Coronavirus pandemic, worldwide

This 30 April 2020 video says about itself:

Pakistan: Doctors on hunger strike for PPE beaten and tortured by police

Health workers in Pakistan are on hunger strike and occupying hospitals to try and get proper PPE – the only masks and gowns they have at the moment are made of paper. In Lahore, they have only THREE respirators – and with an alarming rise in COVID-19 cases, they are struggling with huge courage get the resources they need to save lives.

Aid group warns of 3.2 million COVID-19 deaths, 1 billion infections in war-torn countries. By Bill Van Auken, 30 April 2020. The threat of massive fatalities is the legacy of decades of US imperialist wars that have ravaged entire societies, from Afghanistan, to Iraq, Libya, Syria and Yemen.

Family members protest amid six more deaths at Australian aged care home. By Mike Head, 30 April 2020. The outbreak underscores the danger of a new wave of COVID-19 infections as governments and business chiefs step up their drive for a premature return to work.

UK coronavirus death toll passes 26,000 as government admits to 4,000 fatalities outside hospitals. By Robert Stevens, 30 April 2020. The UK is fast becoming the centre of the pandemic in Europe and is set to surpass the 27,682 deaths already recorded in Italy.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 30 April 2020:

Investigation launched into death of doctor who asked for proper PPE

A HOSPITAL has launched a serious-incident investigation into the death of a doctor from Covid-19 three weeks after he had pleaded for proper protective wear.

Peter Tun, 62, had complained to managers at the Royal Berkshire Hospital about a lack of surgical masks before he died on April 13 from the virus.

His son Michael told the BBC earlier this week that emails he’d seen showed managers had decided not to send PPE because there had not been a confirmed case of Covid-19 on the ward.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 30 April 2020:

Downing Street concedes Covid-19 testing targets will be missed

GOVERNMENTS are under pressure after conceding today that targets for the number of coronavirus tests carried out each day are set to be missed.

Health Secretary Matt Hancock had announced a target of 100,000 tests to be carried out daily by the end of April.

Downing Street insisted the government was “working hard” to hit the target but ministers conceded it may not be met, with capacity levels at 77,365 tests on Tuesday, when 52,000 exams were carried out.

And British nazis, like their ‘hero’ United States President Donald Trump, apparently want to privatise everything, including the National Health service.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 30 April 2020:

Swastikas sprayed on ‘protect NHS’ signs

Stand Up to Racism warns ‘far-right groups across Europe are attempting to organise during the lockdown’

SWASTIKAS were spray-painted on signs urging people to stay at home and protect the NHS during the coronavirus lockdown, it emerged today.

Northumbria Police said it was “horrified” to find that a number of closed car-park signs along the coast between Seaton Sluice and Whitley Bay, North Tyneside, were attacked overnight by vandals.

At least five locations over two miles were attacked, including a sign saying: “Stay at home, protect the NHS, save lives.”

By Ceren Sagir in England, 30 April 2020:

Coronavirus deaths disproportionately impacting black people in London

A DISPROPORTIONATE number of black and minority-ethnic (BAME) patients are dying with coronavirus in London hospitals, NHS figures showed today.

Black people account for 13 per cent of the capital’s population but 16 per cent of deaths, the data shows.

People from white backgrounds made up the majority of deaths at 55 per cent, but they also make up a larger proportion of the population of London.

From daily The Morning Star in Britain, 30 April 2020:

Lifting lockdown while social distancing continues would ‘rapidly overwhelm’ London transport, says leaked report

LONDON’S transport system could be “rapidly overwhelmed” by demand when the coronavirus lockdown is eased, according to a report leaked today.

The Strategic Co-ordination Group document states that Tube and bus capacity would be cut to just 15 per cent and 12 per cent of normal levels respectively if social distancing of a two-metre space between passengers is enforced.

RMT general secretary Mick Cash said that any moves to prematurely lift the lockdown, which is to be reviewed on May 7, is “fraught with ‎lethal danger” for transport workers.

Prime Minister Philippe announces premature end of the lockdown in France. By Alexandre Lantier and Anthony Torres, 30 April 2020. The decision puts hundreds of thousands of lives at risk that have been saved by the insistence of the working class on measures to contain the disease.

Sweden forced to admit significant under-counting of coronavirus deaths. By Jordan Shilton, 30 April 2020. Sweden did not impose a lock-down and even delayed issuing social distancing guidelines, leading to more deaths and pushing the health system to the limit.

German students oppose reopening of schools. By our reporters, 30 April 2020. Under the slogan “average grade 2020,” students are demanding the suspension of final exams and the closing of schools so long as the lives of students, teachers and their relatives are at risk from COVID-19.