GLOBAL COVID-19 TODAY
CORONAVIRUS CASES: 19,261,406
DEATHS: 717,717
RECOVERED: 12,363,249
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Safety concerns halt the use of 50 million NHS masks
BBC News says fifty million face masks bought by the UK government in April will not be used in the NHS because of safety concerns.
The government says the masks, which use ear-loop fastenings rather than head loops, may not fit tightly enough.
They were bought for NHS England healthcare workers from supplier Ayanda Capital as part of a £252m contract.
Read the full story on BBC News
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Another shutdown risks thousands of deaths in Covid-19 second-wave
The Guardian says the NHS will be inflicting pain, misery and risk of death on tens of thousands of patients if it again shuts down normal care when a second wave of Covid-19 hits, doctors’ and surgeons’ leaders are warning.
“The NHS must never again be a Covid-only service. There is a duty to the thousands of patients waiting in need and in pain to make sure they can be treated,” said Prof Neil Mortensen, president of the Royal College of Surgeons of England.
Read the full story on The Guardian
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‘Closed for vacation:’ France faces new Covid-19 testing woes
France24 says with virus cases rising, France is struggling to administer enough tests to keep up with demand. One reason: Many testing labs are closed so that their staff can take summer vacation, just as signs of a second wave are building.
“First, there is a lack of workers to do the testing. If we don’t ask all the health workers to be available by mobilizing all of them, there are just not enough people,” emergency services doctor Christophe Prudhomme told The Associated Press at his hospital in the Paris suburb of Bobigny.
Read the full story on France24
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First Covid-19 cases reported in Al-Hol camp
Arab News says three health workers in a displaced persons’ camp in northeastern Syria have contracted the novel coronavirus, the UN said on Thursday, the first reported infections in the vast tent city.
The Al-Hol camp is home to tens of thousands of people, including the relatives of Daesh terrorists.
It is run by the autonomous Kurdish administration that holds most of the northeast and has reported 54 cases of COVID-19 in areas under its control.
Read the full story on Arab News
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‘Peak has yet to come’: Africa hits one million coronavirus cases
Aljazeera says a million people across Africa have now been confirmed to have had the coronavirus, as health experts warn the peak of the pandemic has yet to hit the continent.
The sombre milestone, reported on Thursday, came more than five months after Egypt reported the continent’s first confirmed case of coronavirus on February 14.
More than 21,000 people have so far died across Africa from the COVID-19 disease, while over 670,000 have recovered.
Read the full story on Aljazeera
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India has surpassed two million cases
CNN says more than 2 million cases of Covid-19 have been identified in India since the pandemic began, authorities said.
India’s Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said Friday morning that it had identified 62,538 new coronavirus cases in the past 24 hours, bringing the nationwide total to 2,027,074. Of those, 41,585 patients have died while more than 1.3 million have recovered.
Read the full story on CNN
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ARTS & ENT
Caroline Flack took her own life because of impending trial and publicity, coroner says
Sky News says Caroline Flack took her own life after finding out she was definitely going to be prosecuted for assault and fearing the publicity that would come with a trial, a coroner has concluded.
Coroner Mary Hassell said the Love Island presenter’s alleged assault of boyfriend Lewis Burton “played out in the national press” following her arrest had a serious impact on her mental health
Read the full story on Sky News
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SPORT
Pakistan dominate woeful England – report and highlights
BBC Sport says England are already facing defeat in the first Test after a Shan Masood-inspired Pakistan dominated the second day at Emirates Old Trafford.
Opener Masood worked his way to 156, forming the basis of Pakistan’s 326 all out.
He added 105 with Shadab Khan, who busied his way to 45 in a post-lunch period where England surrendered the initiative with some baffling tactics.
Read the full story on BBC Sport
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