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Coronavirus live news: recoveries pass 1m as Trump contradicts intelligence on virus origin Coronavirus live news: recoveries pass 1m as Trump contradicts intelligence on virus origin
(32 minutes later)
US government experts say virus ‘not manmade or genetically modified’; Germany and Spain ease lockdowns; outbreak increasing in AfricaUS government experts say virus ‘not manmade or genetically modified’; Germany and Spain ease lockdowns; outbreak increasing in Africa
France’s state-owned SNCF railways company estimates it will lose at least €3 billion (£2.6 billion) in revenue as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Les Echos daily newspaper reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources. Here’s more information on Australia’s road to recovery by Guardian reporter Paul Karp and Daniel Hurst.
Reuters reports the group has been running only 7% of its high-speed trains and 20% of regional services since mid-March and will be allowed to resume only about 30% of its network from May 11 as France seeks to manage the post-lockdown period. Scott Morrison has offered Australians an “early mark” to ease Covid-19 restrictions next week while warning a return to normality will depend on uptake of the Covidsafe contact tracing app.
Les Echos newspaper said strikes over government pension reforms that started in early December in France has already cost the company €1 billion in lost revenue. The prime minister dangled the prospect of a potential loosening of the rules next Friday as he issued his strongest declaration yet that it was conditional on more downloads.
The newspaper said the company lost €700 million in March, €1.4 billion in April and expects losses to reach €3 billion before a nationwide lockdown begins to ease from May 11. Morrison also revealed that net overseas migration is down 30% and is expected to fall by 80% in 2020-21, both compared with 2018-19, in a sign the economic contraction from Covid-19 will last much longer than restrictions to social life. Treasury officials and the Reserve Bank both estimate that unemployment is set to top 10%.
EPA has this shot of a family wearing protective face masks while visiting Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on 01 May 2020. The first restrictions were eased this week with New South Wales allowing visits to friends and relatives, and a similar measure announced on Friday in the Australian Capital Territory, the first Australian jurisdiction with no active cases.
In Greece, protesters have begun gathering in central Athens for traditional May Day marches, AP reports, despite authorities’ pleas to unions to move their demonstrations to next week after lockdown measures begin easing.
More than 100 people from the Communist party-affiliated PAME union gathered in Athens’ main Syntagma Square, outside parliament. Holding banners and red flags, and most wearing masks and gloves, the protesters stood roughly 2 metres (6.5ft) apart from each other as they waited for the march to begin.
The Philippines on Friday reported 284 new coronavirus infections and 11 more deaths, Reuters reports, bringing its total number of cases to 8,772 and fatalities to 579.
It also said 41 more individuals had recovered, bringing total recoveries to 1,084.
France’s state-owned SNCF railways company estimates it will lose at least €3bn (£2.6bn) in revenue as a result of the coronavirus outbreak, Les Echos daily newspaper reported on Friday, citing unnamed sources.
Reuters reports the group has been running only 7% of its high-speed trains and 20% of regional services since mid-March and will be allowed to resume only about 30% of its network from 11 May as France seeks to manage the post-lockdown period.
Les Echos newspaper said strikes over government pension reforms that started in early December in France has already cost the company €1bn in lost revenue.
The newspaper said the company lost €700m in March, €1.4bn in April and expects losses to reach €3bn before a nationwide lockdown begins to ease from 11 May.
EPA has this shot of a family wearing protective face masks while visiting Tiananmen Square in Beijing, China, on 1 May.
China is loosening up nationwide restrictions after months of lockdown over the coronavirus crisis.China is loosening up nationwide restrictions after months of lockdown over the coronavirus crisis.
Labor Day in the country kicked off with a long weekend and an extended holiday, from 01 to 05 May, after the tourism industry has been hit during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic. Labour Day in the country kicked off with a long weekend and an extended holiday, from 1-5 May, after the tourism industry has been hit during the coronavirus disease (Covid-19) pandemic.
Rwanda will partially lift its virus lockdown from next week and allow people to move freely during the day more than six weeks after being confined, the prime minister’s office said Friday, AFP reports.Rwanda will partially lift its virus lockdown from next week and allow people to move freely during the day more than six weeks after being confined, the prime minister’s office said Friday, AFP reports.
Rwanda was one of the first to impose strict lockdown measures in Africa, on March 22, when it had only 19 cases, and to date has officially recorded 225 cases and zero deaths. Rwanda was one of the first to impose strict lockdown measures in Africa, on 22 March, when it had only 19 cases, and to date has officially recorded 225 cases and zero deaths.
From Monday May 4, people will be allowed to move freely from 5am to 8pm, but will need permission to do so later in the evening, the prime minister’s office said in a statement. From Monday 4 May, people will be allowed to move freely from 5am to 8pm, but will need permission to do so later in the evening, the prime minister’s office said in a statement.
Businesses, manufacturing and construction operations will be allowed to resume with essential workers, while markets will be allowed to open with no more than 50 percent of traders operating. Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to operate but must close by 7pm. Businesses, manufacturing and construction operations will be allowed to resume with essential workers, while markets will be allowed to open with no more than 50%t of traders operating. Hotels and restaurants will be allowed to operate but must close by 7pm.
While People will be allowed to exercise in open spaces, sports facilities will remain closed. While people will be allowed to exercise in open spaces, sports facilities will remain closed.
No more than 30 people will be allowed to attend funerals, and schools, churches, gyms and bars will remain closed.No more than 30 people will be allowed to attend funerals, and schools, churches, gyms and bars will remain closed.
The speaker of Pakistan’s National Assembly said late on Thursday that he had tested positive for COVID-19, after hosting an iftar dinner to celebrate Ramadan, Reuters reports, and meeting Prime Minister Imran Khan and other high officials earlier in the week. The speaker of Pakistan’s national assembly said late on Thursday that he had tested positive for Covid-19, after hosting an iftar dinner to celebrate Ramadan, Reuters reports, and meeting prime minister Imran Khan and other high officials earlier in the week.
It remains unclear if Khan will be tested after Faisal Edhi tested positive. Khan tested negative in April, after meeting with the head of Pakistan’s biggest charity organisation, who was subsequently confirmed to have caught the disease.It remains unclear if Khan will be tested after Faisal Edhi tested positive. Khan tested negative in April, after meeting with the head of Pakistan’s biggest charity organisation, who was subsequently confirmed to have caught the disease.
The National Assembly, the lower house of parliament, is currently in recess, though opposition parties have been calling for it to convene to discuss the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, where the number of cases has risen to 16,817, including 385 deaths. The assembly, the lower house of parliament, is in recess, though opposition parties have been calling for it to convene to discuss the government’s handling of the coronavirus outbreak in the country, where the number of cases has risen to 16,817, including 385 deaths.
Russia reported its biggest daily rise of confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday , with 7,933 new cases.Russia reported its biggest daily rise of confirmed coronavirus cases on Friday , with 7,933 new cases.
The record daily rise brings the nationwide tally to 114,431, Reuters reports.The record daily rise brings the nationwide tally to 114,431, Reuters reports.
The official nationwide death toll rose to 1,169 after 96 people with the virus died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.The official nationwide death toll rose to 1,169 after 96 people with the virus died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.
AFP have put together a brilliant photo gallery of May Day workers confronting coronavirus around the world. It is a celebration of the cleaners, transport workers, shop assistants, tradespeople, health workers and more who continue to serve despite the difficulties and risks of the pandemic.AFP have put together a brilliant photo gallery of May Day workers confronting coronavirus around the world. It is a celebration of the cleaners, transport workers, shop assistants, tradespeople, health workers and more who continue to serve despite the difficulties and risks of the pandemic.
The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany increased by 1,639 to 160,758 on Friday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Germany increased by 1,639 to 160,758 on Friday, according to data from the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for infectious diseases.
The daily update showed the death toll rose by 193 to 6,481.The daily update showed the death toll rose by 193 to 6,481.
Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian prime minister, who was tasked by Vladimir Putin with leading the response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak, has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and will self-isolate.Mikhail Mishustin, the Russian prime minister, who was tasked by Vladimir Putin with leading the response to the country’s coronavirus outbreak, has been diagnosed with Covid-19 and will self-isolate.
Mishustin, Russia’s most-high profile Covid-19 patient so far, disclosed the diagnosis during a televised video call with President Putin on Thursday evening. It was not immediately clear how severe Mishustin’s symptoms are, though one news agency reported that he had an elevated temperature of 39 degrees. Putin indicated during the call that Mishustin would be taken to hospital.Mishustin, Russia’s most-high profile Covid-19 patient so far, disclosed the diagnosis during a televised video call with President Putin on Thursday evening. It was not immediately clear how severe Mishustin’s symptoms are, though one news agency reported that he had an elevated temperature of 39 degrees. Putin indicated during the call that Mishustin would be taken to hospital.
Confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia passed 100,000 on Thursday. The first deputy prime minister, Andrei Belousov, would take on Mishustin’s duties in his absence, Putin said.Confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia passed 100,000 on Thursday. The first deputy prime minister, Andrei Belousov, would take on Mishustin’s duties in his absence, Putin said.
Ryanair is planning to cut 3,000 jobs and reduce staff pay by up to a fifth in response to the Covid-19 crisis, which has grounded flights.Ryanair is planning to cut 3,000 jobs and reduce staff pay by up to a fifth in response to the Covid-19 crisis, which has grounded flights.
The no-frills airline said it did not expect passenger numbers or pricing to return to pre-coronavirus levels until summer 2022 at the earliest.The no-frills airline said it did not expect passenger numbers or pricing to return to pre-coronavirus levels until summer 2022 at the earliest.
As part of a programme of sweeping cost cuts, Ryanair said it could close a number of bases across Europe until air travel recovers.As part of a programme of sweeping cost cuts, Ryanair said it could close a number of bases across Europe until air travel recovers.
The company, which expects to report a net loss of more than €100m (£87m) for the first quarter and through the summer, said restructuring and job losses would start in July.The company, which expects to report a net loss of more than €100m (£87m) for the first quarter and through the summer, said restructuring and job losses would start in July.
The job cuts will affect mostly pilots and cabin crew, although the measures will also hit head office and back office teams.The job cuts will affect mostly pilots and cabin crew, although the measures will also hit head office and back office teams.
Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has opened Queensland’s border in preparation for next month’s restart of the National Rugby League (NRL) season. Palaszczuk not only gave the green light for the state’s three NRL clubs to train at their base and travel interstate, but also host home games.Premier Annastacia Palaszczuk has opened Queensland’s border in preparation for next month’s restart of the National Rugby League (NRL) season. Palaszczuk not only gave the green light for the state’s three NRL clubs to train at their base and travel interstate, but also host home games.
Australian prime minister Scott Morrison had said earlier on Friday it would be a matter for state jurisdictions to clear any resumption of sporting activities, following a meeting of the national cabinet.Australian prime minister Scott Morrison had said earlier on Friday it would be a matter for state jurisdictions to clear any resumption of sporting activities, following a meeting of the national cabinet.
Hungary needs to prepare for a potential second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in October-November, even though the spreading of the virus will likely slow in the summer, prime minister Viktor Orbán told state radio on Friday, according to a report by Reuters.Hungary needs to prepare for a potential second wave of the coronavirus outbreak in October-November, even though the spreading of the virus will likely slow in the summer, prime minister Viktor Orbán told state radio on Friday, according to a report by Reuters.
Orban also said if authorities manage to reduce the death rate from the pandemic in Budapest, where 80% of deaths have been recorded, only then will current restrictions be eased in the capital city. Hungary will lift a large part of restrictions in the countryside from Monday.Orban also said if authorities manage to reduce the death rate from the pandemic in Budapest, where 80% of deaths have been recorded, only then will current restrictions be eased in the capital city. Hungary will lift a large part of restrictions in the countryside from Monday.