By Euronews with AP, AFP
Published on
•Updated
Share this article
Comments
Follow our coronavirus blog for updates
Coronavirus - latest summary
WHO: Estimates show up to half of deaths in Europe have occurred in care homes
**EU agrees massive aid package of immediate support for member states
**EU summit: coronavirus rescue plans test Union's solidarity - Analysis
The UK government has revealed plans to 'test, track and trace' the virus
Coronavirus pandemic fast becoming a 'human rights crisis', warns UN
Greek island migrant camps 'not prepared for COVID-19': Human Rights Watch
Unrest in Paris as residents accuse police of heavy-handed tactics
Follow our live blog below for all the latest updates
${title}
${body}
Live ended
That wraps up our live blog for the day - thanks for joining. See you back here tomorrow for all the latest updates.
EU agrees massive aid package of immediate support for member states
The European Union has agreed an aid package of more than half a trillion euros to provide immediate support for member states, whose economies have been ravaged by the outbreak.
“We endorsed the agreements on three important safety nets for workers, businesses and sovereigns, amounting to 540 billion euros,” said President of the European Council Charles Michel.
“We call for the package to be operational by 1 June 2020. We also agreed to work toward a recovery fund which is needed and urgent.”
A longer term recovery plan has also been discussed, but the EU is struggling to come to an agreement over debt distribution, with northern European countries, like the Netherlands and Germany, reluctant to share too much debt out of fear of having to foot the bill for others.
Read the full story here: https://www.euronews.com/2020/04/23/eu-agrees-massive-aid-package-of-immediate-support-for-member-states
Macron calls for EU to go "further, stronger" towards European sovereignty - AFP
Emmanuel Macron called on EU countries to go "further, stronger" towards European sovereignty as leaders held their summit by videoconference, AFP reports.
The French President said a "consensus" was coming together among leaders to strengthen the autonomy of European strategy.
They have been trying to come up with solutions over the bloc’s response to the coronavirus crisis and how to finance an economic recovery fund.
EU Presidents von der Leyen and Michel: news conference
The Presidents of the European Commission and Council have been giving a news conference on the day EU leaders try to reach consensus on a common strategy for the coronavirus aftermath. You can watch it here:
Yanis Varoufakis: Coronavirus economic fallout could heap more misery onto Greece
Greece has done a good job containing coronavirus but it’s likely to be the hardest hit by the pandemic's economic fallout, the country’s former finance minister, Yanis Varoufakis, has told Euronews.
Varoufakis: COVID-19 economic fallout could heap more misery on Greece
"I very much fear that Greece will have the largest number of people who go hungry as a result of the economic dimension of this pandemic," Varoufakis saysVaccine trials begin in UK and get green light in Germany
Germany has announced that researchers in the country are starting clinical trials to develop a vaccine, after regulators gave the green light.
Meanwhile two separate trials have begun in the UK, in London and Oxford.
Here's the story:
Italy records a further 464 deaths
Italy's total death toll attributed to COVID-19 reached 25,549 today after 464 more deaths in the last 24 hour period.
With the second highest number of dead in the world after the US, Italy has now reported a total of 189,973 infections. The number of current patients has fallen for a second day by 851, and the number of those admitted to intensive care units each day is continuing to fall.
Hancock refuses to say how lockdown will be relaxed
Asked how the lockdown might actually be relaxed, Hancock didn’t give an answer.
“Monitoring and making sure we act at the right time is critical. The message remains the same, people need to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.”
Many other countries, such as Scotland, have set out how they plan to relax measures when the time is right.
UK plans to “test, track and trace”
At the daily UK government update, Health Secretary Matt Hancock announced the UK would be launching a “test, track and trace” programme to help the UK get out of its lockdown.
The government has set a goal of 100,000 tests per day by the end of April. Today it’s capacity for testing increased to 51,000, but just over 23,000 people were actually tested.
Hancock said there was a network of regional test centers at just 30 locations across the country.
He also said from today employers of essential workers will be able to get a test for their staff, while from tomorrow essential workers will be able to book a test directly. An app will be launched to help book tests.
Watch live below.
Scotland sets out framework for emerging from lockdown
The Scottish government has published a framework for adjusting to the “new normal” of post-lockdown life.
It sets out its strategy in a six point plan.
- “Suppress the virus through compliance with physical distancing and hygiene measures, ensuring that the reproduction number remains below 1 and that our NHS remains within capacity”
- “Care for those who need it, whether infected by the virus or not”
- “Support people, business and organisations affected by the crisis”
- “Recover to a new normal, carefully easing restrictions when safe to do so while maintaining necessary measures and ensuring that transmission remains controlled, supported by developments in medicine and technology”
- “Protect against this and future pandemics, including through effective testing, contact tracing and isolation”
- “Renew our country, building a fairer and more sustainable economy and society”
The UK government has not as yet shed any light on plans for easing the lockdown.
Bundesliga sets return date
Germany’s Bundesliga, the top national football league, is ready to resume on 9 May, if the German authorities give the go-ahead.
League (DFL) President Christian Seifert made the announcement on Thursday, making the Bundesliga the first major European league to agree to a resumption schedule.
All leagues have been at a standstill since mid-March.
Here's our look at the situation around Europe/
Will Europe's football season restart when coronavirus lockdowns end?
The Premier League, La Liga, Serie A and others are all weighing up a potential post-lockdown reprise.616 deaths recorded in last 24 hours in the UK
The UK's health ministry has released the daily figures for COVID-19 deaths and infections. 616 people were reported to have died in the last 24 hour period, taking the country's death toll up to 18,738 - but this does not include all deaths in care homes or in the community.
The reported deaths have fallen for two days in a row now.
23,560 people were tested on 22 April, and 138,078 people have been confirmed positive for COVID-19 in total.
WHO: Up to half of deaths in Europe in care homes
The World Health Organization's regional director for Europe has spoken of the "unimaginable human tragedy" at care homes, where he said estimates show up to half of COVID-19 deaths have taken place.
Dr Hans Kluge said: “According to estimates of countries in the European region, up to half of those who have died of COVID-19 were resident in long term care facilities. This is an unimaginable human tragedy.”
“All those dying in homes have the right to be attended to and to receive end of life care, including symptom relief with adequate medication, surrounded by their loved ones,” he added.
26 million have sought US jobless aid since virus hit
More than 4.4 million laid-off workers applied for U.S. unemployment benefits last week as job cuts escalated across an economy that remains all but shut down, the government said on Thursday.
Roughly 26 million people have now filed for jobless aid in the five weeks since the coronavirus outbreak began forcing millions of employers to close their doors.
About one in six American workers have now lost their jobs since mid-March, by far the worst string of layoffs on record. Economists have forecast that the unemployment rate for April could go as high as 20%.
The enormous magnitude of job cuts has plunged the U.S. economy into the worst economic crisis since the Great Depression of the 1930s.
Some economists say the nation's output could shrink by twice the amount that it did during the Great Recession, which ended in 2009.
The painful economic consequences of the virus-related shutdowns have sparked angry protests in several state capitals from crowds demanding that businesses reopen.
French Elysée palace details plan to ease lockdown measures from 11 May
The French Elysée palace on Thursday detailed its plan to ease the country's lockdown measures from 11 May.
The "déconfinement", as the end of the lockdown measures is known in French, will happen everywhere across the territory at the same time, the Elysée said. Previously, the authorities had considered easing measures in some French regions before others.
Students will be welcomed back to school but their return will not be mandatory, the Elysée said. They will return to classes "on a voluntary basis".
In public transport, face masks and social distancing measures will be mandatory.
Window banners in a Paris under lockdown
In France, as the country is under lockdown to stop the spread of the Covid-19 pandemic caused by the novel coronavirus, French people have been writing messages on banners that they then hang at their windows.
A banner reading "Money for public hospitals" hangs at a window of an appartment, on April 23, 2020 in Paris. FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP
A banner reading "Confined, equality, fraternity" hangs at a window of an appartment, on April 23, 2020 in Paris. FRANCOIS GUILLOT / AFP
Romania set to ease its lockdown next month after fines pay dividends
Strong measures to restrict movement and limit the spread of the coronavirus appear to have had an impact in Romania.
The country’s president, Klaus Iohannis, announced on Wednesday that authorities would look to start easing restrictions from 15 May.
From the middle of next month, Romanians will be allowed to move freely, without needing to present documentation, he said, with other aspects, like the reopening of schools, to follow step by step.
Read more
Czech court blocks government moves on virus
A Prague court has canceled some restrictive measures approved by the Czech government to contain the coronavirus pandemic.
Prague's Municipal Court has ruled that the government's restrictions limiting movement and shutting down retail businesses are illegal. Thursday's verdict is final.
The court ruled after a complaint by medical expert Ondrej Dostal, who questioned the legality of those measures. The restrictions were imposed by the Health Ministry.
The court said the government should have approved the restrictions as part of its crisis measures under the state of emergency rules. It said a single ministry cannot have such right.
The government has until Monday to adopt the measures again and in line with law.
Ramadan under Belgian lockdown
Normally around the month of Ramadan, the Great Mosque of Brussels would be a hive of activity for the Muslim community.
But amid a coronavirus lockdown, the day-long fasts will be broken in isolation.
With measures in place until at least 3 May, mosques will be empty, but imams will record sermons to be broadcast to the community.
“We have asked the Muslim community to respect the rules of confinement, to protect citizens, to protect themselves and also our country," said Salah Echallaoui, vice president of the Executive of the Muslims of Belgium.
He admits that it is sad that people cannot come together to worship, but says that they are encouraging the Muslim community to "keep up the momentum of solidarity that has always been a feature of the month of Ramadan, and also to help those citizens who need it".
Belgian Muslims working on the frontlines of the battle against coronavirus, will not be expected to observe strict fasting rules, in order to best serve the community to beat the pandemic.
Ramadan 2020: Holiest month on Islamic calendar to start under lockdown restrictions
The holiest month on the Islamic calendar starts tonight but social isolation measures mean many Muslims will be unable to celebrate the sense of collective community that Ramadan represents.
Zainab Gulamali is the Spokesperson for the Muslim Council of Britain and she joins Euronews from London.
Watch her interview by clicking on the player above.
Mass influx of flamingos turn Navi Mumbai into a pink playground
While humans are away, wildlife comes out to play... it's been seen in many urban areas and India is no exception. Take a look at our latest No Comment video:
Mass influx of flamingos turn Navi Mumbai into a pink playground
Lockdown measures have seen an increase in flamingo numbers this year.What has the EU agreed so far?
Well, there's a €540 billion emergency package announced two weeks ago... the idea being to provide safety nets for workers, businesses and public finances. Click on the link to see how it aims to help people and businesses.
Part of that package is a €100 billion scheme to tackle unemployment called SURE. Click on the link for the report by our Brussels correspondent Efi Koutsokosta.
Spain wants the EU to go further: here's a reminder in our story from yesterday:
'We all sink or all float': Spain wants EU to back €1.5tn virus fund
"In this crisis, either we all sink or we all float. Spain wants everybody to float, for sure," Spain's foreign affairs minister Arancha Gonzalez Laya told Euronews.EU summit: coronavirus rescue plans test Union's solidarity
EU leaders meet for their fourth video call summit in just under two hours' time (1500 CET), tasked with continuing to build the bloc’s response to the coronavirus crisis (see earlier post).
There've been divisive debates over debt and grants: ultimately how does the wealthier north should help out the harder hit south?
Is the scene set for a showdown -- or can they reach compromise? Here's the take of our Political Editor Darren McCaffrey:
EU summit: coronavirus rescue plans test Union's solidarity
As EU leaders meet to thrash out the details of the financial recovery, we look at the debates raging across European capitals.Measles, polio cases could rise if immunisation services close -- WHO
Disrupting immunisation services -- even for brief periods during emergencies such as the current crisis -- could risk a rise in vaccine-preventable disease outbreaks such as measles and polio, the World Health Organisation warns.
"Immense progress" was made before the COVID-19 pandemic in vaccinating children, the WHO says, adding that countries must protect immunisation services to minimise further disease outbreaks and loss of life.
More on that story here:
Financial crisis cuts have put Greece in unique position to combat coronavirus
It's been ten years since Greece took the first steps to emerge from its financial crisis.
Austerity meant severe cuts to an already battered healthcare system.
But it also forced the Greek state to re-think how it confronts major crises.
As Symela Touchtidou reports, it's finally paying off -- with Greece finding itself in a unique position to combat the coronavirus.
Watch more by clicking on the player above.
Turkey marks its 100th year of parliament amid coronavirus
A Turkish Airlines plane flew over the country drawing the Turkish flag in its flight path to mark centennial celebrations for the founding of the nation's parliament on Thursday.
The celebrations for Turkey's National Sovereignty and Children's Day were changed due to the coronavirus pandemic, with authorities replacing parades and school ceremonies with observances in line with social distancing efforts.
Flight tracking website Flightradar24 showed a crescent and a star over Turkey outlined by a Boeing 777. Turkish television stations showed children with flags on their neighborhood streets.
The government has also asked Turkish citizens to sing the national anthem in the evening.
Officials wearing masks visited the mausoleum of Turkey's founder.
The latest health ministry figures show 1,814 people have died from the coronavirus in Turkey, which ranks seventh in the world in the number of confirmed infections, which are nearing 100,000, according to Johns Hopkins University.
Spain's daily death toll marks slight increase
Spain reported on Thursday that 440 people have died of coronavirus in the country in one day.
This marks a slight increase from Wednesday's figure of 435 deaths.
The country's number of confirmed coronavirus cases have risen, too, with 4,635 new cases (compared to Wednesday's 4,200).
The daily number of patients who have healed from the disease was 3,335 on Thursday, lower than Wednesday's 3,401
Eurozone economy shrinking by quarterly rate of 7.5% - survey
A closely watched survey of economic activity across the 19-country Eurozone suggests that the single currency bloc is shrinking at a quarterly rate of 7.5% as a result of the lockdowns meant to get a grip on the coronavirus pandemic.
Financial information firm IHS Markit said Thursday that its purchasing managers' index for the eurozone - a broad gauge of economic activity - plummeted to an all-time low of 13.5 points in April from the previous record low of 29.7 in March.
The firm has been compiling data for more than 20 years. Anything below 50 indicates a contraction in activity, with a lower number indicating a sharper drop.
The scale of the April decline suggests that the Eurozone is heading for an unprecedented slump: At its lowest during the global financial crisis in 2009, the index only fell to 36.2.
"With large swathes of the economy likely to remain locked down to contain the spread of COVID-19 in coming weeks, the second quarter looks set to record the fiercest downturn the region has seen in recent history," said Chris Williamson, chief business economist at IHS Markit.
Williamson said that at the current rate, the Eurozone is shrinking by a quarterly rate of 7.5%.
European Union leaders will hold a virtual summit on Thursday at which they are expected to endorse a financial aid package worth €540 billion that would help pay lost wages, keep companies afloat and fund health care systems.
The EU's institutions and nations have already mobilized around €3.3 trillion to help over-burdened health services, suffering small businesses, embattled airlines and the newly jobless.
Nurse from New Zealand recounts treating Boris Johnson for coronavirus in London's St Thomas' Hospital
Nurse Jenny McGee from New Zealand says that helping save somebody as notable as Boris Johnson in his battle with the coronavirus didn't faze her thanks to her years of dealing with stressful situations in intensive care wards.
Jenny McGee was one of two National Health Service nurses who were singled out for praise by the British prime minister after he was discharged from St. Thomas' Hospital in London earlier this month.
Johnson, 55, was the first world leader confirmed to have the virus.
In an interview with Television New Zealand that aired on Thursday, McGee said the staff treated Johnson as just another patient. She has worked for 10 years in intensive care, including five as a leader.
"When I got in the car after work each night and I could hear things about Boris Johnson on the news. That was very surreal because I thought 'Wow. I've been looking after him,'" she said.
She said she was taken by surprise when he mentioned her by name in his address.
Her role at the hospital is constantly monitoring her patients and giving feedback to the doctor.
McGee said that the work during the pandemic has been physically exhausting and emotionally straining as she and her colleagues do their best to save as many lives as they can.
"The darkest moment most definitely is being with someone who has passed away and their family is not there," she said.
China pledges an additional $30 million for WHO
Chinese authorities said on Thursday they will give an additional $30 million to the World Health Organization (WHO), in an announcement made a few days after the US withdrew its funding for WHO.
"The money will help with prevention and control of the COVID-19 pandemic, and to support the development of health care services in some countries," Geng Shuang, the spokesperson for China's Foreign Affairs ministry, said.
Last week, the United States said it was suspending its WHO funding, citing as a reason the WHO's well-inclined position towards China and US president Trump criticised the WHO's "bad management" of the pandemic.
"To support WHO at this critical moment of the global fight against the pandemic is to defend ideals and principles of multilateralism and to fight for the authority of the United Nations", Geng Shuang said during China's daily press briefing.
Shuang added that China has already given $20 million to the WHO.
French Interior minister cites "strictness of the lockdown" and "poverty" as causes of unrest in Paris suburbs
French Interior minister Christophe Castaner said on Thursday that the tensions in some Paris suburbs that erupted at the weekend were due to "the strictness of the lockdown" in the country.
On BFM TV channel, Castaner said that the violences had "several causes".
"There is the strictness of the lockdown, its effects on the youth - because most of them are young," Castaner said. "These are small groups who think that it can be fun to attack the police or burn down trash cans. It's not fun, it's dangerous, for a start they put themselves in danger."
Another cause cited by the minister was "the poverty in which they live with their family, and which can provoke anger."
But, Castaner added, "the answer is not to burn down the neighbour's car".
He said the police "systematically" intervenes but that its role is also to help the youth in these suburbs.
Read more:
Tokyo Olympics won't be postponed again, Olympic Committee chief says
The Tokyo Olympic Games, postponed from summer 2020 to 2021 due to the global pandemic of coronavirus, cannot be postponed again, the president of the Olympic Committee Yoshiro Mori said on Thursday.
There is "no chance" that the Games are postponed beyond 2021, Mori said in an interview with the Japanese news wire Kyodo News.
"With the athletes and the organisation issues in mind, it is technically impossible to postpone the event by two years," Mori said.
A two-year delay was initially considered by the Committee, Mori added, and Japan's PM Shinzo Abe was consulted on the issue. Abe "said that the way to go was a one-year postponement", Mori explained.
The Tokyo Olympics are planned to start on 23 July 2021.
Earlier this week, a Japanese expert criticised the country's pandemic management measures and said that he was "pessimistic" regarding Japan's ability to host the Games in 2021.
"Honestly, I don't think that it's probable that the Olympic Games be held next year," Kentaro Iwata, a bacteriology professor at the Kobe (west) University said in a press conference via video.
For the Olympics to happen in 2021, the fight against coronavirus pandemic should be won not only Japan but the rest of the world, too.
France will not financially support companies registered in tax havens
France's measures to ease the economic impact of the coronavirus crisis will not include financial aid to companies that are registered in tax havens, the French Economy Minister Bruno Le Maire said on Thursday.
EU prepares for key videoconference summit as leaders are divided on common coronavirus response
EU leaders will try to agree on a cohesive financial response to the COVID-19 crisis during a key summit by video conference on Thursday.
They will discuss the €500 billion package that has already been agreed to in principle, as well as the potential of more bailout funds.
Spain, Italy and France have warned that without more unity, the coronavirus pandemic could be the beginning of the end of the EU.
Euronews' Political editor Darren McCaffrey talks to MEPs to learn more: watch the video by clicking on the player above.
Two New York cats test positive for coronavirus
Two cats have been ill with coronavirus in New York, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) said on Wednesday.
They are the first pets to be officially declared positive to the virus in the US, the CDC added.
The cats suffered from respiratory issues, but were treated by veterinarians who have said they will fully recover, the CDC said.
No human in the first cat's household has shown COVID-19 symptoms, but due to a lack of tests, it has not been possible to determine if they carried the virus.
The owner of the second cat has been tested positive with the coronavirus.
The cats live in separate areas of New York state, America's COVID-19 epicenter.
Read more: Two New York cats test positive for coronavirus
ARIANA DREHSLER / AFP
Coronavirus pandemic fast becoming a 'human rights crisis', UN chief warns
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that the coronavirus pandemic is "a human crisis that is fast becoming a human rights crisis."
The UN chief said in a video message that there is discrimination in the delivery of public services to tackle COVID-19 and there are "structural inequalities that impede access to them."
Guterres said the pandemic has also seen "disproportionate effects on certain communities, the rise of hate speech, the targeting of vulnerable groups, and the risks of heavy-handed security responses undermining the health response."
He warned that with "rising ethno-nationalism, populism, authoritarianism and a push back against human rights in some countries, the crisis can provide a pretext to adopt repressive measures for purposes unrelated to the pandemic."
In February, Guterres issued a call to action to countries, businesses and people to help renew and revive human rights across the globe, laying out a seven-point plan amid concerns about climate change, conflict and repression.
"As I said then, human rights cannot be an afterthought in times of crisis - and we now face the biggest international crisis in generations," he said.
The secretary-general said he was releasing a report Thursday on how human rights must guide the response to the virus and recovery from the pandemic. Neither he nor the report name any countries or parties responsible for human rights violations.
Guterres said governments must be "transparent, responsive and accountable," and stressed that press freedom, civil society organizations, the private sector and "civic space" are essential.
The report said governments also need to take action to mitigate the worst impacts of COVID-19 on jobs, livelihoods, access to basic services and family life. Guterres said any emergency measures - including states of emergency - must be "legal, proportionate, necessary and non-discriminatory, have a specific focus and duration, and take the least intrusive approach possible to protect public health."
"Emergency powers may be needed but broad executive powers, swiftly granted with minimal oversight, carry risks," the report warned. "Heavy-handed security responses undermine the health response and can exacerbate existing threats to peace and security or create new ones."
The report said the best response is proportionate to the immediate threat and protects human rights. "The message is clear: People - and their rights - must be front and center," Guterres said.
Mass graves dug in Brazil's Amazon forest for coronavirus dead
New graves have been dug up at the Nossa Senhora Aparecida cemetery in Manaus, in the Amazon forest in Brazil, on April 22, 2020.
The new grave area hosts suspected and confirmed victims of the COVID-19 coronavirus pandemic.
MICHAEL DANTAS / AFP
French Senate approves altered 2020 budget to adapt to coronavirus crisis
The French Senate approved on Wednesday night the government's altered 2020 budget proposal to face the economic impact of the coronavirus pandemic, worth €110 billion.
This "crisis budget" is based on an estimation of a 8% GDP decrease compared to 2019. Public spending will considerably increase from last year to compensate the losses due to the pandemic.
The budget proposal anticipates a sum of €24 billion for furlough loans and €20 billion to recapitalise strategic companies that have suffered from the crisis, such as Air France.
Seven billion euros will be put aside to help small businesses and freelancers and the country's poorest households will receive €150 in monthly aid, plus €100 per child.
US reports 1,738 deaths in one day
The US reported 1,738 deaths due to coronavirus in one day on Wednesday, a death toll lower than Tuesday, according to the count kept by the Johns Hopkins University.
The total number of people who have died of the virus has reached 46,583 in the US, the country with the world's highest death toll amid the pandemic.
About 4,5 million people have been tested for coronavirus in the country, with 839,675 confirmed cases of coronavirus.
President Donald Trump on Wednesday signed a temporary immigration ban so Americans are first in the line for jobs.
Good morning, I'm Pauline and I'll be keeping you up to date with the latest updates throughout the day.
Share this article
Comments