August 6 coronavirus news

By Jessie Yeung, Adam Renton, Meg Wagner and Melissa Macaya, CNN

Updated 4:28 p.m. ET, November 23, 2020
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3:13 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

Germany reports more than 1,000 new cases for the first time in three months

From CNN's Fred Pleitgen in Berlin

A physician takes a sample from a woman at a coronavirus testing station at the Dresden International Airport in Germany, on August 3.
A physician takes a sample from a woman at a coronavirus testing station at the Dresden International Airport in Germany, on August 3. Robert Michael/picture alliance via Getty Images

Germany reported 1,045 new Covid-19 cases in the past day, according to the country's center for disease control -- the first time daily cases have topped 1,000 in three months.

The last time Germany saw more than 1,000 new infections in a single day was May 9. 

The German government has voiced concern over a recent spike in infections across the country, and urged citizens to follow pandemic rules like social distancing, mask wearing and sanitizing more closely.

At the same time, the government also said it believes travelers returning from abroad are another source of infections, and has begun free testing of all arrivals into the country.

Schools reopening: The spike comes as Germany begins the process of reopening schools as summer break comes to an end.

On Thursday, students in the city-state of Hamburg will return to classes. Like most other states in Germany, Hamburg has made wearing masks mandatory in communal areas in school buildings, but not during lessons in classrooms

2:49 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

Peru reports highest daily jump in new cases and deaths so far

From CNN’s Maria Ramirez Uribe in Atlanta

Peru recorded 7,734 new coronavirus cases on Wednesday, its highest daily increase so far, according to the country's Health Ministry.

That raises the country's total to 447,624 cases.

The ministry also reported 221 new related deaths, the highest one-day jump -- raising Peru's death toll to 20,228. 

The rise in cases and deaths come a day after Peru’s Prime Minister Pedro Cateriano, the Cabinet chief, lost a vote of confidence in Parliament, a blow to President Martin Vizcarra while his government attempts to slow the spread of the virus.

CNN is tracking worldwide coronavirus cases here:

2:25 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

8 patients killed in India coronavirus hospital fire

From CNN's Esha Mitra in New Delhi and Akanksha Sharma in Hong Kong

Eight people died in a fire that broke out in the intensive care unit (ICU) of a Covid-19 hospital in the western Indian state of Gujarat, in the early hours of Thursday morning.

The fire started at about 3 a.m. local time at Shrey Hospital in Ahmedabad, according to chief fire officer Rajesh Bhatt.

The eight coronavirus patients in the ICU -- five men and three women -- had already died of smoke, heat and fire by the time firefighters arrived, Bhatt said.

"We believe it was a short circuit, but the forensics team is yet to officially confirm what caused the fire," he told CNN. 

The fire was contained to the ICU and did not spread to the rest of the hospital, according to Bhatt. 

Some 40 patients at the hospital were rescued within two hours after the fire broke out. They were all were being treated for coronavirus at the hospital, and have been transferred to the city's Sardar Vallabhbhai Hospital, Bhatt said. 

Two of the people rescued sustained minor injuries.

The Chief Minister of Gujarat, Vijay Rupani, has ordered an investigation into the fire and requested a report within three days, according to his official Twitter account.

1:50 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

North Korea’s first suspected coronavirus patient was tested but the results were "inconclusive"

From CNN's Yoonjung Seo in Seoul, South Korea

An employee disinfects the room to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at the Ryugyong Health Complex's public bath in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 31.
An employee disinfects the room to help curb the spread of the coronavirus at the Ryugyong Health Complex's public bath in Pyongyang, North Korea, on July 31. Cha Song Ho/AP

North Korea tested its first suspected case for coronavirus, but the results were inconclusive, according to Dr. Edwin Salavor, the World Health Organization Representative to North Korea.

Salvador said that North Korea’s Ministry of Public Health had informed WHO of a suspected case of Covid-19 in Kaesong City. 

WHO did not conduct the test in North Korea.  

Extensive contact tracing is ongoing, with as many as 64 "first contacts" and 3,571 "secondary contacts" identified. They will be quarantined in government facilities for 40 days, said the statement.

Kaesong City has been placed under lockdown from July 19, and contacts of residents who traveled outside the city between July 19-24 are being traced.

Salvador did not offer more details on why the test results had been ruled inconclusive. “WHO has requested DPR Korea to share more information about the suspected case," he told CNN, using North Korea's official name.

Since the start of the year, North Korea has quarantined and discharged 25,905 people -- 382 foreigners and 25,523 of its citizens.

Official warnings: An article in the North Korean newspaper Rodong Sinmun called upon citizens to "firmly defend the security of the country and the people" by following pandemic rules, according to the state-run Korean Central News Agency.

"Even one or two men's carelessness and breach of acting rules and principle in the anti-epidemic work may lead to critical consequences," said the article, KCNA reported.

8:20 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

US reports more than 52,000 new Covid-19 cases

From CNN's Joe Sutton in Atlanta

The United States recorded 52,810 new Covid-19 cases and 1,388 virus-related fatalities on Wednesday, according to Johns Hopkins University data.

That brings the total number of confirmed infections across the country to at least 4,823,890, including at least 158,250 deaths.

The totals include cases from all 50 states, the District of Columbia and other US territories, as well as repatriated cases. 

CNN is tracking US coronavirus cases here:

1:07 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

Melbourne shutters non-essential businesses as six-week lockdown deepens

From CNN's Jadyn Sham in Hong Kong and Angus Watson in Sydney

Victoria Police are seen on Wednesday August 5 in Melbourne, Australia, before retail stores closed to customers.
Victoria Police are seen on Wednesday August 5 in Melbourne, Australia, before retail stores closed to customers. Darrian Traynor/Getty Images

The Australian city of Melbourne has shut all non-essential businesses, as "Stage 4" restrictions come fully into force as part of a six-week lockdown.

Essential services will remain in business. Meat processing facilities considered high-risk, warehouses, and construction will continue to operate at a reduced capacity.

The Stage 4 restrictions will cost the Australian economy up to $8.5 billion over three months, Prime Minister Scott Morrison said Thursday, acknowledging it was necessary but painful.

The state of Victoria, of which Melbourne is the capital, saw 471 new cases and eight related deaths on Wednesday, said Victorian Premier Daniel Andrews.

"I'm not for a moment saying businesses are happy about this They're not, I'm not, workers are not. This is not the position we wanted to find ourselves in,” Andrews said. "But the reality of the challenge we face, a greater challenge than perhaps we've ever faced, is we have to make these tough calls."
12:32 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

Japan will not reimpose a state of emergency despite spike in cases, prime minister says

From CNN's Yoko Wakatsuki in Tokyo

People wearing face masks relax on the grass at Miyashita park on August 4, 2020 in Tokyo.
People wearing face masks relax on the grass at Miyashita park on August 4, 2020 in Tokyo. Yuichi Yamazaki/Getty Images

Japan announced 1,358 new coronavirus cases and four virus-related deaths on Wednesday, as infection numbers soar across the country.

The new figures raise the national total to 42,975 total confirmed cases and 1,037 deaths.

Of Wednesday's new cases, 263 were from Tokyo and 196 in Osaka.

The recent spike in cases has seen infection rates higher than April, when the country was placed under a state of emergency -- but Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said he does not plan to reimpose the state of emergency because "the situation is very different from that time."

"We are not in the situation that needs to issue the state of emergency immediately, but we will keep the close eyes with high sense of alert," Abe said at a news conference in Hiroshima.

He added that the monthly death toll has dropped from 460 in May to 37 in July, and the number of severe cases also fell.

The country has more than 20,000 beds for coronavirus patients and 2,500 beds for serious cases, and the medical system is not under strain, he said.

12:01 a.m. ET, August 6, 2020

China ramps up testing to 4.8 million tests per day

Workers drive a motorized tricycle carrying merchandise at the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing on August 5.
Workers drive a motorized tricycle carrying merchandise at the Xinfadi wholesale market in Beijing on August 5. Noel Celis/AFP/Getty Images

China reported 37 new symptomatic Covid-19 cases and 20 new asymptomatic cases on Thursday, according to the National Health Commission.

The NHC counts symptomatic and asymptomatic positive cases in separate tallies.

There were no new deaths recorded.

That raises China's total to 88,328 confirmed cases and 4,677 deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.

Stepping up testing: China ramped up its testing in recent weeks, reaching 4.84 million tests conducted each day by the end of July, said Wang Jiangping, Vice Minister of the Ministry of Industry and Information Technology.

Nationwide, almost 5,000 medical institutions and 38,000 technicians were on hand to carry out the mass testing blitz.

"A total of nearly 200 million copies of testing kits have been distributed to hospitals, disease control centers, customs ports, and third-party testing agencies across the country," Wang said.
11:58 p.m. ET, August 5, 2020

Mexico reports more than 6,000 new cases in one day, as President calls for moment of silence

From CNN's Karol Suarez in Mexico City and Maria Ramirez Uribe in Atlanta

A gravedigger digs a grave during a funeral at the San Miguel Xico cemetery in Mexico on August 5.
A gravedigger digs a grave during a funeral at the San Miguel Xico cemetery in Mexico on August 5. Pedro Pardo/AFP/Getty Images

Mexico's Health Ministry reported 6,139 new Covid-19 cases on Wednesday, bringing the country's total number of cases to 456,100. 

The ministry also registered 829 new fatalities, raising the death toll to 49,698.

Earlier on Wednesday, Mexican President Andrés Manuel López Obrador announced a minute of silence for Covid-19 victims, that will take place every day at noon across government offices and Armed Forces facilities in the country.

Mexico has recorded the world's sixth highest total number of confirmed cases and third highest total number of deaths, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.