London police arrest more than 4,000 people for domestic abuse during Covid-19 restrictions
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... "Victims should be assured that they can leave their homes to escape harm or seek help, and they will not be penalized in any way for not maintaining social distancing, or otherwise breaching COVID-19 restrictions. Our prime concern is protecting victims and others who are affected, and bringing offenders to justice."
UK government to start trials of drones delivering medical supplies
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The trials will begin next week and will carry medical equipment to St Mary's Hospital on the Isle of Wight, off UK's southern coast, Shapps said.
Here's who is joining the World Health Organization's new vaccine efforts
Leaders from around the world joined the World Health Organization, after it announced the launch of a new effort to accelerate the development of vaccines, diagnostics and therapeutics in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Here's what they're saying:
- Melinda Gates, speaking for the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation, a co-host of the effort, said, “the moment we are living through right now is a reminder, that we’re all part of the same global community. As new diagnostics, treatments and vaccines become available, we have a responsibility to get them out equitably, with the understanding that all lives have equal value.”
- António Guterres, secretary-general of the United Nations said “the world needs development, production and equitable delivery of safe and effective Covid-19 vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics.”
- Giuseppe Conte, prime minister of Italy said, “There is one thing we understand well, finding and distributing the vaccine is the only way to win this battle,” adding, "You can count on Italy, together we will make it.”
(
more at the link)
The US will send ventilators to Ecuador, El Salvador and Indonesia, Trump says
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Trump also praised El Salvador for helping the US on immigration.
"Will be helping them with Ventilators, which are desperately needed," Trump wrote. "They have worked well with us on immigration at the Southern Border!"
Germany's largest state will allow some religious services next month
Bavaria, Germany's largest federal state, will allow church and other religious services to go ahead under certain conditions beginning on May 4, local authorities said on Friday.
Visitors must maintain a distance of about 2 meters, or about six feet, from each other and wear face coverings. There will also be a 60-minute time limit, Bavaria's head of the state chancellery Florian Herrmann told CNN in a statement.
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France won't consider a date to reopen restaurants before end of May
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“Nothing would be worse than a hasted reopening that would entail new closure later. We prefer to take the time to plan a reopening in the best sanitary conditions possible," French finance minister Bruno Le Maire said.
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The UK government's new coronavirus testing website overwhelmed by demand in its first hours online
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The site went live at 6am UK time (1aET).
By late Friday morning, users trying to book a test were greeted by a message saying: “You can’t currently register for a Covid-19 test. Please check back here later.”
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Researchers clone antibodies from recovered coronavirus patients, with hope for a future treatment
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In test tubes, the antibodies prevented the binding of the novel coronavirus to its receptor, according to the researchers. Antibodies that block that step – which is critical for infection – could one day be a promising treatment for the virus.
But it’s not clear whether blocking the binding of the virus in a lab means the antibodies could prevent infection in real humans.
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Germany's virus reproduction rate is increasing
Germany’s coronavirus reproduction rate has increased to 0.9 according to the country's centre for disease and control, the Robert Koch Institute, meaning every 10 people with the virus infect an average of nine others.
That’s up from a reproduction rate of 0.7 a week ago, according to the Institute’s Vice President Lars Schaade.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel has previously warned that if the number -- also known as the R0 value -- rises above 1, the country’s health system would eventually be overwhelmed.
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Several Sydney beaches shut again after beachgoers flout rules
Three southern Sydney beaches closed for a second time, only five days after being reopened, according to a statement from the Randwick City Council.
The beaches of Clovelly, Coogee and Maroubra were shut at 1pm Friday after “people failed to use beaches for exercise only.”
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In March, Bondi beach closed down after thousands of beachgoers ignored the advice from officials to avoid large gatherings and practice social distancing.
A baby girl laughed after hearing her Covid-positive mother's voice for the first time
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The mother had gestational diabetes and hypothyroidism, making the birth a "challenge," said Kulkarni -- but "when we delivered a healthy baby it was quite a memorable moment for us."
"Once the baby was delivered, the mother kept asking for the child because naturally she wanted to see her, then we got the idea to have a video call. The baby recognized her mother's voice and was smiling and laughing as this was the only voice she knew since when she was in the womb," Kulkarni said.
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The pandemic will kill more Americans than died in Vietnam
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By this time next week, it seems very possible that more people will have died in the US of Covid-19 than
the 58,000 who died in nearly of decade of fighting in Vietnam.
We're already far past the
more than 35,000 who died in the Korean War. The country was much smaller during those conflicts -- but it seemed everyone had a story.
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Men should do grocery shopping during pandemic as women take too long, Japanese mayor says
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"Women take a longer time grocery shopping because they browse through different products and weigh out which option is best," Matsui told reporters at a coronavirus news conference in Osaka on Thursday.
"Men quickly grab what they're told to buy so they won't linger at the supermarket -- that avoids close contact with others."
Coronavirus live news and updates from around the world - CNN