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China-linked hackers are breaking into organisations in the United States carrying out research into the coronavirus infection, also known as COVID-19, according to the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the Department of Homeland Security, warning scientists and public health officials to be on the lookout for cyber-theft.
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Brazil has confirmed a daily record 11,385 new cases of the novel coronavirus, as well as 749 new deaths, according to data from the country’s health ministry, pushing the number of infections to at least 188,974 and more than 13,000 deaths to become the sixth hardest-hit country in the world.
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US states are beginning to restart their economies after months of paralysing coronavirus lockdowns, but an expert from the Harvard Global Health Institute warned that COVID-19 cases could re-emerge weeks after the reopening, reiterating a similar warning by Dr Rick Bright, a government whistle-blower, who said that America faces the “darkest winter” in modern history.
- More than 4.34 million people around the world have been infected with the coronavirus to date, according to Johns Hopkins University. More than 296,000 have died – at least 83,791 of them in the US. About 1.6 million people have recovered.
Here are the latest updates.
Thursday, May 14
03:12 GMT – South Korea raises alarms over infections at nightspots
Infections in Seoul coming from nightspots in the neighbourhood of Itaewon reached 72 on Thursday, according to the Yonhap news agency, raising fears over what South Korean health authorities described as “a truly cruel virus” further spreading in the greater area of the capital.
The cases traced to Itaewon is the second-largest cluster of infections in Seoul, following 98 cases linked to a call center in the southwestern area of Sindorim.
Daily new infections in the country came in at 29, including 22 in Seoul area, bringing the country’s total infections to 10,991 on Thursday, Yonhap quoted health officials as saying. The death toll is at 260.
02:48 GMT – US state of Wisconsin court tosses out governor’s stay-home order
The supreme court of the US state of Wisconsin has struck down Gov Tony Evers’ coronavirus stay-at-home order, ruling that his administration overstepped its authority when it extended it for another month without consulting legislators.
The 4-3 ruling essentially reopens the state, lifting caps on the size of gatherings, allowing people to travel as they please and allowing shuttered businesses to reopen, including bars and restaurants.
The decision let stand language that had closed schools, however, and local governments can still impose their own health restrictions.
02:06 GMT – Japanese pharma company says coronavirus treatment trial to start in July
The Japanese company, Takeda Pharmaceutical, could start a clinical trial as early as July for a potential treatment of COVID-19 that is based on antibodies from recovered patients’ blood, company executives said.
The clinical trial would include hundreds of patients and take several months to complete. If successful, Japan’s Takeda could file for approval by US authorities this year, said Julie Kim, president of the plasma-derived therapies unit of Takeda.
“When the product will be available beyond the clinical study is still a bit unclear,” Kim said on an investor call. “But we do expect that before the end of the year, we should see some information in terms of broader use.”
01:18 GMT – Whistle-blower: US could face ‘darkest winter’ if virus rebounds
America faces the “darkest winter in modern history” unless leaders act decisively to prevent a rebound of the coronavirus, says a government whistle-blower who alleges he was removed from his job after warning the Trump administration to prepare for the pandemic, the Associated Press news agency reported.
Immunologist Dr Rick Bright made his sobering prediction in a testimony prepared for his appearance on Thursday before the House Energy and Commerce Committee. Aspects of his complaint about the administration’s early handling of the crisis are expected to be backed up by testimony from an executive of a company that manufactures respirator masks.
“Our window of opportunity is closing,” Bright says in his prepared testimony posted on the House committee website. “If we fail to develop a national coordinated response, based in science, I fear the pandemic will get far worse and be prolonged, causing unprecedented illness and fatalities.”
01:02 GMT – Mexico’s total deaths from coronavirus rise to 4,220
Mexico’s health ministry confirmed 1,862 new cases of coronavirus infections on Wednesday, along with 294 additional deaths, slightly lower than the country’s record number of daily fatalities reported the day before, Reuters news agency reported.
The new infections brought confirmed coronavirus cases to 40,186 and 4,220 deaths in total, according to the official tally.
People sit bundled up against the cold after spending the night waiting for news of relatives being treated for suspected COVID-19, outside the Mexico General Hospital, in Mexico City [Rebecca Blackwell/AP]
00:48 GMT – Canada, US likely to extend travel restrictions until June 21
Canada and the US appear likely to extend a ban on non-essential travel until June 21 amid the novel coronavirus pandemic, a Canadian government source and a top US official told Reuters news agency.
The two neighbouring countries had agreed on April 18 to extend border restrictions until May 21 as cases of the disease continued to rise in both nations. Canada is now pressing for the measures to remain for another month.
“It’s too early to lift the restrictions, so we’re working toward an extension,” said one Canadian government source, describing the talks with Washington as positive.
Chad Wolf, acting US Department of Homeland Security secretary, also said later on Wednesday that restrictions across the borders with Canada and Mexico would likely be extended.
00:35 GMT – China reports 3 new cases from mainland, no new imported infections
China’s National Health Commission reported on Thursday at least three new cases of the coronavirus cases in the country as of the end of Wednesday – down from seven cases the previous day.
The health agency also said none of the cases was imported.
Of the 82,929 total cases officially reported in China, 78,195 have recovered and 101 remain active, while 4,633 have died.
China reported no new imported cases as of the end of Wednesday [Ng Han Guan/AP]
00:01 GMT – Spokesman for Mexican foreign minister has coronavirus
The chief spokesman for Mexican Foreign Minister Marcelo Ebrard has tested positive for the coronavirus and an official in the president’s office has died of the disease, bringing the pandemic closer to the inner circle of government.
The spokesman, Roberto Velasco Alvarez, a close aide to Ebrard, said he had COVID-19, the respiratory illness caused by the novel coronavirus.
Mexico has recorded more than 38,000 infections and close to 4,000 deaths due to the virus.
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Hello and welcome to Al Jazeera’s continuing coverage of the coronavirus pandemic. I’m Ted Regencia in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Click here to read updates from yesterday, May 13.
