MOSCOW – The daily number of new coronavirus infections in Russia surpassed 20,000 on Friday, setting a new record since the start of the pandemic
The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Russia – currently the fourth largest in the world – has exceeded 17 million following a rapid spread of contagion since September The government coronavirus task force has reported 29,887 deaths since March
/ p>
Of 20,582 new cases reported on Friday, Moscow had 6,253 infections, the capital’s highest number since May
Despite new daily records, authorities insist there is no need to impose a second lockdown or shut down businesses across the country They argue that the healthcare system is capable of handling a outbreak of infections
Russian media, however, have reported overwhelmed hospitals, drug shortages and flooded medical staff in some areas, indicating that the healthcare system is under significant strain
GENEVA – The United States urges the head of the World Health Organization to invite Taiwan to attend the UN health agency’s annual meeting next week, underlining its « resounding success » against COVID-19
China has effectively prevented Taiwan from attending the World Health Assembly in recent years since Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen was elected. Its pro-independence government has clashed with Beijing, which considers Taiwan to be part of from China
The US appeal to WHO Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus comes after the Trump administration took action this summer to pull the United States out of the UN health agency next year Taiwan is not a UN member state
Taiwan, a country of about 23 million people, has only had 569 confirmed cases of COVID-19 and just seven deaths from the pandemic, according to a compilation of global figures from Johns Hopkins University
LJUBLJANA, Slovenia – Slovenian police say they have arrested 10 people following violent protests in the capital Ljubljana against lockdown measures to curb the spread of the new coronavirus
Several hundred angry protesters threw bottles, flares and stones at police on Thursday who used tear gas and water cannons to disperse them in a rare riot in what in the Alpine nation generally calm
The rally was staged in violation of Slovenia’s ban on gatherings under anti-virus rules State broadcaster RTV Slovenia said some of the protesters attacked media teams, hitting a head photojournalist
Slovenian authorities have instituted a nighttime curfew and a restrictive set of rules after facing an increase in infections in the country of 2 million people
BERLIN – Germany’s Health Minister has warned of tough times ahead unless the country can ‘break’ the rising trajectory of coronavirus cases
Jens Spahn told lawmakers in Parliament on Friday that « the situation is serious », noting that the number of COVID-19 patients treated in intensive care units nationwide has doubled in the past 10 days
“From today the healthcare system can cope with this,” he says, “But doubling every 10 days is something the best healthcare system in the world can’t cope with long term «
Germany’s disease control agency reported a new record of more than 21,500 confirmed infections in the country in the past day, and 166 more deaths
German labs are also warning they are reaching full capacity and asking for more stringent criteria for which people can be tested
– AP finds counties where virus is advancing voted Trump at higher rate
BEIJING – China has temporarily banned the entry of foreigners from at least eight countries as COVID-19 cases rise in Europe and elsewhere
Non-Chinese can no longer enter from Russia, France, Italy, UK, Belgium, Philippines, India and Bangladesh, even if they have a visa or permit valid stay for China
The embassies of these countries have published online notices in recent days announcing the temporary suspension of entry
Health officials on Friday reported 30 imported cases in the last 24-hour period, including 15 in Shanghai.This brought the total number of imported cases during the pandemic to 3,510
NEW DELHI – India has registered 47,638 new cases of coronavirus, bringing its total to 84 million
The number of deaths increased by 670 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of deaths to 124,985 on Friday, according to data from the Ministry of Health
India has second highest number of cases in the world behind the United States Even though the country has seen a steady decline in cases since mid-September, its capital has seen a rise in infections
New Delhi has recorded nearly 6,700 new cases of COVID-19 in the past 24 hours, the second highest peak in a day since the start of the pandemic
CANBERRA, Australia – Australia’s highest court has upheld a state border closure and dismissed a case arguing the pandemic measure was unconstitutional
All Australian states and territories have used border restrictions to reduce infections, and a decision against closing Western Australia could have impacted others
High Court justices have ruled that the closure of state borders to non-essential travel during « danger of the nature of a plague or epidemic » was constitutionally compliant
The state closed its border with the rest of Australia on April 5 and has not recorded any community transmission of COVID-19 since April 11 This will ease the restriction next week for people from states and territories deemed to be low risk
Separately, an investigation into quarantine issues in Melbourne recommended that police guard hotels where returning overseas travelers stay The decision of the state government of Victoria to use security companies instead of the police and military to enforce quarantines has been widely blamed for lax controls which have led to a virus outbreak in Australia’s second largest city
Taiwan, World Health Organization, Donald Trump, Tedros Adhanom
World News – AU – Latest: Russia under spot as it sets new virus record
