Coronavirus latest: Lower income is potential COVID-19 risk factor, study finds

• German cities are preparing for another wave of protests against COVID-19 restrictions on Saturday, with turnouts expected in Munich, Berlin and Stuttgart
• Nearly 310,000 people worldwide have died due to COVID-19, while over 4.5 million cases have been registered
• Brazil logged it’s highest daily jump in coronavirus cases, with over 15,300 new cases registered in 24-hours

Updates in Universal Coordinated Time (UTC/GMT)

02:57 Germany reopened its border with Luxembourg on Friday night after closing road crossings for two months as part of an effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus. Some 12 crossings along the border have been reopened to traffic and drivers will no longer have to pass through strict border controls, federal police in the western German city of Trier said.

Frustrations over the closures and border controls sparked on both sides of the border, with Luxembourg’s government expressing relief at the move.

“It’s time it was over,” Luxembourg’s Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn told news agency DPA.

Restrictions were also lifted at midnight on Germany’s borders with Switzerland and Austria.

Until now, only essential travel had been permitted, including truck drivers or people traveling for work. Now personal trips to visit relatives and partners is once again permitted.

02:55 The number of confirmed cases in Germany has increased by 620 to 173,772, the Robert Koch Institute said on Saturday. The death toll rose by 57 to 7,881.

Germany has started reopening its economy, with restaurants being allowed to serve customers. The country is currently in recession, as the economy shrunk by 2.2% during the first quarter of 2020.

01:56 The US House of representatives has passed a $3 trillion economic aid package. Democrats in the House narrowly passed the Heroes Act in a 208-199 vote, aimed at redressing the devastating effects of the coronavirus pandemic. The bill would be the largest-ever US economic rescue package.

Funds will go toward aiding state governments, hospitals and healthcare workers, and American families affected by the virus. The bill must pass in the Senate, which is controlled by Republicans who have vowed to block the package. 

01:23 Air Canada has said it will lay off at least 20,000 employees, effective June 7. Canada’s biggest airline has had to reduce 95% of its scheduled flights due to the pandemic.

Air Canada had announced in March that it would lay off half of its work force. They had then rehired 16,500 employees. The company has suffered a loss of US$748 million in the first quarter this year.

01:18 Italy will allow travel to and from the country starting on June 3 as the government looks to reboot its tourism industry. Under a new decree approved on Saturday, inter-regional and foreign travel will once again be allowed in early June including the independent states of Vatican City and San Marino.

The current curbs will stay in place until after Italy’s Republic Day holiday on June 2 to prevent mass travel over the holiday weekend.

The move is a major step for Italy, which has the third-highest death toll in the world after the US and the UK. Over 31,600 people in Italy have died due to COVID-19 since the outbreak emerged in the country in late February.

01:01 The US House of Representatives will now allow lawmakers to temporarily vote by “proxy” from remote locations. The House voted 217-189 for the rule proposed by Democrats, for the measure that will remain in effect during the coronavirus crisis.

The House is also expected to vote on an estimated $3 million emergency aid package, in addition to an already enacted $3 trillion coronavirus aid fund.

00:51 NFL teams in the US will be allowed to reopen their facilities as early as Tuesday if state and local governments allow it. Commissioner Roger Goodell announced the move in a memo to teams sent on Friday, stressing that clubs must comply with local health regulations as well as safety protocols outlined by the league.

No players or coaches will be allowed to enter the facilities during the first reopening phase, except for players currently undergoing rehab or medical treatment.

“Clubs unable to meet these criteria on May 19 may reopen their facilities on the earliest date thereafter on which they are able to meet the criteria,” Goodell added.

The NFL’s 32 teams are due to start their season as planned in September, although contingency plans are being prepared in case the season needs to be shortened or if games need to be played in empty stadiums.

00:02 Researchers at the University of Oxford found that income levels are a key factor in coronavirus cases, with lower-earners four times more likely to contract the COVID-19.

“We found an association between increasing deprivation and increased odds of a positive test, independent of household size, urban location, and smoking,” said the authors of the study, which was published on Saturday.

The study looked at over 3,600 COVID-19 test results from across the UK and found that deprivation, chronic liver disease and age all increased the likelihood of testing positive for the virus.

Out of the sample, 29.5% of people living in deprived areas tested positive compared to just 7.7% in richer areas. In terms of age, people aged 40 – 64 were found to be at the highest risk with 18.5% of that age group testing positive compared to 4.6% in people under 17-years-old.

00:00 Catch up on yesterday’s coronavirus news here: Coronavirus latest: Germany to relax quarantine restrictions on EU travelers

In reporting on the coronavirus pandemic, unless otherwise specified, DW uses figures provided by the Johns Hopkins University (JHU) Coronavirus Resource Center in the United States. JHU updates figures in real-time, collating data from world health organizations, state and national governments and other public official sources, all of whom have their own systems for compiling information.

Germany’s national statistics are compiled by its public health agency, the Robert Koch Institute (RKI). These figures depend on data transmission from state and local levels and are updated around once a day, which can lead to deviation from JHU.

DW sends out a daily selection of the day’s news and features. Sign up here.

rm,tg/stb (Reuters, dpa, AFP, AP)

Article source: https://www.dw.com/en/coronavirus-latest-lower-income-is-potential-covid-19-risk-factor-study-finds/a-53460404?maca=en-rss-en-all-1573-rdf