(Bloomberg) — India saw its coronavirus cases exceed 1 million, becoming the third country to cross that mark. Manila, capital of the Philippines, may return to a lockdown as coronavirus cases rise while Jakarta in Indonesia keeps social-distancing measures set to expire amid a surge in cases.
Australia’s most-populous state will tighten restrictions on gatherings while its second most-populated state had a second day of a spike in cases. In Tokyo, cases hit a record for a second consecutive day. Hong Kong’s outbreak is set to top earlier waves, in a cautionary tale.
Florida and Texas reported record numbers of virus deaths. Brazil surpassed 2 million cases as the virus spreads in the country’s poorer, remote areas.
Dr. Anthony Fauci said many states reopened too quickly and called for “a time out” yet said he expects results for a clinical trial on monoclonal antibodies by late summer or early fall. The U.K. accused Russian state intelligence of trying to steal vaccine research.
Key Developments:
Global Tracker: Cases top 13.8 million; deaths top 589,000Boris Johnson readies extra winter funding for U.K. virus effortMask or No Mask? And Which Kind? What the Experts Say: QuickTakeChildhood Covid-19 infections mount with schools eyeing openingsRussia hack shows dark side of world desperate for vaccine
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Tokyo Virus Cases Hit Record for a Second Consecutive Day
Tokyo saw a second straight day of record coronavirus cases Friday, with 293 reported amid growing concern about the ability of authorities to suppress the outbreak. The city had 286 cases Thursday.
While Hong Kong and Australia have tightened restrictions on activities as virus cases rebounded, Japanese officials have said similar measures are not needed now. Even as nationwide cases approach peak levels, they continue to stress the differences between the current surge and the one in April when the country declared a state of emergency.
Yasutoshi Nishimura, Japan’s minister in charge of the virus, stressed at a briefing that serious cases — those in an ICU or needing a ventilator — weren’t rising, and that while hospitalizations in Tokyo had increased to 760, the city’s health care system wasn’t under pressure.
Marinomed Says Drug Effective on Covid-19 in Pre-Clinical Trials (2:40 p.m. HK)
Marinomed Biotech says pre-clinical data show its Carragelose product has the “potential to reduce the risk of an infection with SARS-CoV-2 and may also treat COVID-19.”
A study confirms Carragelose reduces infection of cells from SARS-CoV2 virus. Marinomed plans clinical tests for an inhalation solution with efficacy results expected in the next 12 months. If clinical data are positive, the inhalation product could be available in 2021, the company said.
China’s Xinjiang Ramps Up Virus Controls After New Case Found (2:35 p.m. HK)
China’s Xinjiang province tightened virus control measures after finding one coronavirus case Thursday, amid worries of another outbreak just after the end of a recent spike in cases in Beijing.
The new confirmed case in the provincial capital Urumqi came after China reported zero new domestic cases for 10 straight days. The source of the infection is still unclear.
In addition, Zhejiang province in China’s east reported July 15 that a person who traveled from Xinjiang was found to be infected, though did not display symptoms. China doesn’t include asymptomatic infections in its official case count.
From Friday, all outbound travelers from Urumqi airport will have to show a negative nucleic acid test results to prove they are virus-free, and all inbound visitors will be required to do the same starting Monday. Subway service was halted in Urumqi and buses were also halted in Changji, a nearby city.|
Researchers in India Given Go-Ahead to Study Elderly Population (1:28 p.m. HK)
Researchers from the Indian government have been given the green light to study the century-old BCG vaccine’s ability to prevent severe incidence of Covid-19 in the high-risk elderly population. The trials will take place among people 60 years old and older in the southern Indian state of Tamil Nadu, according to a tweet from the state’s health minister and local media reports.
This follows an ongoing study in Australia that has since been expanded to European countries, and another in India, to see if the tuberculosis shot’s widely known immunity-boosting properties might also protect health care workers against the coronavirus.
Denmark Eases Travel Guidelines for Regions in Sweden (1:20 p.m. HK)
Denmark’s foreign ministry has updated its travel guidelines in response to its latest assessment of the risks posed by Covid-19.
The new list includes an easing of guidelines for a number of regions in Sweden, namely Halland, Kalmar and Värmland.
Germany’s Virus Rate Edges Higher Though New Cases Hold Steady (1:16 p.m. HK)
Germany’s coronavirus infection rate inched higher while the number of new cases stayed significantly below the level at the height of the outbreak.
There were 560 new cases in the 24 hours through Friday morning, bringing the total to 201,450, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That compares with 434 the previous day and almost 7,000 at the peak of the pandemic in late March. There were seven new deaths, increasing the total to 9,087.
The reproduction factor of the virus rose to 1.10 on Thursday from 1.02 the day before, according to the latest estimate from the Robert Koch Institute. That means 100 infected people are estimated to pass it onto 110 others. The government is trying to keep the figure below 1.0 to prevent a second wave of infections, and on Thursday tightened travel rules.
Hong Kong Outbreak Set to Top Earlier Waves (1:12 p.m. HK)
Hong Kong’s coronavirus outbreak is expected Friday to surpass the magnitude of its earlier waves of infections, in a cautionary tale that the worst may be yet to come in the pandemic.
The resurgence in the Asian financial hub has swelled the cases to more than 300 in almost two weeks, a more aggressive pace than its previous wave in March and April when infections reached that magnitude only after a month. More than a third of infections are of unknown origins, signaling that hidden chains of transmission are widespread.
The current outbreak is only a few cases short of the previous wave’s size and is all but guaranteed to eclipse it when officials release the daily tally Friday afternoon. This will make the former British colony one of the first in the region to see a new wave dwarf previous outbreaks.
A similar scenario is building in Japan and Australia, reflecting the challenge of containing the pathogen even in places that were widely lauded and emulated for their containment strategies.
India Becomes Third Country to Cross 1 Million Virus Case Mark (12:05 p.m. HK)
India saw its coronavirus cases exceed 1 million, becoming the third country to cross that mark, according to its health ministry, as the virus continues to spread rapidly in the world’s second most-populous nation.
The south Asian country is trailing only the U.S. and Brazil, which have 3.6 million and 2 million infections respectively, data compiled by Johns Hopkins University show.
With 1.3 billion people, India’s population is more than double of these two countries combined and is squeezed into a smaller land mass, implying the virus has plenty more room to run. Though India imposed the world’s most-expansive lockdown in the end of March with fewer than 1,000 cases, it could not suppress the viral transmission.
Philippines to Allow Some Foreigners to Enter Starting Aug. 1 (11:44 a.m. HK)
The Philippines will allow some foreigners to enter starting August 1, presidential spokesperson Harry Roque said.
The number of arriving foreigners will be subject to the maximum capacity of the port of entry as returning Filipinos will be given priority, according to the virus task force. Foreigners must pre-book their own Covid-19 testing provider and accredited quarantine facility.
Students From Europe Are Exempt From U.S. Travel Ban: Reuters (10:42 a.m. HK)
Students from Europe are exempt from the U.S. coronavirus travel ban, Reuters says, citing State Department communication with congressional offices.
The U.S. also plans exemptions for some au pairs and family members of visa holders.
Shenzhen Requires Hong Kong Travelers to Show Negative Virus Test (10:38 a.m. HK)
Travelers from Hong Kong entering Shenzhen will be required to show a negative nucleic acid test completed within 72 hours and be subject to a mandatory 14-day quarantine, according to a notice by the Office of Port of Entry and Exit of Shenzhen Municipal People’s Government.
The measures went into effect at 10 a.m. Friday. Yet quarantine exemptions for certain business people, cross-border students and drivers still apply.
South Korea Confirms 60 More Cases for 13,672 Total (9:40 a.m. HK)
South Korea reported 60 more coronavirus cases in 24 hours, raising the total tally to 13,672, according to data from the Korea Centers for Disease Control & Prevention.
Two additional deaths were reported for a total of 293. Of the additional cases, 21 are locally infected, while 39 are imported cases, according to the report.
Australia’s Most-Populous State Tightens Restrictions, Victoria Has Surge in New Cases (9:36 a.m. HK)
Australia’s most-populous state — New South Wales — will further tighten restrictions for gatherings and venues, including clubs and cafes, Premier Gladys Berejikliantells told reporters.
Meanwhile, Australia’s second-most populous state, Victoria, recorded its second day of a spike in coronavirus cases as its capital city Melbourne is gripped by a second wave of infections. It had 428 new cases in the past 24 hours, Premier Daniel Andrews told reporters Friday. That’s the largest single-day increase for any of Australia’s states and territories, according to data compiled by Bloomberg.
“These numbers are very challenging, we always said it would get worse before it got better,” Andrews said.
In New South Wales, restrictions were tightened on gatherings Friday, fearing undetected cases of community transmission could spread rapidly as had occurred in Melbourne. All restaurants, clubs and cafes will be limited to bookings of a maximum 10 people and restricted to one person per four-square-meters, while weddings and other functions will be limited to 150 guests who must remain seated and not dance or mingle.
Jakarta Keeps Loose Social Distancing Measures as Cases Surge (9:08 a.m. HK)
Indonesia’s capital will remain under social-distancing measures for two more weeks after new coronavirus cases surged since the easing of a partial lockdown a month ago.
The transition period to completely exit a so-called large scale social distancing rules to contain the virus will be extended to July 30, Governor Anies Baswedan said in a message posted on YouTube. The city, which last month allowed offices, places of worship, restaurants and shopping malls to reopen in phases with some limits, was set to lift the remaining restrictions on Friday.
Jakarta, home to more than 10 million people, has remained one of Indonesia’s virus hotspots with the gradual easing of social distancing rules allowing most economic activities to resume, fueling a surge in infections. The continuation of curbs may hit a nascent recovery in Southeast Asia’s largest economy.
Meadows Calls Fauci’s 1918 Flu Comparison ‘Irresponsible’ (9:00 a.m. HK)
President Donald Trump’s chief of staff criticized Anthony Fauci for comparing the current coronavirus outbreak to the 1918 flu pandemic, calling it “irresponsible,” after reprimanding another top White House adviser for publicly attacking Fauci, the nation’s top infectious disease expert.
“He suggested that this virus was worse than, or as bad as, the 1918 flu epidemic,” Mark Meadows said during a Fox News interview. “I can tell you that not only is that false, it’s irresponsible to suggest so.”
Fauci said earlier this week at an event sponsored by Georgetown University that the coronavirus is a “pandemic of historic proportions” and “when history looks back on it, will be comparable to what we saw in 1918,” when influenza killed tens of millions of people worldwide.
Manila May Return to Lockdown as Infections Rise (8:58 a.m. Hong Kong)
The Philippine capital will remain under loose movement restrictions starting July 16, but may return to lockdown in two weeks if coronavirus cases continue to rise.
Metro Manila will stay under general community quarantine until the end of July, allowing most businesses to remain open, presidential spokesman Harry Roquesaid at a televised briefing. The health department on Thursday said the nation added 2,498 cases, bringing total infections to 61,266 while deaths rose by 29 to 1,643.
Coronavirus cases in the Philippines have more than tripled since stay-home orders in the capital were lifted and most businesses were allowed to reopen starting June. The Philippines has the second-highest number of infections in Southeast Asia, next to Indonesia.
Fauci Calls for ‘Time Out’ on Reopening (5:54 p.m. NY)
Anthony Fauci said many states rushed too quickly to reopen without bringing the virus adequately under control, leading to the resurgence in states across the U.S. south and west.
“We’ve got to regroup, call a time out,” Fauci, director of the National Institute for Allergy and Infectious Disease, said live in an interview with Facebook Inc. Chief Executive Officer Mark Zuckerberg.
Fauci also told Zuckerberg that he expects results for a clinical trial on monoclonal antibodies by late summer or early fall.
“What we really need are drugs that, when given early, can prevent a symptomatic person from requiring hospitalization or very dramatically diminish the time that they’re symptomatic,” Fauci said during the Facebook Live interview on Thursday. Monoclonal antibodies can be administrated intravenously or through a shot.
Brazil Tops 2 Million Cases (5:35 p.m. NY)
Latin America’s biggest economy reported 45,403 new cases of Covid-19 in a 24-hour period, pushing the number of infections to more than 2 million. The death toll rose by 1,322 to 76,688. Brazil trails only the U.S. on both counts.
Brazil has added 1 million cases in less than a month in a rapidly shifting outbreak. Wile official numbers have stabilized in places such as Sao Paulo, the richest state, the disease is spreading fast elsewhere. The World Health Organization has said that Brazil’s outbreak may not peak until August.
Texas Reports Record Deaths, Soaring Infections (5:07 p.m. NY)
Texas posted its worst day of Covid-19 fatalities and recorded more than 10,000 new cases for a third straight day. The death toll rose by 129, breaking the record of 110 set on Wednesday, according to state health department data.
The tally of new cases is closing in on the 300,000 mark.
Officials across Texas are mobilizing overflow mortuary space as communities anticipate a surge in coronavirus deaths following Fourth of July festivities. The U.S. South and Southwest are contending with explosive outbreaks after relaxing controls.
U.S. Infections Rise 2.1% (4 p.m. NY)
Coronavirus cases in the U.S. increased 2.1% as compared with the same time Wednesday to 3.54 million, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. The percentage gain was in line with the past’s week’s average of 2%. Deaths rose 0.7% to 137,897.
Florida posted a record 156 new deaths, pushing the total to 4,677. Cases rose 4.6% to 315,775, compared with an average increase of 4.4% in the previous seven days.Arizona reported 3,259 new cases, a 2.5% increase to 134,613 that was below the prior seven-day average of 2.8%. The state reported 58 new virus deaths, bringing the total to 2,492.Oklahoma cases rose 7.9% to 23,446, according to the data from Johns Hopkins and Bloomberg News.
Russian Denies Vaccine Hacking (12:35 p.m. NY)
A Russian official denied accusations by the U.S., U.K. and Canada that state intelligence is hacking international research centers working to develop a Covid-19 vaccine.
“This whole story is an attempt to tarnish the reputation of the Russian vaccine by some of the people who are scared of its success,” said Kirill Dmitriev, head of the Russian sovereign wealth fund, which is involved in research into a vaccine. “Because the Russian vaccine could potentially be the first to the market and it could potentially be the most effective vaccine out there.
Florida Reports Record Fatalities (10:40 a.m. NY)
Florida posted a record 156 new Covid-19 deaths among residents, pushing the cumulative total to 4,677, according to a report Thursday.
Florida reported 315,775 Covid-19 cases on Thursday, up 4.6% from a day earlier, compared with an average increase of 4.4% in the previous seven days, according to the report from the state’s Department of Health, which includes data through Wednesday.
The new rate of people testing positive for the first time fell to 12.9% for Wednesday, from 13.6% on Tuesday.
U.K. Says Russians Are Trying to Steal Vaccine Research (9 a.m. NY)
The U.K. accused Russian state intelligence of hacking international pharmaceutical and academic research in a bid to win the race to secure a vaccine against Covid-19. The National Cyber Security Centre (NCSC) said vaccine and therapeutic sectors in multiple countries have been targeted, declining to list the names and number of institutions affected on security grounds.
Britain named the group responsible for the hacking as APT29, saying it is “almost certainly” part of Russian state intelligence. The group also goes by the name of Cozy Bear or The Dukes and has targeted U.K., U.S. and Canadian vaccine research and development organizations.
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