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COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Britain: 'Almost Certain' Russia Tried to Meddle in 2019 Elections VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Britain's foreign ministry said Thursday Russia sought to interfere in Britain's 2019 general election by illicitly acquiring sensitive documents relating to a planned free trade agreement with the United States and leaking them online.
• US Efforts to Deal Islamic State 'Enduring Defeat' on Hold VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Hopes of delivering the Islamic State a lasting defeat in Iraq and Syria have, for now, fallen by the wayside, according to officials with the U.S.-led coalition, despite a ramped-up crackdown on the terror group's network of cells and facilitators.
• Iraq: ISIL's acts of terror 'divorced from the values of all faiths' UN News 16 Jul 2020 -- Religious leaders from communities across Iraq called for greater "healing and reconciliation" during a UN-organized event on Thursday, reaffirming their commitment to support survivors of crimes perpetrated by ISIL terrorist fighters.
• Saudi Press: Saudi Arabia Designates Six Prominent Names Who Provided Facilities, Financial Support for ISIL SPA 16 Jul 2020 -- Saudi newspapers highlighted in their editorials today a number of issues, at local, regional, and international arenas.
• Belgium To Try Iranian Diplomat Accused Of Planned Terrorist Attack In France Radio Farda 16 Jul 2020 -- A Belgian court on Wednesday ruled that an Iranian diplomat and three others suspected of a planned terrorist attack on a gathering of 25,000 dissidents in Paris in 2018 should be held in Belgium in the coming months.
• Romania Fined By EU's Top Court For Failing To Observe Anti-Money Laundering Rules RFE/RL 16 Jul 2020 -- The European Union's top court has imposed a fine on Romania for delays and the incomplete application of the bloc's rules against money laundering and terrorism financing.
• WHO concerned about growing Ebola outbreak in DR Congo UN News 16 Jul 2020 -- The World Health Organization (WHO) and partners are concerned about the growing Ebola outbreak in the northwestern province of Equateur, in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), as they face critical funding gaps amid the COVID-19 pandemic, the UN health agency said on Thursday
• Latest Ebola Outbreak in Western DRC Eclipses 2018 VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- The number of reported Ebola cases in western Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) has surpassed the African nation's 2018 outbreak numbers in the same region, World Health Organization officials said Thursday.
• UK condemns Russian Intelligence Services over vaccine cyber attacks UK FCO 16 Jul 2020 -- The Foreign Secretary has called out Russia's unacceptable cyber attacks against COVID-19 vaccine developers.
• Russia Accused of Stealing Western Coronavirus Research VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- U.S., British and Canadian officials accused the Kremlin Thursday of being behind a massive and ongoing cyber hack aimed at stealing from Western pharmaceutical companies and academic institutions doing research into coronavirus vaccines and treatment therapies.
• Moscow Refutes UK Claims That Russia-Linked Hackers Tried to Steal Data on COVID-19 Vaccine Sputnik 16 Jul 2020 -- Last month, the head of the UK spy agency GCHQ said that Britain's intelligence agents had detected multiple cyberattacks on the country's health infrastructure this past spring, linking the attacks to attempts to steal sensitive data about a possible COVID-19 vaccine.
• Britain, U.S., Canada Accuse Russia Of Trying To Steal COVID-19 Vaccine Research RFE/RL 16 Jul 2020 -- Britain, Canada, and the United States have accused Russia of trying to steal COVID-19 vaccine and treatment research from academic and pharmaceutical institutions around the world.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 178 WHO 16 Jul 2020
• COVID-19: UN relief chief urges G20 to step up to avert 'cascading crises' in fragile countries UN News 16 Jul 2020 -- The COVID-19 pandemic and resulting recession are set to trigger the first increase in global poverty in three decades, pushing 265 million people to the point of starvation by the end of the year, the UN's top humanitarian official warned on Friday.
• UN Raises COVID-19 Appeal to $10.3 Billion VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- The United Nations raised its appeal Friday to combat the health and economic impacts of COVID-19 in some of the world's most vulnerable countries to $10.3 billion, warning that inaction now could cost countless lives and trillions of dollars later.

United States

• Rush Transcript: Governor Cuomo Hosts Conference Call and Comments on New CDC Report on the Spread of COVID-19 in New York New York State 16 Jul 2020
• Transcript: Governor Cuomo Announces New Regulations for Bars and Restaurants to Ensure Compliance with State Social Distancing and Face Covering Orders New York State 16 Jul 2020
• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 16 Jul 2020
• US Coronavirus Infections Soar as Officials Adopt Mixed Messages VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- The number of new U.S. coronavirus cases is soaring, but state governors are offering mixed messages on how to deal with the pandemic.
• More US States, Businesses Requiring Face Masks VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- With the number of confirmed COVID-19 cases in the United States nearing 3.5 million and rising, more states, local jurisdictions and businesses are mandating facial coverings for residents and customers.
• US COVID-19 Data Ordered Back to CDC Site After Outcry, Fears of Government Cover-Up Sputnik 16 Jul 2020 -- The Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) redirected the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) website to republish COVID-19 hospital data Thursday, after it was temporarily removed earlier in the day at the Trump administration's urging.
• COVID-19 Pushes America to 'Reshore' Electronics, Drugs From China to US, Pentagon Says Sputnik 16 Jul 2020 -- A stepped up push to move microelectronics and drug manufacturing from China back to the United States represents a silver lining to the coronavirus crisis, with the Defence Department able to use the Defence Production Act to help finance the effort, Undersecretary of Defence for Acquisition Ellen Lord said on Thursday.
• CDC calls on Americans to wear masks to prevent COVID-19 spread People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Cloth face coverings are a critical tool in the fight against COVID-19 that could reduce the spread of the disease, particularly when used universally within communities, said an editorial published Tuesday in the Journal of the American Medical Association.
• Fauci calls Trump attack 'bizarre' as virus cases surge to record level Press TV 16 Jul 2020 -- Top US infectious disease expert Dr. Anthony Fauci says efforts by the administration of President Donald Trump to discredit him are "bizarre" and a mistake that will eventually hurt the US president.

China

• Packages of Ecuadorian white shrimp test positive for COVID-19 in Yunnan Global Times 16 Jul 2020 -- As of Tuesday, 3 packages of 2,750 samples of frozen South American white shrimp imported from Ecuador have tested positive for COVID-19 in Southwest China's Yunnan Province, while the shrimp itself and contacts tested negative, Yunnan health commission said on Thursday.
• Chinese vaccine candidate effective against all known coronavirus strains: Sinopharm Global Times 16 Jul 2020 -- A Chinese-developed inactivated COVID-19 vaccine candidate is effective against all detected strains of the virus so far, with lower chance and degree of adverse reactions than same-typed vaccine candidates under research, the head of the vaccine candidate's producer told the Global Times in an exclusive interview on Monday.
• China approaches zero confirmed COVID-19 cases, open dialogue key to pandemic response: experts People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- The Chinese mainland is approaching zero COVID-19 patients despite sporadic outbreaks, which is attributable to an open communication between Chinese scientists and the leadership as well as the speed with which close contacts of patients had been isolated, wrote South China Morning Post on July 13, citing China's top epidemiologists.
• China's Hubei reports no new COVID-19 cases People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- No new confirmed, asymptomatic or suspected cases of COVID-19 were reported in central China's Hubei Province on Wednesday, the provincial health commission said Thursday.
• Shanghai establishes first outdoor station for COVID-19 testing People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Shanghai established the city's first outdoor station to test for COVID-19 at Shanghai East Hospital affiliated to Tongji University on July 15, as demand for testing grows, news portal ThePaper reported.
• Chinese mainland reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Thursday that it received reports of no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases but one imported case on the Chinese mainland Wednesday.
• Beijing reports no new domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases for 10th day People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Beijing reported no new confirmed domestically transmitted COVID-19 cases Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday.
• 26 COVID-19 patients discharged from hospitals on Chinese mainland People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- The National Health Commission said Thursday that 26 COVID-19 patients were discharged from hospitals after recovery on the Chinese mainland Wednesday.
• Shanghai reports 1 new imported COVID-19 case People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Shanghai reported one new imported COVID-19 case and no increase in domestically transmitted cases on Wednesday, the municipal health commission said Thursday.

Europe

• EU Recommends Renewed Travel Ban For Serbia, Montenegro Over Coronavirus Spikes RFE/RL 16 Jul 2020 -- The European Union has removed Serbia and Montenegro from its list of countries whose citizens should be allowed to travel to the bloc because of their improved coronavirus epidemiological situation.
• EU officials warn of second wave of coronavirus after summer People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- European states should not let their guard down as a second wave of the coronavirus pandemic could hit the continent after summer, possibly coinciding with the seasonal flu, European officials warned on Wednesday.
• UK to have independent inquiry into its handling of COVID-19 pandemic: PM People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- British Prime Minister Boris Johnson said Wednesday during the weekly Prime Minister's Questions (PMQs) that there will be an independent inquiry into Britain's handling of the COVID-19 pandemic.

Russia

• Russia refutes West-sourced 'coronavirus research theft' claims Press TV 16 Jul 2020 -- Russia rejects allegations emerging from the United Kingdom, the United States, and Canada claiming that Moscow was trying to steal research data on the new coronavirus.
• Second Phase of Russia's Coronavirus Vaccine Trials to Be Completed August 3, RDIF Says Sputnik 16 Jul 2020 -- The second phase of trials of Russia's vaccine against coronavirus, which is developed by the Gamaleya Scientific Research Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, will be completed on August 3, and the first phase will be conducted not only in Russia but abroad as well, RDIF CEO Kirill Dmitriev said on Thursday.

India

• India re-imposes lockdowns as coronavirus cases jump Press TV 16 Jul 2020 -- The Indian government has re-imposed lockdown restrictions on several states as the number of confirmed coronavirus infections in the country nears the one million mark.
• 1234 labs along with use of Rapid Antigen Tests drive Tests Per Million (TPM) to more than 9231 India PIB 16 Jul 2020 -- As per the "Test, Trace, Treat" strategy, the Central Government is driving enhanced testing initiatives in State/UTs. As a result, there has been a steady rise in the number of testing labs across the country. The increased testing is in accordance with the ICMR Guidelines and has helped in early detection of cases.
• Dr. Harsh Vardhan inaugurates Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD Block of AIIMS Delhi India PIB 16 Jul 2020 -- Dr. Harsh Vardhan, Union Minister of Health and Family Welfare inaugurated the Rajkumari Amrit Kaur OPD Block of AIIMS, New Delhi along with Shri Ashwini Kumar Choubey, MoS (HFW), here today. Prof. R. Guleria, Director, AIIMS and other senior officials of AIIMS were also present on the occasion.
• Actual case load of COVID-19 patients in the country is only 3,31,146 India PIB 16 Jul 2020 -- A graded, pre-emptive and pro-active approach under the 'Whole of Government" strategy has been adopted by Government of India along with the States/UTs for prevention, containment and management of COVID-19. The collective efforts are regularly reviewed and monitored at the highest level.

Iran

• Coronavirus kills 198 more Iranians over past 24 hours IRNA 16 Jul 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Thursday that some 198 more Iranians have died of coronavirus (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total death toll to 13,608.

Japan

• Japan 'extremely concerned' by surge in COVID-19 cases in US bases Press TV 16 Jul 2020 -- Japan has expressed extreme concern about a rise in coronavirus cases among American military personnel in US bases in the Japanese prefecture of Okinawa.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry Spokesperson: More Than 187,000 Recovered from COVID-19 in Saudi Arabia SPA 16 Jul 2020 -- Assistant Minister of Health and Spokesperson of the Ministry of Health Dr. Mohammed Al-Abdulaali said in a statement today that 2,764 new confirmed cases of Novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 243,238 cases, including 53,246 active cases receiving necessary medical care. Of these, there are 2,206 critical cases, while the health condition of the rest is stable.
• Ministry of Health: the leadership's unlimited support contributes to increasing intensive care beds during COVID-19 pandemic SPA 16 Jul 2020 -- The Ministry of Health confirmed that the preventive measures taken by the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia to deal with COVID-19 , in addition to the unlimited support from the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud and HRH Crown Prince have contributed to increasing the clinical capacity of intensive care by more than 2,800 beds in various regions of the Kingdom.

Taiwan

• One new imported case of COVID-19 recorded in Taiwan CNA 16 Jul 2020 -- Taiwan confirmed one new case of COVID-19 on Thursday, which was deemed to be imported, as the patient was a Taiwanese woman who recently returned from overseas, according to the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC).

North Korea

• Hard Labor For North Koreans Who Don't Wear Masks Under Tough New Coronavirus Measures Radio Free Asia 16 Jul 2020 -- North Koreans who fail to wear masks face at least three months of "disciplinary labor" with harsher penalties for people caught sneaking into China under tough new COVID-19 prevention measures, officials in the country told RFA Thursday.

Brazil

• Brazil's President Tests Positive for Coronavirus a 2nd Time VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro remained in self-isolation Thursday, a day after announcing he tested positive for coronavirus for a second time.

Other Countries

• As COVID-19 Cases Rise Worldwide, Some Governments Offer Subsidies VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- With an ever-increasing number of coronavirus cases, the Australian government has announced a $1.4 billion package to counter the nation's rising unemployment rate.
• Rise in women prisoners and COVID measures, 'making sentences worse' UN News 16 Jul 2020 -- More than 700,000 women are in prison around the world, and that number is growing much faster than men, the Human Rights Council has heard.
• Netanyahu promises coronavirus money for all Israelis amid growing criticism People's Daily 16 Jul 2020 -- Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu announced on Wednesday a new aid plan that promises to cut a check to every Israeli citizen, amid escalating criticism over his handling of the coronavirus crisis.
• COVID-19: Mirziyoev Reprimands Uzbek Health Minister, Regional Officials Over Efforts To Battle Virus RFE/RL 16 Jul 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is almost 585,000, with nearly 13.6 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
• UAE Health Ministry conducts over 48,000 additional COVID-19 tests during past 24 hours, announces 275 new cases, 393 recoveries SPA 16 Jul 2020 -- The Ministry of Health and Prevention announced on Wednesday that it conducted over 48,000 additional COVID-19 tests over the past 24 hours, using state-of-the-art medical testing methods, WAM said.
• Peru Eases COVID-19 Rules, Resumes Some Flights VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Peru resumed all flights within the country after restricting operations for four months to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
• WHO Calls for End to Africa Conflicts to Fight Coronavirus VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- The World Health Organization is calling for an end to conflict in Africa so governments and health officials can focus on combating the spread of coronavirus.
• Virus-hit African Airlines Resume Service, but for How Long? VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- As South Africa's coronavirus caseload hit the 300,000 mark this week, South African Airways got some good news: a reported government financial commitment to bail out the struggling state carrier, whose flights have been grounded because of the coronavirus since March.
• African Scientists Step Up Role in Coronavirus Fight VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Scientists in Africa are taking a proactive stance in the fight against the spread of the coronavirus, says the continent's top epidemiologist. Dr. John Nkengasong says that across the continent, scientists are doing genome sequencing, clinical testing and trying to find innovative ways to apply African knowledge to this global threat.
• South African Hospitals Forced to Turn Away COVID-19 Patients VOA 16 Jul 2020 -- Some South African hospitals are turning away hundreds of people infected with the coronavirus because of a lack of medical staff and equipment, a doctor says.