Other Security News
COVID-19 Pandemic News

Other Security News

• Portland Riots Read-out: August 1 DHS 01 Aug 2020
• Trump says fed agents to stay in Portland to finish 'cleanup of anarchists, agitators' Press TV 01 Aug 2020 -- US Homeland Security agents, who were to begin pulling out of central Portland, Oregon, on Thursday, in an embarrassing retreat by the White House, made it clear they would not leave quietly.
• EU's Cybersanctions Against Russian Citizens Politically Motivated, Foreign Ministry Says Sputnik 01 Aug 2020 -- The political connotations of the European Union's decision to impose sanctions against Russian, Chinese, and North Korean citizens and entities for alleged cyberattacks are obvious, the Russian Foreign Ministry said on Saturday.

COVID-19 Pandemic News

• Coronavirus disease (COVID-2019) situation report - 194 WHO 01 Aug 2020
• No end in sight to COVID crisis, and its impact will last for 'decades to come' UN News 01 Aug 2020 -- Expressing "appreciation for WHO and partners' COVID-19 pandemic response efforts", the emergency committee convened by the UN health agency's chief, made it clear that there is not yet an end in sight to the public health crisis that has so far infected more than 17 million and killed over 650,000 people.
• WHO Predicts Lengthy Pandemic; Another US Lawmaker Tests Positive VOA 01 Aug 2020 -- Seven Chinese health officials, the first of a 60-member team, are set to arrive in Hong Kong on Sunday to begin widespread COVID-19 testing in the territory. The global financial hub is experiencing a third wave of the coronavirus outbreak. Hong Kong's infection rate has been in the triple digits for the past 11 days.

United States

• State Officials Announce Latest COVID-19 Facts California Department of Public Health 01 Aug 2020
• Rush Transcript: Five Months Since First Confirmed Covid-19 Case in New York, Governor Cuomo Announces Highest Number of Tests Ever Conducted in the State New York State 01 Aug 2020
• US makes deal for 100 million doses of coronavirus vaccine, deaths expected to rise Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- Two major drug companies will supply the US government with 100 million doses of an experimental coronavirus vaccine, the Trump administration said on Friday, as the nation's top health agency predicted that fatalities would rise in the coming weeks.
• Fauci "cautiously optimistic" about safe, effective COVID-19 vaccine in late fall, early winter Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- US top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Friday he is "cautiously optimistic" that the United States would have a safe and effective COVID-19 vaccine this late fall or early winter.
• NYC schools not to reopen unless coronavirus rate below 3 percent Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- New York City officials said Friday that schools will not reopen for in-person instruction unless the city's coronavirus infection rate remains below 3 percent on a seven-day rolling average.
• Spotlight: U.S. COVID-19 cases surpass 4.5 mln as school reopening debate persists Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- The number of COVID-19 cases surpassed 4.5 million with over 152,000 deaths in the United States on Friday as a national debate over school reopening persists.
• Incomplete shutdown among factors contributing to COVID-19 surge in U.S., says Fauci People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- U.S. top infectious disease expert Anthony Fauci said on Friday incomplete shutdown is among factors contributing to the surging COVID-19 cases in the country.

China

• HK's coronavirus fight to get mainland medical help Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- Following a request from the Hong Kong government, seven medical workers from neighboring Guangdong Province, will arrive in the city on Sunday, to help deal with a surging number of COVID-19 cases there.
• Half of COVID-19 cases are silent carriers upon being hospitalized Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- Different from other areas, half of the confirmed COVID-19 patients in Urumqi city, northwest China, were silent carriers upon being hospitalized, thus timely treatment makes it easier for them to recover, said a medical expert who was dispatched to assist the far-western region to fight the virus.
• China to inspect and test all food markets weekly for coronavirus Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- China's central government has vowed to conduct a sweeping weekly testing for the coronavirus, covering thousands of the country's seafood, meat and other food markets, after several past outbreaks in the country appear to have emerged from the food markets.
• Xinjiang COVID-19 cases show steep decline Friday Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- New COVID-19 infections in Northwest China's Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region have been in decline for seven consecutive days, a trend that epidemiologists hail as the "tipping point" in the latest outbreak in the far western region.
• Chinese mainland reports 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Saturday that it received reports of 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Friday, 39 of which were domestically transmitted.
• China's Liaoning reports 8 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- China's Liaoning Province reported eight new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, the provincial health commission said Saturday.
• Xinjiang reports 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- Northwest China's Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region reported 31 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on Friday, the regional health commission said Saturday.
• Chinese mainland reports 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- Chinese health authority said Saturday that it received reports of 45 new confirmed COVID-19 cases on the Chinese mainland Friday, 39 of which were domestically transmitted.
• Chinese vice premier stresses COVID-19 control in autumn, winter People's Daily 01 Aug 2020 -- Chinese Vice Premier Sun Chunlan has stressed the preparation for COVID-19 prevention and control in autumn and winter to resolutely prevent an epidemic resurgence.

Europe

• UK postpones lockdown easing amid growing concerns over coronavirus prevalence Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- British government announced on Friday that the easing of some restrictive measures will not take place as scheduled, as coronavirus infection numbers are creeping up.

Russia

• Russian Health Minister Says COVID-19 Vaccine Trials Have Been Completed Sputnik 01 Aug 2020 -- Clinical trials of a COVID-19 vaccine, developed by the Gamaleya Institute of Epidemiology and Microbiology, have been completed, Russian Minister of Health Mikhail Murashko said.
• COVID-19: Russian Health Minister Predicts 'Extensive' Vaccine Program In October RFE/RL 01 Aug 2020 -- The global death toll from the coronavirus is around 680,000, with more than 17.6 million infections confirmed, causing mass disruptions as governments continue to try to slow the spread of the respiratory illness.
• 'They're Steamrolling Us': Lacking State Support, Russia's Small Businesses Are Struggling To Survive RFE/RL 01 Aug 2020 -- Aleksandr Zatulivetrov was once the proud owner of six restaurants in a city thronging with tourists. But four months after Russia introduced lockdown measures, he has put his apartment up as collateral and sold his car to cover rent for the two remaining establishments he hasn't been forced to sell.

India

• India's Case Fatality Rate (CFR) lowest at 2.15% since 1st Lockdown India PIB 01 Aug 2020 -- India continues to maintain the record of registering and maintaining the lowest COVID-19 mortality rate at the global platform. The Case Fatality Rate stands at 2.15% today and it is lowest since the 1st Lockdown started. It has been continuously reducing from around 3.33% in mid-June.
• Riding on the heels of falling Case Fatality Rate, the Union Government decides to permit exports of ventilators India PIB 01 Aug 2020 -- The Group of Ministers (GOM) on COVID-19 has considered and agreed to the proposal of the Ministry of Health & Family Welfare allowing the export of made-in-India ventilators. This decision has been communicated to the Director General of Foreign Trade (DGFT) for further needed action to facilitate the export of indigenously manufactured ventilators.

Iran

• Official: COVID-19 kills 216 more in Iran IRNA 01 Aug 2020 -- Iran's Health Ministry spokeswoman Sima Sadat Lari said on Saturday that some 216 more Iranians have died from coronavirus disease (COVID-19) over the past 24 hours bringing the total deaths to 16,982.
• Iran ready to transfer experiences, deepen ties with Azerbaijan in fighting coronavirus ISNA 01 Aug 2020 -- Stating that fortunately with the efforts of the officials of Iran and the Republic of Azerbaijan, the two countries are witnessing good, friendly and developing relations in recent years, Iranian President stressed the need for efforts to develop and strengthen Tehran-Baku relations.
• Iran requires negative COVID-19 tests for arriving foreigners Press TV 01 Aug 2020 -- Non-Iranian passengers arriving at Iran's main international airport should provide negative COVID-19 tests or they will be deported, says a senior aviation official amid fresh restrictions imposed in Iran to curb the spread of the new coronaviris pandemic.
• Iran Coronavirus Deaths Three Times More Than Official Figures - BBC Documents Radio Farda 01 Aug 2020 -- A source inside the Iranian government has provided documents to BBC Persian that put Iran's real coronavirus death toll from February to July 21 at 42,000 which is nearly three times more than the official figure of 14,634 for the same period.

South Korea

• South Korea Arrests Shincheonji Church Founder Over Coronavirus-Related Crimes, Reports Say Sputnik 01 Aug 2020 -- South Korean authorities arrested the leader of Christian religious group Shincheonji on several charges relating to the COVID-19 outbreak in the country, state news agency Yonhap reported.

Japan

• Japan's Okinawa declares state of emergency amid US-majority virus cases Press TV 01 Aug 2020 -- Japan has declared a state of emergency in the Okinawa region due to an "explosive spread" of coronavirus cases, with the majority of them been detected among US forces there.

Saudi Arabia

• Health Ministry: 1,573 New COVID-19 Cases, 1,890 New Recoveries Reported, in Saudi Arabia SPA 01 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health announced in a statement here today that 1,573 new confirmed cases of novel Coronavirus (COVID-19) have been reported, in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, bringing the total number to 277,478 cases, including 37,043 active cases undergoing treatment.
• MoH: ICU beds increased by 31% in Tabuk hospitals SPA 01 Aug 2020 -- The Ministry of Health (MoH) has announced that the intensive care unit (ICU) bed capacity in Tabuk Region hospitals has been increased by 31%, as a part of the Ministry's efforts to upgrade and improve health services in the region to meet the health needs of citizens and residents.

Taiwan

• Taiwan reports 7 new COVID-19 cases, one case still a mystery (update) CNA 01 Aug 2020 -- Taiwan on Saturday confirmed seven new COVID-19 infections, including one puzzling case that the Central Epidemic Command Center (CECC) said may actually date back to four months ago.

Brazil

• Nearly Everyone Destined to Catch Coronavirus, Brazil's President Bolsonaro Says Sputnik 01 Aug 2020 -- Brazil is now the world's second-worst affected country after the United States, with more than 2.4 million confirmed coronavirus cases and more than 88,000 related deaths.
• Brazil adds over 1,200 deaths from COVID-19 Global Times 01 Aug 2020 -- Brazil on Friday reported a daily increase of 1,212 COVID-19 deaths, taking the national death toll to 92,475.

Other Countries

• Kuwait bans flights to 31 'high risk' countries due to coronavirus SPA 01 Aug 2020 -- Kuwait has banned until further notice commercial flights to 31 countries it said that it regarded as high risk due to the spread of the coronavirus, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation said on Saturday, according to Reuters.