Situation in HK ‘really critical’
The deadly coronavirus is spreading out of control in Hong Kong with a record 100 new cases confirmed, the finance hub's leader said yesterday as she tightened social distancing measures to tackle the sudden surge in infections.
The finance hub was one of the first places to be struck by the virus when it emerged from central China. But the city had impressive success in tackling the disease, all but ending local transmissions by late June.
However, in the last two weeks, infections have spiked once more and doctors fear the new outbreak is now spreading undetected in the densely packed territory of 7.5 million people.
Chief Executive Carrie Lam said yesterday more than 500 infections had been confirmed in the last fortnight alone, nearly a third since the outbreak began.
"I think the situation is really critical and there is no sign the situation is being brought under control," Lam told reporters.
She announced even more regulations, including plans to make it compulsory to wear masks inside any public indoor venue -- and a new order for non-essential civil servants to work for home.
The virus has now infected over 14 million people and killed more than 602,000 worldwide.
The World Health Organization reported a record increase in global cases for the second day in a row, with the total rising by 259,848 in 24 hours. The biggest increases reported on Saturday were from the United States, Brazil, India and South Africa.
The United States ended a week in which it registered its highest figures for new cases for three days running, taking its total towards 3.7 million infections and 140,00 deaths.
With clusters cropping up from Spain to Australia, officials were again facing the dilemma of imposing lockdowns to protect public health or loosening restrictions to save struggling businesses.
Illustrating the shrinking room for manoeuvre, angry demonstrators took to the streets in Israel to protest against their government's handling of the crisis.
And scientists too were feeling the pressure, Britain ramping up its tit-for-tat row with Russia yesterday over claims Kremlin agents hacked into British labs where virus vaccines are being developed.
'GOOD WILL'
Economic recovery is at the forefront of policymakers' minds in Europe, with the continent facing a crippling recession and still unable to agree on the terms of its massive package to help the most-affected countries.
"I still can't say whether a solution will be found," said German Chancellor Angela Merkel as she headed into the third day of an extraordinary summit yesterday.
"There is a lot of good will... but it may also be that no result will be achieved today."
The summit with all 27 EU leaders was supposed to frame the terms of the rescue deal but a handful of countries led by the Netherlands are reluctant to hand over such vast sums to nations they regard as profligate -- particularly Spain and Italy.
There was disunity, too, on the fringes of the EU, with Britain and Russia renewing their feud over Moscow's alleged spying on British scientists, reports AFP.
"We're absolutely confident that the Russian intelligence agencies were engaged in a cyberattack on research and development efforts in organisations in this country," said British Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab, echoing accusations made by several countries earlier this week.
Russia's London ambassador dismissed the claim, saying "there is no sense in it", adding: "In this world, to attribute any kind of computer hackers to any country, it is impossible."
MASK MEASURES
With tens of thousands of new infections each day and hundreds of deaths, the US is struggling to frame a consistent response to the crisis -- attempting to open up the economy even while the tolls mount.
Other nations are grappling with the same dilemma, Spain opting for local lockdowns and non-enforced stay-at-home advice in its Catalonia region.
Officials in the Australian state of Victoria have taken a tougher approach.
Facemasks will be mandatory for roughly five million people in and around Melbourne from Thursday, with the threat of $140 fines for transgressors.
"Most of us wouldn't leave home without our keys, we wouldn't leave our home without our mobile phone. You won't be able to leave home without your mask," said Victoria Premier Daniel Andrews.
'HAIL OF BOTTLES'
However, such restrictions have not gone down well with some in Israel -- a second wave of infections emerging after the government allowed businesses to reopen en masse in late April and early May.
Police fired water cannon to disperse thousands of protesters overnight.
In Europe too, there were signs of growing frustration, particularly among youngsters starved of social life.
Police in the German city of Frankfurt said they were met with "a hail of bottles" when they tried to break up an open-air party in the city centre involving thousands of youngsters.
So-called corona parties have broken out in the city's squares as bars and clubs remain closed to contain the spread of the virus.
"What I find especially abhorrent is that bystanders cheered and clapped when bottles hit my colleagues," said Frankfurt police chief Gerhard Bereswill.
While bars, restaurants and other public spaces endure a torrid lockdown across the world, sporting and cultural events continue to feel their way back into the public realm.
Japanese sumo is the latest to announce a comeback and, unlike many other sports, fans are now allowed into arenas.
"It's the feeling of being here, being present," said Katsuhiko Ochiai as he prepared for yesterday's tournament.
"That's what watching spectator sports is all about, isn't it. Like music. Like sumo."
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