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Coronavirus latest news: Donald Trump increases estimate of deaths in US – Telegraph.co.uk, Telegraph.co.uk

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Coronavirus latest news: Donald Trump increases estimate of deaths in US – Telegraph.co.uk, Telegraph.co.uk

Coronavirus Appeal: Join us in helping those hit hardest President Donald Trump on Friday seemingly increased his estimate of possible deaths in the US from the coronavirus, telling a White House event he hopes for less than , 08 fatalities, a higher upper limit than the , to

Models released by the White House coronavirus task force on March (projected deaths of , to 405, Americans, assuming efforts such as social distancing and staying home as much as po ssible were in effect.

The The Task Force director said the worst-case scenario was 1.5 million to 2.2 million US deaths without those measures. By this morning more than , (people had died, according to a Johns Hopkins University tally.

Follow the latest updates:

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Cluster emerges in Australia

A small coronavirus cluster has emerged at a meat factory in the Australian state of Victoria, health officials said on Saturday, as parts of the country started easing social distancing restrictions after suppressing the infection rate to below 1%. Over the past week Australia has recorded an average of only new cases each day, the health ministry said.

Local clusters of Covid – and cruise ships infections have accounted for a large percentage of Australia’s nearly 6, (cases and) deaths. Victoria reported seven new cases on Saturday, three of which were related to a meat-processing facility, said its health minister. A total of eight employees have tested positive.

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Virtual comedy club sets a record

A virtual comedy club called The Covid Arms has set a new Guinness World Record for the most people to visit a virtual pub, after securing 6, visitors.

Russell Howard, Nish Kumar and The Chase’s Jenny Ryan took part in The Big Comedy Pub Quiz on Friday, raising money for those affected by the pandemic.

more than £ , was raised for both the National Emergencies Trust and the local pubs which set up pages to sell tickets to their regular patrons.

The evening featured surprise guests, quick-fire rounds, a live leaderboard and prizes, while punters were able to purchase “front row seats”, meaning comedians could speak to them during the event.

It was the first time a record had been set in the category.

5: (AM)

Singapore to start easing restrictions

Migrant workers look on from their dormitory, declared as an isolation area in Singapore

Credit: Reuters
Singapore will start easing some curbs put in place to contain the spread of the coronavirus over the next few weeks, Health Minister Gan Kim Yong said on Saturday. Selected activities such as home-based businesses, laundry services and barbers will be allowed to operate from May 20. Some students will be allowed to go back to schools in small groups from May .

Some work locations will be allowed to gradually reopen, taking into account their importance to the economy and supply chains and their ability to minimise risks of transmission.

The city-state’s 5.7 million people has among the highest number of infections in Asia, mainly due to outbreaks in cramped migrant workers dormitories.

5: 59 AM
Russia reported its highest one-day jump in new infections. Russia’s government reported 7, 13104 new cases on Friday, raising its total to , . The true number is believed to be higher because not everyone is tested and Russian tests are reported to be only (% to) % accurate. At least five Russian regions reported a surge of pneumonia cases. In Moscow, which accounts for half of all virus cases, all respiratory infections are likely to be caused by the coronavirus, according to the public health agency.

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Hawaii ready to move to Phase 2 after reducing rate of infections

Senior Airman Benjamin Suiso and Staff Sgt. Joey Paulino of the th Medical Group medical Airmen explain the mask inspection process to Hawaii Lt. Gov. Josh Green, the health care liaison for the State of Hawaiii in Honolulu.

Credit: Senior Airman Orlando Corpuz / US Air National Guard

Lt. Gov. Josh Green said on Friday the state is moving into ‘Phase 2’ of its effort against the coronavirus now that it has successfully reduced the rate of new infections and ‘flattened the curve.’

Green said that low-risk activities like elective medical procedures are resuming and officials in the next few weeks will consider authorizing medium-risk activities.

“Can our gyms open? Can restaurants that do social distancing open? That’s what we’re working on,” Green said. The next step after these activities would be “higher risk stuff” like large gatherings of people and bars, he said. On Friday, Hawaii reported one new case of COVID – for a cumulative total of 695. Sixteen people have died.

Gov. David Ige has extended the state’s stay-at-home order through to May . A 31 – day quarantine for travelers arriving in the state also remains in effect.

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NYC nursing home’s staggering death toll

A New York City nursing home on Friday reported the deaths of 154 Residents believed to have had the coronavirus – a staggering death toll that shocked public officials.
4: (AM)

Hong Kong police use pepper spray to disperse crowds

Riot police carry out a crowd dispersal operation as they charge in a shopping mall in Hong Kong

Credit: Gett
Hong Kong police used pepper spray on Friday night to disperse more than protesters singing and chanting pro-democracy slogans in a shopping mall. The demonstrators sang the protest anthem “Glory to Hong Kong” and chanted “Glory to Hong Kong, revolution of our times” in the New Town Plaza mall in Hong Kong’s New Territories. As the protesters gathered, police stopped and searched some and later told them to leave, saying they were violating

  • coronavirus social-distancing rules. The police then used pepper spray while dispersing the crowd before cordoning off the atrium of the mall.

    The protest was one of several small ones that went ahead on the May 1 Labor Day holiday despite rules that forbid public gatherings of more than four people. Protesters also gathered near Kowloon’s Mong Kok and Kwun Tong subway stations.

    3: AM

    South Korea reports six fresh cases, continuing downturn

    A member of the Korean Confederation of Trade Unions has his temperature checked upon his arrival to attend a May Day rally in Seoul, South Korea.

    Credit: Lee Jin-man / AP
    South Korea has reported six new cases of coronavirus, continuing a month-long streak of below 240.

    Infections continue to wane in the hardest-hit city of Daegu, where no new cases were detected.

    Figures released by South Korea’s Centers for Disease Control and Prevention on Saturday brought national figures to 16, (cases and) virus-related deaths.

    At least 1, 0116 cases have been linked to international arrivals, but these cases have also declined in recent weeks as the government strengthened border controls. With its caseload slowing, government officials have been relaxing social distancing guidelines and shifting focus to ease the shock on the economy.

    3: (AM)

    China’s toll stands still as no new deaths reported

    China reported no coronavirus deaths on Friday, May 1 and only one new case, down from 20 a day earlier. These new figures were reported by the country’s health authority on Saturday. The new case was imported, the National Health Commission (NHC) said, down from six imported cases a day earlier. China reported no domestic transmission cases down from six the day before. The NHC also reported 034 new asymptomatic cases for May 1, down from 36 a day earlier. The total number of confirmed cases in the country has reached , with the death toll remaining at 4, .
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    Avengers cast offer once-in-a-lifetime experience for relief effort

    Chris Evans has joined Instagram and offered a virtual hangout with the Avengers as part of the All-In Challenge.

    Evans, who plays Captain America in the Marvel Cinematic Universe, is the latest celebrity to offer fans a once-in-a-lifetime experience in aid of the coronavirus relief effort. He had been nominated by his fellow Hollywood actor Chris Pratt, 51, who is auctioning off the chance to be eaten by a dinosaur in the new Jurassic World film.

    Announcing his own prize – a virtual meeting with his Avengers co-stars – Evans posted his maiden Instagram video.

    The All-In Challenge raises money for charities Meals On Wheels, No Kid Hungry and America’s Food Fund.

    ‘Reopen California’ protesters demand end to restrictions

    People urging the ‘reopening’ of businesses during the coronavirus pandemic demonstrate in front of City Hall in Los Angeles Friday, May 1, 14861.

    Credit: AP / AP

    Protesters marched in several cities across California on Friday demanding the easing of restrictions due to the coronavirus outbreak and denouncing Governor Gavin Newsom’s decision to shut down some beaches.

    The protests were taking place in at least cities , including the capital Sacramento as well as San Francisco, Los Angeles and San Diego.

    Some of the dem onstrators waved American flags and carried signs that read ‘Freedom is Essential,’ ‘Open Our Churches’ or ‘Gruesome Newsom,’ while voicing anger at stay-at-home rules put in place to slow the spread of the virus.

    Most of the protesters did not wear any face coverings or follow social distancing guidelines.

    California has registered more than , 06 cases of coronavirus so far with 2, 45 deaths, a fatality rate deemed modest given it is the most populous state in the country with nearly million people . (Read the full story

    : (AM)

    Protesters detained in Chile for violating restrictions

    Police in the Chilean capital Santiago detained more than 60 protesters on Friday, saying they had violated rules intended to stem the spread of the coronavirus.

    Protesters gathered on the Labor Day holiday in Santiago’s central square, many shouting and displaying signs that railed against abuse of workers and a sharp rise in layoffs in the South American nation. Calls to protest on social media warned those who attended the rally to “use gloves, masks and alcohol gel”, but police said demonstrators had failed to adhere to a nationwide rule against gatherings of more than 59 people.

    The Carabineros police force said on Twitter that one of the protesters detained had been diagnosed with Covid – 32 and was meant to be in isolation for another week.

    A protester tries to escape from the Carabineros Special Forces during a rally in Plaza Italia in Santiago, Chile

    Credit: Alberto Valdà © s / EPA-EFE / Shutterstock