Coronavirus live news: Saudi Arabia closes borders to hajj attendees as global Covid-19 cases pass 9m

Texas ‘wide open for business’; WHO urges dexamethasone steroid boom; South Africa infections top 100,000. Follow the latest updatesSaudi Arabia closes borders to hajj attendeesHalf of US states see spike as officials warn first wave far from overGlobal cases pass 9 millionBarcelona opera reopens with performance for nearly 3,000 potted plantsSee all our coronavirus coverage 2.51am BST Charlotte Graham-McLay reports for the Guardian:There are two new cases of Covid-19 in New Zealand, both returning travelers who were diagnosed in quarantine facilities during routine testing. Both were men aged in their 20s; one flew to New Zealand from the United States on 18 June, while the other arrived from India on 19 June, health officials said at a news conference in Wellington that is continuing. That means there are 10 active diagnosed cases of the coronavirus in New Zealand, all of which have emerged over the past week. After a stringent, early lockdown of the country, New Zealand had previously recorded almost a week earlier this month where there were no known active cases in the country. But Jacinda Ardern, the prime minister, and health officials had long warned the country’s battle with Covid-19 was not over as the number of New Zealanders returning from overseas – often from countries where the virus is rampant – started to increase. 2.29am BST China reported 22 new coronavirus cases for June 22, 13 of which were in the capital Beijing, the National Health Commission said on Tuesday.This compared with 18 confirmed cases a day earlier, 9 of which were in Beijing. Authorities are restricting movement of people in the capital and stepping up other measures to prevent the virus from spreading following a series of local infections.Another seven asymptomatic Covid-19 patients, those who are infected but show no symptoms, were reported for June 22, the same as a day earlier. China does not count these patients as confirmed cases. Continue reading…
Via: Coronavirus live news: Saudi Arabia closes borders to hajj attendees as global Covid-19 cases pass 9m