Spanish cases jump by 25 per cent in 24 hours Daniel Dombey in Madrid The number of documented Spanish cases of coronavirus has increased by almost 5,000 in 24 hours and more than 300 people have died from the virus in that time, according to figures released on Saturday. The Spanish government said there were now 24,926 cases, with 1,612 people in intensive care and 1,326 deaths. Compared with Friday’s figures, this represents a 25 per cent increase on the number of cases, a 40 per cent surge in people in intensive care and a 32 per cent increase in the death toll. Overall, 2,125 people have recovered. Spain’s hospitals and intensive care units are struggling to cope, despite conversion into temporary hotels of some Madrid hotels and of the Fair of Madrid, the capital’s main exhibition space. Madrid remains the worst affected part of the country, with 8,921 cases, 767 people in intensive care and 804 deaths. Joshua Oliver 21 MINUTES AGO Google revamps coronavirus search results after Trump comments Google launched a dedicated website with information about the coronavirus alongside changes to its search results for the virus a week after President Donald Trump touted the company's efforts to inform people about the disease. The company has redesigned its search results pages for the virus including a sidebar with links to official health advice. “This new format organises the search results page to help people easily navigate information and resources”, wrote Google’s Emily Moxley in an online announcement. The changes come a week after President Trump told reporters that 1,700 Google engineers were working on an online tool to help people find out if they should be tested for Covid-19. Google’s new website directs users to local health resources in each US state, with plans to expand to other jurisdictions, but does not offer the personalised testing advice Mr Trump described. The site also includes resources for online education as well as links to Youtube videos on working from home and cooking with non-perishable food items. Google’s fellow Alphabet Inc subsidiary Verily has said it is working with California health officials to help deliver coronavirus testing, with the programme now open in some counties in the San Francisco Bay area. Adam Samson 32 MINUTES AGO Hong Kong re-imposes partial lockdown to fight 'second wave' of outbreak Nicolle Liu reports from Hong Kong: Hong Kong has resumed a partial lockdown as the number of confirmed cases imported from abroad has increased sharply, highlighting the 'second wave' of the outbreak that is sweeping across Asia. Carrie Lam, the territory's chief executive, announced from Monday onwards, public recreational facilitates such as sport grounds and museums will be shut again and civil servants work-from-home arrangement will recommence. Private companies would be encouraged to follow, Ms Lam said. Kevin Yeung, the Secretary for Education, said schools will remain closed until further notice and public exams scheduled to start next week are postponed for a month and oral assessment will be cancelled. “The epidemic from imported cases, is more severe and harder to deal with compared to any time in the past two months, and have a much higher chance to lead to a community outbreak,” said Ms Lam The total of confirmed and probable cases in Hong Kong have reached 294, with most of the recent infections occurring in those coming from abroad or their close contacts. Coronavirus testing will be expanded to asymptomatic elderly individuals or those who are living with them returning from high risk areas from aboard, said Sophia Chan, the Secretary for Food and Health. Ms Lam added that the government is ramping up law enforcement towards those who violate compulsory quarantine orders imposed to all arrivals from all countries and jurisdictions, except Taiwan and Macau, to Hong Kong. Authorities have found seven cases allegedly breaching the rules and they will be prosecuted accordingly, she said. Sid Venkataramakrishnan 53 MINUTES AGO WHO launches WhatsApp service to fight Covid-19 fake news The World Health Organization announced that it is launching a messenger service via WhatsApp to directly provide the public with information about Covid-19. The service offers up-to-date statistics, details on symptoms, advice on how to guard against the virus and a list of common rumours and misinformation. False news and information about Covid-19 have been rife. While social media platforms have been one vector, campaigns spreading fake narratives and inaccurate advice have also used encrypted messenger apps and traditional SMS texting. While Facebook and Twitter have said that there is no evidence of state-backed campaigns on their open platforms, the provenance of much misinformation remains unclear.
Saturday, 21 March 2020
Coronavirus latest: Covid-19 cases in Spain rise 25% in 24 hours as outbreak worsens
Spanish cases jump by 25 per cent in 24 hours Daniel Dombey in Madrid The number of documented Spanish cases of coronavirus has increased by almost 5,000 in 24 hours and more than 300 people have died from the virus in that time, according to figures released on Saturday. The Spanish government said there were now 24,926 cases, with 1,612 people in intensive care and 1,326 deaths. Compared with Friday’s figures, this represents a 25 per cent increase on the number of cases, a 40 per cent surge in people in intensive care and a 32 per cent increase in the death toll. Overall, 2,125 people have recovered. Spain’s hospitals and intensive care units are struggling to cope, despite conversion into temporary hotels of some Madrid hotels and of the Fair of Madrid, the capital’s main exhibition space. Madrid remains the worst affected part of the country, with 8,921 cases, 767 people in intensive care and 804 deaths. Joshua Oliver 21 MINUTES AGO Google revamps coronavirus search results after Trump comments Google launched a dedicated website with information about the coronavirus alongside changes to its search results for the virus a week after President Donald Trump touted the company's efforts to inform people about the disease. The company has redesigned its search results pages for the virus including a sidebar with links to official health advice. “This new format organises the search results page to help people easily navigate information and resources”, wrote Google’s Emily Moxley in an online announcement. The changes come a week after President Trump told reporters that 1,700 Google engineers were working on an online tool to help people find out if they should be tested for Covid-19. Google’s new website directs users to local health resources in each US state, with plans to expand to other jurisdictions, but does not offer the personalised testing advice Mr Trump described. The site also includes resources for online education as well as links to Youtube videos on working from home and cooking with non-perishable food items. Google’s fellow Alphabet Inc subsidiary Verily has said it is working with California health officials to help deliver coronavirus testing, with the programme now open in some counties in the San Francisco Bay area. Adam Samson 32 MINUTES AGO Hong Kong re-imposes partial lockdown to fight 'second wave' of outbreak Nicolle Liu reports from Hong Kong: Hong Kong has resumed a partial lockdown as the number of confirmed cases imported from abroad has increased sharply, highlighting the 'second wave' of the outbreak that is sweeping across Asia. Carrie Lam, the territory's chief executive, announced from Monday onwards, public recreational facilitates such as sport grounds and museums will be shut again and civil servants work-from-home arrangement will recommence. Private companies would be encouraged to follow, Ms Lam said. Kevin Yeung, the Secretary for Education, said schools will remain closed until further notice and public exams scheduled to start next week are postponed for a month and oral assessment will be cancelled. “The epidemic from imported cases, is more severe and harder to deal with compared to any time in the past two months, and have a much higher chance to lead to a community outbreak,” said Ms Lam The total of confirmed and probable cases in Hong Kong have reached 294, with most of the recent infections occurring in those coming from abroad or their close contacts. Coronavirus testing will be expanded to asymptomatic elderly individuals or those who are living with them returning from high risk areas from aboard, said Sophia Chan, the Secretary for Food and Health. Ms Lam added that the government is ramping up law enforcement towards those who violate compulsory quarantine orders imposed to all arrivals from all countries and jurisdictions, except Taiwan and Macau, to Hong Kong. Authorities have found seven cases allegedly breaching the rules and they will be prosecuted accordingly, she said. Sid Venkataramakrishnan 53 MINUTES AGO WHO launches WhatsApp service to fight Covid-19 fake news The World Health Organization announced that it is launching a messenger service via WhatsApp to directly provide the public with information about Covid-19. The service offers up-to-date statistics, details on symptoms, advice on how to guard against the virus and a list of common rumours and misinformation. False news and information about Covid-19 have been rife. While social media platforms have been one vector, campaigns spreading fake narratives and inaccurate advice have also used encrypted messenger apps and traditional SMS texting. While Facebook and Twitter have said that there is no evidence of state-backed campaigns on their open platforms, the provenance of much misinformation remains unclear.
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