mercurynews--2020-07-19--The Latest: Global death toll for pandemic now above 600,000

By The Associated Press Johns Hopkins University says the global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 600,000 .
The university ’ s tally as of Saturday night says the United States tops the list with 140,103 deaths .
It is followed by 78,772 fatalities in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom .
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million , out of which 3.7 million are in the United States .
There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India .
The World Health Organization again reported a single-day record of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Breathtaking virus numbers show normal life still far away — Talks into the night as EU leaders haggle over budget , virus — President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hands-off approach to the coronavirus crisis in recent days even as COVID-19 cases and deaths surge .
— Doctors who survived COVID-19 are bewildered by public disregard .
They see a society that appears to be blithely ignoring the safety precautions that experts have recommended to help stop the spread of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a sweeping call to end the global inequalities that sparked this year ’ s massive anti-racism protests and have been further exposed by the coronavirus pandemic .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported less than 40 additional cases of the coronavirus for a second straight day , as authorities struggle to suppress an uptick in local infections .
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases , raising the country ’ s total to 13,745 with 295 deaths .
The agency says 21 of the newly confirmed cases were domestically infected patients , all of them found in the densely populated Seoul area or two central cities .
It says the rest 13 cases were from overseas .
Health authorities have said imported case of COVID-19 are less threatening than local transmissions because South Korea is mandating testing and enforcing two-week quarantines on all people arriving from abroad .
MEXICO CITY — Mexico continues to register near-record levels @ @ @ @ @ @ @ to reopen the economy .
The Health Department reported 7,615 more cases Saturday and 578 more deaths .
That brings Mexico to a total of 38,888 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began and 338 , 913 cases .
Those numbers are widely considered significant undercounts because Mexico has done so little testing .
Government labs have administered slightly more than 800,000 tests so far , or about one out of every 150 people in the country with a population of nearly 130 million .
Mexico had hoped to begin a gradual reopening @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have had to reverse course , closing beaches and hotels again .
BEIJING — China on Sunday said another 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the northwestern city of Urumqi , raising the total in the country ’ s most recent local outbreak to at least 30 .
An additional three cases were brought into the country from overseas , increasing China ’ s total number of confirmed cases to 83,660 with 4,634 reported deaths .
Despite the Urumqi outbreak , China has just 251 people remaining in treatment for @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Commission .
Another 151 people were being monitored in isolation for showing signs of having the virus or for testing positive without showing symptoms .
At least 23 of those asymptomatic cases were in Urumqi , although China does not include those in the numbers of confirmed cases .
Urumqi has responded by reducing subway , bus and taxi service , closed off some residential communities and is now conducting tests on people city-wide , beginning with those in communities where cases had been reported , according to state media .
Some restrictions @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been imposed , with the number of flights from the city reduced .
The Urumqi outbreak is the latest to pop up since China largely contained the domestic spread of the virus in March .
The largest was a recent outbreak in Beijing that infected more than 330 people , but local authorities on Saturday said commercial operations in the city have largely recovered .
The Chinese capital has gone 13 days without a domestically transmitted case , although business at many restaurants and shops remains poor .
Urumqi is the capital of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ been accused of human rights abuses among its native Muslim minority groups .
China has deployed a massive security presence in the region , which it says is needed to prevent terrorist activity .
THE HAGUE , Netherlands — Authorities in Amsterdam are urging people not to visit the city ’ s famous red light district and have closed off some of the historic district ’ s narrow streets because they are too busy .
After months of coronavirus lockdown measures , sex workers in the Netherlands were allowed to resume work on @ @ @ @ @ @ @ have eased , the red light district has gotten busier again .
Late Saturday night , amid fears that visitors could not maintain social distancing , Amsterdam Municipality took action , closing roads in the area and tweeting in Dutch and English : “ Don ’ t come to the red light district .
It is too busy.
” JOHANNESBURG — South Africa now ranks fifth in the world for confirmed coronavirus cases caseload as the African continent faces the pandemic ’ s first wave head-on .
South Africa on Saturday reported 13,285 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 350,879 .
That puts the country ahead of Peru and makes up roughly half the cases in Africa .
The only four countries with more confirmed cases — the U.S. , Brazil , India , and Russia — all have far more people than South Africa ’ s 57 million .
The virus arrived on the continent a little later than elsewhere , giving officials more time to prepare , but Africa has fewer health care resources than any other region and South Africa ’ s public hospitals struggle to handle the growing @ @ @ @ @ @ @ home to Johannesburg and the capital , Pretoria , is now Africa ’ s epicenter for the virus .
It has one-quarter of the country ’ s population and many of the poor are crowded in township areas with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation .
South Africa has seen 4,948 reported virus deaths , but the South African Medical Research Council in its most recent report shows the country had 10,944 “ excess deaths ” between May 6 and July 7 .
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK , Calif. — No employee or @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Park ’ s health clinic , and no visitors have reported being sick since the park began reopening last month , but tests of the park ’ s raw sewage have confirmed the presence of the virus .
Dozens of people are believed to have been infected .
The public health officer for Mariposa County , who is overseeing coronavirus testing in the Yosemite area , said the emergence of the coronavirus will not likely lead to policy changes because the park is already following local and state restrictions .
Eric Sergienko said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ virus in Yosemite will make people more vigilant .
Yosemite , which typically attracts more than 4 million visitors each year , is cutting the number of vehicle passes to the park by half .
Visitor centers remain closed , while campgrounds , gift shops and hotels are limiting services to allow for physical distancing .
The World Health Organization is again posting a single-day record of new confirmed coronavirus cases .
It announced 259,848 new cases on Saturday .
The WHO on Friday posted more than 237,000 confirmed cases around the world @ @ @ @ @ @ @ nations struggle with new waves of infections after loosening lockdown restrictions .
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University show more than 14 million cases worldwide since the start of the pandemic .
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials reported a daily record of 147 deaths from the coronavirus and 2,742 new confirmed cases .
The Department of Health Services say the additional deaths included 106 newly attributed to COVID-19 after health officials ’ latest periodic reviews of death certificates .
It says the additional cases didn ’ t include figures from a laboratory that @ @ @ @ @ @ @ says the missing cases will be reported Sunday .
The additional deaths and cases reported Saturday increased the statewide confirmed totals to 2,730 deaths and 141,265 infections .
Gov .
Doug Ducey ’ s lifted stay-home orders and other restrictions in May .
Last month , he reversed course and authorized local governments to impose masking requirements .
Ducey ’ s recent messaging has promoted use of masks , social distancing and hand washing .
JEFFERSON CITY , Mo .
— Missouri has set another record for daily increases of coronavirus cases with @ @ @ @ @ @ @ total to 32,248 confirmed cases and exceeded Missouri ’ s previous one-day high of 936 on Tuesday .
As of Saturday , the seven-day average of new cases reported by the state is 731 , up from 560 a week ago .
The number of deaths also increased by nine to 1,130 , according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services .
FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. — Florida reported more than 10,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 90 additional deaths .
Gov .
Ron DeSantis announced 30,000 vials of @ @ @ @ @ @ @ after hospitals complained of shortages .
He says he worked with Vice President Mike Pence last week to expedite the shipments .
DeSantis says the vials will be shipped directly to hospitals in the next 48 to 72 hours and should treat about 5,000 patients .
He made the announcement at a St. Augustine hospital during a discussion with doctors .
The state reports Florida hospitals are treating more than 9,000 patients for coronavirus .
Overall , there have been nearly 338,000 confirmed cases and 5,002 deaths .
BARCELONA , Spain — Police @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of the city ’ s beaches because sunbathers are ignoring regulations amid a resurgence of the coronavirus .
Police on Saturday impeded more people for entering the beach and asked others to disperse .
Catalan health authorities reported over 1,200 new cases on Saturday from the preceding 24 hours .
The new outbreaks have forced regional officials to announce the prohibition of gatherings of over 10 people that went into effect Saturday .
Barcelona and other areas of the surrounding northeast Catalonia region have experienced the largest outbreaks in Spain since the European @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
The mandatory use of face masks is rapidly spreading across Spain as officials grapple with more than 180 active outbreaks , most in Catalonia and neighboring Aragon regions .
The coronavirus has resulted in at least 28,000 confirmed deaths in Spain .
ATHENS , Greece — Greek authorities announced 19 new cases of coronavirus and no new deaths over the past 24 hours .
Total confirmed cases since the outbreak of the epidemic are 3,983 , with 194 deaths .
Despite the relatively low number of cases , authorities are concerned about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ’ t being followed .
On Saturday , they extended mandatory wearing of masks to supermarket customers and are considering expanding the mask requirement .
HONOLULU — Dozens of Hawaii inmates housed at a private prison in southern Arizona are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms .
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the Hawaii Department of Public Safety says 45 Hawaii inmates in the same unit at the Saguaro Correctional Center are in quarantine and being monitored for symptoms .
Another 28 Hawaii inmates who had contact with Nevada inmates will be quarantined for 14 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ correctional center , didn ’ t immediately respond to calls by the Associated Press on Saturday .
Corrections Corporation of America contracts with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety to house adult male inmates from Hawaii to ease prison overcrowding on the islands .
TIRANA , Albania — Albania has reported 4,008 confirmed coronavirus cases and 111 total deaths since the pandemic began in the country .
In the last month , daily numbers of new cases have ranged from 50 to 120 , at least double compared to the March-May period when @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Health ministry officials say people must wear masks , keep socially distant and wash hands .
Masks are mandatory in closed areas and individuals may receive a small fine for not wearing them in public or private places .
Health officials are checking businesses , cafes and restaurants , handing out larger fines for noncompliance .
Doctors are warning that relaxed measures may result in higher numbers in the upcoming months .
Albania has opened its tourist areas .
Most tourists are from neighboring Kosovo , which is experiencing an increase in @ @ @ @ @ @ @ are dismissing Prime Minister Boris Johnson ’ s hope the country may emerge from coronavirus lockdown and return to normality by Christmas .
Johnson has announced more easing of restrictions , with people urged to return to public transit and workplaces .
He says sports fans should return to stadiums by October and remaining restrictions could be lifted from November , “ possibly in time for Christmas.
” But epidemiologist John Edmunds , a member of the government ’ s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies , says a return to pre-pandemic normality wouldn @ @ @ @ @ @ @ s a vaccine for the virus .
He says a world where people can “ go to work normally , travel on the buses and trains , go on holiday without restrictions , meet friends , shake hands , hug each other and so on — that ’ s a long way off , unfortunately.
” England ’ s Chief Medical Officer , Chris Whitty , also says social distancing rules would have to be in place for a “ prolonged period.
” Britain has registered more than 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ DELHI — A surge of 34,884 new coronavirus cases took India ’ s tally to 1,038,716 , as local governments reimpose focused lockdowns in several parts of the country .
The Health Ministry on Saturday reported 671 confirmed deaths in the past 24 hours for a total of 26,273 .
The ministry says the recovery rate had slightly come down to 62.9 % .
The actual numbers , like elsewhere in the world , are likely far higher because of various reasons , including limited testing .
More than 300,000 samples are tested @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , including Maharashtra , Tamil Nadu , West Bengal and Assam , have put high-risk areas under lockdowns , only allowing essential food supplies and health services .
Rahul Gandhi , leader of the main opposition Congress party , urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to take concrete steps to contain the pandemic .
He warned the number of infections will double to 2 million by Aug. 10 at the current pace .
Experts say India is likely to witness a series of peaks as the infection spreads in rural areas .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ topped 14 million and deaths have surpassed 600,000 , according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University on Saturday .
The World Health Organization reported a single-day record of new infections : over 237,000 .
Experts believe that the true numbers are even higher .
The United States , Brazil and India top the list with the highest number of cases .
India on Friday exceeded 1 million confirmed infections , and Brazil ’ s cases passed 2 million , including 76,000 deaths , on Thursday .
MELBOURNE , Australia — Australia ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ in new COVID-19 infections from Friday ’ s record high of 428 to 217 , a total Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says was “ a relief after yesterday ’ s numbers.
” The Health Department says Saturday that two more Victorians , a man and a woman both in their 80s , had died , taking the state ’ s death toll to 34 and Australia ’ s national total to 118 .
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the latest numbers were encouraging but warned it was just one day .
He @ @ @ @ @ @ @ see a pattern where there ’ s stability and then a decrease.
” He urged residents in metropolitan Melbourne to remain diligent during a six-week lockdown : “ Being bored is much better than being in intensive care .
”

By The Associated Press
Johns Hopkins University says the global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 600,000.
The university’s tally as of Saturday night says the United States tops the list with 140,103 deaths. It is followed by 78,772 fatalities in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom.
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million, out of which 3.7 million are in the United States. There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India.
The World Health Organization again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848.
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Breathtaking virus numbers show normal life still far away
— Talks into the night as EU leaders haggle over budget, virus
— Police close down packed Barcelona beach amid virus spike
— President Donald Trump has taken an increasingly hands-off approach to the coronavirus crisis in recent days even as COVID-19 cases and deaths surge.
— Doctors who survived COVID-19 are bewildered by public disregard. They see a society that appears to be blithely ignoring the safety precautions that experts have recommended to help stop the spread of COVID-19
— The U.N. secretary-general has made a sweeping call to end the global inequalities that sparked this year’s massive anti-racism protests and have been further exposed by the coronavirus pandemic.
___
Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported less than 40 additional cases of the coronavirus for a second straight day, as authorities struggle to suppress an uptick in local infections.
The Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said Sunday it has reported 34 additional cases, raising the country’s total to 13,745 with 295 deaths.
The agency says 21 of the newly confirmed cases were domestically infected patients, all of them found in the densely populated Seoul area or two central cities. It says the rest 13 cases were from overseas.
Health authorities have said imported case of COVID-19 are less threatening than local transmissions because South Korea is mandating testing and enforcing two-week quarantines on all people arriving from abroad.
South Korea on Saturday recorded 39 new cases.
___
MEXICO CITY — Mexico continues to register near-record levels of confirmed coronavirus infections, frustrating plans to reopen the economy.
The Health Department reported 7,615 more cases Saturday and 578 more deaths. That brings Mexico to a total of 38,888 confirmed COVID-19 deaths since the pandemic began and 338, 913 cases. Those numbers are widely considered significant undercounts because Mexico has done so little testing. Government labs have administered slightly more than 800,000 tests so far, or about one out of every 150 people in the country with a population of nearly 130 million.
Mexico had hoped to begin a gradual reopening starting in June, but several states have had to reverse course, closing beaches and hotels again.
___
BEIJING — China on Sunday said another 13 confirmed cases of coronavirus have been reported in the northwestern city of Urumqi, raising the total in the country’s most recent local outbreak to at least 30.
An additional three cases were brought into the country from overseas, increasing China’s total number of confirmed cases to 83,660 with 4,634 reported deaths.
Despite the Urumqi outbreak, China has just 251 people remaining in treatment for COVID-19, according to the National Health Commission.
Another 151 people were being monitored in isolation for showing signs of having the virus or for testing positive without showing symptoms. At least 23 of those asymptomatic cases were in Urumqi, although China does not include those in the numbers of confirmed cases.
Urumqi has responded by reducing subway, bus and taxi service, closed off some residential communities and is now conducting tests on people city-wide, beginning with those in communities where cases had been reported, according to state media. Some restrictions on people leaving the city have also been imposed, with the number of flights from the city reduced.
The Urumqi outbreak is the latest to pop up since China largely contained the domestic spread of the virus in March. The largest was a recent outbreak in Beijing that infected more than 330 people, but local authorities on Saturday said commercial operations in the city have largely recovered. The Chinese capital has gone 13 days without a domestically transmitted case, although business at many restaurants and shops remains poor.
Urumqi is the capital of the Xinjiang region, where China has been accused of human rights abuses among its native Muslim minority groups. China has deployed a massive security presence in the region, which it says is needed to prevent terrorist activity.
___
THE HAGUE, Netherlands — Authorities in Amsterdam are urging people not to visit the city’s famous red light district and have closed off some of the historic district’s narrow streets because they are too busy.
After months of coronavirus lockdown measures, sex workers in the Netherlands were allowed to resume work on July 1 and as other restrictions also have eased, the red light district has gotten busier again.
Late Saturday night, amid fears that visitors could not maintain social distancing, Amsterdam Municipality took action, closing roads in the area and tweeting in Dutch and English: “Don’t come to the red light district. It is too busy.”
___
JOHANNESBURG — South Africa now ranks fifth in the world for confirmed coronavirus cases caseload as the African continent faces the pandemic’s first wave head-on.
South Africa on Saturday reported 13,285 new confirmed cases for a total of 350,879. That puts the country ahead of Peru and makes up roughly half the cases in Africa. The only four countries with more confirmed cases — the U.S., Brazil, India, and Russia — all have far more people than South Africa’s 57 million.
The virus arrived on the continent a little later than elsewhere, giving officials more time to prepare, but Africa has fewer health care resources than any other region and South Africa’s public hospitals struggle to handle the growing number of patients.
Gauteng province, home to Johannesburg and the capital, Pretoria, is now Africa’s epicenter for the virus. It has one-quarter of the country’s population and many of the poor are crowded in township areas with inadequate access to clean water and sanitation.
South Africa has seen 4,948 reported virus deaths, but the South African Medical Research Council in its most recent report shows the country had 10,944 “excess deaths” between May 6 and July 7.
___
YOSEMITE NATIONAL PARK, Calif. — No employee or resident has tested positive at Yosemite National Park’s health clinic, and no visitors have reported being sick since the park began reopening last month, but tests of the park’s raw sewage have confirmed the presence of the virus.
Dozens of people are believed to have been infected.
The public health officer for Mariposa County, who is overseeing coronavirus testing in the Yosemite area, said the emergence of the coronavirus will not likely lead to policy changes because the park is already following local and state restrictions. Eric Sergienko said he believes the confirmed presence of the virus in Yosemite will make people more vigilant.
Yosemite, which typically attracts more than 4 million visitors each year, is cutting the number of vehicle passes to the park by half. Visitor centers remain closed, while campgrounds, gift shops and hotels are limiting services to allow for physical distancing.
___
The World Health Organization is again posting a single-day record of new confirmed coronavirus cases. It announced 259,848 new cases on Saturday.
The WHO on Friday posted more than 237,000 confirmed cases around the world. The back-to-back records come as many nations struggle with new waves of infections after loosening lockdown restrictions.
Data compiled by Johns Hopkins University show more than 14 million cases worldwide since the start of the pandemic.
___
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials reported a daily record of 147 deaths from the coronavirus and 2,742 new confirmed cases.
The Department of Health Services say the additional deaths included 106 newly attributed to COVID-19 after health officials’ latest periodic reviews of death certificates. It says the additional cases didn’t include figures from a laboratory that missed the reporting cutoff. The department says the missing cases will be reported Sunday.
The additional deaths and cases reported Saturday increased the statewide confirmed totals to 2,730 deaths and 141,265 infections.
Gov. Doug Ducey’s lifted stay-home orders and other restrictions in May. Last month, he reversed course and authorized local governments to impose masking requirements. Ducey’s recent messaging has promoted use of masks, social distancing and hand washing.
___
JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. — Missouri has set another record for daily increases of coronavirus cases with 958.
The addition brought the state total to 32,248 confirmed cases and exceeded Missouri’s previous one-day high of 936 on Tuesday.
As of Saturday, the seven-day average of new cases reported by the state is 731, up from 560 a week ago.
The number of deaths also increased by nine to 1,130, according to the Missouri Department of Health and Senior Services.
___
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Florida reported more than 10,000 new confirmed cases of the coronavirus and 90 additional deaths.
Gov. Ron DeSantis announced 30,000 vials of remdesivir were being shipped to the state after hospitals complained of shortages. He says he worked with Vice President Mike Pence last week to expedite the shipments.
DeSantis says the vials will be shipped directly to hospitals in the next 48 to 72 hours and should treat about 5,000 patients. He made the announcement at a St. Augustine hospital during a discussion with doctors.
The state reports Florida hospitals are treating more than 9,000 patients for coronavirus. Overall, there have been nearly 338,000 confirmed cases and 5,002 deaths.
___
BARCELONA, Spain — Police in Barcelona are limiting access to some of the city’s beaches because sunbathers are ignoring regulations amid a resurgence of the coronavirus.
Police on Saturday impeded more people for entering the beach and asked others to disperse.
Catalan health authorities reported over 1,200 new cases on Saturday from the preceding 24 hours. The new outbreaks have forced regional officials to announce the prohibition of gatherings of over 10 people that went into effect Saturday.
Barcelona and other areas of the surrounding northeast Catalonia region have experienced the largest outbreaks in Spain since the European country ended a strict three-month nationwide lockdown.
The mandatory use of face masks is rapidly spreading across Spain as officials grapple with more than 180 active outbreaks, most in Catalonia and neighboring Aragon regions.
The coronavirus has resulted in at least 28,000 confirmed deaths in Spain.
___
ATHENS, Greece — Greek authorities announced 19 new cases of coronavirus and no new deaths over the past 24 hours.
Total confirmed cases since the outbreak of the epidemic are 3,983, with 194 deaths.
Despite the relatively low number of cases, authorities are concerned about increasing evidence that social distancing guidelines aren’t being followed. On Saturday, they extended mandatory wearing of masks to supermarket customers and are considering expanding the mask requirement.
___
HONOLULU — Dozens of Hawaii inmates housed at a private prison in southern Arizona are being monitored for coronavirus symptoms.
The Honolulu Star-Advertiser reported the Hawaii Department of Public Safety says 45 Hawaii inmates in the same unit at the Saguaro Correctional Center are in quarantine and being monitored for symptoms. Another 28 Hawaii inmates who had contact with Nevada inmates will be quarantined for 14 days.
CoreCivic, which runs the correctional center, didn’t immediately respond to calls by the Associated Press on Saturday. Corrections Corporation of America contracts with the Hawaii Department of Public Safety to house adult male inmates from Hawaii to ease prison overcrowding on the islands.
___
TIRANA, Albania — Albania has reported 4,008 confirmed coronavirus cases and 111 total deaths since the pandemic began in the country.
In the last month, daily numbers of new cases have ranged from 50 to 120, at least double compared to the March-May period when the country was in a total lockdown.
Health ministry officials say people must wear masks, keep socially distant and wash hands. Masks are mandatory in closed areas and individuals may receive a small fine for not wearing them in public or private places.
Health officials are checking businesses, cafes and restaurants, handing out larger fines for noncompliance.
Doctors are warning that relaxed measures may result in higher numbers in the upcoming months.
Albania has opened its tourist areas. Most tourists are from neighboring Kosovo, which is experiencing an increase in coronavirus numbers.
___
LONDON — British scientists are dismissing Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s hope the country may emerge from coronavirus lockdown and return to normality by Christmas.
Johnson has announced more easing of restrictions, with people urged to return to public transit and workplaces. He says sports fans should return to stadiums by October and remaining restrictions could be lifted from November, “possibly in time for Christmas.”
But epidemiologist John Edmunds, a member of the government’s Scientific Advisory Group for Emergencies, says a return to pre-pandemic normality wouldn’t be possible until there’s a vaccine for the virus.
He says a world where people can “go to work normally, travel on the buses and trains, go on holiday without restrictions, meet friends, shake hands, hug each other and so on — that’s a long way off, unfortunately.”
England’s Chief Medical Officer, Chris Whitty, also says social distancing rules would have to be in place for a “prolonged period.”
Britain has registered more than 45,000 confirmed COVID-19 deaths, the highest total in Europe.
___
NEW DELHI — A surge of 34,884 new coronavirus cases took India’s tally to 1,038,716, as local governments reimpose focused lockdowns in several parts of the country.
The Health Ministry on Saturday reported 671 confirmed deaths in the past 24 hours for a total of 26,273. The ministry says the recovery rate had slightly come down to 62.9%.
The actual numbers, like elsewhere in the world, are likely far higher because of various reasons, including limited testing. More than 300,000 samples are tested every day.
About a dozen states, including Maharashtra, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal and Assam, have put high-risk areas under lockdowns, only allowing essential food supplies and health services.
Rahul Gandhi, leader of the main opposition Congress party, urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday to take concrete steps to contain the pandemic. He warned the number of infections will double to 2 million by Aug. 10 at the current pace.
Experts say India is likely to witness a series of peaks as the infection spreads in rural areas.
___
Confirmed coronavirus cases around the world have topped 14 million and deaths have surpassed 600,000, according to a tally from Johns Hopkins University on Saturday.
The World Health Organization reported a single-day record of new infections: over 237,000. Experts believe that the true numbers are even higher.
The United States, Brazil and India top the list with the highest number of cases. India on Friday exceeded 1 million confirmed infections, and Brazil’s cases passed 2 million, including 76,000 deaths, on Thursday.
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MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s Victoria state had a marked drop in new COVID-19 infections from Friday’s record high of 428 to 217, a total Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton says was “a relief after yesterday’s numbers.”
The Health Department says Saturday that two more Victorians, a man and a woman both in their 80s, had died, taking the state’s death toll to 34 and Australia’s national total to 118.
Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews says the latest numbers were encouraging but warned it was just one day.
He says “we’d want to see a pattern where there’s stability and then a decrease.” He urged residents in metropolitan Melbourne to remain diligent during a six-week lockdown: “Being bored is much better than being in intensive care.”
___


mercurynews--2020-07-20--The Latest: Kentucky reports nearly 1,000 new COVID-19 cases

By The Associated Press FRANKFORT , Ky. — Kentucky Gov .
Andy Beshear reported 979 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday , a daily record that he said should be a “ wake-up call ” for the state ’ s citizens to abide by mask and social distancing restrictions to slow the spread of the virus .
The Democratic governor announced the new cases , including 30 involving children 5 years old or younger , in a news release on Sunday .
“ I have faith and I have trust in the people of Kentucky , ” Beshear said .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ we ’ ve got to do a whole lot better .
We ’ re going to have to take some more action.
” Beshear said there were at least 23,161 coronavirus cases in Kentucky as of 4 p.m. , including the new cases reported on Sunday .
The state ’ s public health commissioner said efforts would be made to confirm the accuracy of the results with some of the laboratories that submitted them .
“ We typically have limited reporting on Sunday which makes today ’ s record-setting number of positives particularly @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , commissioner of the Department of Public Health .
Beshear also reported three new deaths , raising the total to 670 Kentuckians lost to the virus .
LAS VEGAS — Officials say Las Vegas-area hospitals are adding beds and staff to accommodate an increasing number of COVID-19 patients .
The Clark County fire chief says hospital occupancy isn ’ t high enough activate a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to use the Las Vegas Convention Center for up to 900 patients .
But the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that hospitals in Clark @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Thursday , and the Nevada Hospital Association says another 49 have been added in other parts of the state .
The intensive care unit at the state ’ s only public hospital was 95 % occupied as of Wednesday , with about one in three of those patients diagnosed with COVID-19 .
State health officials report that 35,765 people have tested positive for the virus statewide and at least 647 have died .
HERE ’ S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK : — Governments are reassessing their coronavirus responses @ @ @ @ @ @ @ saying the city reopened too quickly and Hong Kong issuing tough new rules on face masks .
—How the coronavirus spread through an immigration facility — Major companies are keeping employees in the dark on how prevalent the coronairus is in warehouses , stores and plants .
That ’ s led workers to sleuth out what ’ s happening in their workplaces .
— France ’ s most worrisome virus hot spo t is on the northern coast of South America : French Guiana , a territory of about 300,000 people where poverty @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
— The Blue Jays won ’ t play their home games in Toronto this year because Canada ’ s government doesn ’ t think it ’ s safe for players to travel back and forth from the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic .
Follow all of AP ’ s pandemic coverage at http : //apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https : //apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak HERE ’ S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING : PHOENIX — Arizona health officials are reporting 31 more deaths from the coronavirus .
State Department of Health Services data shows the statewide death @ @ @ @ @ @ @ of Sunday .
There have been more than 143,600 confirmed cases .
Gov .
Doug Ducey lifted stay-home orders and other restrictions in May and the state became a national hot spot for reported cases .
In June , Ducey authorized local governments to impose mask requirements to reduce the spread of the coronavirus , and many have done so .
FORT LAUDERDALE , Fla. — Normally , Potions in Motions catering company would be in high gear for summer weddings , graduations and corporate events , averaging 25 to 35 a week @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 3,000 people .
But this summer , with South Florida ’ s three counties imposing various restrictions on group gatherings , they ’ re down to “ micro-events , ” averaging two to five a week with 8 to 15 people .
They ’ ve had to cut most of their staff .
At peak season , they have 65 , but now are down to six .
“ We ’ re trying to just stay alive and keep as many people employed , ” the company ’ s founder Jason Savino said @ @ @ @ @ @ @ many restrictions by county .
You can ’ t even have a gathering of more than 10 people in your house.
” He understands the need to make changes to curb the spread of the virus , but worries about the economic impact .
“ The dialing back scares me , ” he said .
“ There ’ s no support coming from any government or anywhere that are accommodating these businesses that are being ordered to dial their business back.
” LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti conceded Sunday that Los Angeles @ @ @ @ @ @ @ warned that the city was “ on the brink ” of new shutdown orders as the coronavirus continues to surge in California .
Appearing on CNN , Garcetti was asked about an LA Times editorial that criticized the rapid reopening of California — which was followed by a spike in new COVID-19 cases .
Garcetti said the decisions were made at the state and county levels , but said that LA officials wouldn ’ t hesitate to implement new stay-at-home orders if the numbers don ’ t turn around .
California on Saturday @ @ @ @ @ @ @ confirmed cases .
BATON ROUGE , La .
— Louisiana officials said Sunday they have suspended an emergency rent assistance program to help those hurt by the COVID-19 economic slowdown because they were quickly overwhelmed with applicants .
They said more than 40,000 people had begun the application process in less than four days .
The Lousiana Housing Corportation had estimated it had enough money to help about 10,000 tenants , with money paid directly to landlords .
The Corporation had set aside $ 24 million of federal money for the program and @ @ @ @ @ @ @ money after the flood of applications .
When the program was announced Thursday , housing advocates said it was a good start , but was far too little money , especially with the $ 600-per-week federal unemployment payments expiring at the end of the month .
“ The response to our state ’ s emergency rental assistance program proves how significant the economic burden of COVID-19 is for our citizens , ” Democratic Gov .
John Bel Edwards said in a statement .
HILLSDALE , Mich — A small conservative college in southern @ @ @ @ @ @ @ health officials during the coronavirus pandemic by hosting an in-person graduation ceremony .
Hillsdale College held graduation Saturday evening , capping days of celebrations , according to The Detroit News .
“ COVID obviously was a concern , ” said David Betz , whose son , Christian , graduated .
“ For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to come , it was well worth it.
” The college of about 1,500 students had expected more than 2,000 people at the event , though school officials declined to discuss actual attendance numbers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ the gathering illegal at a time when with public gatherings are capped at 100 people .
Health officials had said the event , drawing people to restaurants and hotels , put the HIllsdale city community of about 8,000 people at risk .
School officials said graduation is an important milestone and safety precautions were taken , including wearing masks .
The liberal arts college has connections to top Republicans .
Vice President Mike Pence gave 2018′s commencement address .
Michigan has reported more than 73,000 confirmed COVID-19 with more than 6,100 deaths .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ set another record for newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in a single day .
Sunday saw 2,335 people newly diagnosed with COVID-19 , the South Carolina Deparment of Health and Environmental Control reported .
South Carolina has reported 2,000 new cases three times since the virus was first detected in the state in March .
All have been in the past eight days .
The state has spent much of the past month in the top four in the nation for new COVID-19 cases when adjusted by population .
Health officials also reported 19 @ @ @ @ @ @ @ toll to 1,138 people .
But one key statistic has been missing from the public over the weekend .
Health officials said they are unable to release how many people are hospitalized with COVID-19 because the state is following a federal request to change how it reports hospitalizations .
South Carolina reported a daily record 1,593 people in the hospital with the virus Friday , the last day figures were available .
ROME — The Italian region that includes Rome is warning citizens that local lockdowns might have to be ordered if there @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Lazio Region Health Commissioner Alessio D ’ Amato said 17 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Sunday , 10 of them “ imported ” from other countries when foreign residents returned to Italy .
Many of the Rome area ’ s recent cases have been among returning workers from Bangladesh .
“ I appeal for the use of masks , otherwise , we ’ ll have to close down again ” with restrictive measures on citizens ’ activities and movements outside of homes , D ’ Amato said .
“ We can ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ efforts done till now , ” D ’ Amato pleaded in a Facebook post .
Lazio ’ s increases were included in Italy ’ s 219 new cases , raising to 244,434 , the number of confirmed infections since the outbreak began .
Italy ’ s known death toll on Sunday stood at 35,045 , with the confirmation of three more deaths .
SAN DIEGO — Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego was the site of the first big outbreak at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement ’ s 221 detention centers .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ workers and detainees reveal shortcomings in how the private company that manages the center handled the disease : There was an early absence of facial coverings , and a lack of cleaning supplies .
Symptomatic detainees were mixed with others .
Some workers at the center quit ; the Mexican consul general , responding to complaints from detainees , raised concerns about how the facility handled the outbreak .
Other centers would follow with their own outbreaks , and a Homeland Security Department internal watchdog survey of 188 detention centers taken in mid-April @ @ @ @ @ @ @ found at Otay Mesa : 19 % of facility directors said there weren ’ t enough standard surgical masks , 32 % said there weren ’ t enough N95 respirator masks , and 37 % felt there wasn ’ t enough hand sanitizer for detainees .
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is assuring his closeness to all those grappling with COVID-19 and its “ economic and social consequences.
” Speaking on Sunday from his studio window overlooking St. Peter ’ s Square , Francis said that “ the pandemic is showing no sign @ @ @ @ @ @ @ thinking in particular about all those whose suffering in the pandemic is worsened by conflicts .
Citing a recent U.N. Security Council resolution , he renewed his appeal for a worldwide , immediate cease-fire that he said “ will permit the peace and security indispensable to supplying the necessary humanitarian assistance.
” ANKARA , Turkey — Turkey has suspended flights to Iran and Afghanistan because of the coronavirus outbreak , Turkey ’ s Transport Ministry said Sunday .
In a brief statement , the ministry said the flights were halted “ as part @ @ @ @ @ @ @ previously shut down air travel with its neighbor Iran in February while Afghanistan suspended all flights in March .
NICOSIA , Cyprus — Cyprus ’ health minister says there ’ s concern that coronavirus-infected migrants could be seeping through the ethnically divided island nation ’ s porous cease-fire line .
Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Sunday pointed to “ a problem ” after a number of migrants who recently crossed from the breakaway north to seek asylum in the internationally recognized south have tested positive for the coronavirus .
Ioannou said the government had @ @ @ @ @ @ @ undergo testing for the virus before they enter reception centers for processing .
Reportedly at least eight Syrian migrants who crossed southward in the last week tested positive for the virus .
HONG KONG — Hong Kong is tightening anti-coronavirus measures following a recent surge in cases .
The wearing of masks will be mandatory in all public places and nonessential civil servants will again work from home .
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam introduced the measures on Sunday , saying the situation in the Asian financial hub is “ really critical ” @ @ @ @ @ @ @ ” that it ’ s under control .
Travelers flying to Hong Kong from areas where the risk of infection is considered particularly severe will have to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flight , undergo another test upon arrival and undergo a 14-day quarantine in a hotel .
Previously , those arriving could quarantine themselves at home .
The nations included in the new regulation were given as Bangladesh , India , Indonesia , Nepal , Pakistan , the Philippines and South Africa .
Hong Kong had appeared to have @ @ @ @ @ @ @ cases reported last week have brought the city ’ s total to 1,777 , including 12 deaths .
China , which runs Hong Kong as a semi-autonomous region , has ordered all arrivals from Hong Kong to be quarantined for two weeks , sharply reducing the volume of cross-border traffic .
NEW DELHI — A record 24-hour surge of 38,902 new cases has taken India ’ s coronavirus total to 1,077,618 .
The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported 543 additional deaths for a total of 26,816 .
The number of people who @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Health Ministry data shows 677,422 patients have been cured so far across the country , putting the recovery rate at 62.82 % .
Experts say India is likely to witness a series of peaks as the infection spread in rural areas .
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities reported 1,579 new COVID-19 cases , the lowest number in more than a month , as health officials plan to resume a much-awaited nationwide anti-polio campaign next week .
Authorities conducted 22,559 tests in the past 24 hours .
The additional cases bring to 263,500 the total @ @ @ @ @ @ @ which 53,652 are active .
Pakistan has reported 5,568 deaths .
The improvement in infections coincides with Monday ’ s three-day anti-polio drive that aims to reach 800,000 children .
Pakistan , Afghanistan and Nigeria are the three countries where polio — a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the polio virus — is still endemic .
Johns Hopkins University says the global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 600,000 .
The university ’ s tally as of Saturday night says the United States tops the list with 140,103 deaths .
It is @ @ @ @ @ @ @ 45,358 in the United Kingdom .
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million , out of which 3.7 million are in the United States .
There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India .
The World Health Organization again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848 .
SEOUL , South Korea — South Korea has reported less than 40 additional cases of the coronavirus for a second straight day , as authorities struggle to suppress an uptick in local infections .
The @ @ @ @ @ @ @ said Sunday it has reported 34 additional cases , raising the country ’ s total to 13,745 with 295 deaths .
The agency says 21 of the newly confirmed cases were domestically infected patients , all of them found in the densely populated Seoul area or two central cities .
It says the rest 13 cases were from overseas .
Health authorities have said imported case of COVID-19 are less threatening than local transmissions because South Korea is mandating testing and enforcing two-week quarantines on all people arriving from abroad .

By The Associated Press
SEOUL, South Korea — South Korea has reported its smallest daily jump in local COVID-19 transmissions in two months as health authorities express cautious optimism that the outbreak is being brought under control.
South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Monday still reported 26 newly confirmed cases of the coronavirus, including 22 that were tied to international arrivals.
Vice Health Minister Kim Gang-lip said during a virus briefing that the four local transmissions represented the first time that such infections came below 10 since May 19. He continued to plead for vigilance, encouraging people to avoid crowded places or even stay at home during the summer holiday period.
Officials consider imported cases as a lesser threat than local transmissions because the country is mandating COVID-19 tests and enforcing two-week quarantines on all people arriving from abroad.
___
HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— Facing uncertain fal l, schools make flexible reopening plans
— Governments are reassessing their coronavirus responses, with the mayor of Los Angeles saying the city reopened too quickly and Hong Kong issuing tough new rules on face masks.
—How the coronavirus spread through an immigration facility
— Major companies are keeping employees in the dark on how prevalent the coronairus is in warehouses, stores and plants. That’s led workers to sleuth out what’s happening in their workplaces.
— France’s most worrisome virus hot spo t is on the northern coast of South America: French Guiana, a territory of about 300,000 people where poverty is rampant and health care is scarce.
— The Blue Jays won’t play their home games in Toronto this year because Canada’s government doesn’t think it’s safe for players to travel back and forth from the United States amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Follow all of AP’s pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak
___
HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
MELBOURNE, Australia — Australia’s hard-hit Victoria state recorded a third daily COVID-19 tally below a record 428 cases reported last week, but the state government leader said on Monday it was too early to tell what impact a second lockdown was having.
Since 428 cases were reported on Friday, Victoria has recorded 217, 363 and 275 cases on consecutive days.
Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews expected to know on Wednesday what impact a lockdown on Australia’s second-largest city Melbourne and the neighoring semi-rural Mitchell Shire were having. The six-week lockdown will be two weeks old on Wednesday.
“It is a wicked enemy, it is unstable and until we bring some stability to this, I don’t think we’ll be able to talk about a trend,” Andrews said. “I’m certainly much happier to be able to report a lower number than a high one.”
Victoria had conducted more than 1.3 million coronavirus tests among a population of 6.5 million, which represented one of the highest testing rates in the world, he said.
Most students in the lockdown regions returned to online schooling at home after an extended vacation.
A retired judge began an inquiry on Monday into breaches of hotel quarantine in Melbourne that have been blamed for most if not all the new virus spread. Australian citizens and permanent residents are required to self-isolate in hotels for 14 days when they return from overseas.
___
BEIJING — Numbers of confirmed coronavirus cases in China’s northwestern region of Xinjiang continue to rise. Another 17 cases were reported on Monday, bringing the total in China’s latest outbreak to at least 47.
One of the 17 new cases reported on Monday was in the ancient Silk Road city of Kashgar, the regional government said on its official microblog. The remainder were in the regional capital of Urumqi, where all other cases have been reported since the outbreak emerged earlier this month.
Another five cases were brought from outside the country, according to the National Health Commission.
No new deaths were reported, leaving the total at 4,634 among 83,682 cases, and 249 people remain in treatment. Another 158 people were being monitored in isolation for showing signs of having the virus or for testing positive without displaying symptoms.
China had largely contained local transmission of the virus before the Urumqi outbreak and has taken swift action to bring it under control, cutting subway, bus and taxi service, closing some communities, imposing travel restrictions and ordering widespread testing.
Beijing meanwhile, has gone 14 days without a case of local transmission and city authorities on Sunday said they were downgrading the emergency response level from two to three. Hong Kong, meanwhile, has seen a spike in cases, with more than 100 reported on Sunday. That has prompted the semi-autonomous southern Chinese city to reimpose measures including closing indoor entertainment venues and public libraries, and imposing additional quarantine measures on travelers arriving from seven countries where the risk of infection is considered especially high, including South Africa.
___
FRANKFORT, Ky. — Kentucky Gov. Andy Beshear reported 979 new COVID-19 cases on Sunday, a daily record that he said should be a “wake-up call” for the state’s citizens to abide by mask and social distancing restrictions to slow the spread of the virus.
The Democratic governor announced the new cases, including 30 involving children 5 years old or younger, in a news release on Sunday.
“I have faith and I have trust in the people of Kentucky,” Beshear said. “But today and in the days ahead we’ve got to do a whole lot better. We’re going to have to take some more action.”
Beshear said there were at least 23,161 coronavirus cases in Kentucky as of 4 p.m., including the new cases reported on Sunday. The state’s public health commissioner said efforts would be made to confirm the accuracy of the results with some of the laboratories that submitted them.
“We typically have limited reporting on Sunday which makes today’s record-setting number of positives particularly alarming,” said Dr. Steven Stack, commissioner of the Department of Public Health.
Beshear also reported three new deaths, raising the total to 670 Kentuckians lost to the virus.
___
LAS VEGAS — Officials say Las Vegas-area hospitals are adding beds and staff to accommodate an increasing number of COVID-19 patients.
The Clark County fire chief says hospital occupancy isn’t high enough activate a U.S. Army Corps of Engineers plan to use the Las Vegas Convention Center for up to 900 patients. But the Las Vegas Review-Journal reports that hospitals in Clark County added 441 staffed beds as of Thursday, and the Nevada Hospital Association says another 49 have been added in other parts of the state.
The intensive care unit at the state’s only public hospital was 95% occupied as of Wednesday, with about one in three of those patients diagnosed with COVID-19.
State health officials report that 35,765 people have tested positive for the virus statewide and at least 647 have died.
___
PHOENIX — Arizona health officials are reporting 31 more deaths from the coronavirus. State Department of Health Services data shows the statewide death toll due to COVID-19 is 2,761 as of Sunday. There have been more than 143,600 confirmed cases.
Gov. Doug Ducey lifted stay-home orders and other restrictions in May and the state became a national hot spot for reported cases. In June, Ducey authorized local governments to impose mask requirements to reduce the spread of the coronavirus, and many have done so.
___
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. — Normally, Potions in Motions catering company would be in high gear for summer weddings, graduations and corporate events, averaging 25 to 35 a week at their peak and serving 2,000 to 3,000 people.
But this summer, with South Florida’s three counties imposing various restrictions on group gatherings, they’re down to “micro-events,” averaging two to five a week with 8 to 15 people. They’ve had to cut most of their staff. At peak season, they have 65, but now are down to six.
“We’re trying to just stay alive and keep as many people employed,” the company’s founder Jason Savino said. “They’re making so many restrictions by county. You can’t even have a gathering of more than 10 people in your house.”
He understands the need to make changes to curb the spread of the virus, but worries about the economic impact.
“The dialing back scares me,” he said. “There’s no support coming from any government or anywhere that are accommodating these businesses that are being ordered to dial their business back.”
___
LOS ANGELES — Mayor Eric Garcetti conceded Sunday that Los Angeles eased COVID-19 restrictions too quickly and again warned that the city was “on the brink” of new shutdown orders as the coronavirus continues to surge in California.
Appearing on CNN, Garcetti was asked about an LA Times editorial that criticized the rapid reopening of California — which was followed by a spike in new COVID-19 cases.
Garcetti said the decisions were made at the state and county levels, but said that LA officials wouldn’t hesitate to implement new stay-at-home orders if the numbers don’t turn around.
California on Saturday reported its fourth-highest daily total of new confirmed cases.
___
BATON ROUGE, La. — Louisiana officials said Sunday they have suspended an emergency rent assistance program to help those hurt by the COVID-19 economic slowdown because they were quickly overwhelmed with applicants.
They said more than 40,000 people had begun the application process in less than four days. The Lousiana Housing Corportation had estimated it had enough money to help about 10,000 tenants, with money paid directly to landlords.
The Corporation had set aside $24 million of federal money for the program and says it will try to find more money after the flood of applications.
When the program was announced Thursday, housing advocates said it was a good start, but was far too little money, especially with the $600-per-week federal unemployment payments expiring at the end of the month.
“The response to our state’s emergency rental assistance program proves how significant the economic burden of COVID-19 is for our citizens,” Democratic Gov. John Bel Edwards said in a statement.
___
HILLSDALE, Mich — A small conservative college in southern Michigan has defied warnings from state public health officials during the coronavirus pandemic by hosting an in-person graduation ceremony.
Hillsdale College held graduation Saturday evening, capping days of celebrations, according to The Detroit News.
“COVID obviously was a concern,” said David Betz, whose son, Christian, graduated. “For a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to be able to come, it was well worth it.”
The college of about 1,500 students had expected more than 2,000 people at the event, though school officials declined to discuss actual attendance numbers. Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel had called the gathering illegal at a time when with public gatherings are capped at 100 people.
Health officials had said the event, drawing people to restaurants and hotels, put the HIllsdale city community of about 8,000 people at risk.
School officials said graduation is an important milestone and safety precautions were taken, including wearing masks. The liberal arts college has connections to top Republicans. Vice President Mike Pence gave 2018′s commencement address.
Michigan has reported more than 73,000 confirmed COVID-19 with more than 6,100 deaths.
___
COLUMBIA, S.C. — South Carolina has set another record for newly diagnosed COVID-19 cases in a single day.
Sunday saw 2,335 people newly diagnosed with COVID-19, the South Carolina Deparment of Health and Environmental Control reported.
South Carolina has reported 2,000 new cases three times since the virus was first detected in the state in March. All have been in the past eight days. The state has spent much of the past month in the top four in the nation for new COVID-19 cases when adjusted by population.
Health officials also reported 19 new deaths Sunday, bringing the death toll to 1,138 people.
But one key statistic has been missing from the public over the weekend. Health officials said they are unable to release how many people are hospitalized with COVID-19 because the state is following a federal request to change how it reports hospitalizations.
South Carolina reported a daily record 1,593 people in the hospital with the virus Friday, the last day figures were available.
___
ROME — The Italian region that includes Rome is warning citizens that local lockdowns might have to be ordered if there are more clusters of coronavirus infections.
Lazio Region Health Commissioner Alessio D’Amato said 17 new COVID-19 cases were registered on Sunday, 10 of them “imported” from other countries when foreign residents returned to Italy. Many of the Rome area’s recent cases have been among returning workers from Bangladesh.
“I appeal for the use of masks, otherwise, we’ll have to close down again” with restrictive measures on citizens’ activities and movements outside of homes, D’Amato said.
“We can’t turn back and waste all the efforts done till now,” D’Amato pleaded in a Facebook post.
Lazio’s increases were included in Italy’s 219 new cases, raising to 244,434, the number of confirmed infections since the outbreak began. Italy’s known death toll on Sunday stood at 35,045, with the confirmation of three more deaths.
___
SAN DIEGO — Otay Mesa Detention Center in San Diego was the site of the first big outbreak at U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement’s 221 detention centers. In interviews with The Associated Press, workers and detainees reveal shortcomings in how the private company that manages the center handled the disease: There was an early absence of facial coverings, and a lack of cleaning supplies. Symptomatic detainees were mixed with others.
Some workers at the center quit; the Mexican consul general, responding to complaints from detainees, raised concerns about how the facility handled the outbreak.
Other centers would follow with their own outbreaks, and a Homeland Security Department internal watchdog survey of 188 detention centers taken in mid-April echoed some of what The Associated Press found at Otay Mesa: 19% of facility directors said there weren’t enough standard surgical masks, 32% said there weren’t enough N95 respirator masks, and 37% felt there wasn’t enough hand sanitizer for detainees.
___
VATICAN CITY — Pope Francis is assuring his closeness to all those grappling with COVID-19 and its “economic and social consequences.”
Speaking on Sunday from his studio window overlooking St. Peter’s Square, Francis said that “the pandemic is showing no sign of stopping.”
He said he was thinking in particular about all those whose suffering in the pandemic is worsened by conflicts.
Citing a recent U.N. Security Council resolution, he renewed his appeal for a worldwide, immediate cease-fire that he said “will permit the peace and security indispensable to supplying the necessary humanitarian assistance.”
___
ANKARA, Turkey — Turkey has suspended flights to Iran and Afghanistan because of the coronavirus outbreak, Turkey’s Transport Ministry said Sunday.
In a brief statement, the ministry said the flights were halted “as part of the Covid-19 process”.
Turkey previously shut down air travel with its neighbor Iran in February while Afghanistan suspended all flights in March.
___
NICOSIA, Cyprus — Cyprus’ health minister says there’s concern that coronavirus-infected migrants could be seeping through the ethnically divided island nation’s porous cease-fire line.
Minister Constantinos Ioannou on Sunday pointed to “a problem” after a number of migrants who recently crossed from the breakaway north to seek asylum in the internationally recognized south have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Ioannou said the government had ordered two months ago that all migrants undergo testing for the virus before they enter reception centers for processing.
Reportedly at least eight Syrian migrants who crossed southward in the last week tested positive for the virus.
___
HONG KONG — Hong Kong is tightening anti-coronavirus measures following a recent surge in cases. The wearing of masks will be mandatory in all public places and nonessential civil servants will again work from home.
Hong Kong leader Carrie Lam introduced the measures on Sunday, saying the situation in the Asian financial hub is “really critical” and that she sees “no sign” that it’s under control.
Travelers flying to Hong Kong from areas where the risk of infection is considered particularly severe will have to show a negative coronavirus test before boarding their flight, undergo another test upon arrival and undergo a 14-day quarantine in a hotel. Previously, those arriving could quarantine themselves at home. The nations included in the new regulation were given as Bangladesh, India, Indonesia, Nepal, Pakistan, the Philippines and South Africa.
Hong Kong had appeared to have largely contained the coronavirus, but new cases reported last week have brought the city’s total to 1,777, including 12 deaths.
China, which runs Hong Kong as a semi-autonomous region, has ordered all arrivals from Hong Kong to be quarantined for two weeks, sharply reducing the volume of cross-border traffic.
___
NEW DELHI — A record 24-hour surge of 38,902 new cases has taken India’s coronavirus total to 1,077,618.
The Health Ministry on Sunday also reported 543 additional deaths for a total of 26,816.
The number of people who have recovered continues to grow. The Health Ministry data shows 677,422 patients have been cured so far across the country, putting the recovery rate at 62.82%.
Experts say India is likely to witness a series of peaks as the infection spread in rural areas.
___
ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities reported 1,579 new COVID-19 cases, the lowest number in more than a month, as health officials plan to resume a much-awaited nationwide anti-polio campaign next week.
Authorities conducted 22,559 tests in the past 24 hours. The additional cases bring to 263,500 the total number of confirmed infections, out of which 53,652 are active. Pakistan has reported 5,568 deaths.
The improvement in infections coincides with Monday’s three-day anti-polio drive that aims to reach 800,000 children.
Pakistan, Afghanistan and Nigeria are the three countries where polio — a disabling and life-threatening disease caused by the polio virus — is still endemic.
___
Johns Hopkins University says the global death toll from COVID-19 has surpassed 600,000.
The university’s tally as of Saturday night says the United States tops the list with 140,103 deaths. It is followed by 78,772 fatalities in Brazil and 45,358 in the United Kingdom.
The number of confirmed infections worldwide has passed 14.2 million, out of which 3.7 million are in the United States. There are over 2 million in Brazil and more than 1 million in India.
The World Health Organization again reported a single-day record of new infections with 259,848.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--Firefighters contain Hollow Fire in Altamont

CLICK HERE if you can ’ t view the gallery in a mobile device .
LIVERMORE — Firefighters fully contained the Hollow Fire southeast of the city Sunday , three days after stopping its forward progress at just over 250 acres , authorities said .
The fire began around 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the 16900 block of Tesla Road , with crews initially responding to five to 10 acres burning with light vegetation responding to light to moderate winds .
Despite a robust response from CalFire resources and Alameda County and Livermore-Pleasanton fire departments , the fire spread to about @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
By Thursday night , firefighters stopped its forward progress with about 60 percent containment , ramping up steadily over the weekend and reaching full containment early Sunday afternoon .
The fire was about three miles east of a grass fire that burned about four acres near Tesla and Corral Hollow roads around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday .
There were no reports of injuries or threatened structures in that blaze .
Last week ’ s Hollow Fire was different from a 283-acre blaze CalFire crews extinguished July 5 along West Corral Hollow Road near @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Tracy .

CLICK HERE if you can’t view the gallery in a mobile device.
LIVERMORE — Firefighters fully contained the Hollow Fire southeast of the city Sunday, three days after stopping its forward progress at just over 250 acres, authorities said.
The fire began around 5:15 p.m. Thursday in the 16900 block of Tesla Road, with crews initially responding to five to 10 acres burning with light vegetation responding to light to moderate winds.
Despite a robust response from CalFire resources and Alameda County and Livermore-Pleasanton fire departments, the fire spread to about 150 acres with threats to several structures.
By Thursday night, firefighters stopped its forward progress with about 60 percent containment, ramping up steadily over the weekend and reaching full containment early Sunday afternoon.
#HollowFire [Final] The fire is now 100% contained at 253 acres. pic.twitter.com/4qPZV5mUh5 — CAL FIRE SCU (@calfireSCU) July 19, 2020
Related Articles Crashes and Disasters | Map: Lightning fires prompt evacuation order west of Yreka
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Living with air pollution, especially from wildfires or agriculture, raises risk of dementia, US study finds Crashes and Disasters | Cadaver dogs are in Maui to help find the dead. Here’s how it works and why it’s difficult The fire was about three miles east of a grass fire that burned about four acres near Tesla and Corral Hollow roads around 8:40 p.m. Wednesday. There were no reports of injuries or threatened structures in that blaze.
Last week’s Hollow Fire was different from a 283-acre blaze CalFire crews extinguished July 5 along West Corral Hollow Road near Carnegie State Vehicular Recreational Area southwest of Tracy.
Contact George Kelly at 408-859-5180.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--Facing uncertain fall, schools make flexible reopening plans

By Jim Salter and Holly Ramer | Associated Press MANCHESTER , Mo .
— Administrators in the Parkway school district in suburban St. Louis spent the summer break crafting a flexible reopening plan , with options that include full-time classroom learning , full-time online instruction and a hybrid system .
It ’ s a good thing because the dangers of the coronavirus are so uncertain that district officials are reluctant to make predictions about the fall semester , which begins in only five weeks .
Confirmed coronavirus infections in Missouri ’ s hardest-hit city waned in June , but they @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Schools plan to resume classes Aug. 24 .
“ If you had asked me even two weeks ago , ‘ Do you think we would be able to come back ?
’ I would have said , ‘ Yeah , ’ ” Assistant Superintendent Kevin Beckner said .
“ Today my answer is ‘ I ’ m not sure , ’ just because of how the situation has changed so quickly.
” Schools around the U.S. face the same dilemma .
With the number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths still rising @ @ @ @ @ @ @ bring students back to classrooms and how to keep pupils and teachers safe if they do .
Pressure is mounting in many areas to reopen classrooms .
President Donald Trump has urged schools to bring children back to class in the fall and has threatened to cut off federal funding if they do not .
“ Young people have to go to school , and there ’ s problems when you don ’ t go to school , too , ” Trump said in an interview aired Sunday on Fox News .
“ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a funding problem because we ’ re not going to fund when they don ’ t open their schools.
” The Republican president blamed Democrats for the push to keep some states and schools closed .
“ We got hit with the virus — shouldn ’ t have happened — and we had to close up .
We saved millions of lives , ” Trump said .
“ Now we ’ ve opened it up , got to go back to school.
” The Los Angeles Unified School District , the nation ’ @ @ @ @ @ @ @ York City , announced last week that all classes will be conducted virtually when they resume next month .
Speaking Sunday on NBC ’ s “ Meet the Press , ” Colorado Gov .
Jared Polis , a Democrat , noted that many school districts in his state “ are going back as planned , as normal , taking the kinds of precautions that health experts and scientists recommend.
” In Missouri ’ s St. Louis County , the Parkway district on Monday is scheduled to announce its plans for the fall , @ @ @ @ @ @ @ quickly if the spread worsens or the outlook improves , Beckner said .
“ Even if we are able to bring back all of our students , it won ’ t look the same as it was in February , ” Beckner said .
“ There will be more hand-washing .
There will be more restrictions on how we ’ re able to do things like lunch , like recess.
” Signs will encourage social distancing , and desks will be spaced farther apart .
Face coverings will be required for all students @ @ @ @ @ @ @ will wear masks with clear coverings so students who are deaf or heard of hearing can follow what they are saying .
Times will be scheduled for hand washing and using hand sanitizer .
Plexiglass will separate librarians , office staff and teachers interacting one-on-one with students .
A nurse will perform contact tracing on confirmed cases .
In Chattanooga , Tennessee , third-grade teacher Leigh Grady is preparing to enter both a new school and a new world after a tornado demolished most of East Brainard Elementary in April .
“ It @ @ @ @ @ @ @ mess express , ” she said .
“ I can ’ t even wrap my mind fully around what it ’ s going to look like.
” Face masks will be mandatory for staff and all but the youngest students .
Seating will be assigned on buses , and lunches served in classrooms .
Water fountains will be off-limits , and restrooms will be disinfected “ after each class goes as a group.
” If a teacher or student tests positive for the virus , schools will close for 48 to 72 hours @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a staffing agency to line up substitutes .
If a rise in confirmed cases warrants it , schools will operate under more restrictive measures , with students taking turns spending part of the week at school and part at home .
“ All it ’ s going to take is one kid with a positive test , and that will shut everything down , ” she said .
As of Sunday , there have been 3.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 140,000 deaths in the United States , according to a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ : Southern California continues to lead state in new COVID-19 cases • NFL players take to social media to protest COVID-19 safety measures • Coronavirus backlash triggers wave of progressive activism from Asian Americans in Orange County Grady said her own children will be attending 10th and 12th grade in person , and she ’ s comfortable with that if schools stick to the safety plan .
“ I need them to be at school , ” she said .
“ I need them to be around other people.
” Ramer reported from @ @ @ @ @ @ @ Writer Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report .

By Jim Salter and Holly Ramer | Associated Press
MANCHESTER, Mo. — Administrators in the Parkway school district in suburban St. Louis spent the summer break crafting a flexible reopening plan, with options that include full-time classroom learning, full-time online instruction and a hybrid system.
It’s a good thing because the dangers of the coronavirus are so uncertain that district officials are reluctant to make predictions about the fall semester, which begins in only five weeks. Confirmed coronavirus infections in Missouri’s hardest-hit city waned in June, but they are now spiking, along with hospitalizations. Schools plan to resume classes Aug. 24.
“If you had asked me even two weeks ago, ‘Do you think we would be able to come back?’ I would have said, ‘Yeah,’” Assistant Superintendent Kevin Beckner said. “Today my answer is ‘I’m not sure,’ just because of how the situation has changed so quickly.”
Schools around the U.S. face the same dilemma. With the number of reported COVID-19 cases and deaths still rising, districts must grapple with whether to bring students back to classrooms and how to keep pupils and teachers safe if they do.
Pressure is mounting in many areas to reopen classrooms. President Donald Trump has urged schools to bring children back to class in the fall and has threatened to cut off federal funding if they do not.
“Young people have to go to school, and there’s problems when you don’t go to school, too,” Trump said in an interview aired Sunday on Fox News. “And there’s going to be a funding problem because we’re not going to fund when they don’t open their schools.”
The Republican president blamed Democrats for the push to keep some states and schools closed.
“We got hit with the virus — shouldn’t have happened — and we had to close up. We saved millions of lives,” Trump said. “Now we’ve opened it up, got to go back to school.”
The Los Angeles Unified School District, the nation’s second-largest public school system behind New York City, announced last week that all classes will be conducted virtually when they resume next month.
Speaking Sunday on NBC’s “Meet the Press,” Colorado Gov. Jared Polis, a Democrat, noted that many school districts in his state “are going back as planned, as normal, taking the kinds of precautions that health experts and scientists recommend.”
In Missouri’s St. Louis County, the Parkway district on Monday is scheduled to announce its plans for the fall, but it will stay ready to pivot quickly if the spread worsens or the outlook improves, Beckner said.
“Even if we are able to bring back all of our students, it won’t look the same as it was in February,” Beckner said. “There will be more hand-washing. There will be more restrictions on how we’re able to do things like lunch, like recess.”
Signs will encourage social distancing, and desks will be spaced farther apart. Face coverings will be required for all students, instructors and staff. Some teachers will wear masks with clear coverings so students who are deaf or heard of hearing can follow what they are saying.
Times will be scheduled for hand washing and using hand sanitizer. Plexiglass will separate librarians, office staff and teachers interacting one-on-one with students. A nurse will perform contact tracing on confirmed cases.
In Chattanooga, Tennessee, third-grade teacher Leigh Grady is preparing to enter both a new school and a new world after a tornado demolished most of East Brainard Elementary in April.
“It’s going to be a hot mess express,” she said. “I can’t even wrap my mind fully around what it’s going to look like.”
Face masks will be mandatory for staff and all but the youngest students. Seating will be assigned on buses, and lunches served in classrooms. Water fountains will be off-limits, and restrooms will be disinfected “after each class goes as a group.”
If a teacher or student tests positive for the virus, schools will close for 48 to 72 hours, and the county is working with a staffing agency to line up substitutes.
If a rise in confirmed cases warrants it, schools will operate under more restrictive measures, with students taking turns spending part of the week at school and part at home.
“All it’s going to take is one kid with a positive test, and that will shut everything down,” she said.
As of Sunday, there have been 3.7 million confirmed COVID-19 cases and more than 140,000 deaths in the United States, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins.
Grady said her own children will be attending 10th and 12th grade in person, and she’s comfortable with that if schools stick to the safety plan.
“I need them to be at school,” she said. “I need them to be around other people.”
Ramer reported from Concord, New Hampshire. Associated Press Writer Anita Snow in Phoenix contributed to this report.


mercurynews--2020-07-19--EU summit leader appeals for unity on virus fund

By Raf Casert and Mike Corder | Associated Press BRUSSELS — Seeking to tug at the hearts of all European Union leaders , EU Council president Charles Michel implored them late Sunday to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ( $ 2.1 trillion ) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund to tackle the crisis .
After three days of fruitless talks , Michel conjured up during an official dinner the vision of the 600,000 dead that COVID-19 has claimed around the world and the unprecedented recession it has wrought on the bloc .
“ Are @ @ @ @ @ @ @ European unity and trust or , because of a deep rift , will we present ourselves as a weak Europe , undermined by distrust , ” he asked the leaders at the end of another day of divisive negotiations .
The text of the behind-closed-doors speech was obtained by The Associated Press .
“ I wish that we succeed in getting a deal and that the European media can headline tomorrow that the EU succeeded in a Mission Impossible , ” Michel said .
Heading into a fourth day of talks when the @ @ @ @ @ @ @ , any compromise was still out of reach .
An official close to Michel , who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks , said leaders would work deep into the night if necessary .
Even with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron negotiating as the closest of partners , the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the bloc ’ s 27 quarreling nations in line .
Often negotiating outdoors on a sundeck in the Europa summit center in Brussels , the blue skies and fresh @ @ @ @ @ @ @ .
Undiplomatic terms like “ hate ” and “ grumpy ” have been thrown around between leaders during marathon negotiations that should have drawn everyone closer together to fight a historic recession in the bloc .
“ Whether there will be a solution , I still can ’ t say , ” Merkel said .
The pandemic has sent the EU into a tailspin , killing around 135,000 of its citizens and sending its economy into an estimated contraction of 8.3 % this year .
The bloc ’ s executive has proposed a @ @ @ @ @ @ @ on common borrowing , to be sent as loans and grants to the countries hit hardest by the pandemic .
That comes on top of the seven-year 1 trillion-euro EU budget that leaders have been haggling over for months even before the pandemic hit .
All nations agree they need to band together but five richer countries in the north , led by the Netherlands , want strict controls on spending while struggling southern nations like Spain and Italy say those conditions should be kept to a minimum .
At their dinner table @ @ @ @ @ @ @ a proposal from the five wealthy northern nations that suggested a coronavirus recovery fund with 350 million euros of grants and the same amount again in loans .
The five EU nations nicknamed “ the frugals ” — the Netherlands , Austria , Finland , Sweden and Denmark — had long opposed any grants at all .
Merkel and Macron walked out of heated talks before dawn Sunday with the frugals , bemoaning their lack of commitment to a common cause .
“ They ran off in a bad mood , ” Dutch @ @ @ @ @ @ @ has long been known as a European bridge builder , but this weekend his tough negotiating stance is being blamed for holding up a deal .
He and his allies are pushing for labor market and pension reforms to be linked to EU handouts and a “ brake ” enabling EU nations to monitor and , if necessary , halt projects that are being paid for by the recovery fund .
“ He can ’ t ask us to do specific reforms , ” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said .
“ Once @ @ @ @ @ @ @ each country will present its proposals.
” Another member of the frugals , Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz , said he still believed a deal was possible , but there is a “ long way to go , ” the Austria Press Agency cited Kurz as saying .
Rutte also wants a link to be made between the handout of EU funds and the rule of law — a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary , countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule .
@ @ @ @ @ @ @ is the personal reason for the Dutch prime minister to hate me or Hungary , but he ’ s attacking so harshly and making very clear that because Hungary , in his opinion , does not respect the rule of law , ( it ) must be punished financially , ” Orban said .
Macron said leaders need to compromise but still respect the underlying principles and goals of the EU .
• Breathtaking coronavirus numbers show normal life still far away • Talks into the night as EU leaders haggle over budget @ @ @ @ @ @ @ buy fake – and toxic – coronavirus cure “ It is still possible , but these compromises , I say very clearly , will not be made at the cost of European ambition , ” he said .
Mike Corder reported from The Hague , Netherlands .
Associated Press writer Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin .

By Raf Casert and Mike Corder | Associated Press
BRUSSELS — Seeking to tug at the hearts of all European Union leaders, EU Council president Charles Michel implored them late Sunday to overcome their fundamental divisions and agree on an unprecedented 1.85 trillion-euro ($2.1 trillion) EU budget and coronavirus recovery fund to tackle the crisis.
After three days of fruitless talks, Michel conjured up during an official dinner the vision of the 600,000 dead that COVID-19 has claimed around the world and the unprecedented recession it has wrought on the bloc.
“Are the 27 EU leaders capable of building European unity and trust or, because of a deep rift, will we present ourselves as a weak Europe, undermined by distrust,” he asked the leaders at the end of another day of divisive negotiations. The text of the behind-closed-doors speech was obtained by The Associated Press.
“I wish that we succeed in getting a deal and that the European media can headline tomorrow that the EU succeeded in a Mission Impossible,” Michel said.
Heading into a fourth day of talks when the summit was meant to last only two, any compromise was still out of reach. An official close to Michel, who spoke on condition of anonymity to discuss the private talks, said leaders would work deep into the night if necessary.
Even with German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macron negotiating as the closest of partners, the traditionally powerful Franco-German alliance could not get the bloc’s 27 quarreling nations in line.
Often negotiating outdoors on a sundeck in the Europa summit center in Brussels, the blue skies and fresh breeze had no impact on the mood. Undiplomatic terms like “hate” and “grumpy” have been thrown around between leaders during marathon negotiations that should have drawn everyone closer together to fight a historic recession in the bloc.
“Whether there will be a solution, I still can’t say,” Merkel said.
The pandemic has sent the EU into a tailspin, killing around 135,000 of its citizens and sending its economy into an estimated contraction of 8.3% this year.
The bloc’s executive has proposed a 750 billion-euro coronavirus fund, partly based on common borrowing, to be sent as loans and grants to the countries hit hardest by the pandemic. That comes on top of the seven-year 1 trillion-euro EU budget that leaders have been haggling over for months even before the pandemic hit.
All nations agree they need to band together but five richer countries in the north, led by the Netherlands, want strict controls on spending while struggling southern nations like Spain and Italy say those conditions should be kept to a minimum.
At their dinner table Sunday night, the leaders could mull a proposal from the five wealthy northern nations that suggested a coronavirus recovery fund with 350 million euros of grants and the same amount again in loans. The five EU nations nicknamed “the frugals” — the Netherlands, Austria, Finland, Sweden and Denmark — had long opposed any grants at all.
Merkel and Macron walked out of heated talks before dawn Sunday with the frugals, bemoaning their lack of commitment to a common cause. “They ran off in a bad mood,” Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte said.
Rutte has long been known as a European bridge builder, but this weekend his tough negotiating stance is being blamed for holding up a deal. He and his allies are pushing for labor market and pension reforms to be linked to EU handouts and a “brake” enabling EU nations to monitor and, if necessary, halt projects that are being paid for by the recovery fund.
“He can’t ask us to do specific reforms,” Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said. “Once (the aid) is approved, each country will present its proposals.”
Another member of the frugals, Austrian Chancellor Sebastian Kurz, said he still believed a deal was possible, but there is a “long way to go,” the Austria Press Agency cited Kurz as saying.
Rutte also wants a link to be made between the handout of EU funds and the rule of law — a connection aimed at Poland and Hungary, countries with right-wing populist governments that many in the EU think are sliding away from democratic rule.
That drew a harsh response from hardline Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban.
“I don’t know what is the personal reason for the Dutch prime minister to hate me or Hungary, but he’s attacking so harshly and making very clear that because Hungary, in his opinion, does not respect the rule of law, (it) must be punished financially,” Orban said.
Macron said leaders need to compromise but still respect the underlying principles and goals of the EU.
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Mike Corder reported from The Hague, Netherlands. Associated Press writer Geir Moulson contributed from Berlin.