Coronavirus update: WHO warns the first wave of COVID-19 is not over, Spain announces period of mourning

As countries look to reopen their borders the World Health Organization issues a stark warning that coronavirus is “actually on the way up” and takes specific aim at Brazil, which is looking to ease restrictions despite being a hotspot.

WHO warns first wave of pandemic is not over

The World Health Organization’s top health expert has issued a sobering reminder that the world is still in the middle of the pandemic, dampening hopes for a speedy global economic rebound and renewed international travel.

“We’re still very much in a phase where the disease is actually on the way up,” said Dr Mike Ryan, one of the World Health Organization’s executive directors.

“Right now, we’re not in the second wave. We’re right in the middle of the first wave globally.”

Dr Ryan then made specific mention of Brazil, where despite cases being on the rise Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been bullish about opening the country back up.

Brazil has nearly 375,000 coronavirus infections — second only to the 1.66 million cases in the US — and has counted over 23,000 deaths but many fear Brazil’s true toll is much higher.

Dr Ryan warned that authorities must first have enough testing in place to control the spread of the pandemic and said Brazil’s “intense” transmission rates means it should keep some stay-at-home measures in place, regardless of the negative impacts on its economy.

“You must continue to do everything you can,” he said.

Worldwide, the virus has infected nearly 5.5 million people, killing over 346,000, according to a tally by Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the tally understates the real effects of the pandemic due to counting issues in many nations.

Spain declares 10-day period of mourning

The Spanish Government declared a 10-day official mourning period from Wednesday to honour the nearly 30,000 people who have died from coronavirus in one of the world’s worst-hit countries.

During the period, flags will fly at half-mast all over the country’s public buildings and navy ships.

The period will end with an official ceremony led by the head of state in remembrance of the 26,834 fatalities recorded in the country. Spain has reported a total of 235,400 confirmed cases of the disease

In other Spain news the Spanish treasury will lend 14 billion euros ($23 billion) to the state-run social security to help it face costs related to the pandemic, a government spokeswoman said on Tuesday

The loan will help social security to finance additional spending related to the coronavirus epidemic and offset lower contributions from workers who were either furloughed or lost their jobs.

J.K. Rowling publishes free fairytale for children in lockdown

JK Rowling has published the first two chapters of a fairytale called “The Ickabog” online for children in lockdown.

“Over 10 years ago, I wrote a stand-alone fairytale called The Ickabog,” Ms Rowling said.

“Until very recently, the only people who’d heard the story of The Ickabog were my two younger children.”

The Harry Potter author said the mostly handwritten manuscript had been stored in her attic until a few weeks ago after which she did some re-writing.

“I’ve decided to publish The Ickabog for free online, so children in lockdown, or even those back at school during these strange, unsettling times, can read it or have it read to them,” she said.

“The Ickabog is a story about truth and the abuse of power. The themes are timeless and could apply to any era or any country.

“To forestall one obvious question: The idea came to me well over a decade ago, so it isn’t intended to be read as a response to anything that’s happening in the world right now.”

The story will be released chapter-by-chapter over the coming weeks until July 10, Ms Rowling said, and in that time she has asked for children to send her their illustrations.

Those deemed the best will be published in a physical copy of the book that will be released in bookstores in November.

Ms Rowling said she intends to donate the royalties she receives from the story to projects and organisations helping the groups most impacted by COVID-19.

Donald Tusk takes dig at Dominic Cummings

As the furore surrounding UK PM Boris Johnson’s senior aide Dominic Cummings continues — with Scottish junior minister Douglas Ross resigning over Mr Cummings’ travel during the lockdown — one man sunk the boot in further.

Former President of the European Council Donald Tusk took Mr Cummings and his fellow Brexiteers to task over the incident with a cheeky titter broadside.

“This is apparently Cummings and his Brexit friends’ rule: that they leave when they should stay” he wrote.

Mr Cummings had driven more than 400 km from London during the lockdown to stay on his family’s farm and later defended his trip, saying his actions were reasonable as he was worried he would not have had childcare options if he and his wife were seriously ill.

He also said he had driven to an estate a further 50 kilometres away to test his eyesight before driving back to London.

Saudi Arabia allows mosques to open for Friday prayers

Saudi Arabia will allow mosques to open for Friday prayers as the kingdom eases restrictions on movement.

Mosques will be authorised to open 20 minutes before Friday prayers and should close 20 minutes after they finish, state TV said on Twitter, citing the ministry of Islamic affairs.

Restrictions will be lifted in three phases, according to officials, culminating in a curfew ending — with the exception of the holy city of Mecca — from June 21.

The haj and umrah pilgrimages, which attract millions of travellers from around the world, will remain suspended until further notice.

UK to start treating virus patients with remdesivir

Britain’s medicines agency has authorised the use of the experimental drug remdesivir for COVID-19 patients, in a move that may shorten the time some patients spend in hospital.

Clinical trials testing the broad-spectrum antiviral to determine whether or not it is effective are still under way globally, but initial results have suggested it can speed up recovery time.

“We are committed to ensuring that patients can have fast access to promising treatments for COVID-19,” said Dr June Raine, the chief executive of the UK’s Medicines and Health Regulatory Agency.

Remdesivir will be provided to patients free of charge by American biopharmaceutical Gilead, and will be for patients with a “high, unmet medical need” under a doctor’s supervision.

A study last month of more than 1,000 people severely impacted by coronavirus found those who got the drug were discharged from the hospital several days earlier than those who got a placebo.