JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 3

NORTH AMERICA UK AUSTRALIA

Hundreds positive at meat plant PM, scientists mull easing rules State ramps up virus compliance

Tyson Foods is looking into reports that British Prime Minister Boris Johnson Victorian authorities will doorknock in China’s customs agency has suspended will discuss reopening the hospitality coronavirus hotspots to ensure residents poultry imports from a Tyson facility in sector and loosening the two-metre understand enforcement guidelines, the United States after coronavirus cases social-distancing rule in England with his while not ruling out tighter lockdowns. were confirmed among its employees. top Cabinet colleagues and scientists. Following a spike in positive cases that A Tyson spokesman said that the plant The Prime Minister and his most senior prompted a national warning against in question is in Springdale, Arkansas. ministers will discuss the next steps for travel to six Melbourne local council “At Tyson, we’re confident our products the lockdown with chief scientific adviser areas, the state government has ramped are safe and we’re hopeful consultations Sir Patrick Vallance and chief medical up communication efforts. between the US and Chinese officer for England Professor . governments will resolve this matter,” spokesman Gary Mickelson said.

NORTH AMERICA UK NEW ZEALAND

NYC tracing off to bumpy start Tributes for terror attack victims Two new COVID-19 cases

New York City’s effort to stop the Tributes have been paid to victims of There are two new Covid-19 cases in spread of the coronavirus through the Reading terror attack as two of managed isolation facilities, the Ministry contact tracing has been hampered those who died have been named. of Health has confirmed. Director- by the reluctance of many people who Three people were killed in the incident General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield are infected with the virus to provide which happened in Forbury Gardens said the first case is a teenage girl who information to tracers, according to a in the town centre on the weekend. arrived on in New Zealand on 13 June report in The New York Times. The Times James Furlong, 36, was head of history, and was travelling with her family, who report said just 35 per cent of residents government and politics at The Holt have tested negative so far. The teenager who tested positive or were presumed School in Wokingham, and died after has been staying at the Novotel Auckland positive for COVID-19 in the first two the attack. The second victim has been Airport hotel. weeks of the contact tracing program named locally as American citizen Joe gave information about their contacts. Ritchie-Bennett.

1 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

YOUR DAILY TOP 12 STORIES FROM FRANK NEWS

FULL STORIES START ON PAGE 6

ASIA UK AUSTRALIA

Korean tension over leaflets Kitten lockdown boom expected Cruise victim told ‘only the flu’

South Korea is urging North Korea to Thousands of extra kittens could be A woman who died from COVID-19 scrap a plan to launch propaganda born this summer due to lockdown after disembarking the leaflets across the border, after the restrictions, with animal welfare charities cruise ship had been told repeatedly by North said it’s ready to float 12 million already feeling the strain of the “kitten onboard health authorities she had the leaflets in what would be the largest crisis”. Cat owners are being urged to flu and it was “nothing to worry about”, an such psychological campaign against its keep female cats indoors as the number inquiry has been told. Lesley Bacon was southern rival. Animosities on the Korean of kittens being born is expected to rise, first struck down with “horrendous pain” Peninsula rose sharply last week, after with the seasonal boom exacerbated by in her left leg on March 12 and attended North Korea destroyed an inter-Korean the UK’s lockdown restrictions. Around the ship’s medical clinic feeling less well liaison office on its territory in anger over 84,000 extra kittens could be born four days later. Brian Bacon was told his South Korean civilian leafleting against it. because fewer vets are carrying out wife had the flu and would be kept in the neutering procedures. vessel’s clinic overnight.

ASIA UK NEW ZEALAND

Schoolkids drown in river Trial for simple virus test Cruise ships banned, tests

Eight children have drowned in a river The Government is piloting a coronavirus The government is extending a ban on in southwestern China after one fell in saliva test that could become an cruise ships and updating its health and the others jumped in to help, state alternative to the existing invasive, and order to make clear that travellers media says. The children, described as sometimes painful, deep nasal and throat may be required to take multiple tests, elementary-school age, had gone to play swab. The new test only requires the Prime Minister says. The at a beach on the Fu River, according to individual to spit into a sample pot to be Prime Minister revealed the moves at state broadcaster CCTV. Their bodies tested for current COVID-19 infection, the her weekly post-Cabinet media briefing. have been recovered. Department of Health and Social Care Ardern said the government has (DHSC) said. renewed its health order and included a new measure to clarify that incoming people must return a negative test before leaving quarantine.

2 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

Tyson Foods, workers wear protective masks and stand between plastic dividers a poultry People gather as part of Make Music-New York in Brooklyn’s Ditmas Park neighborhood processing plant. - AP during the coronavirus outbreak. - AP

NORTH AMERICA NORTH AMERICA Hundreds test positive New York City tracing for virus at meat plant off to bumpy start

Tyson Foods is looking into reports that China’s customs New York City’s effort to stop the spread of the agency has suspended poultry imports from a Tyson coronavirus through contact tracing has been hampered facility in the United States after coronavirus cases were by the reluctance of many people who are infected with confirmed among its employees. the virus to provide information to tracers, according to a report in The New York Times. A Tyson spokesman said that the plant in question is in Springdale, Arkansas. The Times report said just 35 per cent of the 5347 city residents “At Tyson, we’re confident our products are safe and who tested positive or were presumed positive for COVID-19 we’re hopeful consultations between the US and Chinese in the first two weeks of the contact tracing program gave governments will resolve this matter,” spokesman Gary information about their close contacts. Mickelson said. Perry N. Halkitis, dean of the School of Public Health at “Our top priority is the health and safety of our team Rutgers University, called the 35 per cent rate for eliciting members, and we work closely with the US Department of contacts “very bad.” Agriculture’s Food Safety and Inspection Service to ensure that “For each person, you should be in touch with 75 per cent of we produce all of our food in full compliance with government their contacts within a day,” Halkitis said. safety requirements,” the statement added. Dr. Ted Long, head of New York City’s new Test and Trace Mickelson also noted that all global and US health Corps, defended the program and said 69 per cent of the organizations, in addition to the US Food & Drug people who complete an interview provide contacts. “We think Administration, agree that there is no evidence to support that’s a strong start but we also do want to get that number transmission of COVID-19 associated with food. up,” Long said. The announcement out of China gave no details of the Long said the 35 per cent figure cited by the Times quantity of meat affected. represents a per centage everyone who the tracers reached, Earlier, Tyson Foods announced the results of coronavirus and some of those people, including some who have not testing at its facilities in Benton and Washington Counties, had COVID-19 symptoms for weeks, don’t have relevant Arkansas, and said that about 95 per cent of employees contacts to provide. who ultimately tested positive for the virus didn’t show any Long said he believes the program, which started June 1, will symptoms. Of the 3,748 employees tested, 481 tested positive be more successful when tracers start going to people’s homes for COVID-19, and 455 were asymptomatic. in the next week or two rather than relying on the phone. There have been several other COVID-19 outbreaks at Tyson New York City has made huge strides in containing the plants around the United States, including in North Carolina, outbreak since the coronavirus shutdown started in March, Nebraska, and Iowa. with more than 320 new cases reported on Thursday, down In November, China lifted a five-year ban on US poultry. from several thousand a day during the peak. But officials say China had blocked US poultry imports a month after an the contact tracing effort is crucial to preventing a resurgence outbreak of avian influenza in December 2014, closing off a as the city enters the second phase of easing coronavirus market that brought more than $500 million worth of American restrictions on Monday, including outdoor dining at restaurants chicken, turkey and other poultry products in 2013. ■ and in-store retail shopping. ■

3 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

Shoppers observe as they queue outside Selfridges, on Oxford Street, People lay flowers near Forbury Gardens, in Reading town centre, the scene of a deadly London. - PA stabbing attack. - PA

UK UK Johnson, scientists Tributes paid to victims mull easing rules of Reading terror attack

British Prime Minister Boris Johnson will discuss Tributes have been paid to victims of the Reading terror reopening the hospitality sector and loosening the attack as two of those who died have been named. two-metre social-distancing rule in England with his top Cabinet colleagues and scientists. Three people were killed in the incident which happened in Forbury Gardens in the town centre on the weekend. The Prime Minister and his most senior ministers will discuss James Furlong, 36, was head of history, government the next steps for the lockdown with chief scientific adviser Sir and politics at The Holt School in Wokingham, and died Patrick Vallance and chief medical officer for England Professor after the attack. Chris Whitty. Furlong was originally from Liverpool and had taught in Johnson will then, on the next day, outline the plans to the city as part of his career before taking a position at the Parliament for pubs, restaurants, hotels and hairdressers to Berkshire school. reopen in England from July 4, and a likely loosening of the His parents, Gary and Janet, released a statement through distance rule to aid the restart to the economy. Thames Valley Police which said: “James was a wonderful man. Earlier, the PM said the progress made in the fight against He was beautiful, intelligent, honest and fun. coronavirus during three months of lockdown mean “it will be “He was the best son, brother, uncle and partner you could possible to open up more”. wish for. We are thankful for the memories he gave us all. We “The disease is increasingly under control and I just want will never forget him and he will live in our hearts forever.” people to reflect on that important fact,” he added in a The second victim has been named locally as American Downing Street interview. citizen Joe Ritchie-Bennett. Guidance will be published for each sector on how The Philadelphia Inquirer newspaper reported that he businesses can reduce the spread of COVID-19 when was 39 and had moved to England from the US around they reopen. 15 years ago. And the public are expected to be warned that the newest Paying tribute to his brother, Robert Ritchie, a captain in the relaxation of rules will be the first to be reversed if there Philadelphia police force, told the paper: “I love him. I always are widespread breaches that prompt the virus to spread have. I always will. He was a great guy.” uncontrollably. US Ambassador to the UK Woody Johnson confirmed an A No 10 spokesman said: “The reason we are able to move American citizen was one of those killed in the atrocity. forward this week is because the vast majority of people have Johnson tweeted: “I offer my deepest condolences to the taken steps to contain the virus. families of those killed in the attack on June 20. “The more we open up, the more important it is that “To our great sorrow, this includes an American citizen. Our everyone follows the social-distancing rules. thoughts are with all those affected. “We will not hesitate to put the handbrake on to stop the “We condemn the attack absolutely and have offered our virus running out of control.” assistance to British law enforcement.” With the two-metre rule placing severe constraints on the According to tributes posted on social media, Ritchie- hospitality sector, it looks increasingly likely to be reduced as Bennett was friends with Furlong, and his Facebook page said long as other mitigations – such as face coverings – can be he was originally from Philadelphia in Pennsylvania, but had used to help prevent a second wave of COVID-19 infections. ■ been living in Reading. ■

4 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

- AAP Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield. - RNZ

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Victoria ramps up Two new virus cases virus compliance in isolation centres

Victorian authorities will doorknock in coronavirus There are two new Covid-19 cases in managed isolation hotspots to ensure residents understand enforcement facilities, the Ministry of Health has confirmed. guidelines, while not ruling out tighter lockdowns. Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield said the Following a spike in positive cases that prompted a national first case is a teenage girl who arrived on in New Zealand on warning against travel to six Melbourne local council areas, the 13 June and was travelling with her family, who have tested state government has ramped up communication efforts. negative so far. Health Minister Jenny Mikakos confirmed public health The teenager has been staying at the Novotel Auckland officials will provide communities in Brimbank, Cardinia, Casey, Airport hotel. Darebin, Hume and Moreland with additional information A New Zealander in isolation at the Auckland Airport Novotel about coronavirus. yesterday said they were all in lockdown after being told of a The Australian Health Protection Principal Committee urged new case at the hotel. However, the prime minister’s office, the residents in these hotspots not to leave their suburbs until Ministry of Defence and the Ministry of Health all declined to community transmission is curbed. comment ahead of today’s media briefing. “We have a team of 50 that is starting from today to do door Dr Bloomfield said the teenager’s only symptom was a runny knocking,” Minister Mikakos said. nose. She had travelled from Doha via Melbourne on one of “We have been concerned that some people may be taking the same flights identified last week. some risks, with their health and with the health of others by The second case is a man in his 30s who arrived from India still going out into the community.” on 15 June, he has been staying at the Grand Millennium Victorian Chief Health Officer Brett Sutton said the AHPPC in Auckland and has no symptoms. His wife also has no advice didn’t translate into a lockdown of those areas. symptoms but is being followed up with. “For the purpose of protecting our interstate jurisdictions, we This brings the total number of active cases in New Zealand really need to say, look, reconsider travel or don’t make plans to nine. to travel into these hotspot areas,” he said. Labs completed 3402 tests yesterday. There were 430 tests Mikakos didn’t rule out the possibility of tightening across managed isolation facilities. restrictions on specific locations. Dr Bloomfield said anyone who left a managed isolation “Exactly what form that might take is under active facility since 9 June is being or has been followed up with a test. consideration,” she said. Dr Bloomfield said there were 55 people granted Victoria’s active cases have more than doubled in a compassionate exemptions, and only one has not been week, with 16 new infections overnight taking the current followed up with. total to 125. Four of those were children who were not tested, but all By contrast, active cases in NSW have jumped by 22 in the others have returned a negative test. past week, but fallen or remained zero in every other state. All staff at the Novotel Ellerslie hotel, which two women The state’s active COVID-19 case numbers are now the who were allowed to travel to but later proved to highest they’ve been in more than two months after six days have Covid-19 were staying, have been tested and returned a of double-digit growth. ■ negative test, Bloomfield said. ■

5 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

North Koreans anti-South Korea propaganda leaflets in North Korea. - AP An image made from China’s CCTV video shows rescue workers searching on the river banks in southwestern China’s Chongqing province. - AP

ASIA ASIA Korean tension over Young schoolkids propaganda leaflets drown in river

South Korea is urging North Korea to scrap a plan to Eight children have drowned in a river in southwestern launch propaganda leaflets across the border, after China after one fell in and the others jumped in to help, the North said it’s ready to float 12 million leaflets in state media says. what would be the largest such psychological campaign against its southern rival. The children, described as elementary-school age, had gone to play at a beach on the Fu River, according to state broadcaster Animosities on the Korean Peninsula rose sharply last week, CCTV. Their bodies have been recovered. after North Korea destroyed an inter-Korean liaison office They came from Mixin, a town near Sichuan province on the on its territory in anger over South Korean civilian leafleting outskirts of the sprawling metropolis of Chongqing. No further against it. North Korea said it will fly propaganda leaflets and details were immediately available. take other steps to nullify 2018 deals that were meant to ease Heavy rain had been forecast for the area, but it wasn’t clear military tensions at the border. if the weather was a factor. ■ Yoh Sangkey, a spokesman at Seoul’s Unification Ministry, told reporters that North Korea must suspend its plan to send anti-Seoul leaflets that “are not helpful to South-North (Korea) relations at all.” Earlier, North Korea said it had manufactured 12 million propaganda leaflets to be floated toward South Korea aboard 3000 balloons and other unspecified delivery equipment. “Our plan of distributing the leaflets against the enemy is an eruption of the unquenchable anger of all the people and the whole society,” the North’s official Korean Central News Agency said. “The time for retaliatory punishment is drawing near.” Some observers say ongoing weather conditions aren’t favorable for North Korea to fly balloons into the South so it may use drones to deliver the leaflets. They say this could trigger clashes between the Koreas because South Korea must respond to incoming drones to its territory. A South Korean activist recently said he would also drop about a million leaflets over the border, the 70th anniversary of the start of the 1950-53 Korean War. South Korean officials have said they’ll ban civilian activists from launching balloons toward North Korea. Experts say North Korea is likely focusing on the South Korean civilian leafleting to boost its internal unity and apply more pressures on Seoul and Washington amid stalled nuclear diplomacy. ■

6 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

- PA - PA

UK UK Kitten boom expected Simple saliva virus due to virus lockdown test set to be trialed

Thousands of extra kittens could be born this summer The Government is piloting a coronavirus saliva test that due to lockdown restrictions, with animal welfare could become an alternative to the existing invasive, and charities already feeling the strain of the “kitten crisis”. sometimes painful, deep nasal and throat swab.

Cat owners are being urged to keep female cats indoors as The new test only requires the individual to spit into a the number of kittens being born is expected to rise, with the sample pot to be tested for current COVID-19 infection, the seasonal boom exacerbated by the UK’s lockdown restrictions. Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said. Around 84,000 extra kittens could be born because fewer The trial is due to be launched in Southampton this week – vets are carrying out neutering procedures. and over 14,000 people working in GP surgeries, universities One man from Harrow found himself with a house full of and in other frontline roles have been recruited for the 17 cats during the lockdown after his unneutered female cat first phase. became pregnant. The situation quickly spiralled, with multiple The project is being jointly led by Southampton City Council, litters being born at the same time. the University of Southampton and the NHS, the DHSC said, The kittens were taken into the care of Cats Protection and with the help of other public services in Hampshire. they will eventually be rehomed. Participants will receive test results within 48 hours and The RSPCA also rescued 22 cats from a single household in details of those who test positive shared with the NHS Test and Weston-super-Mare this week. The cats, including 14 different Trace Programme. kittens from three different litters, also included several There have been fears the existing swab test could be pregnant adult cats. yielding a significant level of false negatives, potentially due to The charity said the number of kittens born in the house the difficulty in swabbing the sinuses and back of the throat. had grown rapidly because, due to lockdown, vets have only Research from Bristol University and John Hopkins been carrying out emergency procedures, which does not university has found up to 20 per cent of swab tests include neutering. return false negatives. Since lockdown began, the RSPCA has taken more than 600 It also provokes coughing and spluttering, putting health cats into its care – more than any other pet – and fears the workers – already working in close quarters with the testee – at situation could get worse. even greater risk of the droplet-borne infection. Many cats and their kittens have been abandoned during the It is hoped the new tests will significantly boost existing lockdown, with both charities being forced to step in. testing capacity and accessibility. Among those was a pregnant cat, abandoned in Sheffield Health Secretary said: “Saliva testing could after its owners moved away and who is now being fostered potentially make it even easier for people to take coronavirus by an RSPCA inspector. The kittens are now four weeks old tests at home, without having to use swabs. and have been joined by a single three-week-old kitten, Luca, “This trial will also help us learn if routine, at-home testing who was found under some decking on his own and had to could pick up cases of the virus earlier.” be hand-reared. ■ He added: “I am very grateful to everyone involved in the trial who is helping us develop our understanding of the virus which will benefit not only our but the global response to it.” ■

7 JUNE 22 (GMT) – JUNE 23 (AEST), 2020

Cruise ship passengers disembark from the Princess Cruises owned Ruby Princess at Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern. - RNZ / Dom Thomas Circular Quay in Sydney in March. - AAP

AUSTRALIA NEW ZEALAND Cruise virus victim Cruise ships banned, told ‘only the flu’ virus tests mandatory

A woman who died from COVID-19 after disembarking The government is extending a ban on cruise ships and the Ruby Princess cruise ship had been told repeatedly updating its health order to make clear that travellers by onboard health authorities she had the flu and it was may be required to take multiple tests, Prime Minister “nothing to worry about”, an inquiry has been told. Jacinda Ardern says.

Lesley Bacon was first struck down with “horrendous pain” in The Prime Minister revealed the moves at her weekly post- her left leg on March 12 and attended the ship’s medical clinic Cabinet media briefing. feeling less well four days later. Ardern said the government has renewed its health order Brian Bacon was told his wife had the flu and would be kept and included a new measure to clarify that incoming people in the vessel’s clinic overnight. must return a negative test before leaving quarantine, and may Josephine Roope on Monday recounted the timeline of her be required to take multiple tests. friend Bacon’s demise, to an inquiry examining the ship’s arrival People in managed isolation were previously required to in Sydney on March 19. meet the “low risk indicator” before leaving isolation, but more Despite returning a negative flu test, Bacon remained in the recently had been required to return a negative test. Ardern clinic until the end of the cruise. said the changes to the health ordern were making those Roope said she was informed by cruise ship senior doctor, expectations “absolutely explicit”. lse von Watzdorf “it was only the flu, nothing to worry about”. The government also extended the cruise ship ban beyond She said she asked twice on March 18 and again on March 30 June, for a further 60 or 90 days, Ardern said. 19 what was wrong with her friend. There are exceptions to the ban, including for cargo vessels Bacon was one of two passengers taken by ambulance to to load and unload and fishing vessels to unload and resupply. Sydney’s Royal Prince Alfred Hospital. She died a few days later. However, any crew arriving in New Zealand would need Roope herself has never experienced any symptoms and on to spend 14 days in quarantine in New Zealand unless they the advice of NSW Health has not been tested for the virus. had been on the boat for 28 days prior to arriving. This is a Earlier, the inquiry heard from David Annesley who was also tightening of the current rules, she said. deterred from virus testing by the state’s health authorities. “Overall, you can see, that we are continuing to assure Annesley developed mild symptoms after picking up his ourselves and the New Zealand community that we are doing mother-in-law Helen Rhodes from the Ruby Princess at Circular everything it takes to maintain our priveleged position that Quay on March 19. every New Zealander has worked so hard for whilst the world Rhodes tested positive to COVID-19 on the afternoon of enters into a phase where this pandemic grows, not slows.” March 23 after Annesley tried earlier that morning to be tested. A week ago there were no reported cases of Covid-19 in “Until your mother tests positive, there’s no need for you New Zealand. Today, there are nine. All confirmed cases are to come in,” was the message from health authorities as people who were staying in managed isolation after arriving in recounted by Annesley. the country, although the first two revealed on Tuesday were He was allowed to be tested the next day and produced a sisters who had been granted a compassionate exemption to positive result. ■ leave and travel to Wellington due to their parent’s death. ■

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