Deportees from US later test positive

BOGOTA: About two dozen migrants deported from the United States on a flight to Colombia last month have since tested positive for the coronavirus, two people familiar with the matter said, adding to worries US deportations could be spreading the disease.

Of 64 migrants deported by the US Immigration and Customs Enforcement agency (ICE) on a March 30 flight, about 24 had tested positive for Covid19, the people said.

ICE then used the same plane to repatriate Americans who had been stranded in Colombia.

The agency said last week that it would begin testing some migrants before they were deported, a move that came as other governments demanded more screening before deportees were put on planes.

The deportation of migrants from the US who test positive for the virus after arriving in their home countries has caused tensions with Latin American and Caribbean governments concerned about the spread of the disease.

In Guatemala, at least 103 migrants deported by the US in March and April have so far tested positive for coronavirus. That is around a fifth of all cases in the Central American country.

Other infections among deportees have been found in Haiti, Mexico and Jamaica. — Reuters

China reported its factory activity weakened in April as outbreaks clobbered global demand, hindering efforts to revive the world’s secondlargest economy.

Surveys by a Chinese magazine and an official industry group showed activity slipped back after rebounding in March following the closure of much of China’s economy to fight the virus.

In Europe, almost every measure of the economy is in freefall. Figures due to be released today are expected to show a drop of about 4% in the first three months of the year in the euro zone.

An even steeper hit is projected for this quarter and unemployment is expected to rise to about 8%. — AP