been the prisons' epicenter for such deaths. Officials said Friday that an inmate from Chuckawalla Valley State Prison near Blythe in Riverside County died Thursday at an outside hospital from what appear to be coronavirus complications. It was the prison system's 15th virus-related inmate death, with 13 of those at the California Institution for Men in Chino. Officials said the first death outside that prison came Tuesday, when an inmate from the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, died at an outside hospital. Statewide, more than 2,440 inmates have tested positive and more than 660 have recovered. ___ ATLANTA — U.S. health officials on Friday released long-awaited guidance for Americans who want to reduce their risk of coronavirus infection while attempting some semblance of normal life. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggestions include: Take the stairs, not the elevator, down from your hotel room. Encourage people to bring their own food and drinks to your cookout. Use hand sanitizer after banking at an ATM. Call ahead to restaurants and nail salons to make sure staff are wearing face coverings. And no high-fives — or even elbow bumps — at the gym. The CDC also offered tips for organizing and attending big gatherings such as concerts, sporting events, protests and political rallies. Those guidelines are "not intended to endorse any particular type of event," the CDC's Dr. Jay Butler said in a Friday call with reporters. The guidelines are long overdue, some health experts say. ___ LONDON — The director-general of the World Health Organization says he is "truly concerned" about divisions the coronavirus pandemic has created globally and within countries, calling it an "invisible but a very small virus causing havoc." WHO Secretary-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus said at a press briefing on Friday that the novel coronavirus "is a very dangerous virus, and it's very hard to fight this virus in a divided world,. Comparing the ongoing outbreak to the devastating Spanish influenza pandemic more than a century ago, Tedros called on nations "to do better" and to learn from history.. ___ SACRAMENTO, Calif. — A third California state prison has had an inmate die of suspected COVID-19 as virus-related deaths of prisoners spread beyond the institution that has been the epicenter. Officials said Friday that an inmate from Chuckawalla Valley State Prison, located near Blythe in Riverside County, died Thursday at an outside hospital from what appear to be COVID-19 complications. It was the state prison system's 15th virus-related inmate death, 13 of which involved prisoners at the California Institution for Men in Chino. Officials said the first death outside the Chino prison took place Tuesday, when an inmate from the California Institution for Women in Corona, east of Los Angeles, died at an outside hospital. Statewide, more than 2,440 inmates have tested positive for the virus and more than 660 have recovered. ___ ROME — The northern Italian region where Europe's COVID-19 outbreak began has registered for another day by far the most new coronavirus cases in Italy. Italian Health Ministry figures showed the Lombardy region had 272 confirmed cases in the 24-hour period ending Friday evening. The region with the next-highest daily caseload, Emilia-Romagna, reported 33 new cases. Nationwide, Italy had nearly 400 new cases in the last 24 hours, bringing the total to 236,305. The Health Ministry's daily update included 56 virus-related deaths, raising the country's death toll of people with confirmed infections to 34,223. Authorities say since many people with COVID-19 symptoms weren't tested, the actual numbers of infections and deaths are likely to be significantly higher. ___ GENEVA — The World Health Organization's emergencies chief is expressing concern about Brazil's ability to manage surging coronavirus case numbers, but said the health system so far is coping. Dr. Michael Ryan said Friday that some of Brazil's 27 administrative areas "have quite a bit of pressure on the intensive care system" and there are "clear hot spots in heavily populated areas." The Center for Systems Science and Engineering at Johns Hopkins University says Brazil has tallied more than 802,000 confirmed virus cases as of Friday, the second-largest number in the world after the United States, and over 40,000 COVID-19 deaths. Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has rejected ordering quarantines, and many Brazilians have criticized him for opposing city and state measures such as lockdowns, social distancing and other steps meant to curb the spread of the coronavirus. |
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