Ukrainian president hospitalized with Covid-19 as country hits new case record
From CNN's Matthew Chance, Tim Lister and Simon Cullen
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky reviews the Slovak guard of honor during a ceremony on his official visit to Slovakia in September. Vladimir Simicek/AFP/Getty Images
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky is being treated in hospital for Covid-19, his spokesperson has said, as the country registers a record increase in new infections.
Zelensky confirmed on Monday that he had contracted Covid-19.
His spokesperson said the president was moved to hospital on Tuesday “because there are better conditions for self-isolation and care for patients with coronavirus infection.”
The president's office says Zelensky has continued to work while in hospital, including a phone meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.
On Thursday, Ukraine reported 11,057 new cases of coronavirus – the largest one day increase since the pandemic began.
According to government data, there have now been 500,865 cases in total, and 9,145 deaths across Ukraine.
5:27 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
UK’s biggest food bank network saw 47% increase in need
From CNN's Rob Iddiols in London
The UK’s biggest food bank network, the Trussell Trust, saw a 47% increase in need between April and September, according to figures released on Thursday.
More than 1.2 million emergency food parcels were given to people struggling to afford essentials between April 1 and September 30, making it the busiest ever half-year period for food banks. Over 470,000 of the parcels went to children.
In April, the network's busiest ever month, the volume of food handed out went up by 59% compared with the same time in 2019.
However, the charity warned that these figures are only “the tip of the iceberg," as many people will have been helped by other community groups.
On Sunday, the UK government reversed its decision not to extend free school meals for low-income families over the Christmas holidays during the coronavirus pandemic, following a campaign by Manchester United and England footballer Marcus Rashford.
5:01 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
What architecture could look like after Covid
From CNN's Stephanie Bailey
UAE-based Tariq Khayyat Design Partners designed "Walk of Life," a space that uses visual cues to encourage social distancing, and monitors people's movement. Downtown Design
As the world continues to battle coronavirus, designers are re-imagining how public spaces can let people come together, while keeping them safe.
"The Shape of Things to Come," an exhibition in Dubai, is offering a glimpse of what architecture and design could look like in a post-Covid world -- with ideas ranging from a nightclub that keeps dancers at a distance, to an inflatable pod that envelops tables at restaurants.
One design imagines a space that uses visual cues to encourage social distancing, and monitors people's movement.
Featuring over 25 Middle Eastern design practices, it showcases new concepts, product designs, and installations from architects and interior designers. The exhibition is part of the six-day Dubai Design Week.
If you're just joining us, here's the latest on the coronavirus pandemic
Police checks people's movement permits at a roadblock in central Athens, Greece on November 7, the first day of a three-week lockdown. Louisa Gouliamaki/AFP/Getty Images
Parts of the United States are reporting a record rises in cases, while countries in Europe tighten coronavirus restrictions. Here's the latest on the pandemic:
United States
The United States has set a record for the second consecutive day for the number of people hospitalized with Covid-19, according to the Covid Tracking Project (CTP).
Hospitals in the United States are coming under immense strain as some reach full capacity and others face threats of strikes by staff.
A number of states -- including Utah, Kentucky and New Mexico -- reported record daily totals of new coronavirus cases Wednesday.
Navajo Nation -- a tribal area spanning parts of Arizona, New Mexico and Utah -- has more than doubled the number of communities with "uncontrolled spread" of Covid-19.
The reigning NBA champion, the Los Angeles Lakers, announced Wednesday that the team will not allow fans to attend home games at Staples Center until further notice.
Europe
Greece will impose a tighter national curfew from Friday, with movement restricted between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. unless it's necessary for work, health reasons, or to walk pets close to home.
Sweden plans to further tighten its coronavirus restrictions by banning the sale of alcohol after 10 p.m. and closing bars and restaurants at 10.30 p.m.
France has reported a rise in Covid-19 cases -- even though it's been under a nationwide lockdown for the past two weeks.
Spanish authorities will require visitors from high-risk countries to show proof of a negative Covid-19 PCR test, carried out no longer than 72 hours before they arrive. The country is now the fourth in Europe to report more than 40,000 deaths.
4:05 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
Fewer than half of Americans are very likely to comply with another lockdown, polling shows
From CNN’s Lauren Mascarenhas
Washington Street is seen mostly empty in San Francisco, California on March 17, the first day of a Stay Home order to slow the spread of the coronavirus. Josh Edelson/AFP/Getty Images
Fewer than half of Americans say are very likely to comply with another lockdown, despite growing concerns over the coronavirus pandemic, the latest Gallup polling shows.
About 49% of Americans polled between October 19 and November 1 said they would be very likely to stay home for a month if health officials recommend it following a coronavirus outbreak in their community, down from 67% in the spring.
While 18% said they were somewhat likely to comply, a third of respondents said they would be unlikely to comply with lockdown orders -- double the rate seen in the spring.
Though Americans are less willing to stay at home, the results show they are more worried about the pandemic, with 61% saying they believe the situation is getting worse, compared to 40% in April.
Political divide: The results show a political divide in those willing to stay home. About 40% of Republicans polled said they were willing to comply with a stay-at-home order, down from 74% in the spring. In comparison, 87% of Democrats said they would likely comply, a slight drop from 91% in March and April.
About 82% of people said they were confident in their ability to avoid infection, compared to 64% in March, which could play a role in Americans’ willingness to stay home.
Mask wearing: Health experts have said that mask use could significantly reduce the need for another lockdown.
Only about half of Americans reported wearing masks in April, shortly after the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention suggested the practice for the general public. The number rose to 92% in July and now sits at about 88%.
3:21 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
Tokyo 2020 is working to remove quarantine for athletes, Olympic staff and spectators
From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo
A man photographs the Olympic Rings in Tokyo, Japan on October 13. Carl Court/Getty Images
Tokyo 2020 is working with the Japanese government to ensure that athletes and Olympic staff can avoid a 14-day quarantine on arrival in Japan ahead of the games, Toshiro Muto, the CEO of Tokyo 2020, said at a press briefing Thursday.
The aim is for the athletes and workers to be able to train and work in the lead up to the Olympics, which is due to be held in Summer 2021.
The athletes will likely still need to follow preventative measures, such as being tested for coronavirus before they're able to travel to Japan and will likely need to submit an activity schedule to organizers, according the organization committee.
Tokyo 2020 and the Japanese government are also hoping to implement Covid-19 prevention protocols to exempt foreign spectators from a 14-day quarantine on arrival to Japan as it is “impossible” to impose self-isolation rules on visitors.
The organizers announced that the maximum number of spectators allowed at the Olympic venues will be decided in spring. Those numbers will depend on the Covid-19 infection rates in Japan and across the world.
2:38 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
The US reported more than 144,000 cases Wednesday. That's the highest single-day total since the pandemic began
The United States has now reported 10,400,227 cases of coronavirus, including least 241,798 deaths, according to Johns Hopkins University's tally.
On Wednesday, Johns Hopkins reported 144,133 new cases and 1,893 additional deaths.
Wednesday marks the highest number of cases reported in a day since the pandemic began.
The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases.
For the latest Johns Hopkins University US numbers, check here. CNN’s map, using JHU data, continues to refresh every 15 mins.
2:07 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
Doctors in Japan warn of third wave as Covid-19 infections hit a three-month high
From CNN’s Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo
People wait to cross a road as a taxi drives past on November 11 in Tokyo, Japan. Carl Court/Getty Images
Japan’s Doctor's Association Chairman, Toshio Nakagawa, warned the recent surge in Covid-19 infections "is considered to be the third wave" and urged the government to step up prevention measures to stop the spread of the coronavirus.
Japan's Health Ministry announced 1,546 new Covid-19 cases and 10 additional deaths for Wednesday -- the highest number of daily infections since August 7, which was the peak of the last wave.
Japan has now reported 112,423 infections, including 1,864 deaths.
Tokyo reported 317 new cases Wednesday -- the highest daily toll since August 20, while Japan’s second biggest prefecture, Osaka, reported its highest number of new daily infections ever at 256.
1:36 a.m. ET, November 12, 2020
New forecast offers grim projections of upcoming trends in coronavirus pandemic
From CNN’s Shelby Lin Erdman
People line up outside a Covid-19 testing site in New York City, New York on November 11. Kena Betancur/AFP/Getty Images
As the coronavirus pandemic accelerates across the United States, conditions could worsen on the West Coast, in the Northeast and in the Mid-Atlantic states over the next several weeks, according to a new forecast from the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Policy Lab.
The CHOP Policy Lab will begin releasing weekly findings from its COVID-Lab county-level forecasts on the pandemic, the lab said Wednesday on its website. It noted that hospitalizations, ICU admissions and ventilator use are now rising in all 50 states.
Growing cases: The model is predicting “substantial growth” in Covid-19 cases over the next four weeks in the northeast and south through the mid-Atlantic region, “where dire trends previously seen in the Midwest have now set in,” the lab said. The forecast noted that mitigation efforts in and around New York City and Boston have “slowed but not abated” an increase in hospitalizations and ICU admissions in the cities.
The CHOP Policy Lab forecast is also projecting “significant case growth” along the West Coast in major cities in California, as well as in Portland and Seattle into mid-December.
Fast-filling ICU beds: “In every Midwestern state, COVID-19 patients are occupying more than 25% of ICU beds,” the lab reported.
In four states -- Montana, New Mexico, North Dakota and South Dakota -- coronavirus patients have filled up 50% or more of all available ICU beds. “We suspect that in many localities across these states, ICUs are near, at or over capacity,” the forecast said.
The forecast also noted that in Wisconsin, one of the earliest states to see an explosive growth in Covid-19 cases this fall, may be nearing a peak in transmissions, but hospitalizations and ICU admissions have not yet stabilized.
At least half of the 819 counties in the lab’s forecast are seeing a testing positivity rate of 9%, a measure of how prevalent positive coronavirus cases are compared to the number of tests administered.
