CORONA VIRUS DEADLY FORCE
The global death toll from coronavirus has hit 338,000 with an estimated 5.2 million people now infected. The figures from Johns Hopkins University in the US are based on official figures and media reports, so the actual total could be even higher. With the UK death toll topping 36,000 yesterday, we now have more than one in ten of the lives lost to the deadly pandemic.
The figures come amid calls for Boris Johnson to sack top aide Dominic Cummings after he was caught out having breached lockdown rules. The Prime Minister's top aide was investigated by police after travelling to his parents' home in Durham.
More Tory ministers make show of publicly backing Dominic Cummings
More senior Tories have backed Dominic Cummings. Rishi Sunak, the Chancellor of the Exchequer, has lent the under-fire senior adviser some of his current credibility. “Taking care of your wife and young child is justifiable and reasonable, trying to score political points over it isn’t,” Mr Sunak said.
The chair of the Commons education committee, Robert Halfon, wrote: “Ill couple drive 260+ miles to ensure that their small child can be looked after properly. In some quarters this is regarded as crime of the century. Is this really the kind of country we are?”
Coronavirus outbreak at detention centre for undocumented migrants A new cluster of coronavirus infections has broken out in Malaysia at a detention centre for undocumented migrants, authorities said on Saturday. Malaysia has this month arrested more than 2,000 foreigners for not having permits that allow them to be in the country following raids in areas under lockdown.
The centres they are detained in are often crowded, with dozens of migrants packed in a single cell. The United Nations and rights groups have called on Malaysia to stop the crackdown and criticised authorities for going after a vulnerable community during the pandemic.
European country records no new coronavirus cases in three days
Slovenia has recorded no new coronavirus cases for the third day in a row. The European country has what is probably the best epidemiological outlook on the continent, with just four people currently in intensive care. It has suffered 106 deaths during the pandemic so far.
Since the middle of March, Slovenia closed all schools, sports and cultural institutions, bars, restaurants, hotels and shops apart from food and drug stores, while cancelling public transport.
The government has started easing the lockdown from April 20. Public transport resumed earlier this week and some pupils will return to schools from next week. All bars and restaurants as well as small hotels with up to 30 rooms will be allowed to open.
Labour questions whether Boris Johnson knew about Dominic Cummings' trip
Downing Street’s statement on Dominic Cummings’ journey to Durham “raises more questions than it answers”, Labour said. In a statement, a Labour spokesman said: “The lockdown rules were very clear: if you or anyone in your household was suspected of having Covid-19 you must immediately self-isolate and not leave the house.“
However, the Prime Minister’s chief adviser appears to believe that it is one rule for him and another for the British people.“This will cause understandable anger for the millions of people who have sacrificed so much during this crisis.
“Number 10’s statement also raises more questions than it answers. We are still unclear who knew about this decision and when, whether this was sanctioned by the Prime Minister and whether Number 10 is now questioning the validity of the statement from Durham Police. “At this afternoon’s press conference, we will be expecting answers to these questions
Police and crime commissioner renders Dominic Cummings' trip 'most unwise'
Dominic Cummings’ lockdown journey from London to County Durham was “most unwise”, the county’s acting police and crime commissioner said.
In a statement, Steve White said: “Given the whole ethos of the guidance and regulations issued from the Government was to reduce the spread, regardless of reason, by travelling to County Durham when known to be infected was most unwise.
“To beat this crisis we need to be selfless as millions have been. The response by the people of County Durham and Darlington have been exemplary, which makes this most frustrating and concerning.”
Mr White, a former head of the Police Federation in England and Wales, added: “Incidents such as this do not help, and I can appreciate that the longer this goes on the harder it gets, but I encourage the people of County Durham and Darlington to keep up the outstanding effort seen so far by using common sense when following the guidance to stay alert and continue to social distance
Coronavirus immunity may only last six months raising doubts over 'immunity passports'
Researchers have discovered that immunity to Coronavirus may only last for six months. Findings from scientists at the University of Amsterdam have raised questions over whether ‘immunity passports’ could still be a route out of lockdown.
Researchers tested 10 men for four coronaviruses, which cause the common cold, regularly over the course of 35 year and found that there was ‘an alarmingly short duration of protective immunity’. The found that after six months the levels of antibodies had substantially reduced and by 12 months people were frequently reinfected with the virus.
Scientists predict UK will be coronavirus free from end of August
Scientists have predicted that the UK will be coronavirus-free from August 27. he Singapore University of Technology and Design created a mathematical model to predict further Covid-19 infections using current case and death data. As of predictions made on April 30, they believe the UK will have no more infections from August 27.
The US is later on September 20, while the virus will be 100% gone worldwide from December 4. The team said the model is ‘inaccurate to the complex, evolving and heterogeneous realities of different countries’ and that ‘predictions are uncertain by nature’. Other models have suggested the disease will return in waves
Head of Irish health service urges people to hold firm over coronavirus restrictions
The head of the Health Service Executive has urged the public to “hold firm” over Covid-19 restriction measures. Paul Reid, chief executive of the HSE, acknowledged that the public are worried about jobs and bills, but added that there “are bright days ahead”.
He made the comments as the number of patients with Covid-19 in hospitals continues to fall Recent figures show that by Friday, 298 patients with coronavirus were admitted to 29 hospitals across the state.
In a tweet Mr Reid said: “Like many people, today I feel for my family and friends who are worried about their jobs, are anxious over bills and are feeling stress. “I miss our family and our grand daughter abroad. There is lots of help out there though and there are bright days ahead. Hold firm
'Wanted' style poster featuring Dominic Cummings appears in Berkshire window
A poster has appeared in a Berkshire window. The wanted-style poster is adorned with a photo of Dominic Cummings, who is in hot water over a visit he made from London to Durham during lockdown. It reads: “Dominic Cummings must be going. “’Don’t do as we do, do as we say’.”
Vladamir Putin backing politician says prisoners should be Covid vaccine guinea pigs in return for shorter sentences
Prisoners should be used as guinea pigs for Covid-19 vaccines to speed up the race for a cure, a top Russian political is demanding. Inmates who have committed serious crimes would have their sentences halved in exchange for being injected with experimental vaccines, said Vladimir Zhirinovsky.
The pro-Vladimir Putin ultranationalist said: “We need to test faster on people - volunteers. “I assure you, those currently imprisoned would gladly agree to have new medication, drugs, vaccine tested on them if their term in jail and penal camp is halved.
“Say a prisoner is serving a ten year term. “We’ll tell him: ‘Here is a new medication. It will be laboratory tested on you during two or three months and your term will get halved. “You will only serve five years. “Thousands of people will respond.” Zhirinovsky, leader of the Liberal Democratic Party, the third largest in the Russian parliament, was speaking to Rossiya-24
Bookmaker has Dominic Cummings as 1-2 to be in his post in a week's time
Bookmaker Coral makes it odds on, at 1-2, that Dominic Cummings remains in his post as Senior Advisor to the Prime Minister on the 1st of June. He is 6-4 to have left his position by next month. He is facing calls to resign after travelling to Durham from his London home with coronavirus symptoms during lockdown.
“Dominic Cummings is under pressure to resign but our odds suggest that he’s on course to weather the storm. We make him odds on to still be in his post on the 1st of June,” said Coral’s Harry Aitkenhead.
Tory MPs and ministers flock to defend Dominic Cummings
Conservative MPs and ministers have come out in defence of Dominic Cummings. The morning after the Mirror revealed that the advisor had travelled from London to Durham, Tory Party members made their feelings for the controversial figure known.
China's top disease control official says the country accepts coronavirus criticism with 'humility'
China’s top disease control official said on Saturday that public criticism over the initial coronavirus outbreak was understandable, but defended Beijing’s response to the crisis.
“With such a large epidemic in China and the world, it is very normal to receive criticism from the public,” Gao Fu, director of China’s disease control and prevention centre, told reporters on the sidelines of the country’s annual meeting of parliament.
“We accept them with humility,” Gao said. Countries including the United States and Australia have criticised Beijing over a lack of transparency during the early days of the pandemic. China has labelled the allegations as “preposterous”.
Labour urges Government to devote today's press conference to providing Dominic Cummings answers
Labour said the Government should use the daily Downing Street Covid-19 press conference on Saturday to provide answers over the Prime Minister’s most senior aide, Dominic Cummings, travelling 260 miles during the lockdown. “We are still waiting for a clear explanation from Number 10 about Dominic Cummings’ actions,” said a party spokesman.
“The public have made extraordinary sacrifices during this pandemic and the lockdown. “It cannot be one rule for those who set them and another for the British people. “There is a press conference this afternoon: the country deserves answers.”
Furious caravan owners say 10% food discount instead of refund is a 'kick in the teeth'
Furious caravan owners at Parkdean Resorts have been given a 10% food and drink discount instead of refunds for holiday homes they can’t use due to lockdown restrictions. Parkdean Resorts, which runs 67 parks across the UK, say they won’t be giving back a penny of the site fees, which can reach up to £6,941 per year.
And to add insult to injury bosses have instead given owners an extra 10 per cent food and drink discount. All owner currently get a 20 per cent reduction on food and drink on site but now this has been increased to 30 per cent and it will be rolled over for the entire 2021 season.
Unions call for paid time off for coronavirus testing
Workers must have access to testing for coronavirus, including paid time off to be tested, unions are urging. The TUC said there should be easily accessible testing sites as part of measures to ease the economic lockdown. Priority should be given to those in at-risk and shielding groups, or who care for individuals in those groups, said the union organisation.
The TUC said it recognised the public health case for testing and tracing, but added that “significant questions” remained about the proposed roll-out, both in terms of equality of access and workers’ privacy.
The union federation said it believed that, without high levels of trust in the testing and tracing process, people may choose not to participate, which would undermine the effectiveness of the approach.
Dominic Cummings 'not remotely bothered' by potential lockdown breach story
A friend of Dominic Cummings reportedly claims the Prime Minister’s chief aide is “not remotely bothered” after the Mirror revealed he was investigated by police for breaking the Government’s own lockdown rules. The friend added “there is zero chance of him resigning” as Boris Johnson comes under pressure to sack his closest adviser.
The Prime Minister’s chief-of-staff was spotted by witnesses at his parents’ home in Durham, more than 250 miles from his London property when he was said to be self-isolating there, as the Government told people to stay at home to save lives.
Former Conservative MP David Liddington, who was de facto deputy PM under Theresa May, was among those saying the news raised serious questions.
He told BBC Newsnight: “There’s clearly serious questions that No10 are going to have to address not least because the readiness of members of the public to follow government guidance more generally is going to be affected by this sort of story.”
A cardboard hospital bed that can be used for coronavirus patients transforms into a coffin when they die. The bed-coffin combo was created by businessman Rodolfo Gomez after he saw disturbing images of bodies of dozens of Covid-19 victims on the streets of a South American city. In the overwhelmed city of Guayaquil, Ecuador, families have been forced to wrap the bodies of their loved ones in carpet or plastic and dump them in the streets because it is taking too long for the dead to be recovered from homes. Company accused of selling cannabis-based "cure" to Covid-19 Two US firms have been accused of selling fake Covid-19 related medical products. Apollo Holding was offering cannabidiol derived from the cannabis plant, according to the letters from the Food and Drug Administration and the Federal Trade Commission. It claimed the product would “cure” Covid-19. North Coast Biologics is accused of offering a vaccine in March, CNN reported. A letter from the FDA said the company wrote on Facebook: “Just vaccinated 12 people in west Seattle tonight . . . 12 more to vaccinate in Burien.” Americans encouraged to get out and about as Covid-19 death toll nears 100,000 Americans have been encouraged to get outside despite the country’s coronavirus death toll rising almost 1,300 yesterday. The nation’s leading infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci said citizens should go and enjoy the Memorial Day weekend outside. “Go for a run,” he said, CNN reported./p>
“Go for a walk. Go fishing. As long as you’re not in a crowd and you’re not in a situation where you can physically transmit the virus.” Dr Fauci urged people to wear masks and stay six feet away from one another. The Covid-19 death toll in the US is by far the highest of anywhere in the world at close to 100,000. Refresher: Travel rules during the pandemic Following on from the Mirror’s story about Dominic Cummings travelling from London to his family home in Durham, its worth revisiting what exactly the restrictions on movement are during the pandemic. The rules, announced in a speech the Prime Minister made to the nation on March 23, stated that people would only be allowed to leave the house for limited purposes. These were shopping for basics, one form of exercise a day, travelling to and from work, but only where absolutely necessary, and medical needs. Reinforcing the message, Mr Johnson said people should not meet family members who do not live with them. The rule on meeting family was unequivocal. It stated: “You should not be visiting family members who do not live in your home. “You should keep in touch with them using phone or video calls.” Only in exceptional circumstances were people allowed to attend relatives’ addresses; for example, to drop off food or medicine to their door. Even now the lockdown rules have been relaxed slightly, visiting friends or family in their own homes is still off limits. The current guidance states: “As with before, you cannot visit friends and family in their homes.” Brits travelling to France may have to quarantine for two weeks Brits may be made to quarantine for two weeks if they travel to France. Yesterday Home Secretary Priti Patel announced travellers entering the UK would have to self-isolate for 14 days or they could face a £1,000 fine. Despite Downing Street declaring that “no quarantine measures would apply to travellers coming from France at this stage” just last week, it was confirmed France would not be exempt following reports earlier this week it’s citizens may not be forced to quarantine. Now, Oliver Dowden, secretary of state for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, has said details of any quarantine between the UK and France are not yet confirmed. The French interior ministry said on Friday evening that it ‘regrets’ the decision to remove France’s exemption. Paris, which hoped for an exemption, also announced that “travellers coming from the United Kingdom, whatever their nationality, will be invited to complete a fortnight when the British measure (…) will actually come into force”. M I Ro Photos by Pixabay.com
