Coronavirus News on Wednesday: Key Developments on Sars-Cov-2 and Covid-19

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Investigation: Virus spread in Brazil even before the Karnevel

2:20 a.m.: The coronavirus spread before the carnival, according to a scientific study in Brazil – before the first discovery of a contagion case in the country. The spread began around the first week of February, according to the study by the Oswaldo Cruz Foundation, Brazil’s leading health institute.

According to the study, the spread of the pathogen in Brazil began more than 20 days before the infection was first diagnosed in the country by a traveller who had returned from Italy. This case of infection was detected shortly after the carnival.

The study raises concerns that there could be significantly more cases of infection in Brazil than the official statistics show. Brazil is the country most affected by the pandemic in Latin America, with around 12,400 deaths and over 177,500 cases of infection.

Los Angeles to allow Corona rules to apply by end of July

1:45 a.m.: For the roughly 10 million Californians in the Los Angeles area, the curfew slated for the Corona pandemic could remain in effect until the end of July. The head of the Los Angeles County Health Department, Barbara Ferrer, made the prospect of this at a hearing on Tuesday, the Los Angeles Times reported. In their view, an earlier opening of public life is only possible if there is a “dramatic” turnaround in the fight against the virus. Ferrer spoke of a slow easing of conditions over the coming months.

Los Angeles county beaches are expected to reopen to visitors wednesday after nearly two months of closure. However, only sports activities, such as swimming or jogging, are allowed. People must keep their distance from each other and wear a protective mask outside the water. Passive activities such as sunbathing are not allowed.

Conservatives urge the Leyen to open the border

01.10: A group of conservative MEPs has appealed to EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to push for a rapid reopening of borders within the European Union. The controls introduced to curb the coronavirus at all national borders between Member States should be stopped after next Friday, the 18 members of the EPP Group in the European Parliament demand in a letter to von der Leyen, which is available to the AFP news agency.

MePs also call for EU Member States to lift their quarantine rules for EU citizens entering the EU. In the early stages of the pandemic, border controls were “reasonable and justified” due to the widely varying spread of the virus in EU Member States, the letter states. In the meantime, however, the level of infection is at a similar level across the EU.

00.45am: The NBA’s top stars, leBron James, Stephen Curry, Kevin Durant and Giannis Antetokounmpo, have called for a continuation of the interrupted season, according to a US media report. “Yahoo sports” on Tuesday referred to a conference call of the top players organized by players’ union president and Oklahoma City Thunder pro Chris Paul and a corresponding agreement. Anthony Davis, Kawhi Leonard, Damian Lillard and Russell Westbrook were also expected to attend the interview.

The NBA has been suspended since March 11 because of the Corona crisis. Whether and how the season can continue is unclear. Among other things, the discussion includes a sequel to the season without spectators, which has been reduced to a few venues.

Significantly fewer asylum applications in the EU

00.30: The number of asylum applications in the European Union, including Switzerland and Norway, has fallen in the first four months. This is reported by the newspaper Welt, citing previously unpublished figures from the EU asylum authority EASO, which are available to the paper. From the beginning of January to the end of April, a total of 164,718 people applied for asylum – a decrease of 25 percent compared to the same period last year with 221,207 applications.