The Latest: LA, San Fran opening business despite infections
LOS ANGELES -- Los Angeles and San Francisco are reopening for more business under California’s least restrictive coronavirus safety rules, even though these counties have more infections than many others.
State data shows nearby Orange and San Bernardino counties have similarly low coronavirus case and positivity rates to Los Angeles but can’t reopen further because they aren’t conducting as much testing.
It wasn’t immediately clear why some counties were conducting so much more coronavirus testing and others, much less. But those that do are rewarded under the state’s color-coded tier system by being allowed to expand business activity.
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THE VIRUS OUTBREAK:
— EU proposes joint approach to develop COVID-19 treatment drugs
— India hits another grim record, adding 400,000 new cases
— Support grows for intellectual property waiver on virus vaccines; snags remain
— Vatican health conference features Dr. Fauci, Pope Francis — and Aerosmith
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Follow more of AP’s pandemic coverage at https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-pandemic and https://apnews.com/hub/coronavirus-vaccine
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HERE’S WHAT ELSE IS HAPPENING:
CANBERRA, Australia — Australia’s prime minister said on Friday an India travel ban will end with three government-chartered flights to repatriate Australians by the end of May.
The government has resisted mounting pressure to lift the travel ban imposed last week until May 15 to reduce infections in Australian quarantine facilities.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison said the 900 Australians listed as vulnerable would be given priority among the 9,000 citizens registered...