US coronavirus death toll surpasses 65,000: Live updates

• The US government was slow to understand how fast coronavirus was spreading from Europe, which accelerated outbreaks across the country, said Dr Anne Schuchat, the number-two official at the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

• The World Health Organization has reiterated that the coronavirus is believed to be “natural in origin”, responding to a claim by US President Donald Trump that he had seen evidence that indicated the virus emerged from a virology institute in Wuhan, China.

• Worldwide, the number of confirmed infections stands above 3.35 million, with nearly 239,000 deaths and approximately 1.05 million recoveries.

• The coronavirus is ravaging Brazil’s poor, tightly-packed neighbourhoods where the disease is harder to control. There were 92,200 cases in Brazil with 6,412 deaths reported.

Here are the latest updates:

Saturday, May 2

20:48 GMT – New York’s Andrew Cuomo warns against reopening states

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has pushed back against what he called premature demands to reopen the state, saying he knows people were struggling without jobs but more understanding of the coronavirus was needed.

Cuomo said he needed much more information on what the pandemic is doing in his hardest-hit state before he loosens restrictions.

Read more here

19:22 GMT – United States death toll passes 65,000

As several US states start reopening their economies over the weekend, the number of known infections in the US has climbed to more than 1.1 million, including 65,645 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University.

Overall in the United States, there were 34,000 new cases reported on Friday, the highest daily total since April 24.

More than 164,000 people have recovered from the virus. The US has conducted 6.5 million tests so far.

18:40 GMT – Yemen reports three new cases

Yemen has reported three new coronavirus cases, two in Aden and one in Taiz province, the national emergency coronavirus committee said, raising the number of diagnosed infections in the war-town country to 10 with two deaths.

The United Nations says it fears the new coronavirus could be spreading undetected among an acutely malnourished population with inadequate testing capabilities.

Read more here

18:35 GMT – France COVID-19 death toll approaches 25,000

The number of people who have died from coronavirus infections in France rose by 166 to 24,760, while hospitalisations for the disease and people in ICU units continued to decline, the French health ministry said.

18:10 GMT – France to extend coronavirus emergency for two months

France will extend a health emergency imposed to fight the new coronavirus pandemic for another two months until July 24, Minister of Health Olivier Veran has said.

“We are going to have to perform a long-distance run,” Veran said,, adding he was aware that the French people had already been asked for “colossal efforts” in the fight against the virus.

Read more here

18:02 GMT – Saudi to take ‘strict, painful’ measures to deal with coronavirus impact

Saudi Arabia will take strict and painful measures to deal with the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, finance minister Mohammed al-Jadaan said in an interview with Al Arabiya TV.

“We must reduce budget expenditures sharply”, Jadaan said in comments published ahead of the interview’s broadcast. No details of possible measures were given.

The world’s largest oil exporter is suffering from historically low oil prices.

Jadaan noted the country had introduced stimulus measures aimed at preserving jobs in the private sector and safeguarding the provision of basic services.

17:20 GMT – Italy’s daily coronavirus death toll jumps

Deaths from the COVID-19 epidemic in Italy jumped by 474, against 269 the day before, the Civil Protection Agency said, posting the largest daily toll of fatalities since April 21.

The steep increase in deaths followed a long, gradual declining trend and was due largely to Lombardy, the country’s worst affected region, where there were 329 deaths in the last 24 hours compared with just 88 the day before.

The daily tally of new infections was broadly stable for a third day running at 1,900 against 1,965 on Friday.

The total death toll since the outbreak came to light on February 21 now stands at 28,710, the agency said, the second highest in the world after that of the United States.

There were 1,539 people in intensive care on Saturday, slightly down from 1,578 on Friday and maintaining a long-running decline. Of those originally infected, 79,914 were declared recovered against 78,249 a day earlier.

17:00 GMT – Russia reports almost 10,000 new coronavirus cases

Russia reported 9,623 new coronavirus cases – its highest daily rise since the start of the pandemic – bringing the total to 124,054, mostly in the capital Moscow.

The death toll nationwide rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said.

Concern was growing in Moscow that hospitals might become overwhelmed after recording the new one-day high of infections, a 20 percent increase over Friday’s count, which itself was a new daily record.

Read more here

16:20 GMT – Turkey lifts exports limits for medical equipment

The Turkish trade ministry lifted export restrictions and a requirement to obtain advance permission for private companies to export medical equipment needed in treating COVID-19.

The decision, published in the Official Gazette, rescinded restrictions on exporting ventilators, intubation tubes and ICU monitors, among other equipment. 

The trade ministry lifted restrictions on the export of ethanol, cologne, disinfectants and hydrogen peroxide. 

Turkey also announced a military plane delivered medical supplies, including locally produced ventilators, to Somalia. Ankara has so far shipped needed supplies to at least 55 countries, including to the United States.

Turkey, a country of 83 million, has more than 122,00 cases and more than 3,200 deaths, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University.

15:21 GMT – UK COVID-19 death toll rises, shadowing Italy

The United Kingdom’s COVID-19 death toll rose 621 to 28,131 as of May 1, just short of Italy which has had the deadliest novel coronavirus outbreak among European countries.

“Sadly of those tested positive for coronavirus… 28,131 have now died,” housing minister Robert Jenrick told reporters at a Downing Street briefing. “That’s an increase of 621 fatalities since yesterday.”

Italy reported a death toll of 28,236 on May 1.

14:45 GMT – Spain makes masks mandatory

Spain will make masks mandatory on public transport from Monday to prevent a new wave of coronavirus infections, Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez said.

The Madrid government, which had until now “highly recommended” the use of masks, will distribute six million across the country from Monday and supply another seven million to local authorities.

Read more here

14:14 GMT – Prisoners take guards hostage in Brazil’s coronavirus-hit Manaus

Inmates at a prison in Manaus, a Brazilian city deep in the Amazon that has been hit hard by the coronavirus outbreak, have taken seven prison guards hostage, the local prison authority told Reuters news agency.

The reason for the rebellion at the Puraquequara Penitentiary was not immediately clear, but local television stations cited a video allegedly recorded by an unidentified inmate, who complained of sweltering heat and a lack of electricity in the prison.

The rebellion comes as the coronavirus outbreak has overwhelmed public services in Manaus, with authorities burying victims in mass graves and warning residents of a shortage soon of coffins.

13:46 GMT – England’s COVID-19 hospitals death toll rises

The death toll from COVID-19 in English hospitals rose 370 to 20,853, the health service said.

Of the 370 who died, 25 had no underlying health condition, the National Health Service said.

The United Kingdom’s death toll is due to be published later.

12:33 GMT – Dutch coronavirus cases pass 40,000 

The number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the Netherlands has increased by 445 to 40,236, Dutch health authorities said.

The National Institute for Public Health reported 94 new deaths, taking total COVID-19 fatalities to 4,987.

11:30 GMT – Spain eases strict lockdown conditions

All Spaniards were allowed to go for walks or play sport after 48 days of home confinement to combat the coronavirus in one of the worst-hit countries.

Spain’s nearly 47 million people have since March 14 lived under one of the strictest virus lockdowns in the world, with adults authorised to leave home only to buy food, medicine or walk the dog. 

10:19 GMT – Spain’s coronavirus death toll tops 25,000

Spain’s coronavirus death toll hit 25,100 after 276 people died overnight, the health ministry said. 

Total cases rose to 216,582 from 215,216 on Friday.

09:35 GMT – Nearly 10,000 inmates freed as virus hits Philippine jails

Nearly 10,000 prison inmates have been released in the Philippines as the country races to halt coronavirus infections in its overcrowded jails, a Supreme Court official said.

The move follows a directive to lower courts to release those awaiting trial in prison because they could not afford bail, Associate Supreme Court Justice Mario Victor Leonen told reporters.

“The court is very much aware of the congested situation in our prisons,” Leonen told reporters as he announced the release of 9,731 inmates.

Read more here.

09:10 GMT – Indonesia reports 292 new cases, 31 deaths

Indonesia recorded 292 new coronavirus cases, taking the total number of infections to 10,843, said health ministry official, Achmad Yurianto.

Yurianto also reported 31 new deaths, taking the total number of fatalities to 831. The number of people who have recovered from COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus, rose by 74 to 1,665, he said.

The country has tested more than 79,800 people for the virus, he said.

09:05 GMT – Malaysia reports 105 new coronavirus cases

Malaysia reported 105 new coronavirus cases, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 6,176.

The number of deaths remained at 103.

09:01 GMT – Russia’s daily case tally hits new high

Russia reported 9,623 new cases of the coronavirus, its highest daily rise, bringing the total to 124,054.

The nationwide death toll rose to 1,222 after 57 people died in the last 24 hours, Russia’s coronavirus crisis response centre said, after revising the previous day’s tally.

08:58 GMT – Philippines says coronavirus cases nearing 9,000 

The Philippines said it has recorded 156 new cases of the novel coronavirus and 24 more deaths, bringing the total number of infections in the country to 8,928 and the fatalities to 603.

It also said that 40 more individuals had recovered from infections, bringing the recoveries to 1,124.

08:52 GMT – More than 40,000 cases confirmed across Africa

The number of confirmed COVID-19 cases has surpassed 40,000 across Africa, including nearly 1,700 deaths and more than 13,000 recoveries, accoding to Africa CDC.

At least 53 African nations have confirmed the new coronavirus infections.

#COVID19: Update as of 02/05/2020, 9:00 AM (East Africa Time)

53 African Union Member States reporting #COVID19 40.746 cases, 1.689 deaths, and 13.383 recoveries.
More information on @AfricaCDC dashboard via https://t.co/teDFU1XFLZ#FactsNotFear #AfricaResponds pic.twitter.com/Q8tK2AfARG

— Africa CDC (@AfricaCDC) May 2, 2020

08:31 GMT – Singapore confirms 447 new cases

Singapore’s health ministry confirmed 447 new coronavirus infections, the smallest daily rise in two weeks, taking the city-state’s tally of cases to 17,548 with 16 virus-related deaths.

Most of the new cases are among migrant workers living in dormitories, the ministry said.

07:25 GMT – India extends lockdown for two more weeks 

The Indian government said the world’s biggest coronavirus lockdown will be extended for two weeks beyond May 4, but with some easing of restrictions.

The home ministry said in a statement that in view of “significant gains in the COVID-19 situation”, areas with few or no cases would see “considerable relaxations”.

The stringent restrictions have been credited with keeping confirmed cases of coronavirus to about 37,000 cases, with 1,223 deaths.

07:13 GMT – Two percent of Moscow residents have coronavirus: Mayor

About two percent of Moscow residents – or more than 250,000 people – have the coronavirus, the mayor of the Russian capital said, citing test results.

Sergei Sobyanin wrote on his blog that Moscow has significantly ramped up testing capacity over the past few weeks, adding the city has managed to “contain the spread of the infection” due to the enforcement of stay-at-home rules and other measures.

But he reiterated that the city was not yet past the peak of the outbreak, saying “the threat is apparently on the rise”.

07:05 GMT

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Hello, this is Tamila Varshalomidze in Doha, taking over the live updates from my colleague Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur.

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05:45 GMT – Australia reports coronavirus cases at meat factory

A small cluster has emerged at a meat factory in the Australian state of Victoria, health officials said on Saturday, as parts of the country started easing physical distancing restrictions after suppressing the infection rate to below 1 percent.

Three of the cases in Victoria were related to a meat-processing facility, said its health minister. A total of eight employees have tested positive.

In Australia’s most populous state of New South Wales (NSW) two out of five new cases were recorded at the Newmarch aged care facility in Sydney, where about 60 people have been infected, and 13 have died.

Local clusters of COVID-19 and cruise ship infections have accounted for a large percentage of Australia’s nearly 6,800 cases and 93 deaths.

05:30 GMT – Thailand reports six new coronavirus cases, no new deaths

Thailand reported six new coronavirus cases and no new deaths on Saturday, bringing the total number of cases to 2,966, according to Reuters news agency.

Three of the new cases were found on the southern resort island of Phuket, said Taweesin Wisanuyothin, a spokesman of the government’s Centre for COVID-19 Situation Administration.

While more than half of Thailand’s nearly 3,000 cases were concentrated in Bangkok, Phuket has the highest rate of infection per population, Taweesin said. Since Thailand first detected the virus in January, 54 patients have died, 2,732 have recovered, and 180 are still hospitalised, according to official figures.

04:51 GMT – NASA, SpaceX urge spectators to skip launch

NASA and SpaceX have urged spectators to stay home for the first home launch of astronauts in nearly a decade because of the coronavirus pandemic.

Top officials warned the public against travelling to the US state of Florida for the May 27 launch of two NASA astronauts on board a SpaceX rocket to the International Space Station, the Associated Press news agency reported.

It will be the first launch of astronauts from NASA’s Kennedy Space Center in nine years – the last space shuttle flight was in 2011. It also will be the first attempt by a private company to fly astronauts into orbit.

04:13 GMT – Singapore to ease restrictions starting on May 12

Singapore announced on Saturday that it will ease some restrictions in the country, allowing some businesses to operate starting May 12, according to Reuters news agency.

Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said that as the number of cases in the broader community drop, more restrictions will be lifted in the weeks to come.

The government also said it will allow some students to return to school beginning on May 19.

03:35 GMT – Malaysia: Raid of migrants carried out to contain coronavirus

Malaysian authorities rounded up undocumented migrants as part of efforts to contain the spread of coronavirus, the country’s police chief said.

Over 700 migrants were taken into custody, including young children and Rohingya refugees from Myanmar, during Friday’s raid in a downtown area where thousands of migrants and asylum-seekers live, rights groups had said.

“We cannot allow them to move freely… as it will be difficult for us to track them down if they leave identified locations,” Inspector-General of Police Abdul Hamid Bador told state news agency Bernama.

Those detained would be placed at a single location for monitoring until the movement curbs are lifted, he said, according to state news agency Bernama.

02:55 GMT – Germany’s coronavirus death toll hits 6,575

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Germany rose by 945 to 161,703, data from the Robert Koch Institute for infectious diseases showed on Saturday.

The death toll rose by 94 to 6,575.

02:15 GMT – IMF approves $643m in pandemic aid for Ecuador

The International Monetary Fund has approved a request from Ecuador for emergency financing to fight the coronavirus pandemic, granting a $643m loan, the Andean country’s economy ministry has announced.

Ecuador has been among the hardest-hit countries in Latin America, with 24,675 confirmed cases and 883 deaths, plus a further 1,357 deaths that were likely caused by the coronavirus.

“This financing will allow us to have the necessary liquidity to support the reactivation of the economy, and protect jobs,” the ministry said in a statement.

01:40 GMT – Japan to review sumo tournament schedule

The Japan Sumo Association has announced it will reconsider its schedule for the summer grand tournament starting on May 24 if the government extends the state of emergency, Japan’s NHK news reported.

The nationwide measures are currently due to expire on Wednesday, May 6.

The opening of the event had already been postponed for two weeks to May 24.

Organisers are also considering holding the tournament without spectators, or cancelling it, the report said.

01:20 GMT – South Korea reports single-digit infections for fourth day

South Korea reported six more cases of the new coronavirus on Saturday, bringing the nation’s total infections to 10,780, according to Yonhap news agency.

It marked the fourth day in a row for the new daily infections to stay in the single digits.

The nation’s death toll from the virus rose by two to 250, while 9,123 people have recovered, up 51 from a day earlier.

01:12 GMT – US coronavirus stimulus went to some healthcare providers facing criminal inquiries

An investigation conducted by the Reuters news agency has revealed that taxpayer money has gone to some companies and people facing civil or criminal fraud investigations in the US.

The disclosures prompted outrage among some congressional Democrats, who say they highlight the problems with how stimulus funds have been distributed.

The funds came from the $2.3 trillion CARES Act passed by Congress to blunt the economic toll of the pandemic, which has killed more than 64,000 Americans and thrown at least 30 million people out of work.

00:05 GMT – US emergency approval broadens use of COVID-19 drug remdesivir

Gilead Science Inc’s antiviral drug remdesivir was granted emergency use authorisation by the US Food and Drug Administration as a treatment for COVID-19, clearing the way for broader use of the drug around the US.

During a meeting at the White House with US President Donald Trump, Gilead Chief Executive Daniel O’Day called the move an important first step and said the company was donating 1.5 million vials of the drug to help patients.

The donation is expected to be enough for at least 140,000 patients, depending on the number of days they need to be treated.

Gilead said on Wednesday that the drug, which is given intravenously, had helped improve outcomes for patients with COVID-19 and provided data suggesting it worked better when given earlier in the course of infection.

Meanwhile, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention has launched a national viral genomics consortium to better sequence the transmission of COVID-19.

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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Shereena Qazi in Doha, Qatar. You can find all the key developments from yesterday, May 1, here.