Tag: health

Scooters, e-bikes gain traction as virus lockdowns ease

by Rob Lever WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — Electric bikes and scooters, dismissed before the pandemic as a curiosity or nuisance, are getting fresh traction in cities seeking new transportation options as they emerge from lockdowns. Some “micromobility” operators which cut back or shut down during the coronavirus lockdowns are now expanding to meet growing demands. Shared mobility operators Lime, Bird, and Ford-owned Spin report robust growth in cities worldwide, despite a near-shutdown of tourism, […]

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Brazil reports highest daily jump in virus cases

RIO DE JANEIRO, Brazil (AFP) — Brazil on Tuesday recorded its highest daily jump in new coronavirus cases since the start of the pandemic, with nearly 35,000 registered in 24 hours, the health ministry said. The country, which has the second-highest number of coronavirus cases and deaths in the world, after the United States, reported 34,918 new cases and 1,282 new deaths in the past 24 hours. That brought Brazil’s total caseload to more than […]

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Beijing schools closed again as city finds 31 more virus cases

BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing shut all its schools again on Wednesday as the city reported 31 new coronavirus cases, with authorities in the Chinese capital rushing to curb an outbreak linked to a wholesale food market. The new cases have raised fears of a second wave of infections as China had largely brought its domestic outbreak under control. City authorities on Tuesday had also announced a travel ban for residents of “medium- or high-risk” […]

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Elderly, sick, essential workers will get virus vaccine first: US

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United States plans to give priority to the elderly, those with pre-existing conditions and essential workers once there is a vaccine against COVID-19, a senior Trump administration official said Tuesday. Under Operation Warp Speed (OWS), the US government is aiming to deliver 300 million vaccine doses by January 2021, investing in manufacturing capacity to relieve pharmaceutical firms of the financial risk. “Before any vaccines are approved or authorized, Operation […]

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Beijing imposes partial travel ban, closes schools over virus outbreak

by Jing Xuan Teng and Beiyi Seow BEIJING, China (AFP) — Beijing on Tuesday urged its residents to not leave the city and closed schools again as authorities scramble to contain a “severe” new coronavirus outbreak in the city of 21 million people. The coronavirus resurgence — believed to have started in the capital’s sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market — has prompted alarm as China had largely brought its outbreak under control through mass testing […]

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Steroid breakthrough raises virus hopes, despite China outbreak

by Dmitry Zaks with Beiyi Seow in Beijing LONDON, United States (AFP) — Britain will start giving seriously ill coronavirus patients a basic steroid treatment hailed as a breakthough to help reduce the global pandemic’s death toll even as worrying new outbreaks surfaced in China and elsewhere. An “extremely severe” cluster of cases in Beijing cast doubt over efforts to get the virus under control although Tuesday’s news from Britain came as a boost after […]

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Hungary MPs approve end of controversial emergency virus powers

by Peter MURPHY BUDAPEST, Hungary (AFP) — Hungarian MPs voted Tuesday to revoke anti-coronavirus emergency powers that triggered international criticism amid fears of a power grab by Prime Minister Viktor Orban. Dominated by Orban’s ruling Fidesz party, parliament voted by 192 votes to none to request the government lift the “state of danger” and related special powers put in place to tackle the COVID-19 crisis. The government is now expected to formally lift the state […]

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UK jobless claims near three million on coronavirus

LONDON, United Kingdom (AFP) — UK jobless claims more than doubled at the height of Britain’s coronavirus outbreak, official data showed Tuesday. Claims surged 126 percent to 2.8 million people in the three months to May, coinciding with a strict nationwide lockdown that shut shops and businesses, Office for National Statistics figures revealed. Claims surged almost a quarter in May from April, the ONS added, while job vacancies tumbled to a record low as economic […]

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Ukraine first lady hospitalized with pneumonia

KIEV, Ukraine (AFP) — Ukraine’s first lady Olena Zelenska, who last week tested positive for the coronavirus, has been hospitalized with pneumonia, the presidency said on Tuesday. Zelenska, 42, has been diagnosed with double pneumonia, the presidency said, adding that oxygen treatment was not required. “Her condition is stable,” it said in a statement. Zelenska said on Friday she had tested positive for the coronavirus, while her husband, President Volodymyr Zelensky, and their two children […]

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Less than 400 US virus deaths in 24 hours for 2nd day: Johns Hopkins

WASHINGTON, United States (AFP) — The United State recorded fewer than 400 coronavirus-related deaths in 24 hours for the second day in a row, according to a tally Monday by Johns Hopkins University. There were 385 new deaths at 8:30 pm (0030 Tuesday), the tracker from the Baltimore-based university showed, after a 24-hour toll of 382 the day before. These are the lowest daily death tolls since the end of March, although data tend to […]

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Beijing virus situation ‘extremely severe’ as 27 new cases reported

by Jing Xuan TENG BEIJING, China (AFP) — The coronavirus situation in China’s capital is “extremely severe”, a city official warned Tuesday, as 27 new infections were reported from Beijing where a new cluster has sparked a huge trace-and-test programme. The COVID-19 resurgence — believed to have started at the sprawling Xinfadi wholesale food market in the capital — has sparked alarm as China had largely brought its outbreak under control through mass testing and […]

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New Zealand reports first new virus cases in 25 days

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AFP) — New Zealand reported two cases of COVID-19 Tuesday, ending a three-and-a-half week spell without any fresh infections, health authorities said. Both the new patients were recent arrivals from the United Kingdom, the health ministry said. “The ministry can confirm today two new cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand related to the border as a result of recent travel from the UK. Both cases are connected,” it said in a brief […]

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