Watch: New Zealand expats forced to seek mental health support after quarantine fees introduced. Credits: Video – Newshub; Image – Getty
The total number of confirmed cases of COVID-19 is only a day or two away from reaching 20 million.
So far 727,000 people have died in the pandemic, which is showing no signs of slowing with many people simply refusing to follow medical advice.
Here are the latest developments from around the world overnight.
United States
Serena Williams said on Saturday the COVID-19 outbreak has not only given her a much needed stretch of downtime with her family, it has also turned her into a bit of a “neurotic” and “a recluse” given her past health scares.
The 23-times Grand Slam champion, who has a history of blood clots and pulmonary embolisms, said she has not taken the virus situation lightly and that her health has been her top priority ahead of her return to competition.
“I’ve been a little bit of a recluse,” Williams, 38, said on a video call from Lexington, Kentucky where she will compete in next week’s Top Seed Open.
“I don’t have full lung capacity so I’m not sure what would happen to me. I’m sure I would be OK but I don’t want to find out.”
President Donald Trump on Saturday plans to sign an executive order intended to provide economic relief to Americans hurt by the coronavirus pandemic after the White House failed to reach a deal with Congress, a White House source said.
Peru
The Peruvian football league was suspended on Saturday, just a day after it resumed following a five-month hiatus due to the COVID-19 pandemic, because fans refused to socially distance.
Peru has seen a resurgence in novel coronavirus cases in recent days. On Friday the health ministry reported 8466 new cases for a total of 463,875 and more than 20,000 people have died in the country due to the coronavirus.
Brazil
Rio de Janeiro residents flocked to favourite nightlife hotspots and could be seen crowded together in the early hours of Saturday, widely ignoring social distancing measures meant to slow the spread of the novel coronavirus.
Brazil’s death toll from COVID-19 is expected soon to hit 100,000 and continue to climb as most Brazilian cities reopen shops and dining even though the pandemic has yet to peak.
Cuba
Cuba has stepped up quarantine measures to fight the novel coronavirus after a spike in new cases has forced authorities to backtrack on measures to further open up the Caribbean economy.
On Friday, health officials reported 54 new coronavirus cases marking the highest number in a month. Of the new cases, 43 were reportedly in Havana.
In mid July, Cuba announced its first day with no new cases detected.
As of Friday, Cuba has confirmed more than 2800 cases and over 80 deaths.
France
Parisians and holidaymakers strolling along the banks of the River Seine or browsing open-air markets in Paris must wear a face mask from Monday after authorities imposed new measures to curb a rise in coronavirus infections.
The order, which applies to people aged 11 and over, covers busy outdoor areas in the French capital, although tourist sites such as the Eiffel Tower, the Arc de Triomphe and Champs-Elysees boulevard were not listed.
The number of people in France infected with coronavirus rose by 2288 on Friday, a new post-lockdown high.
United Kingdom
Randox Laboratories, a Northern Ireland-based medical technology company, has been instructed by Britain’s medicines regulator to recall up to 741,000 coronavirus test kits from the national test and trace program as a precautionary measure.
The government had on July 15 instructed the program, run by the National Health Service, to stop using the kits, citing concerns that they may not meet required safety standards.
Germany
People demonstrating against the German government’s measures to combat the coronavirus staged a rally in Stuttgart on Saturday).
Protesters turned up to complain about measures like mask wearing, marching under the banner “Celebration of freedom and peace”.
Australia
Australia’s second-most populous state, Victoria, recorded 466 cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday and 12 COVID-19 deaths, although authorities expressed hope for a stabilisation in new infections thanks to strict mobility restrictions.
Victoria is at the centre of a second wave of infections in Australia, accounting for more than two-thirds of the national tally of nearly 21,000. The southeastern state, of which Melbourne is the capital, has recorded 181 deaths, almost 70 percent of the Australia’s fatalities from the pandemic.
Victoria state Premier Daniel Andrews expressed concern over 2584 “mystery cases”, including 130 on Saturday, with unknown sources of infection. The state’s Chief Medical Officer Brett Sutton welcomed a “stabilisation” in coronavirus cases, saying the state had averted an exponential increase in infections due to its strict lockdowns.
Melbourne went under a strict Stage Four lockdown on Thursday, shuttering shops and business and requiring its 5 million inhabitants to stay home.
India
Tens of thousands of women working on India’s coronavirus frontline are going on strike.
They’re calling for basic protections against COVID-19 and for their work to be recognised with a proper wage.
The women identify cases, trace those who may need to go into quarantine and keep records.
China
Chinese health authority said Saturday that it received reports of 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Friday, including 25 locally transmitted. Of the locally-transmitted cases, all were reported in Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region.
Five new suspected COVID-19 cases were reported in Shanghai.
Israel
Thousands of Israelis rallied outside Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s residence in Jerusalem on Saturday as anger mounted over corruption allegations and his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
“Your time is up”, read the giant letters projected onto a building at the protest site, as demonstrators waved Israeli flags and called on Netanyahu to resign over what they say is his failure to protect jobs and businesses affected by the pandemic.
Israel in May lifted a partial lockdown that had flattened an infection curve. But a second surge of COVID-19 cases and ensuing restrictions has seen Netanyahu’s approval ratings plunge to under 30 percent.
Many restrictions have since been lifted to revive business activity, but unemployment hovers at 21.5 percent and the economy is expected to contract by 6 percent in 2020.
Algeria
Algeria said on Saturday it will further ease its coronavirus lockdown, including shortening an overnight curfew and lifting some travel curbs.
In addition, large mosques will be allowed to reopen, along with beaches, entertainment venues, hotels, restaurants and cafes.
The North African country has recorded 34,155 coronavirus infections, with 1282 deaths.
Reuters / Newshub.