The Latest: New York reports 422 more COVID-19 deaths

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:

—Britain reports nearly 20,000 deaths from virus.

—EPA reminds people to only use disinfectant on surfaces.

—France won’t reopen its restaurants, bars and cafes before June.

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ALBANY, N.Y. — New York has reported its lowest number of daily COVID-19 deaths in weeks.

The state recorded 422 deaths as of the day before. That’s the fewest since March 31, when it recorded 391 deaths. More than 16,000 people have died in the state from the outbreak.

Gov. Andrew Cuomo says the figures are still at “an unimaginable level, and it’s dropping somewhat,” but says it is still “devastating news.”

The total number of people hospitalized statewide continues to drop slowly, hitting about 14,000. But Cuomo says the number of new patients coming into hospitals is basically flat.

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ISTANBUL — Turkey’s health ministry has announced 109 new deaths from COVID-19, bringing the death toll to 2,600.

According to data posted by minister Fahrettin Koca, 3,246 people recovered in the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of recoveries to 21,737. The number of confirmed infections is now 104,912, with 3,122 new cases identified.

The country ranks seventh in the world in the number of confirmed infections, surpassing Iran and China, according to Johns Hopkins University. Experts say the true toll of the pandemic around the world is much higher than the Johns Hopkins tally, due in part to limited testing and difficulties in counting the dead in the midst of a crisis.

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ROME — The day-to-day increase in Italy’s number of hospital discharges or otherwise declared recovered from COVID-19 infections was just below the number of new confirmed cases.

The Italian health ministry said there were 3,021 new cases in the 24-hour period since Thursday evening. By comparison, 2,922 persons were considered cured, including those who had been hospitalized or isolated at home.

The nation’s north has largely borne the brunt of the outbreak of the illness. In comparison, for example, the south-central Lazio region, which includes Rome, the Italian capital, for a sixth straight day registered less than 100 new cases. But northern Lombardy, where the first known cases of COVID-19 in Italy surfaced in late February and rapidly multiplied, still is registering high numbers, with nearly 1,100 new cases reported.

With 420 deaths registered in Friday’s day-to-day increases, Italy now counts nearly 26,000 deaths of people with confirmed coronavirus cases.

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FRANKFORT, Ky. — Gov. Andy Beshear has signed an order allowing Kentucky residents to vote by mail in the upcoming primary election, which had already been pushed back to June because of the coronavirus.

State elections officials also are working on a plan for limited in-person voting and possible drive-thru voting for the June 23 primary, the governor’s office said. The Democratic governor’s order allowing mail-in voting came a day after Republican Secretary of State Michael Adams offered his recommendations on how to proceed with the primary in midst of a public health crisis.

Kentucky will start a partial lifting of restrictions on medical services next week, but health care workers and patients will have to follow safeguards as the fight against the coronavirus continues. Starting Monday, non-urgent and emergent health care services will resume.

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WASHINGTON — A spokesman for Defense Secretary Mark Esper says the Pentagon chief will meet Friday with the Navy’s top admiral for a briefing on a report that is expected to determine the fate of Capt. Brett Crozier.

Crozier was relieved of command of the USS Theodore Roosevelt after he pleaded for more urgent help with a coronavirus outbreak among his crew. Jonathan Hoffman, the chief Pentagon spokesman, says Esper is keeping an open mind about Crozier. The Navy has said it would not rule out reinstating Crozier.

Just days after the acting Navy secretary, Thomas Modly, fired Crozier, Modly resigned amid strong criticism of his handling of the matter. More than 800 members of the Roosevelt crew have tested positive for coronavirus and one died.

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LANSING, Mich. — Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer lengthened her stay-at-home order through May 15, while lifting some restrictions so certain businesses can reopen.

Michigan has nearly 3,000 reported deaths related to COVID-19, behind only New York and New Jersey among U.S. states.

People are now required, rather than encouraged, to wear face coverings in enclosed public spaces such as grocery stores.

Landscapers, lawn-service companies, plant nurseries and bike repair shops can resume operating, subject to social-distancing rules. Stores selling nonessential supplies can reopen for curbside pickup and delivery. Big-box retailers no longer need to close off garden centers and areas dedicated to selling paint, flooring and carpet.

Whitmer says people with multiple in-state homes can resume traveling between them, though it is strongly discouraged.

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ATHENS, Greece — Greek health officials say they have confirmed 27 new coronavirus infections and five new deaths in the last 24 hours.

That brings the country’s total deaths to 130, and the total confirmed infections to 2,490.

The Health Ministry’s spokesman for the coronavirus response, infectious diseases specialist Sotiris Tsiodras, says the number of people intubated in intensive care units had fallen to 48, while 60 people had left the ICU.

The government has said it will begin relaxing the restrictions on May 4, but has yet to detail how that will be done.

The specialist says measures would be lifted gradually and warned Greeks to remain vigilant and maintain strict hygiene and social distancing protocols.

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LONDON — The British government says 684 more people with the coronavirus have died in U.K. hospitals, increasing the total reported to 19,506.

That’s higher than 616 deaths in the previous 24-hour period. There has been increasing scrutiny of the U.K. figures for understating the actual number of coronavirus-related deaths because they don’t include deaths in care homes or elsewhere in the community.

The U.K.’s death toll is the fourth highest in Europe, behind Italy, Spain and France, all of whom have reported more than 20,000 deaths.

The government also says the number of daily tests increased by around 5,000 to 28,532.

On Friday, an online link to an expanded testing program for essential workers stopped accepting applications after a few hours because of “significant demand.”

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ATHENS, Greece — Greek health officials say they have confirmed 27 new coronavirus infections and five new deaths in the last 24 hours.

That brings the country’s total deaths to 130, and the total confirmed infections to 2,490.

The Health Ministry’s spokesman for the coronavirus response, infectious diseases specialist Sotiris Tsiodras, says the number of people intubated in intensive care units had fallen to 48, while 60 people had left the ICU.

The government has said it will begin relaxing the restrictions on May 4, but has yet to detail how that will be done.

The specialist says measures would be lifted gradually and warned Greeks to remain vigilant and maintain strict hygiene and social distancing protocols.

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BELGRADE, Serbia — Authorities in Serbia say gyms and hair salons will reopen next week as part of easing measures against the coronavirus.

Epidemiologist Predrag Kon says a curfew this weekend will remain in place despite apparent stabilization of the situation in the Balkan country. Kon says restrictive measures in some form are expected to last until the summer. But he adds that “life must resume.”

Serbia has reported 7,483 coronavirus infections and 144 deaths.

The country has introduced some of the harshest measures in Europe, including daily and weekend curfews and a complete stay-at-home order for people over 65 years old. Serbia’s elderly last week were allowed out for the first time in more than a month.

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Puerto Rico’s education secretary says public schools will reopen in August and all students will enter the next grade regardless of their academic achievements or if they’ve taken online classes.

Eligio Hernández says teachers will spend August through October helping students with subjects they struggled with during the ongoing two-month coronavirus lockdown.

The announcement comes just months after a series of strong earthquakes damaged dozens of schools that remain permanently shuttered in the island’s southern region. Puerto Rico on Friday reported at least 77 deaths and more than 1,270 confirmed cases of COVID-19.

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GENEVA — U.N. Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is joining leaders from the European Union and beyond to ensure all countries get the tools to fight the coronavirus outbreak.

He spoke during a virtual launch event co-hosted by French President Emmanuel Macron, World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation.

The United Nations chief says its important to unite national leaders along with the private sector, humanitarian groups and other partners against the COVID-19 threat. Ridding the world of it “requires the most massive public health effort in history. We are in the fight of our lives.”

Billed as a “landmark collaboration,” the effort aims to ensure the development, production and delivery of vaccines, therapeutics and diagnostics reach all countries no matter if big or small, rich or poor.

“Not a vaccine or treatments for one country or one region or one-half of the world,” Guterres says, “but a vaccine and treatment that are affordable, safe, effective, easily administered and universally available for everyone, everywhere.”

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SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico — Authorities say a 28-year veteran with Puerto Rico’s police department has become the first officer to die of COVID-19.

Spokesman Axel Valencia told The Associated Press that 56-year-old Miguel Martínez Ortiz died early Friday after being hospitalized nearly three weeks ago. He says Martínez was part of a federal task force with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement. Hundreds of officers remain in a two-week quarantine for symptoms and possible exposure to the coronavirus.

Puerto Rico reports at least 77 deaths and more than 1,270 confirmed cases. Only some 12,680 people have been tested on an island of 3.2 million.

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PARIS — France won’t reopen its restaurants, bars and cafes before June. Authorities also announced reinforced financial support for the sector amid the virus crisis.

Finance minister Bruno Le Maire says the government is deferring tax payments and extending short-term unemployment to businesses that won’t be allowed to reopen next month. He says small companies of less than 20 employees can apply for emergency aid of up to 10,000 euros ($10,786).

Most French businesses are set to reopen on May 11. However, the schedule for restaurants, bars and cafes won’t be decided before the end of May, Le Maire said.

France, one of the most popular tourist destinations with more than 80 million foreign visitors each year, is planning an investment fund to help relaunch that sector.

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ALGIERS, Algeria — Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune announced confinement restrictions will be eased with the start of Ramadan, the Islamic holy month.

Tebboune says Algeria “managed to limit the spreading of the pandemic” and called for “solidarity, mutual aid, discipline, patience and vigilance” during the Ramadan month.

Algeria has reported 3,007 positive tests for the virus and 407 deaths from COVID-19.

Under new measures, a curfew imposed in nine regions is now reduced to 5 p.m. (instead of 3 p.m.) until 7 a.m. In the hardest-hit Blida region. The full lockdown is replaced by a curfew from 2 p.m. to 7 a.m. Mosques will remain closed and Muslims are being advised to pray at home.

Mohand Idi Mechnane, head of the government commission in charge of islamic religious issues, told the AP: “It’s heartbreaking to Algerian people… but health comes above religious duties.”

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WASHINGTON — The Environmental Protection Agency is reminding people to only use disinfectant on surfaces.

The EPA issued the statement in a release before President Donald Trump suggested on Thursday it might be helpful to inject disinfectant to combat the coronavirus.

The EPA says, “Never apply the product to yourself or others. Do not ingest disinfectant products.”

William Bryan of the Department of Homeland Security said at a White House briefing on Thursday “emerging results” from new research suggest solar light has a powerful effect in killing the virus on surfaces and in the air.

But he said there was no consideration of internal use of disinfectants. Trump’s hypothesis drew a flood of comments on Twitter.

(This item has been corrected to show the EPA issued the statement in a press release before Thursday’s press conference, not after.)

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LONDON — The British government’s new online link for “essential workers” to book tests for the coronavirus has stopped accepting applications for the day as a result of “significant demand.”

Just hours after launching, the link read: “Coronavirus test: applications closed.”

In a tweet, the Department of Health and Social Care apologized, saying there has “been significant demand.” It also says it is “continuing to rapidly increase availability and ”more tests will be available tomorrow.”

On Thursday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock said the government was rolling out its testing program to essential workers with coronavirus symptoms and their families.

The swab tests are also available to those working in prisons and journalists covering the coronavirus pandemic.

The program’s roll-out is intended to help the government meet its target of 100,000 tests a day by the end of the month. The last daily figure was around 23,500.

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MADRID — Authorities hailed that, for the first time since the beginning of the coronavirus outbreak in Spain, more people are being diagnosed as cured than those falling sick.

On Friday, there were 2,796 new infections confirmed while 3,105 overcame the infection.

“With all the effort that we have done, the evolution of the epidemic is obviously beginning to be where it should be,” said Fernando Simón, the ministry’s health emergency center coordinator.

Spain has recorded 367 new deaths of patients with the coronavirus, to a total of 22,524, as the government mulls the way out of a strict confinement that has extended for more than 40 days.

Health officials from Spain’s 17 regions and the central government were to meet later on Friday with proposals on how to roll back the six-week lockdown. Authorities have said that future steps will be incremental and depend on how regions meet certain health criteria.

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