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New York now has more coronavirus cases than Italy and Spain

New York is the coronavirus epicenter of the world with more infections than any other country outside the U.S. – and a third of global cases are now in America – as the state tops 159,000 cases

  • The number of confirmed cases in New York state increased to nearly 160,000 on Thursday after the number of infections went up by 10,000 in 24 hours
  • In comparison, Spain has now recorded just over 152,000 cases and Italy’s infections increased to more than 142,000 
  • The United States has just over 436,000 cases and accounts for a third of the world’s total infections 
  • In terms of fatalities, Italy’s death toll is the highest across with the globe with more than 18,000 cases – the US follows with 15,600 and then Spain with 15,300
  • New York state’s death toll as of Thursday was just over 7,000 
  • The state posted a record-breaking increase in coronavirus deaths for a third consecutive day even as a surge of patients in overwhelmed hospitals slowed 

New York state is now the coronavirus epicenter of the world with more infections than any other country outside of the United States. 

The number of confirmed cases in New York state increased to 159,937 on Thursday after the number of infections went up by 10,000 in 24 hours. 

In comparison, Spain has now recorded just over 152,000 cases and Italy’s infections increased to more than 142,000.     

China, which is where the coronavirus first broke out late last year, currently has nearly 83,000 infections. 

The United States has 469,450 cases and accounts for a third of the world’s total infections.  

In terms of fatalities, Italy’s death toll is the highest across with the globe with more than 18,000 cases. The US follows with 16,715 and then Spain with 15,300.  

New York state’s death toll as of Thursday was just over 7,000. 

The state posted a record-breaking increase in coronavirus deaths for a third consecutive day even as a surge of patients in overwhelmed hospitals slowed.

Governor Andrew Cuomo described the death count – which increased by 799 in 24 hours – as a lagging indicator reflecting the loss of people sickened earlier in the outbreak. 

The snapshot of hospitalizations showed a less dire picture.

Cuomo said the net 200-patient increase in hospitalizations “is the lowest number we’ve had since this nightmare started’, compared with daily increases of more than 1,000 last week. 

Intensive care admissions also were down in the state as more than 18,200 people were hospitalized. 

Over two-thirds of the state’s deaths are in New York City alone, where fears are growing that the real death toll has been significantly miscounted and that a dramatic spike in New Yorkers dying in their homes is also linked to coronovirus. 

On a general day, first responders will answer calls to between 20 and 25 people who died in their home in New York City. By Tuesday, this has skyrocketed to 265 people. 

The state is faring far better than any of the models suggested it would in terms of hospitalizations but Cuomo said the projections ‘keep him up at night’ and could still happen if people do not comply with social distancing 

City officials have now said that they will include these deaths, which have not been tested or treated for coronavirus, in the official death toll meaning the number of New York City’s deaths could rise once again. 

The city is recording a 5.3 percent fatality rate as of Wednesday evening.  

Meanwhile, the US was told to brace for what officials called the ‘peak death week’. 

The country reached a record-high number of deaths on Tuesday with 2,000 fatalities.   

The grim number of fatalities came as the estimated death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the US was lowered from 82,000 to 60,000 after new projections scaled back the number of fatalities over the next four months by 26 percent.  

The updated projections has also brought forward the peak day of deaths to April 12 where an estimated 2,212 deaths are expected to occur over 24 hours.  

The new estimates were released on Wednesday by forecasters at the University of Washington’s Institute for Health Metrics and Evaluation – a model often cited by the White House coronavirus task force. 

The projected downward revision in the death toll coincides with comments from health officials and political leaders that cases may have reached a plateau in certain cities.  

Its most recent update now projects there will be just over 60,000 deaths by August 4, which is down from the nearly 82,000 fatalities is had forecast on Tuesday. 

US health officials have previously estimated that between 100,000 to 240,000 Americans could die.

The model also moved up its projected peak in the number of deaths to this Sunday. The revision moves forward the projected peak by four days – suggesting the strain on the healthcare system will begin to abate a little sooner than previously expected.    

Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 11 – the day before the peak death toll – where an estimated 94,000 beds, 19,000 ICU beds and 16,500 ventilators will be needed.   

Despite the updated projections showing a lower number of deaths, health officials warned that a second wave of infections would occur if Americans relaxed their ‘social distancing’ practices.  

‘What’s really important is that people don’t turn these early signs of hope into releasing from the 30 days to stop the spread – it’s really critical,’ said Deborah Birx, the coordinator of the White House coronavirus task force, referring to guidelines aimed at reducing the spread of the virus. 

‘If people start going out again and socially interacting, we could see a really acute second wave.’  

The updated projections has also brought forward the peak day of deaths to April 12 where an estimated 2,212 deaths are expected to occur over 24 hours, new data shows

Peak resource use for hospitals is predicted to occur on April 11 – the day before the peak death toll – where an estimated 94,000 beds, 19,000 ICU beds and 16,500 ventilators will be needed

The estimated death toll from the coronavirus pandemic in the United States is now expected to reach 60,000 after new projections scaled back the number of fatalities by 26 percent

 

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Bill Gates warns 'we're in big trouble' over coronavirus testing

‘We’re in big trouble’: Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates slams the ‘mismanagement’ of the coronavirus testing system and warns we can’t ‘wave a wand’ to get the economy back to normal

  • Microsoft founder Bill Gates blasted the ‘mismanagement’ that allows for healthcare workers to be waiting days for coronavirus test results
  • He claims there has been no interest on a federal level for a unified system
  •  The billionaire said it is the only way to ensure that those who need a test most receive one
  • Gates added ‘we’re in trouble’ unless testing is faster 
  • He predicted that it will be early June before the country can open up but only if there is a testing system in place that works to prioritize the most needy 
  • Gates predicted in a TED talk five years ago that ‘microbes not missiles’ would be more likely to kill millions of people around the world 

Billionaire Bill Gates has warned that coronavirus testing in the United States must improve and priority given to healthcare workers and those most in need before the country can effectively emerge from the outbreak. 

The Microsoft co-founder spoke with CNBC on Thursday, where he said that the federal government had shown no interest in creating a unified national system which he believes could work to ensure that results were delivered quickly to the people who needed them most. 

Gates, 64, claimed ‘we’re in big trouble’ unless test results are processed quicker because information on who is infected will greatly affect when the country can open back up. 

Coronavirus cases in the U.S. hit over 436,000 on Thursday with a death toll of 15,674. 

Scroll down for video  

Bill Gates spoke with CNBC on Thursday when he blasted the ‘mismanagement’ of the testing system and criticized that the wealthy could get a test and leave healthcare workers waiting

 ‘The natural thing would be to do like South Korea did, and create a unified system — that we haven’t gotten any interest from the federal level,’ Gates said. 

‘The thinking is to create a website that you go in and enter your situation and it would give you a priority number, and then hopefully all the people who control the capacity limit the priority level that they accept, so they’re giving these very quick results and to the right people.’

Gates warned that testing across the country is ‘still completely mis-prioritized’ and is not putting those in most need of having a test, and quickly receiving results, first.

‘Any time the queue [for testing] is over 24 hours, that’s complete mismanagement. Because the value of the result is far less worthwhile when you’re not getting it very, very quickly,’ Gates added. 

‘The best case is the PCR test goes positive before you’re symptomatic or infectious and then you can act in such a way that you never infect anyone else.’ 

The PCR test is what is currently known as the swab test, a ‘fast and inexpensive technique’ that amplifies DNA to allow scientists to discover whether the person has the virus. 

Gates says that the test is only enough to identify those who need to quarantine to prevent them from infecting others but that faster testing is still needed. He said PCR only tests positive when you’ve already infected people that you are most likely to infect.  

Bill Gates has pushed a nationwide shutdown, limited domestic travel and administering more targeted testing if t he country is to break through the coronavirus outbreak effectively 

He also hit out that the wealthy have greater access to testing despite healthcare workers being a priority. 

‘You can have somebody without symptoms who gets tested every day in some wealthy community… and you can have a healthcare worker… waiting three or four days,’ he said, adding that the testing system ‘is completely unmanaged’. 

Gates has claimed that his foundation is pumping ‘billions’ into finding a vaccine for coronavirus but that an extreme shutdown is needed across the nation before social distancing guidelines should be relaxed and the economy restarted.

He argued that the lack of a uniform shutdown was going to slow down the overall process and that it would be early June before there is any kind of opening up – and only if effective testing is in place. 

Gates claimed that if ‘we get our act together countrywide and if the compliance is very high and that testing including some innovations like a self-swab that our foundation has driven and those get into place by early June, we’ll be looking at some type of opening up.

‘Because as a percentage of 330 million [Americans], we’re not going to be able to test many people … [and] we need to know that number because that deeply affects rebounds when opening up,’ Gates continued. 

‘And there is some data that suggests it’s not a gigantic number but very, very important to pin that down.’ 

Gates predicted in a TED talk five years ago that ‘microbes not missiles’ would be more likely to kill millions of people around the world.

Now he has pushed a nationwide shutdown, limited domestic travel and administering more targeted testing to stop the overflow of patients at hospitals unable to cope with the surge in numbers.

‘Well, if we do the social distancing properly, we should be able to get out of this with the death number well short of that,’ Gates told Fox News Sunday.

Gates believes that by obtaining test results within 24 hours, the US will be able to quickly identify those an infected person has come into contact with so they can be isolated and slow the spread.

While there are strict international travel restrictions, Gates focused on the importance of domestic boundaries too.

The outbreak was identified in Wuhan, China in November with the first case in the US January. 

As early as February, before any lockdowns, the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation donated $10million to help fight the virus. 

Gates has criticized the government’s delay in taking precautions and serious action after the outbreak.

‘Between 2015 and 2020, less than 5 percent of what should have been done was done,’ Gates said.

During the interview from Microsoft’s Skype service, Gates admitted that he wakes up every morning thinking the pandemic is only the subject of his nightmares.

But he said compared to a disease like smallpox, COVID-19 ‘isn’t the worst case’.

‘The one percent mortality rate when your system is not overloaded… if that was small pox that would be 30 percent,’ he explained.

 

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Parents are keeping the ‘Easter spirit’ alive by mailing their older kids gift baskets, research shows – The Sun

AMERICAN parents are keeping the "Easter spirit" alive by mailing their older kids gift baskets, new research shows.

As many as six in 10 parents are planning to send Easter baskets to those that have moved out of the house.

About 2,000 parents were included in the survey, conducted by OnePoll on behalf of the candy Hi-Chew.

The survey found over half of the respondents have their older children help them hide the Easter eggs around their homes for the benefit of the younger ones.

Making Easter dinner topped the list of parents’ favorite activities to do with their families, followed by Easter egg hunts and gobbling on candy.

“While celebrations may vary by family, the Easter holiday is always filled with fun and joy,” said Tatsuya Takamiya, Chief Marketing Officer of Morinaga America, Inc.

“No matter how you enjoy the holiday, the survey shows that candy is a unifying factor of Easter.”

Three-quarters of parents surveyed said one of their favorite parts about Easter is the candy.

Parents said they typically buy an average of four bags of candy and let their offspring devour 13 pieces for the holiday.

Another 46 per cent of parents surveyed said their favorite Easter-time activity was taking family photos.

About one-third of the parents said their kids were afraid of the Easter Bunny – and it took three visits for the children not to be fearful.

The top goodies parents are putting in their baskets included chocolate bunnies, individually wrapped candies and arts and crafts.

Additionally, 20 per cent of parents claim they are devoted to such classics The Tale of Peter Rabbit.

Many parents said they are carrying on their family’s traditional recipes for Easter dinner.

“Family traditions and quality time spent together is important, especially around holidays such as Easter,” added Takamiya.

“Now more than ever, it’s essential to find creative ways to make the Easter holiday memorable.”

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More than 1,000 people may have died from coronavirus in UK care homes

More than 1,000 people may have died from coronavirus in UK care homes, industry body estimates – and they will NOT be in the official death toll

  • There are fears that more than 1000 people may have died in UK care homes 
  • Comes despite official figures on coronavirus deaths in homes being far lower 
  • It is feared government is underestimating coronavirus impact on care homes

More than 1,000 people could have died from coronavirus in care homes across the UK, without being counted in the official death toll.

This week, the Office for National statistics revealed for the first time that 20 people had died in care homes across England and Wales in the week up to March 27 of the illness. 

However, over 200 people have have been reported to have died in care homes by two different providers in the UK so far. 

But Care England, the industry body, estimated that the true death toll is likely to be closer to 1,000. 

Now, experts are warning that the difference in figures suggests that ministers may be underestimating the true impact of the pandemic on the elderly and most frail. 

Burlington Court Care Home in Glasgow where 16 residents have died from coronavirus

Castleroy Residential home in Luton is believed to have had 15 deaths from coronavirus

The daily death toll reported by the government only relates to deaths in NHS England hospitals.

Statistics for deaths in care homes in England and Wales were published by the ONS for the first time this week.

However, the current figures are 12 days behind the daily hospital death rate and rely only on registered death certificates, which take an average of five days to process. 

This means there is a lag of 17 days between deaths and their announcement, leading to fears the care home death toll could be far higher.   

And the Alzheimer’s Society fears hundreds of thousand of people with dementia may be being ‘abandoned’ in care homes.

Care workers across the country are also saying they still lack adequate personal protective equipment (PPE) and testing to properly deal with the virus. 

The Alzheimer’s Society and other care industry leaders believe that the virus is now present in homes that care for around 400,000 people in the UK. 

On Tuesday, Chief Medical Officer Professor Chris Whitty said that just over nine per cent of care homes had the virus.  

Nine Covid-19 related deaths have been reported at Tranent Care Home in East Lothian

Hawthorn Green Care Home in Stepney, where seven residents are reported to have died with suspected coronavirus

 It comes as the UK recorded another 881 deaths on Thursday – although in a small relief numbers fell back from the high of almost 1,000 declared the day before.

Thursday’s deaths took Britain’s official death toll total to 7,978 as its coronavirus crisis rumbles on and 4,344 more positive tests pushed the number of patients, past and present, to 65,077.

The grim tally is considerably smaller than the devastating 938 announced on Wednesday but still represents the second biggest surge since the epidemic began almost six weeks ago.  

Trade union Unison has sent a dossier of hundreds of carers’ complaints about a lack of PPE to ministers, including one report of a carer wearing a bag over their face in the absence of a mask. 

Jason Oke, a senior statistician at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences in Oxford, told the Guardian: ‘The worry is that we discover in six months that the numbers are way larger because no one was counting what was happening in care home.’ 

Prof Martin Green, the chief executive of Care UK, which represents the largest care providers, said: ‘We are seeing underreporting of the number of deaths. 

‘Deaths might not be in the thousands yet, but it is coming up to that level.’

He called on the government to be more accurate with care home date. 

MHA, the UK’s largest charitable care home provider, revealed that 70 per cent of patients in one of its Yorkshire care homes for dementia sufferers are suspected of having coronavirus. 

In another Yorkshire home, 13 people have died, while 11 died in Northamptonshire.     

In Luton, one care home said 15 patients had died during the crisis, while three homes in Scotland announced 30 deaths between them. 

A Department of Health and Social Care spokesperson said: ‘We are determined to give the social care sector the support it needs to respond to coronavirus and continue to work closely with Public Health England to monitor the impact on cares homes.

‘The government has announced £2.9bn to help local authorities respond to pressures in key services, such as adult social care, and enhance the NHS discharge service, allowing patients to return home safely. We have published extensive guidance for care homes on admitting and caring for people during the outbreak, and we are reinstating the professional registration of 8,000 former social workers to fill vital roles in the community.

‘We have also delivered 7.8m pieces of PPE to more than 26,000 care settings across the country and are rapidly working to extend testing to social care workers.’ 

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What could the exit strategy from lockdown look like?

What could the exit strategy from lockdown look like? DAVID BARRETT analyses how the Government could go about reopening schools, businesses, restaurants and bars

REOPENING THE HIGH STREET 

Retail has been largely shut down since March 23. Some European countries have already set a timetable for when shopping will return to normal – even if social distancing remains in force. Germany is ready to set out its plans next week. The Czech Republic allowed some non-essential shops to reopen yesterday and Austria will allow smaller-scale retailers to reopen on Tuesday, along with garden centres and DIY stores. Larger shops and even shopping centres will follow on May 1. A staged reopening of the High Street is also likely here. Industry experts believe the sector may need an adrenaline shot to encourage people to get out and spend, such as a temporary cut in VAT. 

Stock image of a smiling waitress delivering check to couple on date in restaurant

SCHOOLS 

Children were allowed to continue going to school for days after workers were told to stay at home. It is likely schools could reopen more swiftly than other parts of society – especially because of the lockdown’s potential impact on youngsters’ development and mental health. This week, research led by University College London concluded the evidence to support the closure of schools was ‘very weak’. It said shutting down schools ‘could have relatively small effects on a virus with Covid-19’s high transmissibility and apparent low clinical effect on schoolchildren’. Austria is to reopen schools in mid-May. Former World Health Organisation executive and Department of Health cancer expert Professor Karol Sikora suggested British schools could reopen as soon as May 4, depending on the progress of the virus. Other suggestions include a phased return, with them opening alternate days. 

TRANSPORT 

Public transport operators in the UK will need notice from ministers about their services. New train and bus timetables will be necessary to avoid overcrowding as services have been slashed back since March. International travel will remain less of a priority. It is unclear how many countries will reopen borders and what they will require from travellers in terms of proving their health. Many airlines are unlikely to begin flying at the same time as domestic transport resumes. 

PUBS, CAFES AND RESTAURANTS 

In Austria, restaurants, bars and hotels will be allowed to reopen from mid-May. That seems optimistic for the UK but a phased reopening from June seems plausible. That would be more than two months since pubs were ordered to pull their last pints on March 20, and the hospitality sector may need further economic stimulus. Ministers could direct councils to lift all licensing restrictions which limit outside drinking or dining, to make it easier to practice social distancing. Could Chancellor Rishi Sunak even offer a temporary cut on beer, wine and spirit duties? 

Passengers getting off of a train onto a crowded railway station platform in the UK

BUSINESS 

Reopening many of our workplaces will very much depend on the type of business and whether adequate social distancing will be possible. Professor Sikora suggested UK businesses with fewer than 50 staff could reopen at the end of this month, then offices on May 18. Businesses could be allowed to reopen with lower-risk groups first – such as younger employees. Testing would allow immune employees back to work. The lockdown could also work on a regional level. Cities hit hardest in the early stages may be ready to reopen in phases. Rural areas could also be freed from lockdown more swiftly. The Scientific Pandemic Influenza Group on Modelling has suggested a rotated easing of restrictions would protect the NHS from overload. 

MASS GATHERINGS 

Sports events, concerts and the rest of the arts will be one of the final pieces of normal society restored – because they remain a flashpoint for the virus’s spread. It is here that testing is key. Several companies are developing finger-prick antibody tests to detect whether the body has developed immunity to the virus after having it in the past. This information could be carried around in a smartphone ‘passport’ app that allows the holder to prove they have immunity. Ministers are also looking at wristbands or certificates. Professor Sikora suggested June 1 as a possible date for the resumption of mass public gatherings – if the virus’s prevalence and demand on the NHS remain at current levels. 

THE YOUNG 

Young people could be exempt from lockdown while older people have to stay at home, under one plan which ministers may be asked to consider. Allowing fit, younger people to resume their lives would help restart the economy and build up ‘herd immunity’ faster. The so-called ‘re-wilding’ strategy would be controversial because it could be seen as discriminatory and ageist. But some experts see it as the best way to protect the elderly and vulnerable. 

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Easter DIY ideas – from painting walls to putting up shelves, the jobs you CAN do on the bank holiday – The Sun

BEING at home while in lockdown can lead to you staring at the walls in boredom and wondering how you can kill time.

Many Brits are finding themselves wanting to renovate their homes and noticing things that they have missed before, so what can you do over Easter?

Painting your walls

You have probably been staring at your walls over the last few weeks thinking they could do with a paint job.

Painting should be one of the relatively easier tasks to do around the home.

Make sure you have essential equipment such as rollers, paint and don't forget your paintbrushes.

Farrow&Ball, and DIY stores such as B&Q, Wickes and Homebase remain well stocked.

Wilko is another great option to buy paint.

Wallpapering your walls

Wallpapering is not as tricky as you may think, and is a task most people can indulge in.

There are new methods such as "paste the wall"  wallpaper that beginners can use to help guide them in this task.

Be sure to remove any existing wallpaper, this will give you a smooth finish and avoid air bubbles and creases appearing when you hang the new wallpaper.

Putting up shelves

So many important things get put on our shelves around the home, from your favourite books to your best photos.

Adding new shelves is a great way to save more space around the home, and add some flavour around the place.

There’s a range of options that you can choose from, and you can even create your own box shelves or rustic shelving with reclaimed wood.

Fitting a new door

Fitting a new door can sound quite intimidating, but it can be done if you follow the instructions carefully.

Most doors have been in the home since you moved in and those squeaky ones could do with a refresh.

Always wear the right protective safety equipment when necessary, put on safety goggles and a dust mask when sawing, planing or sanding timber.

Plastering Walls

Plastering is a task most people leave to the professionals, but if you fancy giving it a go, now's the time.

Anyone can plaster, but to complete it successfully, you need to follow the correct formula given.

The plaster must be fresh, (it will usually have a use by date on the bag, kept dry, and away from damp.

If storing on a concrete floor, it should be raised off the floor or stored on plastic to avoid damp getting in.

Many Brits have been giving DIY a go during lockdown and many haven't found it as easy as they may have thought.

In official stats obtained by myjob.quote.co.uk, 58 per cent of Brits have struggled with laminating, and 52 per cent with tiling walls/floors.

With summer right around the corner, individuals undoubtedly want to make their garden space as enjoyable as possible and of those that have attempted to do so, 43 per cent have failed to successfully lay decking in their outdoor space.

If you do find some of these tasks difficult, there are lots of videos on YouTube that can help you complete the tasks successfully.

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Grandfather, 101, becomes oldest person in the UK to beat coronavirus

Grandfather, 101, becomes the oldest person in the country to beat coronavirus after a two-week battle with the deadly illness

  • Keith Watson was treated at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire
  • He was discharged earlier today after two-week battle with Covid-19
  • Latest figures show there are 65,077 confirmed cases in UK with 7,978 deaths 

A 101-year-old grandfather has become the oldest person in the country to beat coronavirus after a two-week battle with the deadly illness.

Keith Watson, who was being treated at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire, was discharged earlier today.

It comes as the latest figures show there are currently 65,077 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK with a death toll of 7,978. 

The Worcestershire Acute Hospitals NHS Trust shared a picture on Facebook which showed Keith giving a thumbs up surrounded by smiling nurses.

Keith Watson, who was being treated at the Alexandra Hospital in Redditch, Worcestershire, was discharged earlier today

It was posted alongside the caption: ‘This is Keith, he’s 101 years old.

‘He went home today after beating coronavirus.

‘Well done to everyone on Ward 12 at the Alexandra Hospital for looking after Keith so well for the past two weeks!’

Keith’s grandson, Benjamin Watson, later shared the post to his own social media and said: ‘My wonderful Grandad at 101 contracting coronavirus and beating it. What an absolute trooper!

‘Thank you to everyone at the NHS. Can’t wait to see him when this is all over x’.

Elderly people are among the worst affected by the outbreak with 27 per cent of over-80s needing hospital treatment.

Rita Reynolds, 99, from the Isle of Man, was previously believed to be the UK’s oldest person to recover from Covid-19. 

Luke Serrell, a volunteer ambulance driver who took Keith home, told The Sun: ‘I volunteered to transport positive patients in our ambulance as there is a lot that are beating the virus and want to go home.’

‘I feel honoured to be doing this as there is so much going on and it is great seeing the survivors of Covid-19 especially Keith as he is 101 and he is such a great bloke to chat to.

‘It is scary times but I’m proud to be on the front line helping.’ 

It comes as it was also today announced that a 107-year old Dutch woman had also recovered from the virus.

Cornelia Ras fell ill on March 17, the day after her 107th birthday, Dutch newspaper AD reported, after attending a church service with other residents of her nursing home on Goeree-Overflakkee, an island in the southwest of the country.

Cornelia Ras pictured celebrating her 107th birthday, one day before she fell ill with coronavirus on March 17 

Ras was told by her doctors on Monday that she had beaten the infection

She and 40 others at the service were subsequently diagnosed as carrying the virus.

Twelve of that group have since died, but Ras was told by her doctors on Monday that she had beaten the infection.

‘We did not expect her to survive this’, her niece Maaike de Groot told the newspaper.

‘She takes no medicines, still walks well and gets down on her knees every night to thank the Lord. From the looks of it, she will be able to continue to do so.’

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the Netherlands rose by 1,213 on Thursday to 21,762, health authorities said, with 148 new deaths.

The country’s death toll stands at 2,396, the Netherlands’ Institute for Public Health (RIVM) said in its daily update.

Prior to Ras, the oldest widely documented coronavirus survivor was Bill Lapschies, a 104-year-old American who also survived World War II and the Spanish Flu pandemic.

Bill Lapschies, 104, seen here wearing a protective mask outside the home on his birthday

Lapschies, who was born in Salem in 1916, first displayed symptoms commonly associated with the deadly virus, on March 5.

He was quickly put into isolation at the Edward C Allworth Veterans’ Home in Lebanon, Oregon, where he currently resides.

In China, Zhang Guangfen, a 103-year-old grandmother, recovered from Covid-19 following a six-day treatment in Wuhan.

A 103-year-old unnamed woman in Iran also recovered after being hospitalized in the central city of Semnan for about a week.

Italica Grondona, a 102-year-old woman, recovered in the San Martino hospital in Genoa, Italy. She was nicknamed ‘Highlander’ – the immortal, after spending more than 20 days in hospital.

And a 96-year-old woman in South Korea became the oldest patient in the country to fully recover from coronavirus. The woman, from Cheongdo County close to the southern city of Daegu, made a full recovery after being treated at the Pohang public clinic.

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Take a trip down memory lane as Meghan returns to LA stomping grounds

EXCLUSIVE: She’s back! Take a trip down memory lane as Meghan returns to her old LA stomping grounds where she’ll have celeb friends and mother nearby, volunteer at her favorite soup kitchen, dine at snooty Soho House and workout with her BFF

  • Now that Meghan Markle has returned to her old stomping grounds of Los Angeles she will no doubt be frequenting some of her favorite spots – and people
  • She will be depending on a trio of men who work out of swanky offices on Wilshire Blvd – her agent, business agent and lawyer – to nab her top jobs 
  • She will be closer to her mom Doria Ragland, and celebrity friends Oprah, Elton John, and George and Amal Clooney – who are rumored to be moving back to LA
  • Meghan will likely return to help out at the Hospitality Kitchen – known affectionately as the Hippie Kitchen – located on one of the city’s worst corners 
  • Although Meghan has many happy memories of her time growing up in LA, there are also reminders of how things have changed 
  • There is her childhood home, which she shared with Doria, her estranged father Thomas Markle Sr and half-siblings Thomas Jr and Samantha in Woodland Hills
  • Also, the bungalow in West Hollywood which she shared with her first husband Trevor Engelson before they divorced in 2013 
  • Meghan will be able to visit some of her favorite restaurants when things reopen, including Nobu, La Scala  and Soho House’s Little Beach House in Malibu 

She’s the LA girl who rose from humble beginnings to become a member of the British royal family – but now Meghan Markle is back on her home turf with sights set on ascending the throne of Hollywood.  

After two rocky years of ups and downs in England, Meghan and Prince Harry broke  with the monarchy for a fresh start in North America, with their son Archie in tow.  

The royal couple set off in a bid to become financially independent, with Meghan now vying for a breakout role that will make critics take her seriously as an actress. 

Following a short stint in Canada, they are back in Meghan’s home town of Los Angeles, where she navigated through her teens, forged herself into a successful TV actress and discovered her love for philanthropy.  

There’s no better place for the new parents, as they can count on support from Meghan’s mother Doria Ragland, as well as their celebrity friends and a top team of Tinsel Town agents, business managers, lawyers and publicists.

Here DailyMail.com maps out the key locations in Meghan’s Los Angeles past, present and future. 

She’s the LA girl who rose from humble beginnings to become a member of the British royal family – but now Meghan Markle is back on her home turf with fresh sights set on ascending the throne of Hollywood. Here DailyMail.com maps out the key locations in Meghan’s Los Angeles past, present and future

MOM DORIA’S NEIGHBORHOOD

Despite her daughter’s meteoric rise to superstardom, yoga instructor Doria continues to live in a modest Mediterranean-style bungalow in South LA which she inherited from her father. 

Her neighborhood’s name – Windsor Hills – inadvertently hints at the 63-year-old former social worker’s royal connections. Nicknamed the ‘Black Beverly Hills’, the area is respectable and has spectacular views of Downtown LA’s looming skyscrapers. 

But it is still a far cry from the palace life Harry has grown up in and the glitz and glam Meghan has become used to. 

Despite her daughter’s meteoric rise to superstardom, yoga instructor Doria continues to live in a modest Mediterranean-style bungalow in South LA which she inherited from her father

Now they themselves have moved from their Vancouver Island bolthole in Canada to California, it remains to be seen whether they can tempt Doria to leave behind the home she has lived in for 25 years (pictured) 

The Sussexes were not able to convince ‘hippie dippie’ Doria to move to the UK to be closer to them, even after her grandson Archie was born and became seventh in line to the throne. 

Now they themselves have moved from their Vancouver Island bolthole in Canada to California, it remains to be seen whether they can tempt Doria to leave behind the home she has lived in for 25 years to share their abode.

What is beyond doubt is that their bond with Doria – who has been dubbed her daughter’s ‘only trusted advisor’- is set to grow even stronger as they settle into LA life.

MEGHAN’S HOLLYWOOD TEAM 

Even after she joined the Royal Family almost two years ago, Meghan still retained the services of an elite Beverly Hills-based team to deal with her business affairs. 

Now that she is back in Hollywood and in need of income after renouncing as a senior royal, Meghan is believed to be looking for work that relies on her acting skills again. 

She already landed a gig voicing an elephant documentary for Disney, which was released this week – with her fee donated to charity.

 It came after Harry was seen pitching to the studio’s boss on his wife’s behalf at the premiere of The Lion King in London last year. 


Nick Collins (left) of the Gersh Agency – which represented legends such Humphrey Bogart and David Niven during Hollywood’s Golden Era and has handled the careers of Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx in more recent times – is charged with taking care of film, TV or charity offers. Silver-haired entertainment business manager Andrew Meyer (right), who runs Freemark Financial, is said to be working behind the scenes to develop Meghan’s business plans 

Now that she is back in Hollywood and in need of income after renouncing as a senior royal, Meghan is believed to be looking for work that relies on her acting skills again

The Duke’s helping hand aside, Meghan will be depending on a trio of men who work out of swanky offices on Wilshire Blvd – her agent, business agent and lawyer. 

Nick Collins of the Gersh Agency – which represented legends such Humphrey Bogart and David Niven during Hollywood’s Golden Era and has handled the careers of Tobey Maguire and Jamie Foxx in more recent times – is charged with taking care of film, TV or charity offers.

Silver-haired entertainment business manager Andrew Meyer, who runs Freemark Financial, is said to be working behind the scenes to develop Meghan’s business plans. Meanwhile lawyer Rick Genow, a Harvard graduate considered one of the top attorneys in Hollywood, is also on board. 

Once social distancing due to the coronavirus outbreak is relaxed, all three can expect to be having regular LA-style power breakfast meetings with the Duchess. 

CELEBRITY FRIENDS 

The Sussexes are not only one of the world’s most instantly recognizable celebrity couples – they are also one of the best connected. 

Guests to their wedding at Windsor Castle in May 2018 included George and Amal Clooney, Elton John and hugely influential US TV star Oprah Winfrey. 

It was recently claimed that the Clooneys may soon be moving from Britain to LA themselves – after it emerged they are giving George’s Hollywood mansion an upgrade to include a play cottage

The Ocean’s Eleven star and his human rights lawyer wife are the proud parents of twins Ella and Alexander, who at almost three are not much older than 10-month-old baby Archie

It was recently claimed that the Clooneys may soon be moving from Britain to LA themselves – after it emerged they are giving George’s Hollywood mansion an upgrade to include a play cottage. 

The Ocean’s Eleven star and his human rights lawyer wife are the proud parents of twins Ella and Alexander, who at almost three are not much older than 10-month-old baby Archie. 

Oprah – who owns a 40-acre ranch to the north of LA in Montecito – is currently working on a mental health documentary with Harry and Meghan and has been very vocal in her support of the couple. 


Oprah is currently working on a mental health documentary with Harry and Meghan and has been very vocal in her support of the couple. And pop superstar Elton John – a friend of Harry’s late mother Diana and owner of a $33 million mansion in Beverly Hills – is also likely to be hanging out with the in-demand couple

The billionaire TV legend who owns a 40-acre ranch to the north of LA in Montecito –

When it was first announced in January that the Sussexes would be stepping back from royal duties, the 65-year-old TV host said: ‘I back them 1000 per cent.’ 

And pop superstar Elton John – a friend of Harry’s late mother Diana and owner of a $33 million mansion in Beverly Hills – is also likely to be hanging out with the in-demand couple. 

Other A-listers who you can expect to be part of Harry and Meghan’s social circle are Jay-Z and Beyoncé, Indian-born actress Priyanka Chopra and tennis legend Serena Williams.

CHARITY WORK 

Forced to abandon their initial plans to use the Sussex Royal brand following Megxit, Harry and Meghan will be carrying on their charity work through a new non-profit organization, recently unveiled as Archewell. 

They have even hired a former staff member of the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation as their chief of staff. 

Meghan’s dedication to charity work can be traced all the way back to when she was a 13-year-old schoolgirl at Immaculate Heart High School in the Los Feliz neighborhood east of Hollywood.

Part of her school curriculum included doing voluntary work helping the homeless in LA’s notorious Skid Row area, where thousands live on the street in makeshift tents. 

The area – which lies in the shadow of Downtown LA’s gleaming skyscrapers – has been described as like ‘something Charles Dickens would be writing about’. 

With the encouragement of her mom, the Duchess helped out at the Hospitality Kitchen – known affectionately as the Hippie Kitchen – located on one of the area’s worst corners. 

With around 60,000 people currently thought to be living on the streets of LA and many more likely to end up there because of the Covid-19 crisis, the Sussexes will have a humanitarian crisis to deal with right on their doorstep. 

GHOSTS OF THE PAST 

Although Meghan has many happy memories of her time growing up in LA, there are also reminders of how things have changed and the relationships she lost along the way. 

There is her childhood home, which she shared with Doria, her now estranged father Thomas Markle Sr. and half-siblings Thomas Jr. and Samantha in Woodland Hills, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley. 

There are the film and television studios where she would hang out while her father worked as a lighting director on sitcom Married… With Children.

This is her childhood home, which she shared with Doria, her now estranged father Thomas Markle Sr and half-siblings Thomas Jr and Samantha in Woodland Hills, a suburb in the San Fernando Valley

The Little Red House elementary school that she attended is also in the same spot, although it has since changed its name to the Hollywood Schoolhouse

They include Sunset Gower Studios in Hollywood, the Prospect Studios in Los Feliz and the legendary Sony Pictures Studios in Culver City – located on the site the old MGM lot where classic movies such as The Wizard of Oz, Singin’ In the Rain and Ben-Hur were filmed. 

There is the Self-Realization Fellowship temple on Sunset Blvd in Hollywood where her parents got married in December 1979. Meanwhile the site of her mother’s old gift shop Distant Treasures was taken over by an aquarium store. 

The Agape International Spiritual Center Meghan would attend with Doria moved to a new location but the Paper Source shop where she worked as a calligraphy teacher after graduating remains. 

The Little Red House elementary school that she attended is also in the same spot, although it has since changed its name to the Hollywood Schoolhouse. 

And finally, there is the bungalow just above the legendary Whisky a Go Go music venue in West Hollywood (pictured) which she shared with her first husband Trevor Engelson before they divorced in 2013

There is St Francis High School in the suburb of La Cañada Flintridge where Meghan was crowned homecoming queen in 1998. 

And finally, there is the bungalow just above the legendary Whisky a Go Go music venue in West Hollywood which she shared with her first husband Trevor Engelson before they divorced in 2013. 

FOOD

Former lifestyle blogger Meghan is a proud foodie – and while restaurants are on lockdown at the moment she must be longing for some of her favorite spots to reopen soon. 

One place she and Harry are likely to frequent is Soho House’s Little Beach House in Malibu, which features an ocean-view restaurant serving ingredients from local farms.  

One place she and Harry are likely to frequent is Soho House’s Little Beach House in Malibu, which features an ocean-view restaurant serving ingredients from local farms

Soho House has been a part of Meghan’s life for years and played a big role in her romance with Harry after the pair had their first date at one of the private members club’s London locations. 

The Duchess is also reportedly a superfan of Robert De Niro’s upmarket chain of sushi restaurants Nobu, which has a place in Malibu close to the Little Beach House that is a celeb favorite. 

Meghan has also spoken before of her love for classic Beverly Hills Italian restaurant La Scala, which she used to go to every week for chopped salad with turkey. 

Meghan has also spoken before of her love for classic Beverly Hills Italian restaurant La Scala, which she used to go to every week for chopped salad with turkey

And although she probably won’t be doing much grocery shopping for herself these days, the Duchess is known to be a fan of the Erewhon health food store in Beverly Hills Writing on her lifestyle blog The Tig, she described picking up ‘biodynamic wines, house made kombucha and collard green wraps’ there. 

EXERCISE 

Like most Hollywood types, Meghan is known for being a keep fit fanatic who likes to hike and do Pilates. 

LA is famous for scenic walks in the hills and mountains, which tower above the city and Meghan has spoken before about her love of the Los Liones trail close to the ocean in Pacific Palisades. 

Meanwhile, Meghan’s close friend Heather Dorak runs a chain of studios called Pilates Platinum  (pictured) in the city. Writing in a testimonial for its website, Meghan described it as ‘the best workout in town’

Meghan wrote of the hike, which features stunning views of Malibu and Santa Monica: ‘My mom and I do this run when I am home and it’s so feel good it’s amazing.’ 

The Duchess has also spoken of her ‘love/hate’ relationship with Runyon Canyon, one of the city’s most famous hiking trails located just above Hollywood. 

She snarkily wrote of the tourist favorite: ‘The hate part is that on weekends it can get crowded and there is endless Hollywood talk of auditions and projects that are greenlit.’ 

Meanwhile, Meghan’s close friend Heather Dorak runs a chain of studios called Pilates Platinum in the city. Writing in a testimonial for its website, Meghan described it as ‘the best workout in town’.

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Heartless crook swipes $150 from 75-year-old man in Manhattan

A heartless crook knocked a 75-year-old man to the ground and swiped $150 from him inside a Manhattan bank, cops said Thursday.

The septuagenarian was withdrawing cash inside a Citibank on Park Avenue South and 25th Street at 9:45 a.m. on Saturday, when the thief came up behind him, brandished an unknown object and demanded money, police said.

“I want your money,” the crook said, who knocked the man to the ground and yanked his wallet containing cards, an ID and the cash from his hands, according to cops.

Surveillance video from inside the ATM booth shows the elderly man sprawled on his back trying to kick away the thief, who then runs out of the bank.

The attacker was last seen dressed in black with a grey backpack. Anyone with information is asked to call the NYPD’s Crime Stoppers Hotline at 1-800-577-TIPS (8477).

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Letecia Stauch searched Google for a job, apartment, and new husband in same Florida city Gannon’s remains were found – The Sun

THE stepmother of Gannon Stauch searched Google for a new career, a new apartment and even a new husband in the days before his murder.

Letecia Stauch was particularly interested in looking at properties in Florida, specifically in the city of Pensacola where Gannon's remains were ultimately found last month.

In the affidavit, obtained by The Sun, police note that on January 27 at 6:55 p.m., Letecia called 911 to report that Gannon had not returned home after going to a friend’s house.

Gannon was listed as a runaway AFTER his stepmother said she had seen him just a few hours prior and told p;olice that the boy often played with children in the neighborhood.

Police now believe that this call was placed a few hours after Letecia bludgeoned her stepson in his bedroom and then cleaned up the crime scene.

Letecia seemed to resent her job as the caretaker to Gannon and his sister as well as their father's long absences.

She Googled "I’m over doing all the work for my step kids and their mom doesn’t help” and “one day people will wish they treated you differently” just two days before the alleged murder.

Letecia got even more specific in subsequent searches, which included: "I wonder if my husband's ex-wife is sending me a Valentine's Day card since I raise her kids"; "It's crappy some parents don't care for their kids or buy them presents"; and "Parenting should be four people not one."

It is unclear what the state of Letecia's relationship with her husband Al was like at the time of the murder, but Letecia appeared to have moved on judging by her searches for "Find real military singles" and "Find me a rich guy who wants me to take care of his kids."

Letecia also reached out to fakepolygraph.com at one point during the investigation, after telling her husband and police an assorted array of stories about what happened the day Gannon went missing.

She never got her results but did submit the list of questions she wanted to include and the answer she planned to give.

One of then questions was "Did you participate in any way in causing harm to your stepson?"

Two days after she first reported Gannon missing, Letecia had a much different story for authorities, this one involving a mystery man and details of sexual violence she had not mentioned in previous interviews.

On that day Letecia was interviewed at the El Paso County Sheriff's Office, arriving two hours after she was scheduled to meet with deputies according to the affidavit.

In that interview, Letecia claimed that, the day before Gannon went missing, she had met a Hispanic man named Eguardo while driving around the neighborhood.

He was working at a nearby construction site Letecia told authorities, and she asked him to help her take car of a rug that Gannon had allegedly ruined with candle wax.

Letecia next saw Eguardo the following day she told police, when she walked into her home and found him inside with a gun drawn.

Eguardo held her in the basement at gunpoint for a few minutes claimed Letecia, then let her go greet her stepdaughter when she came home from school.

She did not reveal why he let her leave the basement of the home and go upstairs without following her, or why she didn't run for help or call 911 once she had broken free of the armed intruder.

When she returned, Eguardo "vaginally penetrated her against her will," said Letecia.

"During this period, she believed she that she had hit her head and may have blacked out," states the affidavit.

"Investigators noted no injuries on Letecia's head during their contact with her."

It was during this attack that Letecia claims Gannon "jumped on Eguardo's back and Eguardo was able to throw him Gannon off his back and across the room."

Eguardo then demanded Letecia give him a suitcase she said while "he had the gun held to Gannon."

Letecia told deputies she gave him a suitcase and a cardboard box, at which point he "attempted to sexually assault her again,but she hit her head and blacked out again."


Letecia then straightened up the scene of her rape and Gannon's abduction , waiting hours to notify authorities according to the affidavit.

At the end of her interview, Letecia told deputies she was feeling ill, but declined to have a rape kit conducted at the hospital.

Once at the hospital she sneaked out of the facility according to the affidavit and was whisked away by an unknown person.

She was later seen meeting up with her daughter Harley.

Authorities now believe that Letecia murdered Gannon shortly after 2pm on January 27, according to the affidavit.

It was a violent crime according to the affidavit, and there was “blood spatter on the walls and enough blood loss to stain his mattress, soak through the carpet, the carpet pad and stain the concrete below his bed.”

The affidavit states that she then ordered Gannon’s younger sister Laina to play outside when she returned from school a short time later.

When Letecia’s own daughter returned home that day, she sent her to the Dollar Store according to the affidavit.

Once there, Leticia texted her daughter Harley asking for “carpet cleaner, trash bags and baking soda.”

There is no suggestion in the affidavit that either sister knew what happened to her brother in the affidavit, but according to the affidavit, Laina provided an interview to police, and Harley has not yet done so.

Letecia reported Gannon missing soon after, but "her story dramatically changed multiple times over the following days” states the affidavit.

“Letecia lied to investigators on multiple occasions, has unexplained abnormal behavior such as obtaining a rental car, disconnecting her cell phone from the cellular network, the false reporting of an alleged rape, abnormal patterns of travel, a continuously evolving story with material changes in facts and circumstances and has since left the state of Colorado,” states the affidavit.

According to the affidavit, police believe that Letecia disposed of the body on the side of a nearby highway, but there are no details as to how Gannon’s body got from there to Florida.

She has pled not guilty to all charges and is behind bars in a Colorado jail ahead of her next court appearance in June.

She is also due in court around that time for a divorce hearing.

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