(Bloomberg) — Tokyo and Hong Kong are seeing coronavirus outbreaks widen, with officials warning of escalating infections yet not yet taking steps to tighten social distancing. Global virus cases topped 12 million after infections in the U.S. and Mexico accelerated.
Beijing appeared to make headway in stamping out a recent outbreak, reporting no new local cases for a third day. Mexico had its biggest daily jump in infections, bringing the total number past 275,000. Tokyo found at least 220 cases on Thursday, a record for a single day, Japanese broadcaster FNN reported.
President Donald Trump intensified a pressure campaign to reopen schools, criticizing U.S. guidelines as too onerous. Business conditions in Dubai improved after lockdown measures were relaxed, giving the Middle East’s financial center a boost.
Key Developments:
- Global Tracker: Cases top 12 million; deaths exceed 548,000
- Trump rally likely fueled virus cases, official says
- Virus-ravaged states in India clamor for more funds
- Pregnant and stuck on a ship in the middle of the pandemic
- Japan is paying businesses to shut during the pandemic
- Why the way we live now will mean more pandemics: QuickTake
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Dubai Business Conditions Improve (1:12 p.m. HK)
Business conditions in Dubai showed signs of picking up in June as the city reopens after a lockdown to contain the spread of the coronavirus. Non-oil private sector activity in the Middle East’s business hub improved for the first time since February, according to IHS Markit’s Purchasing Managers’ Index. The gauge rose from 46 in May to 50 last month — the mark that separates contraction from growth.
United, American Extend Suspension of HK Flights (12:28 p.m. HK)
United Airlines Inc. extended its suspension of flights to and from Hong Kong, citing new coronavirus testing protocols for crew arriving in the Asian financial hub, while American Airlines Group Inc. also canceled plans to resume services from Dallas/Fort Worth.
Hong Kong updated its Covid-19 prevention and control measures this week, requiring all air crew members arriving at the city’s airport starting Wednesday to provide throat saliva samples at a government facility nearby.
Japan Braces for Virus Rise (11:41 a.m. HK)
Tokyo braced for a rise in the number of virus infections Thursday, while the minister in charge of the pandemic response said there was no need to declare an emergency.
Economy Minister Yasutoshi Nishimura, who leads the nation’s coronavirus response, said that virus cases in Tokyo may rise Thursday and Friday, and that measures will be taken in risky areas. Governor Yuriko Koike meanwhile warned that figure may be very high, as the capital steps up testing, with much of it being focused around night-time businesses such as host and hostess bars. Tokyo is set to have a meeting of its monitoring panel Thursday.
Mexico’s Cases Jump by Daily Record (10:18 a.m.)
Mexico reported a record daily rise of 6,995 confirmed Covid-19 cases, bringing the total to 275,003, according to data released by the Health Ministry Wednesday night. Deaths rose by 782, to 32,796.
Mexico has reported record daily rises in Covid-19 cases three times in the last week as the country has moved forward with reopening its economy. It has surpassed Spain and France to become the country with the fifth deadliest outbreak.
Hong Kong’s New Outbreak Worsens: HK01 (8:23 a.m.)
The government found 6 additional locally-transmitted virrus cases after the 4 p.m. cutoff time for the daily count on Wednesday, HK01 reported, citing unidentified people.
An almost three-week lull in local infections has come to an abrupt end, with 19 new comminity transmissions reported Wednesday and the government expressing fears that the city might be in the early days of a wider outbreak.
Tokyo to Support Nightlife Industry (7:46 a.m. HK)
The Tokyo Metropolitan Government will offer subsidies to nightliffe establishments in stricken areas that close because of the coronavirus, Asahi reported, citing an unidentified official. Outlets that close for 10 days or more will receive 500,000 yen ($4,660), according to the report.
Texas Reports Another Day of Record Deaths (6 a.m. HK)
Texas had its second straight day of record virus deaths, at 98, bringing total fatalities in the state to 2,813. Virus cases rose 4.7% to 220,564, exceeding the seven-day average of 4%. The 9,979 new cases were second only to yesterday’s record of 10,028. Hospitalizations jumped by 324, or 3.5%, which was less than the seven-day average of 5.2%.
As cases continued rising in Houston, epicenter of the state’s biggest outbreak, Mayor Sylvester Turner said he was canceling the Republican Party’s state convention that was to be held in the city next week. The mayor also objected to proposals to reopen public schools in August, saying it was premature for such discussions until the outbreak is under control.
