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U.K., New York Have Deadliest Day; Trump Rips WHO: Virus Update

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U.K., New York Have Deadliest Day; Trump Rips WHO: Virus Update
Medical workers at a coronavirus drive-through testing center in the car park of the closed Chessington World of Adventures Resort theme park in Chessington, U.K. (Photographer: Jason Alden/Bloomberg)

(Bloomberg) -- The U.K. and New York state reported their worst daily death tolls since the pandemic began even as several European nations said they planned to ease lockdowns.

China said it didn’t have any new deaths for the first time since the pandemic emerged in December. That comes a day before the lockdown is lifted in Wuhan, where the pathogen was first detected in humans. Italy reported its fewest new infections since March 13.

U.S. President Donald Trump blasted the World Health Organization, saying the organization was wrong to advise against travel restrictions. U.K. Prime Minister Boris Johnson, who was moved to intensive care last night, is in stable condition.

Key Developments:

  • Global cases top 1.39 million; deaths exceed 79,000: Johns Hopkins
  • Trump eases Covid-19 export ban amid backlash around the world
  • Japan declares emergency for Tokyo, Osaka; unveils stimulus details
  • Michael Burry, made famous in “The Big Short,” slams lockdowns
  • Europe seen facing imminent risk of critical medicine shortages
  • Greed and fear collide: Wall Street calls traders back to office
U.K., New York Have Deadliest Day; Trump Rips WHO: Virus Update

U.S. Cases Rise at Slower Pace Than Past Week (4 p.m. NY)

The rise in U.S. coronavirus cases showed signs of leveling Tuesday, with new infections slowing in New York and New Jersey.

U.S. cases rose 8.7% from the day before to 383,256 as of Tuesday afternoon, according to data compiled by Johns Hopkins University and Bloomberg News. Cases nationally had been climbing an average of 11% a day over the past week.

New York’s rate of new infections tapered for a third straight day, stoking optimism that the outbreak in the hardest-hit state may be approaching a peak. New cases in the state rose 6.2%, or by 5,489.

New Jersey, the state with the second-highest number of cases, reported a similar pattern, with cases increasing by 8%, the lowest rate in weeks and the third-straight day it was 10% or less.

The numbers belied grim statistics: Both states reported their biggest daily gain in coronavius-related deaths. New York had 731 new deaths while New Jersey’s rose by 232.

In California, Governor Gavin Newsom said he’s seen a 10.7% increase in confirmed cases in the state and only a 2.1% increase in intensive-care unit beds taken by virus patients from yesterday, a sign that the curve in the state is bending.

N.J. Mirrors N.Y. With Slowing Infection Rate (2 p.m. NY)

New Jersey’s pattern of coronavirus cases and deaths mirrored New York’s, with a tapering of new infections and the biggest one-day jump in fatalities.

Reported cases increased by 8%, the lowest rate in weeks and the third straight day it was 10% or less. There were 232 additional fatalities reported, after two days of increases of less than 100.

New Jersey has lost 1,232 people to Covid-19. More than 44,000 people in the Garden State have been infected.

Trump Says WHO ‘Blew It’ (1:05 p.m. NY)

U.S. President Donald Trump said the World Health Organization “blew it” on the coronavirus outbreak and was wrong to advise against travel restrictions he imposed on China.

Trump called the Geneva-based international body “very China centric” and said in a tweet that he would give it “a good look.”

The WHO has urged nations to avoid blanket travel bans to countries experiencing outbreaks because historically such moves have been ineffective. People often book flights through another hub, which can make their movements difficult for authorities to trace. Restrictions can also prevent countries from receiving medical equipment and vital goods.

Italy Reports Fewest New Infections Since March 13 (12:22 p.m. NY)

Italy reported its fewest new coronavirus infections since March 13, as the government considers easing some containment measures in the coming weeks.

New cases numbered 3,039 over the last 24 hours, compared with 3,599 a day earlier, civil protection officials said on Tuesday. The country reported 604 deaths linked to the virus, compared with 636 the day before.

N.Y. Shows Biggest Daily Gain In Deaths (11:43 a.m. NY)

New York state reported its single-largest daily increase in coronavirus deaths on Tuesday. Governor Andrew Cuomo said 5,489 people have died, up from 4,758 on Monday.

Despite the surge, there are signs that infection rates in New York may be plateauing. The 8,147 in new cases reported Tuesday is the third straight day below the peak of 10,841 hit on Friday. It’s also below the 8,658 announced Monday.

While the daily rate in deaths of about 15% was up slightly from yesterday, it is still almost half of what it was a week ago.

U.K. Reports Its Deadliest Day Yet (11:23 a.m. NY)

A record number of people in the U.K. were reported to have died from the coronavirus in 24 hours, daily figures from the Department of Health and Social Care show.

A further 786 people died from the virus, the department said. In total, 55,242 people have tested positive for the disease in the U.K.

Saudi Arabia Cases Could Hit 200,000 (10:40 a.m. NY)

The country of 34 million people has taken some of the earliest and strictest precautionary measures in the Middle East, including a 24-hour curfew imposed on all major cities indefinitely. So far the government has reported 2,795 cases and 41 deaths, but studies show the number of cases could rise in a few weeks to 10,000 at the lowest and 200,000 at the highest, Health Minister Tawfiq Al-Rabiah said in a televised speech.

The government has struggled to find enough medical supplies on the global market to meet future needs and unless the growth rate in cases moderates, hospitals could be overwhelmed, he said.

Portugal to Keep Schools Closed in April (10:21 a.m. NY)

Portugal’s containment measures will have to remain in place this month so that the country can take steps in May for schools and businesses to “progressively return to normal,” President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa said.

White House Starts Planning to Reopen Economy: Kudlow (9:21 a.m. NY)

Trump’s top economic adviser said the White House has begun planning how the U.S. can reopen the economy once the outbreak abates, after indications the epicenter in New York may have reached a plateau.

“The president would like to reopen the economy as soon as he can, and we are planning internally,” Larry Kudlow told Fox News on Tuesday. He said the virus’s spread is the driving force in determining a timeline.

“I am hoping -- as I say, praying -- that we’re only a few weeks away from a reopening. We’ll see,” he said.

FDA Facilitates Imports of Potential Treatments (8:45 a.m. NY)

The Food and Drug Administration is “facilitating imports of drugs to potentially treat Covid-19,” the regulatory agency said in post on its website Tuesday. The FDA said it is also working to protect Americans by monitoring the quality of drugs shipped to the U.S.

WHO’s Rigid Mask Stance Contrasts With Countries’ Advice (8:42 a.m. NY)

Global health officials still insist that medical masks should be reserved for health-care workers.

“There is currently no evidence that wearing a mask, whether medical or other types, by healthy persons in the wider community setting, including universal community masking, can prevent them from infection with respiratory viruses, including Covid-19,” a report released late Monday by the World Health Organization said.

U.K. PM Johnson Hasn’t Been Diagnosed With Pneumonia (7:55 a.m. NY)

Johnson hasn’t been diagnosed with pneumonia but has received supplementary oxygen, his spokesman James Slack told reporters on a conference call Tuesday. Slack said Johnson was “stable” overnight and “remains in good spirits.”

“He is receiving standard oxygen treatment and is breathing without any other assistance. He has not received mechanical ventilation or non-invasive respiratory support.”

Dutch Deaths Top 2,000, Case Growth Slows (7:45 a.m. NY)

Deaths in the Netherlands rose to 2,101, a 13% increase which accounts for the slower administrative processing over the weekend. The RIVM National Institute for Public Health and the Environment also reported 777 new cases, marking the slowest growth since March 23. The 4% increase in confirmed cases raises the total count to 19,580.

Hong Kong to Keep Schools Closed Until End of May (7:30 a.m. NY)

Hong Kong will keep its schools closed until at least the end of May, SCMP reported on Tuesday, citing an unidentified person familiar with the matter. The decision was made after Carrie Lam, Hong Kong’s Chief Executive, had a meeting with senior council advisers earlier that day and agreed with medical experts that resuming classes later in April as planned was too risky.

The city reported 21 new cases earlier, taking its total to 935.

Israel Tightens Restrictions Before Passover Holiday (7:29 a.m. NY)

The move is aimed at preventing family gatherings that could quicken the spread of the virus. Citizens will not be able to travel to other cities starting Tuesday evening through Friday morning, though they will still able to make trips for groceries and medicine.

Portugal Confirmed Cases Rise (7:16 a.m. NY)

The total number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Portugal rose to 12,442 as of 11 a.m. on Tuesday, a 6.1% increase from 11,730 on Monday morning. That compares with a 4% rise on Monday, which followed a 7.2% increase on Sunday. The total number of deaths increased to 345 on Tuesday from 311 reported through Monday morning; 184 patients have now recovered, up from 140 on Monday.

Japan Cabinet Office Official Tests Positive (7:15 a.m. NY)

A Japanese Cabinet Office official was confirmed to have the coronavirus on Tuesday, the Cabinet Office said in a statement. The official has already started treatment at a hospital.

Spain Backs Creation of Crisis Fund (7:10 a.m. NY)

As European finance ministers prepare for a heated exchange over a call later on Tuesday, the Spanish government circulated its own proposal backing, and elaborating on, the French suggestion for the creation of a crisis fund to weather the looming recession.

Spain is distancing itself from the hardline approach taken by the Italian government on joint debt issuance, suggesting instead a special purpose vehicle to raise funds. The SPV would allow direct transfers to member states seeking financing equivalent to the economic damage as a result of the coronavirus crisis, according to a copy of the plan seen by Bloomberg News.

Leading Institutes See German Economy Shrink 4.2% (6:56 a.m. NY)

Germany’s leading economic research institutes expect Europe’s biggest economy to shrink by 4.2% this year, before rebounding by 5.8% next year, Reuters reported, citing unidentified people familiar with the matter.

China Spokesman Defends Virus Tweets Criticized by Trump (6:30 a.m. NY)

An official in China’s foreign ministry defended his tweets questioning whether American soldiers introduced the coronavirus to Wuhan, in his first comments on the controversy over responsibility for the pandemic.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian said his posts were “a reaction to some U.S. politicians stigmatizing China a while ago.” In response to a question about whether the tweets represented the government’s official stance, Zhao said, “This also reflects the anger of many Chinese people about this stigma.” The briefing was Zhao’s first time at the lectern since China’s ambassador to the U.S. told “Axios on HBO” that such speculation about the origins of the virus was “very harmful.”

Indonesia Has Record Rise in Cases (6:18 a.m. NY)

The number of new coronavirus cases in Indonesia rose by more than 200 for a second consecutive day, according to the latest government data, signaling a widening outbreak. New infections rose by 247 on Tuesday, the biggest daily spike, taking the total to 2,738. The virus may infect as many as 95,000 people in Indonesia by May before easing, Finance Minister Sri Mulyani Indrawati said on Monday.

Malaysia Seeks to Raise Testing Capacity (6:20 a.m. NY)

Malaysia is seeking to increase its testing capacity to 16,500 a day, from about 11,500 currently, as it relies on actively tracking down clusters of infections to contain the pandemic, said Noor Hisham Abdullah, director-general of health. While the country has the most cases in Southeast Asia at 3,963, daily increases have slowed. Noor Hisham said his team will consider in the next five days whether the lockdown needed to be extended beyond April 14.

Singapore Proposes Banning All Gatherings (6:10 a.m. NY)

Singapore is considering new laws that would ban both public and private gatherings of any size as the city-state ramps up social distancing measures, Today Online reported. The city-state defended its decision not to close its schools earlier as the Southeast Asian country goes into a partial lockdown from today.

Optimism Among U.S. Small Businesses Plummets (6 a.m. NY)

The National Federation of Independent Business optimism index slumped 8.1 points to 96.4, the biggest drop in monthly surveys going back to 1986. The group’s measure of business conditions six months from now declined 17 points, the most since November 2012, to 5. Nine of the 10 components that make up the optimism gauge declined in March.

U.K., New York Have Deadliest Day; Trump Rips WHO: Virus Update

U.K. Minister Gove Isolating, Doesn’t Have Symptoms (6 a.m. NY)

U.K. Cabinet minister Michael Gove is self-isolating after a family member displayed symptoms of coronavirus, a person familiar with the matter said. Gove is not displaying symptoms and is working as normal. Britain is facing a leadership crisis as it heads into the peak of the pandemic, with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in intensive care and his government under pressure to get a grip on the outbreak.

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