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Coronavirus Live Updates: South Korea Goes to the Polls During Pandemic Global Criticism for Trump’s W.H.O. Cuts Over Coronavirus Response: Live Updates
(about 1 hour later)
新冠病毒疫情最新消息新冠病毒疫情最新消息
As the world continues to grapple with how to move forward from the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump dealt an additional blow, announcing Tuesday that his administration was halting payments to the World Health Organization, the public health body at the forefront of the global response to the virus.
His decision was swiftly condemned by other leaders across the world. António Guterres, the secretary general of the United Nations, warned that, with the global health agency “on the front lines” of the crisis, it is not the time to halt funding.
“It is my belief that the World Health Organization must be supported, as it is absolutely critical to the world’s efforts to win the war against Covid-19,” he said, referring to the disease caused by the new coronavirus.
Heiko Maas, the German foreign minister, criticized the decision with a pointed message to Mr. Trump.
“It doesn’t help to blame,” he wrote on Twitter. “The virus knows no borders.”
A spokesman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry urged the United States to fulfill its obligation to the W.H.O. at a critical time.
Mr. Trump, who has faced criticism for having overseen a slow and ineffective response to the virus, accused the W.H.O. of “severely mismanaging and covering up” the outbreak and said that the United States would halt funding until it had reviewed the organization’s actions. “So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” Mr. Trump said.
The move to end funding — depriving the W.H.O. of about 10 percent of its budget during a global health crisis — came on the same day that Mr. Trump took a more cooperative tone with U.S. governors, pledging to work closely with states to relax restrictions on movement. A day earlier, Mr. Trump asserted that he had “total” authority to reopen the American economy — a position that was widely challenged by legal scholars and elected officials from both parties.
“We don’t have a king; we have a president,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said.
The country’s death toll increased 17 percent on Tuesday, to more than 26,000, after New York added more than 3,700 fatalities. Officials said they were now including people who were presumed to have died of the virus but had not tested positive for it.
Millions of voters, all wearing masks, lined up at polling places across South Korea on Wednesday to elect the country’s 300-member National Assembly, even as the country fought to control the coronavirus.Millions of voters, all wearing masks, lined up at polling places across South Korea on Wednesday to elect the country’s 300-member National Assembly, even as the country fought to control the coronavirus.
Voters had their temperatures taken before being allowed to enter polling places. That step was part of safety precautions enforced by disease-control officials who ​are trying to ensure that the election will take place without causing mass infections. Those with high temperatures were led to vote ​in booths separate from the others.Voters had their temperatures taken before being allowed to enter polling places. That step was part of safety precautions enforced by disease-control officials who ​are trying to ensure that the election will take place without causing mass infections. Those with high temperatures were led to vote ​in booths separate from the others.
Voters were asked to stand at three-foot intervals while they waited. They were also required to rub their hands with sanitizer and put on disposable plastic gloves handed out by officials before enter​ing​ voting ​booths.Voters were asked to stand at three-foot intervals while they waited. They were also required to rub their hands with sanitizer and put on disposable plastic gloves handed out by officials before enter​ing​ voting ​booths.
The polling in South Korea is one of the first national elections taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic, while ​​countries like France and the United Kingdom have ​opted to postpone elections.The polling in South Korea is one of the first national elections taking place amid the coronavirus pandemic, while ​​countries like France and the United Kingdom have ​opted to postpone elections.
South Korea opened its 14,000 polling stations at 6 a.m. after disinfection. The voting will last until 6 p.m. More than 13,000 voters who are in a mandatory two-week quarantine ​but still want to vote will be escorted by government officials to vote after 6 p.m.South Korea opened its 14,000 polling stations at 6 a.m. after disinfection. The voting will last until 6 p.m. More than 13,000 voters who are in a mandatory two-week quarantine ​but still want to vote will be escorted by government officials to vote after 6 p.m.
The election pit​s​ President Moon Jae-in’s Democratic Party ag​a​inst the main conservative opposition, the United Future Party, in a contest to control the legislature. Currently, neither party holds a majority ​there. More than 30 ​much smaller ​political parties also campaigned to win seats.The election pit​s​ President Moon Jae-in’s Democratic Party ag​a​inst the main conservative opposition, the United Future Party, in a contest to control the legislature. Currently, neither party holds a majority ​there. More than 30 ​much smaller ​political parties also campaigned to win seats.
The approval ratings of Mr. Moon and his party have risen in recent weeks as South Korea has appeared to bring the coronavirus under ​control through a fast and effective operation to test and isolate patients. The country has reported fewer than 50 new cases a day in the past week.The approval ratings of Mr. Moon and his party have risen in recent weeks as South Korea has appeared to bring the coronavirus under ​control through a fast and effective operation to test and isolate patients. The country has reported fewer than 50 new cases a day in the past week.
As the United States continued to grapple with how to move forward from the coronavirus pandemic, President Trump announced Tuesday that his administration was halting payments to the World Health Organization while it reviewed the organization’s role in handling the virus.
The president, who has been under criticism for his handling of the response to the virus, blamed the W.H.O. for “severely mismanaging and covering up” the spread of the virus. “So much death has been caused by their mistakes,” the president told reporters during a White House briefing.
The move to end funding to the W.H.O. — depriving the organization of about 10 percent of its budget during a global health crisis — came on the same day that the president took a more cooperative tone with the nation’s governors, pledging to work closely with states to loosen stay-at-home orders and open the country. On Monday, President Trump had asserted that he had “total” authority to reopen the American economy — a position that was widely challenged by legal scholars, governors and other elected officials from both parties.
“We don’t have a king; we have a president,” Gov. Andrew M. Cuomo of New York said, brushing aside Mr. Trump’s assertion of authority.
On Tuesday, Gov. Gavin Newsom of California announced the state’s cautious next steps as it looks to slowly reopen. He said the state’s broad-based stay-at-home orders would eventually be replaced with less restrictive measures. But he did not give a time frame, saying he would revisit the question in two weeks.
The country’s fatality rate increased by 17 percent, to more than 26,000, on Tuesday after New York City sharply increased its death toll by more than 3,700. Officials said they were now including people who had never tested positive for the virus but were presumed to have died because of it. More than 10,000 people have died in the city.
As China has emerged from the worst of its outbreak, Chinese diplomats have become increasingly combative in defending their government against international criticism — only to sometimes inflame more tensions.As China has emerged from the worst of its outbreak, Chinese diplomats have become increasingly combative in defending their government against international criticism — only to sometimes inflame more tensions.
France is the latest example. On Tuesday the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, summoned the Chinese ambassador, Lu Shaye, to criticize an article that appeared on the Chinese Embassy’s website. The article accused unnamed Western politicians of letting old people starve to death en masse in abandoned retirement homes.France is the latest example. On Tuesday the French foreign minister, Jean-Yves Le Drian, summoned the Chinese ambassador, Lu Shaye, to criticize an article that appeared on the Chinese Embassy’s website. The article accused unnamed Western politicians of letting old people starve to death en masse in abandoned retirement homes.
Mr. Le Drian said the article, which was published on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Paris as the work of an unnamed “Chinese diplomat in France,” was “not in line with the quality of the bilateral relation” between Paris and Beijing, Reuters reported. Mr. Le Drian said the article, which was published on the website of the Chinese Embassy in Paris as the work of an unnamed “Chinese diplomat in France,” was “not in line with the quality of the bilateral relation” between Paris and Beijing.
The article said that Western news outlets have ignored failings in their own countries while making unfounded assertions that China bore the blame for letting the virus spread. Such rebuttals have become common in Chinese state-run media. But this one went further.The article said that Western news outlets have ignored failings in their own countries while making unfounded assertions that China bore the blame for letting the virus spread. Such rebuttals have become common in Chinese state-run media. But this one went further.
It said “nursing personnel in old age homes had abandoned their posts without permission, fleeing en masse, leading to old people dying in groups from starvation or illness,” according to the Chinese version of the article, which is still on the embassy website.It said “nursing personnel in old age homes had abandoned their posts without permission, fleeing en masse, leading to old people dying in groups from starvation or illness,” according to the Chinese version of the article, which is still on the embassy website.
The friction echoed a controversy last month when Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, asserted — despite no credible evidence — that the American military may have started the coronavirus epidemic. Mr. Zhao has muted his claims since China’s ambassador to Washington, Cui Tiankai, dismissed such speculation as “crazy.”The friction echoed a controversy last month when Zhao Lijian, a spokesman for the Chinese foreign ministry, asserted — despite no credible evidence — that the American military may have started the coronavirus epidemic. Mr. Zhao has muted his claims since China’s ambassador to Washington, Cui Tiankai, dismissed such speculation as “crazy.”
Mr. Lu may have also decided to try to cool the rancor in France. On Tuesday, he published an essay on his embassy’s website warmly praising cooperation between China and France during the pandemic.Mr. Lu may have also decided to try to cool the rancor in France. On Tuesday, he published an essay on his embassy’s website warmly praising cooperation between China and France during the pandemic.
Toddlers and schoolchildren in Denmark on Wednesday marked their first day back to school and day care after five weeks of coronavirus closings. The youngest had the task of taking Danish society’s first careful steps toward some semblance of normalcy, a path that’s likely to take months, as the country begins to ease stringent measures imposed as part of the lockdown.Toddlers and schoolchildren in Denmark on Wednesday marked their first day back to school and day care after five weeks of coronavirus closings. The youngest had the task of taking Danish society’s first careful steps toward some semblance of normalcy, a path that’s likely to take months, as the country begins to ease stringent measures imposed as part of the lockdown.
Denmark was one of a handful of European countries that have slowly, tentatively begun lifting constraints on daily life this week for the first time since the start of the coronavirus crisis. They are providing an early litmus test of whether Western democracies can gingerly restart their economies and restore basic freedoms without reviving the spread of the disease.Denmark was one of a handful of European countries that have slowly, tentatively begun lifting constraints on daily life this week for the first time since the start of the coronavirus crisis. They are providing an early litmus test of whether Western democracies can gingerly restart their economies and restore basic freedoms without reviving the spread of the disease.
On Tuesday, Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s crisis, reopened some bookshops and children’s clothing stores. Spain allowed workers to return to factories and construction sites, despite a daily death toll that remains over 500.On Tuesday, Italy, the epicenter of Europe’s crisis, reopened some bookshops and children’s clothing stores. Spain allowed workers to return to factories and construction sites, despite a daily death toll that remains over 500.
In Denmark, the slow return began as the number of hospital admissions remained far below capacity across the country. By Tuesday, 380 coronavirus patients were being treated in Danish hospitals, down from 535 at the peak of the outbreak in the country on April 1.In Denmark, the slow return began as the number of hospital admissions remained far below capacity across the country. By Tuesday, 380 coronavirus patients were being treated in Danish hospitals, down from 535 at the peak of the outbreak in the country on April 1.
“It’s better than we dared hope for,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a news briefing on Tuesday.“It’s better than we dared hope for,” Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen said at a news briefing on Tuesday.
With the outbreak easing, Ms. Frederiksen’s approval rating has doubled to 79 percent since the start of the crisis. But she has faced some criticism both for the drastic initial shutdown on March 11 when she closed borders, shuttered schools, shut down most of the public sector and asked the private sector to work from home.With the outbreak easing, Ms. Frederiksen’s approval rating has doubled to 79 percent since the start of the crisis. But she has faced some criticism both for the drastic initial shutdown on March 11 when she closed borders, shuttered schools, shut down most of the public sector and asked the private sector to work from home.
“We may have saved lives,” she said on Tuesday of the measures, adding that she hoped to return Denmark to the “rich and secure” society it was before the coronavirus.“We may have saved lives,” she said on Tuesday of the measures, adding that she hoped to return Denmark to the “rich and secure” society it was before the coronavirus.
“But we’re still going to need some patience,” she added.“But we’re still going to need some patience,” she added.
Spain’s partial return to work this week — a gradual loosening of restrictions on movement — brought hopes of an easing of economic worries but also sparked a fierce debate over whether the measures have come too soon.
The coronavirus is still claiming hundreds of lives each day, though it has leveled off in recent days from the peak of the outbreak. But in practice, the return to work has amounted to a trickle rather than a flood of employees, many who are commuting back to their workplaces with mixed emotions.
“I don’t agree with it, but what else can you do?” said a 52-year-old electrician who asked to be identified only by his first name, José, as he waited at a nearly empty subway station in Barcelona. “If my bosses call me, and I say no, they won’t call me again.”
Some factory workers and those employed on construction sites and in e-commerce have been allowed to return to their jobs after a two-week halt implemented to stem the spread of the virus. The outbreak overloaded Spain’s health care system and has claimed more than 18,500 lives in the country. The Spanish authorities reported 523 new deaths on Wednesday, in line with dropping death tolls reported in previous days.
The broader lockdown rules are still in place, and most Spaniards are allowed to leave their homes only to buy groceries or walk their pet. The authorities are investigating whether former Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy broke such rules after he was caught on camera exercising outdoors.
“It’s going to be long and painful, but we need to resume one day or another,” Andres Mongui, a construction worker at the Sagrada Familia basilica in Barcelona, said on Tuesday after his first day back at work.
When Guayaquil, Ecuador’s business capital, was first hit by the coronavirus, the devastation was so great that bodies were piling up in the streets.When Guayaquil, Ecuador’s business capital, was first hit by the coronavirus, the devastation was so great that bodies were piling up in the streets.
Now, as the authorities begin to grapple with the scale of the crisis, they have reason to believe that the toll for the province that includes Guayaquil is likely many times larger than the official government figure of 173 dead.Now, as the authorities begin to grapple with the scale of the crisis, they have reason to believe that the toll for the province that includes Guayaquil is likely many times larger than the official government figure of 173 dead.
The numbers are skewed because only those who test positive — dead or alive — are counted as coronavirus victims.The numbers are skewed because only those who test positive — dead or alive — are counted as coronavirus victims.
The usually bustling port city of about three million had 1,500 more deaths in March of this year than in the same month in 2019, Guayaquil’s mayor, Cynthia Viteri, said in an interview.The usually bustling port city of about three million had 1,500 more deaths in March of this year than in the same month in 2019, Guayaquil’s mayor, Cynthia Viteri, said in an interview.
“They are not only dying from Covid,” she said, referring to the disease caused by coronavirus. “People with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease are dying from lack of medical attention, because the hospitals are saturated with the critically ill, because there aren’t places where women can give birth without getting infected.”“They are not only dying from Covid,” she said, referring to the disease caused by coronavirus. “People with diabetes, hypertension, heart disease are dying from lack of medical attention, because the hospitals are saturated with the critically ill, because there aren’t places where women can give birth without getting infected.”
In addition, in the past two weeks, a special emergency team collected or authorized the burial of nearly 1,900 bodies from Guayaquil’s hospitals and homes, according to Ecuador’s government, which said that figure represented a fivefold increase in the city’s usual mortality rate.In addition, in the past two weeks, a special emergency team collected or authorized the burial of nearly 1,900 bodies from Guayaquil’s hospitals and homes, according to Ecuador’s government, which said that figure represented a fivefold increase in the city’s usual mortality rate.
To combat the spread of the virus, the city will resort to some of the most draconian quarantine measures in Latin America.To combat the spread of the virus, the city will resort to some of the most draconian quarantine measures in Latin America.
Security forces on Tuesday began cordoning off the contagion hot spots for up to three days at a time while medics looked door to door looking for potential cases and sanitary workers disinfected public spaces.Security forces on Tuesday began cordoning off the contagion hot spots for up to three days at a time while medics looked door to door looking for potential cases and sanitary workers disinfected public spaces.
Ms. Viteri, the mayor, said movement to and from the hard-hit neighborhoods, located mostly in the city’s poor periphery, will be completely cut off. City authorities will provide residents with food while the operation lasts.Ms. Viteri, the mayor, said movement to and from the hard-hit neighborhoods, located mostly in the city’s poor periphery, will be completely cut off. City authorities will provide residents with food while the operation lasts.
“The situation isn’t grave — it’s extremely grave,” said Ms. Viteri. “And we still haven’t reached a high point of infections in Guayaquil.”“The situation isn’t grave — it’s extremely grave,” said Ms. Viteri. “And we still haven’t reached a high point of infections in Guayaquil.”
The images are compelling: Fire trucks in Tehran or Manila spray the streets. Amazon tests a disinfectant fog inside a warehouse, hoping to calm workers’ fears and get them back on the job. Families nervously wipe their mail and newly delivered groceries.The images are compelling: Fire trucks in Tehran or Manila spray the streets. Amazon tests a disinfectant fog inside a warehouse, hoping to calm workers’ fears and get them back on the job. Families nervously wipe their mail and newly delivered groceries.
These efforts may help people feel like they and their government are combating the coronavirus. But in these still-early days of learning how to tamp down the spread of the virus experts disagree on how best to banish the infectious germs.These efforts may help people feel like they and their government are combating the coronavirus. But in these still-early days of learning how to tamp down the spread of the virus experts disagree on how best to banish the infectious germs.
“There is no scientific basis at all for all the spraying and big public works programs,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.“There is no scientific basis at all for all the spraying and big public works programs,” said Michael Osterholm, director of the Center for Infectious Disease Research and Policy at the University of Minnesota.
Other experts are not ready to confidently dismiss disinfecting. There are just too many unknowns about this virus, said Marc Lipsitch, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.Other experts are not ready to confidently dismiss disinfecting. There are just too many unknowns about this virus, said Marc Lipsitch, an infectious disease epidemiologist at the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health.
Dr. Lipsitch said it will be difficult to study the effectiveness of disinfecting outdoor spaces because “everyone is throwing a mix of interventions at the problem, as they should.”Dr. Lipsitch said it will be difficult to study the effectiveness of disinfecting outdoor spaces because “everyone is throwing a mix of interventions at the problem, as they should.”
Most transmission of the virus comes from breathing in droplets that an infected person has just breathed out — not from touching surfaces where it may be lurking. “Transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes on its website.Most transmission of the virus comes from breathing in droplets that an infected person has just breathed out — not from touching surfaces where it may be lurking. “Transmission of novel coronavirus to persons from surfaces contaminated with the virus has not been documented,” the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention notes on its website.
After three inconclusive elections resulting in a yearlong impasse, Israel’s president has given Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and his chief rival, Benny Gantz, until Wednesday midnight to form a unity government.
If no agreement is reached by then, Israel will edge closer to a fourth election, despite the state of national emergency created by the coronavirus crisis.
On Tuesday, six weeks after the March 2 election and a series of rancorous on-again, off-again negotiations, the two sides met for talks and again failed to finalize a deal.
After a year of political deadlock, a unity deal may provide a temporary balm for a deeply divided and anxious Israel under lockdown to fight the coronavirus. But a unity coalition is unlikely to resolve Israel’s longstanding divisions.
Since Mr. Gantz’s party would be joining a coalition that would include Mr. Netanyahu’s ultra-Orthodox allies, there is likely to be little movement to resolve the religious-secular tensions that have roiled Israeli society for years.
With Mr. Netanyahu’s right-wing partners in the government — and with Mr. Trump still in office — there is also unlikely to be any resumption of peace talks with the Palestinians. The Palestinians have rejected the Trump administration’s peace plan as hopelessly biased toward Israel.
The rule of thumb, or rather feet, has been to stand six feet apart in public. That’s supposed to be a safe distance if a person nearby is coughing or sneezing and is infected with the novel coronavirus, spreading droplets that may carry virus particles.The rule of thumb, or rather feet, has been to stand six feet apart in public. That’s supposed to be a safe distance if a person nearby is coughing or sneezing and is infected with the novel coronavirus, spreading droplets that may carry virus particles.
And scientists agree that six feet is a sensible and useful minimum distance, but, some say, farther away would be better.And scientists agree that six feet is a sensible and useful minimum distance, but, some say, farther away would be better.
Six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the organizations using that measure, bases its recommendation on the idea that most large droplets that people expel when they cough or sneeze will fall to the ground within six feet.Six feet has never been a magic number that guarantees complete protection. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, one of the organizations using that measure, bases its recommendation on the idea that most large droplets that people expel when they cough or sneeze will fall to the ground within six feet.
But some scientists, having looked at studies of air flow and being concerned about smaller particles called aerosols, suggest that people consider a number of factors, including their own vulnerability and whether they are outdoors or in an enclosed room, when deciding whether six feet is enough distance.But some scientists, having looked at studies of air flow and being concerned about smaller particles called aerosols, suggest that people consider a number of factors, including their own vulnerability and whether they are outdoors or in an enclosed room, when deciding whether six feet is enough distance.
“Everything is about probability,” said Dr. Harvey Fineberg, who is the head of the Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. “Three feet is better than nothing. Six feet is better than three feet. At that point, the larger drops have pretty much fallen down.”“Everything is about probability,” said Dr. Harvey Fineberg, who is the head of the Standing Committee on Emerging Infectious Diseases and 21st Century Health Threats at the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine. “Three feet is better than nothing. Six feet is better than three feet. At that point, the larger drops have pretty much fallen down.”
Reporting was contributed by Aimee Ortiz, Choe Sang-Hun, Karen Weintraub, Knvul Sheikh, James Gorman and Kenneth Chang Reporting was contributed by Melissa Eddy, Raphael Minder, Elian Peltier, Aurelien Breeden, Martin Selsoe Sorensen, Austin Ramzy, Aimee Ortiz, Choe Sang-Hun, Karen Weintraub, Isabel Kershner, Knvul Sheikh, James Gorman and Kenneth Chang