The Latest: Germany taking COVID-19 patients from neighbours

[ASFN Admin]

BERLIN — Germany has begun taking in COVID-19 patients from neighbouring countries like it did during the height of the pandemic's first wave in the spring. Germany has seen a sharp rise in confirmed virus cases in recent weeks, but the number of new daily infections remains below those even in smaller neighbouring countries. The Foreign Ministry said in a statement to The Associated Press on Thursday that two patients from the Netherlands and two from Belgium have been transferred to hospitals in western Germany in recent days. In the spring, Germany took in 232 patients requiring intensive care from France, Italy and the Netherlands. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas has stressed that the country remains ready to help allies again, including through a new European co-ordination office that’s received 220 million euros ($258 million) in funding. ___ HERE’S WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT THE VIRUS OUTBREAK: — Central Europe sounds the alarm as a surge of virus cases hit a region short of medical workers — US data Thursday expected to show huge economic growth in summer, but it's already fading — Biden focuses on COVID-19, while Trump would rather talk about anything else — Australia’s pandemic travel ban brings family heartbreak, questions about how long it can last — India’s cases surpass 8 million as concerns grow over Hindu festivals, winter and social distancing fatigue — On the road in Mississippi, AP finds a story of love in the time of coronavirus ___ — Follow AP’s coronavirus pandemic coverage at http://apnews.com/VirusOutbreak and https://apnews.com/UnderstandingtheOutbreak ___ HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING: WARSAW, Poland — Poland has registered another sharp spike in confirmed coronavirus cases and reported a new daily record of over 20,100. The new cases reported Thursday, an increase from almost 19,000 reported a day earlier, The spike, from almost 19,000 Wednesday, raised the possibility of the government further tightening restrictions that already call for masks to be worn outdoors and restrict shopping, restaurantsand fitness activities. The most affected regions in the nation of 38 million were that of Poznan, in the west, Warsaw, in central Poland, and Silesia, in the south. The country also reported 301 more virus-related deaths on Thursday, including 46 people who died of COVID-19 alone and 255 of the disease combined with other health problems. Health Ministry figures show that since the start of the pandemic, Poland has registered a total of 320,000 confirmed cases and almost 5,150 deaths. ___ NAIROBI, Kenya — Africa’s top public health official says the time is now to prepare for a second wave of COVID-19 on the continent as countries such as Kenya see infections creep up. John Nkengasong with the Africa Centers for Disease Control and Prevention told reporters that Africa is at a “pivotal period and a very trying moment” as confirmed cases surge again in Europe and elsewhere. He says Africa has made many gains against the coronavirus since the pandemic began and now faces a delicate balance as African nations aren’t rapidly locking down like they earlier in the year. “We cannot be saving lives and not the economy,” Nkengasong said, adding that the only way to avoid further lockdowns is by increasing public health measures. Testing for the virus in Africa’ remains relatively low, however, with just 18 million tests conducted so far. The 54-nation continent now has over 1.7 million confirmed virus cases - an increase of less than 1% from the previous week - and more than 42,000 virus-related deaths. ____ BERLIN — Switzerland’s top spy has contracted COVID-19. The NDB intelligence service says its head, Jean-Philippe Gaudin, tested positive Wednesday and is self-isolating. The agency said Thursday that Gaudin isn’t displaying any symptoms and is continuing to work from home. Earlier this month, the head of Germany’s domestic intelligence agency, his two deputies and other staff members tested positive for COVID-19. ___ LONDON -- The British government is insisting that a national lockdown would not be the right approach to deal with the resurgence of the coronavirus even as other countries in Europe are choosing variations of that route. A day after France and Germany ratcheted up their national responses to contain surges in new infections, hospitalizations and deaths, Britain’s Communities Secretary Robert Jenrick said it is “right we try everything in our powers to avoid a blanket national lockdown.” He said the virus is “very concentrated in some places” so the correct approach is to target restrictions on those areas with the worst outbreaks. The British government, which is responsible for public health in England, has set out a three-tiered approach to the virus’ resurgence. In addition to national restrictions such as limiting public gatherings, there are tighter measures in parts of the country where the virus is most prevalent, such as large sections of northern England. ___ BERLIN — Chancellor Angela Merkel told Germans to expect a “difficult winter” as the number of newly reported coronavirus cases in the country hit a new high. Merkel spoke Thursday in Parliament a day after she and the governors of Germany’s 16 states agreed upon far-reaching restrictions to curb the spread of the virus, including the closure of bars and restaurants, limits on social contacts and bans on concerts and other public events. Germany’s disease control agency said local health authorities reported 16,774 new positive tests for COVID-19 in the past day, pushing the country’s total close to half a million. The Robert Koch Institute also recorded 89 additional deaths, taking the total to 10,272. Merkel told lawmakers that Germany is in a “dramatic situation” as it goes into winter, which she said would be “four long, difficult months. But it will end.” The long-time German leader said authorities had no choice but to drastically reduce social contacts as three-quarters of infections can’t be traced be traced anymore. “If we wait until the ICUs are full, then it will be too late,” she said. ___ BRUSSELS — The number of patients in Belgian hospitals is now higher than during the first wave of the coronavirus crisis. The latest figures showed that 5,924 patients were in hospital, surpassing the previous April 6 record of 5,759. The figures by the Sciensano centre underscored the seriousness of the situation, which already pushed authorities to reinforce measures which they had relaxed only a month ago. Patients in intensive care units reached 993, and virologists have said that unless tougher measures having a quick impact the saturation point of 2,000 patients will be reached on Nov. 6. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Alexander De Croo promised tougher measures across the nation to avoid a breakdown of the country’s health system. ___ MADRID — As more of Spain’s 17 regions apply border travel restrictions, the Spanish government is seeking parliamentary approval to extend the country’s newly declared state of emergency to rein in resurging coronavirus infections until May. The issue is being debated Thursday in the lower house of parliament and will be voted on later in the day but some opposition parties are against it. Still, the government is expected to win enough support as a rejection could send a message of chaos across the country and to fellow European Union members. Spain announced its second nationwide state of emergency Sunday to try to stem a strong flare-up in infections and deaths, which is putting the health system under pressure again. Spain last week became the first European country to surpass 1 million officially recorded COVID-19 cases, though authorities say the true figure could be three times higher. The death toll is at least 35,000. ___ ISLAMABAD — Pakistani authorities have ordered all businesses, including restaurants, wedding halls and markets, be closed after 10 p.m. to contain a coronavirus resurgence that began this month. Also, authorities in the capital, Islamabad, asked police to arrest anyone violating social distancing rules by not wearing masks at public places. The government Thursday reported some of its highest single-day totals, more than 900 new cases and 16 deaths. The numbers are almost double those reported some days last month. Pakistan has reported 311,108 confirmed coronavirus infections, including 6,775 deaths. ___ PARIS — Struggling plane maker Airbus says new European virus lockdown measures are making its life “a bit more difficult,” as it announced 1 billion euros ($1.18 billion) in pandemic-related losses for the third quarter Thursday amid a slower-than-expected recovery in air travel. CEO Guillaume Faury said Airbus has already repeatedly adapted its operations to cope with the virus and is not predicting major disruptions from the new restrictions, notably those announced in France and Germany on Wednesday. “We will have to live with the circulation of the virus for long period of time,” he said. “Yes, it’s making our life a bit more difficult, but these kind of measures – which by the way, are necessary -- are part of what we have to deal with.” ___ BEIJING — Officials in the northwestern China region of Xinjiang say they believe they have contained the country’s latest coronavirus outbreak. Xinjiang reported 23 new confirmed cases Thursday, all involving people who had initially tested positive but displayed no symptoms. It was the second consecutive day in which newly confirmed cases emerged entirely among such people. Officials say that development appears to show new infections have been curbed in Kashgar prefecture, where the outbreak appeared Saturday. They say all the cases seem to be linked to a garment factory that employs 252 people and has since being sealed off. More than 4.7 million people in Kashgar have been tested for the virus. __ ANCHORAGE, Alaska — Officials in Anchorage, Alaska, say the city is on a “dangerous path” as coronavirus cases rise and are urging people to avoid gatherings and follow orders to wear masks in public. Acting Mayor Austin Quinn-Davidson says she has been meeting with business leaders, health officials and others to make decisions that protect health but also impose minimal restrictions so businesses can stay open. The mayor says that “none of us wants another hunker-down” order. The city’s health director says that after months of dealing with the pandemic, some people may have let down their guard. She says people should stay home except to get food, exercise outside or go to work. She says it is important to wear masks and social distance in public and to avoid contact with those at higher risk for severe illness. ___ WELLINGTON, New Zealand — The Marshall Islands has reported its first cases of the coronavirus after two people who flew from Hawaii to a U.S. military base tested positive. The small Pacific nation had been among the last places in the world to have no reported cases of the virus. The Office of the Chief Secretary says a 35-year-old woman and a 46-year-old man tested positive this week after flying directly from Honolulu to the base on Kwajalein Atoll. The office says that the two cases weren’t connected and that both people are in quarantine. The office says all businesses and government operations will continue as normal. Home to about 78,000 people, the Marshall Islands maintains close military and civilian ties with the U.S. under a compact of free association. The Associated Press

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