April 6 coronavirus news

By Helen Regan, Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Amy Woodyatt and Meg Wagner, CNN

Updated 9:18 p.m. ET, April 6, 2020
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8:00 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Coronavirus infection rate decreasing in nearly all Spanish regions, but almost 15% of infected are health workers

From CNN’s Vasco Cotovio

A health worker tests a patient at a drive-through testing center in Menorca, Spain, on April 6.
A health worker tests a patient at a drive-through testing center in Menorca, Spain, on April 6. David Arquimbau Sintes/EPA-EFE/Shutterstock

The number of new coronavirus infections is decreasing in “practically all” regions across Spain, Maria Jose Sierra, an official from the country’s center for health emergencies said at a briefing on Monday.

“It is important that a few days pass to confirm this tendency, but the data allows us to observe that the growth rate of the coronavirus pandemic is decreasing in practically all [Spanish] communities,” Sierra said.

Spain coronavirus outbreak slows down further: The coronavirus outbreak in Spain continues to slow down, with Health Ministry figures showing 637 have died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 13,055 deaths. That represents a rise of 5.1% on Sunday’s numbers, the lowest daily rise, percentage-wise, since early March.

Heath workers infected: Around 19,400 Spanish health workers, including doctors and nurses, have been infected with the novel coronavirus, Sierra added.

That means health workers account for almost 15% of the total number of infections in Spain.

8:08 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Watchdog report finds severe shortages and significant challenges to US hospitals’ coronavirus response

From CNN's Priscilla Alvarez

Medical personnel hold signs during a demonstration for increased personal protection equipment outside Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, New York, on April 2.
Medical personnel hold signs during a demonstration for increased personal protection equipment outside Montefiore Hospital in the Bronx, New York, on April 2. David Dee Delgado/Bloomberg/Getty Images

America's hospitals are dealing with “severe” and “widespread” shortages of needed medical supplies, hampering the ability to test and respond to coronavirus adequately and protect medical staff, according to a new report from a government inspector general.

The findings by the inspector general for the Department of Health and Human Services describe a dire situation for front line doctors and medical stuff as cases mount in hospitals.

The assessment, the first internal government look at the response, were based on interviews from March 23-27 with administrators from more than 300 hospitals across 46 states, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico.

US edging towards 10,000 deaths: The US surgeon general said this week is going to be the "hardest and the saddest" for "most Americans' lives." The US has recorded more than 337,000 cases and over 9,600 deaths.

7:29 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Doctors arrested in Pakistan after protests over lack of PPE

From CNN's Sophia Saifi in Islamabad and Syed Ali Shah in Quetta.

Police detain medical personnel demanding better facilities and personal protective equipment while caring for coronavirus patients in Quetta, Pakistan, on April 6.
Police detain medical personnel demanding better facilities and personal protective equipment while caring for coronavirus patients in Quetta, Pakistan, on April 6. Arshad Butt/AP

Police in Pakistan have arrested dozens of doctors and medical staff protesting a lack of personal protective equipment (PPE) in their fight against the Covid-19 pandemic. 

The demonstrations took place in the city of Quetta in Pakistan’s southwestern province of Balochistan. Senior police official Razzaq Cheema confirmed the arrests to CNN.

Doctors are arrested in Quetta on Monday.
Doctors are arrested in Quetta on Monday. Arshad Butt/AP

In response, The Young Doctors Association (YDA) has announced an immediate boycott of all medical services in Balochistan. 

The protest comes a day after 13 doctors in Quetta contracted the novel coronavirus.

Covid-19 in Pakistan: According to the Ministry of Health, 3,277 cases of Covid-19 have been diagnosed in the country and 50 people have died.

7:15 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Former Libyan Prime Minister dies of coronavirus

From CNN’s Jomana Karadsheh in Istanbul and Nada AlTaher in Abu Dhabi

Former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril pictured in Washington, DC in 2011.
Former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril pictured in Washington, DC in 2011. Chip Somodevilla/Getty Images

Former Libyan Prime Minister Mahmoud Jibril died on Sunday in Cairo, Egypt after contracting coronavirus, his National Forces Alliance (NFA) announced in a statement Sunday.

He is the first major Arab politician to die of Covid-19.

The UN Support Mission in Libya (UNSMIL) said Jibril died after a “battle with the coronavirus infection.”

“Dr. Jibril was particularly dedicated to building civil society and promoting the inclusion of women and young Libyans in politics. Dr. Jibril was a friend and mentor to many and participated most recently in the UN-facilitated Political Dialogue Forum. He will be greatly missed,” Acting Special Representative of the Secretary-General and head of UNSMIL Stephanie Williams said in a statement Sunday.

Here's some background: On March 27, the NFA announced that Jibril tested positive for Covid-19, adding that he was in “stable health on the course to recovery.”

Jibril, 67, served as interim Prime Minister of the opposition government that led the country through the civil war until the first post-Gadhafi elections were held in 2012.

7:04 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Iran coronavirus cases pass 60,000, the highest in the Middle East

From Ramin Mostaghim in Tehran

A person in protective clothing walks through a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients in Tehran, Iran, on March 26.
A person in protective clothing walks through a temporary hospital for coronavirus patients in Tehran, Iran, on March 26. Ebrahim Noroozi/AP

There have been 2,274 new cases of coronavirus in the past 24 hours In Iran, bringing the total number of cases to 60,500, Health Ministry spokesman Kianush Jahanpoor announced on state TV Monday.

He also confirmed 136 more coronavirus-related deaths, bringing the total death toll to 3,739.

Iran has the highest reported number of Covid-19 cases and deaths in the Middle East.

Jahanpoor added 24,237 patients so far have recovered and have been released from hospitals across the country.

7:05 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

It's 7 a.m. in New York. Here's the latest

If you're just joining us now, here's what has happened since our last catch-up.

US edges towards grim milestone: At least 9,648 people have died in the U.S. from coronavirus, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases. The country has at least 337,646 cases of coronavirus. 

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other U.S. territories, as well as all repatriated cases.

President Trump backs unproven treatments: President Donald Trump on Sunday again doubled down on an unproven therapy for the novel coronavirus: hydroxychloroquine.

Without citing evidence, he said it's a "great" and "powerful" anti-malaria drug "and there are signs that it works on this, some very strong signs."

Japan will declare state of emergency: Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe will declare a state of emergency on Tuesday, lasting for approximately one month. The news comes after 378 new cases and three more deaths in Japan were announced Sunday. 

Spain coronavirus outbreak slows down further: The coronavirus outbreak in Spain continues to slow down, with Health Ministry figures showing 637 have died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 13,055 deaths. That represents a rise of 5.1% on Sunday’s numbers, the lowest daily rise, percentage-wise, since early March.

6:51 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Spain coronavirus outbreak slows down further

From CNN’s Ingrid Formanek in Madrid

A police officer waves as people applaud to thank healthcare workers dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in Ronda, Spain, on April 3.
A police officer waves as people applaud to thank healthcare workers dealing with the coronavirus outbreak in Ronda, Spain, on April 3. Jorge Guerrero/AFP/Getty Images

The novel coronavirus outbreak in Spain continues to slow down, with figures released by the Spanish Health Ministry showing 637 have died from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours, bringing the total to 13,055 deaths. That represents a rise of 5.1% on Sunday’s numbers, the lowest daily rise, percentage-wise, since early March.

The Ministry’s data shows there are now 81,540 active cases, an increase of 1,279 from Saturday – the smallest daily rise since March 14. The rise in the number of new cases has been declining in percentage terms since March 24.

Slowing rate of infection: While the number of active cases continues to rise, the rate of increase continues to slow.

There was also a slowdown in the number of people admitted to intensive care units in the past 24 hours, with Spanish authorities counting only 70 new cases -- the lowest increase since March 16.

Some 40,437 people have now recovered from the virus, the health ministry also reported.

6:36 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

US edges closer towards 10,000 deaths

A deceased coronavirus patient is loaded into a waiting funeral home van outside Wyckoff Heights hospital in Brooklyn, New York, on April 2.
A deceased coronavirus patient is loaded into a waiting funeral home van outside Wyckoff Heights hospital in Brooklyn, New York, on April 2. B.A. Van Sise/NurPhoto/Getty Images

There are at least 337,646 cases of coronavirus in the U.S, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally of cases in the United States. At least 9,648 people have died in the U.S. from coronavirus. 

The totals includes cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other U.S. territories, as well as all repatriated cases.

Wyoming is the only state not reporting a death from coronavirus.

6:21 a.m. ET, April 6, 2020

Chinese tourist sites packed as country comes out of lockdown, but experts say risk still high

From CNN's Ben Westcott and David Culver, CNN

Large numbers of people flocked to popular tourists sites and major cities across China over the country's holiday weekend, despite warnings from health authorities that the risk posed by the coronavirus pandemic remains far from over.

Images from the Huangshan mountain park in Anhui province on Saturday April 4 showed thousands of people crammed together, many wearing face masks, eager to experience the great outdoors after months of travel restrictions and strict lockdown measures.

Such was the rush to get into the popular tourist spot, that at 7.48 a.m., authorities took the unusual step of issuing a notice declaring that the park had reached its 20,000 person daily capacity, and would not be accepting any more visitors, according to state media Global Times.

Restaurants and parks packed: Meanwhile in Shanghai, the famous Bund waterfront was packed with shoppers and tourists, after weeks of being near deserted. Many of the city's restaurants that were shuttered only days ago also appeared to be doing a brisk trade, with several requiring reservations.

A similar story played out in the capital Beijing, with locals flocking to the city's parks and open spaces.

Caution urged: The abrupt return to apparent normality comes more than three months after the virus was first detected in the Chinese city of Wuhan. The outbreak, which has since spread around the world infecting more than a million people, saw much of China brought to a near standstill in an effort to contain transmissions.

At its peak, thousands of new cases were recorded in China every day. However, in recent weeks the rate of infection has slowed significantly. On Monday, China reported just 39 new cases, all but one of which were imported. To date, China has recorded 82,641 cases and 3,335 deaths.

But while the government is slowly relaxing restrictions, Chinese health experts have urged the public to continue to practice caution.

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