The Latest: British doctors identify syndrome affecting kids

By The Associated Press

The Latest on the coronavirus pandemic. The new coronavirus causes mild or moderate symptoms for most people. For some, especially older adults and people with existing health problems, it can cause more severe illness or death.

TOP OF THE HOUR:

— British doctors identify possible COVID-19-linked syndrome in children.

— Virus worries for workers demanding rights on May Day.

— India extends lockdown another 2 weeks.

— Greece reports no deaths in last 24 hours.

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LONDON — British doctors have published a working definition of a rare inflammatory syndrome affecting children that may be linked to COVID-19, which they hope will help other physicians identify cases.

In a statement on Friday, the Royal College of Pediatrics and Child Health said it was releasing a detailed definition of the syndrome, including the symptoms seen in children, diagnostic tests that should be used and potential treatments.

The group stressed that “it remains unclear whether COVID-pediatric multi-system inflammatory syndrome is caused by COVID-19” and emphasized that to date, only about 20 children in Britain and a small number across Europe have been identified.

Children remain among the least affected group by COVID-19 and typically suffer only mild symptoms when infected.

Earlier this week, Britain’s Pediatric Intensive Care Society said there was “growing concern” that either a COVID-19 related syndrome was emerging in children or that a different, unidentified disease might be responsible.

Similar warnings were issued by pediatric groups in Spain and Italy and cases have been noted in Belgium, France and the U.S.

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PORTLAND, Maine — The first phase of the reopening of Maine’s economy began Friday on an acrimonious note after a restaurant owner aired his grievances during an appearance on Fox News Channel.

Restaurant owner Rick Savage vowed to defy Gov. Janet Mills, a Democrat, by reopening, his business, Sunday River Brewing Co. He claimed she wasn’t listening to business owners.

Savage also shared what he said was Mills’ private cellphone number. A call to the number said it was “unavailable at this time.”

“She’s doing this all rogue on her own. We’ve had enough of it. We’re encouraging all businesses in Maine to open up. We never should’ve been closed in the first place,” Savage said on primetime host Tucker Carlson’s show Thursday.

Mills had no immediate comment. The state remains under a stay-at-home order until May 31, but residents on Friday became entitled to restricted use of golf courses; visits to dentists, barbers and hairdressers; and drive-in religious services. Restaurants won’t be allowed to open for dining in until June 1.

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WASHINGTON — Washington, D.C. health officials announced Friday morning that 335 positive new COVID-19 infections had been identified. That brings the city’s total up to 4,658 with seven new deaths for a total of 231.

Mayor Muriel Bowser declared a state of emergency on March 11 and issued a stay-home order on March 30 for Washington’s approximately 700,000 residents. Bowser, a Democrat, has also announced plans to turn Washington’s convention center into a 1,500-bed field hospital.

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ATHENS, Greece — Greece’s health ministry announced there were no coronavirus-related deaths recorded in the last 24 hours and 21 new confirmed infections.

The total infections in Greece stand at 2,612, although authorities say the true number is likely much higher. The country’s death toll stands at 140.

Greece imposed lockdown measures early in the outbreak, a move that has been credited with keeping the number of deaths and seriously ill low. The restrictions on movement and businesses will be eased gradually, starting Monday.

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NEW ORLEANS — Louisiana restaurants were adding outdoor tables 10 feet apart in a tiny step toward normalcy during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Restaurants statewide have been allowed to offer only takeout and delivery food since March 21 under an order by Gov. John Bel Edwards. But starting Friday, restaurants are allowed to seat people outside, though without waiter service at the tables.

New Orleans is not participating in the governor’s tweaks to business restrictions, which also include letting mall retailers offer curbside service.

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ZAGREB, Croatia — A prominent workers’ union in Croatia held an online Labor Day protest as the lockdown against the coronavirus prevented traditional gatherings and demonstrations.

The Association of Independent Unions of Croatia gathered 100 participants via video conference for an hour and thousands more followed on social networks. The participants in the “Rights before Thank You for the Workers” event discussed worker problems and what will come after the outbreak.

The unions have sent requests to the government, including lower taxes for workers, a more just pension system, accessible education and better work conditions.

Head of the association, Mladen Novosel, expressed hope that “investment in local production and industry will become a rule” and the pandemic “become an opportunity to build a better society.”

Croatia has one of the weakest economies in the European Union.

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SOFIA, Bulgaria — Bulgaria is relaxing parts of a nationwide lockdown imposed seven weeks ago to limit the spread of the coronavirus outbreak.

Bulgaria’s health minister lifted a previous ban on visiting city parks, mountains and nature parks across the country. Visitors cannot use public transport, like buses or lifts, and visits to tourist sites remain banned.

The announcement about the easing of the ban on outdoor activities followed a decision on lifting the requirement for compulsory wearing of face masks in open public spaces.

The new regulation says people should wear masks when in contact with others. Face masks remain mandatory for indoor public spaces, like shops and on the public transportation.

The Balkan country of 7 million has recorded 1,541 confirmed COVID-19 cases and 66 deaths.

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PRAGUE — About a hundred of people who commute from the Czech Republic to Germany and Austria to work have protested the government’s restrictions imposed due to the coronavirus pandemic.

After limiting crossborder travelling for weeks, the government allowed them to commute abroad daily again on Monday.

Originally, the commuters were ordered to get tested for the coronavirus twice a month. After their initial protests, the government changed that on Thursday to one test a month.

The protesters who gathered at a Czech-German Folmava border crossing Friday say they still considered it discriminatory, especially since they must pay for the tests.

It was a rare protest in the country on May Day when traditional rallies and gatherings were canceled amid the pandemic.

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HELSINKI — For May Day, Finland replaced parades and speeches with virtual reality.

Helsinki encouraged residents to attend a virtual concert on Thursday by a popular local rap duo JVG.

Citizens turned their smartphones, tablets or computers to see the band that reportedly was Finland’s most streamed. No VR headsets were needed and people could choose an avatar of their liking to see themselves dancing in virtual reality among the participants at the gig.

“Even though we won’t be physically together, we can still enjoy May Day as a community, together in spirit,” Helsinki mayor Jan Vapaavuori says of the 650,000 residents.

The concert was part of the Virtual Helsinki initiative that recreates experiences of the city’s most famous landmarks through virtual reality.

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NEW DELHI, India — India will extend its lockdown for another two weeks, with relaxations in some areas.

The government will continue stricter measures in places classified ‘red zones,’ such as New Delhi and Mumbai, and ‘orange zones,’ which have some cases. In ‘green zones’ or low risk areas, some movement of people and economic activities will be allowed, India’s home ministry says.

Officials say the nation has bolstered its domestic production for key medical supplies like ventilators, oxygen and personal protective equipment.

The government says it currently had almost 20,000 ventilators and 43.8 million oxygen cylinders. But with an expected surge in cases following the relaxation of some lockdown measures, officials estimated a demand of 75,000 ventilators and in the coming weeks. Of this, 60,000 will be manufactured in India.

India’s low testing rates is partly due to the unavailability of testing kits. The government estimates needing 3.5 million standard kits for its 1.3 billion people, who have been under a five-week lockdown.

India has recorded more than 35,000 coronavirus cases and 1,147 deaths.

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LONDON – Officials say the mortality rate among poorer people with the coronavirus is twice that of the richest in Britain.

The Office for National Statistics studied 20,283 deaths between March 1 and April 17. It says the mortality rate in the poorer areas was 55.1 deaths per 100,000 people compared to 25.3 deaths per 100,000 in the richer areas.

Carl Heneghan, professor of evidence-based medicine at Oxford University, said “these areas also suffer from poor housing, nutrition and higher incidence of health conditions that might act to lower immunity.”

Helen Barnard, acting director of anti-poverty charity the Joseph Rowntree Foundation, says poorer people are less likely to have jobs where they can work from home. She says, “this means they may have to face a very significant drop in income or keep going to work, facing greater risks of catching the virus.”

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ROME — Many Italian businesses are reeling under losses dealt by the stay-at-home lockdown this May Day.

Some entrepreneurs put mannequins in poses as if they were sipping coffee at counters.

In towns from north to south, many small business owners stood at a safe distance from each other on the sidewalk or in town squares, wearing black masks and holding placards in front of their restaurants to highlight their economic troubles.

In southern Sicily, some owners packed food to bring to those in even tougher straits.

Italy’s eight-week lockdown leaves many families struggling to pay for necessities. On Monday, restaurants and cafes can start offering takeout but no meals on the premises. Nonessential shops will be allowed to open on May 18, if Italy’s rate of contagion doesn’t rise.

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TOKYO — Robot staff debuted at a Tokyo hotel for mild coronavirus patients under a plan to free up beds at overburdened hospitals.

Pepper, a popular semi-humanoid talking robot, greeted Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike as she walked into a downtown hotel during Friday’s demonstration. Pepper, wearing a white surgical mask, also reminds patients to check their daily temperature and encourages them to rest.

Doctors and nurses are staffed at the hotels. Guest patients can also access health management applications on computers and tablets to record their body temperatures and symptoms. “Whiz” a cleaner robot, operates in hotel lobbies where patients come to pick up meals to reduce infection risks.

The robots, made by SoftBank Robotics, will be deployed at other hotels rented by Tokyo’s government for patients with no or mild symptoms. So far, Tokyo has secured five hotels with 1,500 to 2,800 rooms.

Japan has 14,281 confirmed cases and 432 deaths, according to the health ministry tally.

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BANGKOK — Domestic airlines in Thailand are resuming some regular flights, with half the country’s provincial airports reopened.

Department of Airports Director-General Tawee Kaysisam-ang says 14 of the 28 airports his agency oversees reopened Friday. Domestic flights also resumed at airports that serve as international gateways, including Bangkok’s Suvarnabhumi and Don Mueang airports and Chiang Mai Airport in the north.

International passenger flight arrivals remain banned.

All airports must implement social distancing measures. Passengers should wear masks and stand in designated spots to check in. The airlines are supposed to sell only one in three of each flight’s seats to keep passengers apart.

A spokesman for Don Mueang Airport says it would service 150 arrivals and departures carrying 3,000-4,000 passengers Friday, compared to the four or five flights a day in recent weeks.

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VALLETTA, Malta — Malta’s government has announced the relaxation of some coronavirus restrictions.

Prime Minister Robert Abela says starting Monday, nonessential shops will be allowed to reopen. Health services, not related to coronavirus infections, will be resumed.

Bars and restaurants will remain shuttered. The government says it will review its position in three weeks.

Malta’s airport and ports will remain closed indefinitely. People in groups of more than four persons in public places will be fined.

Malta has 467 confirmed coronavirus cases and four deaths.

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