2020-04-06_Daily_Express

Daily Express Monday, April 6, 2020 11

Scathing

Hopes

Screening

Picture: CAMERON SPENCER/GETTY

By Cyril Dixon

A GLOBAL CRISIS

committee also criticised the

lack of international co-ordina-

tion in the effort to combat the

disease and stop its spread.

It called for the creation of a

“G20 for public health” to ena-

ble co-operation between expert

researchers around the world to

flourish, even in the absence of

united political leadership.

The report said: “It is clear

that existing regional and

multilateral organisations,

including the WHO, are not

achieving the international

co-operation needed to fight a

global pandemic.

“Although the Government is

focused rightly on resolving the

current crisis, it would be a cata-

strophic error to de-prioritise

learning lessons from this pan-

demic and implementing them

before the next one.”

The House of Commons

committee’s scathing report

comes after a leading think tank

also accused China of systemati-

cally spreading disinformation.

Matthew Henderson, head of

the Henry Jackson Society’s Asia

programme, said: “China has

been managing the crisis with

disinformation and its behaviour

must affect the way we deal with

Beijing in the future.”

the lowest 24-hour tally since

the middle of last month.

And the number of patients

in intensive care has also

fallen for the second day

running, sparking hopes the

epidemic has plateaued.

Italy has still seen the most

deaths of any country, at

15,887, while Spain is second,

the US third (at 9,326) and

France fourth (7,560).

Spain’s figures also revealed

that 38,080 residents have

recovered from the virus –

nearly 4,000 more than the

number reported on Saturday.

The country’s four-week

lockdown has been extended

until April 25 but ministers

hinted that some restrictions

may be lifted after Easter.

Prime Minister Pedro

Sanchez said in a televised

address: “We are at the start

of the decrease in the

epidemic. We’re stronger than

we think but we must endure

• with sacrifice, resistance and
  the spirit of victory.” He also

demanded a united front

from the EU, saying:

“Solidarity is a key principle

of the EU treaties. And it is

shown at times like this.”

Meanwhile Señor Illa said

yesterday: “The data from

this week and today confirms

the slowing down of

infections. The data confirms

that confinement is working.”

Defence Minister Margarita

Robles called the trends

“encouraging and hopeful”.

But Transport Minister Jose

Luis Abalos warned of “the

most serious crisis of our

recent history”.

WHO director for Europe,

Hans Kluge, described the

Spanish response as “careful

optimism after bold measures,

innovative approaches and

courageous decisions”.

One million coronavirus

testing kits were due to arrive

in the country yesterday and

today to pinpoint the spread

through “rapid screening”.

'DLO\WROOVIDOOLQJLQ(XURSH

SPAIN saw a glimmer of hope

yesterday as the number of

daily deaths and new

infections continued to fall.

Health Minister Salvador

Illa said the latest daily toll

was 674 fatalities and 1,

new cases. On Saturday 809

people died and on Friday it

was a record 950.

Yesterday’s number of

deaths represented a six per

cent rise – the smallest

increase since early March. It

brought the total to 12,418.

There are 80,261 active

infections in the country –

1,488 more than on Saturday.

Spain’s downward trend

mirrors Italy – where the

daily death toll fell from 766

on Friday to 681 on Saturday

• and France, where it
  dropped from 588 to 441.
  Meanwhile, Italy recorded
  its lowest daily coronavirus
  death toll in more than a
  fortnight. A further 525
  deaths have been reported,

Paris’s

Sacre-Cœur

cathedral

yesterday...

France has

seen its

daily toll fall

By Steph Spyro

Surf’s up

in Sydney...

but only for

a workout

AUSTRALIANS hit the

beaches yesterday, taking

advantage of coronavirus

outbreak regulations

allowing them to exercise on

the sand.

Although most beaches in

Australia are closed to

sunbathers, they remain

open for exercise including

“surfing, swimming, running

and walking”.

Authorities near Sydney,

the capital of New South

Wales, toughened their rules

because people were

flouting the government’s

social-distancing

regulations.

But beachgoers in the east

coast city took advantage of

the chance to enjoy a walk

on Freshwater Beach.

The Northern Beaches

Council, which manages the

Sydney seafront, warned

seaside lovers: “More

beaches will close, and

reserves too, if people don’t

follow the rules.

“It’s for the health of our

community. Please help us

to help you.”

The council has stressed

that beaches in the area

are open for exercise.

Exercise rights...

people on Sydney’s

Freshwater Beach

Rules