(Bloomberg) —
Spain reported the fewest new coronavirus deaths since March 23. In that country and elsewhere, officials are trying to prepare people for a return to public life. But mortality rates remain volatile, and Italy and India extended lockdowns.
U.S. deaths exceeded 2,000 for the first time in a single day, while the country’s total cases climbed over 500,000. New York, which remains the U.S. epicenter of the coronavirus, had a slight decline in fatalities after three days of record highs. Germany recorded the smallest increase in deaths in 10 days.
A Gilead drug showed promise for treating those with severe infections, while in the U.K., a professor said a vaccine might be ready in six months.
Key Developments
Coronavirus Tracker: Global cases exceed 1.7 million; deaths top 103,000Spain has fewest fatalities since March 23U.S. records more than 2,000 virus deaths in a single dayU.K. report indicates progress toward vaccineApple, Google plan contact-tracing phone app
Turks Swarm Streets Hours Before Lockdown (6:39 a.m. NY)
Thousands of Turks rushed to grocery stores before a hastily announced weekend lockdown in major cities came into effect, raising the risk of a new wave of infections.
The government gave people a two-hour warning late Friday that a two-day lockdown would be enforced in 31 cities including Istanbul and the capital, Ankara. The shopping rush led to fights in some places, videos posted on social media showed. Turkey reported 98 new fatalities, bringing the death toll to 1,006.
India Extends Lockdown Until April 30 (6:25 a.m. NY)
India will extend its nationwide lockdown until April 30, from an original date of April 14, to allow authorities time to control the growing spread of infections.
Delhi’s chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said on Twitter that Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was meeting with state leaders Saturday, made the right decision to extend the freeze. The government hasn’t announced the new plan. Cases now stand at 7,600, with 249 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Spain Reports Fewest Deaths Since March 23 (5:47 p.m. HK)
Spain reported the fewest new coronavirus deaths since March 23. The toll rose by 510 to 16,353 and total cases in the past 24 hours increased by 4,830 to 161,852, the government said Saturday.
In Spain and elsewhere in Europe, political and business leaders are increasingly talking about the “new normal” that the bloc’s citizens will have to cope with once lockdowns are lifted.
Coronavirus Vaccine Could Be Ready in Six Months: Times (5:46 p.m. HK)
A vaccine against the coronavirus could be ready by September, according to a scientist leading one of Britain’s most advanced teams. Sarah Gilbert, professor of vaccinology at Oxford University, told The Times on Saturday that she’s “80% confident” the vaccine would work, and could be ready by September. Experts have warned the public that vaccines typically take years to develop, and one for the coronavirus could take between 12 and 18 months at best.
In the case of the Oxford team, however, “it’s not just a hunch, and as every week goes by we have more data to look at,” Gilbert told the London newspaper.
Pace of Russia’s Cases Eases; Fatalities Increase in Iran, Belgium (5:25 p.m. HK)
The pace of increase in cases in Russia dipped for the first time in a week, though they climbed by 1,667 from the day before. Of the new cases, 1,030 were diagnosed in Moscow. Twelve deaths related to Covid-19 were reported, the lowest number since April 8, bringing the total to 106.
In Iran, the number of known cases topped 70,000 and fatalities climbed to 4,357 as the country recorded 125 additional deaths and 1,837 new cases.
Belgium reported 327 deaths in the past 24 hours, its second consecutive record death toll. The number of patients in intensive care dropped by 16 to 1,262, however, as did the number of cases reported — down to 1,351 from 1,684 the day before.
Some Britons Going Without Food in Lockdown (4:09 p.m. HK)
As many as 1.5 million people in the U.K. may have gone a day without eating since the lockdown was imposed, according to a YouGov poll commissioned by the Food Foundation and the Food, Farming and Countryside Commission. The online survey of 4,343 adults in the U.K. found that 3% had gone a day without eating, the equivalent of 1.5 million if scaled up to the U.K.’s adult population, according to a press release from the Food Foundation. The poll took place April 7 to 9.
Germany Has Smallest Increase in Deaths in 10 Days (3:54 p.m. HK)
Germany had the smallest increase in coronavirus deaths in 10 days and the total number of new infections slowed, offering some hope for one of Europe’s worst-hit nations.More than two weeks into a lockdown, the number of fatalities rose to 2,736 on Saturday, according to data from Johns Hopkins University. That’s an increase of 129 and the smallest since April 1. The number of new infections rose by 3,936, to 122,171. It was the smallest gain in four days.
Imported Cases Dominate China’s Numbers (1:20 p.m. HK)
China reported 46 additional cases as of April 10, with 42 of those imported. Authorities also said there were three deaths in Hubei. South Korean authorities reported an additional 30, while Thailand reported 45 more cases and two deaths.
Online Burning Man (12:35 p.m. HK)
The Burning Man arts festival in the Nevada desert, which was scheduled to be held from Aug. 30 to Sept. 7, will now be moved online because of the virus.
“In 2020 we need human connection and immediacy more than ever,” the organizers said on their website. “But public health and the well-being of our participants, staff, and neighbors in Nevada are our highest priorities.”
More Than 2,000 U.S. Deaths in a Day (12:10 p.m. HK)
The U.S. had more than 2,000 deaths from the coronavirus in a single day for the first time, while infections in the country exceeded 501,000, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
Trump Says U.S. to Help Italy (10:01 a.m. HK)
Trump says his administration will assist Italy in fighting the Covid-19 pandemic, including providing medical supplies and helping set up field hospitals. Coming to the aid of Italy will fight the outbreak while also demonstrating U.S. leadership “in the face of Chinese and Russian disinformation campaigns,” according to a White House memorandum.
Hong Kong Edges Over Singapore on Measures (8:30 a.m. HK)
While Hong Kong has recently seen its case tally slow to a couple dozen a day, Singapore’s has increased 180% in the past two weeks with infections in places from pre-schools to migrant-worker dormitories. The city-state disclosed a further 198 cases on Friday, bringing the total to 2,108.
At the same time, Hong Kong is closing the gap on Singapore in terms of fiscal stimulus. Singapore’s relief spending is equivalent to about 12% of gross domestic product while Hong Kong’s outlay is about 10% of GDP.
U.S. Spurns Airline Stakes, Mnuchin Says (6:45 a.m. HK)
U.S. airlines receiving $100 million or less in payroll assistance from the government won’t need to offer a financial stake, the Treasury Department said, as it began sending offers to the carriers.
The agency said 230 applications for aid have been received from passenger carriers. It is working with 12 that would get more than $100 million and is discussing what sort of financial instruments it will require in return.
Drug Shows Promise in Early Analysis (5:30 p.m. NY)
A Gilead Sciences Inc. experimental drug for patients with severe Covid-19 infections showed promise in an early analysis, raising tentative hope that the first treatment may be on the horizon.
The report in the New England Journal of Medicine tracked 53 people in the U.S., Europe and Canada who needed respiratory support — half on mechanical ventilation and four on a heart-lung by-pass machine. All got remdesivir for up to 10 days under a program that lets people use unapproved medicines when no other options are available.
Over 18 days, 68% of patients improved, with 17 of the 30 patients on mechanical ventilation being able to get off the device. Almost half the patients studied were ultimately discharged, while 13% died.
U.S. Deaths Climb; N.Y. Falls Slightly (4 p.m. NY)
U.S. cases were 486,994 on Friday, according to data collected by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. U.S. deaths reached 18,022 from 15,938 a day earlier.
In New York, the number of deaths dropped slightly to 777, a figure that remains grimly high following three straight days of record fatalities, Governor Andrew Cuomo said. The toll in New York has reached 7,844, he said.
In New Jersey, huge daily infection increases are slowing in Bergen County, which has the state’s most cases, another big sign that the curve is flattening, Governor Phil Murphy said. Infections in Bergen now are doubling every seven days or more.
California added 49 deaths to 541 while the number of patients in intensive-care units edged up 1.1% to 1,145 after a decrease the day before, Governor Gavin Newsom said, calling the single-digit increase is an encouraging sign.
Elsewhere:
Michigan reported the most deaths in a single day, raising total fatalities to 1,281, ranking third behind New York and New Jersey. “We are not out of the woods yet,” Governor Gretchen Whitmer tweeted when announcing the deaths.Louisiana reported a rise of 53 deaths, pushing the total to 755, while total cases increased by 968, to 19,251. More than 2,000 Louisianians in the hospital. The state’s epicenter remains the New Orleans area.
Apple, Google in Joint Covid Deal (2:30 p.m. NY)
Apple Inc. and Google unveiled a rare partnership to add technology to their smartphone platforms later this year that will alert users if they have come into contact with a person with Covid-19. Users would need to opt-in for the service.
The rivals said they are building the technology into their operating systems in two steps. In mid-May, the companies will add the ability for iPhones and Android phones to exchange anonymous information via apps run by public health authorities. In the coming months, both companies will add the technology onto their operating systems so the software works without having to download an app.
Apple’s iOS and Google’s Android systems have about 3 billion users.
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