Cases spike in US, states back off on reopening

More than 10.5 million people around the world have been diagnosed with the coronavirus, nearly 5.4 million have recovered, and at least 512,000 have died, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Wednesday, July 1

21:45 GMT – Brazil delivery workers for Uber, other apps protest

Over a thousand food-delivery workers on motorcycles gathered in Sao Paulo to protest their work conditions, set by Uber and other apps, with their services in high demand due to coronavirus lockdowns.

The drivers seek better pay and improved health measures, with Brazil now a coronavirus epicentre and delivery workers facing exposure to the virus.

21:30 GMT – Cases spike in US Sunbelt, other states back off on reopening

Arizona recorded more coronavirus deaths, infections, hospitalisations and emergency-room visits in a single day than ever before in a crisis Wednesday across the Sunbelt that sent a shudder through other parts of the United States and led distant states to put their own reopening plans on hold.

In Florida, hospitals braced for an influx of patients, with the biggest medical centre in Florida’s hardest-hit county, Miami’s Jackson Health System, scaling back elective surgeries and other procedures to make room for victims of the resurgence underway across the South and West.

US Vice President Mike Pence visited Arizona, where cases have spiked since stay-at-home orders expired in mid-May. Arizona reported record single-day highs of almost 4,900 new COVID-19 cases, 88 new deaths, close to 1,300 ER visits and a running total of nearly 2,900 hospitalisations.

20:42 GMT – UAE says residents, citizens cannot travel abroad for tourism yet

United Arab Emirates authorities have said residents and citizens are not yet allowed to travel abroad for tourism and leisure purposes, and all travel abroad requires a permit.

A spokesman for the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) said travel abroad is only allowed currently for study, medical treatment, diplomatic missions and business – and for residents who want to visit or return to their home countries.

20:12 GMT – Middle East at ‘critical threshold’ of coronavirus crisis: WHO

The Middle East faces a “critical threshold” amid a relaxation of coronavirus measures following a surge in cases in the region, the World Health Organization (WHO) has warned.

The global health body confirmed there were more than one million cases of the COVID-19 disease across the 22 countries that the WHO’s Eastern Mediterranean region covers, stretching from Morocco to Pakistan.

19:38 GMT – Israel approves temporary mobile phone tracking of COVID-19 carriers

Israel’s parliament has voted to allow the country’s domestic intelligence agency to track the mobile phones of coronavirus carriers for the next three weeks amid a resurgence in new cases.

The new law allows the Shin Bet national security agency to access carriers’ phone location data for 14 days before they were diagnosed. That data is used to identify anyone they came into contact with, which proponents say is crucial to identify new cases.

19:20 GMT – California closes bars, restaurants in most of state

Indoor activities at bars, restaurants, movie theatres and other facilities will be banned in most of California in the United States for at least three weeks as COVID-19 infections surge, Governor Gavin Newsom has said.

19:10 GMT – World Bank chief says pandemic widening inequality gap

World Bank President David Malpass has said that the coronavirus pandemic is exacerbating inequality throughout the world by hitting hardest those without a social safety net in developing countries while central bank asset purchases in advanced countries benefit the richest.

Malpass told a webcast event hosted by the Council of the Americas that the pandemic was a “catastrophe” for the developing world that would bring long-term damage and global economic output would not recover to its pre-pandemic level for years.

18:15 GMT – US delays American diplomats’ return to China

The US has postponed flights for dozens of American diplomats who had planned to return to China later this month, after failing to reach agreement with Beijing over issues including COVID-19 testing and quarantines.

17:58 GMT – Trump says he wants larger direct payments to Americans

United States President Donald Trump has said he supports another round of economic stimulus and wants to provide larger direct payments to Americans, as well as incentives to work, to be part of it.

“We want to create a very great incentive to work. So, we’re working on that and I’m sure we’ll all come together,” Trump said in an interview with Fox Business Network.

“I want the money getting to people to be larger, so they can spend it. I want the money to get there quickly, and in a noncomplicated fashion.”

17:48 GMT – Deaths in France rise by 18 to 29,861

The number of coronavirus-related deaths in France has risen by 18 from the previous day to stand at 29,861, the country’s health department has said.

That figure is in line with the daily average of 18 seen the last week. In May, France counted 143 additional deaths every day on average.

17:45 GMT – Turkey’s total cases rise over 200,000: health ministry

Turkey has reported more than 200,000 coronavirus cases with 1,192 new cases diagnosed in the past day, health ministry data shows.

The death toll in the country has reached 5,150, according to the data.