April, 2020 | últimas notícias

North Korea media silent on Kim Jong Un’s whereabouts – The-Latest News

North Korean state media on Wednesday made no mention of new appearances by leader Kim Jong Un, amid continued international speculation over his health following reports he underwent surgery.

Officials in South Korea and China and sources familiar with US intelligence have cast doubt on media reports that claimed Kim was gravely ill after a cardiovascular procedure, while the White House said it was closely monitoring the issue.

More:

China, S Korea question reports on Kim Jong Un’s ‘grave’ health

Kim a ‘no-show’ at annual commemoration of North Korea’s founder

‘Cosplay democracy’: North Korea’s assembly holds rare meeting

US President Donald Trump, who held unprecedented summits with Kim in 2018 and 2019 in an attempt to persuade him to give up his nuclear weapons, said the South Korean and US reports had not been confirmed and he did not put much credence in them.

“I just hope he’s doing fine,” Trump told a White House news conference on Tuesday. “I’ve had a very good relationship with Kim Jong Un. And I’d like to see him do well. We’ll see how he does. We don’t know if the reports are true.”

Speculation about Kim’s health first arose due to his absence from the anniversary of the birthday of North Korea’s founding father and Kim’s grandfather, Kim Il Sung, on April 15.

But South Korea’s presidential office said Kim appeared to be handling state affairs as usual and that it had no information about rumours regarding his health. Many will now be watching closely for any signs of trouble in North Korea and whether it will address the reports – something it has not yet done.

Mulberry picking, no Kim

On Wednesday, the main headlines from the official Korean Central News Agency (KCNA) included pieces on sports equipment, mulberry picking and a meeting in Bangladesh to study North Korea’s “juche” or self-reliance ideology. The official Rodong Sinmun newspaper carried articles on a self-sufficient economy and anti-coronavirus measures.

There was no mention of Kim’s whereabouts.

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un guides a drill of mortar sub-units of North Korean Army in this . released by North Korea’s Korean Central News Agency on April 10, 2020 [KCNA/via Reuters]

Daily NK, a Seoul-based website, reported late on Monday that Kim, who is believed to be about 36, was hospitalised on April 12, hours before the cardiovascular procedure.

It said his health had deteriorated since August due to heavy smoking, obesity and overwork.

Citing one unnamed North Korean source it said Kim was now receiving treatment at a villa in the Mount Myohyang resort north of the capital Pyongyang.

On Tuesday, media broadcaster CNN reported an unnamed US official saying that Washington was “monitoring intelligence” that Kim was in “grave danger” after surgery.

However, two South Korean government officials rejected the CNN claims. China, North Korea’s only main ally, also dismissed the reports.

South Korea’s presidential Blue House said Kim is believed to be staying at an unspecified location outside of Pyongyang, North Korea’s capital, with some close confidants. It said Kim appeared to be normally engaged with state affairs and there has not been any unusual movement or emergency reaction from North Korea’s governing party, military or cabinet.

According to KCNA, Kim presided over a meeting on April 11, discussing coronavirus prevention and electing his sister as an alternate member of the political bureau of the ruling Workers’ Party. State media have since reported he sent greetings to Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and Cuban President Miguel Díaz-Canel as well as arranging special birthday meals for two North Korean officials and a new centenarian.

Kim Yo Jong, (right), helps Kim Jong Un sign a joint statement following the summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in at the Paekhwawon State Guesthouse in Pyongyang, North Korea, on September 19, 2018 [File: Pyongyang Press Corps Pool via AP]

Kim’s absence from state media often triggers speculation.

Succession issues

In 2014, he vanished from the public eye for nearly six weeks before reappearing with a cane. South Korea’s spy agency said days later that he had had a cyst removed from his ankle.

Governments and media outside North Korea have a mixed record on tracking developments among its ruling elite, made difficult by the North’s stringent control of information about them. In 2016, South Korean media quoted intelligence officials as saying Kim had had a former military chief executed for corruption and other charges. But months later, North Korea’s state media showed Ri Yong Gil alive and serving in a new senior post.

It is unclear what would happen if Kim were sidelined by health problems or died.

With no details known about Kim’s young children, analysts said Kim’s sister and loyalists could form a regency until a successor was old enough to take over.

“The basic assumption would be maybe it would be someone in the family,” said National Security Advisor Robert O’Brien in a comment made to Fox News channel. “But again, it’s too early to talk about that because we just don’t know what condition Chairman Kim is in and we’ll have to see how it plays out.”

Cheong Seong-Chang, an analyst at the private Sejong Institute in South Korea said political upheaval would be unlikely as Kim’s sister, Kim Yo Jong is already exercising significant influence within the government, and most members of North Korea’s leadership share an interest with the Kim family in maintaining the North’s system.

However, Koh Yu-hwan, a North Korea expert at Seoul’s Dongguk University and a policy adviser to South Korean President Moon Jae-in, sees the possibility of a violent power struggle.

While Kim Yo Jong would most likely emerge as leader during a transitional period, other members of the top elite could try to reduce her to a figurehead while making important decisions from the shadows, Koh said.

Source Article from https://the-latest.news/north-korea-media-silent-on-kim-jong-uns-whereabouts/

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Trump immigration ban halts green cards, not temporary visas – CNBC

Criticism of Trump’s new announcement was swift, especially his timing during the pandemic. Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum, noted that thousands of foreign-born health care workers are currently treating people with COVID-19 and working in critical sectors of the economy.

Andrea Flores of the American Civil Liberties Union said Trump seemed “more interested in fanning anti-immigrant flames than in saving lives.”

But Jessica Vaughn, director of policy studies at the Center for Immigration Studies, which favors lower rates of immigration, said that eliminating millions of work permits and visas would “instantaneously create” new jobs for Americans and other legal workers — even though most businesses are shuttered because of social distancing dictates and stay-at-home orders.

Trump has often pivoted to his signature issue of immigration when he’s under criticism. It’s one he believes helped him win the 2016 election and one that continues to animate his loyal base of supporters heading into what is expected to be a brutal reelection fight. It has also served as a useful tool for distracting from news he’d prefer removed from the headlines.

As is often the case, Trump’s late-night tweet caught many across the administration off-guard. Though ideas had been discussed at the State and Homeland Security departments, officials said they had received no heads-up that action was coming.

In a statement, White House press secretary Kayleigh McEnany described the order as aimed at protecting both the “health and economic well-being of American citizens as we face unprecedented times.” She said, “At a time when Americans are looking to get back to work, action is necessary.”

Though travel restrictions around the globe have dramatically reduced immigration, Trump could have used his executive authority to restrict it further, including slashing the number of foreign workers allowed to take seasonal jobs in the U.S. Before the outbreak, the administration had planned to increase the number of H-2B visas, but the Department of Homeland Security put that old in early April.

Sarah Pierce, a policy analyst at the Migration Policy Institute, said Trump could end the processing of immigrant and non-immigrant visa applications under the same legal authority he used to impose the travel ban that was upheld by the Supreme Court. But she said the State Department has largely stopped processing visas anyway.

Republican Rep. Matt Gaetz, who met with Trump at the White House Tuesday, said the president was looking at various carve-outs for people like agricultural workers, medical professionals and people with family in the United States.pose,” he said.

Across the country, those who could be impacted waited in suspense. Chicago immigration attorney Fiona McEntee said she has been inundated with calls, emails and social media messages since Trump’s tweet, including from company executives hoping to expand their business in the U.S., a person applying for a fiance visa and wondering about their wedding plans, artists seeking “extraordinary ability” visas and foreign students.

“It has created absolute panic,” said McEntee. “These are people’s lives. … It is irresponsible and cruel to put out something like that without any consideration.”

The U.S. is now reporting more COVID-19 cases than any other country in the world, with almost 800,000 Americans infected, according to figures compiled by Johns Hopkins University. More than 42,000 have died.

Given the steps Trump has already taken, Mexico Foreign Relations Secretary Marcelo Ebrard said it was unclear what more he could do. Last month, the administration effectively ended asylum, relying on a rarely used 1944 law aimed at preventing the spread of communicable disease. U.S. borders with Mexico and Canada have also been closed to tourism and recreational travel. Commercial traffic and a wide range of “essential” workers are still allowed to travel freely.

The H-2B visa program is used by U.S. companies to fill tens of thousands of seasonal jobs in areas like landscaping, seafood processing and in service jobs at hotels and theme parks. In March, amid pressure by Congress and a tight job market, the administration raised the annual quota to its highest level under Trump. That move angered people who favor more restrictive immigration policies, including some supporters of the president who view foreign workers willing to accept lower wages as unfair competition to American labor.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/trump-immigration-ban-halts-green-cards-not-temporary-visas.html

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Senate passes $484B coronavirus bill aimed to help businesses, hospitals – New York Post

The Senate overwhelmingly passed a near half-trillion-dollar coronavirus bill on Tuesday to replenish a small-business loan program and fund hospitals and testing efforts.

The $484 billion bill is the fourth large coronavirus deal since last month — and comes after a political standoff caused a lapse last week in the Small Business Administration’s Paycheck Protection Program, which gives businesses loans that will be forgiven if they don’t lay off workers.

Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) sought unsuccessfully to pass a $250 billion expansion of the loan program this month, but was blocked by Democrats who wanted a larger package including aid for state and local governments, which ultimately was not included in the deal.

McConnell said Tuesday that “it’s unfortunate that it took our Democratic colleagues 12 days to agree to a deal that contains essentially nothing that Republicans ever opposed.”

“The American people cannot be political leverage,” McConnell said.

Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) offered a different view, saying, “Help is on the way because Democrats stood and fought for it.”

The deal includes $75 billion in aid for health care facilities and $25 billion for national testing efforts.

The centerpiece of the deal nearly doubles the initial $350 billion small-business loan program set up by the more than $2 trillion coronavirus stimulus bill that passed last month.

The deal includes $60 billion set-aside for small banks, credit unions and other community lenders to expand the PPP to more businesses, including those without bank accounts.

Another $50 billion goes to the SBA’s Economic Injury Disaster Loan program and $10 billion to the SBA’s Emergency Economic Injury Grant program.

The final cost was nudged higher by accounting for administrative costs.

Senate debate was brief Tuesday. Sen. Ben Cardin (D-Md.) cited reports about large companies taking loans meant for small business. He said it was important to “do our oversight to make sure it there’s abuse we put a spotlight on it.”

Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), the only lawmaker to test positive for COVID-19, said he opposed the bill out of concern for the national debt.

Ending the “draconian lockdown of the American economy,” was the proper remedy, Paul said, saying the economy is “being strangled by quarantine.”

Joblessness soared by 17 million — or more than 10 percent of the workforce — during the first three weeks of widespread business closures.

The House is expected to pass the legislation as early as Thursday and may feature proxy voting for the first time.

Schumer said Tuesday he wanted a fifth coronavirus bill to include rental assistance, hazard pay and aid to states. President Trump has pushed for a $2 trillion infrastructure bill.

Source Article from https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/senate-passes-484b-coronavirus-bill-with-business-loans/

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Georgia’s “Early Experiment”: White House Briefing Turns To Wisdom Of Easing Coronavirus Restrictions – Deadline

As Georgia prepares to reopen parts of their economy as soon as Friday, one of the big questions at the latest White House press briefing was whether it is a wise decision.

On Monday, Gov. Brian Kemp announced a plan to reopen gyms, hair salons, bowling alleys and tattoo parlors as long as they continued to follow strict social distancing guidelines. Movie theaters and restaurants would follow.

At the White House briefing, Dr. Deborah Birx, a member of the White House’s Coronavirus Task Force, expressed a degree of skepticism over just how some of the businesses will be able to comply.

“If there is a way that people can social distance and do those things, then they can do those things,” she told reporters. “I don’t know how, but people are very creative. I am not going to prejudge.”

Under a set of guidelines unveiled by the White House last week, states are being urged in their first phase of reopenings to maintain social distancing in restaurants and keeping groups to less than 10 people.

“It is up to governors and mayors to make sure that they are following each of those phases,” she said, adding that they also should “communicate very clearly” on the data that was used to make their decisions. The White House guidelines include criteria that states should have a 14-day trajectory of declining cases before moving on to the first phase of reopenings.

President Donald Trump said that he would be talking to Kemp later on Tuesday. He called the governor “a very capable man who knows what he is doing.”

Kemp appeared on Fox News’ The Story with Martha MacCallum right after the briefing ended, and Martha MacCallum pressed him on how people will be able to practice social distancing at businesses like salons and tattoo parlors.

“I mean, these are close contact kinds of businesses that are the first ones on your list. Can you explain why you would start with those kinds of businesses on day one?” she asked.

“They are going to have to follow the strict guidelines,” Kemp responded. “I would imagine there will be a lot of people in gyms that will be a lot safer than going to a grocery store or some of the other businesses that’s been designated as part of the critical infrastructure at the federal level. You know, this is going to take some common sense.”

MacCallum called the Georgia effort an “early experiment” in lifting restrictions, but Kemp insisted that it was also a “measured approach.” He also said that he had been in consultation with an epidemiologist in making the decision to lift the restrictions.

MacCallum said, “You know everybody in this country is going to be watching your state, because you have been one of the most aggressive and earliest in this process.” The mayors of Atlanta and one of the hotspots for the virus, Albany, have come out against the decision.

The White House daily briefings, running between 5:30 PM ET and 7:30 PM ET, have often preempted the show immediately preceding MacCallum — Special Report with Bret Baier.

Baier, a former White House correspondent, attended Tuesday’s briefing and got in a few questions, including about Trump’s plan to shut down immigration. He asked the president about reports that North Korean leader Kim Jong Un was in “grave danger” after surgery.

Trump replied, “Well, these are reports that came out and we don’t know. We don’t know…So I just have to say to Kim Jong Un I wish him very good luck. I mean he came out with very, very serious medical reports. Nobody’s confirmed that. It was CNN that came out so when CNN comes out with a report I don’t place much credence in it.”

Before he left the briefing room, Trump said to Baier, “It’s an honor to have Bret Baier here. I used his slot a lot.”

Source Article from https://deadline.com/2020/04/coronavirus-donald-trump-georgia-brian-kemp-1202914460/

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PPP: Senate approves $480 billion for small-business loans and other funding – Vox.com

After weeks of infighting, the Senate has passed another deal aimed at tiding over small businesses during this economic downturn.

The legislation, which lawmakers are describing as an “interim” spending package before the next major stimulus bill, includes roughly $480 billion in funding, $380 billion of which is dedicated to small business loan programs. It’s a much-needed boost for hundreds of thousands of small businesses, as the money that Congress previously allocated for forgivable loans and grants has run out. It’s worth noting, however, that some of the same loopholes that enable larger corporations — like Ruth’s Chris Steak House — to apply for these loans still remain.

In addition to the funds for small business loans, this bill also includes $75 billion for hospitals — which are experiencing severe revenue shortfalls as they combat the coronavirus — and $25 billion to establish testing programs, money that experts say is much needed in order to build out the country’s testing capacity.

This package doesn’t contain, however, several priorities that Democrats had previously emphasized, such as additional funding for states and cities that are also struggling financially during this crisis. These omissions have prompted some progressive members, including Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY), to signal opposition to the proposal.

“We have not seen the final text of this bill, but what I can say is that if it matches up with what has been reported, I will not support this bill personally,” Ocasio-Cortez said on Monday.

The size of this “interim” spending bill, while much smaller than the $2 trillion stimulus that passed in March, is still significant: In 2009, the entire cost of the Recovery Act was pegged at around $840 billion. The bill now heads to the House, which is slated to consider it as soon as Thursday.

If it’s approved there, lawmakers will turn their attention to the next stimulus package, which Democrats are pushing to include more comprehensive support for essential workers along with funding for states. “As soon as [the interim bill] has passed in the House, we will advance CARES 2, which must be transformative and far-reaching,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer said in a statement.

What the bill contains

Due to Democratic pressure, the “interim” funding bill has expanded notably since Senate Republicans’ initial proposal.

The original Republican offer, announced roughly two weeks ago, was limited to $250 billion in funding for the Paycheck Protection Program, which provides forgivable grants to businesses and nonprofits. The newer version includes $320 billion for PPP, and $60 billion for the Economic Injury Disaster Loan program, which offers emergency grants that can expedite relief.

Of the $320 billion allocated for PPP, there’s also a $60 billion carve-out for community-based lenders, as well as mid-sized banks, which can better serve smaller businesses and minority-owned firms, organizations that are less likely to have an existing relationship with a larger bank.

Additionally, the deal contains $75 billion for hospitals, which have been overwhelmed by the simultaneous costs of preparing for the coronavirus and the revenue declines that have resulted as elective procedures are postponed. Another $25 billion is intended to help ramp up the country’s testing capacity, a development that experts view as vital to determining when to reopen the economy more fully.

The main Democratic demand that has been omitted from this deal is the additional funding that lawmakers would like to see go to cities and states, many of which are facing incredible financial strain given reductions in tax revenue. Mnuchin signaled that this issue would be addressed as part of negotiations for the next funding bill.

“The president has heard from the governors and he’s prepared to discuss that in the next bill,” Mnuchin said during an appearance on CNN’s State of the Union.

Trump’s reluctance to consider state funding in the current bill is the result of a couple of factors, according to Politico. Among them: The administration is concerned that it would have less leverage over the states regarding when they reopen their economies if they had more funding to help them weather this period.

The House vote could happen as soon as Thursday

A vote in the House is expected Thursday, when lawmakers will consider some procedural changes, too.

Because most members have been working remotely during the pandemic, votes have posed a unique challenge. When lawmakers were weighing the CARES package in March, for example, Rep. Thomas Massie (R-KY) demanded a quorum — or a majority of the House — be physically present for the vote. It is possible that Massie or another member might make the same request again this week, meaning some members would have to travel back to the Capitol. House Democrats have already urged lawmakers to be prepared to do so.

Pelosi has also said that the House could consider the use of proxy voting for future bills if members continue to work from their districts during the pandemic. Were members to move forward with this approach, the House would have to vote on a rule to approve proxy voting. Like the name suggests, proxy voting enables members to allow someone who’s physically present in the House chamber to vote on their behalf, so not everyone would have to travel back to Washington.

Both the votes on proxy voting and the interim spending bill are expected later this week.

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Source Article from https://www.vox.com/2020/4/21/21229315/senate-vote-small-business-funding

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Trump announces 60-day ban on immigrants seeking permanent status in US – The Guardian

Donald Trump has announced a 60-day ban on immigrants seeking to live and work in America permanently, and said he could extend it depending on the economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic.

The US president framed the executive order, which he expects to sign on Wednesday, as an effort to protect American workers from foreign competition. He said it would apply only to those seeking green cards and not temporary workers, but he did not explain how those whose applications are currently being processed would be affected.

“By pausing immigration, we will help put unemployed Americans first in line for jobs as America reopens – so important,” Trump told reporters at Tuesday’s coronavirus taskforce briefing. “It would be wrong and unjust for Americans laid off by the virus to be replaced with new immigrant labour flown in from abroad. We must first take care of the American worker.”

The “pause” would be in effect for 60 days, he added, after which the need for an extension or alternation would be reviewed “based on economic conditions at the time”. Under questioning, he confirmed that he might then decide to add a further 30 days or more.

Trump said: “This order will only apply to individuals seeking a permanent residency. In other words, those receiving green cards. Big factor. It will not apply to those entering on a temporary basis … We want to protect our US workers and I think, as we move forward, we will become more and more protective of them.”

The president, who has long campaigned against illegal immigration and again touted his US-Mexico border wall at Tuesday’s briefing, added that the move would help conserve medical resources for US citizens.

About a million people were granted green cards last year. The biggest share are family-based immigration sponsorships for permanent residency of foreign nationals by their American spouses. Alexander Hunter-Mihalić, a CNN producer, tweeted: “My wife’s greencard renewal is being – or was being – processed. What does that mean for her?”

The remarks followed an ambiguous tweet on Monday night that caught his own officials by surprise and provoked an angry backlash from immigration rights groups and Democrats.

Joe Biden, the presumptive Democratic nominee to take on Trump in November’s election, said: “Rather than execute a swift and aggressive effort to ramp up testing, Donald Trump is tweeting incendiary rhetoric about immigrants in the hopes that he can distract everyone from the core truth: he’s moved too slowly to contain this virus, and we are all paying the price for it.”

A supermarket in Miami, Florida. Many immigrants are working in essential roles that keep the US operating amid the virus. Photograph: Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Ali Noorani, president of the National Immigration Forum, said: “President Trump’s call to suspend immigration to the US ignores the reality of our situation: the fact is that immigrants are standing shoulder to shoulder with US citizens on the frontlines helping us get through this pandemic. How many families would go without health care, food or otherwise if it wasn’t for immigrants working alongside native-born Americans yesterday, today and tomorrow?”

Immigrants account for 17% of healthcare workers and 24% of direct care workers nationwide, Noorani added, while H-1B visa holders are helping to find a vaccine to Covid-19 and agricultural workers continue to be essential in maintaining food chains that re-supply grocery stores.

Mayra Macías, executive director of Latino Victory, said: “Trump is once again using his old playbook of scapegoating immigrants to cover up his failures. But we will not be fooled – he’s doing it to distract us from his disastrous response to the coronavirus pandemic.”

In practice, much of the US immigration system has already been paralysed by the pandemic. Travel from China, parts of Europe and Iran is mostly banned and most state department visa services are suspended. The administration has used the crisis to effectively end asylum at US borders, including turning away children who arrive by themselves and putting a hold on refugee resettlement.

At Tuesday’s briefing Trump was also questioned about a malaria drug that he has been pushing relentlessly as a therapy for coronavirus, championing a Democratic state representative in Michigan who claimed it benefited her and frequently imploring: “What do you have to lose?”

An analysis showed that nearly a third of military veterans died when treated with hydroxychloroquine, more than patients who received standard treatment. The president appeared to shrug off the finding, saying: “Obviously there have been some very good reports. Perhaps this one’s not a good report but we’ll be looking at it.”

Dr Stephen Hahn, the Food and Drug Administration’s commissioner, cautioned against drawing firm conclusions from the 368-patient sample. “This study is a small retrospective study at the VA [Veterans Affairs],” Hahn said. ‘This is something that a doctor would need to consider as part of a decision in writing a prescription for hydroxychloroquine.”

Earlier on Tuesday Trump hosted Andrew Cuomo, the governor of New York, at the White House, with testing top of the agenda. He said they agreed that the hospital ship USNS Comfort was no longer required by the state. “I’ve asked Andrew if we could bring the Comfort back to its base in Virginia so that we could have it for other locations and he said we would be able to do that.

“We’ll be bringing the ship back at the earliest time and we’ll get it ready for its next mission, which will I’m sure be a very important one also. But it was an honour.”

The US has 823,786 confirmed cases of the virus, and 44,999 deaths, according to the Coronavirus Resource Center at Johns Hopkins University. More than 4 million people have been tested.

Source Article from https://www.theguardian.com/global/2020/apr/21/trump-us-immigration-ban-pause-green-cards

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Big banks accused of favoring more lucrative small business loans in coronavirus program – CNN

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Source Article from https://www.cnn.com/2020/04/21/business/small-business-loans-ppp-lawsuit/index.html

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Georgia got lifting coronavirus restrictions backward, Connecticut Gov. Ned Lamont says – CNBC

Last week, Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis, a Republican, announced the reopening of some beaches and parks. Tennessee Gov. Bill Lee, a Republican, announced Monday he will not extend the state’s “safer-at-home” order on April 30, allowing most businesses to reopen on May 1.

“Unlike other businesses, these entities have been unable to manage inventory, deal with payroll, and take care of administrative items while we shelter in place,” Kemp said Monday. “This measure allows them to undertake baseline operations that most other businesses in the state have maintained since I issued the shelter-in-place order.”

Georgia and Connecticut have roughly the same number of confirmed Covid-19 cases, more than 19,000, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University. Connecticut’s Covid-19 death toll is nearly double that of Georgia. Lamont noted that Connecticut’s proximity to the epicenter of the U.S. outbreak, New York City, is a risk factor that sets the state apart.

Lamont said he’s looking at May 20 as a tentative date to begin reopening the state, adding that an increased capacity to test for Covid-19 and a greater supply of surgical masks will be key.

“I want to do it cautiously. I don’t want to have another big outbreak the likes of which you see in India and Singapore and other places,” Lamont said. “My instinct is that we’re going to first focus on our big manufacturing and outside construction.”

Former Food and Drug Administration Commissioner Dr. Scott Gottlieb echoed Lamont’s concerns about the sectors of business that Georgia has decided to first reopen.

“It feels like they collected a list of the businesses that were most risky and decided to open those first,” he said on “Squawk Box.” “I think that we should try to focus on trying to bring people back to work in factories, offices first.”

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/georgia-got-lifting-coronavirus-restrictions-backwards-connecticut-gov-ned-lamont-says.html

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More deaths, no benefit from malaria drug in VA virus study – POLITICO

Researchers did not track side effects, but noted hints that hydroxychloroquine might have damaged other organs. The drug has long been known to have potentially serious side effects, including altering the heartbeat in a way that could lead to sudden death.

Earlier this month, scientists in Brazil stopped part of a hydroxychloroquine study after heart rhythm problems developed in one-quarter of people given the higher of two doses being tested.

Many doctors have been leery of the drug.

At the University of Wisconsin, Madison, “I think we’re all rather underwhelmed” at what’s been seen among the few patients there who’ve tried it, said Dr. Nasia Safdar, medical director of infection control and prevention.

Patients asked about it soon after Trump started promoting its use, “but now I think that people have realized we don’t know if it works or not” and needs more study, said Safdar, who had no role in the VA analysis.

The NIH and others have more rigorous tests underway.

Source Article from https://www.politico.com/news/2020/04/21/malaria-drug-virginia-coronavirus-study-198590

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Majority of Americans Oppose Protests Against Coronavirus Measures: Poll – Newsweek

Most Americans are opposed to protests against stay-at-home orders and other coronavirus pandemic lockdown measures, according to a new poll.

The latest survey by Yahoo! News and YouGov found that 60 percent of the U.S. public opposed protesters calling for an immediate end to social distancing measures and stay-at-home orders designed to protect public safety.

Less than a quarter of respondents (22 percent) said they supported the rallies calling for America to be “reopened” while a further 18 percent said they were “not sure” how they felt on the matter.

According to Yahoo! News, the majority of Republicans were also found to oppose the anti-lockdown protests that have taken place in several states.

Forty-seven percent of GOP voters told pollsters they rejected the protesters calls while 36 percent supported the rallies.

Asked whether they agreed with President Donald Trump’s Friday tweets calling on Americans to “LIBERATE MINNESOTA” and “LIBERATE MICHIGAN” amid pandemic shutdowns, only 26 percent said they did.

A further 42 percent plurality said they disagreed with the commander-in-chief’s remarks as just under a third (32 percent) said they didn’t know what the question was about.

Overall, pollsters found that Americans were cautious about reopening the country’s economy amid the COVID-19 pandemic.

A little more than seven-in-ten (71 percent) said America should reopen when public health authorities can test and trace new COVID-19 cases. The remaining 29 percent said it should be opened as soon as possible to curb economic damage.

U.S. adults were split on the exact same lines when asked if they were more about concerned about restrictions being lifted too quickly (71 percent) or too slowly.

The latest YouGov/Yahoo! News poll was conducted between April 17 and April 19, and surveyed more than 1,500 U.S. adults. Its margin of error stands at 3 percentage points.

Over the weekend, protests against coronavirus lockdown measures such as stay at home orders took place in several states—including Texas, Michigan and Virginia.

At the rallies, protesters spoke of concerns about job losses as they broke social distancing rules and claimed the virus was not as dangerous as authorities have said.

According to Johns Hopkins University’s COVID-19 tracker, more than 759,000 confirmed cases of the novel coronavirus had been recorded in America as of 9 a.m. EST on Monday. At the time of writing, 42,364 coronavirus deaths have also been recorded in America, along with 73,527 cases of total recovery.

The graphic below, provided by Statista, shows the total number of confirmed COVID-19 cases by country.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Advice on Using Face Coverings to Slow Spread of COVID-19

CDC recommends wearing a cloth face covering in public where social distancing measures are difficult to maintain.
A simple cloth face covering can help slow the spread of the virus by those infected and by those who do not exhibit symptoms.
Cloth face coverings can be fashioned from household items. Guides are offered by the CDC. (https://www.cdc.gov/coronavirus/2019-ncov/prevent-getting-sick/diy-cloth-face-coverings.html)
Cloth face coverings should be washed regularly. A washing machine will suffice.
Practice safe removal of face coverings by not touching eyes, nose, and mouth, and wash hands immediately after removing the covering.

World Health Organization advice for avoiding spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19) Hygiene advice

Clean hands frequently with soap and water, or alcohol-based hand rub.
Wash hands after coughing or sneezing; when caring for the sick; before, during and after food preparation; before eating; after using the toilet; when hands are visibly dirty; and after handling animals or waste.
Maintain at least 1 meter (3 feet) distance from anyone who is coughing or sneezing.
Avoid touching your hands, nose and mouth. Do not spit in public.
Cover your mouth and nose with a tissue or bent elbow when coughing or sneezing. Discard the tissue immediately and clean your hands.

Medical advice

Avoid close contact with others if you have any symptoms.
Stay at home if you feel unwell, even with mild symptoms such as headache and runny nose, to avoid potential spread of the disease to medical facilities and other people.
If you develop serious symptoms (fever, cough, difficulty breathing) seek medical care early and contact local health authorities in advance.
Note any recent contact with others and travel details to provide to authorities who can trace and prevent spread of the disease.
Stay up to date on COVID-19 developments issued by health authorities and follow their guidance.

Mask and glove usage

Healthy individuals only need to wear a mask if taking care of a sick person.
Wear a mask if you are coughing or sneezing.
Masks are effective when used in combination with frequent hand cleaning.
Do not touch the mask while wearing it. Clean hands if you touch the mask.
Learn how to properly put on, remove and dispose of masks. Clean hands after disposing of the mask.
Do not reuse single-use masks.
Regularly washing bare hands is more effective against catching COVID-19 than wearing rubber gloves.
The COVID-19 virus can still be picked up on rubber gloves and transmitted by touching your face.

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Source Article from https://www.newsweek.com/majority-americans-oppose-protests-against-coronavirus-measures-poll-1499127

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‘No Unusual Signs’ That Kim Jong Un’s Health Is In Danger, South Korea Says – NPR

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been the subject of health speculation in recent days.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

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Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un has been the subject of health speculation in recent days.

Brendan Smialowski/AFP via Getty Images

What, exactly, is the status of Kim Jong Un?

That’s the difficult question behind a flurry of recent international headlines that have raised the possibility that the North Korean leader’s health is in jeopardy after he missed a major state event. And the answer — at least the public answer from observers most familiar with the notoriously secretive state — is that there is no news to speak of at the moment.

“No unusual signs have been identified inside North Korea,” said Kang Min-seok, spokesperson for South Korean President Moon Jae-in. “There is nothing we can confirm with regard to Chairman Kim’s alleged health problem.”

The statement came Tuesday after a couple of media outlets stoked concerns that Kim had suffered a poor, perhaps even life-threatening, turn in recent days.

Daily NK, a Seoul-based online publication that focuses on stories north of the Demilitarized Zone, first reported that Kim was recovering from heart surgery undergone April 12 — just days before he failed to appear at an annual event commemorating the 108th birthday of Kim Il Sung, his grandfather and the founder of North Korea’s long-ruling communist regime. The story cited multiple unnamed sources, though it was later corrected to clarify that the information had come from just one individual. CNN followed Daily NK with a report, citing unnamed U.S. officials, that suggests Kim may be in “grave danger” after the procedure.

NPR has not independently confirmed either story.

Neither can South Korea’s government, it appears. On Tuesday, Kang dismissed reports of Kim’s ill health, and unnamed officials in South Korea’s presidential administration assured the country’s Yonhap News Agency that Kim “appears to be in normal activity.”

It bears mentioning that this is not the first time observers have struggled to determine the truth of the North Korean leader’s health, often the most closely guarded information in a country that remains opaque to outsiders.

North Korea lately has raised eyebrows by claiming to have no coronavirus cases in the midst of a global pandemic that has affected nearly every other country in the world. More than a decade ago, in 2008, officials there kept it under wraps when Kim’s father, Kim Jong Il, suffered a stroke. U.S. and South Korean intelligence services also reportedly didn’t learn about his death in 2011 until North Korea officially announced it 48 hours afterward.

Uncertainty dogs even the age of the man now in power, who is believed to be in his mid-to-late 30s. Kim Jong Un also prompted rampant rumors beyond North Korea’s borders in 2014, when he reportedly underwent ankle surgery and disappeared from public events for more than a month.

Source Article from https://www.npr.org/2020/04/21/839720461/no-unusual-signs-that-kim-jong-un-s-health-is-in-danger-south-korea-says

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Coronavirus in Illinois updates: Here’s what’s happening Tuesday – Chicago Tribune

“So it’s been pushed out now, according to the models, to maybe mid-May, but at a lower level, and so we’re moving, inching toward that date,” Pritzker said. “People are doing what they need to do in the state of Illinois, staying indoors or staying at home, wearing masks outside as I’ve urged everybody to do, making sure they’re washing their hands and all the other things that we’ve asked people to do.”

Source Article from https://www.chicagotribune.com/coronavirus/ct-coronavirus-pandemic-chicago-illinois-news-20200421-ylmst6za2fcllczlgrpol7txoq-story.html

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Senate approves measure to replenish halted coronavirus small business loan program – USA TODAY

WASHINGTON – The Senate on Tuesday approved a measure that will revive a stimulus program geared to keep small businesses from shuttering and their employees from going on unemployment because of the economic impacts of the coronavirus pandemic.

The nearly half-trillion-dollar measure, which was approved through voice vote, would provide more funds to the Paycheck Protection Program, which was halted last week after it ran out of money.

The $484 billion bill would inject the program, which provides loans to small businesses, with more than $320 billion. Of that, $60 billion would be set aside for community-based lenders, smaller banks and credit unions to assist smaller businesses that don’t have established relationships with big banks and had a harder time accessing the funds in the first round of loans. About $10 billion of that would also be allocated for administration fees.

The measure would also bolster the Small Business Administration’s disaster loan and grant programs, which dried up during the coronavirus crisis.

The legislation includes $75 billion to help overwhelmed hospitals and $25 billion for a new coronavirus testing program, two provisions Democrats pushed for in negotiations. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., said the testing funds were one of the last pieces agreed on and requires the administration report a national strategic testing plan on how it will increase testing across the country.

The legislation will now head to the House, where it’s scheduled to be taken up Thursday. If approved, it will head to President Donald Trump for approval.

Fauci:Fauci takes heat from protesters of stay-at-home orders, says ignoring guidelines will ‘backfire’

Congressional leaders and the Trump administration haggled for weeks over details in the plan before coming to an agreement Tuesday. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin asked Congress this month for an additional $250 billion in emergency funds to bolster the program. Democrats objected to the GOP offer, demanding more money for hospitals, state and local governments and food stamp benefits.

Congressional Republicans blamed Democrats for the funding lapse, arguing they held hostage money desperately needed for businesses and workers.

“I am encouraged that Democratic leaders have finally agreed to reopen the Paycheck Protection Program and abandon a number of their unrelated demands,” Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said in a statement Tuesday after the two sides reached a deal. “Republicans never wanted this crucial program for workers and small businesses to shut down. We tried to pass additional funding a week before it lapsed. But Democratic leaders blocked the money and spent days trying to negotiate extraneous issues that were never on the table. I am grateful our colleagues have walked away from those demands and will finally let Congress act.”

Democrats applauded the new bill, which nearly doubled in size.

“Congressional Democrats are proud to have secured an agreement on an interim emergency funding package that has been transformed to provide real support for the lives and livelihoods of the American people,” House Speaker Nancy Pelosi and Schumer said in joint statement. “Democrats flipped this emergency package from an insufficient Republican plan that left behind hospitals and health and frontline workers and did nothing to aid the survival of the most vulnerable small businesses on Main Street.”

Trump signaled he’s ready to sign the agreement.

“I urge the Senate and House to pass the Paycheck Protection Program and Health Care Enhancement Act with additional funding for PPP, Hospitals, and Testing,” Trump said in a tweet Tuesday. “After I sign this Bill, we will begin discussions on the next Legislative Initiative with fiscal relief to State/Local Governments for lost revenues from COVID 19, much needed Infrastructure Investments for Bridges, Tunnels, Broadband, Tax Incentives for Restaurants, Entertainment, Sports, and Payroll Tax Cuts to increase Economic Growth.”

‘He didn’t understand’:Trump slams Republican Gov. Larry Hogan, outspoken critic on testing

Reporter’s notebook:Rome celebrates a lonely birthday in the age of coronavirus

The program was provided $349 billion as part of the massive economic stimulus package approved in March. It launched April 3 and processed 1.6 million loan application before funds ran out on Thursday.

Source Article from https://www.usatoday.com/story/news/politics/2020/04/21/coronavirus-congress-reaches-deal-replenish-small-business-program/5151695002/

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Trump administration working out details of suspending immigration during coronavirus crisis, plans to close off the United States to a new extreme – The Washington Post

Source Article from https://www.washingtonpost.com/immigration/coronavirus-trump-immigration/2020/04/21/a2a465aa-837a-11ea-9728-c74380d9d410_story.html

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Pelosi admits delaying additional funds for coronavirus small-business loans – New York Post

House Speaker Nancy Pelosi admitted to holding up the approval of an additional $250 billion for the depleted small-business loans fund, following criticism over Congress’ lack of progress.

Speaking to CNN’s Anderson Cooper Monday evening, Pelosi (D-Calif.) said that after being asked by Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin for Congress to approve $250 billion to replenish the Paycheck Protection Program, she requested “data on how that [money] is spent.”

“Before you know it, boom, all of a sudden, [the small-business relief fund] were already out of money. And when the secretary came and asked me for $250 billion, a quarter-of-a-trillion dollars, in 24 hours, I said, well, we want to see the data on how that is spent.”

Nancy PelosiAP

“Also, we want to make sure that we are — as long as we are going to the floor, that we do so in a way that makes sure that everyone can participate in the program,” the California Democrat said.

Pelosi continued that at first, Republicans she was in negotiations with “said no no no, until about 100 hours ago, they said no. And now they have said yes.”

As for what the nation’s top elected Democrat got added to the new bill, Pelosi touted “about $120 billion more for small businesses in there geared to our underbanked communities, women- and minority-owned businesses, Native American, rural America, veterans, small business and the rest.”

Pelosi added that Democrats have also asked for $100 billion in spending on health-related matters, with $75 billion going to hospitals and $25 billion toward testing, which she argued was critical for reopening the economy.

“Testing is one of the places where we want the language to be as good as we can agree to, that we need a national strategy for testing,” she told Cooper. “Testing is the key that opens the door to our economy — testing, tracing, and isolation.”

On Sunday, Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer (D-NY) also fired back against criticism that Democrats were holding up the next round of funds, touting that provisions they got added to the bill would provide aid to rural areas and minority communities.

“Well, I would say that the very things that we Democrats have been fighting for, are now going into the bill. If you had a connection with a bank, it was pretty easy to get a loan. If you didn’t, from one end of the country to another, we have been hearing that people can’t get the loans. The local restaurant, the local barbershop, the local drug store — or even startup businesses, manufacturing or … services that aren’t happening,” the New York Democrat told CNN’s “State of the Union.”

“So we Democrats said, ‘Yes, we want to put the more money in [for small-business financial relief], but let’s set aside some money to make sure it goes to the rural areas, to the minority areas, to the unbanked.’ And the $60 billion for the disaster loan was [Democrats’] proposal, and now the [Trump] administration is going along with it.”

Source Article from https://nypost.com/2020/04/21/pelosi-admits-delaying-funds-for-coronavirus-small-business-loans/

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No evidence coronavirus created in a lab – WHO: Live updates – Al Jazeera English

There’s so much oil sloshing around the system and no demand for it that oil futures have plunged below zero for the first time in history.

Globally, more than 2.5 million people have been diagnosed with the virus. More than 170,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

The US accounts for about a quarter of all deaths.

Pakistan has reported its deadliest day.

Here are the latest updates:

Tuesday, April 21

17:15 GMT – Companies join UK effort to build ventilators

Several engineering, aerospace, automotive and Formula One companies in the have joined forces to produce ventilators with the aim of building more than 1,500 per week.

The VentilatorChallengeUK consortium was formed in response to a call by the UK government for companies to help boost the production of medical equipment.

Dick Elsy, who leads the consortium, said the group could produce more than the current government order of 20,000 ventilators, according to Reuters news agency.

16:50 GMT – Trump calls for financial lifeline for struggling US oil industry

Fresh on the heels of the worst day ever for United States oil prices, President Donald Trump said he has asked his administration to come up with a plan to throw a financial lifeline to the ailing US shale patch where many firms are in danger of going bust as crude prices collapse.

We will never let the great U.S. Oil & Gas Industry down. I have instructed the Secretary of Energy and Secretary of the Treasury to formulate a plan which will make funds available so that these very important companies and jobs will be secured long into the future!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020

US oil and gas companies from Texas to Wyoming are struggling to stave off bankruptcy as worldwide stay-at-home orders and business stoppages designed to contain the spread of coronavirus obliterate global demand for fuel.

16:31 GMT – Italy, Turkey, Canada: new cases confirmed

While some countries are easing restrictions in an attempt to minimise the economic impact of the coronavirus, the pandemic continues to affect populations worldwide.

Italy reported 534 new deaths over the last 24 hours, bringing the total death tool up to 24,648 amid more than 180.000 infections. However, the Mediterranean country marked its record increase in the number of recovered people, now at almost 49,000.

Canada confirmed a jump to 37,382 cases, from 35,392 the previous day, and 1,728 deaths, up from 1,611.

Meanwhile in Turkey, the health ministry announced the number of cases had risen to 95,591, with 4,611 additions in one day. The death toll rose to 2,259, with 119 additional fatalities.

16:04 GMT – G20 ministers urge food export curbs only in emergency: Germany

Restrictions on food exports should only be undertaken in emergencies with strict conditions, Germany’s agriculture ministry said during a virtual meeting of agriculture and food ministers of the Group of 20.

The meeting participants said food export curbs should only be used when they are “proportionate, transparent, temporary and conform to the rules of the World Trade Organisation”. the German ministry said in a statement.

Julia Kloeckner, the German agriculture minister, said: “Free trade, especially in times of crisis, means securing food supplies.”

15:45 GMT – Global hunger could double: UN

The number of people facing acute food insecurity could jump to 265 million, according to a new report by the UN World Food Programme (WFP).

The impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic is expected to leave about 130 million more people acutely hungry this year, in addition to 135 million already in that category.

“We all need to come together to deal with this because if we don’t the cost will be too high – the global cost will be too high: many lost lives and many, many more lost livelihoods,” said Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the WFP.

Read more here.

15:38 GMT – NY governor to ‘tell the truth’ in Trump meeting

Andrew Cuomo, New York state governor, said he planned to “tell the truth” in his Tuesday meeting with US President Donald Trump about the coronavirus crisis and would ask for the federal government for help in ramping up testing.

Cuomo also stressed during a daily briefing that he planned to take a regional approach to reopening businesses and schools in his state, the US epicentre of the pandemic.

“We will make reopening decisions in New York State on a regional basis. We recognize not all regions are impacted with COVID-19 in the same way,” Cuomo wrote on Twitter.

We will make reopening decisions in New York State on a regional basis.

We recognize not all regions are impacted with COVID-19 in the same way.

It’s the logical thing to do.

— Andrew Cuomo (@NYGovCuomo) April 21, 2020

15:17 GMT – Spanish children will be allowed to leave their homes

After being locked at home for over a month, Spanish children will be allowed for the first time to leave their home as fears over their mental health have been growing.

“Children with stable families won’t notice the effects long term. But for those in conflictive situations, it can cause more severe damage, cases of anxiety, depression and so on,” said Francesca Martin Garcia, a child psychologist and director of one of southern Spain’s foremost mental health centres.

Prime Minister Petro Sanchez hinted at a maximum age level of 12 for outings, which media reports say would be limited to 90 minutes and need to be accompanied by an adult.

To know more, read Alasdair Fotheringham’s report.

15:03 GMT – Dozens of cases reported in Morocco prison

Sixty-eight people, mostly staff, tested positive to coronavirus at a prison in the southern Moroccan city of Ouarzazate, prison authorities said on Tuesday.

Earlier this monthm Morocco released 5,645 prisoners to help reduce the risk of the coronavirus spreading in its prisons as has happened in other countries.

At the Ouarzazate facility, at least six inmates were among those to have contracted the coronavirus and all were now undergoing testing, a prison statement said.

14:37 GMT – Virus biggest crisis since WWII: Erdogan

The human cost and economic fallout from the coronavirus pandemic have turned it into an era-defining global crisis, said Turkey’s president on Tuesday.

“With its economic fallout, the pandemic has turned into the biggest crisis since World War II,” said Recep Tayyip Erdogan.

His remarks came during a central executive board meeting of his ruling Justice and Development (AK) Party via videoconferencing. Turkey has so far registered 90,980 cases with a death toll of 2,140.

14:20 GMT – Italy PM says EU summit unlikely to reach final deal on stimulus

As European countries prepare for what is expected to be a key economic meeting on Thursday, Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte expressed doubts over the bloc’s capacity to find a solution to its economic problems amid the crisis.

“I don’t believe the upcoming meeting of the 27 leaders will find a definitive solution but I will do everything … to ensure it expresses a clear political path in the only reasonable direction,” Conte said, addressing the Italian Senate.

He added the future of the EU depended on it finding sufficient common resources to tackle the crisis.

Conte also said Rome would not veto the use of the eurozone bailout fund because other countries, including Spain, had said they were interested in using it, but he reiterated that he did not see it as a useful tool for Italy.

14.03 GMT – Children, women casualties of Uganda’s transport ban

In Uganda, the government has imposed a transport ban as part of a series of measures to spead the coronavirus pandemic.

Critics say, however, the restrictions have left no realistic provision for emergency care, leading in some cases to deaths.

Read Sally Hayden’s story from Gulu, northern Uganda, here.

13:26 GMT – Saudi to ease restrictions in Ramadan

Saudi Arabia plans to ease curfew hours it imposed on several cities during the month of Ramadan to allow people more time to shop for essential needs within the boundaries of their neighbourhoods, state news agency (SPA) reported on Tuesday.

Currently, people living in areas under 24-hour curfew can go out for healthcare and to supermarkets from 6am to 3pm. In Ramadan these hours will start from 9am until 5pm, SPA said.

12:56 GMT – Austrian restaurants, churches and some schools to reopen from May 15

Austria will further loosen its coronavirus lockdown on May 15 by allowing restaurants to reopen and religious services to resume, Chancellor Sebastian Kurz said.

Schools are already due to reopen for senior students in early May. Kurz told a news conference that schools would reopen for other years in a step-by-step process beginning on May 15.

The country let DIY and garden centres as well as smaller shops reopen a week ago. Larger shops are due to follow from May 1.

12:52 GMT – Iraq eases restrictions ahead of Ramadan

Iraqi authorities will partially scale back the 24-hour curfew imposed to contain the new coronavirus in a move to balance the restrictions for the month of Ramadan.

The new curfew will be implemented mainly at night, from 7pm until 6am local time as of April 21 until May 11.

The total ban, however, will stay in place on Fridays and Saturday.

Restrictions on public gatherings, gatherings of more than three people and social distancing rules remain in place while restaurants and cafes will be permitted to provide delivery services only.

12:45 GMT – Indonesia bans traditional Ramadan exodus to rein in coronavirus

Indonesia will ban its traditional annual exodus of people streaming out of cities at the end of the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, as the Southeast Asian nation looks to curb the spread of coronavirus, President Joko Widodo said.

Indonesia’s tally of 616 virus deaths is the highest in East Asia after China, but Widodo had previously resisted a ban, seeking instead to persuade people to stay put.

But health experts had warned that allowing millions in the world’s biggest Muslim-majority country to travel to homes in towns and villages over Ramadan, which starts this week, could accelerate the spread of the disease.

12:35 GMT – Thailand extends foreigners’ visas as coronavirus cases slow

Thailand’s cabinet approved a second automatic visa extension for foreigners for three more months on Tuesday, in a bid to prevent long queues at immigration centres and stem the spread of the coronavirus.

Foreigners whose visas had expired since March 26 will be permitted to stay until July 31 without having to apply for an extension, said Narumon Pinyosinwat, a spokeswoman for the Thai government.

12:30 GMT – Coronavirus: India charity making 70,000 meals a day for the poor

The streets of Mumbai, India’s financial capital, are forlorn and neighbourhoods eerily quiet, with the rustle of leaves caused by the warm breeze being the only audible sound in the vicinity.

But a suburban restaurant is bustling with activity as 8 to 10 men briskly portion out khichdi (boiled rice with lentils) from large pots into smaller containers. Intent on their work, they keep their eyes on the vessels as their hands move the hot meals along.

Read more here.

More:

How the coronavirus outbreak in India was blamed on Muslims

All you need to know about PPEs

India: Hunger and uncertainty under Delhi’s coronavirus lockdown

12:15 GMT – Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 729 to 34,134 -authorities

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands has risen by 729 to 34,134, health authorities said on Tuesday, with 165 new deaths.

Total deaths stand at 3,916, the National Institute for Public Health and the Environment (RIVM) said in its daily update.

The RIVM repeated that it only reports cases and deaths confirmed by testing, and actual numbers are larger.

12:10 GMT – Italy PM warns easing lockdown risks increasing contagion curve

Italy will this week announce plans for the gradual reopening from a lockdown imposed to fight the coronavirus emergency that will be applied starting from May 4, Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said on Tuesday.

The lockdown, closing most Italian businesses and preventing people from leaving their homes for all but essential needs, has been in place since March 9, putting a major strain on the eurozone’s third-largest economy.

Read more here.

12:00 GMT – Indonesia’s Aceh holds public floggings despite virus fears

Six people were publicly flogged in Indonesia’s conservative Aceh province on Tuesday for breaking local Islamic law, despite widespread bans on mass gatherings over coronavirus fears.

Officials insisted they followed social distancing rules but vowed that the global pandemic would not stand in the way of doling out justice.

“To comply with current conditions, we’re trying to cut unnecessary procedures like the usual opening speech,” said Safriadi, the official responsible for Sharia punishments in provincial capital Banda Aceh.

“We just carried out the flogging directly to make it simpler. Whipping will still go on, but we’re limiting the number of people involved,” added Safriadi, who uses one name.

11:45 GMT – UN urges world to quickly scale up medicines, vaccines

The United Nations General Assembly demanded global action to quickly scale up the development of and access to medicines, vaccines and equipment to battle the pandemic, while the World Health Organization warned on Tuesday that rushing to ease coronavirus lockdowns could lead to a resurgence of the outbreak.

The UN resolution asked Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to work with the WHO and make recommendations to ensure that all people have equitable and timely access to testing, medical supplies, drugs and future vaccines, especially in developing countries.

African officials have been outspoken about the need for medical supplies across the 54-nation continent, where health systems have historically been underfunded and will be overwhelmed by the virus.

11:29 GMT – No new corona cases in Lebanon in past 24 hours – health ministry

Lebanon recorded no new COVID-19 cases in the past 24 hours for the first time during the country’s outbreak, the health ministry said in its daily report.

It said that after 487 tests conducted in the last 24 hours the number of infections stood at 677, with 21 deaths.

11:12 GMT – Lebanese MPs sprayed with sanitiser at makeshift Parliament

Lebanese MPs were sprayed with sanitiser as they arrived for a legislative session on that was relocated from the Beirut Parliament building to a theatre to allow for social distancing against the coronavirus.

MPs had their temperatures taken upon arrival at the UNESCO Palace building and their legs were sprayed by a man in hazmat suit. Many wore face masks during media interviews.

Parliamentary Speaker Nabih Berri sat on a desk on stage as the three-day session began.

MPs will debate draft laws including one to regulate the cultivation of cannabis for medical use, a controversial amnesty, and a proposal to lift immunity from prosecution for government ministers.

10:55 GMT – Pakistan records highest number of coronavirus deaths in a day

Pakistan has seen its highest rise in deaths in a single day from the coronavirus, with 17 new cases taking the country’s death toll from the highly contagious virus to at least 192, according to government data.

Monday also saw the highest single-day rise in cases in Pakistan, with 705 confirmed cases taking the country’s tally to 9,214, according to the data.

Read more here.

10:37 GMT – Virus outbreak at migrant hotel near Athens

Authorities in Greece have locked down a migrant hotel housing 470 asylum seekers amid reports that scores of residents tested positive for the new coronavirus.

The migration ministry said a pregnant woman from Somalia living at the hotel in Kranidi, 166 kilometres (104 miles) southwest of Athens, had tested positive.

News reports said Tuesday that scores of other asylum seekers staying at the hotel, which is supervised by the International Organization for Migration (IOM), had also tested positive.

The IOM said it had “interpreters, psychologists, social workers and legal counsellors … in constant contact with all stakeholders to support in this challenging situation”.

The 28-year-old woman had been placed under “complete isolation in her room” and the entire hotel is under lockdown, the ministry said.

10:21 GMT – Coronavirus likely of animal origin, no sign of lab manipulation – WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) said that all available evidence suggested that the novel coronavirus originated in bats in China late last year and it was not manipulated or constructed in a lab.

US President Donald Trump said last week that his government was trying to determine whether the coronavirus emanated from a lab in Wuhan, in central China.

“All available evidence suggests the virus has an animal origin and is not manipulated or constructed virus in a lab or somewhere else,” WHO spokeswoman Fadela Chaib told a Geneva news briefing. “It is probable, likely that the virus is of animal origin.”

More:

Coronavirus: All you need to know about the symptoms and risks

Dispelling the myths around the new coronavirus outbreak

How to make sense of the coronavirus numbers and charts

10:08 GMT – Spain records 430 new coronavirus deaths

New deaths attributed to the new coronavirus in Spain are slightly up again, with 430 fatalities that bring the total death toll to 21,282 from a 4-week low of 399 daily deaths on Monday.

Spain is reporting nearly 4,000 new infections for a total of 204,178, a two percent day-to-day increase in line with the average for the past four days, health ministry data shows.

The government is assessing already how to roll back one of Europe’s strictest lockdowns, starting from next Monday, by allowing children to go out onto the streets for brief periods. Spain’s centre-left cabinet is discussing details on how the measure will be implemented during Tuesday’s weekly meeting.

09:45 GMT – Iran says 1,000 foreign prisoners temporarily released

Iran’s judiciary said it has temporary released more than 1,000 foreign prisoners due to the novel coronavirus outbreak, following criticism by UN human rights experts.

“What Iran has done in guaranteeing prisoners’ health and granting furlough to them is a significant move” compared with what other countries have done, said judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Esmaili.

British-Iranian woman Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, arrested in 2016 and serving a five-year jail term for sedition, was among 100,000 prisoners temporarily released in March.

Her leave had been extended until May 20, her lawyer told state news agency IRNA.

09:30 GMT – Afghanistan’s Ghani tests negative for coronavirus

Afghan President Ashraf Ghani and the first lady have tested negative for the novel coronavirus, officials announced after reports of an outbreak at the presidential palace.

Presidential spokesperson Sediq Sediqqi said the tests were conducted at their own request. “The president is healthy,” Sediqqi tweeted.

At least 40 employees of the palace have been infected by the virus, the New York Times reported on Sunday.

09:15 GMT – Global hunger could double due to COVID-19 blow – UN

The number of people facing acute food insecurity could nearly double this year to 265 million due to the economic fallout of COVID-19, the United Nations World Food Programme (WFP) said.

The impact of lost tourism revenues, falling remittances and travel and other restrictions linked to the coronavirus pandemic are expected to leave some 130 million people acutely hungry this year, adding to around 135 million already in that category.

“COVID-19 is potentially catastrophic for millions who are already hanging by a thread,” said Arif Husain, chief economist and director of research, assessment and monitoring at the WFP.

09:00 GMT – Virgin Australia airline seeks bankruptcy protection

Virgin Australia, the nation’s second-largest airline, announced it had entered voluntary administration, seeking bankruptcy protection after a debt crisis worsened by the coronavirus shutdown pushed it into insolvency.

The airline said in a statement to the Australian Securities Exchange that it had appointed a team of Deloitte administrators to “recapitalize the business and help ensure it emerges in a stronger financial position on the other side of the COVID-19 crisis”.

Virgin is one of the first major airlines to seek bankruptcy protection in response to the pandemic. Virgin’s administrators have taken control of the company and will try to work out a way to save either the company or its business.

The move came after the Australian government refused Virgin’s request for a 1.4 billion Australian dollar ($888 million) loan.

08:45 GMT – Indonesia reports 375 new coronavirus infections, 26 deaths

Indonesia reported 375 new coronavirus infections on Tuesday, taking the total in the Southeast Asian country to 7,135.

Health ministry official Achmad Yurianto reported 26 new coronavirus deaths, taking the total to 616.

08:30 GMT – WHO: Prepare for a new way of living amid coronavirus

The World Health Organization said rushing to ease coronavirus restrictions will likely lead to a resurgence of the illness, a warning that comes as governments start rolling out plans to get their economies up and running again.

“This is not the time to be lax. Instead, we need to ready ourselves for a new way of living for the foreseeable future,” said Dr Takeshi Kasai, the WHO regional director for the Western Pacific.

He said governments must remain vigilant to stop the spread of the virus and the lifting of lockdowns and other social distancing measures must be done gradually and strike the right balance between keeping people healthy and allowing economies to function.

08:15 GMT – Denmark says public gatherings will not exceed 500 people until September

Denmark will not allow public gatherings to exceed 500 persons until at least September 1, the Danish health ministry said in a statement.

The statement contradicted earlier media reports, which said the government would allow larger public gatherings from May 10. A current upper limit on public gatherings of 10 people is in effect until May 10.

08:10 GMT – Philippines reports nine new coronavirus deaths, 140 more infections

The Philippines’ health ministry recorded nine new coronavirus deaths and 140 additional confirmed cases.

In a bulletin, the health ministry said total coronavirus deaths have reached 437 while infections have risen to 6,599.

But 41 more patients have recovered, bringing total recoveries to 654, it added.

Hello, this is Usaid Siddiqui in Doha taking over from my collegue Kate Mayberry.

04:00 GMT – ICRC steps up support in congested Asian prisons

The International Committee of the Red Cross, which works in prisons worldwide, is stepping up efforts to curb the spread of coronavirus in overcrowded prisons in the Philippines, Cambodia and Bangladesh.

As well as a 48-bed isolation centre for Manila’s prisons, it has donated 20 tonnes of healthcare, hygiene and sanitation items to Cambodia’s Directorate General of Prisons and organised hygiene training sessions for prison staff in Bangladesh where it has also distributed disinfection materials.

03:35 GMT – Not so super: Singapore pulls virus superheroes after backlash

Singapore has pulled the Virus Vanguard, a group of five characters it developed as part of a public information campaign on its lockdown, dubbed the circuit breaker.

“We have received quite a lot of feedback on the characters and we will be reviewing them,” the government said on its official Facebook page. “We are sorry if we offended anyone.”

The five characters included Dr Disinfector, Care-leh Dee (pronounced Care Lady) and Fake News Buster.

Critics said the approach was too frivolous given the scale of the epidemic in the city-state, now the largest in Southeast Asia.

03:20 GMT – Philippines stepping up testing for coronavirus

The Philippines is stepping up testing for the coronavirus with the assistance of the Red Cross whose laboratory aims to test 1,000 samples a day.

#Philippines #RedCross #COVID19 molecular lab is up and running.

☑️More than 1400 samples received so far
☑️200 samples being tested right now
☑️Ramping up to 1,000 tests a day

👏👏👏 pic.twitter.com/bL75ahpaMy

— IFRC Asia Pacific (@IFRCAsiaPacific) April 21, 2020

02:50 GMT – Panic in Palu as Indonesia coronavirus cases surge

Palu was the city in Indonesia’s Sulawesi island that was shaken by an earthquake and swamped by a tsunami before parts were swallowed up by the earth in a phenomenon known as liquefaction.

That was in September 2018 and thousands of people are still living in cramped temporary shelters – tents even – reliant on aid for regular food and water. Now they have to worry about the coronavirus.

“As soon as the government said there were cases in Palu, I began panicking,” said Tari Yalijama, a 32-year-old mother of three who lives in a temporary shelter. Ian Morse has more on the situation in the Indonesian city.

02:30 GMT – Trump tweets US immigration to be temporarily suspended

US President Donald Trump says he plans to sign an executive order to temporarily suspend immigration “in light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy”.

In light of the attack from the Invisible Enemy, as well as the need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens, I will be signing an Executive Order to temporarily suspend immigration into the United States!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 21, 2020

Read more here.

02:00 GMT – Hong Kong to extend coronavirus restrictions

Hong Kong’s chief executive Carrie Lam says the territory will extend its coronavirus restrictions by 14 days.

On Monday, Hong Kong reported no new cases of the virus for the first time since early March.

Under restrictions that came into force on March 29, public gatherings of more than four people are banned, gyms, cinemas, bars and other entertainment centres are closed and foreign travellers have been barred from entering the territory.

00:45 GMT – China reports 11 new confirmed coronavirus cases

China’s latest coronavirus update shows just 11 new confirmed cases on the mainland on April 20, with no new deaths.

The National Health Commission said four of the new cases were imported.

There were seven cases of local infection, including six in the northeastern border province of Heilongjiang and one in the southern province of Guangdong.

China also reported 37 new asymptomatic coronavirus cases on the mainland on April 20, compared with 49 a day earlier.

00:30 GMT – UN member states demand ‘equitable’ access for COVID-19 vaccines

The 193 members of the UN General Assembly on Monday adopted a resolution calling for “equitable, efficient and timely” access to any future vaccines developed to fight the coronavirus.

The resolution also highlighted the “crucial leading role” played by the World Health Organization (WHO), which has faced criticism from the United States and others over its handling of the pandemic.

The resolution was drafted by Mexico and received US support. It calls for strengthening the “scientific international cooperation necessary to combat COVID-19 and to bolster coordination,” including with the private sector.

00:00 GMT – Trump criticises governors over coronavirus testing

US President Donald Trump has criticised governors who have said they cannot ease lockdowns because they do not have enough coronavirus tests.

Maryland’s Republican Governor Larry Hogan said on Monday he had secured 500,000 tests from South Korea after more than 20 days of negotiations, and said states had been forced to fend for themselves and compete against each other for tests.

At his daily briefing on Monday, Trump claimed that Hogan did not understand “too much about what was going on” while Illinois’ Democratic Governor JB Pritzker “did not understand his capacity”.

The president said: “We’re in very good shape on testing.”

—-

Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Kate Mayberry in Kuala Lumpur.

Read all the updates from yesterday (April 20) here.

Source Article from https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/04/coronavirus-dead-world-exceeds-170000-live-updates-200421005048334.html

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Stacey Abrams slams Georgia governor over decision to reopen businesses this week – NBC News

WASHINGTON — Georgia Democrat Stacey Abrams on Tuesday denounced GOP Gov. Brian Kemp’s decision to allow a number of businesses to reopen this week, one of the first governors to do so amid the coronavirus outbreak.

“There’s nothing about this that makes sense,” Abrams said in an interview on MSNBC’s “Morning Joe.” “The mayors of Atlanta, Albany and Savannah have all questioned the wisdom of doing this. And the fact is the governor didn’t consult with mayors before making this decision.”

Kemp has come under fire after announcing Monday that a number of businesses in Georgia could reopen as soon as Friday, including barbershops, gyms and other places where there is bound to be close contact among people. Kemp said Georgia theaters, restaurants and social clubs can reopen Monday, while bars, nightclubs and concert venues will remain closed.

Georgia has recorded nearly 19,000 confirmed cases, one of the highest tallies in the region, and more than 700 people have died, according to data collected by NBC News. Data compiled by John Hopkins University showed that the number of cases in Georgia rose from 7,300 on April 6 to just over 18,000 as of Sunday.

Abrams, who lost the gubernatorial election to Kemp in 2018, said that Georgia, the eighth largest state, has the 14th highest infection rate and one of the slowest testing rates.

“These jobs that are reopening, these businesses that are reopening, are going to force front-line workers back to work without having been tested, without having access to a health care system to help them if they are in need,” she said.

Trying to push a “false opening of the economy,” Abrams said, risks “putting more lives in danger.”

“The responsibility of a business owner is to first protect your workers. That cannot happen when you have a nail salon, when there’s no possible way for that technician to be distant from their customer, when you are running a restaurant that requires face-to-face service,” she said.

The federal government, she said, should help struggling small businesses through the Paycheck Protection Program that was recently created by the last coronavirus relief package. The program, however, was depleted last week, and she said that it has been helping large corporations more than small businesses. Congress is negotiating a measure to pour funding back into the program.

Abrams, who previously served as minority leader of Georgia’s House, also said in the interview Tuesday that she was open to being former Vice President Joe Biden’s running mate.

“All I can say is that if asked to serve, I’d be honored,” she said.

Source Article from https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/politics-news/stacey-abrams-slams-georgia-governor-over-decision-reopen-businesses-week-n1188686

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New York Gov. Cuomo says he will discuss coronavirus testing with Trump at White House meeting – CNBC

New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo said he will focus on coronavirus testing during his meeting Tuesday afternoon with President Donald Trump at the White House.

The Democratic governor told reporters he wants to talk to Trump about “testing, and what does testing mean, and how do we do it, and how can the federal government work in partnership with states?” He said New York has struggled to navigate the international supply chain for test kits since Trump has left it up to individual states to procure their own tests and supplies.

“You shouldn’t expect all these governors to run around and do an international supply chain while they’re trying to put together their testing protocol in their state, coordinating their labs,” Cuomo said at a press conference Tuesday at the Roswell Park Cancer Institute in Buffalo. “Then I have to put together an army of tracers — that’s thousands of people. That’s never been done before.”

Cuomo and the president have kept closely in touch throughout the coronavirus crisis, and each has frequently commented on how the other is handling his responsibilities. Their remarks have vacillated from full-throated praise to searing criticism, much of it in recent days focused on testing.

Asked how he’s going to handle the meeting, Cuomo said, “Life is a fine line. Being in government is a fine line. … I tell you how you negotiate the fine line: Tell the truth.”

As the crisis in New York shows signs of slowing, testing has become a central issue for government leaders and business owners eager to reopen the country. Health officials warn that testing needs to expand dramatically before the country can start to relax the strict social distancing measures put in place by state leaders.

Trump has pressured some states to move more quickly, even as his own administration’s federal guidelines recommend states or regions have a “robust testing program in place for at-risk health-care workers, including emerging antibody testing,” prior to starting the first phase of the plan.

Cuomo said he understands why the federal government has placed the responsibility of testing on the states and acknowledged that it should primarily be their responsibility. However, he noted that Federal Emergency Management Agency officials have been giving presentations about testing at the White House press briefings, and it hasn’t been clear what governors’ direct responsibilities are.

On testing, Cuomo said that New York is “doing more faster than anyone else,” but “we have to do better. We have to do more. And that’s what we’re talking about here.” The federal government should help the states procure the necessary equipment that has been in low supply so the states can conduct more tests, Cuomo said.

Some governors have cited a lack of testing supplies, including cotton swabs and reagents, as hampering their ability to conduct more tests. On Sunday, Trump said he would invoke the Defense Production Act to increase swab production by at least 20 million additional swabs per month for test kits.

“I’m going to ask them to take this piece of this national manufacturers getting the test kits, and the vials, and the cotton swabs and the chemicals,” Cuomo said. “Then the national manufacturers can feed my 211 labs and then the states can take it from there.”

Cuomo also said New York’s unemployment website “collapsed” following a surge in claims. He said the state now has 1,000 people working online and through its phone system to process the high volume.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/new-york-gov-cuomo-says-he-will-discuss-coronavirus-testing-with-trump-at-white-house-meeting.html

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Massachusetts governor orders schools closed through end of school year, daycares closed until June 29 – The Boston Globe

“The data shows we’re still very much in the grips of a pandemic here in Massachusetts,” he said. “Right now, the Commonwealth is still in the surge.”

He said remote learning would continue in all districts.

He emphasized that Tuesday’s announcement “does not mean it’s time to start summer vacation early.”

Baker also said state officials are making plans for expanding remote learning opportunities for students. And he said the state education department would also prepare for summer learning “to ensure a strong start for all students in the fall.”

Jeffrey C. Riley, the state’s commissioner of elementary and secondary education, echoed Baker’s comments on remote learning. “We want to minimize learning loss as much as possible,” Riley said. “I hope everyone will continue to work with their students to do the best they can on remote learning.”

Baker also said all non-emergency child care programs would remain closed until June 29, though programs for the children of health care workers, first responders, and other essential workers would continue.

“We know that the lack of child care for many families has created an unanticipated burden and it’s hard to look after young children and balance the demands of working at home … but maintaining this structure is the best way to keep our kids and our providers safe from the spread of this insidious disease,” he said.

Baker has also ordered all non-essential businesses closed until May 4. Asked if he would extend that order, too, he said, “I do think that what happens next is going to be more about guidelines and rules and regulations” that will allow businesses to “operate safely because that’s got to be the measure going forward.”

In other developments at Baker’s State House briefing on the coronavirus:

– Baker, a moderate Republican, said he disagreed with Republican President Donald Trump’s plan to suspend all immigration to the United States due to the coronavirus. Baker said, “I am opposed to the order. It doesn’t make any sense and I don’t’ think it makes us any safer.”

– Baker announced that the state of New York, which appears to be past the peak of its surge, would be sending the state 400 ventilators.

– Lieutenant Governor Karyn Polito announced that the state is suspending repayment of loans for four months for about 12,000 student borrowers enrolled in the state’s non-interest student loan program. “Our hope is that these deferments will help some students as they navigate the many challenges this pandemic has created,” she said.

– Baker noted that hospitals are seeing a decrease in visits from people for heart disease, cancer treatments, and kidney dialysis, and urged people to seek care if they need it. He urged people to “please use the system,” saying that state officials had worked hard to make sure that there would be room for both coronavirus patients and patients who need help for other serious conditions.

Baker said he knew cooped-up residents are eager to know whether things will return to normal soon.

But he warned that “doing it wrong could create more hardship for everyone in the long run.”

In the meantime, he said, “People need to dig deep and stay put. … We will come out the other side of it stronger than ever.”

Schools and day care centers in Massachusetts have been closed by state order since mid-March in an effort to slow the spread of the coronavirus pandemic. On March 25, Baker extended the initial closures to last through May 4.

Riley said teachers and administrators wanted to reopen schools this year if it was possible.

“They miss the kids. They love what they do,” he said. “But the data didn’t support it.”

He stressed that “remote learning is not synonymous with online learning.” He added that options in lieu of wireless access include “project-based learning” and work packets.

Riley said officials have been examining how schools have gone about reopening in other countries, where steps have included checking students’ temperatures, keeping desks six feet apart, and staggering schedules.

A number of statewide organizations, such as the Massachusetts Teachers Association and the Massachusetts Association of School Superintendents, had been urging Baker to call off the rest of the school year.

Thomas Scott, executive director of the superintendent’s association, said in an interview Tuesday morning many school district leaders felt they needed more time to prepare for a reopening of school as the pandemic wanes, which likely will require schools to practice social distancing. That raises big questions, he said, about how to handle daily school activities that generally draw large number of students, such as recess and lunch, and could even cause districts to reduce class sizes – a move that could challenge schools already tight on space.

“We need to take a breather and do some long-term planning,” he said. “We are not going to come back under normal conditions.”

Boston Superintendent Brenda Cassellius said she supported Baker’s decision to keep schools physically closed while continuing to have districts offer remote learning to students.

“BPS remains committed to providing equitable and meaningful learning opportunities for our students and has been developing plans to expand and improve upon our ongoing remote learning efforts,” Cassellius said in a statement. “Nothing is more important to us than our students, and we will remain unwavering in our efforts to ensure they get what they need for their health, safety, and continued learning.”

Daily life around the world has been disrupted as governments have shut down schools and businesses, and asked or ordered people to stay at home, in an effort to stem the spread of the virus. The world economy has been grinding to a halt.

The global pandemic has sickened more than 2.5 million people and killed more than 171,000. In the United States, more than 788,000 people have been sickened and more than 42,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Massachusetts is in the midst of a surge of severely ill patients. The death toll stood at 1,809 as of Monday. A highly cited University of Washington Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation model, which earlier had predicted higher numbers, now projects deaths will total over 3,200.

Officials increasingly are optimistic, however, that the surge, while deadly, will not overwhelm the state’s hospitals.

The virus can cause mild to severe illness. Older adults and people with serious underlying conditions are most at risk for severe illness and death, according to the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Bianca Vázquez Toness can be reached at bianca.toness@globe.com. Follow her on Twitter at @biancavtoness. Matt Stout can be reached at matt.stout@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @mattpstout James Vaznis can be reached at james.vaznis@globe.com. Follow him on Twitter @globevaznis.

Source Article from https://www.bostonglobe.com/2020/04/21/nation/coronavirus-boston-massachusetts-april-21/

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Maryland’s first lady capitalizes on her South Korean heritage to secure test kits – CNN

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Trump says he is suspending immigration over coronavirus, need to protect jobs – CNBC

President Donald Trump said Monday that he is temporarily suspending immigration to the United States in response to the coronavirus pandemic and the “need to protect jobs.”

In a tweet Monday night, the president attributed the suspension to an “attack from the Invisible Enemy” and the “need to protect the jobs of our GREAT American Citizens.”

He added that he would sign an executive order temporarily suspending immigration.

Trump previously barred travel from China and Europe to stop the spread of the coronavirus.

It’s not clear from the president’s tweet whether the order would bar non-U.S. citizens from traveling to the country for purposes such as business or to visit family.

The president said last month that he was discussing closing the country’s borders with Mexico and Canada because of the virus. A senior official told NBC News then that the administration was exploring new restrictions amid fears that large numbers of Central Americans would try to illegally access the U.S. health care system.

According to data collected by Johns Hopkins University, Honduras has recorded 477 confirmed cases and 46 deaths, topping the so-called “northern triangle” countries — El Salvador, Honduras and Guatemala.

Reuters reported Monday that Peru has been the hardest hit Latin American country, with more than 400 deaths and nearly 16,000 cases.

This is a developing story and will be updated.

Source Article from https://www.cnbc.com/2020/04/21/trump-says-he-is-suspending-immigration-over-coronavirus.html

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12:56 GMT – Austrian restaurants, churches and some schools to reopen from May 15

12:52 GMT – Iraq eases restrictions ahead of Ramadan

12:45 GMT – Indonesia bans traditional Ramadan exodus to rein in coronavirus

12:35 GMT – Thailand extends foreigners’ visas as coronavirus cases slow

12:30 GMT – Coronavirus: India charity making 70,000 meals a day for the poor

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12:15 GMT – Dutch coronavirus cases rise by 729 to 34,134 -authorities

12:10 GMT – Italy PM warns easing lockdown risks increasing contagion curve

12:00 GMT – Indonesia’s Aceh holds public floggings despite virus fears

11:45 GMT – UN urges world to quickly scale up medicines, vaccines

11:29 GMT – No new corona cases in Lebanon in past 24 hours – health ministry

11:12 GMT – Lebanese MPs sprayed with sanitiser at makeshift Parliament

10:55 GMT – Pakistan records highest number of coronavirus deaths in a day

10:37 GMT – Virus outbreak at migrant hotel near Athens

10:21 GMT – Coronavirus likely of animal origin, no sign of lab manipulation – WHO

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10:08 GMT – Spain records 430 new coronavirus deaths

09:45 GMT – Iran says 1,000 foreign prisoners temporarily released

09:30 GMT – Afghanistan’s Ghani tests negative for coronavirus

09:15 GMT – Global hunger could double due to COVID-19 blow – UN

09:00 GMT – Virgin Australia airline seeks bankruptcy protection

08:45 GMT – Indonesia reports 375 new coronavirus infections, 26 deaths

08:30 GMT – WHO: Prepare for a new way of living amid coronavirus

08:15 GMT – Denmark says public gatherings will not exceed 500 people until September

08:10 GMT – Philippines reports nine new coronavirus deaths, 140 more infections

04:00 GMT – ICRC steps up support in congested Asian prisons

03:35 GMT – Not so super: Singapore pulls virus superheroes after backlash

03:20 GMT – Philippines stepping up testing for coronavirus

02:50 GMT – Panic in Palu as Indonesia coronavirus cases surge

02:30 GMT – Trump tweets US immigration to be temporarily suspended

02:00 GMT – Hong Kong to extend coronavirus restrictions

00:45 GMT – China reports 11 new confirmed coronavirus cases

00:30 GMT – UN member states demand ‘equitable’ access for COVID-19 vaccines

00:00 GMT – Trump criticises governors over coronavirus testing

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