CORONAVIRUS: Latest daily LIVE updates

Coronavirus outbreak: All the latest updates worldwide


•  AL JAZEERA: HERE

•  THE GUARDIAN:    HERE

•  THE WORLD HEALTH ORGANISATION:    HERE

•  BBC Worldwide:   HERE

.
Click  HERE for 25 February updates worldwide

Indonesia claims to be coronavirus free 'all because of PRAYERS' – but it is 'very unlikely' that there have been no cases on the island nation, expert warns

• Indonesia is one of the last East Asian countries to have no official cases
  
• Neighbouring Malaysia and the Philippines have both declared cases
  
• Officials are screening people at airports and say prayer has protected people
  
• Globally, more than 75,000 people have now been infected and 2,012 have died
  

It is 'very unlikely' that there are no cases of the coronavirus in Indonesia, as the government claims, scientists say.
Not a single infection has been officially diagnosed on the island nation since the SARS-CoV-2 outbreak began in December.
This is despite the country being so close to China and receiving tens of thousands of travellers from there every month.
Neighbouring island countries Malaysia and the Philippines have both confirmed infections but Indonesia is still officially in the clear.
Officials there have only tested 104 people, it has been reported, and politicians are insistent the population has protected itself with prayers.
More than 75,000 people are now confirmed to have caught the coronavirus, almost all of them inside China, and 2,012 people have died.


Indonesia has introduced temperature scanning in its airports (pictured, a screen at Sultan Iskandar Muda International Airport in Aceh Besar) but this is not a foolproof way of spotting the illness



Indonesia's health minister, Terawan Agus Putranto, said the country had been protected from the virus by prayer

Indonesia is one of the last places in East Asia to be free of the virus, with Singapore, Japan, Thailand, South Korea, Taiwan, Vietnam, Hong Kong and Cambodia all recording cases.
Indonesia's minister of health, Terawan Agus Putranto, said at a recent press conference that the country's disease-free status was 'all because of prayer'.
The country, which has a population of 267million people, is 87 per cent Muslim, according to the CIA, 10 per cent Christian and two per cent Hindu.
But scientists are sceptical about the claim of zero infections, in part because almost 100,000 people flew directly into the country from the city of Wuhan in November and Decmber, Al Jazeera reports.
This made it the sixth most frequently travelled route out of the city, which is the centre of the epidemic.
Professsor Marc Lipsitch,a disease expert at Harvard University in Boston, said: 'It could be that there are zero [cases in Indonesia], but that's very unlikely, [and] it could be there are more.'
Professor Lipsitch and a group of other scientists predict that there have been at least five cases of the coronavirus in Indonesia, based on how many people have travelled there from China and what has been seen in other countries.


A security guard is pictured wearing a protective mask at the Halim Pedanakusuma Airport in Jakarta, Indonesia



More than 75,000 people have now been infected with the coronavirus and 2,012 people have died

Indonesian officials are using thermal scanners at airports to check people for signs of fever, but the Harvard researchers said this wasn't foolproof.
And they pointed to a case diagnosed in China on February 5 which was found in a person who had travelled there from Bali, a popular holiday destination in Indonesia.
That the patient was confirmed to have the illness just eight days after returning to China suggests they could have had it, or even caught it, while in Bali.
Professor Lipsitch told Al Jazeera: 'I have emphasised that many countries, not only Indonesia, probably face the same issue.
'Detection at the border is not 100-per cent effective, even with excellent levels of testing.'

" Indonesia claims to be coronavirus free 'all because of PRAYERS' "
   


Question:

Why are there no reported cases of coronavirus in Indonesia?

Experts say there could be undetected coronavirus cases in Indonesia, a claim that has angered officials in Jakarta.
https://www.aljazeera.com/news/2020/02/reported-cases-coronavirus-indonesia-200218112232304.html

Likely answer:

Hariyadi Sukamdani, chairman of the Indonesian Association of Hotels & Restaurants, told CNBC Indonesia that Bali might lose $200m in tourism revenue and 180,000 tourist arrivals in two months due to the coronavirus outbreak, as January and February are the peak season for Chinese tourists visiting the island.

UPDATES - 27 February

LIVE UPDATES FROM THE BBC:    https://www.bbc.com/news/live/world-51655133


Saudi Arabia is stopping foreign pilgrims entering the country.  
It is not clear if the Hajj pilgrimage, which begins in July this year, will be affected.  
Non-religious tourists from virus-affected countries are also being barred from the country.

Massive queues for masks in Daegu.

Train station in Seoul being sterlislised.

Pakistan has closed its border with Iran as fears grow after a rise in new infections in the region.
It's thought the number of cases in Iran may be higher than authorities have reported.

Football matches cancelled in Italy (including Ireland v Italy rugby)
Road blocks are in place in the north of the country where several towns are in quarantine.

Wuhan City remains in lockdown


Two new cases confirmed in UK

They have been transferred to specialist NHS infection centres in Liverpool and London, the Department of Health said.
The virus was passed on while they were in Italy and Tenerife, said England's chief medical officer Prof Chris Whitty.
Ministers have said they expect more cases to emerge.

The new patients are being treated at specialist centres at the Royal Free Hospital, London, and the Royal Liverpool Hospital.

  - I am currently awaiting an appointment date for a scan.  Initially the GP said would refer me to St Mary's Hospital in Paddington, but I said to her - anywhere but there!  Hospital parking is an absolute nightmare there (non-existant!), and just out of the question for me, as it is absolutely essential that I drive myself as I don't know anyone else who drives and cannot use public transport.
So she suggested the Royal Free in Hampstead - I said I had not been there before and have no idea what the parking is like.  So, ended up being referred to Central Middlesex.  (6 of one - half a dozen of the other: I am familiar with Central Middx and have been there many times before (Blue Badge parking is few and far between, but there is a chance that I could be lucky in finding a BB space) - otherwise the regular carpark charges there are horrendous (but there's always the nearby free Asda car-park to fall back on) .

Interesting ....

In her book, End of Days: Predictions and Prophecies About the End of the World, psychic Sylvia Browne appears to have correctly and timely predicted the Coronavirus outbreak which is plaguing the world right now, in the very year of her prediction.

CHAPTER SEVEN - THE END OF DAYS THROUGH MY EYES:

"In around 2020 a severe pneumonia-like illness will spread throughout the globe, attacking the lungs and the bronchial tubes and resisting all known treatments.  Almost more baffling than the illness itself will be the fact that it will suddenly vanish as quickly as it arrived, attack again ten years later, and then disappear completely."


Also in that same book (published in 2008) we find the quote:

“The year 2020 will mark the end of the U.S. presidency and the executive branch of the government. Let’s just say the American public will finally be fed up by then and leave it at that.”

Similarity also is being attributed to one of Nostradamus's predictions, back in 1555, in his magnum opus Les Propheties:

One of these quatrains, Century 2:53, could be a reference to the coronavirus, according to online claims.

The great plague of the maritime city will not cease until there be avenged the death of the just blood, condemned for a price without crime, of the great lady outraged by pretense.

“The great plague of the maritime city
“Will not cease until there be avenged the death
“Of the just blood, condemned for a price without crime,
“Of the great lady outraged by pretence.”


•  See Nostradamus Predictions for 2020

Coronavirus in Europe: epidemic or 'infodemic'?

(see link for the videos):  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-51658511

France must prepare for a coronavirus epidemic, President Emmanuel Macron says, but Italy - the worst-affected country in Europe - says misleading news is creating an "infodemic".

Mr Macron is due to discuss the crisis with Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte in Naples.

In Italy 528 people are infected and 14 have died, officials say, amid global efforts to stop the virus spreading.

Germany is also facing an epidemic, Health Minister Jens Spahn has said.

Italy registered a 25% surge in coronavirus cases in 24 hours, and the infections remain centred on outbreaks in two northern regions - Lombardy and Veneto. But a few cases have turned up now in southern Italy too.

Thirty-seven people have now recovered in Lombardy, civil protection chief Angelo Borrelli said.

Italy's Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio told reporters that an "infodemic" of misleading news abroad was damaging Italy's economy and reputation. He said all the infections in Italy could be traced back to the two outbreaks in the north.

Lombardy governor Attilio Fontana put himself into self-isolation after a member of his team tested positive. On Facebook he said he and the rest of his team had tested negative so far, but would remain in quarantine for 14 days.

Italy's tourism association Assoturismo says March accommodation bookings are down by at least €200m (£170m; $219m) because of the virus.

On Wednesday the World Health Organization (WHO) said that for the first time the virus was spreading faster outside China, where it originated.

Globally, more than 80,000 people in about 40 countries have been infected with the new coronavirus, which emerged in December. The vast majority remain in China.
Covid-19, the respiratory disease caused by the virus, has killed more than 2,700 people so far.
On a surprise hospital visit on Thursday President Macron warned: "We are facing a crisis, an epidemic, that is coming."
He was at La Pitié-Salpêtrière hospital in Paris, where a 60-year-old man carrying the new coronavirus died on Tuesday. There has been one other fatality in France - a Chinese tourist.

In Spain, a sudden rise in infections has triggered concern, but not panic, the BBC's Guy Hedgecoe reports.
A man in Seville got infected without having travelled abroad recently, suggesting that the virus has been present in Spain longer than thought.
In Tenerife, in the Canary Islands, a hotel with nearly 1,000 guests in it remains in quarantine. There are fears that Easter Week holiday events in Spain will be affected by coronavirus.


In further developments:

• The first coronavirus cases have been announced in Denmark, Estonia and Romania
  
• Romanian President Klaus Iohannis has urged Romanians not to panic, amid reports of anxious shoppers emptying supermarket shelves and some intimidation of Asian people
  
• Two more patients have tested positive in England, bringing the number of UK cases to 15
  
• Honved Budapest, a Hungarian football team, has temporarily suspended its Italian coach Giuseppe Sannino and his assistant Alessandro Recenti, fearing they might have had contact with Italian virus carriers
  
• In recent days Austria, Croatia, Greece, Norway, Switzerland, Georgia and North Macedonia reported their first cases, many of them people who had been to Italy
  

What is the situation in Italy?

Schools, universities and cinemas have been closed and several public events cancelled. There are currently no more performances at Milan's famous opera house La Scala.
Eleven towns at the centre of the outbreak - home to a total of 55,000 people - have been quarantined.

There are fears that the outbreak may tip Italy into economic recession. The BBC's Mark Lowen in Milan says fear is the reason for the city's empty cafes and many hotel cancellations. But the Milan authorities have put out a slick video on social media to woo people back to the city.
EU Health Commissioner Stella Kyriakides told reporters after meeting the Italian health minister in Rome: "This is a situation of concern, but we must not give in to panic."

Pandemic not inevitable

By Philippa Roxby, BBC health reporter

The focus of the coronavirus outbreak is shifting - from China to the rest of the world, particularly Europe.
On the face of it, this seems like bad news. But there are positives too. China appears to be getting on top of the virus with the number of new cases each day reducing.
This suggests that efforts to contain the virus by telling people to stay at home, stopping large public gatherings and preventing travel are working.
The message from WHO officials is that containment is still possible and a global pandemic is not inevitable.
This view has been echoed in the UK, where the government has warned of the social and economic costs of overreacting.

Satellite images have shown a dramatic decline in pollution levels over China, which is "at least partly" due to an economic slowdown prompted by the coronavirus, US space agency Nasa says.

Nasa maps show falling levels of nitrogen dioxide this year.
It comes amid record declines in China's factory activity as manufacturers stop work in a bid to contain coronavirus.

Nasa scientists said the reduction in levels of nitrogen dioxide - a noxious gas emitted by motor vehicles and industrial facilities - was first apparent near the source of the outbreak in Wuhan city but then spread across the country.

Nasa compared the first two months of 2019 with the same period this year.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51691967

South Korea sect leader faces coronavirus murder probe

The leader of a religious sect in South Korea will be investigated over some of the country's coronavirus deaths.


There has been growing growing public anger towards the Shincheonji Church of Jesus

The city government of the capital Seoul has asked prosecutors to charge Lee Man-hee, the founder of the Shincheonji Church, and 11 others.
They are accused of hiding the names of some members as officials tried to track patients before the virus spread.
South Korea is battling the worst coronavirus outbreak outside China.
The country has reported 3,730 cases and 21 deaths so far. More than half of all infections involve members of the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, a fringe Christian group.
Authorities say Shincheonji members infected one another in the southern city of Daegu last month, before fanning out around the country.

What's happening in South Korea?

On Sunday the Seoul City government filed a legal complaint to prosecutors against 12 leaders of the sect. They are accused of homicide, causing harm and violating the Infectious Disease and Control Act.
All 230,000 members of the church have been interviewed. Nearly 9,000 said they were showing symptoms of coronavirus.
A 61-year-old female member of the sect who tested positive for the virus was among the first to be infected.
She initially refused to be taken to a hospital to be tested and is known to have attended several church gatherings before testing positive.
The sect's leader, Lee Man-hee, claims he is the Messiah. He has also been tested for the virus and is awaiting the results.
Roman Catholic churches remain closed, major Protestant groups have cancelled Sunday services and all Buddhist events have been called off.

Anger grows over sect's response

Growing anger over the sect's handling of the outbreak has sparked a petition calling for the church to be disbanded. Nearly 1.2m people have signed it.
This investigation has been sparked by Seoul City Mayor Park Won-soon, who urged the Chief Prosecutor to detain the sect leader.
He warned that he would request a criminal investigation for homicide by wilful negligence and, on Sunday evening, he filed the claim with the prosecutor's office.
But this does not mean the church leaders will face murder charges. It means prosecutors will have to look into the case.
Once prosecutors have finished their investigation they will decide which charges, if any, to bring against the sect.

  https://www.bbc.com/news/world-asia-51695649

Summary for 2nd March 2020:

• Number of deaths worldwide now more than 3,000
  
  
• More than 90% are in Hubei, China, but there have been deaths in 10 other countries
  
  
• South Korea reports 476 new cases, total 4,212, and four more deaths, total 26
  
  
• The leader of a South Korean church linked to the outbreak gets on his knees to apologise
  
  
• Australia confirms first person-to-person transmission
  
  
• China reports 42 more deaths - a total of 2,912
  
  
• Amazon says two employees in Italy have the virus and are in quarantine
  
  
• Indonesia, Iceland, Portugal, Armenia and Andorra confirm their first cases of the virus
  

Indonesia reported its first confirmed cases in the country on Monday.

President Joko Widodo said two Indonesians had tested positive and were in hospital, but did not say where.

His government has come under fire for the lack of reported cases in the world's fourth most populous country which is also close to China.

Health minister Terawan Agus Putranto said last week it was a "blessing from the Almighty" as he defended the country's screening process.

Singaporean student reports 'coronavirus assault' in London

A Singaporean student in London says he was beaten up in an attack linked to the coronavirus late last month.
"To those people who told me that London isn’t racist, think again," Jonathan Mok writes in a lengthy Facebook post.
He says a group of young men in London assaulted him, while saying they "didn't want your coronavirus in my country".
He says the attack left him with fractures on his face, and that he might need reconstructive surgery.
"Racism is not stupidity," the student's post says.
"Racism is hate. Racists constantly find excuses to expound their hatred - and in this current backdrop of the coronavirus, they’ve found yet another excuse."

Jonathan Mok
12 hours ago
The spread of coronavirus has resulted in panic across the world — with people debating as to the severity of the situation: is this a deadly virus that we should all be afraid of? Or is it just similar to the common flu? It is without doubt that the medical effects of the COVID-19 has taken the front stage in issues across the world (and rightfully so). However, when we have been focusing solely on the health effects of the coronavirus, we fail to see the social effects that has surfaced from the spread of this virus— where racism has found yet another excuse to rear its ugly head.
Racist assaults in the past few weeks have been on the rise, with videos and stories of Asian people being targeted — be it verbally or physically.* Personally, I have had experienced several racist statements directed to me in the past weeks, some involving references to the coronavirus. However, stories and videos of racially-motivated assaults always seem like they would never happen to you. After all, people might be racist and might say things, but surely, they wouldn’t dare attack you, especially on one of the busiest streets in London?
Last Monday, at roughly 9.15pm on Oxford Street in London, I walked past a group of young men, when I saw one of them look at me (just as he walked past me) and said something to me, which I could make out the word ‘coronavirus’. I was stunned and turned around to have a look at the man made the statement. He was still staring at me as he walked past and realised I was looking at him. He shouted ‘Don’t you dare look at me, you ____’ (I could not catch the last word because of the accent). Within 3 seconds, he was in my face, together with 3/4 other young men, and a young lady (all of whom seemed no older than 20 years old, but were all more than a head taller than me). I was shocked and angry because he directed a racist remark at me and had the audacity to shout at me like I had wronged him. All of a sudden, the first punch was swung at my face and took me by surprise. When I was still shocked by the first hit, the guy delivered the second sucker punch. By then, a few passers-by had stopped and one of them tried to reason with them that 4 on 1 was not fair. The attacker’s friend tried to swing a kick at me as I was explaining to the passer-by that I hadn’t done anything at all. I tried to react in self-defence but couldn’t do anything substantial because I was still recovering from a broken finger in my master hand. The guy who tried to kick me then said, ‘I don’t want your coronavirus in my country’, before swinging another sucker punch at me, which resulted in my face exploding with blood (from my nose), where the blood was splattered all across the pavement. Still in daze and shock, the group left promptly from the scene before the police arrived. Following the incident, I followed up with a visit to the A&E and I was told that I had suffered a few fractures in my face and might need to undergo reconstructive surgery to fix some of the bones.
For those of you who know me, I hate being in the spotlight and I never liked writing posts on Facebook or any social media platform— I only see it as a platform to share memes and hopefully, bring some joy to my friends on social media. However, I felt that this incident highlighted an important issue that needed to be brought into the spotlight. I’ve studied in London for the past 2 years and every year, I am subjected to racist remarks (whether innocent or made with malice). To those people who told me that London isn’t racist, think again.
I’ve always believed that racism was grounded in stupidity— that people who actually believed one’s ‘racial group’ or ‘nationality’ defines an individual must surely be so ignorant that they deserve my pity. Surely, an ethnic Chinese cannot be ‘British’ or a white-skinned person cannot be Chinese? What makes us ‘Chinese’, ‘Indian’, ‘Malay’ or some other race? Most of us have ancestors of different races. What should we make of a Singaporean who has an English father and a Chinese mother? Is she Chinese or English? What then, should we make of an individual with bloodlines tracing from many different places? How should we classify an individual who has ancestors hailing from Africa, China, England and Italy? Racists argue that people are a certain way because of their race. But how can this argument hold when we realise that race is such a malleable concept? I have believed for long that racism is grounded in stupidity, but I realise today that to say so, is not only being kind to racists, but also gives them an excuse.
Racism is not stupidity — racism is hate. Racists constantly find excuses to expound their hatred— and in this current backdrop of the coronavirus, they’ve found yet another excuse. From refusing service to a Chinese-looking person to racially-motivated hate crimes, every single one of these acts are based on racism. People dismiss racism with statements such as ‘it’s not all of us — only a minority are racists and this does not reflect on a city/country’. While factually true, not only it does not change the fact that this is an ugly problem that has plagued humanity for a very long time, but also it belittles this problem we have. Racism has changed it form and shape through the years and it is once again rearing its ugly head in light of the COVID-19 crisis.
People may ask me why did I not fight back? Or some might even say I shouldn’t even have turned when I heard the racist remark — but do any of these answer the question: why should anyone, simply because of the colour of their skin, be subjected to abuse, in any form, verbal or physical? Why should I keep quiet when someone makes a racist remark towards me?
To the group of guys who saw fit to attack me because of my skin colour: here’s something for you— I stood up to you because I wasn’t afraid, I’ve faced far more intimidating characters in my life. And if you think ganging up on someone who is sizeably smaller than you makes you a big man — it doesn’t. It only makes every single one of you a coward who doesn’t have the balls to take someone on 1 on 1. Grow a pair.
[To anyone who saw the incident on Monday night (24 Feb 2020) at Oxford Street (just opposite the Primark at Tottenham Court Road), or have any knowledge of or evidence to the incident, please contact me or the Met Police UK to provide evidence to identify the perpetrators!]
[To the kind lady who helped videotape the incident and call the police, if you read this, please contact me I would like to have a copy of the video! Thank you!]
*(See: https://edition.cnn.com/…/coronavirus-racist-at…/index.html… )

EDIT 6 March: 

Teens arrested over 'racially aggravated' attack

Two teenagers have been arrested on suspicion of attacking a student in London who was told: "We don't want your coronavirus in our country".
Jonathan Mok, 23, was attacked as he walked down Oxford Street at about 21:15 GMT on 24 February.
Read more here.

Indonesia reported its first confirmed cases in the country on Monday.

President Joko Widodo said two Indonesians had tested positive and were in hospital, but did not say where.

His government has come under fire for the lack of reported cases in the world's fourth most populous country which is also close to China.

Health minister Terawan Agus Putranto said last week it was a "blessing from the Almighty" as he defended the country's screening process.

A blessing from the Almighty? What is??  I'm not really getting it!
Are they still maintaining that they are safe because of PRAYERS?
Why are they holding back on revealing what part of Indonesia the positive tested cases are in?  Indonesia covers a vast area, made up of about 17,500 separate islands in all, 6,000 of which are inhabited as far as they know up to this present day.  The fourth most populated nation of the world!  They don't even know for sure exactly how many islands there are in total, they're still trying to count them.  If they they are keeping it secret because of the risk of losing tourism then they are going about it the wrong way!  Look at what secrecy and prayers has done for that religious institution in South Korea.

Summary for 4th March

• Schools and universities in Italy will remain closed until mid March
  

• Iran reports 15 new deaths from the virus, bringing the total there to 92
  

• Hospitals in the UK are asked to carry out consultations by video link to reduce the risk of infection
  

• World Bank announces $12bn aid package for developing countries struggling with the virus
  

• Chile and Argentina report their first cases of coronavirus
  

• Hong Kong sends two chartered flights to repatriate citizens from Wuhan, where the outbreak began
  

• India limits the export of certain medicines, prompting fears of global shortages of common drugs
  

Israel quarantines football fans

Dozens of people who attended a football match last week in Tel Aviv, Israel, have been ordered to self-quarantine, Israeli news website Ynet reports.
A teenager among a crowd of away fans at the game between Maccabi Tel Aviv and Hapoel Tel Aviv was infected with coronavirus, Israel's health ministry confirmed on Wednesday.
The teenager is believed to have contracted the virus from the manager of a toy store who had visited Italy and earlier tested positive.
"He is currently in isolation in his room and hasn't been in contact with the rest of the household [since testing positive]," the boy's mother said, adding that her son had a stuffy nose and a cough, but no fever.
The health ministry initially requested that thousands of fans at the match be quarantined, but limited the number following an outcry.

Virgin offers 'free flight changes'

Virgin Atlantic has said it will waive flight change fees for new bookings in March to give passengers more flexibility during the coronavirus crisis.
Flight bookings have slumped in recent weeks as anxiety increases about the rapid spread of coronavirus, prompting dozens of airlines - including British Airways and Delta - to suspend change fees to encourage passengers to continue travelling.
Virgin said the new measures would allow passengers "the option to change their flight at a later date, without incurring a fee".

UK to make changes to sick pay amid self-isolation fears

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the government will "bring forward measures to allow the payment of statutory sick pay from the very first day you are sick instead of four days under the current rules".
“I think that is the right thing. Nobody should be penalised for doing the right thing,” Prime Minister Johnson told parliament.
No word yet on how the government might help those who are self-employed or on zero-hours contracts, who may not qualify for sick pay.
Mr Johnson said "a great many" will be entitled to statutory sick pay.
"Others will be entitled to help through existing systems such as universal credit."
Find out more.

Saudi Arabia suspends pilgrimages for citizens and residents

The authorities in Saudi Arabia have announced the temporary suspension of the lesser Muslim pilgrimage, or Umra, for Saudi citizens and residents of the Gulf kingdom as a precaution against the spread of the new coronavirus disease, state media report.
Last week, they took the unprecedented step of barring foreigners from performing pilgrimages to Mecca and Medina.
The Umra is an extra, optional pilgrimage. Although it includes some of the rituals of the most important pilgrimage, the Hajj, they are shortened and there are fewer of them.
On Monday, Saudi Arabia reported its first case of Covid-19 - a Saudi man who had travelled to Iran, the centre of the outbreak in the Middle East.

France closes schools near Paris
France has closed about 120 schools in areas with the largest numbers of coronavirus infection.
Both primary and secondary schools have been shut in an area north of Paris where the main cluster of French cases has emerged and where two people who have died of the virus lived.
The closures affect about 35,000 pupils, Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer told LCI television.

EU official in Brussels tests positive

An EU official in Brussels has tested positive for the new coronavirus.
The man, a member of staff at the European Defence Agency (EDA), had recently returned from a trip to Italy, media network Euractiv reports.
Dana Spinant, deputy chief spokeswoman of the European Commission, told AFP news agency: "We have confirmation of the case."
A spokeswoman for the EDA has denied reports that the official, who has not been named, had attended a lengthy meeting with about 30 other EU members of staff in Brussels before he was diagnosed.
All meetings at the EU headquarters in the city have been cancelled until 13 March.


Number of coronavirus cases in the UK rises to 87.

Summary for 5th March

   - Italy is closing all schools from Thursday for at least 10 days
   - Iran is also closing schools and universities till early April because of coronavirus
   - California declares state of emergency after announcing its first coronavirus death
   - A cruise ship with about 3,500 people on board is being held off California
   - UK regional airline Flybe collapses, saying virus is partly to blame
   - International Monetary Fund announces $50bn (£39bn) in funding for affected countries

Coronavirus in 18 out of 50 US states

Tennessee and New Jersey have each confirmed their first cases of Covid-19, raising the total number of affected states to 18, according to the New York Times.
Officials in New Jersey said on Wednesday that a 32-year-man from the New York City area was being isolated in hospital after he was tested for the virus.
The patient is Tennessee is a 44-year-old man who recently returned home from out of state travel, according to the state's governor. He is now remaining at home while authorities try to trace everyone with whom he had contact.

India-EU summit cancelled

An India-EU summit set for 13 March has been cancelled because of the coronavirus, Indian officials said on Thursday.
"Both sides have agreed that due to health authorities advising against travel between regions, it would be wise to reschedule the summit to a mutually convenient date," Indian foreign ministry spokesman Raveesh Kumar told reporters.
India's PM had been due to attend.
So far there have been 30 cases of Covid-19 in India. The government has said it plans to set up testing centres in every district in the country.

North Korean media warns against misinformation

North Korea's official daily Rodong Sinmun is calling on the country's people to beware of misinformation on Covid-19, saying it is important to use only scientifically proven knowledge to prevent the virus spreading.
The paper says there is currently no evidence to support spraying high-concentration disinfectants indoors to kill the virus, or taking anti-viral drugs to prevent infection.
It also urges senior citizens to refrain from going outside and for people in general to avoid large crowds as it seeks to prevent a Covid-19 outbreak in the country.
North Korea, a secretive, centralised communist state, has not reported any confirmed cases of coronavirus. Neighbouring South Korea has reported 5,766.

Sunderland players banned from travelling abroad

Sunderland players have been told not to travel abroad during a forthcoming break as a precaution against coronavirus, says boss Phil Parkinson.
The team are without a game over the 21-22 March weekend, when a match with now-defunct Bury should have been played, giving the players a break.
"It's important we give ourselves every chance of keeping that virus away," Parkinson told BBC Look North.
"We said to the lads they can't go abroad, some wanted to go away."
Read more here.

Total number of UK virus cases 115
The total number of UK coronavirus cases has now risen to 115 - an increase of 30 on yesterday - the UK's Department of Health and Social Care has said.
As of 09:00 GMT on 5 March, a total of 18,083 people have been tested in the UK, of which 17,968 were confirmed negative, it added.

UK moving towards 'delay' phase of virus plan as cases hit 115

UK health officials are moving towards the second phase of their response to the coronavirus outbreak.
It comes as the number of UK people diagnosed with the virus reached 115, a rise of 30 since Wednesday.
The latest government figures released on Thursday showed that of the total number of cases, 25 are in London.

as at 4:45 pm:
A patient with underlying health conditions has become the first person in the UK to die after testing positive for coronavirus.

The Royal Berkshire NHS Trust said they were an "older patient" who had been "in and out of hospital for non-coronavirus reasons".
The patient "was admitted and last night tested positive for coronavirus".
It comes as the number of UK people diagnosed with the virus reached 115, a rise of 30 since Wednesday.
Meanwhile, the prime minister's official spokesman said it was "highly likely the virus is going to spread in a significant way".
The patient is believed to have caught the virus in the UK, said the country's chief medical adviser Professor Chris Whitty.
Officials are now trying to trace the people they were in contact with.
"I am very sorry to report a patient in England who tested positive for Covid-19 has sadly died," said Prof Whitty.
"I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected."

Summary for 6th March

-  One patient tests positive in the Vatican, at the heart of Europe's worst-hit country
-  Asian stock markets see sharp falls over growing fears that coronavirus may cause a global economic slump
-  Asia Development Bank analysis suggests potential impact on global economy global ranges from $77bn to $347bn
-  In the US, a helicopter drops testing kits to a quarantined cruise ship off San Francisco
-  Outside of Hubei, China announces 17 new cases - 16 of which came from abroad
-  Cameroon and Serbia among the countries to report their first case

---

'We won't get vaccine during outbreak' - UK science expert

The UK government's chief scientific adviser has said he does not think a working vaccine will be produced in time to affect the current coronavirus outbreak.
Sir Patrick Vallance told BBC Radio 4's Today programme: "I don't think we will get the vaccine for this outbreak.
"I don't think we'll get something in time or at scale for this outbreak."
There is currently no vaccine available to protect people against the disease.
Researchers have begun to test some on animals, and if that goes well there could be human trials later in the year.
But even if scientists can celebrate having developed a vaccine before Christmas, there is still the massive job of being able to mass-produce it.
Sir Patrick added that it was “not unreasonable to assume that we will end up with a vaccine” within the next 18 months.
Find out more about the search for a vaccine here.

• Ajax assistant coach told to steer clear of club
  Ajax have told assistant coach Christian Poulsen and two other members of their training staff to stay away from the Dutch football club due to fears they could have caught the coronavirus.
  All three had attended the 40th birthday party of former Danish international Thomas Kahlenberg, who has since been diagnosed with the virus.
  "They have no symptoms and if it stays that way they will return to work next week," an Ajax spokesman told Dutch media.
  

• Vatican confirms first virus case

  The Vatican has confirmed that one patient has tested positive for coronavirus in a clinic within the city state.
  The clinic has suspended all non-essential appointments and is only keeping the accidents and emergency department open.
  

• Asian stock markets fall

  Asian stock markets have fallen again amid fears that the coronavirus may cause a global economic slump.
  Shares on the Nikkei index in Japan closed down 2.72%. Investors were disappointed that the Bank of Japan didn’t intervene to support the market. Meanwhile, Hong Kong's Hang Seng is down 2.3% in afternoon trading.
  The coronavirus will hit the economies of developing Asian economies hard, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) has said. There will be sharp declines in areas including tourism and business travel as well as supply disruptions, it said.
  It is as yet not clear how serious the economic loss could be due to uncertainty surrounding how the outbreak with develop. The range of scenarios explored in the analysis suggests a global impact in the range of $77 billion (£59 billion) to $347 billion, or 0.1% to 0.4% of global gross domestic product (GDP).
  

• Ten South Korea sect leaders have virus

  Ten leaders of South Korean religious sect group Shincheonji have tested positive for the virus, reports Yonhap news.
  The vast majority of the country's positive cases have been linked to the religious group. South Korea reported 309 more cases on Friday, bringing its total number of cases to 6,593. Of these, 43 people have died.
  

• Starbucks bans reusable cups in North America

  Starbucks has temporarily stopped making drinks in customer-provided cups in the US and Canada.
  "We are pausing the use of personal cups and 'for here' ware in our stores.
  "We have provided scenario-based procedural information to our store teams on how to report and support anyone that may express they’ve been impacted by the virus, including store closure decision making support," it added.
  The company has also modified or postponed large meetings across its offices in North America and restricted all business-related air travel, both domestic and international, until 31 March.
  

• 'Don't use vodka to sanitise hands'

  A rush on hand sanitiser to protect against the coronavirus has seen homemade versions spring up, including one based on a handmade vodka.
  But vodka maker Tito's quickly shot down a tweet suggesting the use of its spirits is strong enough for that purpose.
  Some people are combining rubbing alcohol and aloe vera for a sanitiser. That can work as long as the version is at least 60% alcohol.
  But posts on social media that suggested Texas-based Tito's Handmade Vodka could be used instead saw the company cite the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) to quickly refute the idea.
  

• Chinatown hit with racist letters in Japan

  Owners of restaurants in Chinatown in the Japanese city of Yokohama have been sent anonymous letters calling Chinese people "germs"...
  

• Cruise ship may be quarantined off San Francisco for two weeks

  A total of 140 British citizens are among the 2,500 people aboard a cruise ship being held off San Francisco after a passenger died of the coronavirus.
  There are another 21 suspected cases - 10 of them crew members - on the Grand Princess.
  Testing kits have been flown by helicopter to the ship after the death of a man in his 70s.
  David Chiu, a Democratic member of the California state assembly, said the ship may be kept in quarantine there for two weeks.
  "It's got to dock at some point, our state's public health infrastructure and expertise is second to none, so the chances are if there's any place to dock - California is as good as any," he said.
  "But that being said, obviously we all have concerns to ensure it's done well, both to serve the passengers on the ship and also to protect the broader community in California."
  

• Netherlands reports its first coronavirus death

  The Dutch authorities have reportedly confirmed the first coronavirus-related death in the Netherlands.
  The victim was an 86-year-old man who had been taken to Ikazia Hospital in Amsterdam, local media said.
  

• Reusable cups banned at Starbucks and on some UK trains

  We told you earlier that Starbucks branches in the US and Canada had temporarily banned reusable cups in response to the coronavirus outbreak. Well the ruling now apparently applies to the UK too.
  The coffee chain said customers would still receive a 25p discount for bringing reusable cups with them, but drinks would only be served in paper cups. Its Europe spokesman, Robert Lynch, said the move came "out of an abundance of caution".
  UK rail companies Great Western Railway and LNER have also banned reusable cups on trains - but GWR scrapped the policy after criticism.
  Read the full story here.
  

• Bollywood 'Oscars' called off

  Bollywood's version of the Oscars has been called off due to the coronavirus outbreak.
  The International Indian Film Academy Awards was due to run for three days starting 27 March. But organisers have decided to postpone the event because of the "sensitivity" of the mounting crisis.
  There are at least 31 confirmed cases in India so far.
  

• Bethlehem under quarantine

  Israel and the Palestinian Authority have put the city of Bethlehem under quarantine after seven people were diagnosed with the coronavirus there.
  The Israeli Defence Ministry said it had imposed emergency measures, with all people "forbidden from entering or leaving".
  The Israeli military's Co-ordinator of Government Activities in the Territories (Cogat) said it was "working closely with the Palestinian Authority" to stem the spread of the virus.
  

• Ten South Korea sect leaders have virus

  Ten leaders of South Korean religious sect group Shincheonji have tested positive for the virus, reports Yonhap news.
  The vast majority of the country's positive cases have been linked to the religious group. South Korea reported 309 more cases on Friday, bringing its total number of cases to 6,593. Of these, 43 people have died.
  

• British man tests positive in Thailand

  A British man who travelled from London on 28 February has been confirmed as Thailand's latest coronavirus case.
  The Ministry of Public Health said on Friday that the 43-year-old had transited in Hong Kong for a few hours on 29 February. He went to a private hospital in Thailand on 3 March with a fever. He is currently undergoing treatment.
  There are 48 confirmed cases of the virus in Thailand.
  

• What about refunds for cancelled events?

  Many large events are being cancelled in affected countries. Sporting events including the Six Nations rugby, Italian football matches and the Chinese Formula 1 Grand Prix have already been disrupted . In the UK, the government has said it may restrict large-scale gatherings to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
  So what are your rights if you have a ticket to something that gets called off?
  

• More than 700 quarantined in St Petersburg

  More than 700 people - including many students - are in quarantine in the Russian city of St Petersburg as they may have been in contact with an Italian student who was diagnosed on Thursday.
  There have been no coronavirus deaths in Russia and there are only seven registered cases.
  But there is growing scepticism and speculation about inefficient testing.
  President Putin has attempted to quash those fears, saying he had been told by the security services this was is a foreign ploy to misinform Russians and the only way to fight it was to tell the truth.
  

• UK soap star self-isolating

  British TV soap Coronation Street has confirmed that one of its stars has been self-isolating "as a precaution".
  Producers of the programme - the world's longest running soap - said the cast member, who has not been named, made the decision to self-isolate themselves.
  "They haven't been in to work and they are showing no symptoms," a spokeswoman said.
  There has been no disruption to filming, she added.
  

2:00pm

Five new cases in Scotland

Five new cases of coronavirus have been recorded in Scotland, taking the total there to 11.
Two of the new cases are in Fife, and one each in Grampian, Forth Valley and Lothian health board areas, the Scottish Government said.

Six new cases in Russia

Six new cases of coronavirus have been registered in Russia, bringing the total up to 12.
All new cases are people recently returned from Italy.
Infections have now been registered in Moscow, St Petersburg and Nizhny Novgorod.

The Vatican, Serbia, Slovakia, Peru and Cameroon report their first cases

14:06

Will coronavirus cancel the Tokyo 2020 Olympics?

Games on? Or Games over?
It would be one of the biggest sports news stories ever.
The postponement - or cancellation - of the world's greatest sporting mega-event because of coronavirus would be unprecedented in peacetime.
The 2020 Olympics are due to take place in Tokyo from 24 July to 9 August - here are some of the key questions as the Olympic movement faces up to uncharted territory.

Coronavirus cases top 100,000 globally - Johns Hopkins

The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has topped 100,000 according to the Johns Hopkins University, which is collating data from various national and regional health authorities.
Their tracker dashboard (here) puts the great majority of those cases in mainland China.

British Airways staff test positive

British Airways says two members of staff have tested positive for the coronavirus.
Both have been isolated and are recovering at home.

UK to spend £46m on vaccine and testing research

The UK government has promised £46m to fund urgent work to find a coronavirus vaccine and develop a rapid test for the disease.
This will include work on eight possible vaccines which are already in development as well as further research, the government said.
The funding will also support a lab in Bedford to develop a test that could provide results within 20 minutes.
But the test could still be six months away.
Read more here.

EU ambassadors' meeting in Brussels cancelled

A meeting of EU ambassadors in Brussels this morning was postponed and the Croatian ambassador has put herself in isolation after she came into contact with a European Council employee who tested positive for coronavirus.
Most of the ambassadors were in the room when they received the news.
The European Council is working to trace other contacts of the employee.

'Avoid visiting elderly relatives' - Macron

On Friday, the French president called on people in France to limit trips to homes for the elderly.
"We must avoid visiting our elderly relatives as much as possible," Emmanuel Macron said on a visit to a retirement home in Paris.
He also warned that that the coronavirus epidemic will last for weeks.

Coronavirus hits Nile cruise ship

Twelve people on a Nile cruise boat have tested positive for the coronavirus, while not displaying symptoms, Egypt's health ministry has said.
All 12 are Egyptian staff on the ship.
The ship was heading to the southern city of Aswan from near Luxor, according to local television reports.

Milan-San Remo cycling race postponed

Italy's Milan-San Remo - one of cycling's biggest races - has been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak, organisers have confirmed. The one day race was scheduled to take place on 21 March.
Next week's Tirreno-Adriatico, a week-long race, has also been shelved for now.
You can follow the latest sporting events that have been cancelled here.

Summary for 7th March:

- Twenty-one cases of coronavirus are confirmed on a cruise ship that is being held off California's coast
- The death toll in Italy rises to 197 after the largest daily increase in fatalities
- The World Health Organization says nearly 100,000 people worldwide have contracted the coronavirus
- Reports say 15 Americans have been quarantined in Bethlehem over virus fears
- Official data on Saturday showed a significant hit to Chinese exports after the deadly outbreak

---

9:03
More cases confirmed on cruise ship
In California, 21 cases of coronavirus have now been confirmed on the Grand Princess cruise ship that is being held off the coast near San Francisco.
The cruise liner is a sister ship of the Diamond Princess, which was the scene of a major coronavirus outbreak while moored in Japan. US Vice President Mike Pence said the Grand Princess would be sent to a non-commercial dock over the weekend where all its 3,533 passengers and crew would be tested.

9:05
Italy sees jump in coronavirus deaths
Italy has reported its biggest daily jump in coronavirus deaths - 49, taking the total to 197.
More than 4,600 cases have been reported in total and the government has ordered the closure of all schools for 10 days as it battles to contain the outbreak. All professional sport, including Serie A football matches, will be played behind closed doors for a month.
The country, which has one of the world's oldest populations, has now the most officially reported deaths from the virus outside China.

9:09
First cases reported in more countries
Cases of the virus, which causes the respiratory disease Covid-19, have now been reported in more than 90 countries, the World Health Organization says.
The Vatican, Serbia, Slovakia, Peru, Cameroon and Togo have all reported their first cases. Cameroon is the first central African country to register a case.
Meanwhile, the Netherlands reported its first death on Friday.

9:16
Philippines to declare health emergency
The Philippines - a country of more than 100 million people - has only reported six infections but the country has now had its first case of local transmission.
This has raised fears that the disease could spread quickly through communities and prompted the health secretary to recommend that a state of public health emergency be declared.
President Rodrigo Duterte reportedly approved this on Saturday. The government has warned that communities could be locked down if cases increase rapidly.
Although the Philippines has had few confirmed cases, it's worth remembering that the first confirmed fatality outside China was there - involving a man who had travelled from Wuhan, where the virus first emerged.
And like everywhere in Asia, people have been concerned about the virus for several weeks. In February, we reported on a mass wedding ceremony where face masks and temperature checks were a key part of proceedings.

9:23
The trapped cancer patient - what happened next?
About a month ago, a story came to light that moved people all over the world.
Pictures of Lu Huejin crying as she tried to get her 26-year-old daughter out of locked-down Hubei province for leukaemia treatment in neighbouring Jiangxi went viral.
"She needs to have her treatment. But they won't let us through," Ms Lu told two reporters who found her on a bridge of the Yangtze river.
"All I want to do is save her life."
The BBC has tracked down the family to find out what happened next.
Read the story here.

9:36
UK reports second fatality
Here's the latest from the UK today.
The country has reported its second death from the virus
Milton Keynes University Hospital said the man, who had underlying health conditions, died shortly after testing positive for the virus. The hospital has isolated any patients or staff who were in contact with him.
The UK's first death - a woman in her 70s - was confirmed on Thursday. A British man also died from the virus last month in Japan after being infected on the Diamond Princess cruise ship. The number of confirmed cases in the UK now stands at 164.

Texas festival SXSW cancelled
The South by Southwest festival, better known as SXSW, has become the latest casualty of the outbreak in the US.
The music, tech and film festival - one of the most famous in the US - had been due to take place in Austin, Texas, from 13-22 March. Amazon, Netflix and Apple had already pulled out.
Austin Mayor Steve Adler declared "a local disaster" in response to the coronavirus and said he had "issued an order that effectively cancels South by Southwest for this year".

How is India faring?
It's the second most populous nation in the world and its government said it was among the first nations to prepare for an outbreak.
But how is India actually doing? Can it stave off a big outbreak?
There are only a few dozen reported coronavirus cases at the moment but the BBC's Soutik Biswas says the real extent of the spread of the infection may be far from clear...
Read his latest blog here

10:12
South Korea seals off flats
In South Korea, two blocks of flats have been placed under quarantine after dozens of occupants were found to be infected with the coronavirus.
The buildings are in the city of Daegu and those infected are linked to a religious sect at the centre of South Korea's outbreak, Yonhap news agency reported
Meanwhile, another 274 more infections have been confirmed nationwide, taking the total to just over 7,000. Most of the new cases are in Daegu.
Health officials say 44 patients have died across the country and 36 are in critical condition.

10:20
How has sport been affected?
As the virus spreads around the world, authorities have been taking action by postponing major sporting events which would otherwise bring tens of thousands of people together.

Here is a brief look at how the virus is affecting the sporting world:
- Scotland's women's Six Nations match with France which was scheduled for later on Saturday has been postponed after an unnamed home player contracted coronavirus

- In Denmark, Superliga side Brondby have quarantined 13 people at the club after former Denmark international Thomas Kahlenberg was diagnosed with coronavirus

- Football fixtures have been postponed in Switzerland, China, Japan, South Korea and Italy's Serie A
French football is the latest to be hit, with runaway leaders Paris St-Germain's Ligue 1 game at Strasbourg being delayed over fears of spreading the virus

- Meanwhile, UEFA has already announced that two European football fixtures, involving sides from Italy and Spain, will be played behind closed doors next week. They are: Atalanta versus Valencia in the Champions League; and Inter Milan versus Getafe, in the Europa League - Formula One’s Chinese Grand Prix, which was scheduled to take place in Shanghai on 19 April, has been postponed
- Basketball star LeBron James said he would not play if NBA chiefs decided games should be played behind closed door. The US league has reportedly told teams to look into strategies on how to play without fans

- The 2020 World Athletics Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, has been postponed until next year.

- In the UK, ministers are set to meet with sports governing bodies and broadcasters on Monday to discuss the staging of events behind closed doors if the outbreak worsens

- And doubts have been raised over the future of this year's Olympics in Tokyo. Our sports editor Dan Roan has taken a look at the situation - read more here.

10:36
Iran reports death of second MP
Now to another virus hotspot - Iran - where a second MP has reportedly died from Covid-19.
Fatemeh Rahbar, 55, was a conservative who had recently been elected to parliament from the capital, Tehran, state news agency Irna said.
Last month, Iran's deputy minister, Iraj Harirchi, and another MP both tested positive for the virus. The MP later died. A high-ranking adviser to the country's Supreme Leader, Ali Khamenei, has also died from the disease.
Iran has reported 124 deaths and 4,747 infections, although the figures are believed to be underestimated. Schools have been closed across the country, and cultural and sporting events cancelled, as the government struggles to contain the outbreak.

Toilet paper wipe-out fears escalate
It's inspired such hashtags as #ToiletPaperEmergency and #ToiletPaperApocalypse - and the surge in demand for loo roll does not appear to be slowing down.
One Australian newspaper even printed a jovial eight-page "toilet paper" pullout section this week, for those who may have run out.
And the frenzy appears to have spread, with barren shelves - where the sought-after paper once sat - appearing around the world including the US and the UK.
For some, though, the situation has escalated.
One man was reportedly tasered by police in the country this week, after getting into an argument with staff over the product.
And a video widely shared online appears to show three women pulling each other's hair in a struggle over a particularly large pack in Sydney.
Psychologists and consumer experts have linked the surge in demand on herd mentality, FOMO syndrome - or Fear Of Missing Out - and the convenience of modern lifestyles.

11:09
Iran reports more confirmed cases and deaths
Iran has just announced that the number of coronavirus cases has risen to 5,823 and that the number of deaths now stands at 145 - an increase of 21.
However, it is widely believed the official figures are heavily underestimated.
Earlier, state media said a second MP had died from Covid-19.

11:21
Cruise ship passengers face anxious wait
Some more now from the Grand Princess cruise ship which is being held off the coast of California.
There are 21 confirmed coronavirus cases on board and 19 of them are crew members, officials say.
Passenger Jackie Bissell, one of the 140 Britons on board, told the BBC that they were told on Thursday there might be a problem. They are now confined to their cabins.
"You can't go out, you can just go out in the hall if someone taps the door. They put the food outside, drop your menus inside and that's about it," she said.
Another passenger is Kari Kolstoe, from North Dakota, who has stage-four cancer. She says she is worried that the time in quarantine will delay her next round of chemotherapy, which is due next week. "It's very unsettling," she said in a phone interview.
The ship is due to be directed to a non-commercial port over the weekend.

11:37
UK 'on the edge' of sustained transmission
The UK is "teetering on the edge" of sustained transmission of coronavirus, one of the country's top medical experts has warned.
Jennie Harries, England's deputy chief medical officer, told the BBC that the country remained in the "containment" phase but that a decision about the next phase - delaying the spread of the virus - would depend on how fast the number of cases rose.
She added that measures to slow the virus needed to be "proportionate" and urged consumers not to panic buy.

11:50
Funeral named as major source of outbreak in Spain
A funeral held in northern Spain about two weeks ago has been named as the biggest source of coronavirus in the country, local media have reported.
More than 60 people at the ceremony in the Basque capital of Vitoria-Gasteiz, and their close contacts have been infected, according to the National Centre for Microbiology (CNM).
Meanwhile, the first case of the virus has also been reported inside a Spanish prison.
Officials have decided to put parts of the prison in Aranjuez - about 12 miles (20km) south of Madrid - into lockdown after a staff member fell ill, according to Spanish news agency EFE.
In total, there have been 402 cases recorded in the country. Eight people have died.
Spanish authorities reported the country's first case at the end of January, with the first death on 13 February.

---

Leading Italian politician tests positive

The president of Italy's Lazio region and secretary of the country's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), Nicola Zingaretti, has tested positive for Covid-19.
Mr Zingaretti, 54, made the announcement in a video post on Facebook.
He said: "The doctors have told me that I am positive for Covid-19. I am fine but I will have to stay home for the next few days. From here I will continue to do the work there is to do. Courage to everyone and see you soon!"

Girl, 12, is Malta's first case - and other Europe stats

Malta's first case of coronavirus has been detected. A 12-year-old Italian girl who lives on the island tested positive for the virus, Health Minister Chris Fearne said. The girl is being treated in hospital, where she "is doing well", the minister added
It comes less than 24 hours after doctors and nurses on the island threatened to strike if a cruise ship were allowed to dock in the capital Valletta. A previous passenger on the MSC Opera (pic below) had tested positive for the virus.
Elsewhere in Europe on Saturday:

• Belgium reported 60 new cases, taking the total there to 169
  
• In Germany, 684 cases have been recorded - the fifth most of any country - but no deaths
  
• The virus has infected people in every region of France, where 613 cases have been recorded. New measures, including the closing of all schools, are set to be rolled out in the two worst affected regions - Oise in the north and Haut-Rhin in the east - from Monday, health officials have said
  

What’s the latest in the US?
-  The FBI says that one of its employees in San Francisco has tested positive for Covid-19. In a statement it said other workers at the small satellite office had been sent home and all known contacts of the infected person were being notified
-  Florida reported two deaths on Friday - the first on the US east coast. They take the US death toll to 16 with more than 200 confirmed cases. The other fatalities have been in the west-coast states of California and Washington.
-  The White House is facing continued criticism of its response to the crisis, in particular the delays in testing for the virus. President Donald Trump has signed an $8.3bn (£6.4bn) emergency bill but the government has admitted that it does not have enough testing kits. Irwin Redlener, director of Columbia University's National Center for Disaster Preparedness, described the response as "gross amateur-hour incompetence". "We've done maybe 1,000 or more tests when South Korea has done 75,000-100,000 - this whole thing is out of control," he told MSNBC
-  A US Navy sailor has tested positive for the virus in Naples, Italy, Fox News reports

And of course, what better way to fight off the blues ...

Music, singing, dancing 

The Coronavirus Wash Your Hands song & dance has gone viral





Here with translation:

My two nephews have been doing this dance day in day out for the past week and singing to it too.
They learned it in the playground at school! all the kids have got it on their phones.

Coronavirus: Dozens trapped as China quarantine hotel collapses



About 70 people were trapped after a hotel being used as a coronavirus quarantine facility in the Chinese city of Quanzhou collapsed.

About 40 of the 70 have been pulled from the rubble of the five-storey Xinjia Hotel, state media says.
Videos posted online show emergency workers combing through the building's wreckage in the southern province of Fujian.

It is not clear what caused the collapse or if anyone has died.


Rescue workers in orange overalls clamber over the rubble as they look for survivors


The hotel reportedly had 80 guest rooms

It happened at about 19:30 local time (11:30 GMT).
Chinese state media says the hotel was being used as a quarantine facility monitoring people who had had close contact with coronavirus patients.
The hotel reportedly opened in 2018 and had 80 guest rooms.

One woman told the Beijing News website that relatives including her sister had been under quarantine there.

"I can't contact them, they're not answering their phones," she said

"I'm under quarantine too [at another hotel] and I'm very worried, I don't know what to do. They were healthy, they took their temperatures every day, and the tests showed that everything was normal."

As of Friday, Fujian province had 296 cases of coronavirus. Meanwhile 10,819 people have been placed under observation because they have been in close contact with someone infected.

The World Health Organization says more than 101,000 people worldwide have now contracted the virus.

More than 3,000 people have died - the majority in the Chinese province of Hubei where the outbreak originated.

Summary for 8th March

• Italy places up to 16 million people under quarantine as it battles to contain the spread of coronavirus
  
• Those in 15 central and northern provinces need special permission to travel - Milan and Venice are affected
  
• Some 3,500 people on a cruise ship lying off the coast of San Francisco are to be tested for the virus
  
• China reported the lowest number of new infections since January - an indication that the spread is slowing
  
• Italy has placed strict travel restrictions on the region of Lombardy and 14 other provinces in a bid to control the spread of the virus. Other drastic measures have been announced for the rest of the country including the closure of schools, museums, theatres and cinemas and the suspension of weddings and funerals. We have more details here
  
• A cruise ship quarantined off the coast of San Francisco because of an outbreak of coronavirus has been given permission to dock in nearby Oakland. All 3,533 passengers and crew are to be tested. So far 21 out of 45 people tested on board have the virus
  
• China has reported its lowest daily number of new coronavirus infections since January - an indication that the spread there is slowing
  
• At least six people have died following the collapse of a five-storey hotel in China's south-eastern coastal city of Quanzhou. The hotel was being used to quarantine people suspected of having coronavirus
  

---

Chancellor: UK is 'well prepared' to tackle the coronavirus

The UK is “well prepared” and in a “strong” economic position to tackle the coronavirus, the country’s Chancellor Rishi Sunak has said.
Speaking to Sky’s Sophy Ridge on Sunday, Mr Sunak said the government is poised to give the NHS “whatever it needs”.
So far, there have been 206 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK.
Touching upon the effects the outbreak could have on public services, as well as businesses, Mr Sunak said that the UK government is working to “make sure that we have the interventions required to help anyone through a difficult period”.
Mr Sunak is due to address the outbreak in his first Budget on Wednesday.

Quanzhou hotel death toll rises

The death toll from the collapsed hotel in the Chinese city of Quanzhou has risen to 10, state media report.
The five-storey hotel in the south-eastern coastal city was being used to quarantine those suspected of having the coronavirus. About 70 people were trapped in the rubble and more than 20 remain unaccounted for.
The building's owner has been summoned by police, state media added.

More countries report first cases

Colombia, Bulgaria, Costa Rica, Malta, the Maldives and Paraguay have all reported their first cases of the virus.
In Bulgaria, the centre for infectious diseases said two men from the northern city of Pleven and two women from the central city of Gabrovo had tested positive.
Paraguay said a 32-year-old man who arrived from Ecuador was its first Covid-19 patient.

Grand Princess sails towards Oakland

More now on the cruise ship Grand Princess. California Governor Gavin Newsom gave permission for the ship to dock to the port city of Oakland later on Sunday, US media report.
Princess Cruises said “guests who require acute medical treatment" and hospital treatment would disembark first and be taken to “medical facilities in California”.
Congressman Joaquin Castro said he understood some would be taken to Lackland Air Force Base near San Antonio, Texas.

Iran Air 'suspends Europe flights'

Iran Air has suspended all flights to and from Europe until further notice, semi-official state news agency Isna has said.
Isna said the move was because of "restrictions imposed by Europe for unknown reasons".
Iran Air said it was conducting "consultations" to resume the flights.
Iran is one of the worst-affected coronavirus nations outside China, with almost 6,000 confirmed cases and 145 deaths, although many believe the death toll is higher.

Second Italian regional president tests positive

The head of Italy's northern Piedmont region has tested positive for coronavirus - the second regional president to announce the news in just 24 hours.
A spokesman for Alberto Cirio said he felt well and would "continue to work remotely", La Repubblica reported.
On Saturday, Nicola Zingaretti, the head of the Lazio region and leader of Italy's centre-left Democratic Party (PD), said he had the disease.
Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte has announced drastic new measures restricting travel in the region of Lombardy and 14 provinces.

Churches close in S Korea but signs of slowdown

Hundreds of churches across South Korea were closed on Sunday as the country battled to stop the spread of coronavirus.
The country's largest protestant church, Yoido Full Gospel Church, which has about 560,000 registered members, held its services online.
"Although it is the rule to come to church for service, this is an emergency situation," elder Kim Doo-hyung said.
The number of cases in South Korea has now risen above 7,300 - the highest outside China - but the Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (KCDC) said there were signs that the outbreak was slowing down. It said on Sunday that for the first time in 11 days the number of new infections had fallen below 400.

Iran reports new rise in deaths

The Iranian health ministry has increased the nation's death toll from coronavirus to 194, an increase of 49.
It said there were now 6,566 confirmed cases.
Some experts believe the death toll is being under-reported, although the World Health Organization has praised Iran for "switching on" to the outbreak and taking a new "all of government approach".

Cruise ship refused permission to dock

Another cruise ship has been refused permission to dock because of fears that passengers or crew may be carrying the coronavirus.
The Costa Fortuna is on its way to Singapore after Malaysia and Thailand both refused entry.
There are about 2,000 people on board including dozens of Italian passengers.
The ship's operator, Costa Crociere, said there were no suspected cases of the virus on board. It said Malaysia had imposed restrictions "upon the arrival of travellers of Italian nationality".

Seven more deaths in Spain and other latest figures

Governments globally are grappling with the growing number of infections.
Here are some of the key latest figures - although they are changing quickly...

• Spain - The national death toll has risen to 17, newspaper El Pais reports, citing seven new deaths in Madrid, Aragon and the Basque Country
  
• Bangladesh - The country today confirmed its first three cases of coronavirus. The affected people are aged between 20 and 35 and two of them returned from Italy recently, according to the Institute of Epidemiology, Disease Control and Research
  
• Hong Kong - A third patient in Hong Kong has died from the virus, it was reported on Sunday. The 76-year-old woman became ill last month, according to public broadcaster RTHK. Her 79-year-old husband has also been diagnosed with the virus
  
• Switzerland - There are now 281 confirmed cases of the coronavirus, with Swiss authorities confirming that all those infected have been placed in isolation
  

• Saudi Arabia - Four more cases have been confirmed, taking the total there to 11, the country's heath ministry said. The state news agency also said that the Qatif region was under temporary lockdown
  

Hong Kong protesters target virus clinic

Police in Hong Kong have used pepper spray to disperse a crowd protesting against a proposed clinic for suspected coronavirus infections.
Under government plans, the clinic in the Tai Po area would be one of 18 across the city designated for treating suspected Covid-19 cases. Officials say the clinics will ease pressure on Hong Kong's main hospitals in the event of a large-scale outbreak.
But the plan has alarmed local people. Last week two other clinics were firebombed, the South China Morning Post reported.
On Sunday, Hong Kong reported its third death from the disease.
Hong Kong was one of the worst-affected areas in the 2002-03 Sars outbreak.

Moscow threatens jail over self-isolation

Moscow city officials are threatening to jail anyone failing to self-isolate after returning from coronavirus hotspots.
The Russian capital's government announced a "high alert regime" and said those returning from countries including China, South Korea, Iran, Italy and other virus-hit countries should stay at home for 14 days.
Anyone disregarding the rule faces up to five years in prison. Those in self-isolation would be checked through the use of CCTV, officials added.
There have been at least 15 confirmed coronavirus infections reported in Russia so far.

---

18:08

Round-up of Sunday's key events

• Italy has placed up to 16 million people under quarantine in a drastic attempt to bring the coronavirus outbreak under control. The number of confirmed cases rose to 7,375 from 5,883 on Saturday. The deaths shot up by 133 to 366
  
• Salvatore Farina, the Italian army's chief of staff, was among the latest people to test positive in the country
  
• Several matches in Serie A, Italy’s top football league, were played behind closed doors on Sunday. Sports Minister Vincenzo Spadafora has called for an immediate suspension of the Serie A season
  
• Pope Francis delivered his first live-streamed Sunday prayer to avoid the usual crowds. He said he was "close through prayer" with those living with the epidemic
  
• In the UK, coronavirus cases rose to 273, up from 209 on Saturday - the biggest rise yet
  
• More coronavirus deaths have been confirmed in the Netherlands (two), Spain (seven) and Switzerland (one)
  
• A hotel being used as a coronavirus quarantine facility in the Chinese city of Quanzhou collapsed, killing at least 10 people
  
• In the US, a cruise ship held off the coast near San Francisco after 21 people tested positive for the disease has been directed to the nearby port of Oakland and should arrive on Monday
  
• An individual who attended a conservative political conference last week that President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence spoke at has been confirmed to have the virus.  The person was not in contact with either
  

Summary for 9th March

- Death toll in Italy jumps by 133 in a day, as much of the country's north starts the week under quarantine
- Six people die during prison riots in protest at new restrictions on visits in the northern city of Modena
- UK ministers gather for an emergency Cobra meeting to discuss next steps to tackle the illness
- Disney resort in Shanghai partially reopens, but Disneyland Paris staff member tests positive
- Oil prices and stock markets fall
- China has 40 new cases of Covid-19, the lowest since January when reporting began
- Number of United States cases exceeds 500
- Foreign diplomats finally allowed to leave Pyongyang after long quarantine

---

5:50

Chinese doctor dies of Covid-19

Another Chinese doctor in the virus epicentre of Wuhan has died from the virus.
Dr Zhu Heping was a colleague of Dr Li Wenliang - who tried to warn authorities about the virus but was accused of spreading misinformation.
Dr Li later fell ill with the virus and passed away as a result.

Italian prisoners revolt over virus rules

Inmates in four Italian prisons have revolted over new rules meant to help contain the coronavirus, reported Reuters, quoting prison rights group Antigone.
The introduction of the new rules - which include a ban on family visits - resulted in chaos across prisons in Naples Poggioreale, Modena, Frosinone and Alexandria.
Antigone said at least one inmate had died in Modena - though it is not clear what happened.
Several prison officers were injured as a result.

Singapore to allow cruise ship to dock

A cruise ship that was turned away from ports in Malaysia and Thailand over coronavirus fears will be allowed to dock in Singapore.
The Costa Fortuna will dock on 10 March as scheduled, said Singapore authorities.
No passengers are suffering from a fever or have any symptoms of respiratory illness.
Local reports quoting Malaysian officials say there are around 64 Italians onboard.
The ship departed from Singapore, its home port, on 3 March.

Vietnamese socialite with virus attended top fashion shows

A Vietnamese socialite who tested positive for coronavirus after a trip to Europe had attended luxury fashion shows in Milan and Paris, say media reports.
27-year-old Nga Nguyen is known to have attended shows by Saint Laurent in Paris and Gucci in Milan.
She is the daughter of a steel magnate.

US virus cases pass 500

The number of confirmed US coronavirus cases has risen past 500, as the virus continues to spread across the country.
At least 21 people have died.
President Donald Trump earlier signed an $8.3bn emergency bill designed to combat the outbreak. He had urged calm, saying: "It'll go away."

Death toll soars in Italy

The death toll in Italy has jumped by 133 in just one day, making a total of 366 deaths in the country.
The total number of infections also spiked by 25% to 7,375 from 5,883.
This means Italy now has the highest number of confirmed infections outside China, where the virus emerged last December.

South Korea near a 'turning point'?

The downward trend has continued in South Korea - who reported 69 new cases, its lowest daily increase in 10 days.
This brings the number of cases in South Korea to 7,382.

Singapore to allow cruise ship to dock

A cruise ship that was turned away from ports in Malaysia and Thailand over coronavirus fears will be allowed to dock in Singapore.
The Costa Fortuna will dock on 10 March as scheduled, said Singapore authorities.
No passengers are suffering from a fever or have any symptoms of respiratory illness.
Local reports quoting Malaysian officials say there are around 64 Italians onboard.
The ship departed from Singapore, its home port, on 3 March.

Italian prisoners revolt over virus rules

Inmates in four Italian prisons have revolted over new rules meant to help contain the coronavirus, reported Reuters, quoting prison rights group Antigone.
The introduction of the new rules - which include a ban on family visits - resulted in chaos across prisons in Naples Poggioreale, Modena, Frosinone and Alexandria.
Antigone said at least one inmate had died in Modena - though it is not clear what happened.
Several prison officers were injured as a result.

Marshall Islands bans all incoming air passengers

The Marshall Islands in the Pacific has banned all inbound air travellers for two weeks.
Flights can still land, although passengers cannot disembark, said the government's Facebook announcement.

India turns away cruise ship with 1,400 people

Indian authorities in the port city of Mangalore have turned away a cruise ship with 1,400 passengers that was due to dock there, an official confirmed to the BBC.
The country's shipping ministry has issued an advisory that says no cruise ships from foreign countries can dock anywhere in India, as part of coronavirus preventive measures.
The ship, identified as the MSC Lirica, is registered in the Republic of Panama.
None of the passengers are believed to have any symptoms of coronavirus.
India has around 40 confirmed cases of the virus so far.

UK could implement 'social distancing'

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will today hold an emergency Cobra meeting, which is expected to look into whether "social distancing" measures should be introduced.
These could include banning of big events, closing schools and encouraging home working.
It comes after a man in his 60s became the UK's third death linked to the Covid-19 virus. There are now 279 confirmed cases in the UK.

Japan announces 15th death

One person in Japan's Kanagawa prefecture, which borders Tokyo, has died from the coronavirus, said Nippon TV.
Fifteen people have died in Japan - including seven who were on the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

Japan Airlines attendant tests positive for virus

A Japan Airlines (JAL) cabin attendant has tested positive for coronavirus, said a Reuters report quoting the airline.
It's not clear what flights she might have been on. JAL is Japan's national flagship carrier.

UK supermarket Tesco starts rationing products

The UK's largest supermarket chain Tesco has begun restricting sales of essential food and household items as a result of panic-buying.
Shoppers are now limited to buying no more than five of certain goods, including

• Antibacterial gels
  
• Wipes and sprays
  
• Dry pasta
  
• UHT milk
  
• Some tinned vegetables
  

These rules apply both in stores and online. Here are some other stores that have also begin limiting products.

'Did you just cough at me?'

Rising tensions on a train in Sydney...
(Only in Australia ...)  

German cases jump to 1,112

There are now 1,112 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Germany, according to government disease prevention and control agency the Robert Koch Insitute.
As of Sunday, 847 people in Germany had tested positive.

Romanian football to be played without spectators

All Romanian league matches will be played without spectators, Reuters reports quoting the Romanian Football Federation (FRF).
The FRF also said it had suspended ticket sales for a qualifier game between Romania and Denmark on 31 March.
Romania confirmed its first case of coronavirus last month and dozens of cases have been reported since.

Uganda returns travellers refusing to self-quarantine

Uganda has told 22 foreigners who refused to self-quarantine on arrival for a business forum to return to their home countries.
Uganda's Health Minister Jane Ruth Aceng said the 22 travellers had arrived from "category one" countries deemed high-risk in the ongoing coronavirus outbreak.
The ministry has categorised Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, China, Germany and Spain as countries whose citizens have to undergo self-quarantine for 14 days even if they do not have coronavirus symptoms.
The 22 travellers were informed of the self-quarantine requirement on their arrival at Entebbe International Airport.
They refused to observe the rule and instead opted to return home.
Uganda is hosting a two-day business forum that is being attended by delegates from Europe.

Suspected coronavirus patient escapes India hospital

Indian police are searching for a man with suspected coronavirus who escaped from a hospital in the southern city of Mangalore.
The man was hospitalised soon after he arrived in India from Dubai on Sunday.
Officials told the BBC that he had been rushed to hospital from the airport after displaying symptoms of fever.
However, he had gone missing from the hospital on Monday morning.
"Our surveillance team has gone to his residence along with the police to bring him back to the hospital, ‘’ a health department official told BBC Hindi.
A report in the local Hindustan Times newspaper said his "escape" came hours after his family members entered the hospital, demanding that he be released. However, officials had refused saying that he needed to be kept under observation.

UK hospital staff member tests positive

A healthcare professional at University Hospital Southampton, UK has tested positive for coronavirus. They are now in isolation at home.
The staff member worked a single nightshift in the surgical high dependency unit on 6 March.
Patients and staff who came into contact with the staff member have been informed and will be isolated, the hospital said.
The high dependency unit has been closed to new admissions.
The hospital said all other services are operating normally.

Disneyland Paris staff member tests positive

A maintenance staff member at Disneyland Paris has tested positive for coronavirus.
The staff member tested positive over the weekend, a spokesman confirmed to Reuters news agency.
Disneyland Paris said it is checking on staff who had been in contact with the person.
The resort remains open.

Six dead in Italy prison riots

Six people have died during prison riots in Italy in protest at restrictions to combat the spread of coronavirus, Italian media report.
Officials say prisoners set fire to a cell block in the northern city of Modena after they were told that visits would be suspended. It's thought that at least two of the dead were killed by drug overdoses.

Portugal's president in self-isolation

Portuguese President Marcelo Rebelo de Sousa has suspended his official engagements for two weeks on medical grounds, as a precaution against coronavirus.
The decision was taken after a group of school children visited the presidential palace on Tuesday. A child from that school, who was not on the trip, was later taken to hospital. The statement on the president's official website did not confirm whether the child had tested positive for coronavirus.
The school in northern Portugal has been closed.
The president has no symptoms but has upcoming meetings where he would be in contact with a lot of people.

Two more cases confirmed in Wales

Two new new cases have been confirmed in Wales, bringing the total number to six.
The two people, who do not know each other, recently travelled back to Wales from different parts of Italy.
Public Health Wales says the pair are being "managed in a clinically appropriate setting".

More on the Italy prison riot

Earlier on we mentioned a riot in Modena prison where six people died. Here's some more information on the incident.
The riot started on Sunday when sixty inmates set the prison on fire in an attempt to escape, according to Corriere de Bologna. They had been told that relatives and friends were banned from visiting due to the lockdown.
Law enforcement officers managed to stop 500 prisoners from escaping.

Iran coronavirus death toll rises to 237

The death toll from coronavirus infections in Iran has risen to 237, a spokesman for the country's health ministry said.
As of 9 March, there have been 7,161 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country. 2,394 patients have recovered so far.

Olympic torch lighting ceremony to be staged without spectators

The lighting ceremony for the Tokyo 2020 Olympics torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia, Greece, will be staged without spectators, the Olympic Committee confirmed on Monday.
The ceremony will take place on 12 March, before a seven-day relay that will culminate with a handover ceremony.
Last week, Japan's Olympic minister said the Tokyo 2020 Games could be postponed from the summer until later in the year amid fears over the coronavirus outbreak.
The Games are due to be held from 24 July to 9 August.

Asian World Cup qualifying matches cancelled

Fifa and the Asian Football Confederation (AFC) have announced the cancellation of qualifying matches for the 2022 World Cup in March and June due to the coronavirus.
The games were scheduled for 23-31 March and 1-9 June.
A statement from Fifa said: "Fifa and the AFC will continue to assess the situation in relation to Covid-19 and will decide whether further changes to the schedule of Asian Fifa World Cup 2022 qualifiers are required, always with the aim of protecting the safety and health of all individuals involved."

11:33

Ministers arrive for UK emergency meeting

Ministers have been arriving at Whitehall for an emergency Cobra meeting about coronavirus.
The prime minister is chairing the meeting to decide whether to bring in measures to delay the spread of coronavirus in the UK.
UK chief medical adviser Professor Chris Whitty arrived at the meeting with Health Secretary Matt Hancock but did not answer reporters' questions.
The meeting is expected to consider whether "social distancing" measures should be phased in.
These could include banning big events, closing schools and encouraging home working.
It comes after a man in his 60s became the UK's third death linked to Covid-19.

12:44

British Airways and easyJet cancel Northern Italy flights

British Airways has suspended more flights to Italy after the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) changed its travel advice for the north of the country, advising against all but essential travel to areas affected by coronavirus.
Flights to and from Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Bergamot and Venice are suspended until at least 3 April.
The airline says it is contacting customers who will be able to change their flight free of charge or get a full refund. Customers are advised to check ba.com for the latest information.
EasyJet said it would be reviewing its routes to Milan Malpensa, Milan Linate, Venice and Verona airports from now until 3 April.
"In the short term we will be cancelling a number of flights to and from these destinations on Monday 9 March," the airline said.

12:51

France-Ireland Six Nations rugby match postponed

Saturday's Six Nations rugby match between France and Ireland in Paris has been postponed, French Sports Minister Roxana Mărăcineanu has announced.
She did not say whether a new date would be set for Les Bleus' final game in this year's tournament.
It is the most high-profile sporting event in France so far to be hit by the coronavirus outbreak.

13:06

Riots break out in 27 Italian jails

Prison authorities in Italy now say protests have broken out in 27 jails against restrictions imposed to tackle the coronavirus outbreak.
The trouble began in the northern city of Modena, after inmates were told that visits were being suspended.
Italian media reported six deaths there, some drugs-related.
About 20 prisoners broke out of prison in Foggia in the south, along with another 32 who were quickly recaptured.
At the San Vittore prison in Milan, inmates climbed onto the roof of the facility, setting ablaze one of the six wings.

13:13

Virus will spread in UK in a 'significant way'

The UK remains in the containment phase of the government's four-part plan to tackle the spread of the coronavirus, but it is now "accepted" the virus will spread in a "significant way", a spokesman for Prime Minister Boris Johnson has said.
Mr Johnson chaired an emergency Cobra meeting today and discussed a range of steps which could be introduced to contain and delay coronavirus, the spokesman added.

Five new cases in Scotland takes UK total to 285

First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has announced five more confirmed cases of coronavirus in Scotland, taking its total to 23.
It brings the overall UK number of positive tests to 285.
She said there is an "increasing inevitability" of a coronavirus outbreak across the UK.
She was speaking at St Andrew's House in Edinburgh after taking part in the UK Government's Cobra meeting and before chairing a meeting of the Scottish Government's Resilience Committee.

14:13

Trading halted in New York

Shares have faced their worst day since the 2008 financial crisis, amplified by a 22% drop in oil prices and the spread of coronavirus.
Trading in New York was halted immediately after opening as the S&P 500 fell 7%.
The dramatic fall triggered an automatic 15-minute cutout put in place after the 2008-9 financial crisis. The market resumed at 13.49 GMT.
In the UK, the FTSE index of shares plunged 8% to its lowest level in three years.
Today has been dubbed "Black Monday" by analysts who describe the market reaction as "utter carnage".

DC church congregation asked to self-quarantine

The first confirmed case of coronavirus in the US capital is a church rector in his 50s, prompting DC officials to urge a congregation of several hundred to self-quarantine.
Mayor Muriel Bowser on Monday called on congregants of Christ Church Georgetown to voluntarily self-quarantine for at least 14 days since last attending church services, even if they didn't currently feel ill.
Ms Bowser also indicated she was considering whether to declare a public emergency in the district, which currently has a total of two confirmed cases (the second is a man who stayed in DC for one night but tested positive at a hospital in Maryland on Sunday).
DC's senior health director, Dr Anjali Talwalker, said there was a "medium risk" for churchgoers who came within six feet of the rector in the past week.

Fifth French MP tests positive

A fifth member of the French National Assembly has now been confirmed positive for the virus.
Asked about her condition, Michèle Victorysaid: "I am hospitalised in the Ardèche [region]. I'm as well as I would be if I had the flu," she told French TV

Tourists quarantined on Nile River cruise ship

Dozens of foreign tourists and their Egyptian crew remain quarantined onboard a Nile river cruise ship from which 45 suspected coronavirus cases have been evacuated.
US, French and Indian nationals were among those stranded on the A-Sara docked near the southern tourist city of Luxor, people on the ship have told AFP news agency.
On Saturday Egyptian authorities reported moving 45 suspected cases - 33 passengers and 12 crew - into isolation on land, without saying what would happen to the others aboard the ship.
"There are about 80 people on board, crew members and travellers, confined in quarantine for 14 days," Philippe Gruwe, 54, a member of a French tour group, told AFP by phone on Monday.
"We are worried - people here would prefer to be quarantined at home" in France, he added.

St Patrick's Day parade cancelled in Dublin

Dublin has cancelled its annual St Patrick's Day parade amid fears about the spread of coronavirus, Irish broadcaster RTÉ reports. The holiday falls on 17 March.

Retailers in fresh talks with UK government over panic buying

As we have reported, UK shoppers are emptying shelves of toilet paper, pasta, hand sanitiser and tinned foods as fears grow over the spread of the coronavirus.
It has led retailers like Tesco to limit the sale of goods such as pasta and long-life milk, with others restricting the number of hand sanitiser gels that can be bought.
Environment Secretary George Eustice will meet retailers this afternoon to discuss how to support vulnerable groups who may have to self-isolate, amid widespread stockpiling.
It follows talks he had on Friday with supermarket and trade body bosses over food supply contingencies, after which the government pledged the public would continue to have "the food and supplies they need".
The government has told shoppers there is no need to panic-buy as the UK has a "resilient supply chain".

US Republican lawmakers to self-quarantine

Two members of President Trump's Republican party, Arizona Congressman Paul Gosar and Texas Senator Ted Cruz, said on Sunday they would self-quarantine as they were both exposed to an infected person at a recent conservative political event.
Neither lawmaker has been confirmed to have Covid-19, but they both spoke and shook hands with the affected individual (who is now in hospital) at the Conservative Political Action Conference (CPAC) at the end of last month.
President Trump and Vice-President Pence also both attended the conference, but neither interacted with the infected person.
However, at CPAC, the president shook hands with the chairman of the American Conservative Union who did have direct contact with the individual, putting Mr Trump two degrees of separation away from the coronavirus.

Coronavirus spreads in Russia

Infections have now been confirmed not only in Moscow and St Petersburg - but in Nizhny Novgorod, east of the capital, and also in the southern city of Lipetsk.
Russia now has nearly 20 confirmed cases.
A quarantine zone has been set up at Moscow's Vnukovo international airport. Everyone arriving from China and Italy has to register and self-isolate afterwards.

Virus-hit cruise ship to dock in California

The Grand Princess, which has 21 confirmed cases among passengers on board, is due to dock in San Francisco after four days of being held off the coast near the city.
Nineteen crew members and two passengers on the ship have tested positive for Covid-19.
The vessel, which is carrying about 3,500 people from 54 countries, is due to dock in Oakland after five days stuck offshore.
The US has reported more than 560 coronavirus cases and 24 deaths.

15:39

Fourth person dies from coronavirus in the UK

A fourth person in the UK has died from coronavirus, Health Minister Matt Hancock has confirmed.
Professor Chris Whitty, chief medical officer for England, said the patient had been treated at the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital.
The patient, in their 70s, had had underlying health conditions.
"It appears the virus was acquired in the UK and full contact tracing has begun," Mr Whitty said.
Health Minister Matt Hancock confirmed on Monday that there were 319 cases in the UK.

Sweden confirms first local case

Sweden appears to have its first case of coronavirus in which the patient has no apparent link to other infected victims and has not travelled overseas, the BBC's Maddy Savage reports from Stockholm.
The person tested positive for the virus at a major hospital in the Swedish capital on Sunday evening, officials announced at a news conference.
A second patient with no connection to the first was also diagnosed over the weekend.
There are now 252 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Sweden, which has a population of about 10 million.

New York transport boss 'tests positive'

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has confirmed that the executive director of the New York and New Jersey Port Authority is among more than 100 individuals with the virus in the state.
Director Rick Cotton had been overseeing international arrivals at New York City area airports but will now be working from home, Mr Cuomo announced on Monday, according to NBC New York.
The governor declared a state of emergency in New York over the weekend as the number of cases surged.

Death toll in Italy 'rises to 463'

The death toll from the coronavirus outbreak in Italy has increased from 366 to 463, Reuters news agency reports.

UK intensive care patients to be tested for virus

Prof Whitty said hospital patients with pneumonia and other respiratory infections would now be tested for coronavirus.
He said: "At the moment we are screening everybody who is in intensive care for coronavirus if they have symptoms that are compatible with coronavirus - so if they have a very bad pneumonia.
"We will be extending that out now, as from tomorrow, to everybody who has a significant enough pneumonia or other respiratory tract infection to get into hospital at all."

More than 200 Canadians to be repatriated from US

Canadian public health officials are advising against all cruise ship travel as the government prepares to repatriate more than 200 Canadian nationals on the Grand Princess cruise ship following an outbreak of coronavirus on the vessel.
The ship is scheduled to dock in California on Monday.
All asymptomatic Canadians passengers will be flown home and placed under a 14-day quarantine at a Canadian Forces base in the province of Ontario.
If a person shows any symptoms of illness, they will not be allowed to board the plane and will be further screened and treated if necessary in the United States, government officials said.
Just last week, Canadian passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship were released from quarantine.
They had been evacuated, along with hundreds of other passengers, from a quarantined cruise ship off the coast of Japan in late February.
As of Monday morning, there were 71 confirmed or presumptive cases of people with coronavirus in Canada.
Most of the cases are in the provinces of Ontario and British Columbia, though some have also been discovered in Quebec and Alberta.

---

Latest as at 9:00pm

A fifth person in the UK has died following Coronavirus infection

Italy's PM Giuseppe Conte extends coronavirus measures, including ban on public gatherings, to entire country
This breaking news story is being updated and more details will be published shortly. Please refresh the page for the fullest version.
You can receive Breaking News on a smartphone or tablet via the BBC News App. You can also follow @BBCBreaking on Twitter to get the latest alerts.

UK prepares to ask even mildly sick to stay home
Medical advice could change within 10 to 14 days, as a fifth person is confirmed to have died.

Global shares plunge in worst day since financial crisis

Israel declares 14-day quarantine for all arrivals

Summary for 10th March

- Travel is being restricted across Italy from Tuesday and public gatherings are forbidden
- Iran reports 54 deaths, its highest figure yet over a 24-hour period
- The latest figures from Italy show 9,172 cases and 463 deaths
- Chinese President Xi Jinping is visiting Wuhan for the first time since the outbreak began
- People are disembarking in Oakland, California from virus-hit cruise ship Grand Princess
- New cases in South Korea seem to be slowing down
- Lebanon records first coronavirus death

---

Passengers get off US virus-hit cruise liner

Around 2,500 passengers who were stranded for days on board a US cruise liner have now begun to disembark. Nineteen crew members and two passengers have tested positive.
All those needing immediate treatment were taken off first and driven away in ambulances. All Americans who do not need treatment will be quarantined for two weeks.
Several hundred foreigners will be flown home.

Qantas cuts almost quarter of flights

Australia's Qantas airline is making deeper cuts to its flights, with Asia and the US hit the hardest.
The company said it would reduce international flights by nearly 25% as it sees demand fall from passengers worried about the coronavirus.
Qantas and its budget airline Jetstar will reduce operations for the next six months.
It is the latest carrier to make cutbacks, aimed at weathering the storm from a sharp drop in passengers.

Australia reaches 100 cases

However almost all of them - excluding three deaths - are pretty mild cases, says the nation's chief medical officer Dr Brendan Murphy.
He said over half of Australia's infected patients so far have recovered.
Australia has still only recorded one case of "community transmission", which happened in an outbreak in northern Sydney. That shut downs schools, an aged care home and is affecting a hospital.
"New South Wales and Sydney is still the significantly biggest part of our outbreak in Australia," Mr Murphy said.
Authorities say they're at the point where they're still fighting to contain the disease - so their focus is on returned travellers and people who have been in touch with confirmed cases.

Italy's 'darkest hour'

The whole of Italy has been told to stay at home in an unprecedented move aimed at containing the coronavirus.
The lockdown was originally confined to northern Italy but as the death toll began to climb, Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said "strong and severe measures" were needed.
People will be forbidden to gather in public and all schools and universities will be closed until 3 April.
All sporting events have been suspended nationwide.
Only those with a valid work or family reason that cannot be postponed will be allowed to travel.
Mr Conte has described the outbreak as Italy's "darkest hour", but added that "we will make it".

Mongolia confirms its first case

The country's first patient is said to be a 57-year old French man who traveled to Mongolia from France, transiting through Moscow.
The government has since identified 42 people he met and 120 people who had close contact with him.
The man, who works for a local firm, is said to be in stable condition.

The scene in Vietnam

Vietnam has had 31 cases, 16 of whom have been cured and released from hospital. Schools have been closed and visa-free travel restricted.
This picture shows food being delivered to the quarantined area of Truc Bach Street in Hanoi.
The street has been sealed since Friday, after one resident, a 26-year-old Vietnamese woman recently back from Europe, detected the virus.

Indian military evacuates citizens from Iran

The Indian airforce has evacuated 58 citizens from coronavirus-hit Iran using a military transport aircraft.
Local media reported that the craft landed at the Hindon airbase - the largest in Asia - in the northern state of Uttar Pradesh early on Tuesday morning.
The 58 people, mostly comprising pilgrims and students, will be quarantined in a special facility set up at the base for 14 days before being allowed to travel home.
India has 44 confirmed cases of the virus according to the health ministry

Crisis hits airline industry

Virgin Atlantic says it is flying near-empty planes; while Qantas has cut another quarter of its flights.
UK airline Flybe - which had many other problems - has already gone into administration, partly because of the virus impact.

Vietnam's 32nd patient arrives from London on private jet

The country's health ministry says a 24-year-old Vietnamese woman who caught the virus in London is the their 32nd and latest case.
The woman, who lives in London, was reportedly at a party last month with Vietnamese socialite Nguyen Hong Nhung, who has also tested positive.
Her family brought her back to Vietnam in a private jet, says local media.

South Korea reports lowest number of cases in two weeks

South Korea has reported its lowest number of infections in two weeks, with 131 cases confirmed in the past 24 hours.
The pace of daily infections has shown signs of slowing in recent days as health authorities finished testing 210,000 followers of religious sect the Shincheonji Church of Jesus, who were at the centre of the outbreak.
But health officials say they are still on high alert after new clusters of infections sprung up around the country.
Workers at a call centre in the capital Seoul were confirmed to have the virus - 38 people in the building were infected. 207 people have yet to be tested, and could contribute to a rise in figures.
There are currently 7,513 confirmed cases in South Korea.

Another nine cases in Pakistan

Another nine people have been diagnosed in Pakistan, increasing the nationwide count to 16.
All nine are from Sindh province, which now has 13 cases.
Aaj TV reported that five of the nine had recently travelled from Syria via Doha. Four travelled from London to Karachi via Dubai.

Collapsed hotel death toll rises to 20

The number of people killed when a Chinese hotel collapsed on Saturday has risen to 20, with another 10 still feared to be trapped.
The hotel, in the city of Quanzhou, was being used as a virus quarantine centre. Another 41 people are injured, the authorities said on Tuesday.
Here's footage of the rescue effort at the weekend.

First death in Canada

Canada has recorded its first death from Covid-19, health officials in the westernmost province of British Columbia have said.
The victim, whose age has not been released, was a man who lived in an elderly care home in north Vancouver.
Canada has recorded more than 70 infections, nearly all in British Columbia or Ontario.

6:28

Deaths top 4,000

The number of deaths worldwide has passed 4,000 on Tuesday as China reported 17 more people had passed away from the virus.
It has spread to over 100 countries with more than 110,000 cases.
Aside from the human toll, it has caused major disruption to global travel, work, schools and an astounding number of sporting and entertainment events.

Norwegian Air suspends Italy flights

Norwegian Air has suspended all its flights to and from Italy because of the virus, it said on Tuesday. It's not known when they will resume.

Japan: 33 patients considered severely ill

The number of cases recorded in Japan has increased by two to 510 - not including those from the Diamond Princess ship, which was previously quarantined in Yokohama.
The health ministry said there are 33 patients considered severely ill and on ventilators or in intensive care.
The death toll in Japan stands at 16 - including those from the Diamond Princess.

Cyprus' largest medical facility suspends most services

All admissions, outpatient clinics, surgeries and visitations at the Nicosia general hospital will be suspended for at least 48 hours, reported news wire Reuters.
Authorities say the move comes after a 64-year-old doctor heading the heart surgical ward tested positive for the virus.
He had recently returned from Britain and came into contact with patients.

All sport in Italy suspended because of outbreak

The country's prime minister Giuseppe Conte had already announced that all sport in Italy would be suspended until at least 3 April because of the coronavirus.
This includes Serie A but not Italian clubs or national teams participating in international competitions.
Serie A - Italy's top flight - had already said all games would be played behind closed doors until 3 April.
Read more here.

Three new Thai cases - all Italy-related

Thailand has announced three new cases, bringing the total to 53. They are:

• A 41-year-old woman who was in contact with another patient who had been to Italy
  
• A 46-year-old woman who had been to Italy
  
• Her 47-year-old husband
  

Israel requires self-quarantine for all arrivals

Everyone arriving into Israel will be required to self-quarantine for 14 days to prevent the spread of coronavirus, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said.
There are currently 42 confirmed virus cases in Israel.

---

Second Oxford student has coronavirus
Oxford University has said it will remain open and is taking advice from Public Health England.
Read more

8:10

Man flees Zimbabwe hospital before coronavirus test

Zimbabwe has no confirmed cases of coronavirus, but health authorities have said a man who was due to be tested in a hospital "absconded before testing was done".
The 26-year-old had entered Zimbabwe from Thailand in February, officials said. He was referred from a private clinic to Wilkins Hospital in Harare on 8 March, after complaining of fever and sneezing.
Zimbabwe's health ministry said in a statement on Monday:

He did not meet the [World Health Organization] case definition of a suspected case but was still earmarked for a Covid-19 test due to intensified surveillance that the country has adopted."
He did not meet the [World Health Organization] case definition of a suspected case but was still earmarked for a Covid-19 test due to intensified surveillance that the country has adopted."

After the man fled the hospital "follow-up efforts to his home address were initiated and a police report was made", the statement added.
Latest figures indicate there are now 100 confirmed coronavirus cases across Africa. They are as follows:

• Egypt - 55
  
• Algeria - 20
  
• South Africa - 7
  
• Tunisia - 5
  
• Senegal - 4
  

• Morocco - 2
  
• Cameroon - 2
  

• Burkina Faso - 2
  
• Nigeria - 2
  
• Togo - 1
  

Coronavirus impact on sports timeline
The spread of coronavirus around the world has impacted the staging of sporting events. This is what has been affected so far.Read more

Moldova bans foreigners arriving by air

Moldova has banned all foreigners from entering by plane from any country affected by the coronavirus.
The ban took effect on Tuesday, three days after the eastern European state reported its first case.
Prime Minister Ion Chicu said the country could not completely ban flights, but that only Moldovans would be allowed to board planes departing for Moldova from affected countries.

Coronavirus 'fake news' Twitter accounts shut down

In Britain, the National Health Service has removed false Twitter accounts that have been spreading "misleading" information about the coronavirus outbreak.
One account, falsely set up in the name of a hospital in Andover, urged the Hampshire town to "move into lockdown" amid an "influx of patients".
The NHS said it had intervened to have the account shut down.

Madonna and Miley Cyrus among musicians cancelling shows

A number of musicians have called off concerts due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Miley Cyrus has cancelled a trip to Australia. She said she had decided to stay at home due to advice from authorities.
Madonna has been forced to cancel her two shows in Paris after authorities in France banned large gatherings of more than 1,000 people.
Pearl Jam have cancelled their entire North America tour. The band wrote in a statement on their website: "We are being told that being part of large gatherings is high on the list of things to avoid as this global health crisis is now beginning to affect all of our lives."
Read more about how coronavirus is affecting the music industry

British Airways cancels all day's flights to Italy

British Airways has cancelled all flights to and from Italy on Tuesday.
The airline cancelled its flights from the UK to northern Italy on Monday.
The airline said in a statement: "In light of the Italian government's announcement and the UK Government's official travel advice, we have contacted all customers who are due to travel today.
"We have updated our policy to give customers more options and flexibility. Any travellers due to fly to or from Italy between now and April 4 can rebook to a later date up until the end of May, move their destination to Geneva or Zurich or receive a full refund."

Lebanon records first coronavirus death

Lebanon has recorded its first death from coronavirus, according to the health ministry.
Local broadcasters said the patient had been in quarantine since returning from Egypt.
The total number of cases in the country rose to 41 this week.

Poland cancels all mass events

The Polish government has decided to cancel all mass events due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki has said.
Polish health officials have so far confirmed 17 cases of the virus, and some patients are in a serious condition.
On Monday, Mr Morawiecki announced that there would be health checks on the borders with Germany and the Czech Republic.
Meanwhile, Polish President Andrzej Duda - who is seeking re-election in polls scheduled for May - has said his campaign was cancelling all planned mass events.

Austria bans mass indoor and outdoor events

Austria has banned indoor events of more than 100 people and outdoor events of more than 500 people, Interior Minister Karl Nehammer confirmed.
The country has also announced a ban on people arriving from Italy.
"We are putting in place an entry ban for people from Italy to Austria, unless they have a doctor's certificate," chancellor Sebastian Kurz said on Tuesday.
Austrians in Italy will be allowed to return as long as they agree to a two-week home quarantine.
Other measures announced by the government include stopping university lectures and encouraging companies to let employees work from home.
Read more here

Iran reports highest daily death toll

Iran, one of the countries worst hit by the coronavirus, has reported 54 deaths - its highest number in a single 24-hour period.
This brings the total number of dead in the Islamic republic to 291.
Another 881 new cases have been confirmed, pushing the overall number to 8,042.

Czech Republic to close schools

The Czech Republic has announced it is closing schools indefinitely and has banned events of more than 100 people.
The country has 40 reported cases of coronavirus.
Under the new measures, schools and universities will close but kindergartens will remain open.
From Tuesday evening, a ban on events such as film, theatre, sports and religious gatherings will come into effect.

About 3,000 pilgrims 'quarantined' on Iran-Pakistan border

About 3,000 people have been “quarantined” for the past two weeks on Pakistan’s border with Iran because of coronavirus fears.
Some have been protesting to complain that they are being held in unsanitary conditions.
These are mostly pilgrims who were quarantined as they returned on foot from Iran.

European Medicines Agency addresses potential shortages

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) says it is closely monitoring the impact the coronavirus outbreak could have on pharmaceutical supply chains in the EU.
As the public health emergency develops, the EMA has organised the first meeting of the EU Executive Steering Group on shortages of medicines caused by major events to address any potential future impact.
Officials will discuss ways to protect at-risk patients in the event that there is a temporary lockdown of medicine manufacturing sites in areas affected by Covid-19.
Currently, there are no reports of such shortages of medicines within the EU.
The EMA says it has already urged those within the industry to report any possible shortages to EU authorities.
It also indicated that any potential disruptions have not yet been identified, and that any impact in the short-term would be limited, given the current stocks in place.

Number of UK coronavirus cases rises to 373

The number of UK coronavirus cases has risen to 373, the government has announced.
The Department of Health and Social Care said: "As of 9am on 10 March 2020, 26,261 people have been tested in the UK, of which 25,888 were confirmed negative and 373 were confirmed as positive.
"Six patients who tested positive for Covid-19 have died."
The latest figures mark a rise of 54 cases since the same time on Monday.

Nottingham Forest owner Evangelos Marinakis 'is infected'

Nottingham Forest and Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis has said he has the coronavirus.
The Greek shipowner, 52, wrote in an Instagram post: "The recent virus has visited me and I felt obliged to let the public know. I feel good as I take all the necessary measures and I discipline to the doctors instructions. I strongly advise all my fellow citizens to do the same. I wish all a quick recovery."

Spain parliament halts work after MP tested positive

Spain's parliament has suspended its work for at least a week after one lawmaker tested positive for the coronavirus.
The MP was identified by the media as Javier Ortega Smith, one of the leaders of right-wing Vox party.

Should I self-isolate and how do I do it?

Some people are being asked to isolate themselves to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
So, what do you need to know about self-isolation and how to do it?
You can read the BBC's handy guide here.

Ryanair the latest to cancel Italy flights

Ryanair has announced it has cancelled all international flights to and from Italy from Saturday until 9 April.
Passengers who need to return home can switch to one of the flights operating up to the end of the day on Friday.
A Ryanair spokesman said: "Ryanair apologises sincerely to all customers for these schedule disruptions, which are caused by national government restrictions and the latest decision of the Italian government to lock down the entire country to combat the Covid-19 virus."
Meanwhile, British Airways is cancelling all UK-Italy flights until 4 April, and airline Jet2 has cancelled their flights to and from the country until 26 April.

Coronavirus: What are your travel rights?

Thousands of flights have been cancelled by airlines as fewer people choose, or are able, to travel abroad following the coronavirus outbreak.
With new cases being diagnosed around the world every day, how could the outbreak affect your travel plans and what are your rights?
We've answered those and other questions here.

Ugandans arrested for giving fake coronavirus vaccine

Police in Uganda are investigating a father and daughter for allegedly giving people a fake vaccine against the coronavirus.
There is currently no inoculation against the disease, which has killed more than 3,800 people around the world.
There are currently 18 confirmed cases of coronavirus in sub-Saharan Africa but none in Uganda.
Police say they started receiving information on Friday that people in the district of Mayuge, 120 km (74 miles) east of the capital, Kampala, were being given a concoction to supposedly inoculate them against the coronavirus.
They then arrested two people – believed to be behind the scam. Both have since been released on police bond pending further investigation.
Samples of the liquid they allegedly gave victims orally have been taken to the government forensic laboratory in Kampala for testing.
It is not known how many people could have taken the concoction.
A police spokesperson told the BBC they believed the suspects gave the fake vaccine to victims for free with hopes of later charging for it once demand had been created.

Rise in Scottish virus cases

The number of Scots diagnosed with coronavirus has increased to 27, the Scottish government confirmed.
The total number of positive tests for the disease, known as Covid-19, has risen by four from Monday.
So far there have been 2,234 tests for the virus carried out in Scotland, of which 2,207 were negative.

'Enhanced cleaning' on London Underground

Transport for London has unveiled an "enhanced cleaning regime" to improve the "already-high hygiene levels on the capital's public transport".
It said: "Cleaning across the Tube and bus network now includes additional substances that kill viruses and bacteria on contact in order to reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading."
Mayor of London Sadiq Khan added: "I'm doing all I can to work with Public Health England and other experts to keep Londoners safe so I'm pleased that TfL is stepping up enhanced cleaning across the transport network.
"Along with trialling new longer lasting cleaning fluid, this will help reduce the risk of coronavirus spreading. I want to reassure Londoners and visitors that the advice from experts is to continue with our daily lives as normal, including using public transport."

Easyjet cancels UK-Italy flights

Tom Burridge
Transport correspondent, BBC News
Easyjet has confirmed that it has cancelled all of its flights to and from Italy for the next two days.
The airline is in the process of reworking its schedule.
It’s likely that Easyjet will follow other airlines and cancel the vast bulk of flights for the coming weeks.
However it’s probable that a handful of flights will be kept to ensure that British nationals in Italy who need to travel back to the UK, can do.

French football matches to be played without fans

All matches in France's top two football leagues will be played behind closed doors until 15 April, it has been announced.
On Sunday, France banned gatherings of more than 1,000 in a bid to contain the spread of the virus, which has infected over 1,400 and killed 30 in the country.

Greece closes schools and universities for two weeks

Greece has announced it will shut schools and universities for a two-week period as a precaution against the spread of coronavirus, the country's health minister has said, according to Reuters news agency.

Foreign nationals test positive in Maldives

Coronavirus has now reached the Maldives in the Indian Ocean.
Six foreign nationals have tested posited for the virus in the archipelago, which is popular with tourists.
The identity of those infected has not been confirmed, but two of them are reported to be from Italy.
The Maldives government has put two resorts under lockdown. A quarantine facility has also been set up near the capital Male.

Life in Saudi Arabia under coronavirus

Saudi Arabia has enforced a temporary lockdown on the predominantly Shia Muslim eastern region of Qatif, where most of the Covid-19 cases have been reported, and suspended flights from nine countries, including Italy, South Korea, the UAE and Egypt.
The government has also closed public and private universities and schools across the country until further notice.
Anyone failing to declare correct health-related information and travel details as they enter the country are liable to a fine of up to $133,000 (£102,000).

How is the UK planning for an outbreak?

Nick Triggle
Health Correspondent
A major coronavirus epidemic is expected in the UK. A worst case scenario could see 80% of the population infected.
So, what steps are being taken and is the NHS well prepared?
Could schools close and public gatherings be banned?
You can read the BBC's analysis here.

Korean Air 'cannot guarantee its survival'

Korean Air has warned that the virus outbreak could threaten its survival after it scrapped more than 80% of its international capacity, grounding 100 of its 145 passenger aircraft.
"The situation can get worse at any time and we cannot even predict how long it will last," Woo Kee-hong, the president of South Korea's biggest airline, said in a memo to staff.
"But if the situation continues for a longer period, we may reach the threshold where we cannot guarantee the company's survival."

Qatar bans shisha in coffee shops and restaurants

Qatar's Ministry of Public Health has indefinitely banned serving shisha (water pipes) at coffee shops and restaurants to prevent the spread of coronavirus, the Qatar News Agency has said.
The tiny Gulf state took other measures, including the suspension of classes at schools and universities.
The QNA tweeted that the suspension will start on 10 March and will continue until further notice.
Earlier in the day, the ministry announced that three new coronavirus cases have been confirmed, bringing the total number of confirmed cases in the country to 18.

Middle East: Allenby border crossing closes

The Israeli defence ministry says the Allenby border crossing between the occupied West Bank and Jordan will be closed to “all traffic in both directions” from Tuesday until further notice.
This is “due to [the] increase in the spread of coronavirus in the region”, it said.
But it added that “local residents” - an apparent reference to Palestinians - who were currently in Jordan would be able to return if they co-ordinated with the authorities.
Separately, Jordan has said that from Monday it will bar entry to travellers from France, Germany and Spain, Reuters news agency reports.

Iran to recognise medical staff as 'martyrs'

Iran will recognise medical staff who die treating coronavirus patients as "martyrs", the country's Mehr news agency reports.
Mehr said Health Minister Saeed Namaki made the announcement on Tuesday, based on Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei's "consent".
Iran's death toll from the virus now stands at 291, and the total number of infections has risen to more than 8,000, the Health Ministry said.

Italian death toll jumps by 168

The official number of fatalities from the coronavirus outbreak in Italy has risen from 463 to 631 in 24 hours.

Containment plan for New York 'cluster' town

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo has announced a targeted containment strategy for a town in the US state.
The plan will focus on a one-mile "containment area" around the town of New Rochelle, which he said was home to "the most significant cluster [of virus cases] in the nation".
Schools and other large meeting points within the area will be closed for two weeks from Thursday. The National Guard will also be deployed to clean schools and deliver food to quarantined residents. But Governor Cuomo said movement in and out of the area would not be restricted.
New York state has 173 active cases. Of these cases, 108 are in Westchester County, where New Rochelle is located.

Italian infections pass 10,000 mark

The total number of coronavirus cases in Italy has officially gone from 9,172 to 10,149.
Of that number, 1,004 have fully recovered.
Italy's death toll of 631 is the largest outside China, and the latest increase in deaths - 168 - is the biggest recorded in a single day.

Airline industry struggles

After the change in travel advice from the UK Foreign Office, airlines have cancelled thousands of flights to and from Italy.
Europe’s biggest low-cost carrier, Ryanair, has scrapped all Italy flights from this Friday until 8 April. British Airways (BA) has cancelled all of its Italy routes until 4 April. Easyjet is expected to follow suit soon, but it’s likely it will keep a handful of flights running to bring British nationals home.
Airlines are also being hit by a sharp fall in passenger demand globally. It hasn’t helped that some airlines, such as Virgin Atlantic, have been forced by European rules to run empty flights because, if they don't, they risk losing precious slots at key airports. The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, said urgent legislation would be passed so the rules change.
"We want to make it easier for airlines to keep their airport slot even if they do not operate flights in those slots because of the declining traffic," she said. "This is a temporary measure, and this temporary measure helps both our industry, but it also helps our environment."
The extent to which airlines are struggling is becoming clear. BA has emailed all its staff asking people to volunteer for unpaid leave. Norwegian Air has said it will cut 15% of its global schedule for a month, while some staff will be temporarily laid off. The German giant Lufthansa has already said it will cut up to half of its flights during the coming weeks. Anyone booked on a flight which is cancelled is eligible for a full refund.

Romanian theatre to live-stream its productions

Stephen McGrath, Romania
Eleven new cases of people infected with coronavirus have been confirmed in Romania, bringing the total number of infections to 28 since the outbreak began. So far there have been no fatalities.
Of the 28 infected persons so far, five have been declared “cured” and discharged from hospital, according to a statement by Romania’s ministry of health. A further 107 people are reported to be in quarantine while 11,505 people are being home monitored.

Trump says virus will 'go away'

US President Donald Trump has urged Americans to stay calm and said the virus would "go away".
He was speaking, Reuters news agency reports, after meeting Republican senators to discuss the coronavirus outbreak in Washington DC.
He said the meeting had focused on stimulus plans for the economy in the midst of the outbreak, without giving any further details.
He told journalists he had no symptoms of the virus and felt no reason to get tested, and that he felt good. It has emerged that he came into contact with Republican congressmen who placed themselves in isolation after being in contact with someone who had tested positive for the virus.

WTO suspends all meetings

The Geneva-based World Trade Organization has said it is suspending all meetings until 20 March after a member of staff was confirmed to have coronavirus.

Cases rise in Ireland

The official number of cases in the Republic of Ireland has risen by 10 in the last 24 hours, and now stands at 34.
In a tweet, Ireland's health department said 1,784 people had been tested in the country as of 9 March.
Meanwhile, Northern Ireland recorded 16 cases.

New French cases reported

Thirty three people with coronavirus have now died in France, public health chief Jérôme Salomon said.
At least 1,784 people have been infected in total, which represents an increase of 372 cases since Monday and the largest increase in 24 hours.
Of those ill, 86 are in serious condition, Mr Salomon said. Of the 33 deaths, all were adults and 23 were over the age of 75, he added. He also reminded people that 98% of those infected recovered from the disease.

US Walmart employee tests positive

US retail giant Walmart has begun an emergency leave policy after an employee in Kentucky tested positive for coronavirus.

Troops sent to New York virus 'containment zone'

The town of New Rochelle has a significant cluster of virus cases, according to New York officials.
Read more

Summary for 11th March

-  The number of cases in Europe continues to rise, with more than 10,000 in Italy
-  A UK health minister, Nadine Dorries, is among 382 cases in Britain
-  Bank of England cuts interest rates from 0.75% to 0.25% to shore up economy
-  Some key industries in Wuhan, where the outbreak began, will restart
-  There are now more than 1,000 confirmed cases in the US
-  Troops will deliver food to quarantined people in New Rochelle, New York
-  Google's parent company asks North American staff to work from home
-  One of the world's biggest music festivals, Coachella, postponed until October
-  Australia announces A$2.4bn health package

7:09am

The global picture at a glance

Here is a look at what's been happening around the world in the last few hours:

• There are now 119,000 cases of coronavirus globally and 4,296 deaths
  
• More than 55% of the cases are reportedly cured
  
• New countries reporting cases include Bolivia, the Democratic Republic of Congo, Jamaica and Turkey
  

---

Manchester City v Arsenal off

Manchester City v Arsenal, due to be played on Wednesday evening, has become the first Premier League game to be called off because of the coronavirus.
The decision was made after some Arsenal players met Olympiakos owner Evangelos Marinakis two weeks ago, who later tested positive.
"The medical advice we have received puts the risk of them developing Covid-19 at extremely low," said Arsenal.
"However, we are strictly following the government guidelines which recommend that anyone coming into close contact with someone with the virus should self-isolate at home for 14 days from the last time they had contact.
"As a result, the players are unavailable for tonight's match against Manchester City and the Premier League has decided the game should be postponed."
Read more here.

'No reason to play without people'

The Manchester City v Arsenal match has been postponed because Arsenal players are in isolation.
But other leagues have called off matches to stop the virus spreading. Speaking before tonight's postponement, Manchester City manager Pep Guardiola said there was no point playing without fans...

The impact on sport so far

The Premier League has postponed its first game, but hundreds of sporting fixtures have already been postponed - or will be played with no fans.
The list includes top-flight Italian and Spanish football, the Champions League, Japanese baseball, and the Bahrain Grand Prix.
Read a full list here.

UK health minister tests positive for virus

UK health minister and Conservative MP Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with the coronavirus - making her the first MP to test positive.
The 62-year-old said she was self-isolating at home and that healthcare officials had began tracing people she came into contact with.
All health ministers will now have to undergo testing for the virus.
It comes as a sixth person died from the virus in the UK, which has a total of 382 cases.
7:24

UK MP 'over the worst of it'

A UK health minister who came down with the coronavirus is hopeful that she is "over the worst of it now".
Nadine Dorries is the first UK MP to test positive for the virus.
The 62-year-old said in a tweet that she was more worried about her mother, who has begun to cough.

Thanks for so many good wishes. It’s been pretty rubbish but I hope I’m over the worst of it now. More worried about my 84yo mum who is staying with me and began with the cough today. She is being tested tomorrow. Keep safe and keep washing those hands, everyone.

Coachella postponed over virus fears

Coachella - one of the world's biggest festivals - has been postponed due to coronavirus fears.
It was set to take place in April in California, but has now been shifted to October.
Hundreds of acts including Travis Scott, Calvin Harris, Lana Del Ray and K-pop group Bigbang were set to perform.

New York sends in troops to contain virus

Troops will be sent to the town of New Rochelle, just north of New York City, in an effort to contain the coronavirus.
New York City has 36 confirmed cases of the virus. But New Rochelle, which has a population of just 77,000, is believed to have at least twice as many.
A one mile (1.6km) "containment zone" will be enforced in the town, and the National Guard will deliver food to quarantined individuals.

More than 1,000 cases confirmed in US

The United States has now had more than 1,000 confirmed cases, according to data from Johns Hopkins University.
That's almost double the number from a day before. At least 28 people have died.
The rise in cases is linked to an expansion in testing.

Number of cases by country

The United States' sharp increase means it now has the eighth most cases worldwide, according to Johns Hopkins University's tracker.
The top ten are:
China 80,956
Italy 10,149
Iran 8,042
South Korea 7,755
France 1,784
Spain 1,695
Germany 1,565
United States 1,025
Japan 581
Switzerland 491

Six more cases in Thailand

Six more cases have been confirmed in Thailand, bringing the total to 59.
The new patients are:

• Two Thai men working at Bangkok's Suvarnabhumi airport, who have come into in contact with foreign visitors
  
• A 25-year-old Thai man
  
• A 27-year-old Thai woman returning from South Korea
  
• A 40-year-old Thai man returning from Japan
  
• A 36-year-old Singaporean man living in Thailand
  

New York student confirmed to have virus

The City University of New York (CUNY) added that the school would be closed on 11 March.

First virus death in Central America

The first virus-linked death in Central America has come out of Panama, its health minister has confirmed, reported AFP.
The 64-year-old man, who was reportedly already suffering from diabetes complications, died from Covid-19 on Sunday.
There are currently eight cases of the virus in the country.

Tighter restrictions hit stranded Indians

In India, passengers travelling from Italy and South Korea, or people who have recently visited there, now need a "tested negative certificate" from those countries.
The Indian Ministry of Health and Family Welfare said it’s a temporary measure until coronavirus cases come down.
It is estimated there are 45 Indians stranded at Rome Airport – Emirates is not allowing them to board as they will not be able to disembark when they land in India.

Australia announces $2.4bn package

Up to 100 pop-up respiratory clinics will be established around Australia under a A$2.4bn government health package.
A $30 million dollar advertising campaign - aimed at raising public awareness - will also form part of the package.
Australia has recorded 112 cases of the virus, with three deaths.

Olympics could be delayed by 'one or two years'

A delay of one or two years would be the "most feasible" option if the Tokyo Olympics is postponed, a member of the organising committee's executive board has told Reuters.
Haruyuki Takahashi, one of more than two dozen members of the Tokyo 2020 executive board, said: "We need to start preparing for any possibility.
"If the games can't be held in the summer, a delay of one or two years would be most feasible."

Olympics delay is 'inconceivable' says minister

Japan's Olympics minister has responded to suggestions that the Games could be delayed by one or two years.
"A delay is not under consideration," said Seiko Hashimoto in a parliamentary committee, according to a Bloomberg report. "[It] is inconceivable."
A member of the organising committee's executive board earlier said they had to start "preparing for any possibility".
Hashimoto - a former Olympic athlete - acknowledged that the final decision rests with the International Olympic Committee.

All new China deaths in Wuhan

China announced 22 new deaths on Wednesday - all in Wuhan, the city where the virus emerged late last year.
More than 3,000 people have died in total in China - the majority in Wuhan and its province, Hubei.

Virus conference gets cancelled due to virus

A coronavirus conference has been cancelled because of the coronavirus, according to a Bloomberg report.
US Think Tank the Council on Foreign Relations was due to hold a conference called "Doing Business Under Coronavirus" on Friday in New York.

More than 90 infections from one Seoul call centre

More than 90 virus cases have been linked to a call centre in Seoul, said a Yonhap report quoting the capital's mayor.
This makes it the biggest Covid-19 cluster in Seoul.
There are currently 7,755 confirmed cases in South Korea.

Sealing Germany's borders won't work

Sealing Germany's borders to prevent the spread of the virus will not work, the country's Health Minister Jens Spahn said on Wednesday.
He rejected calls to follow its neighbour Austria - which now denies entry to visitors from Italy.
"The virus is in Germany, it is in Europe. That's the thought we have to get used to," he told local radio station Deutschlandfunk radio, reported Reuters.
"It will still spread even if you close all the borders. Sooner or later you have to let people in or out and then it starts spreading again."
There are currently 1,296 confirmed cases in Germany.

Brits on cruise ship to head home

British passengers who were on the Grand Princess cruise ship are on a flight back to Britain, said the Foreign Office.
Thousands of passengers on the US liner were stranded off the coast of California for days due to testing, and then an outbreak of coronavirus.
The 135 British nationals are expected to arrive in Birmingham on Wednesday evening. They will then be expected to self-isolate for two weeks.

Moldova closes all schools

Moldova has closed all its nurseries, schools, colleges and universities for two weeks from today, state health officials said.
Yesterday, it banned all foreigners from flying in from areas affected by the virus.
Moldova has reported three cases so far, but no deaths.

Italy's Lombardy could impose stricter restrictions

Italy's Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte said he was not ruling out a stricter lockdown of the Lombardy region of Italy - one of the country's worst hit areas.
This could result in measures like the closing of shops, offices and public transport.
Around 60 million Italians entered a nationwide lockdown yesterday. The lockdown saw travel restrictions enforced, people told to stay at home, and a ban on public gatherings, amongst others.
The number of confirmed cases in Italy has reached 10,149, with 631 deaths.

First death in Belgium

Belgium's health ministry has reported the first Covid-19 death in the country, the Belga news agency said citing a statement.
The patient was 90 years old.

Six more cases in South Africa

South Africa has six new cases of the virus, its Health Ministry confirmed, bringing the total to 13.
The patients are:

• A 33-year-old female that had travelled to Italy and returned on 1 March
  
• A couple - a 34-year-old and a 33-year-old - who travelled to Germany and returned on 9 March
  
• A 57-year-old who travelled to Austria and Italy and returned on 8 March
  
• A 40-year-old who travelled to Portugal and returned on 7 March
  
• A 36-year-old who travelled to multiple countries including Germany, Austria, Switzerland and Turkey. He returned on 9 March
  

Three in quarantine before Australian Grand Prix

Two members of the Haas Formula One team and one from McLaren were quarantined in Melbourne on Wednesday as a precaution before Sunday's season-opening Australian Grand Prix.
"Two members showed some cold-like symptoms this morning. With the guidelines we've followed, they have been tested (for coronavirus)," a Haas spokesman told Reuters.

DR Congo announces first coronavirus case

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo have confirmed the first case of coronavirus in the country in the capital, Kinsasha.
The patient is a Belgian citizen who has been in the country for several days, Health Minister Eteni Longondo said.
"We are tracking people who came into contact with him so that they too can be placed in quarantine, and tested," Mr Longondo said.
The central African nation is the seventh sub-Saharan country to confirm a case of coronavirus.
Meanwhile, DR Congo is hoping to declare its recent Ebola outbreak over by next month if no new cases are discovered in the next three weeks.

British woman dies in Bali

A foreign patient who became the first person with Covid-19 to die in Indonesia is a 53-year-old woman from the UK, the Foreign Office told Channel News Asia.
A Foreign Office spokesman said the woman had died in the tourist spot of Bali.
The woman was reportedly already critically ill and suffering from diabetes, hypertension, hyperthyroidism and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, an Indonesian government spokesman said.
There have been 27 cases of the virus in Indonesia.

US urges Iran to free Americans in virus-hit jails

The US secretary of state has called on Iran to immediately release on humanitarian grounds all Americans imprisoned in the country, amid reports that Covid-19 has spread inside overcrowded Iranian jails.
“The United States will hold the Iranian regime directly responsible for any American deaths. Our response will be decisive,” Mike Pompeo warned in a statement on Tuesday night.
The Iranian judiciary has temporarily released 70,000 of the estimated 189,500 people held in its prisons in an attempt to contain the outbreak, which has left at least 291 people dead and infected more than 8,000 others.
But the UN special rapporteur on human rights in Iran, Javaid Rehman, has noted that only those serving sentences of less than five years have been freed. Political prisoners and people sentenced to more than five years in connection with their participation in anti-government protests remain in prison.
"A number of dual and foreign nationals are at real risk... they are really fearful of the conditions," Mr Rehman told reporters in Geneva on Tuesday.

---

Beijing arrivals face mandatory quarantine

The number of new infections have been decreasing by the day in China and the country is now tightening travel restrictions to try and prevent imported cases.
The latest restriction is that all international arrivals in the capital Beijing will have to be quarantined for two weeks, a city official has said.
Previously this measure only applied to people from the hardest-hit countries outside China - including South Korea, Iran, Italy and Japan.
Meanwhile, Vietnam has temporarily suspended visas for people from eight European countries: France, Spain, Germany, the UK, Denmark, Finland, Norway and Sweden.
And India has suspended visas and e-visas for French, German and Spanish nationals.

Politicians are getting the virus too

UK health minister Nadine Dorries has been diagnosed with coronavirus, and is now self-isolating at home.
She first showed symptoms on Thursday - the same day she attended an event at Downing Street that was hosted by UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
But she's not the only senior politician to have caught the virus. In fact, many around the world have.
In France this week, Culture Minister Franck Riester was diagnosed. The 46-year-old minister was tested after displaying symptoms, but is "feeling well" in quarantine, French media say.
Five French MPs have also tested positive for the virus.
In Italy, Democratic Party leader Nicola Zingaretti tested positive and went into quarantine last week. Announcing his diagnosis, he said: "So, it's arrived."
Italy has the highest number of cases outside China, and is currently in lock-down. European Parliament President David Sassoli has also self-quarantined, after visiting Italy on the weekend.
Iranian ministers and politicians have been affected particularly severely. Two politicians have died from the virus, Fatemeh Rahbar and Mohammad Ali Ramazani, as has Mohammad Mirmohammadi, a top adviser to Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamanei.
In total, more than 20 politicians in Iran have the virus.
In the US, five Republican lawmakers - including Senator Ted Cruz - have had to self-quarantine after coming into contact with a confirmed coronavirus case at the Conservative Political Action Conference last month.
US President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence both attended and spoke at the conference, but the White House insists that they don't need a coronavirus test.

70% of Germany could get virus - Merkel

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has warned that according to experts, 60-70% of the German population could become infected with the coronavirus.
She said that since there's no cure yet, governments need to focus on slowing its spread.
"When the virus is out there, the population has no immunity and no therapy exists, then 60 to 70% of the population will be infected," she was quoted by the Reuters news agency as telling reporters in Berlin.
"The process has to be focused on not overburdening the health system by slowing the virus's spread. It's about winning time."
  We brought you quite a drastic warning earlier from German leader Angela Merkel's press conference in Berlin, and we now have a few more details.
To recap, the chancellor said 60-70% of the population of Germany would likely become infected with the coronavirus.
That figure comes from scientists at the country's public health body, the Robert Koch Institute, and is set against the context of there continuing to be no vaccine nor specific treatment available for Covid-19.
As of yesterday evening, Germany had 1,296 cases of the virus and three deaths.
This is Mrs Merkel's first address to the public on the coronavirus crisis.

US infections pass 1,000 as deaths rise to 31

As the US east coast wakes up, here's a quick recap on the situation in the country.
The number of people infected has passed 1,000 with new cases reported on both sides of the country, rather than just the west coast where the earliest outbreak took place.
Dozens of cases have been linked to a conference held at a hotel in Boston in February. Other clusters have emerged nursing homes around Seattle in Washington state.
In one of the most drastic moves so far, gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned in the Seattle area.
Nationally, there have been five more deaths, taking the total to 31, US media reported. Of the latest fatalities, two were in Washington state and there was one each in New Jersey, South Dakota and California.
Nineteen states have declared emergencies, the Washington Post reported.

Tourists from Nile ship fly out of Egypt

We’ve got an update from Egypt, where 45 people with the new coronavirus were evacuated from a Nile cruise ship on Saturday and placed in isolation on land.
Egypt's tourism ministry says that a group of 46 French and American tourists who were quarantined on board the A-Sara as a precaution flew home on Tuesday night after testing negative for Covid-19.
Seventeen Indian passengers who also tested negative have been taken to Cairo airport and are waiting to leave.
Egypt has so far reported 59 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and one death - a German tourist.
One of the cruise ship passengers who tested positive was US journalist Matt Swider, the managing editor of website TechRadar. He has been tweeting about his experiences at a hospital in Egypt. Many Egyptians have been sharing his posts with pride, according to BBC Monitoring.

Outbreak could hit Brexit negotiations

A delay to the negotiations between the UK and the EU because of coronavirus is a “live issue”, UK Cabinet Office Minister Michael Gove has told a House of Commons Select committee.
Sources say the talks scheduled to take place in London on Wednesday, Thursday and Friday next week are still on but they are under review.
For the first round of negotiations, 100 British officials travelled to Brussels. The general advice for EU officials now is that only essential meetings should be held and that video-conferencing and working from home should be considered.
Time is short in this process, but some diplomats in Brussels say it could be wrapped up quickly if some big political decisions are swiftly made. So maybe a delay might not be as dramatic as it seems?
And if both sides stick to their pledges to provide draft treaty texts “soon” there will be plenty of reading that negotiators can do at their own desks.
If you're a bit confused about where we are with Brexit, this explainer might help.

Iran reports biggest daily death toll yet

Iran’s health ministry has reported 63 new deaths from Covid-19 in the past 24 hours - the highest number in a single day in the country.
Spokesman Kianoush Jahanpour said there had now been 354 deaths since the outbreak began last month. The real figure is believed to be much higher.
Mr Jahanpour added that a further 958 confirmed cases of Covid-19 had also been reported, bringing the total number of infections in the country to exactly 9,000.

Chancellor Sunak: £30bn stimulus to support UK in coronavirus

So how much is the government's response to coronavirus worth?
Chancellor Rishi Sunak summarises his Budget plans:
"Taken together, the extraordinary measures I have set out today represent £7bn to support the self-employed, businesses and vulnerable people.
"To support the NHS and other public services, I am also setting aside a £5bn emergency response fund - and will go further if necessary.
"Those measures are on top of plans that I will set out later in this Budget, which provide an additional fiscal loosening of £18bn to support the economy this year.
"That means I am announcing today, in total, a £30bn fiscal stimulus to support British people, British jobs and British businesses through this moment."

Pakistan's cases double in a day

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Pakistan has more than doubled in the past 24 hours to 20, officials say, as the outbreak takes a hold in South Asia.
Most of the country's cases – 15 so far – have been in Sindh in the south, where the provincial government says the federal authorities aren't doing enough to prevent the spread of infection.
"I believe that all these patients entered through Karachi airport, which is why we need to improve the surveillance at airports," provincial minister Murtaza Wahab told a news conference in Karachi, a megacity and transit hub of 15 million people.
He said about 2,300 people who had entered Sindh had been contacted and, if necessary, tested.
But he wants quarantine camps and virus monitoring at airports improved, as well as lab testing at Pakistan’s international borders and airports, to make sure only those travellers who are not infected can enter the country.

Fears grow of outbreak in Philippines

As I entered my local supermarket in Manila, I was met with a wave of people pushing fully-laden trolleys towards the exit.
“The queues are twice as long as normal,” a shop-worker told me. Panic buying had stripped the shelves of hand sanitiser and cleaning alcohol.
Today the Philippines confirmed 16 more cases of Covid-19, bringing the total number of cases to 49. Although still low by comparison to other countries’ outbreaks, there’s fear that this country of more than 100 million people is under-reporting the real extent of local transmission.
Former Philippine Health Secretary Dr Manuel M Dayrit oversaw the country’s response to the Sars coronavirus outbreak of 2003. He believes that with only 2,000 Covid-19 test kits in the country, screening for the virus has been too limited.
“We are not doing any testing for Covid-19 in the community,” said Dr Dayrit. “We are only testing the patients that show up in the hospitals usually with pneumonia, so we can only speculate how extensive community spread is.”
The fear now is if there’s an outbreak in a squatters’ area of Manila, where it is not uncommon to see five families share one cramped makeshift hut, a community outbreak would be extremely difficult to contain.

Latest from around the world

There have been some new developments. Here's the latest:

• Honduras has confirmed its first two cases of coronavirus in the country. One patient, a pregnant woman, had travelled from Spain and a second patient arrived from Switzerland.
  
• South Africa has called for calm after six more people tested positive for the virus bringing the total number of infections in the country to 13. There are concerns that because South Africa is home to the world's largest HIV epidemic, millions of people may be more vulnerable to coronavirus because their immune systems have already been weakened.
  
• Algeria has suspended economic, cultural and political gatherings to slow the spread of the virus.
  
• Israel, which has 42 cases, now requires anyone arriving from overseas to self-quarantine for 14 days.
  

Uber to suspend accounts of virus-hit drivers

The ride-hailing app will temporarily block the accounts of those affected but provide them with financial aid.
Read more

Donating blood 'won't detect coronavirus'

For a lot of people in the US, there's an additional worry: how much a coronavirus test might cost.
In a tweet posted two days ago and "liked" more than 230,000 times, one American claims to have found a "loophole".
"If you don't have insurance and can't afford to take the $3,200 test for the virus ($1,000 with insurance), DONATE BLOOD," she writes."They HAVE to test you for the virus in order to donate blood."
The figures she cites are based on another viral social media post, about a man who reportedly returned to Florida from China with flu symptoms, that was later debunked.
The UK's National Health Service (NHS) has now weighed in:

China comes to Italy's aid

Italy is in national lockdown and health systems in parts of the north are struggling to cope. China has offered a helping hand, our website's Europe editor Paul Kirby reports:
Yesterday we shared the news that Chinese President Xi Jinping had declared the epidemic in Wuhan, where the virus first emerged, as "virtually curbed".
Now, in a powerful signal, the country is sending aid to Italy.
Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio, who has nurtured close ties with Beijing, had a chat with his opposite number on Tuesday.
Now China has offered 100,000 face masks, 20,000 protective suits and 1,000 ventilators. Chinese state media said the Red Cross Society of China was even considering sending a medical team to Italy.
Late last night, EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a €25bn (£22bn; $28bn) Corona Response Investment Fund.
At present, three EU states - Germany, France and the Czech Republic - have banned the export of face masks to ensure they don't go short themselves.
Because the US has a largely private healthcare system, the cost of a coronavirus test is largely up to what kind of insurance a person has, and which particular lab carries out the test.
Experts are concerned that people with poor cover or no insurance will avoid getting tested - leaving them open to serious illness, and to infecting others.
US Vice President Mike Pence has said cost will not be a barrier to people getting tested, because Medicare and Medicaid healthcare payment systems will cover the costs of those who need government healhcare support.
A group of major health insurance companies also said there would be no surprise billing for costs associated with the coronavirus.

Televangelist sued for fake coronavirus 'cure'

YouTube televangelist Jim Bakker is being sued by a US state's attorney general for pushing a bogus coronavirus "cure" on his show.
In the episode last month, Mr Bakker claimed colloidal silver - a liquid that contains tiny particles of silver - could treat the virus, which has infected more than 1,000 people and killed 31 in the US.
He has long pushed what he calls "Silver Solution" as a cure-all for different ailments.
The video led to the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the New York Attorney General's Office to immediately send him cease-and-desist letters.
Now he's facing a awsuit from Missouri Attorney General Eric Schmitt.
In a statement, Mr Schmitt said he was seeking an injunction "ordering Bakker to stop selling Silver Solution as a coronavirus treatment".
"Anyone who has bought 'Silver Solution' from the Jim Bakker Show should know that it cannot cure or treat coronavirus," he added.
Colloidal silver can cause a host of negative side effects - including turning skin blue.

Hungary shuts universities and bans big gatherings

Hungary has banned inbound travel from Italy, South Korea, Iran and China for non-Hungarians.
The country's universities will be shut down and public gatherings of more than 100 people inside and 500 outside will be banned, an official told a news briefing.
The restrictions will be in force until further notice.
Hungary has 13 confirmed cases of the coronavirus but no virus-related deaths.

Ireland and Belgium record first coronavirus deaths

Both Ireland and Belgium have recorded their first coronavirus-related deaths today.
In Ireland, a patient died in the east of the country on Wednesday morning. The person is understood to be elderly, according to The Irish Times.
There are a total of 34 confirmed cases in total in Ireland.
Meanwhile in Belgium, three people died on Wednesday, marking the first deaths in the country from the virus.
One was a 73-year-old man, another was an 86-year-old man and the third person was a 90-year-old woman.

Students clash with police over virus order

Students at the University of Dayton in the US state of Ohio clashed with police early on Wednesday after they were told to clear out of their dormitories two days early due to coronavirus fears.
The order gave students less than 24 hours to pack up and leave.
Local media report the protest, which grew to more than 1,000 people, started as a party before the crowd became unruly.
University of Dayton officials said the crowd was "throwing objects and bottles in the street and at police, and jumping on cars".
"Police gave verbal orders to disperse which were ignored. Police initially launched pepper balls, which contain powder with an irritant that disperses quickly, that were unsuccessful in reducing the crowd size," a statement from officials said.
Student Chris Rose told WHIO-News: "We were all kind of shocked, being gassed was kind of crazy. It’s one of the last nights I have on campus as a senior; I'm just trying to make the best of it."
Students eventually cleared the area at about 02:15 (06:15 GMT).

UK minister's staffer has coronavirus

UK Health Minister Nadine Dorries has told the BBC that a member of her parliamentary staff has also been infected with the virus.
Ms Dorries was confirmed as having Covid-19 yesterday.
She didn't name the staff member, but according to the parliamentary register of MPs' staff she employs three people - one of whom is her daughter.
This morning Ms Dorries posted in a WhatsApp group of Tory MPs that if any of them had sat next to her last week in the "tea room or library etc", to please let her know, because it was "hard to remember" everyone she had come into contact with.
This afternoon she told the BBC: "Contact tracers have full list of everyone I have been in contact with."
She apparently started experiencing symptoms on Thursday, but afterwards attended an event at Downing Street hosted by Prime Minister Boris Johnson, and held a constituency surgery attended by dozens of members of the public.
Labour MP Rachael Maskell met Ms Dorries last week, and has now been told to self-isolate after feeling unwell.

Festivals and sports fixtures fall victim to virus

Fears that the coronavirus will spread quickly among large gatherings is continuing to take its toll on cultural events and sports fixtures.
One of the world's biggest music festivals - Coachella - had been due to take place in California next month with a star-studded lineup. But organisers have shelved it until October. Last year, the Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival attracted about 250,000 people.
In Spain, the Unesco-recognised Fallas festival in Valencia has also been postponed.
The festival features giant papier-mache structures that are paraded through the town and on the last night are set alight. Organisers have not set an alternative date.
Also cancelled is Series Mania, a leading European festival featuring upcoming streaming and TV series, due to take place in the northern French city of Lille on 20 March. The gathering was expected to draw more than 80,000 people.
And just in - the E3 gaming expo, a huge video game industry event scheduled for June in Los Angeles, has been cancelled, its organisers said. In sport, the English Premier League match between Manchester City and Arsenal this evening has been postponed amid news that several Arsenal players were going into self-isolation. The players and some team staff had come into contact with Evangelos Marinakis - owner of the Greek team Olympiacos - who has contracted the virus. Arsenal and Olympiacos met in a 27 February Europa League tie at the Emirates Stadium in London.

India suspends visas until mid-April

In an attempt to stem the spread of the virus, India has announced it will suspend many different types of visas used to visit the country until 15 April.
The measure comes into effect from 13 March, but exemptions will be granted for diplomats, government and UN officials, and people travelling on work visas.
A minimum 14-day quarantine has also been announced for all incoming travelers - including Indian nationals - arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February.

Canada pledges C$1bn to virus response

Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Toronto
Canada is setting up a C$1bn ($728m; £562m) coronavirus response fund, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced.
The funding package is meant to help the country address the domestic impact of the virus and to support further research, including vaccine development.
There are currently 93 confirmed cases of the disease in Canada. One death has been linked to the coronavirus.
"We are pulling out all the stops to make sure Canadians stay healthy, safe and supported," Mr Trudeau said earlier today.
Funds allocated include C$275m for research and C$500m for provinces and territories to support critical health care system needs and mitigation efforts.
For workers who are in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate, the federal government is also waiving its mandatory one-week waiting period to claim unemployment benefits.

Italian medical chief dies after contracting virus

The head of the medical association in the northern Italian province of Varese, Roberto Stella, 67, has died of respiratory failure after contracting coronavirus.
He had been practising medicine at an outpatient clinic in Busto Arsizio, north-west of Milan, and Italian reports say he and a colleague were infected at the weekend.
Varese is in the Lombardy region, which has been at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak.

Italy death toll now over 800

Official figures show the death toll in Italy has risen by 196 to 827 during the last 24 hours. This is a 31% rise from yesterday, and the largest jump since the start of the outbreak in the country.
There are now 12,462 reported cases in Italy, which is now the worst-affected nation outside China. Earlier this week the government announced emergency measures - including travel restrictions - to help stem the outbreak.

Latest from the US (at 18:11)
The number of known cases across America has hit over 1,000, and authorities report 31 deaths from the virus. More than a quarter of new cases were announced on Tuesday.
In other developments around the country:

• At least 38 states have reported cases - the highest number is concentrated in New York state
  
• Nineteen states have declared emergencies, the Washington Post reported
  
• Gatherings of more than 250 people have been banned in the Seattle area - one of the most drastic moves so far
  
• Music festivals and other major events in the US, including Coachella festival in California, have been cancelled or postponed
  
• Dr Anthony Fauci, director of the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases, told a Congressional hearing on Wednesday that "things will get worse than they are right now". He also suggested that the National Basketball Association should bar audiences from games
  
• Televangelist Jim Bakker is being sued by a US state's attorney general for pushing a bogus coronavirus "cure" on his YouTube show
  
• President Donald Trump has not yet said if he is willing to be tested, despite shaking hands and flying on Air Force One with several Republican lawmakers exposed to the virus
  

Uganda imposes self-quarantine for UK and US visitors

Uganda’s government has introduced a mandatory 14-day period of self-quarantine for travellers arriving from 16 countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The countries include the UK, the US and several European nations.
The authorities have also said passengers arriving at the International Airport in Entebbe will soon be sprayed with a disinfectant.
Uganda has no recorded positive case of coronavirus.
The East African nation's health minister admits its hospitals and economy would not be able to cope with a serious outbreak.

• Read: Could African countries cope with an outbreak?
  

Iranian vice president tests positive

Iran's Fars news agency reports that First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has contracted the virus. In his role, Mr Jahangiri leads Cabinet meetings in the absence of the president, and is the most senior government figure to catch the virus. He has recently been absent from several top-level meetings, and there has been speculation about the state of his health.
Two other cabinet members have also tested positive for the disease, according to Fars: Cultural Minister Ali Asghar Mounesan and Reza Rahmani, minister of industry, mines and business.
They are among the many Iranian officials and politicians who have been infected in recent weeks.

9:11

UK virus cases jump to 460

The number of confirmed coronavirus cases in Britain has now reached 460, after the biggest rise in a single day.
It came as two more people with the virus died in the UK, bringing the total number of deaths to eight.
One was described as being in their 70s and had underlying health conditions, while the other was elderly and had a number of serious health conditions.
Two other Britons have died abroad after contracting the virus. The latest, on Wednesday, was a 53-year-old woman in Bali. Another man also died in Japan last month after contracting the disease aboard the Diamond Princess cruise ship.

UK Parliament 'will remain open'

The UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs that Parliament will remain open after an MP tested positive for coronavirus.
"Of course in some ways this House may have to function differently, but the ability to hold government to account and to legislate are as vital in a time of emergency as in normal times," he said.
Mr Hancock said the public "will expect Parliament to sit" and that their approach "will be guided by the best scientific evidence and medical advice".
A cross-party parliamentary group was meeting daily to assess the situation, he added.
He said he would meet the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, on Thursday morning to discuss an emergency bill that would include measures to keep "vital public services running".
"I know how worrying this is, I know people have deep concerns, I know everyone will play their part… the best way to beat it if for us to work together," Mr Hancock said.
"We will do whatever it takes. We will give the NHS everything it needs."

UK coronavirus cases 'expected to peak in a couple of months'

In the UK's House of Commons, Mr Hancock continues: "We do not expect numbers to peak in the next fortnight, we expect numbers to continue to rise after that.
"And the peak would be in a matter of a couple of months, rather than a matter of a couple of weeks.
"This is a marathon and not a sprint."
He says that the fact the World Health Organization is now calling the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic "does indicate that they think that this virus will spread right across the world".
His statement comes after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK reached 460 - the biggest rise in a single day.

Coronavirus: What it's like to self-isolate

One family describes being tested at home and a student moves into a caravan on her parents drive.
Read more

Stock markets slide again as virus spreads

Share markets in the US have moved sharply lower on Wednesday in another day of jittery trade, driven by fears about the economic impact of the coronavirus.
The Dow Jones was down nearly 5% at midday trade in New York, while the S&P 500 and Nasdaq fell more than 4%.
London's FTSE 100 slid 1.4%, while other European markets saw more modest falls.
The falls come as countries rush to approve spending to shield economies from reduced activity resulting from measures to halt the progress of the virus.

Croatia announces three more cases

Health authorities in Croatia have confirmed a further three people in the country have tested positive for coronavirus. All three had recently traveled from Austria and Germany.
This brings the total number of cases in Croatia to 19. The government has announced a ban on gatherings of more than 100 people, but ruled out economic intervention for now.

How has the world of sport been affected?

From the Olympic women's football qualifiers getting moved from Wuhan on 22 January to Arsenal and Manchester City's Premier League tie getting postponed today, the coronavirus has affected huge swathes of the sporting world.
Here's a timeline detailing all the events hit by the outbreak.

Iranian vice president tests positive

Iran's Fars news agency reports that First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri has contracted the virus. In his role, Mr Jahangiri leads Cabinet meetings in the absence of the president, and is the most senior government figure to catch the virus. He has recently been absent from several top-level meetings, and there has been speculation about the state of his health.
Two other cabinet members have also tested positive for the disease, according to Fars: Cultural Minister Ali Asghar Mounesan and Reza Rahmani, minister of industry, mines and business.
They are among the many Iranian officials and politicians who have been infected in recent weeks.

Uganda imposes self-quarantine for UK and US visitors

Uganda’s government has introduced a mandatory 14-day period of self-quarantine for travellers arriving from 16 countries to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The countries include the UK, the US and several European nations.
The authorities have also said passengers arriving at the International Airport in Entebbe will soon be sprayed with a disinfectant.
Uganda has no recorded positive case of coronavirus.
The East African nation's health minister admits its hospitals and economy would not be able to cope with a serious outbreak.

Italy death toll now over 800

Official figures show the death toll in Italy has risen by 196 to 827 during the last 24 hours. This is a 31% rise from yesterday, and the largest jump since the start of the outbreak in the country.
There are now 12,462 reported cases in Italy, which is now the worst-affected nation outside China. Earlier this week the government announced emergency measures - including travel restrictions - to help stem the outbreak.

Italian medical chief dies after contracting virus

The head of the medical association in the northern Italian province of Varese, Roberto Stella, 67, has died of respiratory failure after contracting coronavirus.
He had been practising medicine at an outpatient clinic in Busto Arsizio, north-west of Milan, and Italian reports say he and a colleague were infected at the weekend.
Varese is in the Lombardy region, which has been at the centre of Italy's coronavirus outbreak.

Coronavirus: UK spread in maps and charts

Key graphics explaining how the respiratory virus has grown in the UK and the government's response.
Read more

Canada pledges C$1bn to virus response

Canada is setting up a C$1bn ($728m; £562m) coronavirus response fund, Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has announced.
The funding package is meant to help the country address the domestic impact of the virus and to support further research, including vaccine development.
There are currently 93 confirmed cases of the disease in Canada. One death has been linked to the coronavirus.
"We are pulling out all the stops to make sure Canadians stay healthy, safe and supported," Mr Trudeau said earlier today.
Funds allocated include C$275m for research and C$500m for provinces and territories to support critical health care system needs and mitigation efforts.
For workers who are in quarantine or who have been directed to self-isolate, the federal government is also waiving its mandatory one-week waiting period to claim unemployment benefits.

India suspends visas until mid-April

In an attempt to stem the spread of the virus, India has announced it will suspend many different types of visas used to visit the country until 15 April.
The measure comes into effect from 13 March, but exemptions will be granted for diplomats, government and UN officials, and people travelling on work visas.
A minimum 14-day quarantine has also been announced for all incoming travelers - including Indian nationals - arriving from or having visited China, Italy, Iran, South Korea, France, Spain and Germany after 15 February.

Norway cancels Nato exercise over virus

Norway’s armed forces have cancelled a big Nato exercise involving soldiers from nine countries because of the spread of coronavirus.
About 15,000 soldiers from the US, UK, France, Germany, the Netherlands, Denmark, Sweden and Belgium had gathered for the Cold Response winter exercise that was set to start on Thursday in northern Norway.
The decision was taken after one of the Norwegian soldiers fell ill with coronavirus. About 250 people from his company have been put in quarantine.
However, Maj Brynjar Stordal from the Norwegian joint headquarters said the reason for cancelling the exercise was that the virus was now spreading in Norwegian society and no longer involved cases that had originated abroad.
“It’s an exercise so there’ll be a time to do it again but now’s the time to focus on supporting Norwegian society,” he told the BBC. Norway has had 277 coronavirus infections so far, although no fatalities.
Organisers will now have to focus on sending the Nato forces home. “You can’t flick a switch to just shut it down,” said Maj Stordal.

UK Parliament 'will remain open'

The UK's Health Secretary Matt Hancock has told MPs that Parliament will remain open after an MP tested positive for coronavirus.
"Of course in some ways this House may have to function differently, but the ability to hold government to account and to legislate are as vital in a time of emergency as in normal times," he said.
Mr Hancock said the public "will expect Parliament to sit" and that their approach "will be guided by the best scientific evidence and medical advice".
A cross-party parliamentary group was meeting daily to assess the situation, he added.
He said he would meet the Leader of the Opposition, Jeremy Corbyn, on Thursday morning to discuss an emergency bill that would include measures to keep "vital public services running".
"I know how worrying this is, I know people have deep concerns, I know everyone will play their part… the best way to beat it if for us to work together," Mr Hancock said.
"We will do whatever it takes. We will give the NHS everything it needs."

UK coronavirus cases 'expected to peak in a couple of months'

In the UK's House of Commons, Mr Hancock continues: "We do not expect numbers to peak in the next fortnight, we expect numbers to continue to rise after that.
"And the peak would be in a matter of a couple of months, rather than a matter of a couple of weeks.
"This is a marathon and not a sprint."
He says that the fact the World Health Organization is now calling the spread of the coronavirus a pandemic "does indicate that they think that this virus will spread right across the world".
His statement comes after the number of confirmed coronavirus cases in the UK reached 460 - the biggest rise in a single day.

Summary for 12th March

- President Trump suspends travel from European countries for 30 days
- The ban does not include UK
- Greece confirms first death
- National Basketball Association in the US suspends season
- Tom Hanks and wife, Rita Wilson, say they have the virus in Australia
- Daily cases in Hubei, China - where the outbreak began - reach new low

US issues travel ban to Europe

Welcome to the BBC's coverage of the ongoing coronavirus crisis.
On the day that the World Health Organization declared the outbreak a pandemic, President Donald Trump addressed the nation from the White House to announce he was suspending travel from European countries - except the UK - for 30 days.
The ban comes into force on Friday.
The announcement comes in an effort to control the spread of Covid-19 into the US, where there are now 1,135 confirmed cases and 38 deaths.

US actor Tom Hanks tests positive for virus

US actor Tom Hanks and his wife actress Rita Wilson have both tested positive for coronavirus.
"We felt a bit tired, like we had colds and some body aches. Slight fevers too," he said on Twitter. "We will be tested, observed and isolated for as long as public health and safety requires."
The couple are in Australia, where Hanks is working on a film.

Which are the European countries affected?

Following President Trump's announcement, Homeland Security Acting Secretary Chad F. Wolf’s issued a statement with details of which countries were affected:
"Today President Donald J. Trump signed a Presidential Proclamation, which suspends the entry of most foreign nationals who have been in certain European countries at any point during the 14 days prior to their scheduled arrival to the United States. These countries, known as the Schengen Area, include:

• Austria
  
• Belgium
  
• Czech Republic
  
• Denmark
  
• Estonia
  
• Finland
  
• France
  
• Germany
  
• Greece
  
• Hungary
  
• Iceland
  
• Italy
  
• Latvia
  
• Liechtenstein
  
• Lithuania
  
• Luxembourg
  
• Malta
  
• Netherlands
  
• Norway
  
• Poland
  
• Portugal
  
• Slovakia
  
• Slovenia
  
• Spain
  
• Sweden
  
• Switzerland."
  

NBA suspends season

The US National Basketball Association (NBA) says it will suspend the season until a further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for the coronavirus.
The NBA has not announced who the affected player is, but Reuters suggests it is Rudy Gobert.
The league said it would use this "hiatus to determine next steps moving foward".

Cases in China's Hubei reach new low

China on Thursday reported eight new coronavirus cases in the province of Hubei where the virus first emerged.
This is the first time Hubei's daily tally has been in the single digits.
Outside of Hubei, China had seven new cases - six of which were imported from abroad.
This brings the total number of confirmed cases in China to 80,793.

Cancelling Tokyo Olympics 'unthinkable' - Governor

Kyodo News in Japan is reporting the Tokyo Governor Yuriko Koike as saying: "The classification of the coronavirus as a pandemic will have an impact on discussions about the Tokyo 2020 Summer Olympics, but for now cancellation is unthinkable."

11 more cases in Thailand

Thanyarat Doksone
Producer, BBC News Bangkok
Eleven new cases have been reported in Thailand, bringing the total number of cases in the country to 70.
All new patients were part of a group of friends who hung out together - one of them had come into close contact with a friend from Hong Kong who reportedly had Covid-19 like symptoms.

Juventus player comes down with virus

Juventus FC have announced that Italian player Daniele Rugani has tested positive for coronavirus.
The club says it would start "activating isolation procedures" for all those who have come into contact with the 25-year-old, who is "currently asymptomatic".
All sport in Italy has been suspended until 3 April.

Virus reaches French Polynesia

A member of France's parliament representing French Polynesia has tested positive, reports AFP.
Maina Sage began feeling ill on Monday, two days after returning to the French pacific territory from France.
Sage is in self-isolation at her home and her symptoms were not considered serious, officials said.
The authorities did not say how she caught the virus. On 26 February she met French Culture Minister Franck Riester, who later tested positive.

India travel ban - a sign of panic?

Soutik Biswas, India Correspondent
On Wednesday evening, India joined a host of countries which have imposed coronavirus-related travel restrictions on most incoming foreign traffic.
Experts say it was warranted – and the government is following the rulebook to prevent the spread of infection by visitors.
But it is also a sign of panic.
India’s Health Minister Harsh Vardhan has put on a brave front, saying India is “using all speed, scale and determination coupled with best practices” to prevent a coronavirus outbreak, which could easily overwhelm the world’s second most populous country.
It is true that despite a creaky and uneven public health care system, India has a formidable record in defeating polio, faced up to a swine flu pandemic in 2009 and most recently, handled an recent outbreak of the deadly Nipah virus.
One reason is its "integrated disease surveillance" programme which collects data on “epidemic prone diseases” every week.
The programme has rapid response teams to diagnose and control outbreaks in the event of an escalating illness in any area. It has mainly dealt with outbreaks of diarrhoeal diseases, chicken pox, food poisoning, dengue, measles and cholera.
A senior health official told me this same programme would be used for surveillance and contact tracing to battle coronavirus.
It is too early to say whether it has the ability and skills to deal with an outbreak of coronavirus. India’s health data is scanty, and mortality reporting far from robust.

Saudi Aramco apologises for sanitiser stunt

Saudi Arabia's oil giant Saudi Aramco has apologised after pictures started circulating on social media, showing a man walking around the Aramco office dressed up as a "human hand sanitiser".
"In light of the recent social media photo of our colleague wearing a sterilisation package... [we] express our strong condemnation of this behaviour," Saudi Aramco said in a statement in Arabic, which has been roughly translated to English.
"The company immediately stopped this act and took measures to prevent it from happening again."

Death toll in collapsed hotel rises to 29

The number of people killed when a Chinese hotel collapsed at the weekend has risen to 29. The hotel was being used for virus quarantine.
More than 70 people were in the hotel in Quanzhou; 27 died in the rubble and two died later.

Pakistani man dies in Italy

M Ilyas Khan
BBC News, Islamabad
Covid-19 has claimed the life of a second Pakistani, this time in Italy. The 61-year-old man lived in Brescia in Lombardy.
Yesterday a Pakistani PhD student was reported dead in Wuhan, the Chinese city where the outbreak emerged.
No coronavirus deaths have been reported on Pakistani soil.
A 14-year-old from the Gilgit-Baltistan region has tested positive, bringing the total in Pakistan to 20. The teenager had recently travelled to Iran and returned on 4 March.

Kazakhstan suspends all public events

Kazakhstan is suspending all public events and taking other virus prevention measures, President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev wrote on Twitter on Thursday.
Separately, a World Trade Organization ministerial conference in Kazakhstan in June has been cancelled.

Uganda to 'spray' passengers

All passengers at Uganda's Entebbe International Airport will soon be sprayed with a disinfectant upon entry.
It comes as the Uganda government introduced a mandatory self-quarantine policy for travellers arriving from 16 "high risk countries", including the UK and US.
The country currently has no cases of coronavirus.

Is it safe to fly?

It's a common belief that you are more likely to become ill on a plane, because you're breathing "stale" air.
But in fact, the air on a plane may well be better quality than in the average office (and almost certainly better than a train or a bus). That's because the air you breathe on a plane is being cleaned by something called a high-efficiency particulate air filter (Hepa).
Read more on the risk to travellers here.

How long does virus last on surfaces?

It varies a lot on the type of surface.
On hard surfaces - like door handles, lift buttons or kitchen worktops, it is probably around 48 hours. Although some previous research on coronaviruses has found they can survive for perhaps a week in the right conditions.
On soft surfaces like clothes it survives for much less time, so if you have a coat that has the virus on and you don’t wear it for a day or two, the virus shouldn’t be active anymore.
Remember, simply touching an infected surface will not give you Covid-19. You have to then pass the virus to your mouth, nose or eyes, so that’s why we need to stop touching our faces when out and about

Could London underground be closed?

Tom Burridge - Transport Correspondent
You asked when the government might advise people not to travel in confined spaces like the London Underground.
The short answer is, when its health experts advise it to do so. It might never happen.
I spoke to a senior rail industry figure yesterday and they are thinking all scenarios through. However, the sense is that we’re not close to a ban on public transport at the moment.
It’s worth noting that public transport is still running in Italy, although services have been reduced.
For now, transport bosses in the UK say they’re reviewing cleaning procedures. Transport for London says it is using a more powerful disinfectant.
But irrespective of government advice, passenger numbers on trains have fallen as more people work at home.

First coronavirus death in Greece

The Greek health ministry has confirmed the country's first death of coronavirus.
The patient was a 66-year-old man, who contracted the virus while on a religious bus tour of Israel and Egypt last month.
He died in hospital in Patras, about 204km (127 miles) west of Athens.
Several others who were on the tour with him are now in hospital or quarantined.

Entire Spanish government to undergo virus tests

The entire Spanish government are having tests for Covid-19 after Spain's equality minister Irene Montero tested positive for the new coronavirus, officials have announced.
She and her partner, deputy prime minister and Podemos leader Pablo Iglesias, have been placed in quarantine, the statement added.
"This morning, all members of the government will undergo testing," it said. The results of the tests are expected to be released later on Thursday.

Republic of Ireland closes all schools

Schools, colleges and other public facilities in the Republic of Ireland will be closed from Friday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar has said.

---

Real Madrid players quarantined, La Liga suspended

Real Madrid has sent all of its football and basketball players home to self-isolate after a member of the Spanish club's basketball team tested positive for the virus.
The teams share training facilities.
As a result, the La Liga football competition has also suspended all matches for two weeks.
La Liga officials met with the Royal Spanish Football Federation (RFEF) and the Association of Spanish Footballers (AFA) on Wednesday and Thursday, before making the decision.
The Real Madrid football team was due to play Eibar in La Liga on Friday, without any spectators.
Spain has more than 2,000 cases of coronavirus.

What is the coronavirus delay phase?

Fergus Walsh - Medical correspondent
The UK is expected to move to the delay phase of its coronavirus response. But what does that mean? And why - Jean Wright and John Barcroft want to know - has it not already been implemented?
It means further measures to try to reduce the spread and to lower the peak of any epidemic in the UK and it’s an acknowledgement that this virus cannot be contained.
We're not going to see the sort of drastic measures we've seen in Italy and in China in terms of lockdowns and shutdowns and mass school closures.
That’s because the government says they are being led by the science. They say they have to balance how much that would help reduce the spread against the impact on society and the economy.
The sort of things we will see will be advice to the elderly and vulnerable to protect themselves by avoiding crowded and enclosed spaces. There's a lot of emphasis on hand washing. People with cold and flu-like symptoms within the next few days may be asked to self-isolate for a week.
But restrictions on gatherings and that sort of thing - I don’t think we’re going to see just yet.

Austria reports first coronavirus death

Austria has reported its first death of coronavirus - a 69-year-old man who died in hospital in Vienna.
According to local media, he had recently returned from Italy.
The country has also seen a rise in cases from 245 to more than 300 in the last 24 hours.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz warned on Thursday that this number would rise to 1,000 within days, and then 10,000 a week after that.
"Anything that isn't necessary shouldn't go ahead," he said, public broadcaster ORF reported. "If you're asking yourself whether I should do something, it already means it's alright to do without it."

How the virus has spread - and how the world is responding

Globally, authorities have confirmed more than 124,000 cases of the coronavirus and more than 4,600 deaths.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has labelled the outbreak a pandemic. According to its latest figures, the countries worst affected are:

• China - 80,980 confirmed cases and 3,136 deaths
  
• Italy - 12,462 cases, with 827 deaths
  
• Iran - 9,000 cases, with 354 deaths
  
• South Korea - 7,869 with 66 deaths
  
• France - 2,269 cases, with 48 deaths
  
• Spain - 2,140 cases, with 49 deaths
  

'Inappropriate for Scotland to carry on as normal'

Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said she will advise that mass gatherings of 500 people or more should be cancelled from the start of next week.
Speaking at First Minister's Questions in Holyrood on Thursday, she said she anticipated a "sharp rise" in coronavirus cases in Scotland.
"Mass gatherings require to be policed, to have mass ambulance cover, and at a time when we need to be reducing the pressures on these frontline workers in order to free them up for the challenge ahead, I do think it is inappropriate that we continue as normal," Ms Sturgeon said.
"The health secretary and I have decided this morning that we are minded that we will advise the cancellation, from the start of next week, of mass gatherings of 500 people or more."

Slovakia to shut its borders

Slovakia is closing its borders to non-residents and shutting down international airports to prevent travel to and from the country, Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini has announced.
Border checks will be introduced and schools, sports and leisure centres will close. Shopping centres will also only open on weekdays, the prime minister said.
The country has reported 16 cases of coronavirus so far.

Cruise ship firms cancel trips

Cruise ship firms have suspended upcoming trips in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Princess Cruises - which owns two coronavirus-stricken ships - will suspend all operations for two months, affecting all of its 18 vessels, it said.
The firm said passengers who are on board a Princess trip that is meant to end within the next five days will be able to continue as planned. Those who are meant to be on board for longer will have to get off at a port that suits them, it added.
Another firm, Viking, has also suspended its river and ocean cruises until 1 May.

---

Death toll jumps in Spain

Coronavirus-related deaths and infections have jumped in Spain.
New daily figures, released by the country’s health ministry, show 84 people have now died - an increase from 47 on Wednesday.
It added that there was 2,968 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

UK ministers and scientists gather for emergency meeting

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is hosting an emergency meeting with some of the country's chief scientists this afternoon.
Mr Johnson is expected to sign off plans to move from the "containment" phase of the outbreak to "delay" - basically steps to slow the spread of the virus through the population.
Ahead of the meeting one attendee, Scotland's First Minister Nicola Sturgeon, called for the cancellation of mass gatherings of 500 people or more.
Read more on how the UK could respond here.

Philippine capital Manila to be locked down

Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte has announced a "lockdown" of the capital Manila in a bid to combat the spread of coronavirus.
Two people have died and 53 cases have been confirmed.
He announced a cancellation of domestic land, sea and air travel to and from the capital, as well as community quarantine measures.
The president also announced bans on mass gatherings, a month of school closures and the quarantining of communities where cases are detected.

UK deaths rise to 10 out of 590 confirmed cases

The number of coronavirus related deaths have risen to 10, according to the Department of Health and Social Care.
A total of 590 people have tested positive out of 29,764 who have been tested.

15:41

More on the rise in UK deaths and confirmed cases.....

As we mentioned earlier, the number of deaths in the UK has risen to 10.
There are now 590 confirmed cases in the UK, up from 456 on Wednesday - with 491 in England, 60 in Scotland, 20 in Northern Ireland and 19 in Wales.
It comes as the government is expected to announce within hours that it is stepping up its coronavirus response.
Read more here.

Netherlands bans gatherings of more than 100

Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte has banned meetings of more than 100 and told people they should work from home if possible, until at least 31 March. Companies are also being advised to rotate staff to reduce the risk of infection from coronavirus.
The prime minister said he had introduced the measures because of the likelihood of "untraceable" cases of the virus in the Netherlands.

Latin America’s biggest airline cuts international flights

Latam, Latin America’s biggest airline, has announced it is cancelling 30% of its international flights because of falling demand as a result of the coronavirus.
The measure will be in place between 1 April and 30 May and will apply mainly to flights from South America to Europe and the US.
In a statement, Roberto Alvo, vice president of the Chilean-Brazilian airline, described this as a “complex and extraordinarily dynamic scenario”.
The global airline industry is facing a massive downturn in passenger numbers due to travel restrictions.

'Soap is so ordinary - but it can kill a virus'

A video posted on social media by Lucy Rogers, a judge on the BBC's Robot Wars TV show, has been gaining interest online.
Prof Rogers tweeted the video, which demonstrates how effective soap can be and why it is important to wash your hands, on Wednesday.
Since then, it has been viewed more than 370,000 times.
Watch the video HERE

Tenerife hotel guest told to extend self-isolation after flight home

One of the last British guests to leave the quarantined Costa Adeje Palace Hotel in Tenerife has been told he has to self-isolate for another 14 days.
He flew back to the UK on Tuesday. Last night, he received an email from Public Health England to say another guest had tested positive for Covid-19 and he now had to stay home until 24 March.
Hotel guests say advice has been contradictory. At first, they were quarantined at the hotel until 10 March. A British person then tested positive on 2 March and they were told to extend self-isolation to two weeks from that date.
After returning to the UK on Saturday, one holidaymaker said the NHS's 111 service told him that wasn’t necessary and the original deadline of 10 March was enough.
The advice over the 24-hour travel window has also been confusing, they say.
Airlines told guests they would fly them back if they tested negative for Covid-19, but it had to be within 24 hours - when the virus could be carried undetected, but not passed on.
Some travellers have told us they flew outside that window, because of delays at the airport. Information wasn’t passed on from ground crew to airline staff and they missed their flight.

Canada's prime minister is self-isolating over virus

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau will be self-isolating while he awaits the results of tests on his wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau.
Mr Trudeau has no symptoms and is entering voluntary quarantine "out of an abundance of caution", the prime minister's office said.
"The doctor's advice to the prime minister is to continue daily activities while self-monitoring."

Algerian president orders school closures after death

Algerian President Abdelmadjid Tebboune has ordered schools to close throughout the country in an attempt to prevent the spread of the coronavirus.
The closure starts immediately and will continue until 5 April, according to a statement made by the president’s office.
It includes primary schools, crèches, vocational training centres, universities, and koranic schools in both public and private sectors.
The decision followed the confirmation of the first coronavirus death in Algeria. A 67-year-old man died in hospital in Blida, south of Algiers. No further details were released.
Algeria on Thursday registered five new cases of the coronavirus, which brings the total number of confirmed cases to 24.
The authorities have also announced that eight patients who had been treated for Convid-19 in the country had fully recovered.
In a tweet, the president urged Algerians intending to travel to most affected areas of the country to delay their travel in order to prevent the spread of the virus.

Trump travel ban: America and Europe will feel the pain

Even before President Trump announced the European travel ban, the airline industry was facing a more than $100bn hit due to the coronavirus. Companies at home and abroad have slashed flights, frozen hiring and taken out extra money to get them through the crisis.
The ban is another "big impact", as Mr Trump acknowledged to reporters on Thursday.
Last March, almost a third of America’s overseas visitors - about 850,000 people - came from European countries affected by the ban. They spent about $3.4bn, the US Travel Association estimates.
The ban will cancel more than 7,300 flights, or more than two million seats, with Germany and France accounting for the largest numbers, according to analysis by Cirium.
No wonder airline shares were decimated on Thursday and countries such as France were offering government assistance.
But the ramifications extend well beyond the industry.
Travel drives more than 10% of the global economy, accounting for one in 10 jobs worldwide, according to the World Travel and Tourism Council. In recent years it has been among the fastest growing sectors.
So if it’s hurting, others will too.

'We weren't prepared for this' - Seattle doctors

Ashitha Nagesh -BBC News, London
By the time the coronavirus hit Seattle and turned the city into the centre of the US outbreak, it had already spread rapidly in countries like Italy and Iran.
Despite this, Seattle doctors told me, their hospital wasn't ready for what was coming.
Dr Alex Adami of the University of Washington (UW) said: "None of us were actually trained in how to deal with the precautions for this disease, or what to do in terms of screening or providing care for these patients."
Hospital workers and patients were exposed to the virus as a result, he said.
Another doctor at the hospital, who asked to remain anonymous, said that failing to prepare was "foolish" and may have exacerbated the spread.
Initially, the hospital said that broader training was not needed, arguing that having only a small group of doctors working with coronavirus patients would limit exposure.
Hospitals in Seattle have since updated their procedures, but Dr Adami feared the same mistakes could be repeated elsewhere in the US.
"I want other hospitals in the US to look at this and say, 'what can we do better?'. I want people to look at this and learn the lesson that you have to be proactive and not reactive."

Top US health official: Virus testing 'is failing'

The testing system for the coronavirus in the US is currently failing, according to the top health official on infectious diseases, Dr Anthony Fauci.
“The system is not really geared to what we need right now… that is a failing, let’s admit it,” he said. “The idea of anybody getting it easily the way people in other countries are doing it, we’re not set up for that. Do I think we should be. Yes. But we’re not.”
The US government has come under fire as the country has conducted far fewer tests than many other affected countries, including South Korea and Italy.
In an interview with CNN on Thursday, Vice President Mike Pence could not confirm how many Americans had been tested for the virus.

Czechs refuse entry to citizens of 15 countries

Czechs famously like to appear stoical in the face of adversity, but the state of emergency declared by the government on Thursday afternoon is draconian in the extreme.
To limit the spread of Covid-19, the existing school closures and bans on public events attended by over 100 people have been ramped up. Now all events attended by over 30 people have been banned, but more critically - all bars, restaurants and pubs must now close from 20:00 to 06:00 local time.
For a country with the highest per capita beer consumption in the world, this represents an unprecedented interruption of normality.
To further prevent the spread of Coronavirus from abroad, citizens of 15 countries - China, South Korea, Iran, Italy, Spain, Austria, Germany, Switzerland, Sweden, Norway, the Netherlands, Belgium, the UK, Denmark and France - will be refused entry from midnight on Friday.
The Czech Republic is heavily reliant on foreign tourism – this will effectively suspend tourism overnight.
Those citizens with permanent or long-term residence in the Czech Republic will be allowed back in. However, a ban on Czech citizens visiting those 15 "at risk" countries will also apply to foreigners with long-term residence - meaning those who live here will now effectively be prevented from visiting their home countries for 30 days.

17:00

Johnson: 'Worst public health crisis for a generation'

UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson is beginning a press conference from Downing Street.
He begins by saying he chaired an emergency meeting with ministers from across the UK.
"It is clear that coronavirus continues and will continue to spread across the world and our country over the next few months," adds Mr Johnson.
"We have done what can be done to contain disease, which has bought us valuable time.
"But it is now a global pandemic and the worst public health crisis for a generation."
He adds: "I must level with you, the British public, more families will lose their loved ones before their time."

New measures to be put in place, UK PM says

Prime Minister Boris Johnson says it is time to move to the next stage of planning.
"The most dangerous period is not now, but some weeks away, depending how far it spreads," he says.
However, new measures are going to be in place.
They include:

• Staying at home for seven days if you have, however mild, a new continuous cough or higher temperature
  
• Advise all those over-70s not to go on cruises
  
• Advise against international school trips
  

Mr Johnson says they are only "considering the question of banning major events, including sporting fixtures" - not because of the spread of the virus, but because of the burden it puts on public services.
He also says schools should remain open.

17:17

'This is a long haul' - UK chief medical officer

The UK's chief medical officer says the actions taken so far by the government has delayed the virus taking hold - but they must move to the next stage.
Chris Witty says it is all about timing, adding: "If you move too early, people get fatigued. This is a long haul."
Mr Witty says he "cannot emphasise enough about washing hands" as it makes a real difference in the spread.
But he reiterates the call for anyone, even with mild symptoms, to stay at home for seven days.
"The virus seems to have its maximum transmission period around the time the first symptoms show and for two or three days after, then it declines, so by seven days, the majority are not infectious and fine to go into society.
"The evidence would appear to [show] some people with mild symptoms can spread this to a lot of people."

Italy death toll passes 1,000

Following news that the number of infections in Italy rose to 15,113 on Wednesday, officials have just reported that the death toll in the country has jumped in the last 24 hours by 189 to 1,016.

---

The UN's educational, scientific and cultural body, Unesco, says 46 countries now have nationwide school closures in place in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Schools have been closed for different lengths of time in different places. For example:

• Denmark is among the latest countries to shut all schools - and universities - for a fortnight. It took the decision after a sharp rise in overall cases, with 514 now confirmed
  
• Kazakhstan - where there are zero confirmed cases - has also announced schools will be closed from Monday
  
• Last week, Italy shut schools for about a month. It came after 2,500 cases were confirmed in the country
  
• Late last month, officials in Japan asked all schools to close until the end of school year in late March. The move came after 186 cases were confirmed
  
• Ireland closed all of its schools and colleges from 18:00 GMT today until 29 March
  
• Schools and universities have also been closed in Algeria, and will remain shut until 5 April
  

Elsewhere, 13 countries have closed some schools in areas which have seen the most outbreaks, Unesco said.
These areas include Madrid in Spain and two regions in France - Brittany and the Oise region, north of Paris. Local reports also suggest most schools in Ukraine will be shut.
In the UK and Germany, a relatively small number of schools have been closed temporarily to allow for deep cleaning after staff or pupils tested positive or returned from high-risk areas.

Broadway shuts down in New York City

New York State's Governor Andrew Cuomo has banned gatherings of more than 500 people - and those rules also apply to New York City's famous Broadway theatre shows.
Broadway - a key source of revenue for New York City - will shutter until 12 April, the New York Times reports.
The ban goes into full effect tomorrow, but Broadway shows will end tonight.
Many of the city's other cultural attractions, including the Metropolitan Museum of Art, Metropolitan Opera and Carnegie Hall, have also closed their doors because of the coronavirus outbreak.
The city currently has 62 confirmed cases of the virus. Across New York State, there are more than 200 total cases.

Nepal cancels Everest climbing season

Nepal's government has cancelled the Everest expedition season amid the coronavirus pandemic.
Narayan Prasad Bidari, Secretary of the Office of Prime Minister, said: “We have decided to halt all tourist visas until April 30."

White House to close to the public

One of the United States's iconic buildings, the White House, is closing its doors to the public. Normally visitors can apply for a guided tour of the building where the president lives and works, but that's been suspended until further notice.

Dutch get serious about coronavirus

“Doe normaal” – behave normally - is a popular Dutch phrase which has neatly encapsulated the Dutch government response. Until today.
Flanked by the health minister, Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte announced new measures designed to limit the spread of the virus:

• A ban on gatherings of more than 100 people
  
• Colleges and universities told to offer students online tutorials (but primary and secondary schools will remain open)
  
• People with low immunity and the elderly advised to isolate themselves
  
• People who have coronavirus symptoms – cough plus fever - told to stay at home
  

"The Netherlands is a patient and we must decide which treatment the patient needs and then look at how the patient responds to it," Mr Rutte said, rejecting criticism that the Netherlands had been too slow to react.
These new measures will remain in place until the end of the month.
Eurovision, the Invictus Games and the Dutch Grand Pix planned for May are immune, for now.
The Dutch response to the outbreak has been typically sensible, and comparatively understated within the EU - a source of pride for some and concern for others.
But in Dutch restrooms women are now scrubbing their hands more deliberately that usual.
The advice is wash your hands, and don't shake another person's.

Macron confirms French elections will go ahead

French President Emmanuel Macron has confirmed that the country's local elections will go ahead.
There had been suggestions that they could be cancelled due to coronavirus.
But Mr Macron also announced that schools across the country would close from Monday.
The president also said businesses would be asked to allow staff to work from home. He also urged people over 70 and those with health issues to stay at home.
Public transport would remain operating, he added.

Slovenia declares epidemic

Slovenia has declared a coronavirus epidemic. It follows a steep rise in the number of cases. There are now almost 100 patients with Covid-19.
All schools will close from Monday and leave for medical staff has been cancelled.
Major sporting events have been cancelled. These include this weekend’s Alpine Ski World Cup at Kranjska Gora and the following weekend’s Ski Flying World Championships at Planica. All football matches have been postponed.
The incoming government - formed after Prime Minister Marjan Šarec's resignation this year - says it will enact further measures after it takes office tomorrow evening.

US suspends all major sport

All major sport in the US has been suspended amid the coronavirus outbreak.
The NBA has suspended all matches until further notice after a Utah Jazz player tested positive for coronavirus.
The National Hockey League and the Major Soccer League have also paused their seasons.
And Major League Baseball has delayed the start of its season by at least two weeks.

Should I self-isolate and how do I do it?

From food delivery to getting paid, here's what you need to know about helping stop coronavirus.
Read more

A recap on advice from the UK government

As we mentioned earlier, Prime Minister Boris Johnson has announced that the UK government is moving to the "delay" phase of its plan to tackle coronavirus.
As part of the new measures, people with symptoms are no longer required to call NHS 111, as the system is under strain. Instead they are urged to look for information on the NHS websiteand 111 online
Testing will now only focus on identifying people with the virus in hospital.
Read more on Boris Johnson's announcement here.

BT chief tests positive

In the UK, the chief executive of telecoms company BT Group has tested positive for coronavirus.
Philip Jansen said he was experiencing "relatively mild" symptoms and would work remotely. The firm is working with Public Health England to clean its offices and advise staff who had interacted with the executive.
"There will be no disruption to the business," Mr Jansen said.

Leader of Spanish Vox party tests positive

Santiago Abascal, the leader of Spanish far right party Vox, has tweeted he tested positive for coronavirus and has gone into self-isolation.Meanwhile, four towns in Catalonia are the first in Spain to go into lockdown, after a cluster of cases was identified in the area.
The quarantine applies to four places around the village of Igualada, 50km north of Barcelona, where three people have died, Catalan media report.
Schools and universities across the country will close for two weeks, and the government announced it will give financial support to the badly affected tourism industry.

How many cases in your area of the UK?

If you're living in the UK, you can use this BBC tool to find out how many cases of coronavirus are in your area.

Portugal to shut schools from Monday

Portugal has become the latest European country to announce the closure of schools, starting on Monday.
According to local media, schools will shut until at least the end of this month.
Prime Minister António Costa also said nightclubs will shut and the number of people allowed into shopping malls and restaurants will be restricted.
There have been 78 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country.

Belgium closes schools and restaurants

Belgium has announced it is closing schools, cafes, bars and restaurants.
Supermarkets and pharmacies will remain open. Other stores will remain open during the week but will close on weekends, according to local media.
The measures take effect from midnight on Saturday and will run until 3 April.
However schools are expected to remain shut for five weeks.
Three people out of 399 infected have died in Belgium.

Brazil's president tests for virus

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been pictured wearing a mask as he awaits the results of his test for coronavirus.
He said on social media that he expected the results in a few hours.
His son Eduardo said earlier on Thursday that his father was not showing any symptoms.
Hours after Eduardo's tweet, a government statement said President Bolsonaro would be addressing the nation at 08:30 local time (23:30 GMT), without specifying what it would be about.
President Bolsonaro's communications secretary, Fabio Wajngarten, has tested positive for the virus. He was part of the president's entourage during a recent visit to the US, where he met President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence.
At least 73 cases have been reported in Brazil. Concerns about the virus' impact on the economy have also hit local stock markets - the B3 stock exchange dropped 13% by the close of trading on Thursday.

Summary for 13th March

- Big swings on the financial markets as traders weigh impact of coronavirus closures
- Algeria, Lithuania and the German state of Bavaria to close schools
- Canadian PM Justin Trudeau and his wife Sophie are in 14-day isolation after she tests positive
- Mr Trudeau is not showing symptoms and will work from home
- Just eight new cases are reported in China
- Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, is being tested after an aide tests positive
- Australian home affairs minister Peter Dutton also tests positive
- Arsenal manager Mikel Arteta and Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi catch virus
- Singapore to deny entry to some travellers from Europe
- Mormon church suspends gatherings worldwide
- India reports its first death; Kenya, Ghana and Gabon report first cases

Sophie Gregoire Trudeau to stay in isolation

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and his wife will remain in isolation for 14 days, as she tested positive for the coronavirus.
Sophie Gregoire Trudeau is "feeling well and her symptoms remain well", said the Prime Minister's Communications Director in a statement.
Mr Trudeau will also stay in isolation for 14 days as a precautionary measure. He will not be tested at this stage since he has no symptoms.

Gunners' manager down with virus

The Gunners have closed their training ground after their manager Mikel Arteta tested positive for the virus.
Arteta said he took the test "after feeling poorly", adding that the result was "really disappointing".
The Premier League match that was scheduled to take place in Brighton on Saturday has been postponed.
All players and club staff who had recent contact with the manager will now self-isolate.

Bolsonaro awaits virus results

Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro has been tested for the coronavirus and is currently waiting for the results.
It comes after his communications secretary tested positive for the virus after returning from a US tour where he met President Trump.
Mr Bolsonaro had earlier dismissed the coronavirus crisis as "a fantasy".

Chelsea in lockdown after player tests positive

We've got more football related virus news, as Chelsea player Callum Hudson-Odoi tests positive.
All Chelsea personnel who had close contact with him - including the full men's team squad, coaching staff and some backroom staff - will now need to isolate for 14 days, said the Premier League club.
"Despite testing positive for the virus, Callum is doing well and looking forward to returning to the training ground as soon as it it possible," said the club in a statement

Trump has no plans to test for virus

US President Donald Trump has no plans to be tested for the virus, despite coming into contact with a Brazilian official who has now tested positive for the virus.
The White House said he had almost no interactions with the Brazilian official, so there was no requirement for testing at this time.
Fabio Wajngarten, the communication secretary of Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro, had earlier posted a picture on Instagram of him in a "Make Brazil Great Again" cap, standing next to President Trump. Vice President Mike Pence is also seen in the picture.

India reports first coronavirus death

A 76-year-old man in the southern state of Karnataka is India's first coronavirus death, authorities have reported.
He had returned from Saudi Arabia on 29 February. Officials say they are trying to trace those who had been in contact with him.
There are currently more than 70 confirmed cases of the virus in India.

Mount Everest closes due to virus

The highest mountain in the world has shut down - until at least 30 April.
Nepal's government made the decision because of the growing outbreak.
China had already cancelled expeditions from its side of the mountain.
But the decision is likely to cost the government millions of dollars. Tourism companies and local sherpa guides will also be affected.

Apple reopens all Chinese stores

Apple has re-opened all 42 of its stores in China, more than a month after they were all shut.
The firm said in early February it would shut all its stores, corporate offices and contact centres across the country.
The number of new cases in China has slowly declined in recent weeks.

Barak Obama tweets...
If you’re wondering whether it’s an overreaction to cancel large gatherings and public events (and I love basketball), here’s a useful primer as to why these measures can slow the spread of the virus and save lives. We have to look out for each other. https://www.vox.com/2020/3/10/21171481/coronavirus-us-cases-quarantine-cancellation …

Hong Kong reports fourth death

Hong Kong, the special administrative region of China, has reported its fourth death - an 80-year-old man who died in hospital.
More than 3,000 people have died in mainland China - almost all in the province of Hubei.

Singapore suspends religious activities

Singapore is closing all 70 mosques in the country after two Singaporeans who attended a mass religious gathering in Malaysia tested positive.
Around 90 Singaporeans attended the gathering. All mosques will be closed for five days for cleaning.
Separately, Catholic Mass will remain suspended indefinitely in Singapore. This is a reversal of an earlier decision by the Catholic Church to resume Mass.
The head of the local Catholic Church said the decision was made to "protect the larger population".

Virgin Australia contacts passengers

Airline Virgin Australia says a flight attendant has tested positive for the virus. Passengers from a number of flights are being contacted, the airline says.
Travel-related industries continue to be hit hard financially, too.
Australia’s largest travel agency, Flight Centre, announced on Friday it would close 100 stores nationwide in response to "softening" demand for travel. It did not say how many jobs could be lost.
"The timeframe for recovery is unclear," the company said in a statement.

First case recorded at United Nations in New York

A Philippine diplomat in New York has tested positive in the first recorded Covid-19 case at United Nations headquarters, news agency AFP reports.
The diplomat last visited the UN on Monday. He works at the UN General Assembly's Sixth Committee, which deals with legal matters.
About 3,000 people work at the UN's New York HQ.

Tom Hanks on isolation 'Down Under'

The actor and his wife, fellow performer Rita Wilson, have thanked hospital staff in Australia, a day after revealing they have the virus.
The couple are in Queensland, where Hanks had been working on an Elvis Presley biopic being directed by Baz Luhrmann.
"We are taking it one-day-at-a-time," he wrote on Instagram, signing off with a reference to his 1992 film A League of Their Own: "Remember, despite all the current events, there is no crying in baseball."

Just eight new cases reported across China

As the rest of the world begins to shut down, new cases in China have almost slowed to a halt.
Just eight cases new reported in Friday's daily briefing, with five in Wuhan.
The other three cases came from overseas.

Mormon church to suspend worldwide gatherings

The Mormon church, known officially as the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints, is suspending all public gatherings across the world.
It said in a statement that "all church gatherings - including public worship services, sacrament meetings, leadership conferences - will be suspended immediately".
The church reportedly has 16 million members worldwide.

Singapore to deny entry to visitors from Italy, France, Spain and Germany

Singapore will deny entry or transit to visitors who have been to Italy, France, Spain or Germany in the past 14 days, its health ministry said on Friday.
The new restrictions will come into effect on Sunday, as infections across Europe continue to spread.
Singapore citizens, permanent residents and long-term pass holders will be allowed in, but will need to self-isolate for 14 days.

Ghana and Gabon confirm first cases

Ghana has confirmed its first two confirmed cases of coronavirus as Gabon confirmed its first case.
Ghana's Health Minister Kwaku Agyemang Manu said two people who'd arrived from Norway and Turkey tested positive.
In Gabon, the patient was a Gabonese man who'd arrived from France.

New cases in Thailand

Five new cases have been reported in Thailand, bringing the total number in the country to 75.
Two of these cases are part of the same group of friends who appeared to pass the virus to each other - one of them had been in close contact with a friend from Hong Kong.
The other three patients are a brother and two friends of the country's 57th patient who returned from a cosmetic surgery trip in South Korea.
The two friends had gone to a pub and shared a glass with the patient.

North Korea lifts quarantine on more foreigners

North Korea has lifted quarantine on 70 foreigners - bringing the total number of foreigners released from isolation to nearly 300.
According to news site Yonhap quoting North Korean state media, those released have been put under medical supervision.
In February it quarantined hundreds of foreigners in an attempt to stop the virus from breaking out.
They were diplomats, their staff, and families, stationed in the capital Pyongyang.
There are no confirmed virus cases in North Korea, though critics have shed doubt on this.

South Korea cases start to decline

South Korea reported 110 new cases in the past 24 hours, the lowest number of daily infections in more than two weeks, reported Yonhap News.
This brings the number of cases in the country to 7,979.
However, more cases linked to a call centre in Seoul have emerged - sparking concerns of a growing outbreak in the capital.
"We cannot lower our guard," said the Mayor of Seoul Park Won-soon. "There is a possibility that [the call centre outbreak] may emit sparks to other areas."
 

Clean your dirty mobile phone

Your phone is one of the dirtiest objects you come into contact with each day. Here's how you should be cleaning it: Link

Virus reaches Pacific nations

You might think the far flung islands of the Pacific would be safe from infection, but French Polynesia has now confirmed its third case of Covid-19.
On Thursday, an MP was confirmed to be the first case. Maina Sage brought the virus back from Paris, where she represents the islands in the French parliament.
Radio New Zealand reports that the second case is a person connected to her, and the third a Swiss tourist.

Google India employee tests positive

Google has confirmed that an employee in one of its Bangalore offices has tested positive for Covid-19, as the Indian health ministry announced the number of cases in the country had gone up to 73.
The company said the employee had been in office for a few hours before developing any symptoms. The employee has been in quarantine since then, and those who were in close contact have been asked to self quarantine.
India announced its first coronavirus death on Thursday. The country has cancelled all entry visas, barring a select few categories, effective 12:00 GMT on Friday.

Singapor

Singapore has just announced some of its toughest measures yet to slow the coronavirus outbreak in the tiny city state.
Its decision on Friday effectively bans travel to and travellers from Italy, France, Spain and Germany.
It would not have been taken lightly - we’re entering school holidays season here in Singapore, and many families may well have had to change their plans.
If you are a Singaporean citizen or have permanent residency here, and are coming from those places, then you will be subject to a 14 day stay at home notice. That means not leaving your house for those two weeks, under any circumstances.

Islamic State group issues virus advice

The Islamic State militant group has issued an advisory on how to protect against epidemics, without specifically mentioning the coronavirus.
The “religious directives” appeared in the latest edition of IS’s weekly newspaper al-Naba.
The advisory recommends:

• Staying away from sick people
  
• Avoiding travel to and from the areas affected by any epidemic
  
• Covering one’s mouth when coughing and yawning, and
  
• Washing hands before eating and drinking.
  

It also urged its supporters to “put their trust in God and seek refuge in him”.

Two dozens cases in one ministry

The BBC's Laura Bicker in Seoul says the South Korean Ministry of Oceans and Fisheries is now reporting 24 cases of the new coronavirus among its staff and their family members.
South Korea has been one of the worst-hit countries in Asia, but has been widely praised for how it has rapidly scaled up its testing and contact tracing.
Read more of that here from Laura: How 'trace, test and treat' may be saving lives

NZ thanks people for self-isolating

New Zealand is one country that has so far avoided a rapid rise in cases.
A government update on Friday says: "For the sixth consecutive day, there are no additional confirmed or probable cases of COVID-19 in New Zealand."
The country has reported five confirmed cases, and two probable. A total of 252 closely connected people are in self-isolation.
On top of that, 6,362 people who thought they might be at risk have already gone through the self-isolation process.
“I want to again thank everyone who has self-isolated - whether that be confirmed cases, close contacts or those who've returned from overseas," said NZ Director-General of Health Dr Ashley Bloomfield.
"Self-isolation remains one of the most important tools in the fight against COVID-19."

'Family and contacts' of Senegal patient test positive

Senegal's health ministry has confirmed that five more people in the country have tested positive for coronavirus - all of whom had come into contact with an existing patient who'd travelled home from Italy.
It brings the total number of coronavirus cases in the country to 10.
Two of those are recovered, the health ministry says, while eight others are "still receiving treatment".

Man City player in self-isolation

Manchester City defender Benjamin Mendy is self-isolating after a member of his family was admitted to hospital with virus symptoms.
A City statement did not name him, but said a team player had "undergone tests".
Three Leicester City first-team players are also in isolation after showing virus symptoms.

PGA golf tournament cancelled after one round

The Players Championship in Florida has been cancelled after one round with organisers saying it was "the right thing to do" because of the virus spread.

Turkey has second case

A second person has tested positive in Turkey, the country's health minister said in a tweet.
“He is from the immediate circle of our first patient, who was followed up as soon as the diagnosis was made,” said Fahrettin Koca, according to a translation by the Anadolu Agency.

Tunisia announces six more cases

• In a news conference on Thursday evening, Tunisia's health ministry announced six new cases of coronavirus - bringing the the total in the country to 13.
  
• A mandatory self-quarantine period of two weeks has also been imposed for all travellers arriving from China, Iran and the worst-affected European countries.
  Tunisia has gradually been testing more in recent days, and has applied tighter prevention measures including:
  
  
  
  • Closing the national theatre
    
  • Cancelling most festivals and concerts scheduled for this month
    
  • Postponing many conferences, lectures and workshops
    
  • Daily cleaning of inter-city buses with antiseptic solutions.
    
  
  
  

EasyJet to let customers change flights

British budget airline EasyJet says it will let customers transfer their flights to another date or destination without a change fee, according to a Reuters report.
The airline says the changes apply to both new and existing bookings until further notice.
It comes a day after US President Donald Trump banned all visitors from the EU's Schengen area to the US.

Indonesia announces $8bn stimulus package

As the virus causes a global economic slowdown, Indonesia has become the latest country to announce a stimulus.
The stimulus, representing 0.8% of GDP, includes exempting some workers in manufacturing from income tax, and giving manufacturing companies a discount on corporate tax.

Bavaria closes schools

Bavaria in Germany will close all schools from Monday until 6 April. This decision making power rests at regional, not federal level.
The tiny western state of Saarland also said on Friday that it would close its schools. Three other states, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany's largest, are due to decide on Friday.
Berlin authorities are meeting today to decided whether to close all bars and clubs.

Australian home affairs minister has coronavirus

Australia's home affairs minister Peter Dutton has tested positive for coronavirus, he said in a statement.
Dutton said he woke up on Friday with a "temperature and sore throat... [and] immediately contacted the department of health".
He has been admitted to hospital.

Cameroonian becomes DR Congo's second virus patient

Health authorities in the Democratic Republic of Congo confirm that a second person has tested positive for coronavirus, and is being treated in hospital.
The patient is a Cameroonian national. Local reports say he is 46. Doctors in DR Congo recently returned to work after a two-month strike.

Saga suspends all cruises

British travel group Saga says it is suspending its cruise operations until early May, at an estimated cost of about £10m - £15m ($12.5m - $18.8m).

Kenya confirms its first coronavirus case

Kenya has confirmed that a woman who travelled into the country from the US has tested positive for coronavirus.
Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe said the patient arrived in the country on 5 March but was given a positive diagnosis on 12 March.
She had travelled from the US via London and was confirmed positive by Kenya's national influenza laboratory.

UK's approach to virus 'concerning'

The UK's decision not to cancel public events despite the coronavirus outbreak is "concerning", says ex-health secretary Jeremy Hunt.
Many countries have responded to the crisis by closing schools and cancelling sports and arts events, but Prime Minister Boris Johnson said it was crucial to get the timing right for stricter measures.
There have been 596 confirmed cases across the country, but health officials have said they believe the actual number of people infected could be between 5,000 and 10,000.

---

Australian minister with virus met Ivanka Trump last week

A photo has emerged of Peter Dutton, the Australian home affairs minister who has tested positive for coronavirus, meeting Ivanka Trump and US Attorney General Bill Barr last Friday.
Ms Trump is US President Donald Trump's daughter, and also acts as a senior adviser to him.

Japanese man wanted to 'spread virus'

A woman who tested positive for the virus had come into contact earlier this month with an infected man who said he wanted to "spread the virus", said Kyodo news quoting a government officials. The man had reportedly tested positive for the virus on 4 March, a day after his parents, who were also infected.
He told them he was going to "spread the virus" and went to a bar and a pub that same night - the woman had been in the same pub.
He later told an employee at the pub that he had the virus. The outlet reported him to the police, and the pub was disinfected by health officials.
The woman developed a fever a few days later. She is currently in a stable condition.

Thai minister complains about dirty foreigners

Thailand’s Health Minister Anutin Charvirakul has made quite a name for himself during the coronavirus crisis, not so much for his handling of the situation, as for his comments about foreigners.
Last month Mr Anutin erupted at a press conference, calling for "those damn Westerners" to be kicked out of the country after some tourists refused to take the face masks he was handing out at a railway station. He later apologised for his outburst.
Now the blunt-talking minister has had another go, warning in a tweet that Westerners were coming to Thailand to escape the winter weather and then spreading coronavirus in their home countries. We have to be cautious with them, he wrote, because they don’t wear face masks, they wear dirty clothes, and don’t take showers.
The Twitter account has now been deleted.

London's St Patrick's Day parade cancelled

London's St Patrick's Day parade and celebrations this Sunday have been cancelled in response to the outbreak, Mayor Sadiq Khan has announced.
Announcing the move, Mr Khan said he was "incredibly disappointed" but that "key performers and parade participants are no longer able to take part due to the ongoing threat of coronavirus".
Other St Patrick's Day celebrations have also been cancelled around the world, including Dublin and the largest parade in New York.
There have been 136 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the UK's capital so far, health officials say.
In one of the latest cases, communications firm BT has begun a "deep clean" of parts of its UK headquarters after its boss Philip Jansen tested positive

Everton puts first team squad and coaching staff into isolation

Premier League football club Everton have put their entire first team playing squad and coaching staff into isolation.
The Liverpool-based club says the "precautionary measure" was taken after an unnamed player reported symptoms of coronavirus.
Follow the latest on this breaking story on our sports live page.

London Tube driver 'tests positive for virus'

A driver on the London Underground has tested positive for coronavirus, PA news agency is reporting.
Usually about five million journeys are taken on the Tube every day, according to Transport for London statistics.
PA reports that the Tube driver who tested positive for coronavirus works on the Jubilee Line, but has been off work this week after coming back from holiday in Vietnam.
A message sent to staff said he had been self-isolating, and had now tested positive for Covid-19.
A Transport for London (TfL) spokesman tells PA that he wasn't working in a customer-facing area.
"The areas where the driver worked are being cleaned, including the depot and the trains, in line with guidance from Public Health England with whom we are working closely," they add.

Spain quarantines four Catalonia towns after deaths

About 70,000 people there have been urged to stay at home
Four towns have been quarantined in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain, under government order in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Local police were sent to patrol roads into Igualada, Vilanova del Camí, Santa Margarida de Montbui and Òdena, after three elderly people died in the local hospital in Igualada and 49 others were infected.
More than 30 of those infected are health care professionals.
The only vehicles going into the area, to the north-west of Barcelona, are goods lorries and other vehicles carrying food and pharmaceuticals, reports say.
About 70,000 people who live in the four towns have been urged to stay at home.
Meanwhile, King Felipe and Queen Letizia of Spain have tested negative for coronavirus after coming into contact with Equality Minister Irene Montero who has tested positive.
Spain has reported 36 deaths in the past 24 hours – and the number of cases is rising fast, especially in Madrid, with almost 2,000 people infected.

Seven US states close schools

Seven US states are closing schools to try and contain the coronavirus, which has infected more than 1,660 people across the country.
Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico are shutting all schools from Monday for two weeks.
Washington - the epicentre of the outbreak in the US - has closed schools in three counties in the Seattle area until 24 April.
Washington has recorded 31 of the country's 40 coronavirus-related deaths, according to figures from John Hopkins University.
During early talk of school closures in the US, concerns were raised about children from low-income families who rely on free school meals.
Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear has now said that they are making arrangements to continue feeding children who need it.
Almost 75% of the 650,000 children going to public schools in Kentucky are eligible for free or reduced-price school meals, the state's education department says.

Austria school closures: Some children can still attend

Austria is closing schools from Monday, until 4 April, when the Easter break starts.
More than a million schoolchildren are affected. The government wants at least 75% to stay at home, Austrian media report.
However, schools will remain open, with a skeleton staff, to look after children up to 14 whose parents simply can't stay at home - including nurses and bus drivers.
A key aim is to keep children, who may be virus-carriers, away from physical contact with their grandparents. Busy Austrian parents often rely on grandparents to help with childcare.
The education ministry is preparing e-learning materials, but online classes will focus on topics already covered, rather than new ones.
However, no decision has been taken yet about the school leaving exams – will they go ahead on time?
School’s out in many other European countries too, including Italy, Denmark, the Czech Republic, Slovakia and France.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the measure was taken "for a simple reason - our children and young people are the ones who spread the virus the quickest".

Uefa postpones Champions League and Europa League fixtures

Upcoming Champions League and Europa League fixtures have been postponed, Uefa has announced.
Europe's football governing body said the decision had been taken "due to the spread of Covid-19" and "decisions made by different governments".
Both competitions are part-way into their knockout round of 16 matches, with further games scheduled for next week, involving clubs including Manchester United, Barcelona and Bayern Munich.
The Youth League quarter-final matches scheduled on 17 and 18 March will also be postponed, Uefa said in a statement posted online.No decision has been taken about when the games will be replayed and quarter-final draws have also been pushed back, it added.
European football representatives will discuss possible future steps - including whether to postpone this summer's Euro 2020 international competition - on Tuesday.
Get the latest on this breaking story here.

Kremlin tells sick journalists to stay away

Russian officials have told journalists who cover Vladimir Putin not to attend official events if they feel unwell.
Dmitry Peskov, a Kremlin spokesman, said Friday that the president's medical care was at a high level but declined to say if he had been tested for Covid-19 himself.
Russia, which has a population of more than 145m people, has only recorded 34 cases so far.

'Behave like you already have the virus'

An infectious disease expert says people shouldn't just try to avoid getting coronavirus - instead, they should act as though they already have the virus and want to avoid passing it on.
Professor Graham Medley, from the London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine (LSHTM), said this during an interview with BBC Newsnight last night when asked if there was a "simple message" he could give the public.
His response was: "Most people have a fear of acquiring the virus, but I think a good way of doing it is to imagine that you do have the virus, and change your behaviour so that you're not transmitting it.
"Don't think about changing your behaviour so you won't get it. Think about changing your behaviour so you don't give it to somebody else."
In the interview, Prof Medley also discussed how herd immunity can help protect the population, and how vulnerable people can be protected.

English Premier League and Football League suspended

BBC Sport editor Dan Roan tweets
All elite football in England has been suspended until at least 3 April as a result of the spread of coronavirus.
All Premier League games, EFL fixtures and matches in the FA Women's Super League and Women's Championship have been postponed.
It follows the news that Arsenal head coach Mikel Arteta and Chelsea forward Callum Hudson-Odoi have contracted the virus.
Three Leicester players are also being tested, while Everton announced one of its players had been showing symptoms.
Follow the latest here.

New advice for people returning to Republic of Ireland

Ireland is asking people coming back from Spain and Italy to restrict their movements for the next two weeks, in a bid to delay the spread of coronavirus.
Health Minister Simon Harris told RTÉ's Morning Ireland programme: "It is not quite self-isolate, but to restrict their movements."

Latin American countries halt flights

Several Latin American countries have halted flights as they try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Argentina said it would suspend for 30 days flights from all European countries, as well the US, China, Iran, Japan and South Korea, which have also been impacted by the virus.
Peru has suspended for an unspecified period of time all flights from Europe and Asia while Paraguay is cancelling all direct flights to and from Europe until 26 March.
Venezuela had already suspended all flights from Europe for a month.

Ohio 'likely has more than 100,000 people with virus'

More than 100,000 people in the US state of Ohio are likely to have the coronavirus, its health department director has said.
Speaking at a news conference with Governor Mike DeWine, Amy Acton confirmed there was community spread of the virus in the state.
"We know now just the fact of community spread says that at least 1%, at the very least, 1% of our population is carrying this virus in Ohio today," she said.
"We have 11.7 million people. So the math is over 100,000. So that just gives you a sense of how this virus spreads and is spreading quickly."
Ohio currently has five confirmed cases and 52 under investigation, but - as with the rest of the US - has so far carried out a limited number of tests.

Two arrested in Bangladesh 'for selling fake vaccines'

Two people have reportedly been jailed in Bangladesh for selling fake coronavirus "vaccines", according to local media.
Currently there is no vaccine for Covid-19, though efforts are ongoing to develop one.
Police said one of the men promoted the "vaccines" using a loudspeaker in Netrokona district while the other man had begun selling the "medicines" on Thursday afternoon, the bdnews24 website reported.
They were sentenced to two years in jail, according to the outlet.

UK care home provider: 'Think twice about visiting'

A UK care home provider has asked friends and relatives of its residence to "think twice about whether or not a visit is really necessary".
Colten Care, which runs 21 care homes in the south ofEngland, says the advice has been issued in a bid to "keep residents, relatives and staff safe from the potential risk of coronavirus".
Its chief executive Mark Aitchison said visitors would be asked to confirm they had no virus symptoms and had not travelled from certain areas severely hit by the outbreak. They could also have their temperature taken, he added.
“Strengthening our measures is not a decision we have taken lightly, and we understand the distress it may cause, but we believe it is a proportionate approach to keep everyone safe and our homes operating normally and without undue restrictions," Mr Atchinson said

Coronavirus' impact on sport - timeline

The spread of coronavirus around the world has impacted the staging of sporting events. This is what has been affected so far.
Read more

Czech Republic closes its borders

The Czech government has announced an unprecedented travel ban in response the the pandemic.
The country has banned entry to all foreign citizens as of midnight on Sunday, with the exception of foreigners who have permanent or temporary residence.
There will also be a ban on all Czech citizens and foreign residents from leaving the country as part of a "30-day state of emergency". The only exceptions are lorry drivers, pilots and anyone who works within 50km (31 miles) of the Czech border, for example in Germany and Austria.
Neighbouring Slovakia has already announced that no foreigners - with the exception of residents - will be allowed into the country.
Meanwhile, Friday's front pages in the Czech Republic were dominated by two words: "Stav Nouze" - State of Emergency. But one tabloid opted for: "All The Things We're Banned From Doing From Now On!"

UK advises 'against all but essential travel' to parts of Spain

The UK Foreign Office has updated its advice for people planning trips to parts of Spain.
It says it is "advising against all but essential travel" to five areas:the regions of Madrid, La Rioja, and the municipalities of La Bastida, Vitoria and Miranda de Ebro.
"Airlines are continuing to run flights as normal to and from these areas,” the new advice adds.
It comes after Spain reported 36 deaths in the past 24 hours – and the number of cases is rising fast, especially in Madrid, with almost 2,000 people infected.
Meanwhile, four towns have been quarantined in the Catalonia region of north-eastern Spain under government order in an attempt to halt the spread of coronavirus.
Find out more about your travel rights here.

---

Olympic Torch relay suspended due to crowds in Greece

The Olympic Torch relay has been suspended after its opening leg attracted unexpectedly large crowds in Greece, organisers have said.
The Hellenic Olympic Committee (HOC) made the decision to delay the remaining legs after crowds gathered to get a glimpse of the torch in the southern Peloponnese town of Sparta.
The handover of the flame to the Tokyo Games organisers would take place as scheduled in Athens on 19 March without spectators, it added.
The Greek government announced earlier this week that all professional sports events for the next two weeks would be played without spectators.

France bans gatherings of over 100 people

Speaking on television, French Prime Minister Édouard Philippe has announced a ban on public gatherings with more than 100 people in order to prevent the spread of coronavirus.

Germany to offer 'unlimited loans' to businesses

Germany is to offer unlimited loans to businesses to help steer them through the coronavirus pandemic, its finance minister says.
Olaf Scholz said there was no "upper limit" to the loans, which would be made available through Germany's state-owned bank KfW.
Mr Scholz said the situation was "very serious" and that the economy - and small businesses in particular - needed to be protected, adding: "We will put all weapons on the table."

Romania’s entire government goes into quarantine

Nick Thorpe, BBC News
Interim Prime Minister Ludovic Orban and his entire 17-member cabinet have been placed in quarantine, after a senator from their National Liberal Party, Vergil Chitac, tested positive for coronavirus.
All Liberal senators, and journalists who have attended government press conferences, have been told to get tested.
Romania was already in the middle of a political crisis and this has deepened it. Mr Orban’s government lost a vote of confidence five weeks ago, and his ally, President Klaus Iohannis, has struggled to find another leader to unite the country to tackle the virus and prepare early elections.
Some of the 1.2 million Romanians working in Italy are trying to come home despite a government appeal not to, and confirmed cases have doubled to 70.

British royals cancel tour

The Prince of Wales and his wife the Duchess of Cornwall have postponed their spring tour to Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus and Jordan because of the coronavirus pandemic.
Clarence House said the request came from the UK government.
Charles and Camilla's trip to Cyprus was due to be the first official royal visit there for 27 years.

BA tells staff there will be job cuts

British Airways Chief Executive Alex Cruz has told staff there will be job cuts, the BBC has been told.
He said the airline industry was facing "a crisis of global proportions like no other" because of the coronavirus pandemic.
BA, he added, was suspending routes and parking planes in a way it has never had to do before.

Malta annnounces 14-day quarantine for all arriving passengers

All passengers arriving in Malta from any country must now undergo 14 days of quarantine, its government has said.
The quarantine rules had previously applied to people arriving from European countries and five Asian countries.

Where are schools being shut?

The UN's educational, scientific and cultural body, Unesco, says 49 countries now have school closures in place in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The most recent countries and states to announce school closures are:

• Switzerland is closing all schools until at least 4 April. Previously, only schools in the region of Ticino - on the border with Italy - had been closed.
  
• Officials in Pakistan's Sindh province have brought forward school summer holidays, so that schools and universities will now be closed until 31 May. Exams that were due to be held now have been postponed. Schools have been closed in the province since 27 February, when the country's first coronavirus case was confirmed in Karachi.
  
• Most schools across Germany will be closed from Monday. A number of states announced the closures on Monday, including North Rhine-Westphalia, Bavaria and Baden-Wuerttemberg, while others had already closed educational institutions. Out of Germany's 16 states, 10 have now closed schools.
  
• Seven states in the US are closing schools. Ohio, Michigan, Oregon, Maryland, Kentucky and New Mexico are all shutting schools from Monday for two weeks, while Washington state, the epicentre of the US outbreak, has closed schools in three counties in the Seattle area until 24 April.
  

Spain declares state of emergency as cases jump

Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez has declared a state of emergency over the coronavirus pandemic which will come into effect on Saturday.
It follows news earlier today that the number of deaths recorded in Spain jumped 40% in one day to 120. The number of confirmed infections has now reached 4,209.
The state of emergency - or "state of alarm" - allows the government to take wide-ranging measures, these include:

• limiting the movement of people or vehicles
  
• ordering evacuations
  
• prohibiting access to certain areas or places
  
• intervening in areas of industry and farming
  

The government will be able to implement the emergency measures for a maximum of 15 days, but will then require Spanish parliamentary approval to extend them.
Mr Sanchez announced the planned move in a televised address to the nation in which he said that the number of cases in Spain could reach 10,000 by next week.

Ukraine closes borders to foreign visitors

• Ukraine has become the latest country to announce travel restrictions.
  It says it will close its borders to all foreign nationals from Sunday, initially for two weeks.
  On Thursday the country closed schools and universities nationwide and banned all major public events, while Ukraine's Orthodox Church told worshippers it was acceptable not to kiss icons.
  The latest move was announced shortly before the country reported its first death due to Covid-19. Only two other cases have been recorded there so far.
  As we reported earlier, the Czech Republic and Slovakia have closed borders to foreigners except those with residence permits and Malta has announced mandatory quarantines for all new arrivals
  Earlier this week, the US announced a ban on travel from the 26 European countries which are in the EU's Schengen border-free area.
  Meanwhile, Austria says it will introduce health controls on its borders with Switzerland and Liechtenstein, as it has already done on its frontier with Italy.
  European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen has criticised unilateral travel bans but backed moves to provide health screening at borders.
  

Pakistan shuts land borders and limits flights

Meanwhile Pakistan is shutting all of its land borders and limiting international flights for 15 days, its foreign minister says.
The country has also closed all schools nationwide.
"It has been decided that all borders will remain closed for 15 days," minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi told Pakistani networks ARY and Dunya TV.
"International flights will operate only out of Karachi, Lahore and Islamabad airports."
The country borders China, where the coronavirus originated, and Iran, one of the worst-hit countries.
Pakistan itself has reported 21 cases of the coronavirus and no deaths.

Hong Kong to quarantine arrivals from Europe

Hong Kong will make all travellers from Europe stay in quarantine for 14 days, its government says.
The new measures will come in on 17 March.
Hong Kong has also issued a red outbound alert for European countries, urging members of the public to avoid non-essential trips and adjust their travel plans.
Europe, including the UK, has a total of 29,398 cases, more than half of which are in Italy.

UK insurance firms halt sale of travel cover

Two of the biggest UK insurance firms, Direct Line and Churchill, have halted the sale of travel insurance to new customers because of the coronavirus, PA news agency reports.
A statement from Direct Line Group, on behalf of both firms, said: "Due to the impact coronavirus is having across the world we have experienced a huge increase in demand for travel insurance.
"Our priority is to protect and service our existing customers and therefore we have taken the difficult decision to temporarily suspend the sale of travel insurance to new customers so that we can focus on our existing customers."
Axa, another large firm, has put a notice on its website saying: "If you purchase a new policy now, it will not cover any trip cancellation or disruption in relation to coronavirus."
And Aviva said earlier this week it was adjusting its cover in light of the pandemic, so customers can no longer select add-on cover for "travel disruption" or "airspace closures".

Canada MPs suspend parliament

All parties agree to adjourn parliament for five weeks
Jessica Murphy, BBC News, Toronto
In Canada, all federal parties have agreed to adjourn parliament amid the coronavirus pandemic.
MPs passed the suspension motion on Friday morning.
Parliament had a scheduled break next week but will now only return on 20 April.
The House of Commons can still be recalled if needed to handle any emergency coronavirus measures, said Liberal House leader Pablo Rodriguez.
"The priority for the government is the health and the safety of all Canadians," Mr Rodriguez said.

Tunisia orders all arriving travellers to self-isolate

Tunisia’s ministry of health has ordered all incoming travellers from any country in the world to immediately self-isolate upon arrival to the country, without exception.
This latest preventative measure against the spread of Covid-19 is a step-up from earlier in the week when this was only a requirement for those coming back from the worst-affected areas.
It’s a move that puts a lot of faith in people to individually comply, because in reality they cannot monitor this on a large scale of this kind. Breaking quarantine rules is a criminal offence here – if you are caught.
The rules are changing fast, in Tunisia and elsewhere on the continent. It appears the authorities are trying to strike a balance between prevention and containment, and avoiding more stringent measures like further suspension of flights to avoid the severe economic impact that comes with even tighter controls.
The new Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh is due to address the nation at 19:00 local time (18:00 GMT) – there’s no telling what he will announce tonight, but many Tunisians will be watching closely.

Bundesliga suspended until 2 April

• More European domestic football has been postponed. This time in Germany.
  The Bundesliga and second tier, Bundesliga 2, have been suspended until 2 April, the league said in a statement.  The decision was taken "in view of the dynamics of today's events with new coronavirus infections and corresponding suspected cases" linked to the leagues, it said.
  Elite football in Britain has already been suspended until at least 3 April as a result of the spread of coronavirus.
  Football has also been suspended in Italy, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Portugal and the USA.
  

Palestinian police enforce strict restrictions

Palestinian police have been enforcing strict restrictions on movement in Bethlehem, which has been placed in lockdown.

Miami's mayor tests positive after Brazilian meeting

Miami's mayor has tested positive for coronavirus, four days after coming into contact with a Brazilian government official who has since also tested positive.
Mayor Francis Suarez asked that those who had come into contact with him to take preventative measures.
“If we did not shake hands or you did not come into contact with me if I coughed or sneezed, there is no action you need to take whatsoever,” he said.
“If we did, however, touch or shake hands, or if I sneezed or coughed near you since Monday, it is recommended that you self-isolate for 14 days, but you do not need to get tested."
The mayor is one of many US politicians, including Donald Trump and Republican Rick Scott, who interacted with Brazilian President Jair Bolsonaro and his staff - including the infected press secretary - during a trip to South Florida last week.
Mr Bolsonaro has tested negative for the virus. Mr Trump has so far resisted getting a test done.

Iran to clear streets

ran has ordered its security forces to clear the streets of citizens nationwide over the next 24 hours to allow them to be checked for coronavirus.
"During the next 10 days, the entire Iranian nation will be monitored once through cyberspace, by phone and, if necessary, in person, and those suspected of being ill will be fully identified," Chief of Staff Mohammad Bagheri said.
The country has one of the highest numbers of cases outside China, and there has been concern about how the government is responding.
The country's Supreme Leader, Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, said earlier this month that the virus would not impact the country for long and would disappear.

Louisiana 'postpones Democratic primaries'

Louisiana has postponed the Democratic presidential primaries scheduled for April, becoming the first state to do so as fears over the pandemic intensify, US media report.
The state now plans to hold the elections in June and July

Costa suspends cruises

Cruise company Costa is postponing all its cruises globally until 3 April. Several of its ships have been prevented from docking in recent weeks over cases of coronavirus. On Tuesday people were allowed to disembark from Costa Fortuna in Singapore, after being denied entry in Malaysia and Thailand. Meanwhile Canada says all cruise ships carrying more than 500 people will be unable to stop in the country until 1 July.

Six Oxford University students test positive

One of the world's leading universities has cancelled or postponed all exams scheduled for the Easter holidays due to an outbreak.
The University of Oxford says it made the decision to change exam dates between next Monday and 2 April after six students were diagnosed with coronavirus.
In a memo to staff and students, vice-chancellor Louise Richardson said the institution "intends to remain open until instructed to do otherwise" and was "advising all domestic undergraduates to return home for the break unless they have a compelling reason to stay".

Canada advises against all non-essential travel

Justin Trudeau is advising Canadians to postpone or cancel all non-essential international travel outside of Canada.
The federal government is now looking at ways to support Canadians and small businesses financially affected by the pandemic, said the prime minister.
It would be introducing a "significant fiscal stimulus package in the coming days", he said.
Mr Trudeau's address comes amid a host of new measures being taken by the government to limit the domestic spread of the virus.
All cruise ships carrying over 500 passengers will not be able to dock in Canada until 1 July.
Canada will also be limiting the number of airports where international flights can land in order to improve screening of travellers.
As of Friday, there were 157 cases of the coronavirus in Canada. One death has been linked to the virus.
A number of provincial governments have taken their own steps in recent days to limit contagion.
Ontario has closed all public schools, and many schools in Quebec have also been shut.
British Columbia and Quebec have banned all public gatherings of over 250 people.

Louisiana official confirms delay to primaries

Louisiana Secretary of State Kyle Ardoin has confirmed earlier media reports that the state is postponing its Democratic - and Republican - presidential primaries to help limit the spread of coronavirus.
Elections had been due to take place in Louisiana next month, but have now been pushed back to June and July, Mr Ardoin told a news conference on Friday. He added that all voting equipment would be disinfected before the rescheduled primaries.
"The law provides for extraordinary measures to be taken when facing disasters," Mr Ardoin said.

What's the impact on airlines?

With international travel down dramatically and numerous countries closing their borders, how is the pandemic affecting airlines?

• The airline trade body warned that multiple airlines could collapse within two to three months
  

• British Airways says there will be job losses - the CEO warned his industry is facing a "crisis of global proportions like no other"
  
• German company Lufthansa has grounded two-thirds of its fleet, and may ask for state aid from European governments
  
• Norwegian Air warned it could collapse without government aid - on Thursday it said it will lay off 11,000 employees as part of losses ongoing before the coronavirus outbreak
  
• US airline Delta says it's in talks with the White House over financial support
  

Detroit doctors visit homeless shelters

A doctor in Detroit, US has told the BBC about visits she made to homeless shelters on Friday to try to protect the city's large homeless population from coronavirus.
"Homeless people are at increased risk (about double) from Covid-19 compared to the general public because of their lack of access to soap, water and basic hygiene," Dr Asha Shajahan explains.
Homeless shelters are closing because volunteers have been termporarily banned, she said, meaning the homeless may have less access to medical attention.
She visited two shelters with a group of doctors and students in Detroit, which has more than 8,000 homeless people.
"At a women and children’s shelter we offered medical services and were available for questions about how to properly wash your hands, what to do if you think you have symptoms," Dr Shajahan explained.
If someone shows symptoms, they are sent to a triage centre.
Homeless people are at higher risk of poor mental health outcomes during an outbreak - anxiety could be exacerbated by social distancing, and they may fear getting help at clinics or shelters.
"We had a shelter patient with seizure disorder who was afraid to go to the hospital because of Covid-19,” she added.
Neglecting homeless populations could also lead the further spread of coronavirus, Dr Shajahan warned.

Denmark closes its borders

Danish Prime Minister Mette Frederiksen has announced her country will close its borders at 12:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Saturday, until 13 April.
While Danish citizens will still be allowed to enter, those of other nationalities will need a valid reason to travel to Denmark to be allowed in.
It will still be possible to transport food, medicine and other necessary goods to Denmark, the government says.

Wales cancels planned hospital surgery appointments

The Welsh health minister has announced that all elective operations and non-urgent outpatient appointments in the nation are to be cancelled, to help the NHS there cope with an expected increase in the number of conoravirus-related admissions.
Vaughan Gething said he expected a "larger number of people requiring high levels of care is highly likely over the coming weeks". Access to cancer treatments and dialysis for kidney failure would not be affected, he added.
BBC Wales health correspondent Owain Clarke said the move would affect those patients who needed to stay in intensive care after their operation, and that to see the Welsh government act in this way was "unprecedented".

Access to UK Parliament to be curtailed

Officials at the UK's Houses of Parliament have announced that access by visitors will be restricted from next Monday.
House authorities say that public tours will end and Members of Parliament are to be discouraged from bringing in visitors.
The public can still watch Parliamentary proceedings in the Houses of Commons and Lords and be able to meet MPs in the central lobby. School visits can also still go ahead.

London Marathon postponed until October

Organisers of the London Marathon have said all runners who had a place in this year's race will be contacted on Friday to inform them of the decision to postpone the event until 4 October.
The marathon, which had been due to take place on 26 April, attracts about 40,000 runners each year.
Hugh Brasher, event director, said: "The world is in an unprecedented situation grappling with a global pandemic of Covid-19 and public health is everyone's priority.
"We know how disappointing this news will be for so many - the runners who have trained for many months, the thousands of charities for which they are raising funds and the millions who watch the race every year.

'My brother-in-law didn't make it'

David Clemson spoke to the BBC in the past week about his brother-in-law, Franco, who was in intensive care in hospital in Italy after contracting the coronavirus.
Mr Clemson emailed on Friday to say that, sadly, Franco had died.
"The horrible thing is that these people die without their family around them," he said.
"Due to the restrictions there can be no funeral and most of his nearest and dearest are in quarantine.
"People must take this virus seriously, it has no respect for anyone.”

Still on 13th March - (the above simply could not fit any more in)

Queen postpones engagements over coronavirus

The Queen has postponed visits to Cheshire and Camden, north London, next week amid the coronavirus outbreak.
Buckingham Palace said changes were being made to the Queen's diary commitments "as a sensible precaution".
She was due to visit Crewe and Macclesfield in Cheshire on 19 March and Camden on 26 March.
It comes after the Prince of Wales and Duchess of Cornwall postponed their spring tour of Bosnia and Herzegovina, Cyprus, and Jordan due to the pandemic.
The Sovereign, 93, was due to travel to Cheshire next Thursday to visit the Bentley car factory and the construction site of the world’s largest radio telescope.
Her spokesperson said the changes to her diary were "a sensible precaution and for practical reasons in the current circumstances"
He added that the decision to delay the trips had been made with advice from health experts and the UK government.

Poland announces travel ban on foreigners

Poland has become the latest EU country to close its borders to foreigners, following Denmark and the Czech Republic in implementing strict measures to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Foreigners will be banned from entering Poland from Sunday, the country's prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki said.
A 14-day quarantine will be imposed on Polish citizens who return home, he said.
"The state will not abandon [its citizens]. However, in the current situation we cannot allow ourselves to keep borders open to foreigners," Mr Morawiecki said at a news conference.
Restaurants, bars and casinos are to be shuttered and public gatherings will be limited to 50 people, Mr Morawiecki.
Poland has confirmed 68 cases of coronavirus so far with one death.
Earlier, Denmark, the Czech Republic and Slovakia announced similar temporary bans on foreigners entering their countries, though Slovakia exempts Poles from the restrictions.
Ukraine, which is not a member of the EU, will also close its borders to foreigners.

European Space Agency spots decline in air pollution

Satellite imagery shows reduced nitrogen dioxide emissions, particularly over northern Italy, the agency says.

Health minister's 84-year-old mother tests positive

Nadine Dorries, a health minister in the UK government who has tested positive for coronavirus, has tweeted that her elderly mother also has the disease.
She added that the 84-year-old was "made of strong stuff".

A look at border restrictions in Europe

Various European countries have closed their borders or announced new restrictions in the past day or two. Here's a summary of some of the measures introduced:

• Denmark: Bans all foreigners from entering without a valid purpose (such as residency or emergency family visit)
  
• Poland: Foreigners banned from entering from Sunday
  
• Czech Republic: Bans all foreigners from entering the country, except those with residence permits. Bans its own nationals from leaving
  
• Slovakia: Closes borders to all foreigners except Poles and those with a residence permit
  
• Austria: Closes three land border crossings with Italy to all foreigners, except those with a medical certificate issued within four days. No restriction on Austrian nationals
  
• Ukraine: Closes border crossings to foreigners (except diplomats) for two weeks
  
• Hungary: Closes land borders with Austria and Slovenia
  
• Slovenia: Closes six border crossings with Italy. Bus and train travel suspended. Foreigners may only enter with a medical certificate issued within three days
  
• Serbia: Closes border crossings with Romania, Bulgaria, North Macedonia, Montenegro, Bosnia and Croatia
  
• Romania: Closes borders with Hungary, Ukraine, Bulgaria and Moldova
  
• Albania: Closes borders with Montenegro, Kosovo and North Macedonia
  

Cyprus limits entry to country

In the last hour, the Cypriot government has announced that only its citizens, along with other Europeans working on the island and people with special permits will be allowed into the country for a 15-day period beginning on Sunday.
President Nicos Anastasiades announced the move in a televised address on Friday.
Nationwide school closures have also been extended until 10 April.

President Trump announces new national measures

More now from the White House where President Donald Trump is still speaking to reporters. He has declared a state of emergency across the US.
He also announced new testing measures - here's the latest from his address:

• The state of emergency opens up $50billion of funding and "every hospital" will activate their emergency plans
  
• It also waives doctor licensing laws to enable physicians to work across states and relaxes laws about how and where hospitals can treat patients in their hospitals
  
• Rules around telehealthcare will also be waived
  

• Up to 500,000 tests will be available from next week, and the testing locations will be announced on Sunday
  
• The president promised that within a month, 5m tests will be available, as well as drive-through testing facilities
  
• Mr Trump says the government is partnering with Google to develop a website that helps citizens identify how and where to test for the virus
  
• Visitors will be banned to nursing homes nationally, with the exception of end-of-life situations
  
• The president also said interest on student loans will be waived
  
• He said the government will take advantage of the low price of oil to buy large quanities for storage in the US - "We're gonna fill it right up", he promised
  
• "This will pass - and we're going to be stronger for it", Mr Trump said
  

Trump 'may add' UK to travel ban

President Donald Trump says that he "may add" the UK to the list of European countries affected by the US travel ban. He said his government is looking at the rise in cases in Britain in the past 24 hours, which he described as "precipitous".
The total number of cases in the UK is now 798, up by more than 200.

Ski resort guests told to leave Zermatt

Guests in the Swiss ski resort of Zermatt have been told to leave by Monday. This is because Switzerland’s ski resorts are shutting down due to the new government regulations on controlling the coronavirus.
Zermatt's ski lifts and mountain railways will stop on Sunday. Hotels and holiday apartments will then be emptied.
It is not entirely clear if other resorts are asking all guests to leave, but the St Moritz region is closing every public space including all ski slopes, cinemas, swimming pools - and some hotels are closing.
This will be a huge blow to Switzerland’s alpine resorts: Swiss hotels have just posted a good year, after struggling for some time with the strength of the Swiss franc and financial downturns in Eurozone countries. What’s more, after a slow start to the winter season, the last couple of weeks have seen lots of snow, and thousands of guests had been expected over the next few weeks.

Death toll in Washington state rises to 37

The number of people who have died from coronavirus in US hotspot Washington state has risen to 37 - an increase of six - the state governor says.
All public and private schools there will close from Tuesday, and gatherings of more than 250 people are banned across the state.
"We're going to fight this epidemic as much as we can and the reason is we don't want to see an avalanche of people coming into our hospitals with limited capacity," Governor Inslee told a press conference

US House Democrats press aid package

The Speaker of the US House of Representatives, Nancy Pelosi, hopes to pass a relief package to help those affected by coronavirus - but President Donald Trump appears to remain opposed to it, despite days of negotiations.
The bill includes free testing as well as a new paid sick leave programme and unemployment benefits. A BBC correspondent says Ms Pelosi has had detailed talks on the bill with President Trump's Treasury Secretary Steve Mnuchin.
But Mr Trump said no agreement had been reached and some Republicans say the bill is expensive and ineffective.

Fifa urges internationals for March and April be called off

Fifa has recommended that all international football matches scheduled for March and April be postponed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Football's governing body suggested delaying matches to avoid "any unnecessary health risks" and "potential sporting unfairness".
Stopping short of banning matches, Fifa said the final decision on postponement rested with competition organisers such as England's Premier League and European body Uefa
Fifa rules normally oblige clubs to release players for national team matches, but this rule has been temporarily reversed.
Earlier, all Premier League games in England and Uefa competitions, including the Champions League and Europa League matches due to be played next week, were postponed.

• Premier League and EFL suspended in England
  
• Champions League and Europa League games postponed
  
• How the global pandemic has affected Premier League clubs
  

Colorado announces first death

The western US state said a woman in her 80s with underlying health issues had died from the virus, the Reuters news agency reported. It brings the death toll in the US to at least 47.

Summary for 14th March

7:25

Apple closes all stores outside China

Apple CEO Tim Cook has announced that the tech company will be temporarily closing all stores "outside of Greater China" until 27 March to help prevent the spread of Covid-19.

Emergency coronavirus plan for prisons

The UK government is drawing up emergency plans to avoid disruption in England's prisons, with unions saying prison officers face "unprecedented" challenges.
Prison staff will be offered bonuses to cover shortages - and staff could be redeployed to cover front-line services.
A number of inmates died during unrest at several Italian prisons last week after visits were suspended.
The Prison Officers' Association has compared conditions in England's prisons to those found on cruise ships and the Prison Governors' Association has said cases of the virus are inevitable.

What's the latest in the US?

President Donald Trump has imposed a travel ban on 26 European nations as part of a contingency plan to tackle the coronavirus crisis.
It excludes the UK, the Republic of Ireland and other countries outside the Schengen area, and returning US citizens.
Mr Trump has also declared a national emergency, releasing up to $50bn (£40bn) in relief funds.
There are nearly 2,000 confirmed cases of Covid-19 in the US, and 43 deaths.
Announcing the state of emergency, Mr Trump stressed that the next eight weeks would be critical.
Hospitals have been asked to activate their emergency preparedness plans; the emergency order will also allow more people to qualify for government health insurance.
Late on Friday, the US House of Representatives passed an aid package to fight the outbreak that includes free testing and paid sick leave, as well as measures to help stabilise financial markets.

What about the situation in Europe?

On Friday, the head of the World Health Organization declared Europe was now the "epicentre" of the global pandemic.
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus urged countries to use aggressive measures, community mobilisation and social distancing to save lives.
"Do not just let this fire burn," he said.
His comments came as several European countries reported steep rises in infections and deaths. Italy has recorded its highest daily toll yet.
Read more here.

More imported cases in China than local infections

For the first time China is reporting that it has more new cases of the virus brought from outside the country, than infections passed on locally.
The data released by China's National Health Commission shows that the country had 11 new cases on Friday, four of which were locally transmitted in Hubei province where the new coronavirus began.
The other seven cases are in travellers from Italy, the US and Saudi Arabia.

Australia-New Zealand cricket series postponed

Two one-day cricket internationals and three T20 games between Australia and New Zealand have been postponed because of the coronavirus outbreak.

Saudi Arabia halting international flights

Saudi Arabia will stop flights into the kingdom for two weeks starting from Sunday. The ban applies in all except "exceptional cases", the Saudi Press Agency said.
There are a reported 86 cases in the country, but no deaths so far. There are concerns in the region about Iran, where an outbreak has killed more than 500 people, and there are fears that unofficial tolls there could be higher.

Turkey halts flights from parts of Europe

Turkey has said it will be halting flights to and from nine European countries, including Germany and France, until 17 April, Reuters news agency reports.
The ban begins on Saturday.
The other countries concerned are Spain, Norway, Denmark, Austria, Sweden, Belgium and the Netherlands. Turkey had already suspended flights to and from Italy.
Turkey has reported five cases of the virus so far.
Meanwhile the self-declared Turkish republic of Northern Cyprus has banned all non-residents from entering until 1 April.
The entity reported its first coronavirus case on Tuesday, a German tourist. Four more people have since tested positive.

Norway urges citizens to come home

Norway is now asking its own citizens to return home as soon as possible, and advising against travel to all foreign countries, Reuters news agency reports.

'Confusion' over London-Poland flights

A journalist boarding a plane to Warsaw from London has tweeted about mixed messages for people trying to fly. Poland announced a lockdown starting on Sunday, which will ban non-citizens from entering the country.
But Anne Applebaum says the captain on her flight is asking if non-Polish passengers still want to fly, "given that it is unclear if and when they will be able to leave again".
"At Heathrow. Spookily empty except for the totally full Warsaw flight - because borders are closing tomorrow. Booked my ticket even while the PM was still making his speech."

UK mass gatherings ban 'could free up emergency workers'

As we reported earlier, the UK government is preparing plans to ban mass gatherings, a government source says. Now the Care Minister Helen Whately has told the BBC it would have limited impact on the spread of the virus, but could free up emergency workers.
"We are following the evidence. As the chief medical officer said, and I have been advised, the evidence tells us that stopping mass gatherings doesn't have a huge impact on the spread of the virus," Ms Whately said.
"But, for example, decisions have been taken in some countries because of the impact on public services and because, when you have a mass gatherings, that draws on the police and the ambulance service you need to support it."

Chinese specialists help Italy fight the virus

A team of specialist Chinese doctors is in Italy to help the country in its fight against the virus, Ansa news agency reports.
They brought with them equipment including ventilators, respirators and masks.
They include the vice-president of the Chinese Red Cross and a professor of cardiopulmonary resuscitation, both part of the team of intensive care specialists, pediatricians and nurses who treated coronavirus patients in China.

Namibia and Rwanda report first cases

A Spanish couple who arrived in Namibia on Wednesday have both tested positive for the virus, reports Reuters news agency.
The Namibian government said it will continue plans to celebrate Independence Day later this month.
The agency later said that Rwanda had confirmed its first case.

The coronavirus podcast: What is herd immunity?

BBC News brings you the latest on the global coronavirus outbreak, featuring correspondents and expert guests.
In this edition, the BBC's Fergus Walsh, James Gallagher and Tulip Mazumdar compare the UK government's coronavirus strategy with others in the rest of the world.
Listen here.

Ventilator production stepped up in Europe

German and Italy are ramping up production of medical ventilators to meet expected peak epidemic demand. They cost $17,000 each.
According to Reuters, Germany has ordered 10,000 ventilators, Italy has ordered 5,000.
Factories in overdrive in Europe. Italy is getting the army involved in helping the production line.
As far as I’m aware, the UK has one small manufacturer of ventilators that has 40% market share.

Mosques call worshippers to 'pray from home'

Ordinarily Muslim worshippers are called to pray by a muezzin who recites phrases asking people to come pray in the mosque. It's a staple part of the day in many Muslim countries. But now, as many countries try to reduce the risk of infection, some mosques are asking worshippers to pray from home. This highly unusual call to prayer has been heard in Kuwait.

Iran reports 97 new deaths

The death toll from coronavirus in hotspot Iran has jumped by 97 to reach a total of 611, reports state TV in the country. Health officials say 12,729 people have been infected. On Wednesday reports using satellite photos appeared to show Iran exacavating mass burial pits.

No need to panic, says ex-patient

One of the first people in Scotland to contract Covid-19 has told the BBC about his recovery from the disease.
The man, in his 50s, was diagnosed almost two weeks ago following a trip to Italy. He returned home on 25 February, a Tuesday.
"I felt no symptoms. I was completely fine and went to work on the Wednesday and Thursday. Later on the Thursday evening, I started to feel a bit of a flu coming on. I had a mild fever, I felt shivery - but the biggest symptom was aches and pains, particularly in my legs.
"I was feverish. That continued through Thursday night and I didn't sleep too well."
On 1 March, he was diagnosed and hospitalised. But from this point on, he said his symptoms did not develop any further.
"By the time I went to hospital, I was feeling fine. The mild flu symptoms quickly dissipated, I had no leg pain, no fever, no cough and no shortness of breath."
He said he wanted to tell his story to the BBC so that people did not panic about exposure to the disease.

Jet2 cancels all flights to Spain

All Jet2 flights to mainland Spain and the Canary Islands have been cancelled with immediate effect, the British low-cost airline has announced. It operates flights from nine UK airports.
On Friday Spain declared a national emergency, closings bars, shops and restaurants.
"We are contacting our customers who are currently in these destinations, and who are due to travel, to advise them of their options, so we urge customers not to call us," the company said in a statement.
Flight tracking website Flight Radar 24 shows seven planes turning around mid-air to return to Britain.

Abu Dhabi Louvre closes

The Louvre museum in Abu Dhabi has said it will close to the public from Sunday until the end of March.
The Gulf emirate's government announced on Saturday it was shutting major tourism and cultural venues, including the offshoot of the famous Paris museum and the Ferrari World theme park, because of the outbreak, Reuters news agency says.

22 new cases in Wales

There are 22 news cases of coronavirus in Wales, Public Health Wales has announced.
It brings the total number in the country to 60.

Spain cancels Easter processions

Huge street processions are an important part of Easter celebrations in Spain. Holy Week sees thousands of people flock to see religious orders walking through towns and cities carrying crosses, and floats carrying icons. But in the Seville and Castille and Leon regions, the Semana Santa procesessions in mid-April have been cancelled by the Order of Brotherhoods, reports Spanish news agency Efe.

The 'cult' blamed for S Korea's virus outbreak

The Shincheonji Church in South Korea is a secretive group that some say is more like a cult.
Many of the cases detected in the country have been linked to the group, leading it to be singled out for public criticism. Its secretive practices are alleged to have helped the virus spread.
The group has in recent weeks apologised for its role in the outbreak, and says it's been co-operating with authorities. But officials say some members are still refusing to be tested.

Travellers in tears in Amsterdam airport

• Amsterdam Schipol Airport, one of the biggest transport hubs in Europe, now feels like a small regional airport because of the lack of passengers.
  There is one notable queue, at customer services, and it chicanes right around the side of Departure Hall 3. These are people trying to work out how to get home, and how to travel to the countries that are closing their borders. One significant travel ban is the US one imposed by President Trump, which has been in force since the early hours. It means airport staff here must turn away anyone who has been in one of the 26 European countries that share a passport-free travel agreement known as the Schengen Zone over the past two weeks.
  Although US citizens are exempt, I’ve spoken to a large group of American students in the queue who were backpacking around Europe but have cut their holiday short by two weeks to try to get home now. Karen, 21, from Seattle organised the trip. She lifts her face mask to tell me there had been many arguments between the group about whether they should leave or stay. They ultimately voted to go in case of any further restrictions.
  Further back in the queue, Stefania, an Italian studying in Bulgaria, is trying to return home to Sicily, but all flights to Italy are cancelled. She’s trying, like many in the queue, to get a refund, and then to work out another way to travel.
  In the past 48 hours there has been a domino effect on countries around the world imposing full or partial travel bans for foreign citizens - India, Russia, Norway, Israel and Argentina to name a few in a growing list.
  I’ve seen several people in tears here as they leave customer services. There are so many questions for the staff here. There’s now a 90-minute wait for those at the back of the queue. It’s an enormous task for the airlines, which are dealing with an unprecedented crisis.
  

1,500 new cases in Spain

Spain's health ministry says it has recorded 1,500 more cases of Covid-19 since 18:00 on Friday evening local time (17:00 GMT).
The figures include nearly 1,000 more cases in the capital Madrid.
The total number of confirmed infections in Spain now stands at 5,753 as of 12:00 local time.
The death toll is 136, while 517 people have recovered.
Spain's government is expected to approve a state of emergency, which can be maintained for 15 days before requiring parliamentary approval for an extension.
The state of emergency can limit people's movements, temporarily requisition property (such as private hospitals), ration essential goods and guarantee products and services.
It also centralises decision-making instead of leaving decisions to regional governments.
Madrid has ordered the closure of all non essential businesses.
The Spanish stock market fell more than 20% in the last week.

Half-marathon going ahead in Bath

The organisers of the Bath half-marathon in western England are defying coronavirus concerns, saying that the Sunday race will go ahead. It's up to the runners if they want to compete and additional hand wash facilities will be available, organisers say.

What does coronavirus do to the body?

Coronavirus only emerged in December last year, but already the world is dealing with a pandemic.
For most the disease is mild, but some people die.
So how is the virus attacking the body, why are some people being killed and how is it treated?
Read more here.

Olympics will go ahead, says Japanese PM

Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said the Tokyo Olympic Games will go ahead as planned in July, despite coronavirus concerns resulting in the postponement of many sporting events.
But he added that the International Olympic Committee (IOC) would have the final decision whether Tokyo 2020 went ahead.
Japan has had more than 1,400 cases and 28 deaths resulting from coronavirus.
Read more here

Netherlands cases rise to 959

The number of recorded infections in the Netherlands has risen by 155 to 959 - a jump of nearly 20%.
The country's health ministry said two people had died from the virus since the outbreak began in the country.

UK flights to Spain turned back

We have more on our earlier report about the Jet2 flight cancellations.
Jet2 planes from the UK to Spain turned around in mid-air as the British low-cost airline announced it was cancelling all flights to the country.
Confirmed cases in Spain have risen by 1,500 in 24 hours and thousands of people have been placed in lockdown.
The country's death toll has reached 120 and it is set to enter a two-week state of emergency.
Read more about Jet2's move here.

UK deaths jump to 21

The total number of deaths in the UK from coronavirus has almost doubled in the past 24 hours, going up from 11 to 21, the National Health Service says.

'Ridiculous scenes' in London supermarket

Photos of emptied shelves in the UK, US and Australia have become commonplace in recent days, but the chaotic scene in one supermarket in north London has shocked social media users. Michelle Davies criticised other shoppers for leaving nothing for other customers.
The UK government says panic buying is unncessary and has promised that supermarkets won't run out of supplies. Several shops have imposed quotas on essential items including toilet paper and hand-sanitiser.
Michelle Davies tweeted:
Ridiculous scenes in Tesco Colney Hatch this morning. Shelves cleared like there's been a riot. The selfishness of some people filling their trolleys with multiple packs and leaving none for others is staggering. (Plus so much for getting here early to avoid crowded spaces.)
Meanwhile a former MP has appealed for a "national kindness effort" after seeing a man in another north London supermarket refusing to give an elderly woman one of the last packets of pasta in the store.

Google clarifies Trump website comment

It appears that President Trump startled Google when he announced on Friday night that it had 1,700 engineers working on a website to help determine who should get coronavirus tests and where.
"It’s going to be very quickly done...they have made tremendous progress," said the president.
Google's PR team has since clarified that its sister company, Verily Life Sciences, is working on such a tool, but that it is only at the "early stages of development".
The tech firm added that while it intended to start testing it in the San Francisco Bay Area soon - possibly at the start of next week - it would take time to expand its provision across the country.
Google Communications tweeted:
"Statement from Verily: "We are developing a tool to help triage individuals for Covid-19 testing. Verily is in the early stages of development, and planning to roll testing out in the Bay Area, with the hope of expanding more broadly over time."

Arab countries step up measures

Several Arab countries have stepped up measures to try to prevent the spread of coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia and Kuwait have cancelled all international flights, while the UAE has stopped flights to Lebanon, Iraq, Syria and Turkey.
All Gulf Arab states have confirmed coronavirus cases, but they remain relatively limited for now. No deaths have yet been reported and most of the cases have been traced back to Iran, which is the regional hotspot for the virus where the official death toll has risen to more than 600.
In addition to suspending flights, the UAE is no longer issuing visas and has closed tourist attractions such as its branch of the Louvre, while Dubai has banned hotels from holding weddings.
Saudi Arabia has cancelled sports events, which have recently become a major selling point of its nascent tourism industry.
In war-ravaged Yemen, the Houthi rebels have effectively blocked vital UN flights after closing Sanaa aiport.

More details about the UK deaths

Ten more people have died in the UK, bringing the total number of deaths to 21.
All patients were in "at-risk" groups, making them more vulnerable to the effects of the virus, the UK's chief medical officer Chris Whitty said.
The people were being cared for in hospitals in nine areas, including London, Birmingham and Leicester, north Middlesex and Chester.
The total number of confirmed cases in the UK has risen to 1,140, the NHS said, up from 798 on Friday.
Read more here

Dutch scientists 'find antibody'

A group of Dutch scientists believe they’ve found an antibody that could help to detect and prevent the coronavirus from being able to infect people.
It hasn’t been tested on humans - a process that will take months.
The researchers at the Erasmus Medical Centre and Utrecht University describe their discovery as an antibody to Sars2, the coronavirus causing the current pandemic (Covid-19).
The scientists were already working on an antibody for Sars1 and when the new coronavirus broke out, they said they had found that the same antibodies cross-reacted and blocked the infection.
Their findings are still being reviewed and the antibody is yet to be rigorously tested.
The researchers are hoping to convince a pharmaceutical company to support its mass production as a medicine which they believe would detect and prevent the spread of the virus.
A separate Covid-19 vaccine could take years to develop - by which point the virus may have disappeared.

First New York State death announced

New York Governor Andrew Cuomo told local media on Saturday that an 82-year-old woman had become the state's first coronavirus-related death.
The woman had been suffering from emphysema and died at a Manhattan hospital.
The number of reported cases throughout New York state has risen to more than 500, Mr Cuomo added.

French 'yellow vests' flout ban

The "gilets jaunes" (yellow vest) protest movement took to the streets of Paris on Saturday, defying a government ban on gatherings of more than 100 people.
Several hundred people marched in the city, and police arrested 17.
The group frequently organise large anti-establishment protests to highlight rises in the the cost of living - particularly petrol.

---

'We work with a smile, but we are scared'

A group of Spanish nurses have appealed to people to obey the quarantine measures and stay at home.
"We are afraid. Although we attend to you with a smile, we are scared," they wrote in a Facebook post.
"We have families, like you. Please do not aggravate the problem. We can't do more, we are saturated.".
Spain has declared a national emergency and announced 1,500 new cases on Saturday.
Spanish media are expecting the government to announce a lockdown similar to the quarantine in Italy, which would allow people out of their homes only in emergencies, to buy food or to go to work.

Temperature checks for people in contact with Trump

Everyone who comes into contact with President Donald Trump and Vice-President Mike Pence will have their temperature checked, the White House spokesperson Judd Deere says.
“Out of an abundance of caution, temperature checks are now being performed on any individuals who are in close contact with the President and Vice President,” he said.
Journalist Courtney Subramanian tweeted that a reporter has been escorted out of the White House briefing room after his temperature was found to be too high.
On Saturday Mr Trump tweeted a reminder of the measures people should take to avoid spreading the new coronavirus.


 Donald J. Trump    @realDonaldTrump


SOCIAL DISTANCING!


107K
13:47 - 14 Mar 2020

'It's virus-busy' in Washington DC

Stockpiling and panic buying seems to have stepped up a notch over the past few days, since President Donald Trump banned visitors from Europe's Schengen area and announced a national emergency.
Masks and hand sanitisers have been missing from shelves for weeks - now pharmacies have started putting up signs outside the shop doors, pre-emptively warning people they are out of stock. Even sanitising wipes and thermometers are limited to two or four per customer - and appear to be sold out on most days.
People have also been stocking up on food in anticipation of the need to self-isolate or work from home. At one local supermarket, the check out queue was so long it wound the entire way around the store - all the way to the front of the shop, and then back to near the cashiers - with customers waiting about 20 minutes before they could pay for their groceries.
I asked the cashier if it was normally this busy on a Saturday morning. She replied with a resigned smile: "It's virus busy."

Trump has tested for the virus

President Donald Trump has said he took a test for the new coronavirus on Friday night. He expects the results in the next one to two days, he told journalists at the White House.

US travel ban 'to be extended to the UK and Ireland'

The ban on travel to the US from many European countries is to be extended to the UK and Ireland following the rise in coronavirus cases there, President Trump appeared to confirm.
He said the measure was "going to be announced".
Earlier US media reported that the move was imminent.

16:52

US travel ban from UK and Ireland confirmed

The ban on travel to the US from UK and Ireland will begin at 00:00 Eastern time on Monday (04:00 GMT on Tuesday), US Vice-President Mike Pence has confirmed.
He said US citizens and US legal residents would still be able to return to the US from those countries after the ban came into effect.
They would be "funnelled through specific airports" and told to self-quarantine, he said.

---

South Africa cases rise to 38

The official number of confirmed coronavirus cases in South Africa has rise to 38, up from 24 on Friday.
Elsewhere on the continent, more than 20 countries have been affected by the outbreak.
Egypt has the most reported infections - currently 93 - followed by its northern neighbours Algeria and Tunisia.

What's the latest from around Europe?

Several European countries have reported steep rises in infections and deaths in recent days, and the continent has become the new "epicentre" of the pandemic, according to the World Health Organization.
Governments are taking emergency measures to curb the outbreak, including school closures, travel bans and economic stimulus packages to protect jobs.
If you're just joining us, here's a recap of some of the biggest developments today:

• Spain has recorded 1,500 more cases of Covid-19 since Friday evening - nearly 1,000 of these are in the capital, Madrid. This brings the national total to 191 deaths and 6,046 infections, and to curb the spread the government is poised to declare a 15-day national lockdown on Monday. This means people would be allowed out only for emergencies or work, or to buy food.
  
• Italy continues to be the worst-hit country in Europe. Its official death toll has jumped 14% to 1,441, and total confirmed cases have risen to 21,157.
  
• Denmark reported its first death from the virus - an 81-year-old who was already in hospital for a serious illness.
  
• The Czech government has ordered shops and restaurants to close for 10 days. Schools have already been closed in the country and bans are in place on public events like sports games and concerts.
  
• Norway has announced that it will temporarily close all its airports from Monday 0800 CET (0700 GMT) to stop the virus from spreading
  

Norway will close airports and ports from Monday

All airports and ports in Norway will be shut from 0800 local time on Monday, Prime Minister Erna Solberg has said.
All Norwegians abroad will be able to return as aircraft with citizens on board will be allowed to land, Ms Solberg confirmed.
The country reported its second death from coronavirus on Saturday, with 907 confirmed cases.
The government is in talks with Norwegian Air regarding the airlifting of medical equipment from China.

Washing hands no longer 'a luxury'

Ireland's deputy prime minister says the coronavirus is going to change the way in which everyone lives – and that hand washing can no longer be seen as "a luxury" if vulnerable people are to be protected.
Simon Coveney was speaking after a meeting between senior ministers from the Irish government and the Northern Ireland Executive.

Body Shop suspends demos and tester pots

The international beauty brand says it is stopping demonstrations of make-up and other products, and will no longer supplying tester pots for customers to try out goods. Trying out make-up products is seen as a core part of the consumer's experience.
The company wants to minimise skin-to-skin contact in stores, it said in an email to customers.
"At the Body Shop our store teams always follow strict hygiene protocols. We have reinforced these in line with the latest World Health Organization guidelines," it said.
Earlier in the week MAC Cosmestics introduced a "no-touch" policy at its counters.

Jump in Czech coronavirus cases

There are now 189 coronavirus cases in the Czech Republic - a rise of 39 since the morning.
Neighbouring Slovakia is reporting 44 positive cases. Both countries have introduced draconian measures to slow the spread of the virus. The authorities say the measures will be tightened even further if the situation deteriorates.
Meanwhile, Slovenian TV is reporting the first coronavirus death in the country.

France reports more than 800 new cases

France now has 4,499 confirmed cases, up from 3,661 on Friday, officials say.
Some 91 people have died in the country after getting the virus, up from 79 on Friday.

More airports in Yemen to close

Yemen's government says it is suspending all flights to and from airports under its control for two weeks from 18 March.
Prime Minister Maeen Abdulmalik Saeed's office said there would be an exemption for flights for humanitarian purposes.
The main airports his government controls are Aden, Sayoun and Mukalla.
Earlier on Saturday, Houthi rebels said they were closing the capital Sanaa's airport. It means United Nations flights can no longer fly into Sanaa.
All other flights to Sanaa had already been banned by the Saudi-led military coalition that is backing the government against the Houthis.

Wuhan medics visit Rome

Nine doctors and nurses from China who worked on the frontline of the first coronavirus outbreak in Wuhan visited the Italian capital Rome on Saturday.
They brought supplies, and shared their experiences of tackling the virus at a hospital in the Italian capital which specialises in infectious diseases.
Speaking to journalists outside the Spallanzani hospital, they said that they believed the Italian doctors they had met in Rome were doing a very good job, and that the measures the Italian government had taken across the country met the international standard required.
They said that in China, they had learned that detecting infection early and quarantining early was very important in bringing the virus under control. They also said that releasing information to the media regularly was important for transparency.

France announces sweeping restrictions

French Prime Minister Edouard Philippe has ordered the closure of all non-essential public locations from midnight (23:00 GMT Saturday) in response to the coronavirus outbreak.
The measure applies to restaurants, cafes, cinemas and nightclubs, as well as "non-essential" businesses.
Mr Philippe also called on French people to reduce their travel, especially between towns.

---

UK deaths double in 24 hours
en more people in the UK have died in the last 24 hours after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 21.
The UK government's chief medical adviser said the patients were all in "at-risk" groups from across England.
The total number of confirmed cases in the UK has reached 1,140 while 37,746 people have been tested.
It comes as US President Donald Trump decided to suspend all travel between the US and the UK and Ireland.
Meanwhile France has ordered non-essential locations used by the public to close, and has asked citizens to go out as little as possible. Several European countries have closed their borders or shut their airports.
US vice president Mike Pence said the ban would begin at midnight on Monday eastern standard time (04:00 GMT), following a "unanimous recommendation" from health experts.
The US has already banned travel from 26 European countries.
Of the latest deaths in the UK, eight were men aged over 80 and all but one were known to have had underlying health conditions.
They were being treated in hospitals in Buckinghamshire, Birmingham, Wolverhampton, Leicester, London and Chester.
Prof Chris Whitty, the UK government's chief medical adviser, said: "I understand this increase in the number of deaths linked to Covid-19 will be a cause for concern for many. The public should know every measure we are taking is seeking to save lives and protect the most vulnerable."

Most of the confirmed UK cases are in England. There have been 121 confirmed cases in Scotland, 60 in Wales and 34 in Northern Ireland.

What do I do if I...

Have symptoms: If you are experiencing a new, continuous cough and/or a fever - defined as a temperature of above 37.8C - you should self-isolate at home for at least seven days, according to guidance released on Friday by Public Health England (PHE).
People with mild symptoms who are self-isolating at home are not currently being tested. All hospital patients with flu-like symptoms are being tested.
Live with or been in close contact with a positive case: The seven day isolation period now applies to everyone regardless of where you might have travelled or if you have had close contact with a confirmed case.
Read more here.

People who are self-isolating with mild symptoms are no longer being tested for the virus. The government said on Friday it estimated the true number of UK cases to be around 5,000 to 10,000.
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has been meeting with officials at Downing Street to discuss the pandemic.

A mother and her newborn baby are among the latest confirmed to have the virus in England.
Medics are trying to confirm whether the baby, who was tested at North Middlesex Hospital, was infected during birth or before, according to the Sun newspaper.
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists said there was no evidence the virus can be passed on from pregnant women to babies before birth, but that due to how little is known about the new virus that it would continue to update its guidance.
Government advice adds there is "no clinical evidence" to suggest the virus can be transmitted through breast milk.
"Infection can be spread to the baby in the same way as to anyone in close contact with you," it says.

Analysis by Nick Triggle - Health Correspondent
The increase in deaths is obviously alarming for the public - as well as being a tragedy for the families involved.
What we don't know is the extent to which coronavirus played a role in their deaths.
We only know they had it when they died.
Every patient death announced in the coronavirus outbreak in the UK has been a person who has had underlying health conditions.
That is a term that covers a range of different illnesses from heart disease and diabetes to asthma.
There is certainly transmission of the virus within hospital - on Thursday three quarters of those patients with coronavirus in intensive care had not been abroad to an affected country.
They may have caught it in the community and the Covid-19 illness they developed lead to their admission or they could have caught it in hospital when they were already ill.
There are more than 1,500 deaths a day in the UK on average and what is certain is that growing numbers of people who die are going to have tested positive for coronavirus.

People visiting elderly and vulnerable relatives have been reminded to take extra care, after the government released new advice.
Care home providers should ask anyone who is "generally unwell" not to visit, the advice says.
Meanwhile, government sources said mass gatherings might soon be banned in the UK to ease pressure on emergency services. It is thought a ban could take effect as early as next weekend.

Events still set to go ahead include the Grand National in April, the 75th anniversary VE Day commemorations and Chelsea Flower Show in May, and Glastonbury Festival in June.
The increase in cases in the UK comes as people continue to stockpile food and household items. The government has said there was "no need" for people to do so but has also relaxed restrictions on delivery hours for shops to make sure they remain stocked.
Online supermarket Ocado has taken its app offline due to "performance issues driven by continued high demand" while the website has crashed for many users.

Coronavirus: Some scientists say UK virus strategy is 'risking lives'
By Pallab Ghosh Science correspondent

More than 200 scientists have written to the government urging them to introduce tougher measures to tackle the spread of Covid-19.
In an open letter, a group of 229 scientists from UK universities say the government's current approach will put the NHS under additional stress and "risk many more lives than necessary".
The signatories also criticised comments made by Sir Patrick Vallance, the government's chief scientific adviser, about managing the spread of the infection to make the population immune.
The Department of Health said Sir Patrick's comments had been misinterpreted.
In their letter the scientists also questioned the government's view that people will become fed up with restrictions if they were imposed too soon.
Their letter was published on the day it was announced 10 more people in the UK have died after testing positive for coronavirus, bringing the total number of deaths to 21.
Meanwhile the government's scientific advisory group for emergencies (Sage) advised that measures to protect vulnerable people - including household isolation - "will need to be instituted soon".
Sir Patrick and the UK's chief medical adviser, Prof Chris Whitty, have said they intend to publish the computer models on which their strategy is based.

• UK virus measures will have the 'biggest impact'
  
• Why is the UK not shutting schools like other countries?
  
• Three reasons why the UK might not follow Italy
  

The UK's approach to coping with the coronavirus pandemic has been in stark contrast to other countries. The whole of Italy has been on lockdown since Tuesday, while Poland is set to close its borders for two weeks.
On Saturday the French government ordered the closure of all non-essential public locations from midnight (23:00 GMT Saturday).
And Spain has declared a 15-day national lockdown on Monday to battle the virus,

Measures 'insufficient'

In the open letter the group of scientists argue that stronger "social distancing measures" would "dramatically" slow the rate of growth of the disease in the UK, and would spare "thousands of lives".
The group, specialising in a range of disciplines, ranging from mathematics to genetics, though no leading experts in the science of the spread of diseases, said the current measures are "insufficient" and "additional and more restrictive measures should be taken immediately", as is happening in other countries.



On Friday Sir Patrick suggested managing the spread of the disease so that the population gains some immunity to the disease was a part of the government strategy.This idea, known as "herd immunity", means at-risk individuals are protected from infection because they are surrounded by people who are resistant to the disease.
Rough estimates indicate that herd immunity to Covid-19 would be reached when approximately 60% of the population has had the disease.
But in the open letter, the scientists said: "Going for 'herd immunity' at this point does not seem a viable option."

'Laissez-faire attitude'

The major downside of herd immunity, according to Birmingham University's Prof Willem van Schaik, is that this will mean that in the UK alone at least 36 million people will need to be infected and recover.
"It is almost impossible to predict what that will mean in terms of human costs, but we are conservatively looking at tens of thousands of deaths, and possibly at hundreds of thousands of deaths," he said.
"The only way to make this work would be to spread out these millions of cases over a relatively long period of time so that the NHS does not get overwhelmed."
Prof van Schaik noted that the UK is the only country in Europe that is following what he described as its "laissez-faire attitude to the virus".
But a Department of Health and Social care spokesperson said that Sir Patrick's comments had been misinterpreted.
"Herd immunity is not part of our action plan, but is a natural by-product of an epidemic. Our aims are to save lives, protect the most vulnerable, and relieve pressure on our NHS," he said.
"We have now moved out of the contain phase and into delay, and we have experts working round the clock. Every measure that we have or will introduce will be based on the best scientific evidence.
"Our awareness of the likely levels of immunity in the country over the coming months will ensure our planning and response is as accurate and effective as possible."


In a separate letter to the government, more than 200 behavioural scientists have questioned the government's argument that starting tougher measures too soon would lead to people not sticking to them just at the point that the epidemic is at its height.
"While we fully support an evidence-based approach to policy that draws on behavioural science, we are not convinced that enough is known about 'behavioural fatigue' or to what extent these insights apply to the current exceptional circumstances," the letter said.
"Such evidence is necessary if we are to base a high-risk public health strategy on it."
"In fact, it seems likely that even those essential behaviour changes that are presently required (e.g., handwashing) will receive far greater uptake the more urgent the situation is perceived to be. Carrying on as normal for as long as possible undercuts that urgency," it added.
The scientists said "radical behaviour change" could have a "much better" effect and could "save very large numbers of lives".
"Experience in China and South Korea is sufficiently encouraging to suggest that this possibility should at least be attempted," it added.
The second letter called on the government to reconsider its stance on "behavioural fatigue" and to share the evidence on which it based this stance.

Summary for 15th March
- UK over-70s to be asked to self-isolate for an extended period, health secretary says
- New screening requirements for Americans returning from Europe lead to long queues at airports
- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker criticises the chaos at Chicago O'Hare airport
- Australia orders 14-day quarantine for all new arrivals starting at midnight on Sunday (13:00 GMT)
- Voters go to the polls for local elections in France despite widespread coronavirus restrictions
- The Vatican says its traditional Easter week celebrations will be held this year without worshippers
- The opening of Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu's trial is delayed until 24 May because of the crisis

---

7:38

Voting under way in France

Polls have opened in France in local elections that are going ahead despite widespread restrictions imposed to fight the pandemic.
On Saturday, the government ordered the closure of bars, restaurants, cinemas and many shops, and some politicians called for a postponement of the election.
Special precautions have been introduced at polling stations, but officials say they expect turnout to be low.

Dubai-bound passengers taken off plane in Kerala

All passengers on a Dubai-bound flight at Cochin airport in the southern Indian state of Kerala have been asked to leave the plane after one of them tested positive for Covid-19. Passengers have been quarantined.
The passenger, said to be British-born, was on the Emirates flight bound for Dubai on Sunday morning.
“He was part of a group of 19 who... were holidaying in [the town of] Munnar,” an airport official told the BBC.
“He was in quarantine and tested positive for the virus. We recognised this only after he boarded the plane which was about to depart.
“There were 270 passengers on the flight that he boarded. The group came to the airport without informing the authorities,” he added.
With a large population of its workers in the Gulf countries, Kerala has the highest number of infections of all Indian states, though no deaths have been reported so far.
Some 23 people have tested positive for the virus in the state, while 7,677 people are under observation and 302 are quarantined in hospitals with symptoms.

Netanyahu corruption trial postponed until May

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's corruption trial has been postponed until 24 May due to a "state of emergency" in the courts.
Mr Netanyahu is being tried on charges of bribery, fraud and breach of trust. His trial was due to open in the Jerusalem District Court on 17 March.
In the early hours of the morning, Justice Minister Amir Ohana issued the emergency order postponing all non-urgent court sessions.
It will be in force for 24 hours but is expected to be extended.

French ski resorts close

As a result of the latest restrictions in France, the organisation looking after the country's ski resorts has announced all French resorts will close on Sunday.
"Holiday-makers and professionals, all of us sport-lovers, we must accept reality given the seriousness of the situation," Domaines Skiables said.

'Future of UK aviation' at risk, say airlines

UK airlines have asked the government for a package worth several billion pounds, as they warn they may not survive the coronavirus pandemic without emergency financial support.
In a stark message, Airlines UK said the government's "prevarication" and "bean-counting" had to stop.
"We're talking about the future of UK aviation - one of our world-class industries - and unless the government pulls itself together, who knows what will be left of it once we get out of this mess," it added.

Mandatory isolation for all arrivals to Australia

Australia is bringing in a mandatory 14-day self-isolation period for everyone arriving into the country from midnight Sydney time (13:00 GMT).
The rule is going to be enforced regardless of where people are travelling from.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison also said cruise ships would be banned from the country for 30 days.
He said: "In specific cases where we have Australians on cruise ships then there will be some bespoke arrangements that will be put in place directly under the command of the Australian Border Force to ensure the relevant protections are put in place."

Easter events to be held without faithful - Vatican

The Vatican has announced that its traditional Easter week celebrations will be held this year without a congregation, because of the pandemic.
The services, which run from Holy Thursday to Easter Sunday, usually draw tens of thousands of people to sites in Rome and in the Vatican.

Christchurch memorial service cancelled

A memorial service for the first anniversary of the Christchurch mosque attacks in New Zealand has been cancelled.
Many were expected to travel to the memorial from around New Zealand and overseas.
But in a statement, Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern said: “We’re very saddened to cancel, but in remembering such a terrible tragedy, we shouldn’t create the risk of further harm being done."
Yesterday, New Zealand announced mandatory self-isolation for all arrivals, except for those from the Pacific Islands.

Governor of American Samoa self-isolates after Seattle trip

The Governor of American Samoa, Lolo Matalasi Moliga, has placed himself in isolation after visiting Seattle and Honolulu.
Seattle, Washington, has had the highest number of coronavirus-related deaths in the US.
On Saturday Seattle announced three new deaths and 60 new cases, bringing its total to 35 deaths and 387 cases.
American Samoa, a US territory, currently has no confirmed cases of the virus.

Biggest challenge in a generation - UK health minister

UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock has said the outbreak is the "biggest public health emergency in a generation".
It called for "dramatic action, at home and abroad, of the kind not normally seen in peacetime", he writes in the Telegraph newspaper.
"Our goal is to protect life from this virus, our strategy is to protect the most vulnerable and protect the NHS through contain, delay, research and mitigate."
Mr Hancock has also confirmed that action to isolate the over-70s is planned in the coming weeks.

Where is Ren Zhiqiang?

Earlier this week Ren Zhiqiang, an outspoken critic of the Chinese government, wrote an article criticising the official response to the coronavirus outbreak.
Now, his friends say he's missing.
Speaking to Hong Kong's South China Morning Post newspaper, his friend Wan Ying says she "hasn't been able to reach Ren Zhiqiang since Thursday night... It's been over 72 hours already".
According to SCMP, Mr Ren's article criticised both the initial cover-up of the virus, and also the government's promotion of their success in handling the epidemic.
It's unclear if his disappearance is linked to the article, but he had reportedly been under government surveillance for four years.

Mandatory quarantine begins in Manila

Police and soldiers have been clearing the streets of Manila as a mandatory quarantine comes into force.
Domestic flights in and out of the Philippine capital have also been halted for a month.
"People are advised to stay home and not do anything," Interior Secretary Eduardo Año told reporters.
There are some exceptions to the quarantine, and people who need to go to work will be allowed to do so by going through checkpoints.
Buses, taxis and city trains have also been ordered to carry fewer passengers, so that people can sit at least a seat apart from each other. People with fevers aren't allowed to board.
In recent days, the number of confirmed cases in the Philippines has almost doubled to 111, and eight people have died.

UK stores ask shoppers to stop panic-buying

In the UK, supermarkets are urging shoppers not to buy more than they need amid concern over stockpiling.
In a joint letter, UK retailers have reminded customers to be considerate in their shopping, so that others are not left without much-needed items.
"There is enough for everyone if we all work together," it adds.
It comes after some shops began rationing the sales of certain products to avoid them selling out completely.
In the letter, the retailers say online and click-and-collect services are at "full capacity" and staff and suppliers are "working day and night to keep the nation fed".
The retailers say they are working "closely" with government and suppliers to make more deliveries to stores so that shelves are well-stocked.
Read more here.

Indonesia's president to get tested

Indonesian President Joko Widodo has said that he'll get tested for coronavirus, and that some of his ministers have already undergone tests as a precaution, after the country's transport minister tested positive for the disease.
Transport Minister Budi Karya Sumadi was confirmed as having coronavirus on Saturday. He had attended a cabinet meeting led by President Widodo on Wednesday.
President Widodo also said people should work from home and avoid mass gatherings.
Infections in the country rose by 21 to 117, with five deaths related to the virus.
Indonesia confirmed its first cases of coronavirus on 2 March. As other countries in the region had reported greater numbers of cases far earlier, this raised concerns among medical experts that infections were either not being reported or going undetected.
Earlier this week, the World Health Organization urged President Widodo to declare a national state of emergency over the virus and to step up containment measures.

All of Czech Republic 'to be quarantined'

Everyone in the Czech Republic will be quarantined, local news agency CTK reports, quoting Prime Minister Andrej Babis.
The Czech ministry of health said earlier today that there were now 214 confirmed cases of coronavirus in the country - an increase of 25 since yesterday.

How many people will get the virus in Europe?

European governments have given different estimates of how many people in their respective countries they think will be affected by the virus.
On Sunday, French Education Minister Jean-Michel Blanquer said about half of the French population would be infected by the virus.
"From the start, the strategy has not been to prevent the virus from passing - we know that it will probably pass through more than half of us - but it is to make sure that it is spread as much as possible over time," he told France Info.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel warned earlier this week that up to 70% of the country's population - some 58 million people - could contract the virus.
The British government has previously said up to a fifth of the workforce may be off sick during the peak of the epidemic in the UK, and that up to 80% of Britons could catch coronavirus in a worst-case scenario of a major outbreak.

Expect widespread disruption - UK health minister

More on what UK Health Secretary Matt Hancock said on Sunday morning about government plans to tackle the outbreak.
He told the BBC the UK had not ruled out following other countries by ordering the closure of restaurants, bars and other shops to prevent the virus spreading.
When asked if ministers were planning on shutting up shops other than pharmacies and supermarkets, Mr Hancock told the BBC: "We haven't ruled that out, we will do what is necessary."
He said efforts to fight the virus would "dirsupt the lives of almost everybody" in the country.
Addressing concerns about a lack of NHS ventilators, to help patients with the most severe symptoms, Mr Hancock acknowledged the 5,000 already available would not be enough. He said the government would be urging manufacturers to produce as many as possible.
Read more here.

---

Kazakhstan declares state of emergency

Kazakhstan has now declared a state of emergency, barring almost all travel to and from the country.
President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev has published a decree restricting entry and exit to everyone except diplomats, and people specifically invited by the government.
The decree also restricts the work of large retail trade facilities, and instructs regional officials to boost security at key buildings and facilities.
The measures are set to be in place until 15 April.
Kazakhstan currently has eight confirmed cases of coronavirus.

France to reduce long-distance transport

France will progressively reduce long-distance train, bus and plane travel on its territory over the coming days to limit the spread of the virus, the ecology minister has said.
The country - which has already shut cafés, restaurants, schools and universities, and urged people to limit their movement - will now seek to limit long-distance travel to what is "strictly necessary", Elisabeth Borne said.

Which is the best course of action?

Hugh Schofield - BBC News, Paris
Debate is raging in France about what is the better model for tackling Covid-19: the Chinese with their radical system of confinement for limiting the spread; or the UK with their “herd immunity” approach, according to which infection of a majority is inevitable – and even, if properly handled, to be welcomed.
Up until a couple of days ago, it seemed France leaned more to the “herd” philosophy. Like in Britain, the official view favoured a controlled propagation - buying time so that the wave of infections is drawn out over a long period, and hospitals are not overwhelmed.
But now suddenly, there is a shift in the other direction. First schools, then cafés, restaurants and allnon-essential shops are to be closed. It seems the government now thinks Chinese- and Italian-style draconianism is more appropriate - except when it comes to the municipal elections, which are going ahead as planned.
If it all feels a little improvised, that is perhaps excusable. We have after all never seen anything like this before.

'Chaos' at US airports as travellers rush to get back

Yesterday the US extended its travel ban to the UK and Ireland - and so a lot of people have spent today grabbing early flights home.
The above photo was taken by Ruth Procopi, who grew up in the UK but has lived in Chicago for about 20 years.
She was visiting family in Watford when she heard about the travel ban, and flew home today.
When she got into Chicago's O'Hare airport, she said it was "chaos".
"I arrived from Heathrow at about 15:30 yesterday. It was chaos. Nobody explained anything," she told the BBC.
She said it took her about two hours to get through, in the end - despite not having any checked bags, and not having to go through any additional screening at the airport.
"We were told there was additional screening while on the plane, but no details," she added. "We were not told anything at any stage."

Groups of five or more banned in Austria

Austria has banned gatherings of five people or more as part of a series of new, tighter restrictions to "starve" the coronavirus.
The government is also closing restaurants from Tuesday, and is telling people not to leave the home apart from to go to work, get food or grab other necessities, or to help people.
Chancellor Sebastian Kurz tweeted: "We're aware those are massive restrictions but they are necessary to defend the health of the Austrian people and starve out Covid-19."
People have also been banned from entering Austria from the UK, Netherlands, Russia and Ukraine - an extension of a ban that was already in place for Italy and Switzerland.

Coronavirus: Isolation for over-70s 'a big ask'

More on the UK's plans for protecting the elderly and vulnerable from coronavirus.
Anyone over the age of 70 in the coming weeks will be asked to stay at home to shield themselves from the outbreak.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the BBC's Andrew Marr that this shouldn't stop healthy individuals helping those who were self-isolating.

UK advises against 'all but essential travel' to the US

The UK Foreign Office has updated its advice on travel to the US, with its guidance now against "all but essential travel to the whole country".
It comes after the US extended its travel ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.

---

What are European countries doing?

Europe is now the global epicentre of the coronavirus pandemic, and so many nations are taking drastic measures to try and fight its spread.
Here's a brief summary of what they've been doing:

• Austria has banned gatherings of more than five people, has expanded the list of countries it restricts entry to, and has closed schools and most shops
  
• People in Spain have been told not to leave home, except for buying essential supplies and medicines, or for work
  
• Romania is about to declare a state of emergency
  
• The Czech Republic is likely to declare a quarantine for the entire country, and has already closed its borders
  
• Slovakia has also shut its borders
  
• Italy, the worst-hit country in Europe, began a nationwide lockdown on Monday
  
• France has shut all schools, cafes, restaurants, cinemas, nightclubs and non-essential businesses - but its local elections are still going ahead
  
• The UK has postponed its local elections, which were meant to take place in May, for a year - so they'll now be held in 2021. The British government is also planning to ask everyone over the age of 70 to self-isolate in the coming weeks
  

Read more about the measures European countries are taking here.

Spain reports large jump in new cases

Spain has recorded 2,000 new virus cases and more than 100 deaths in 24 hours, AFP news agency reports.

Turnout drops in French local elections

Despite nationwide restrictions that include closing restaurants, cafes, cinemas and nightclubs, France is pressing on with local elections.
Measures to stop infections are in place at polling stations, with election officials wearing gloves and bottles of hand sanitiser placed at entrances.
Turnout currently stands at about 18%, down from 23% in 2014's vote.
French President Emmanuel Macron said the vote was needed to "ensure the continuity of our democratic life".

Iranian death toll rises

The death toll from the coronavirus in Iran has risen by 113 to 724, according to the latest figures from the health ministry. The number of infections has reached nearly 14,000.
Only China and Italy have been hit harder by the outbreak in terms of case numbers and deaths.
Iranian officials have reiterated their advice that people should stay at home and cancel all travel.

The Netherlands reports 176 new cases

The Dutch health ministry has recorded 176 new cases of the virus during the last 24 hours, along with eight virus-related deaths.
It said the total number of infections around the country now stands at 1,135.

Nike temporarily shuts up shop

Nike is temporarily closing hundreds of stores across the world from Monday.
All of its branches in the US, Canada, Western Europe, Australia and New Zealand are going to remain shut until 27 March, the company says. The company has almost 400 stores in the US alone.
Nike told US media that its workers would be paid in full during this time off.
Its stores in South Korea, Japan, most of China and "many other countries" are going to stay open.

Hungary reports first virus death

A 75-year-old man has become the first person to die from coronavirus in Hungary.
The government said he died after being taken to South Pest Central Hospital with suspected coronavirus and pneumonia.
There are 32 reported cases of the virus in Hungary and 159 people are currently in quarantine, according to official figures. In response to the outbreak, the government has closed its lands borders with Austria and Slovenia, closed all schools and placed restrictions on public gatherings.

---

Germany 'to close some borders'

From Monday, Germany will close its land borders with Austria, France and Switzerland to curb the spread of coronavirus, local media report.
The decision has not yet been announced by Germany's government.

Footballers treated as 'guinea pigs' - Wayne Rooney

Former England footballer Wayne Rooney says the government and football authorities have treated footballers as "guinea pigs" during the coronavirus outbreak.
Elite football in Britain has been suspended until at least 3 April, with the Premier League saying "conditions at the time" will determine its return.
"For players, staff and their families, it has been a worrying week - one in which you felt a lack of leadership from the government and from the FA and Premier League," the former England captain wrote in his column in the Times newspaper.
"The rest of sport - tennis, Formula 1, rugby, golf, football in other countries - was closing down and we were being told to carry on.
"I think a lot of footballers were wondering, 'Is it something to do with money being involved in this?'. Why did we wait until Friday? Why did it take Mikel Arteta [Arsenal manager] to get ill for the game in England to do the right thing?
"After the emergency meeting, at last the right decision was made - until then it almost felt like footballers in England were being treated like guinea pigs.
"I know how I feel. If any of my family get infected through me because I've had to play when it's not safe, and they get seriously ill, I'd have to think hard about ever playing again. I would never forgive the authorities."
Read more here.

Ex US CDC chief: 'Something went wrong'

Dr Tom Frieden, the Obama-era US Centers for Disease Control (CDC) chief, said that during the 2009 flu pandemic public health officials were able to get test kits out fast.
"Something went wrong here," he told CNN. "We have to find out why."
It remains unclear exactly how many people have been tested in the US. Lawmakers on Thursday said the number was fewer than 10,000.

• Can the US catch up on testing?
  

"Reducing travel to China without a doubt bought us time, but it would never prevent this from coming to our shores," Dr Frieden said, adding that travel bans "are only useful if we use that time to prepare better".
That includes protecting the most vulnerable populations and healthcare workers, practicing social distancing and educating people on measures as simple as handwashing.
He said the coronavirus spread in the US "could be small with hundreds of deaths or it could be large with more than a million deaths".

US border officials find fake test kits

Border protection officers in Los Angeles have seized a package containing suspected counterfeit coronavirus test kits arriving from the UK.
The package was initially declared as "purified water vials" with a value of $196.81 (£160), but officers found glass containers labelled as Covid-19 test kits inside. These have been turned over to the US drug agency for further inspection.
Diagnostic testing in the US is conducted only in verified public health laboratories.

St Patrick's Day celebrations in US ignore warnings

St Patrick's Day falls on a Tuesday this year, but celebrations kicked off in cities across the US this weekend despite official advice to practice social distancing.
In Chicago, Illinois, the city's annual parades and river-dyeing event were cancelled, but many restaurants and bars remained open.
Local media shared photosof long lines to get into bars downtown on Saturday, despite an earlier news conference where Illinois Governor JB Pritzker cautioned young partygoers to follow distancing guidelines.
"You can have the unintended tragic effect of spreading Covid-19 to others who are more vulnerable. Please do the right thing for your community," said the governor.
Other cities, including New Orleans, Louisiana, where police broke up crowds outside bars, Boston, Massachusetts, and New York City have faced similar issues this St Patrick's Day.

Kenya imposes sweeping travel restrictions

Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta has announced that national borders will be closed to travellers from any country with reported coronavirus cases.
Only Kenyan citizens and foreigners with valid residence permits are exempt, so long as they agree to be quarantined.
Mr Kenyatta said the directive will take effect within 48 hours, and will remain in place for 30 days. If needed, it can be extended by the Kenya's National Emergency Response Committee.
In addition, from Monday all schools will be closed around the country. Universities will also close from Friday.
Kenya confirmed its first case of coronavirus on Friday, and the president said two more have been discovered since.

Slovenia bans public transport from midnight

Public transport across Slovenia will stop operating from midnight local time (23:00 GMT), in an effort to restrict the spread of coronavirus.
In a statement announcing the move, the government also said that as well as the public transport ban, taxis would only be allowed to take passengers if they had first "made arrangements for proper disinfection of parts of the vehicle that are in regular physical contact with the passenger".
There are currently 96 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Slovenia.

US will have to 'hunker down' more

A top US health official says Americans "should be prepared that they're going to have to hunker down significantly more than we as a country are doing" over the outbreak.
Asked whether the US should consider lockdowns like those seen in Europe, Dr Anthony Fauci from the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases told NBC: "I would prefer [that] as much as we possibly could ... I think we should really be overly aggressive and get criticised for overreacting".
The US has already seen some authorities close schools and ban mass gatherings, while elite sport has been halted.

UK death toll rises to 35

Fourteen more people have died from the coronavirus in the UK, raising the death toll to 35, the UK's health department says.
There have been a total of 1,372 positive tests for coronavirus in the UK as of Sunday, up from 1,140 on Saturday, the department added.

---

Brazilian president tweets demonstration videos

Brazil's President Jair Bolsonaro has shared videos of pro-government demonstrations taking place around the country, despite his earlier calls for them to be postponed.
Protesters are holding major rallies against Brazil's congress and judiciary.
In a televised address on Thursday, the president said protesters should "rethink" the demonstrations over concerns for public health. He was also filmed wearing a face mask after an aide tested positive for the virus shortly after joining Mr Bolsonaro on a trip to meet US President Donald Trump in Florida.
The Brazilian president has since tested negative for coronavirus. But several other officials from his US delegation have caught the disease, including Brazil's ambassador to the US, Nestor Forster.

'Seville is a ghost town'

Ione Wells - BBC News
Seville, Spain's fourth largest city, is usually full of bustling crowds: people elbowing each other to get a space around a tapas bar and packs of tourists eagerly queuing outside the historic cathedral.
But this weekend, it looks like a ghost town.
The streets are deserted. Shops, restaurants, tourist sites and many hotels are boarded up as people are told they are only allowed to leave their homes for essentials.
Police cars slowly circle the empty streets, stopping occasionally to usher people on.
One group of bemused tourists I saw eating sandwiches in the sunshine of a square were swiftly told to leave, as police reminded them that it's "forbidden" to sit or stand in the streets.
The problem is, many of them are waiting for flights home, and don't have anywhere else to go.

'Please stay at home' drones in Spain

On Saturday, Spain's 47 million citizens were ordered to stay indoors except for necessary trips. Social gatherings were banned.
Spanish police have been using drones to enforce these restrictions in Spain's fight against Covid-19.

Netherlands to close schools

Dutch Health Minister Bruno Bruins has announced that schools and crèches around the country will be closed from Monday until 6 April.
Bars, sports clubs, sex shops and coffee shops will also be shut from tonight.
Prime Minister Mark Rutte is expected to address the nation tomorrow.
The Dutch health ministry has reported 176 new cases during the last 24 hours, along with eight virus-related deaths. The total number of infections around the country now stands at 1,135.

Swiss life changes for everyone

Imogen Foulkes - BBC News, Geneva
Every day around noon, the Swiss government releases the latest coronavirus figures.
People check them, hoping for a decline. Today the numbers are a shock: 2,200, a rise of 800 in just 24 hours.
For everyone here, life has changed. Parents are desperately looking for childcare following Friday’s announcement that schools will close from Monday. Thousands of families who booked Easter holidays abroad must cancel: there are few countries the Swiss can travel to at the moment.
But on this sunny weekend, people are out and about. Restaurants are limited to 50 people, but business is quite brisk.
Tables are two metres apart, they are disinfected regularly.
One elderly lady, carefully washing her hands after enjoying a hot chocolate, says she knows it’s important to follow the rules. But, she adds: "I won’t stop social contact." And yet that is exactly what the government wants her to do.
Meanwhile a waitress whispers that she doesn’t think the restaurant will stay open much longer. She’s worried for her job. In canton Ticino, and in Basel, the restaurants are already closed.

Italy coronavirus deaths hit new record

Italy has reported 368 more coronavirus deaths, a new one-day record.
Lombardy - the country's worst affected region - accounted for 252 of the total.
Nationwide the total death toll is more than 1,800.

'It felt like they were encouraging disease'

Twenty-year-old Tim Clancy, who travelled through O'Hare International Airport in Chicago this weekend, told the BBC the environment was "really hectic".
"There were hundreds of people in the customs area...It took two-and-a-half hours to reach one customs agent and then I was directed to another and had to snake back round to them."
Clancy, who was returning from studying in Greece, said it took him about five hours to get through the screening. A nurse checked his temperature before he was allowed to leave the airport.
"I felt there wasn’t a lot of access to hand sanitiser or restrooms because you’d likely lose your place in the queue - I didn’t see too many people coughing though," he added.
"After being on a plane where everyone was tightly packed in it felt like they were encouraging the disease to spread rather than doing anything to curb it."

Puerto Rico issues curfew

The US territory of Puerto Rico has implemented an island-wide curfew to try to prevent the virus spreading.
"We must take forceful measures like those being taken in other countries," Governor Wanda Vázquez Garced said in a Spanish-language address on Sunday.
There are exemptions from the curfew for people who have authorisation to work.
The curfew, which begins today, is in force from 21:00 to 05:00 (01:00 to 09:00 GMT) and will last until 30 March. Businesses, except pharmacies and health services, grocery stores, banks and gas stations are also expected to partially close, local media report.
Puerto Rico has three confirmed Covid-19 cases.

Irish government asks pubs to close

Ireland's government has called for the closure of all pubs and bars in the country from this evening "until at least 29 March".
In a statement, it also called on members of the public to refrain from organising or going to parties "in private houses or other venues which would put other people's health at risk".

South Korea seeing a 'stabilising trend'

South Korean Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha has told the BBC that extensive testing has been the key to South Korea's low coronovirus fatality rate.
She added that governments have a responsibility to "guard against panic".

EU to pool members' health resources

The European Union has announced a series of measures to pool resources among its 27 members in order to help to fight coronavirus and protect national health services across the Continent.
The president of the European Commission, Ursula Von der Leyen, said the aim was to ramp up the production of protective equipment like masks and suits, and to prevent it being exported outside of the bloc without authorisation from EU governments.
Under the measures, equipment would be shared across EU members instead of each country making it for their own use.

Could the US see domestic travel restrictions?

During a briefing on Saturday, the White House suggested domestic travel restrictions could be next.
But the US infectious diseases chief Dr Anthony Fauci told ABC News on Sunday the move has "not been seriously discussed".
"I don't see that right now in the immediate future," Dr Fauci said. "But remember, we are very open minded about whatever it takes to preserve the health of the American public."
There are currently over 2,900 confirmed cases in the US, according to the Johns Hopkins University Coronavirus Resource Center. There have been 57 deaths so far.
Dr Fauci said he was confident that currently, the government was doing everything it can to control the outbreak.
"You've got to be almost overreacting a bit to keep up with it," he said, adding that people "need to understand that things will get worse before they get better".

I just got this sms message on my phone today - from my GP Surgery: 

Dear patient, due to Coronavirus, as a temporary measure, patients will not be able to book appointments online.
You will need to phone the surgery to book an appointment and you will only be able to book 2 weeks in advance.  Prior to the appointment staff will contact you to screen you for symptoms of Coronavirus, by asking you a few questions.  Please do not come to the surgery for appointments unless you are advised to do so after your telephone screening.  We appreciate your co-operation and patience during this difficult time.

In other words ... if you're really sick DON'T BOTHER TO CONTACT ANYONE, JUST STAY HOME AND DIE ...  
Helps with the Herd Immunity theory ...

(It's not the Surgery's fault - they are obviously instructed)

Herd immunity: will the UK's coronavirus strategy work?
Ministers look to have given up on containment in favour of a novel approach some experts are wary of

Herd immunity is a phrase normally used when large numbers of children have been vaccinated against a disease like measles, reducing the chances that others will get it. As a tactic in fighting a pandemic for which there is no vaccine, it is novel – and some say alarming.
It relies on people getting the disease – in this case Covid-19 – and becoming immune as a result. Generally it is thought that those who recover will be immune, at least for now, so they won’t get it twice.
But allowing the population to build up immunity in this way – rather than through widespread testing, tracking down the contacts of every case and isolating them, as many other countries in Asia and Europe have chosen to do – could increase the risk to the most vulnerable: older people with underlying health problems.

To reach herd immunity, about 60% of the population would need to get ill and become immune, according to Sir Patrick Vallance, the government’s chief scientific adviser. Though it could need as much as 70% or more. Even scientists who understand the strategy are anxious. “I do worry that making plans that assume such a large proportion of the population will become infected (and hopefully recovered and immune) may not be the very best that we can do,” said Martin Hibberd, professor of emerging infectious disease at the London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine.
“Another strategy might be to try to contain [it] longer and perhaps long enough for a therapy to emerge that might allow some kind of treatment. This seems to be the strategy of countries such as Singapore. While this containment approach is clearly difficult (and may be impossible for many countries), it does seem a worthy goal; and those countries that can should aim to do.”
The government’s “nudge unit” seems to favour this strategy. Dr David Halpern, a psychologist who heads the Behavioural Insights Team, said on BBC News: “There’s going to be a point, assuming the epidemic flows and grows, as we think it probably will do, where you’ll want to cocoon, you’ll want to protect those at-risk groups so that they basically don’t catch the disease and by the time they come out of their cocooning, herd immunity’s been achieved in the rest of the population.”
But Anthony Costello, a paediatrician and former World Health Organization director, said that the UK government was out of kilter with other countries in looking to herd immunity as the answer. It could conflict with WHO policy, he said in a series of Twitter posts, which is to contain the virus by tracking and tracing all cases. He quoted Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, the WHO director general, who said: “The idea that countries should shift from containment to mitigation is wrong and dangerous.”
Herd immunity might not even last, Costello said. “Does coronavirus cause strong herd immunity or is it like flu where new strains emerge each year needing repeat vaccines? We have much to learn about Co-V immune responses.” Vaccines, he said, were a much safer way of bringing it about.

Further ref:

•  Millions of Britons will need to contract COVID-19 for 'herd immunity'


(As for self-isolating , my usual online delivery service from Asda is currently non-existent: "Click & Collect" only - for months ahead ...)

US airports in disarray over screening

US airports have been thrown into chaos as new coronavirus health screening measures for people returning from Europe come into force.

Long queues formed as travellers waited for hours for the screenings before passing through customs.
The US is banning the entry of people travelling from the UK and Ireland from midnight on Monday (04:00 GMT Tuesday).
As a result, the UK Foreign Office is now advising against all but essential travel to the whole of the US.
The US has more than 2,700 confirmed cases, with 54 deaths.
Correspondents say there is a growing sense of unease and confusion in the US, with fears of a run on hospital beds and concern about childcare as tens of millions of students are sent home from school.

https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-51895246

What measures are countries taking to stop it?
By Reality Check team BBC News

Countries around the world are taking different measures to try to stop the spread of coronavirus.
Governments say they are acting on medical and scientific advice from leading experts.
But the measures - and their timing - have varied widely, highlighting the many factors at play.

Who is restricting travel and movement?

The US has introduced restrictions on 26 European countries, preventing anyone (except US citizens) from entering the country if they've been in Europe's border-free travel zone in the past 14 days, and is now extending this ban to include the UK and Republic of Ireland.
India says it's suspending visas for all foreigners for a month, with a few exemptions such as for diplomats, official or employment purposes.
Kuwait has also stopped issuing visas to foreign visitors.
And various countries around the world have now stopped or restricted entry to travellers from the countries worst affected by the virus, like China, Italy, Iran and South Korea.
Italy is now in a major lockdown, with special permission needed for travel within the country, and some countries have advised their nationals against non-essential travel there.
Spain is poised to declare a 15-day national lockdown, with its citizens allowed out only for emergencies or to work or buy food.

When the outbreak began in China, the authorities there restricted travel nationwide and told people to stay at home, only relaxing this recently.
The Iranian authorities have also tried to restrict travel between cities, but they did not seal off the holy city of Qom, where there were large numbers of cases.
The World Health Organization (WHO) advice is not to apply travel restrictions, except for a temporary period.
"In general, evidence shows that restricting the movement of people and goods during public health emergencies is ineffective in most situations," it said.

Who is screening at airports?

Some countries - if they are not barring entry - are screening arrivals at airports and other transport hubs. This can involve questioning travellers about their recent movements, their health and carrying out temperature checks.
However, there are doubts about how effective screening for high temperatures is because coronavirus symptoms can take days to appear.

Airport temperature screening: some countries are doing it and some are not
Which countries are screening at airports?
Airports in Italy have been running temperature checks on passengers since early February, and there are also tests at railway stations. Thermometers are a common sight at airports throughout Asia.
And the US - as part of the travel restrictions announced on Europe - has said its citizens will be screened at designated airports.

How many tests are being carried out?

There is considerable variation in how many people are being tested for coronavirus around the world.
South Korea has been carrying out more tests per head of population than anyone else, with nearly 20,000 people tested every day.
Compare that with an average of about 1,500 a day in England - although there are now plans to ramp this up to 10,000 daily.
The US has so far carried out even fewer tests, with reports of shortages at some health centres.
How severe the outbreak has been is another factor, with countries which see a spike in cases generally starting to increase the numbers they test.

Who has closed schools and colleges?

The UN's educational, scientific and cultural body Unesco says that as of 13 March, 39 countries had closed all their schools. A further 22 had closed some at a local level.
School closures can be very disruptive socially and economically, and governments will be weighing up the pros and cons.
Ireland has announced it's closing its schools and colleges until 29 March, and there've been school closures at national or local level in other European countries.
In the UK and Germany, a relatively small number of schools have been closed temporarily to allow for deep cleaning after staff or pupils tested positive or returned from high-risk areas.
China closed schools in many areas, and Japan has asked all schools to close until the end of the school year, which is in late March.
Italy has closed all its schools until April as part of the nationwide lockdown. There have also been nationwide school closures in Iran, Iraq and Saudi Arabia.

What about sporting events?

Coronavirus is having a major impact on the sporting calendar.
In football, games were already being cancelled or played in empty stadiums but, after a number of players and coaches tested positive for the virus in different countries, the authorities have gone further.
Uefa have postponed all matches in the Champions League and the Europa League.
England's Premier League has been suspended (until 4 April) along with elite football in Spain, Portugal, France, Italy the Netherlands and a number of other countries.

• World leagues suspended over coronavirus
  
• British football suspended until 3 April
  
• Coronavirus' impact on sport - timeline
  
• What are the rules on ticket refunds?
  

Rugby Union's Six Nations matches, due to be played on 14 March between Italy and England and France and Ireland, were postponed.
The Indian Wells tennis tournament in California was cancelled after a public health emergency was declared for the Coachella Valley.
A number of marathons have been affected including the Barcelona marathon which has been moved from 15 March to 25 October. April's London marathon is also being postponed until October.


Meanwhile, Japan's Olympics Minister Seiko Hashimoto has said everything is being done to allow the Games to go ahead on 24 July, but said it could be delayed until later in the year.
The recent torch-lighting ceremony in ancient Olympia was held without spectators, before the rest of the relay in Greece was suspended.
The flame handover in Athens next week will be done behind closed doors because of coronavirus concerns.

Are museums and tourist attractions still open?

Some of the world's most famous visitor attractions have closed, restricted entry or told visitors to minimise close contact with each other.
Disney has announced that it is closing its theme parks in Florida and Paris. Hong Kong's Disneyland remains closed as do Disney theme parks in Japan.
There have also been temporary closures of tourist sites across Italy, and restrictions or new measures introduced for visitors to other attractions in Europe.

In France, the Louvre museum, the palace at Versailles and the Eiffel Tower have now been closed following a government order to ban gatherings of more than 100 people.
In New York, Broadway shows are being closed for a month while St Patrick's Day celebrations have been cancelled throughout the island of Ireland.
Saudi Arabia has temporarily halted the entry of pilgrims wanting to visit the holy sites, and Iraq introduced restrictions on access to religious sites.

The science of soap – here’s how it kills the coronavirus

The Guardian (Pall Thordarson): https://www.theguardian.com/commentisfree/2020/mar/12/science-soap-kills-coronavirus-alcohol-based-disinfectants

Alcohol-based disinfectants are also effective, but soap is a highly efficient way of killing the virus when it’s on your skin

Viruses can be active outside the body for hours, even days. Disinfectants, liquids, wipes, gels and creams containing alcohol are all useful at getting rid of them – but they are not quite as good as normal soap.

When I shared the information above using Twitter, it went viral. I think I have worked out why. Health authorities have been giving us two messages: once you have the virus there are no drugs that can kill it or help you get rid of it. But also, wash your hands to stop the virus spreading. This seems odd. You can’t, even for a million dollars, get a drug for the coronavirus – but your grandmother’s bar of soap kills the virus.
So why does soap work so well on the Sars-CoV-2, the coronavirus and indeed most viruses? The short story: because the virus is a self-assembled nanoparticle in which the weakest link is the lipid (fatty) bilayer. Soap dissolves the fat membrane and the virus falls apart like a house of cards and dies – or rather, we should say it becomes inactive as viruses aren’t really alive.
The slightly longer story is that most viruses consist of three key building blocks: ribonucleic acid (RNA), proteins and lipids. A virus-infected cell makes lots of these building blocks, which then spontaneously self-assemble to form the virus. Critically, there are no strong covalent bonds holding these units together, which means you do not necessarily need harsh chemicals to split those units apart. When an infected cell dies, all these new viruses escape and go on to infect other cells. Some end up also in the airways of lungs.

When you cough, or especially when you sneeze, tiny droplets from the airways can fly up to 10 metres. The larger ones are thought to be the main coronavirus carriers and they can go at least two metres.
These tiny droplets end on surfaces and often dry out quickly. But the viruses remain active. Human skin is an ideal surface for a virus. It is “organic” and the proteins and fatty acids in the dead cells on the surface interact with the virus.
When you touch, say, a steel surface with a virus particle on it, it will stick to your skin and hence get transferred on to your hands. If you then touch your face, especially your eyes, nostrils or mouth, you can get infected. And it turns out that most people touch their face once every two to five minutes.
Washing the virus off with water alone might work. But water is not good at competing with the strong, glue-like interactions between the skin and the virus. Water isn’t enough.
Soapy water is totally different. Soap contains fat-like substances known as amphiphiles, some of which are structurally very similar to the lipids in the virus membrane. The soap molecules “compete” with the lipids in the virus membrane. This is more or less how soap also removes normal dirt from the skin.
The soap not only loosens the “glue” between the virus and the skin but also the Velcro-like interactions that hold the proteins, lipids and RNA in the virus together.

Alcohol-based products, which pretty much includes all “disinfectant” products, contain a high-percentage alcohol solution (typically 60-80% ethanol) and kill viruses in a similar fashion. But soap is better because you only need a fairly small amount of soapy water, which, with rubbing, covers your entire hand easily. Whereas you need to literally soak the virus in ethanol for a brief moment, and wipes or rubbing a gel on the hands does not guarantee that you soak every corner of the skin on your hands effectively enough.
So, soap is the best, but do please use alcohol-based sanitiser when soap is not handy or practical.

• Pall Thordarson is a professor of chemistry at the University of New South Wales, Sydney

Summary for 16th March

Coronavirus: Downing Street to give daily TV briefings on outbreak
The government is to hold daily televised press conferences to update the public on the fight against coronavirus, Downing Street has said.
From Monday, Boris Johnson or a senior minister will address the media to ensure people are informed about how to protect themselves.
It follows criticism of No 10 for an apparent lack of transparency over its plans to stem the spread of the virus.
A total of 35 people have died in the UK after contracting Covid-19.
Read more HERE

---

Germany shuts down borders

Germany will reintroduce border checks with France, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg and Denmark, starting at 8am local time, (07:00 GMT).
People "without a significant reason to travel" - as well as anyone suspected of being infected - will not be allowed to cross.
Commuters as well as goods will still be able to cross. German citizens and people with a residence permit will still be allowed to enter the country.
Germany has 4,838 confirmed infections and 12 confirmed deaths.

New York City closes all bars, restaurants

New York City mayor Bill de Blasio says all bars, restaurants, and other venues must close from Tuesday.
“Our lives are all changing in ways that were unimaginable just a week ago," he said.
"We are taking a series of actions that we never would have taken otherwise in an effort to save the lives of loved ones and our neighbours.
"Now it is time to take yet another drastic step. The virus can spread rapidly through the close interactions New Yorkers have in restaurants, bars and places where we sit close together. We have to break that cycle.
“Tomorrow, I will sign an Executive Order limiting restaurants, bars and cafes to food take-out and delivery.
"Nightclubs, movie theatres, small theatre houses, and concert venues must all close. The order will go into effect Tuesday, March 17 at 9:00 AM."

Czechs told to stay at home

The Czech Republic is asking people to limit their interaction with others. The only exceptions are seeing family, going to work, grocery shopping, seeing a doctor, buying petrol, walking animals or "spending time in nature".
Even them, people are being asked to keep a distance of two metres from each other - and pay by card rather than cash.
The government also called on all employers to have their staff work from home if possible.
The country had already closed shops, restaurants, pubs and schools - and banned gatherings of more than 30 people.
Last week, the country introduced strict border controls, banning foreigners from entering the country.

China clamps down on imported cases

Authorities in the capital city of Beijing have tightened quarantine measures, as the country recorded 12 more imported cases.
All international arrivals into Beijing must go into quarantine facilities for 14 days, and those sent to facilities must pay for their stay.
Travellers had previously been allowed to undergo isolation at home.
The number of imported cases in China have outnumbered domestic ones for three straight days.
There were four new local cases reported on Monday, all of which were in Wuhan.

Borders in Central and South America close

As the number of cases in the region begin to rise:

• Peru has closed its borders and suspended air and sea transport
  
• Argentina has closed its borders for 15 days to non-residents. It has also suspended public and private school classes
  
• Guatemala has recorded its first virus death, an 85-year-old who had recently returned from Madrid
  
• Panama is also keeping out foreigners. All shops in the country - except supermarkets, pharmacies and medical centres - have been ordered to close
  
• Honduras has banned gatherings of more than 50 people - non-essential businesses will also be shut
  

US sailor tests positive for virus

A US sailor on board a warship has tested positive for the virus and is currently in quarantine at home, the US Navy has said.
The sailor had been assigned to the USS Boxer, an "amphibious assault ship" which was docked at a San Diego port, said Reuters quoting the Navy.
All those who have been in close contact with the sailor are now in self-isolation.

US warns against events of more than 50

Health officials in the US are recommending that any events with 50 or more people be called off.
The US Centers for Disease Control on Sunday said over the next eight weeks, any such gatherings should be either cancelled or postponed.
The US has nearly 3,000 confirmed cases and 65 deaths.

China's economy takes a hit

The country's industrial output contracted at the sharpest pace in three decades in the first two months of the year, official data showed on Monday.
The drastic drop comes as strict measures to contain the coronavirus disrupted the world's second-largest economy.
While China's number of new coronavirus infections has dropped sharply, analysts warn it could take months before the economy returns to normal.
With the virus spreading around the globe, there are fears that a global recession will slash demand for Chinese goods.

South Korea cases in decline

Some 74 cases of the virus were detected in South Korea on Sunday - the lowest number of daily infections in more than three weeks.
There have been 8,236 confirmed cases in the country, with 75 deaths.
A large percentage of the country's confirmed cases have been linked to religious sect group the Shincheonji church, in the city of Daegu. But new clusters have also been springing up in the capital Seoul.

Air New Zealand cuts flights and jobs

New Zealand's flag carrier will shrink to a skeleton operation because of the global travel limitations.
The airline said on Monday it will cut its long-haul capacity by 85% and domestic flights by about 30%.
"Over the coming months we will operate a minimal schedule to allow Kiwis to return home and to keep trade corridors with Asia and North America open," it said in a statement.
The airline also announced there would be redundancies, but that discussions with unions were still underway.
The country has eight confirmed coronavirus cases and no deaths.

Supermarket to hold elderly-only hour

Australian supermarket Woolworths will hold an elderly and disabled-only shopping hour, after panic buying in recent weeks saw shelves stripped bare.
Most of its supermarkets will open only to those groups from 07:00 - 08:00, starting Tuesday.
The supermarket said the move was prompted by "an unprecedented demand in supermarkets, which has seen many elderly and vulnerable missing out on vital items they may need when they shop".

Los Angeles shuts down all bars, restaurants

Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti has ordered a shutdown of bars, restaurants and nightclubs in the city, reports news agency Reuters.
This comes just hours after the city of New York issued a similar order.

Cambodia reports new cases

Cambodia has confirmed four new virus cases - including a four-month-old French boy.
The baby is the son of a French man who travelled from Paris via Singapore to Phnom Penh. He tested positive for the virus on Sunday - his wife tested negative.
A Cambodian man returning from France and two other people returning from an Islamic ceremony in Malaysia were also confirmed to have the virus.
This brings the number of confirmed cases in the country to 12.

Jack Ma sends masks to US

A shipment of masks and coronavirus test kits is making its way to the US, courtesy of Chinese tech mogul Jack Ma.
Mr Ma, the co-founder of the Alibaba commerce group, is one of the wealthiest people in the world.

Lewis Capaldi concert criticised

UK singer Lewis Capaldi is trending on Twitter, after the Scottish star decided to go ahead with a concert in Aberdeen over the weekend...

Across Europe: everyone isolating at home to save lives.
Aberdeen: 11,000 folk pack in to watch Lewis Capaldi.....

MGM shuts casinos in Las Vegas 'until further notice'

Major casino chain MGM is closing its operations in Las Vegas, it announced on Sunday in the US.
Casino operations will close on Monday, followed by hotel operations, the company said.

Turkey quarantines thousands of pilgrims

Around 10,000 pilgrims returning from Saudi Arabia over the weekend have been quarantined in Turkey, which now has six confirmed cases of the virus.
The country's health minister said they were being placed in "separate rooms for quarantine" in the capital Ankara and the nearby Konya province.
A pilgrim who returned from Saudi Arabia last week tested positive for the virus.
Saudi Arabia last month prevented the entry of overseas pilgrims to the holy sites of Mecca and Medina.

Australian states make emergency declarations

Victoria and Western Australia have joined Queensland and South Australia in declaring states of emergency.
New South Wales and the Australian Capital Territory have invoked other emergency powers.
On Sunday, Australia ordered all people coming into the nation to quarantine themselves at home for 14 days.
Victoria has recorded 14 new virus cases in the past 24 hours. Nationally, the total sits at about 300.

Thailand's army welfare chief gets virus

The chief of Thailand's army welfare department has tested positive for the virus, reports news site the Bangkok Post.Around 60 people who came into close contact with him - including the "top brass" of the army - have been put into self-quarantine.

Praise and concern over LA measures

As LA shuts down bars, restaurants, entertainment venues and fitness studios, the city's residents are reacting.
While some are praising the restrictions and want to see even more, others are worried about the impact on the economy.
"How will I pay my rent? How will you help small businesses? Who's going to pay my mortgage?" are just some of the questions people are asking online.

Meanwhile on Big Brother...

When reality is stranger than fiction:
In Germany there is a reality tv show (Big Brother) running since Feb 6th where the participants are living in isolation from the rest of the world and no one told them about COVID-19 yet
https://www.sueddeutsche.de/medien/big-brother-coronavirus-1.4841941 …
It's not clear if the contestants have since been told about the virus situation, as the number of confirmed cases in Germany have reached nearly 5,000.

'Dramatic increase' in NSW cases

The Australian state of New South Wales has seen a "dramatic increase" in the number of new cases, said local media reports quoting Health Minister Brad Hazzard.
Thirty seven people tested positive for the virus over the past 24 hours, bringing the total number of cases in the state to 171.

Vietnam confirms four more cases

Four more cases of the virus have been detected in Vietnam, said Reuters quoting the health ministry - bringing the total number of cases to 57.
The newest patients include a Latvian, a German and two British nationals.

Casinos to introduce 'social distancing'

Australian casino operators Crown Resorts and Star Entertainment Group will introduce "social distancing" at their casinos, reports Reuters.
They said they would keep gamblers apart by switching off every other gaming machine and electronic table. They would also restrict the number of players at stand-up table games.
It comes after authorities in Australia advised against non-essential gatherings of more than 500 people.

---

Australian war memorial events cancelled

Australia hosts large events every year to mark Anzac Day on 25 April, a remembrance of Australians and New Zealanders who have died in war.
Three states - Western Australia, New South Wales and Tasmania - have all said they are cancelling their events this year, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reports.
"It is in our DNA to soldier on but this is a time we need to bunker down a bit," said John McCourt, chief executive of the WA Returned and Services League.

Turkey reports new cases

Turkey reported 12 new cases of the virus on Monday, its highest daily rise since the country announced its first case last week.
Two of the new cases were related to the first case reported in the country. Seven patients had travelled from Europe and three from the US.
There are currently 18 cases of the virus in the country.

India movie industry to stop filming

India's film and TV industry has decided to stop shooting from 19 to 31 March, in a decision that is expected to cost the industry millions of dollars.
The decision was taking following a meeting between several industry bodies. Producers already on shoots both in India and overseas have been given three days to wrap up work, a joint statement read.
India's main film industry, Bollywood, releases more than 1,000 films per year.
Meanwhile, Indian superstar Amitabh Bachchan broke a years-old tradition and asked people not to gather outside his house in Mumbai on Sunday.
Hundreds of people gather outside Bachchan's house every Sunday to catch a glimpse of the actor who appears on his balcony to wave at people.

Australia freezes 'all household fees'

The Australian state of Western Australia has frozen all household fees, including electricity, water, public transport fares and motor vehicles charges, reports ABC.
The state has declared a state of emergency.

Burkina Faso cases double

Burkina Faso has confirmed eight new cases of the coronavirus.
Since 9 March, 15 cases have been confirmed in the West African country.

More African states impose travel restrictions

Increasing numbers of African countries are confirming coronavirus cases, prompting many to announce measures to control the spread of the virus.
Ghana is the latest nation to ban entry to foreign visitors from countries badly impacted by the disease.
Earlier, South Africa declared a state of disaster, closing its borders to foreign nationals from countries badly impacted by the disease. The ban includes China, Iran, Italy, Spain, the UK and the US.
Kenya has also imposed sweeping travel restrictions, blocking entry to all travellers coming from countries with reported cases. On Sunday the government confirmed two more cases of coronavirus, taking the total number to three.
Djibouti and Tanzania, which do not yet have confirmed cases, are suspending international flights.
Morocco has also suspended all international flights from its airports. The North African state has 28 confirmed cases, including one death.
The prime minister of Libya’s internationally recognised government, Fayez Sarraj, also announced the closure of Libya’s airspace and land borders as a preventative measure starting from Monday.
In neighbouring Algeria, which has 48 coronavirus cases, officials announced they would be suspending all flights to France as of Tuesday.
In Tunisia, Prime Minister Elyes Fakhfakh has ordered the closure of all borders and a ban on large gatherings, including congregation prayers in mosques. The country has confirmed 20 cases of the virus.
Mozambique's President Filipe Nyusi has suspended all gatherings of 300 people or more. He has also suspended all foreign travel by state officials - including his own visits to Equatorial Guinea and Palestinian territories that were scheduled for later this month.
The virus is now confirmed to be present in at least 26 nations across the continent.

New cases in the Maldives

The number of coronavirus cases in the Maldives has risen to 13 after three more people tested positive on Monday.
All of the confirmed cases are foreign citizens - either tourists or migrant workers.
The country's government has already implemented entry restrictions on tourists arriving from Spain, Germany, France, Italy, South Korea, China and Bangladesh.

Peace Corps brings volunteers home

American volunteer group the Peace Corps says is suspending all volunteer activity and will bring people home.
"We are acting now to safeguard your well-being and prevent a situation where volunteers are unable to leave their home country," director Jody Olsen said, adding that all volunteers abroad will be evacuated.
An agency of the US government, the corps sends volunteers to live and work in developing countries around the world.

Fewer than 10,000 patients in China currently

Since the outbreak began, the Chinese National Health Commission has confirmed 80,860 cases, including 3,213 deaths.
Some 67,749 patients have been cured and discharged from hospital, leaving 9,898 confirmed cases. The total includes 3,032 in a serious condition.

Kenyan man arrested for fake news

Police in Kenya have arrested a 23-year-old man for publishing false information on the spread of coronavirus.
Elijah Muthui Kitonyo was arrested in Mwingi town in eastern Kenya for claiming that the government gave misleading details on the first confirmed case of coronavirus in the country.
The tweet on a fake account, which was widely circulated on social media over the weekend, claimed that the patient had originated from Rome in Italy and not the United States through London as stated by the government.

Italian FA calls for Euros postponement

The Italian Football Federation calls for the postponement of Euro 2020 to give the country time to complete the Serie A season.
Read more details here.

Honduras 'in lockdown' as workers sent home

Honduras was in a state of near lockdown on Monday, reports Reuters, after the government decided to send public and private sector workers home, temporarily call off flights, and suspend public transport to halt the spread of the virus.
The measures will be in effect for seven days. Exceptions to the public sector suspensions include healthcare, emergency services, security and national defence, customs, migration, ports and airports.
In the private sector, banks, hospitals, pharmaceutical firms, petrol stations, freight operators and a few other sectors will continue to operate.
The Central American country has six confirmed cases so far.

Emirates cases jump close to 100

Abu Dhabi on Monday kicked off a range of new measures to ease the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the economy.
They include subsidies for water and electricity bills. The United Arab Emirates recently announced a $27 billion stimulus package.
The country on Sunday reported 12 new cases, taking the UAE's total to 98.
The virus has hit two important sectors of the UAE's economy: tourism and aviation.

Switzerland cases jump to 2,200

Switzerland on Monday confirmed 841 new coronavirus cases, raising the country's total to 2,200.
The death toll stands at 14.
The country has already closed all schools in an effort to curb or slow the spread of the virus.
According to local media, the army will supply a hospital battalion to help medical staff tackle the crisis.

French situation 'deteriorating very fast'

The coronavirus outbreak in France is "very worrying" and "deteriorating very fast", the head of the country's health service said on Monday morning.
"The number of cases double every three days," Jerome Salomon said on France Inter, as per the AFP news agency.
He added that the number of seriously ill patients and those needing intensive care "runs into hundreds".
France has had more than 5,000 cases and 127 deaths.

UK gears up for 'biggest crisis' of NHS

One GP has described the virus outbreak as the "biggest crisis the National Health Service has ever had to face".
But are family doctors ready to deal with a wave of patients, prevent the spread of the disease and protect the most vulnerable? Read more here.

China announces six more imported cases

China said on Monday it had logged six new imported cases of coronavirus.
Of the new cases, four were from Spain and two were from the UK, according to state media.
China's foreign ministry has warned imported cases are now the main risk. Earlier, just four new "local" cases were reported, all in Wuhan.

Smokers stock up in the Netherlands

People have been stocking up on cannabis before the Netherlands goes into lockdown.

Philippines' Manila under 'quarantine'

The Philippine's main island of Luzon - home to the capital Manila - has been placed under "enhanced community quarantine".
According to President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, this means everyone will be subjected to strict home quarantine, with no transportation allowed except for the moving of basic services and necessities.
Manila is currently already under a "community quarantine" - all domestic travel to and from the capital has been halted.
People from within metro Manila can still move freely inside the region, says news site Rappler.

Britons trying to leave Morocco

Harriet, 27, flew to Morocco from the UK on Saturday, just before all international flights were suspended. She told the BBC she's now struggling to get information about how to leave.
She says she checked the UK's travel advice before leaving home and "there was no indication that we should not travel, the only government advice was that there would be additional checks at Marrakech airport, where they checked our temperatures.
"Advice quickly changed and travel to and from many European countries was restricted, with the anticipation that the UK would be on the list soon. This was confirmed on Sunday with flights between Morocco and the UK due to end today.
"We are due to leave on the 18th and have had no communication from EasyJet regarding the status of our flights. We have been told rescue flights will happen, but again no information as to when. We don’t mind not being able to leave immediately, but need some guidance."

Global cases overtake those inside China

More people have now been infected with the coronavirus globally than in China.
Over 87,000 people have been infected outside of China, according to Johns Hopkins University's worldwide coronavirus tracker.
Chinese health authorities say there are 80,860 cases in the country.
Deaths outside China have risen to 3,241, while there have been 3,208 deaths in China.

Smokers stock up in the Netherlands

People have been stocking up on cannabis before the Netherlands goes into lockdown.

Philippines' Manila under 'quarantine'

The Philippine's main island of Luzon - home to the capital Manila - has been placed under "enhanced community quarantine".
According to President Rodrigo Duterte's spokesman, this means everyone will be subjected to strict home quarantine, with no transportation allowed except for the moving of basic services and necessities.
Manila is currently already under a "community quarantine" - all domestic travel to and from the capital has been halted.
People from within metro Manila can still move freely inside the region, says news site Rappler.

Britons trying to leave Morocco

Harriet, 27, flew to Morocco from the UK on Saturday, just before all international flights were suspended. She told the BBC she's now struggling to get information about how to leave.
She says she checked the UK's travel advice before leaving home and "there was no indication that we should not travel, the only government advice was that there would be additional checks at Marrakech airport, where they checked our temperatures.
"Advice quickly changed and travel to and from many European countries was restricted, with the anticipation that the UK would be on the list soon. This was confirmed on Sunday with flights between Morocco and the UK due to end today.
"We are due to leave on the 18th and have had no communication from EasyJet regarding the status of our flights. We have been told rescue flights will happen, but again no information as to when. We don’t mind not being able to leave immediately, but need some guidance."

Global cases overtake those inside China

More people have now been infected with the coronavirus globally than in China.
Over 87,000 people have been infected outside of China, according to Johns Hopkins University's worldwide coronavirus tracker.
Chinese health authorities say there are 80,860 cases in the country.
Deaths outside China have risen to 3,241, while there have been 3,208 deaths in China.

---

Coronavirus measure to impact Delhi citizenship protest

The government in Delhi has invoked a 123-year-old law to prevent large gatherings in the city, which is expected to affect an ongoing protest against a controversial citizenship law.
All social, political and religious gatherings have been halted under the Epidemic Diseases Act of 1897, chief minister Arvind Kejriwal said.
The move will impact the protests at Shaheen Bagh, where thousands of people,mostly led by Muslim women, have been protesting against the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA).
The CAA offers fast track citizenship to non-Muslim illegal migrants from six nearby Muslim majority countries.
Critics argue that it is discriminatory and can be used to persecute India's 200 million strong Muslim population.
India now has 110 confirmed cases of Covid-19 and two deaths.

UK MP Kate Osborne tests positive for virus

A second British MP has revealed that they have been diagnosed with Covid-19.
Kate Osbourne, Labour MP for Jarrow, in north-east England, said she would "continue to self isolate until I have fought off the illness".
It comes after health minister Nadine Dorries confirmed she had tested positive for the disease last week.
Several other MPs have entered self-isolation after coming into contact with the MP for Mid Bedfordshire.
Parliament remains open but visitor access is being limited from this week.

Chinese media links coronavirus to US military lab

The state-run Global Times has reported about a petition on the White House website urging the US government to release more information on the suspension of an infectious disease research lab under the Pentagon.
The Global Times noted that Chinese internet users and experts are calling for more information on whether The Fort Detrick laboratory was linked to the novel coronavirus, citing coincidental events between the lab’s closure and the outbreak of Covid-19.
It noted many English-language news reports about the closure of Fort Detrick were deleted recently, raising “suspicions over the lab's ‘relationship’ with the novel coronavirus”.
This is the latest in a series of remarks by Chinese diplomats and the state media fuelling a theory that the virus did not originate in China, but was only found there.
Last week, the official Xinhua news agency claimed that the epidemic was first reported in China but “that does not mean it necessarily originated in China”.
Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian has even tweeted that “it might be US army who brought the epidemic to Wuhan”.

Italian architect Vittorio Gregotti dies of coronavirus

Vittorio Gregotti, an architect who helped renovate the 1992 Barcelona Olympic stadium, has died at the age of 92 after catching coronavirus.
He died in a Milan hospital on Sunday. According to local media, he died of pneumonia after having contracted Covid-19.
Gregotti also designed a housing estate in Shanghai, China and the Merassi stadium in Genoa for the 1990s World Cup in Italy.
Fellow Italian architect Stefano Boeri described him as a "master of international architecture" who "created the story of our culture".
Gregotti's wife Mariana Mazza remains in hospital in Milan.

'It's about being sensible' - UK minister on advice for over-70s

A UK cabinet minister has been speaking more about possible measures related the over 70s.
On Sunday, Health Secretary Matt Hancock suggested that those older than 70 will be told "within the coming weeks" to stay at home for an extended period
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told BBC Radio 4's Today programme that those asked to stay home would still be able to go for a walk outside.
"It's about being sensible but not mixing in crowds," he said.

Ikea sends 2,300 employees home from Swedish HQ

Ikea's headquarters in Almhult, southern Sweden, is being closed for two days for a deep clean in order to prevent the coronavirus spreading within the company.
Several of the furniture giant’s 2,300 staff have reported flu-like symptoms and one has tested positive for the coronavirus after a holiday abroad, although they did not return to the office after the location.
Ikea stores remain open across Sweden.
Like the UK, the Nordic country has chosen not to shut shops, restaurants, bars or schools. But numerous major Swedish companies including Spotify, Ericsson and gaming giant King are asking employees to work from home as much as possible.
On Sunday, Scandinavian Airlines announced it would temporarily lay off up to 10,000 staff.
A third person died from the coronavirus in Sweden on Sunday. More than 990 cases of the virus have been confirmed in the country of around 10 million.

Bahrain reports first coronavirus death

Bahrain has reported its first death from the new coronavirus disease.
The 65-year-old female Bahraini citizen, who had underlying health conditions, was also the first person to die as a result of Covid-19 in the six-nation Gulf Co-operation Council (GCC).
The woman had been placed in isolation since returning from Iran via a third country last month, the health ministry said in a statement.
Bahrain has reported 214 cases of Covid-19. Many of them are linked to travel from Iran, where more than 13,900 people have been infected and 724 have died.
Bahrain and the other GCC states have taken measures to contain the spread of the coronavirus.
Saudi Arabia closed public spaces and suspended most government operations on Sunday, while Kuwait largely went into lockdown over the weekend, closing all shopping malls except for those related to food and halted all commercial flights to and from the country.

Shares in Primark owner suspended

Shares in Primark owner Associated British Foods have been suspended, amid falling sales during the pandemic.
It comes after the discount clothing retailer said it had been forced to temporarily close stores which make up a third of its sales due to coronavirus,
The FTSE 100 - an index of leading companies listed in London - opened the week 9% down despite action by central banks.

More than 170 new cases in Belgium

Yesterday 172 people tested positive for the coronavirus in Belgium, taking the total number to 1,058.
There are currently 252 people hospitalised in Belgium, 53 of whom are in intensive care. Five people have now died, the latest being an 88-year-old.

Man charged over Sydney supermarket fight

A man in Australia has been charged after a fight broke out at a supermarket checkout in Sydney.
Like many countries, Australia has seen a rush on shops as people try to stock up ahead of what they believe will be shortages.
Coles, a major chain, has started limiting customers to one pack of toilet roll and two of things like pasta, flour and rice.
Both Coles and Woolworths have said they will start opening an hour early only for elderly people or those with disabilities, to help them shop more comfortably.

UK firefighters to cease 'non-essential interactions'

Interactions between firefighters and the public should temporarily be "drastically scaled back", the UK's Fire Brigades Union (FBU) has said.
Non-emergency work such as fire safety visits and inspections, school visits, and public meetings, should be temporarily suspended, it said.
“While the FBU fully supports public engagement and preventative work as essential to improve fire safety, these are exceptional circumstances," FBU general secretary Matt Wrack said in a statement.
“As a core emergency service, firefighters and control staff need to be protected from infection as far as possible. When an emergency does happen, we need to ensure that firefighters are healthy and available in good number to respond," he added.

Bavaria declared a disaster zone

For the first time in its modern history the whole of Bavaria has been declared a disaster zone, to deal with the coronavirus crisis.
It is Germany’s second-richest state and has a population of 13 million people. Such special measures previously only applied to stricken areas of Bavaria, for example during floods.
All schools and kindergartens are now shut in the state.
There has been a sharp rise in the numbers testing positive for Covid-19 in Bavaria: 886 cases by midday Sunday, which was 205 more cases in 24 hours. Four elderly people have died, DPA news agency reports.
People are still able to move around freely in the streets – unlike in some other parts of Europe.
But these measures are now being introduced:

• From Tuesday, bars, cinemas and swimming pools are to close, along with non-essential businesses
  
• Longer opening times for providers of food and essential goods, such as supermarkets, pharmacies, petrol stations, banks. They can stay open until 22:00 on weekdays, and 18:00 on Sundays.
  
• Restaurants and cafes restricted to 06:00 to 15:00 openings, with customers kept well apart.
  

Londoners are steering clear of public transport, TfL says

Transport for London says passenger numbers were down on the tube last week by 19% and by 10% on buses.
TfL says it will need financial support from the government and that its best case scenario is that the coronavirus outbreak will cost it £500m.

Marine Le Pen self isolates

French far-right politician Marine Le Pen is self-isolating after meeting people who showed symptoms of coronavirus, BFM TV reports.
Last Thursday she also sat next to someone who recently tested positive.
She doesn’t have symptoms at the moment.

Protests outside Downing Street against UK strategy

• Protesters wearing face masks and protective suits have been pictured outside Downing Street in London this morning.
  The group, called Pause the System, says it wants the UK government to step up its measures against coronavirus.
  Spokeswoman Kelly Waters told LBC Radio the UK should follow some other countries in closing schools, shutting non-essential businesses, and encouraging people not to go to work.
  "Why should the UK be a guinea pig for the rest of the world," she said.
  Our science correspondent Pallab Ghosh has taken a closer look at why the UK's plan is different to other countries here.
  

Spanish death toll nears 300

Spain's number of coronavirus cases has risen to 8,744, while 297 people have now died, according to Fernando Simon, the head of the country's health emergency centre.
The previous tally was 7,753 cases on Sunday, with 288 fatalities.

'Challenging few months ahead' for Scotland - Sturgeon

Scotland First Minister Nicola Sturgeon has said the next few months are likely to be "very challenging and unprecedented in our lifetimes".
She said that the Scottish government will have saving lives and protecting the public as the priority.
Monday is the first day that the Scottish government's advice to cancel mass gatherings for more than 500 people comes into effect. Ms Sturgeon said advice on smaller gatherings and whether to close schools was under constant review.
The Scottish government does not have the power to cancel events, but has called on organisers "to act responsibly".
She added:

• By the end of the week 1.2 million people in Scotland, through 200 GP practices, will be covered by a GP testing system usually used to track seasonal flu. It will now be used to test those with relevant symptoms in the areas involved to track how COVID-19 spreads and to try and pick up virus hotspots
  
• The government intends to give daily briefings to the media to get information out to the public
  
• While health is devolved, and while on occasion there might be slight differences in the differences in policy or the timing of policy between nations, she expects there to be a high degree of commonality as it is based on the same scientific advice.
  

Iran death toll reaches 853

Iran's death toll from the new coronavirus has reached 853, with 129 new deaths in the past 24 hours, a health ministry official has tweeted.
A total of 14,991 people have been infected, making it the third most affected country after China and Italy.

BBC delays licence fee charges for over-75s

Plans to charge over-75s BBC licence fees have been postponed until August in light of the coronavirus outbreak.
The BBC and Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport announced the move in a joint statement.
"Changes to the TV licence for people aged over 75 had been due to come into effect on 1 June. But during this time we do not want anyone to be worried about any potential change," it read.
"The BBC's priority over the coming period will be to do everything we can to serve the nation at this uniquely challenging time. As the national broadcaster, the BBC has a vital role to play in supplying information to the public in the weeks and months ahead.
"Recognising the exceptional circumstances, the BBC Board has therefore decided to change the start date of the new policy. Our current plan is to now bring it into place on 1 August. We will of course keep the issue under review as the situation continues to evolve."

---

No plans to ration food in UK, Downing Street says

Downing Street has said that plans to ration food will not be included in the government's proposed emergency legislation.
Health Secretary Matt Hancock will set out further details tomorrow.
The prime minister's official spokesman said that retailers were taking "all necessary steps" to ensure there is continued food supply
Meanwhile, Environment Secretary George Eustice is due to meet the major supermarkets this afternoon

New cases of coronavirus in Wales

Public Health Wales say another 30 people have tested positive for Covid-19 in Wales, bringing the total number to 124.

Famed India temple shuts doors to devotees

The threat of coronavirus has now reached the doorstep of Hindu gods and goddesses.
On Monday, one of India’s richest Hindu temples announced that it was shutting its doors to devotees due to the outbreak.
The famous Siddhivinayak temple, dedicated to the elephant God Ganesha in the city of Mumbai, will remain shut until further orders, reports the Press Trust of India.
Since the outbreak, the temple had been cleaning and sanitising floors and hand railings frequently, they had arranged masks for workers, and had started providing the devotees with hand sanitisers while entering the premises.
The temple board took the decision after an appeal from the government of the Maharashtra state where Mumbai is located.
Visitors to the Hindu shrine of Vaishno Devi in Jammu region are also being checked with thermal scanners before being allowed in.

Macron denies rumours of lockdown in France

Emmanuel Macron has denied claims that a lockdown in France is imminent.
The French President is due to deliver a televised address to the nation this evening, while an announcement on EU border controls is due "in the coming hours".
There's speculation that Mr Macron will use the address to announce measures similar to Italy and Spain, which have both already mandated curfews and home isolation for all residents.
The government denies this, AFP news agency reports.
All non-essential businesses in France - including restaurants, cafes and bars - have already been closed in an attempt to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
As of Sunday the country had more 5,000 cases, and 127 people had died.

Steep rise in infections and deaths in Netherlands

Coronavirus infections in the Netherlands have risen by 278 to 1,413, according to the National Institute for Public Health (RIVM).
The death toll rose by four to 24 from Sunday, it said.

More UK events cancelled

The British Film Institute's LGBT film festival is the latest event to fall victim to the cornoavirus outbreak.
BFI Flare was cancelled on Monday "due to the scale and complexity of running a large international film festival with filmmakers set to travel to it from across the world".
The event was going to take place in London from Wednesday, but the organisers say they are now looking at "ways of sharing some elements of BFI Flare digitally".
The Young Vic theatre in London is also cancelling all remaining performances of its Nora: A Doll's House production, which was meant to run until 21 March.
It came after the theatre's sister venue, the Old Vic, cancelled performances of Endgame, which starred Daniel Radcliffe and Alan Cumming.
And jazz singer Jamie Cullum is cancelling the remainder of his UK tour, with cities including London, Oxford, Liverpool and Cardiff missing out.
"When a big tour is out on the road it takes a lot of moves to bring it suddenly to a halt, particularly with no clear directives from our own government," he says.
"For now, the brakes are on, and we are working on rescheduling the shows for later in the year, when the universe is a better place."

First death in Wales confirmed

The chief medical officer for Wales has confirmed the country's first death from the virus.
Dr Frank Atherton said the patient was 68 and was being treated at the Wrexham Maelor Hospital. They had underlying health conditions.
"I offer my sincere condolences to their family and friends and ask that their request for privacy is respected," Dr Atherton said.
Another 30 people have tested positive for the virus in Wales, bringing the total number of confirmed UK cases to 1,402. More than 40,000 people have been tested.

UK records 171 more cases

The total number of people in the UK to test positive for the virus has risen to 1,543, according to the latest Department of Health figures.
On Sunday, the ministry said there had been 1,372 positive cases.
Some 44,105 people have now been tested, with 42,562 negative results. The UK says it will publish more figures on coronavirus cases later this afternoon.
It's worth noting that many possible cases are not being tested.
The government is not testing people who are self-isolating with mild symptoms.

14:48 -UK PM to update public after Cobra meeting
UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson will outline the next steps in the UK's plan to fight coronavirus later.
The PM will be speaking in the first of a series of daily televised news conferences.
Shortly before, he will chair an emergency Cobra meeting in which ministers, advisers and scientists will discuss the latest on the outbreak - and how best to tackle it.
They are expected to discuss advising over-70s to stay at home for an extended period to protect themselves, as Health Secretary Matt Hancock outlined on Sunday.
Earlier, Transport Secretary Grant Shapps told the BBC that over-70s will be told they can go out for walks under the guidelines.

EU considering ban on travel into Schengen area

The EU is considering banning all non-essential travel into the Schengen borderless travel zone by citizens of non-EU countries, according to a diplomatic note seen by the BBC.
But this ban would not apply to citizens from the handful of EU member states that are outside the Schengen area (such as Croatia, Ireland, Cyprus or the UK - which is treated as a member state during the Brexit transition period.)
Non-EU citizens who had residence rights in the EU would still be allowed entry. Trips deemed “essential” could include those involving healthcare workers, transit passengers or people travelling for important family reasons.
This proposal has not been published or approved by the member states yet, hence why details are quite sparse.

UK deaths in Cheshire and Wiltshire

The locations of two of the 36 people known to have died from Covid-19 in the UK have been released.
One man in his 50s died at Salisbury hospital in Wiltshire on Wednesday.Another man in his 60s died in Crewe, Cheshire, on Sunday. He was being treated at Leighton Hospital.
Both men had been suffering from underlying health conditions, the hospitals said.

US Supreme Court shuts for first time since 1918

The US Supreme Court - which had already closed its doors to the public due to the rapidly-spreading coronavirus - has announced that it will not hear legal arguments this month.
The suspension of trial arguments marks the first time since 1918 that the Supreme Court has taken such a drastic move.
In announcing the decision, the court cited previous closures during the Spanish flu in the early 1900s and the yellow fever outbreak in the 18th Century.
There were several major cases set to be argued before the top US court, including one regarding the battle over President Trump's efforts to shield his tax returns and financial records.
Most Supreme Court justices are elderly, putting them among the population most at risk from Covid-19.
Under the US constitution, the Supreme Court and other federal courts make up one of three branches of the federal government. The others are the legislative branch (Congress) and the executive branch (White House).

French await new restrictions as doctors 'prepare for war'

France is braced for more restrictive measures to fight Covid-19, with the head of the health service, Jérôme Salomon, warning that the situation is “deteriorating very rapidly”.
There are now 5,423 cases in France and the death toll has reached 127. Some 400 people are in intensive care. Cases are doubling every three days, according to Mr Salomon, who pointed out that people have still been going out and about and ignoring advice to stay indoors.
“We can all carry the virus without knowing it,” he told France Inter radio this morning.
The health system is getting ready for a huge rise in cases. One doctor in south-western France tells me it feels as though they are “preparing for a war”.
According to a message circulated among staff at the Centre of Research in Epidemiology and Statistics in Paris and seen by the BBC, current modelling predicts that, if confinement measures are not imposed, 30 million people will become infected in France, with the virus hitting a peak in 50 days.

We've been listening in to the World Health Organization's daily press conference.
Here are some key lines:

• WHO director Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus repeated one simple message to governments - "test, test, test"
  
• The WHO has shipped 1.5m tests to 120 countries, he said, but warned the world had not sufficiently escalated testing measures, calling it the "backbone of stopping the spread" of the pandemic
  
• He advised countries to test every suspected case of coronavirus, and then isolate positive cases. Anyone in contact with patients two days before they showed symptoms should also be tested, he said
  

• In the absence of hospital facilities for mild cases, patients can be cared for at home but patients should not share a bed or a bathroom with uninfected family members, and they should be cared for by just one family member, ideally someone in good health
  
• Although those aged over 60 are most at risk, children have also died from Covid-19
  

WHO guidance to test at odds with UK approach

The World Health Organization earlier issued a strong warning that countries are not testing enough cases of coronavirus.
The group's director said that every single suspected case should be tested.
It comes as UK prime minister Boris Johnson prepares to update the nation on the UK response.
Questions have been raised about the UK government's decision to primarily test patients for coronavirus if they require hospitalisation or are in care homes and residential facilities experiencing outbreaks.
People with mild symptoms who are self-isolating are no longer eligible for testing.
The total number of confirmed cases in the UK is 1,543, with more than 44,000 tested.

---

Italy reports 349 new deaths

As the UK government ramps up measures to tackle the virus, Italy has just released an update on the impact there.
There has been a jump in deaths of 349 in less than 24 hours, taking the total number of fatalities in the country to more than 2,100. It now has nearly 28,000 confirmed cases of the virus, an increase of 3,233 since Sunday.

Germany follows France in closing many public venues

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has announced a series of sweeping self-distancing measures in an attempt to slow the spread of coronavirus in the country.
While in the UK, people are being urged not to go to pubs and restaurants and other places of social contact, they are not being forcibly closed.
Germany, like France and other western European countries, is going about things differently.
Speaking at a news conference, Mrs Merkel said said most shops would be closed along with other public venues such as bars, clubs, theatres and swimming pools.
Restaurant opening hours will be limited, with rules setting out a minimum distance between tables enforced, she said.
On the question of travel, Mrs Merkel has said that people in Germany should not undertake personal trips either in or out of the country.
It is not yet clear whether this amounts to a total ban on travel.
Mrs Merkel said the government would attempt to minimise the economic impact of these measures. She said the G7 - the world's seven largest economies - had agreed to cooperate on this front.

Canada closes borders to non-citizens

Canada has become the latest country to close its borders to foreigners, barring all except its citizens and permanent residents from entering.
Announcing the travel ban on Monday, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said it was "time to take every precaution to keep people safe".
A few exceptions would be made for US citizens, air crew and diplomats, Mr Trudeau said.
“Let me be clear, if you’re abroad, it’s time to come home,” Mr Trudeau said, addressing Canadian citizens.
Starting from Monday, Canada's border agency will have more powers to carry out coronavirus screenings at airports and all other entry points to the country.
Last week Mr Trudeau's wife, Sophie Grégoire Trudeau, tested positive for coronavirus after returning from a trip to London.
Read the full story:Canadian PM Trudeau's wife tests positive for coronavirus
Mr Trudeau is in good health and has no symptoms, according to his office, but will remain in isolation for 14 days.
There are currently approximately more than 300 confirmed cases of the coronavirus in Canada.

---

Round-up: UK coronavirus press conference

The press conference with UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson has ended, and it's fair to say there's quite a lot to take in.
Here are the key points:

• everyone in the UK is now being advised to avoid "non-essential" contact with others and "unnecessary" travel
  
• people are also being asked to work from home "where they possibly can", and avoid pubs, clubs, theatres and social venues
  
• people are now being advised to stay at home for 14 days if they, or anyone in their household, has either a high temperature or a "new and continuous cough"
  
• people in at-risk groups will be asked within days to be "largely shielded from social contact" for 12 weeks
  
• the UK is to scale up coronavirus testing in the coming weeks
  
• from tomorrow, mass gatherings will no longer be provided with emergency workers
  

Mr Johnson said he recognised the government was now "asking a lot of everybody", and the UK had not seen "anything like it in peace time".
But he said "drastic action" was now needed - otherwise cases in the UK could double every five to six days.

---

16th March - continued in next post .....

UK coronavirus deaths rise to 53 - health secretary

The Health Secretary Matt Hancock has been updating the House of Commons - including the latest number of people who have now died after being tested positive for the coronavirus.
He says 53 people have now died - an increase of 18 from yesterday.
He also tells MPs he will introduce a Coronavirus Emergency Bill to ensure essential services keep running.
These are "unprecedented measures" he says and he expresses the hope that the government will not have to use many of them.

Coronavirus vaccine trial gives dose to first volunteer

A human trial of a vaccine against coronavirus in the US has given a dose to its first participant.
This is the first of a group of 45 healthy volunteers to be given the jab, at the Kaiser Permanente research facility, in Seattle.
Each volunteer will receive an injection over a six-week time frame.
"The first participant received the investigational vaccine today," the US National Institutes of Health (NIH) said in a statement on Monday.
Experts say it will still take many months to know if this vaccine, or others also in research, will work.
Read the full story here: US volunteers to test first vaccine
Meanwhile in Europe, several hospitals in Italy, Spain and France are to test the experimental anti-viral drug Remdesivir on hundreds of patients sick with Covid-19.
The drug, made by California-based Gilead, has already been tested on patients in China’s Hubei province, where the virus originated.
These are clinical trials: Remdesivir has been tested previously on animals, but has not yet been approved by health regulators.

Important the UK keeps moving - health secretary

Asked what people should do if their jobs do not allow them to work from home, Health Secretary Matt Hancock gives this advice:
"If you are healthy and not being asked to isolate because someone in your household has symptoms then of course you should still go to work.
"It is important that this country keeps moving as much as we possibly can, within the limits of the advice we have been given."
He also tells MPs that measures on shielding will be for those who have "significant health conditions”.They will be contacted by the NHS, he says.
But he adds the measures were not aimed at the "generality of over 70s who are healthy".
He says the guidance for those over 70 is the same as for people of working age, except that the government strongly advises social distancing measures.

Idris Elba tests positive for coronavirus

Actor Idris Elba has announced he has tested positive for the coronavirus.
The star of TV series The Wire and Luther tweeted: "I feel ok, I have no symptoms so far but have been isolated since I found out about my possible exposure to the virus.
"Stay home people and be pragmatic. I will keep you updated on how I’m doing. I feel OK. No panic."

UK virus death toll reaches 55

The UK health department has released the latest coronavirus numbers for the country.
As of 09:00 GMT on 16 March, 44,105 people have been tested for the virus.
Of that number 1,543 were positive.
The department also says 55 people who tested positive for coronavirus have now died. Earlier this evening Health Secretary Matt Hancock told the House of Commons the number of people to have died with the virus in England had risen to 53. There has been one death in Wales and one in Scotland.

France to be locked down from Tuesday

France will go into enforced lockdown from Tuesday midday, French President Emmanuel Macron has said in a national address from the Elysee Palace.
All residents have been ordered to stay at home, and can only leave for essential reasons.
Movements will be very severely limited, he said,
"We are at war," the president said numerous times.

More details on France's tough measures

President Macron is announcing a raft of measures as he puts France on a war-footing to fight the virus.
Here are the key details:

• All non-essential movement to be banned from Tuesday midday for 15 days; residents must stay at home
  
• Punishments for those flouting the regulations
  
• Army to be used to help transport the sick to hospital
  
• Military hospital to be used in Alsace, near German border
  
• Borders to be closed in agreement with other European Union countries
  
• Second round of local elections postponed
  
• No business, regardless of size, will be allowed to fail
  

US outbreak could continue until August - Trump

We're watching US President Donald Trump's press conference in the White House. Here are some key points:

• The outbreak in the US is expected to last until "July or August, perhaps longer", Mr Trump says
  
• US residents are advised to avoid bars, restaurants and public spaces, as well as unnecessary travel
  
• People should avoid gathering in groups of more than 10
  
• But Mr Trump said there were no current plans for a nationwide quarantine - suggesting that people in the US are already self-isolating
  
• White House coronavirus response coordinator Dr Deborah Birx issued an appeal directly to millennials, asking them to limit social contact. "They are the core people that will stop this virus. We really want people to be separated," she said.
  
• Dr Birx also warned against socialising even if people feel well. "We know that there is a large group of infected people who are asymptomatic, who continue to spread the virus," she said
  

European Union to shut borders - Macron

In his press conference just now, the French president announced that the European Union would be closing its external borders on Tuesday.
We knew this drastic measure was set to be discussed by the EU's 27 leaders but were not expecting Mr Macron to announce it this evening.
It remains unclear if all states have formally agreed to it.
Earlier, the EU Commission chief Ursula Von der Leyen said she was proposing temporary restriction on "non-essential travel to the EU" for an initial period of 30 days.
She said EU citizens and long-term residents and their family members would be exempt, along with workers who commute across borders, those delivering goods and those involved in the fight against the coronavirus.
The UK government would not be obliged to apply the ban, and UK citizens would not be affected by it, says the BBC's Brussels correspondent Adam Fleming.
The UK has left the EU but is currently in a transition period.
Several EU states including Germany and Spain have already announced border closures with EU neighbours.

US recession could be on horizon - Trump

President Trump has said the US could be heading for a recession due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Reporters at the White House press conference are deliberately putting empty seats between them, in a social distancing effort.
The US government has faced strong criticism for its slow pace of testing. Mr Trump said that before instituting mass testing, South Korea had experienced "tremendous problems and great numbers of death".
"This is something that is an invisible enemy," he said, adding that there was now a cross-party effort to fight it.
"My focus is on getting rid of this problem. This virus problem. After that everything else is going to fall into place."
"We're gonna back the airlines 100 percent. It's not their fault its nobody's fault," he continued, but added: "Unless you go to the regional source."

Switzerland declares emergency

Our reporter Imogen Foulkes has this from Geneva:
People here expected the state of emergency - with cases of the virus rising fast, many thought the government should have declared it on Friday, when it announced that schools would close.
But now that it has happened, Switzerland, one of the richest countries in the world, is facing at least a month with everything but the bare essentials closed. There will be no bars, no cafes, no restaurants, no sports, no nightclubs, no cinemas, no museums.
This evening in Bern people are heading to the bars for a last beer. Student Nadine is disappointed that her upcoming birthday party won’t happen, but says complaining feels a bit like a "first world problem".
Actually it’s quite fascinating," she says, "we are at a pivotal moment in history". Historic it certainly is: to support hospitals the Swiss government today mobilised the army, the first time that has happened since the start of World War Two.

Russia bans entry to foreigners until May

Russia has temporarily banned all foreigners from entering the country, following other nations worldwide in restricting travel over the coronavirus pandemic.
The ban will come into effect on 18 March and will remain in place until 1 May, the government said on Monday.
Exceptions will be made for diplomats and permanent residents. Some 93 cases of the virus have been reported so far in Russia.
Russia has been accused of spreading disinformation about the new coronavirus outbreak on social media. It has flatly denied those allegations.
It has also been slow compared to other countries in starting testing. This has led to speculation that the real number of cases is much higher than reported.
Russia's government says up to 100,000 testing kits are being produced daily to start testing in large numbers.

'Hiking is not vital at this time of war'

Countries in the Western Balkans and the former Yugoslavia have closed schools, shops and borders to contain the coronavirus outbreak.
In Slovenia’s capital, Ljubljana, the Monday afternoon streets were quieter than a standard Sunday morning. Public transport was not running, though adverts on the video screens next to the deserted bus stops reminded the non-existent passengers to practise good hygiene.
Further down the Balkan peninsula, borders have closed.
Croatia imposes a 14-day self-isolation period for many arrivals; Serbia has simply sealed its borders to almost everyone.
As Serbia is not an EU member, it is counting on help from elsewhere. President Aleksandar Vucic says China is suppling masks, ventilators and doctors.
Albania imposed a strict lockdown over the weekend and imposed a 6pm curfew from today. Even a daytime stroll in the park has been ruled out by Prime Minister Edi Rama.
“Hiking is not vital at this time of war,” he said on his Facebook page.

Labour: We will stand with all communities during crisis

Jeremy Corbyn - leader of the UK's Labour Party - has called on Prime Minister Boris Johnson to extend full sick pay and lost earnings protection to all workers required to self-isolate.
He is also urging the government to reduce the waiting time for new universal credit claimants, ban eviction of tenants affected by the outbreak and raise statutory sick pay in line with other European countries.
"Jeremy Corbyn will emphasise that Labour stands with all communities during this crisis, and that the opposition will hold the government to account to ensure no-one is left behind," a party spokesman said.
Earlier today, Mr Johnson advised everyone in the UK to avoid "non-essential" travel and contact with others to fight the spread of Covid-19.
Read all the details here.

21:14 -

A round-up of a dramatic few hours

It's been a whirlwind few hours with dramatic announcements from both sides of the Atlantic and beyond.
Here's what you need to know:
In the UK:

• Everyone should avoid socialising and unecessary travel, and work from home where possible, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said
  

• If one person in any household develops a cough or fever, everyone living there should stay home for 14 days
  
• By next weekend, those with the most serious health conditions must be "largely shielded from social contact for around 12 weeks"
  
• The UK is now "three weeks" behind Italy - the worst-hit country in Europe. In London, the virus is spreading more rapidly than elsewhere, the PM said.
  

In other European countries:

• French President Emmanuel Macron ordered a nationwide lockdown, starting on Tuesday at midday and lasting for at least two weeks. Anyone breaking the quarantine could be punished
  
• The European Union will close its borders for 30 days from tomorrow to external visitors from non-EU countries, Mr Macron said, but travel with Switzerland and the UK will be preserved
  
• Germany announced stringent new measures that will close most shops and venues, and closed borders with several neighbours
  
• Switzerland declared a national emergency, closing public venues and borders
  

In the US:

• President Trump said that people should avoid meeting in groups of more than 10, but that a nationwide quarantine is not yet planned
  
• The outbreak will last "until July or August, or perhaps longer", the president said
  
• Millenials in particular are strongly encouraged to stop socialising and stay at home
  

In the markets:

• Global stocks plunged despite central banks taking action to ease the impact of the pandemic, including a Federal Reserve rate cut in the US
  

• The Dow Jones closed 12.9% down, the biggest fall in a day since 1987
  
• President Trump said the economy "may be" heading for a recession
  
• London's FTSE 100 ended 4% lower and other European markets saw similar fall
  

.

Foreign tourists have 72 hours to leave Philippines

Foreign tourists intending to leave the Philippines from international airports in the country’s main Luzon region have been given 72 hours to do so, starting from 16:00 GMT today.
Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte earlier announced that Luzon, which has an estimated population of more than 50 million people and includes the capital city, Metro Manila, is to be placed under strict “enhanced community quarantine” until 12 April.
The British embassy in Manila says “a small number” of British nationals are affected. On Sunday, Britons were advised against all but essential travel to the Philippines.
The government says the country currently has a total of 142 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 12 deaths.
But Dr Manuel Dayrit, the country’s health secretary during the SARS outbreak of 2003, believes the number is relatively low compared with other countries because not enough preemptive testing has been taking place.
“We are actually limited by the fact we are not doing any testing for COVID-19 in the community,” Dr Dayrit told BBC News.
“We are only testing the patients that show up in the hospitals usually with pneumonia, so we can only speculate how extensive community spread is.”

Measures could 'devastate' UK creative industries

Earlier this evening the UK government announced a number of new measures including advising people to avoid gatherings and crowded places. Here is a taste of how theatres in the UK have reacted:

• The National Theatre in London is cancelling all performances until further notice.
  
• Leeds Playhouse has cancelled tonight's performances of Be The Example, Be The Voice and Missing People and said it would be seeking advice on future performances
  
• The Ambassador Theatre Group UK is suspending shows at all its venues with immediate effect - this includes the Edinburgh Playhouse, the Savoy Theatre in London, the Manchester Opera House and the Theatre Royal Brighton
  

Head of the Creative Industries Federation and Creative England Caroline Norbury says the measures have the potential to "devastate" the UK's theatres, museums, cinemas and venues as well as those who work in the industry.
She says that as the social-distancing measures are "only advisory rather than an outright ban", creative organisations may be unable to claim compensation for the losses they could experience.
"It is vital that government puts in place support to ensure that our world-leading creative sector is able to survive Covid-19," she added.

Foodbank closes 'due to the outbreak'

Food banks in the UK say they are experiencing a shortage of basic items because shoppers are stockpiling as fears grow over the spread of coronavirus.
Organisers of one in Islington, north London, announced they had decided to close due to dwindling food supplies and a desire to protect the "health and safety of our volunteers and clients".
Other food banks across the UK have said some items including pasta and rice are hard to get.
It comes after UK supermarkets urged shoppers not to buy more than they need amid concern over coronavirus-linked stockpiling.

British doctor overseas returns to support NHS

Some British doctors working overseas are returning to the UK to help treat patients in the coronavirus outbreak, one doctor has told BBC News.
Red Elmahdi, who completed her medical training in the UK before specialising in epidemiology research, has flown back from the lab where she was working in Denmark.
"There’s little point my sitting around in lockdown doing research from home in Denmark when I’m seeing the mounting strain on the NHS," she explains.
However Dr Elmahdi says there has been no central co-ordination and she is relying on her locum agency to be placed in hospital.

What's the testing situation in the US?

The World Health Organization warned on Monday that testing is essential to stopping the pandemic. Questions have been raised in the US about the government's approach to testing and how widely available test kits are. So what's the situation there? It's hard to tell - and even officials have struggled to say how many individuals have been tested.
According to the latest figures, the Center for Disease Control and Prevention and public health labs have tested over 25,100 specimens for Coronavirus. But that number doesn't give a full picture of how many people were tested - because many people provide more than one specimen for testing, and many private health laboratories are also conducting tests.
One project by The Atlantic estimates that 41,550 people in the US have been tested. But that's still fewer than many other countries with smaller populations - including South Korea, which has tested 240,000, and the UK, which has tested 44,100.
The government has come under heavy criticism - from both Democratic and Republican lawmakers - over the lack of tests. President Trump has now promised that five million tests will be available within a month - but also warned: "We don't want everyone running out and taking [the test] - only if you have certain symptoms."
Read more about the US and coronavirus testing here.

France to mobilise 100,000 police to enforce lockdown

France will deploy 100,000 police officers to ensure that people abide by restrictions on movement to avoid the spread of coronavirus, its interior minister has said.
Christophe Castaner said people who venture outside their homes will have to justify their reason for doing so.
Speaking at a news conference, he said people may be fined if they break the rules.
Exceptions will be made in some circumstances, including for travel between home and work, Mr Castaner said.
"Too many people still disregard the health instructions given," Mr Castaner said.
His announcement comes after French President Emmanuel Macron unveiled a series of drastic new measures designed to stem the spread of coronavirus.
From Tuesday, people should stay at home unless they are buying groceries, travelling to work, exercising or seeking medical care, Mr Macron said.

More on England's social distancing advice

Public Health England has published more details about the social distancing recommendations announced
earlier by Prime Minister Boris Johnson.
It says those aged over 70 and pregnant women are among those who should "stringently" follow the advice on avoiding non-essential use of public transport, working from home and not having friends and family to visit.
And it warns that anyone under 70 with a range of underlying health conditions is also at increased risk of suffering "severe" illness. The conditions it lists include:

• Chronic respiratory diseases, such as asthma and bronchitis
  
• Heart disease
  
• Kidney disease
  
• Hepatitis
  
• Chronic neurological diseases, including Parkinson's and Motor Neurone disease
  
• Those with a weakened immune system as a result of treatment for HIV and cancer
  
• People with severe chest conditions such as cystic fibrosis
  

It also gives some tips to people on how to look after their mental health in the tough weeks and months ahead. It says people shouldn't fear going for a walk outdoors if they stay more than 2 metres from others.
Other advice includes:

• Spending time doing favourite hobbies, such as reading or cooking
  
• Eating healthily, exercising regularly and avoiding smoking, alcohol and drugs
  
• Keeping windows open to let in fresh air and getting some natural sunlight
  

Dire prediction sees shift in UK strategy

The UK's plan has shifted because the scientific modelling showed we were on course for a "catastrophic epidemic".
A strategy of just slowing the spread of the virus, but not trying to stop it, would have overwhelmed intensive care units.
The modelling by Imperial College London has been heavily informed by the experience in Italy and is influencing decisions at the heart of government.
Their calculations predicted 260,000 deaths in the UK.
Instead the plan is to drive down the number of cases to very low levels, which the models predict will limit deaths from coronavirus to the thousands or tens of thousands.
However, this approach comes with a major problem - there is no exit strategy.
Without the immunity that would build up if people were infected, then cases would soar as soon as measures are lifted.
The report said these could need to be in place until a vaccine is available, which could take up to 18 months.
We are in this for the long haul.

Labour's Corbyn in talks with the PM in Downing Street

• Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the UK's Labour Party, has this evening been holding talks with Prime Minister Boris Johnson in Downing Street.
  Speaking afterwards to the BBC, he said he supported many of the measures announced earlier but was critical of the government’s communication strategy and lack of support for citizens on low incomes.
  "If this virus affects us all, as it does, we all have to be treated fairly and properly in this," he said.
  He said he had told the PM that testing for the virus, particularly among NHS workers was "inadequate" and he was worried about the lack of ventilators and trained staff.
  Mr Corbyn, who stands down next month, also said he would not be self-isolating even though he’s over 70.
  

Summary for 17th March

- The EU is planning to ban all non-essential travel in the Schengen free-travel zone
- French residents face a fine if they are outside without good reason
- The European Commission says more than 120bn euros ($13bn) have been pledged to economies within the bloc
- New financial measures aimed at helping the economy through the outbreak are set to be announced by the UK government
- China has reacted angrily to a tweet from President Trump that described the coronavirus as "Chinese"

---

NZ stimulus: 'Cashflow and confidence'

New Zealand launches a massive stimulus package to deal with the expected impact the coronavirus will have on the country.
It’s a sum of 12.1bn New Zealand dollars (£6bn, $7.3bn), a staggering 4% of the country’s GDP.
The largest chunk will be used to help the economy, helping companies cushion their losses, or those unable to work because they are in quarantine.
Some NZ$500 million are to boost the health services to improve testing and contact tracing.
Finance Minister Grant Robertson said the package was about “cashflow and confidence”.
“We will fight this virus. We will cushion the blow for business and workers. We have been and we will be swift, decisive and compassionate.”
New Zealand currently has eight confirmed coronavirus cases.

China numbers slightly up

New infections within China have been extremely low the past few days. On Monday, there's been a slight uptick with 21 new cases, up from 16 the previous day.
Only one of those cases though was a domestic transmission, the other 20 are all imported, according to Chinese authorities.
The country also reported 13 deaths on Monday, raising its toll to 3,226.
China is where the coronavirus pandemic started and the country has recorded more than 80,000 total cases, but fewer than 10,000 people remain infected.

South Korea tightens borders

South Korea is to tighten border checks on all international arrivals from Thursday. The checks involve a temperature check, the confirmation of contact details during their stay in the country and the use of a phone application to record any symptoms for 14 days.
For the third day in a row the number of newly reported coronavirus infections in the country was below 100. Only 84 new infections were confirmed in the last 24 hours bringing the total number of cases to 8,320. The death toll stands at 81.
Health officials are urging against complacency after two recent clusters of infection in the highly populated areas of Seoul, Incheon and Gyeonggi Province.
40 people from a Church in Seongnam south of Seoul were diagnosed with the virus earlier this week. It’s been revealed that the group passed around a saltwater spray bottle in the hope of protecting themselves from coronavirus, which they inserted in their mouths without disinfecting the nozzle.
The pastor, identified only as Kim, told the Yonhap news agency that he was deeply sorry about what happened.

Trump promises economic support

So far the US has confirmed more then 4,600 infections and the numbers are expected to rise. With the Dow Jones clocking record losses, US President Donald Trump is trying his best to shore up confidence. In a tweet, he's announced the government will support those industries affected by the sharp economic slowdown.
He's not exactly using the correct term for the virus though, which has officially been named SARS-CoV-2. It's commonly referred to as coronavirus (although that is actually a larger group of viruses).
Calling it the "Chinese virus" or "Wuhan virus", has previously angered China.

Philippines shuts down stock market

It's not just European countries enforcing stricter measures in response to the coronavirus pandemic.
Malaysia and the Philippines have announced unprecedented lockdowns.
Under new rules in place from Wednesday, Malaysian citizens will be banned from travelling abroad while foreigners will not be permitted to enter the country.
Schools, shops and places of worship will be closed and large gatherings prohibited.
In the Philippines, President Rodrigo Duterte ordered most of the 55 million people on the main island of Luzon to stay at home for the next month.
The Philippines is also the first country to shut down its stock market, suspending trade on Tuesday.

Yo-Yo Ma serenades healthcare workers

Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma has taken to posting performances recorded from his home, which he's calling Songs of Comfort. A few days ago he played Dvořák's beautiful "Going Home" , telling people to"stay safe".
His latest post is dedicated to healthcare workers.

Elderly Australians given shopping priority

Amid continued panic-buying, Australia's largest supermarket chains have set aside their first trading hour for elderly people and those with disabilities.
Coles and Woolworths began the policy on Tuesday, designed to allow priority access to sought-after goods such as toilet paper and tinned food.
But some people still left disappointed.
Jan Owen tweeted: "Went to woolworths early for my 86yr old father-in-law for the senior hour but the shelves are all empty."

India shuts down Taj Mahal amid coronavirus fears

India's iconic monument Taj Mahal has shut down to halt the spread of the coronavirus, officials say.
The culture ministry said tens of thousands visit the "monument of love" every day and it was "imperative to shut it down".
The Taj Mahal is one of the world's leading tourist attractions, and draws as many as 70,000 people every day.
India has 114 cases of Covid-19 and two related deaths. It has tested 6,000 people so far for the infection.

Brazil prison run

Hundreds of prisoners broke out of prison in Brazil on Monday, the day before new measures were to kick in which would have cut their day-release privileges.
According to Reuters, local media report that more than 1,000 inmates fled from four different prisons ahead of lockdown.

Virus-hit Australian minister heads home

Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton tested positive last Friday.
Peter Dutton tweets:  "I've been discharged from hospital and am at home self-isolating with my dog Ralph. Thank you for all the kind messages, I'm feeling much better."

Sharp rise in South East Asia

The sudden rise in coronavirus infections in several South-east Asian countries has dimmed hopes that warmer weather might slow the spread in this region.
Malaysia recorded the sharpest rise on Monday, 190 new infections, bringing the total to 428. The new government has imposed the strictest lockdown in the region, banning Malaysians from travelling overseas and foreign visitor entry, closing all schools, universities, places of worship and most businesses for two weeks.
Thailand saw sharp rises over the weekend to a total of 147 cases.
In both Malaysia and Thailand new infection spikes are being linked to specific mass gatherings of people.

Panic buying returns to Singapore

Saira Asher
BBC News, Singapore
Here in Singapore there's been a second wave of panic buying overnight. The photos of empty shelves and long queues - last seen in February - are back.
It looks to have been sparked by Malaysia's new restrictions banning its citizens from travelling overseas from 18 March until 31 March.
Singapore relies on Malaysia for some key essential goods like eggs and vegetables, as well as for an army of delivery drivers and other workers who cross the border every day.
But the government, perhaps anticipating the new spurt of panic buying, has moved quickly to reassure people.
A WhatsApp message from the government late last night said Singapore was not facing any immediate shortages of food or essentials. And that work had been done in the last two months to diversify the country's sources of produce and other items.

'Fairly certain' virus in North Korea

The top US military commander in South Korea has said he is "fairly certain" there are cases of the virus in North Korea, despite Pyongyang's claim of having zero cases.
"They claim they have no Covid-19 cases. It's a closed off nation so we can't say emphatically they have cases, but we're fairly certain they do," he said, according to a report by specialist news site NK News.
"What I do know is that their armed forces had been fundamentally in a lockdown for about 30 days and only recently have they started routine training again."
North Korea is known to have one of the world's poorest health care systems - and there are fears it would come under severe strain if there was an outbreak.

Travel restrictions in Asia and Australia

Here's a quick sum up of some of the travel restrictions in force, or going into effect in the next few days, across the region:

• Hong Kong - All people arriving from abroad will be quarantined for 14 days starting Thursday
  
• Australia - All travellers will have to self-isolate for 14 days. Foreign nationals who have been to China, Iran, Korea and Italy not allowed in
  
• South Korea - Travellers from China's Hubei province not allowed in. International arrivals from certain countries will need to submit papers on their health condition
  
• Malaysia - All foreign visitors have been banned, all Malaysians will not be allowed to travel overseas starting 18 March until 31 March. All returning Malaysians will have to self quarantine for 14 days
  

Find out more about these travel restrictions, here.

UK to announce more financial measures

The UK is set to announce more financial measures to help the economy, as the latest restrictions leave firms across the country fearing for their future.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson urged people to stay away from pubs and restaurants, and to avoid unnecessary social contact.
Read more on what the UK government might do here.

UK changes course amid death toll fears

James Gallagher
Change course or a quarter of a million people will die in a "catastrophic epidemic" of coronavirus - warnings do not come much starker than that.
The message came from researchers modelling how the disease will spread, how the NHS would be overwhelmed and how many would die.
The science has shifted dramatically and as a result we are now facing the most profound changes to our daily lives in peacetime.
This realisation has happened only in the past few days.
However, it is long after other scientists and the World Health Organization had warned of the risks of not going all-out to stop the virus.
Read more from James here.

'Life put on hold'

The UK's papers on Tuesday morning focus on the new government guidance announced to curb the spread of the coronavirus.
Here's an overview over the day's front pages and headlines.

India confirms third death from coronavirus

A 64-year-old man in the western state of Maharashtra is the third person in India to die from the coronavirus.
Maharashtra has reported the highest number of cases in the country - 39 - but this is the first virus-related death in the state.
The Indian government says 125 Indians have tested positive for the virus so far.
But public health experts are worried that India is not testing widely enough to reduce the risk of the virus spreading locally.
It has conducted some 6,000 tests until now based on people's travel history and who they have interacted with.
India's first fatality from the disease was confirmed on 12 March - a 76-year-old man from the southern state of Karnataka died after returning from a month-long visit to Saudi Arabia.
The second death -of a 68-year-old woman - was reported the following day in the national capital, Delhi.

A view around the globe

While currently the rates are increasing fastest in Europe, China remains the country with the highest number of overall infections. Here's an overview of the global figures:

• China: 81,051 cases, 3,230 dead, 68,770 recovered
  
• Italy: 27,980 cases, 2,158 dead, 2,749 recovered
  
• Iran: 14,991 cases, 853 dead, 4,996 recovered
  
• Spain: 9,942 cases, 342 dead, 530 recovered
  
• South Korea: 8,320 cases, 75 dead, 1,137 recovered
  
• Germany: 7,272 cases, 17 dead, 67 recovered
  
• France: 6,650 cases, 148 dead, 12 recovered
  
• US: 4,661 cases, 85 dead, 17 recovered
  
• Switzerland: 2,330 cases, 19 dead, 4 recovered
  
• UK: 1,553 cases, 56 dead, 53 recovered
  

'Elderly hour' in Australian supermarket

Here's footage from an Australian supermarket that is opening an hour early for elderly customers - an idea already taken up across the world.

Vietnam to halt issue of all visas

Vietnam will stop issuing visas to foreign nationals in its effort to curb the spread of the coronavirus, state media has reported.
Vietnam has confirmed 61 infections, but no deaths.

Monaco leader tests positive

Serge Telle, Minister of State of Monaco has also tested positive for the new coronavirus.
According to a government statement, he is not very symptomatic and appears to be in good health.
Mr Telle's test was confirmed on Monday, and he is being quarantined at home conducting his work via video conference.
He is the 9th person in the small city state to test positive.

Indian doctor who treated Covid-19 patient tests positive

A 60-year-old doctor in the southern state of Karnataka has tested positive after treating a man who died last week from the coronavirus.
This is the fourth new case to be reported in India on Tuesday. But it's unclear if they are all included in the official count, which now stands at 126.
The doctor in Karnataka has since been admitted to an isolated hospital, officials say.
Authorities have also imposed a lockdown in the town - Kalburgi - allowing only one person in each household to step out to buy groceries or any other essentials.
The patient who died was a 76-year-old man who had returned from Saudi Arabia. He was the first Indian to die from the virus.

Malaysia to continue food supply to Singapore

The flow of goods and cargo between Singapore and Malaysia - including food supplies - will continue, Singapore's Prime Minister has assured.
It comes after Malaysia banned its citizens from leaving the country - the ban triggered some panic-buying in Singapore, which gets much of its food supply from neighbouring Malaysia.
Singapore Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong said on Facebookthat he had spoken to his Malaysian counterpart, who assured him "that the flow of goods, including food supplies, will continue".

UK pubs demand clarity over closures

In the UK, a group representing the pub industry has warned that thousands of pubs and jobs could go if the government does not take "immediate and decisive" action.
On Monday, PM Boris Johnson advised people to stay away from pubs, clubs and theatres, but did not order businesses to close.
The British Beer and Pub Association says this is the worst possible compromise, as it leaves the industry facing an "existential crisis" as they will not be entitled to insurance payouts.
They say they want a "meaningful support package" - tax breaks, to keep them afloat.
The government is set to announce more financial measures to help the economy later today.

Working from home: Your rights

Andreas Illmer - Singapore
Many of us working on this BBC live page are doing so from home. I for instance am typing this from my apartment in Singapore, while other colleagues are contributing from their flats in London.
If you too are already working from home or expect that you will be soon, here's an overview of how it works and what your rights are.

'Stronger' advice for UK's vulnerable to come

England's deputy chief medical officer, Professor Jonathan Van-Tam, has been speaking about the measures announced by PM Boris Johnson last night.
On stay-at-home advice,he said new "strong advice" for the UK's "extremely vulnerable" will be coming in the next week or so. The over-70s, and those vulnerable irrespective of their age, would be asked to remain in their homes and ask friends or neighbours to do food shopping for them.
On testing, he said there were "significant moves afoot" to increase it, but it would be focused on where it would benefit the country "as a whole".
On the NHS, he said there was a "stockpile" of safety equipment for NHS staff who will be prioritised for testing so they are not needlessly kept away from frontline work.
On self-isolation, he said the 12-week rule applies to all those who would be given the flu jab, other than children.

Confusion on the streets of Luzon

There was confusion in the Philippines after presidential spokesperson Salvador Panelo announced the “immediate” implementation of "enhanced community quarantine" on the whole island of Luzon on Monday afternoon.
It happened hours before President Rodrigo Duterte was set to address the nation. Police personnel and Swat teams immediately barred people from entering Quezon City, northeast of the Philippine capital Manila.
Workers residing in Metro Manila but working in the outskirts of the mega city tried to show their ID to police to gain entry but still waited for half an hour before they were allowed to enter.

---

8:37

15 Polish ministers now in quarantine

Fifteen Polish government ministers are in quarantine following the announcement that the 29-year-old environment minister Michal Wos tested positive for coronavirus, the prime minister’s chief of staff, Michal Dworczyk, has said.
Mr Wos announced he tested positive on Monday evening. He said he was feeling well. The last meeting of the government took place on March 10.
According to Dworczyk, nine of 24 ministers were absent from that meeting, including prime minister Mateusz Morawiecki and health minister Lukasz Szumowski. The remaining ministers were tested on Monday evening and are in quarantine awaiting the results which should be known later today.
On Monday evening, Mr Szumowski said a peak in Covid-19 cases in Poland may occur in 2-3 weeks’ time. There have been 177 confirmed cases with four deaths.

London Mayor suspects school advice will change

London's mayor, Sadiq Khan, has been speaking about the measures introduced across the UK on Monday.
Speaking to Good Morning Britain, he said while the current advice was that there was little gain in closing schools, he said he thought that may change fairly soon.
"What we do know is some teachers may be pregnant, others may have underlying health issues, a child may have a persistent cough or temperature which means mum, dad, carer decides to withdraw the child.
"I wouldn't be surprised if, over the course of the two weeks before Easter, government advice changes."

London transport could be scaled back - Mayor

UK health officials said on Monday that coronavirus is spreading more rapidly in London than in other parts of the UK.
And today, Sadiq Khan, the Mayor of London, will join the government's emergency Cobra meeting for the first time.
He's been on TV this morning, talking about school closures ( see our earlier post), and he has also been discussing the logistics of life in the capital.
The city's transport network could be massively scaled back in the coming weeks, he told Good Morning Britain.
"What we may do over the course of the next few days is go to a Saturday or Sunday service during the week and then maybe even scale that down even more over the course of the next few days and weeks," he said.
But he added that a "basic public transport service" is needed for frontline workers including medics, firefighters and police officers.

VW to shut down some production plants temporarily

The Chief Executive of the Volkswagen Group has confirmed that the company plans to shut down production temporarily at a number of its European plants before the end of the week.
Herbert Diess said the move had been prompted by problems obtaining parts and a fall in sales due to the coronavirus epidemic.
Among those closing are several Seat facilities in Spain, a factory in Portugal, and a major facility near the Slovak capital Bratislava. The company will also begin preparations to shut down other factories in Germany and elsewhere in Europe over the next two weeks. Mr Diess did not say whether this would include the group's flagship plant in its home town of Wolfsburg.
However, he added, production in China had resumed with the exception of two factories. On Monday, two other major car groups, PSA and Fiat Chrysler, also announced extensive short-term factory closures.

Worshippers try to force their way into Iran shrine

Some Iranians have tried to force their way into the Shrine of Fatima in Qom after it was temporarily closed due to the coronavirus outbreak.
Outspoken MP Ali Motahhori called for their prosecution, stressing that apart from the health threat, they had defamed Islam.
Experts expressed concern at the start of the outbreak about the decision not to close the Shia Muslim shrine, which is visited by millions of pilgrims every year.The shrine's custodian, Ayatollah Mohammed Saeedi, said at the time that it should be kept open as a "house for cure" and that "people should be encouraged to come".
Iran’s death toll has reached 853 and a total of 14,991 people have been confirmed infected, making it the third most affected country after China and Italy.

9:40

A quick glance at today's headlines

If you're just tuning into our coverage now, welcome. Here are the top things you need to know:

• The EU is planning to ban all non-essential travel through the Schengen free-travel zone
  
• In France, people are getting used to the toughest measures in Europe - they'll be hit with a fine if they are outside without good reason
  
• The European Commission says more than 120bn euros ($130bn) have been pledged to economies within the bloc
  
• In the UK, new financial measures aimed at helping the economy through the outbreak are set to be announced by the government
  
• In the US, Amazon has announced that it's recruiting an additional 100,000 warehouse and delivery
  
• Car maker VW says the company plans to shut down a number of its European plants before the end of the week
  

• And China has reacted angrily to a tweet from President Trump that described the coronavirus as "Chinese"
  

Sweden closes high schools and universities

Sweden’s government has advised all high schools (for students aged over 16) and universities to close from Wednesday, with teachers urged to arrange online lessons so that students can keep up with their work.
Schools for younger children have not yet been asked to shut, but the Prime Minister Stefan Löfven has told a press conference he will monitor the situation.
Bus passengers in Stockholm have been advised by the city’s transport operator to get on board using side doors, rather than at the front, to reduce contact between the public and drivers.
New guidelines from Sweden’s Public Health Agency on Monday urged workers in the Swedish capital to stay at home and work remotely if they can, with evidence that the virus is spreading more rapidly in Stockholm than elsewhere in the country.
Sweden has not taken the decision to close pubs, cafes or restaurants.

Virus 'will make us stronger,' says Belgian king

In an unusual step, Belgium's King Philippe made a televised address to the country on Monday night, calling on all Belgians to follow government advice to help contain the spread of coronavirus.
“Our country is facing an unprecedented health crisis on a global scale,” the King said. “Our attitude in this is essential, and can save lives.”
He also thanked doctors and nurses for their work on those affected.
“The current situation reminds us of our vulnerability, but at the same time it brings out our strength,” said King Philip, adding that the outbreak “will make us stronger.”
Over 1,000 cases of coronavirus have been confirmed in Belgium. Schools and universities have been closed around the country, and from Saturday restaurants and bars will only be allowed to open for takeaway services.

Big Brother cast to be told about virus live on TV

It's been more than a month since the majority of Germany's Big Brother contestants entered the house.
In early February the first cases of coronavirus outside of Wuhan were just being reported.
Now Germany has close to 7,000 confirmed infections, with 14 deaths - but the housemates have no idea a global pandemic has been declared.
They'll finally be informed on Tuesday night in a live TV special, after "consultation with relatives".
It comes after criticism on social media that broadcaster SAT.1 hadn't told the 14 men and women locked inside the house in Cologne about what was going on outside.
On top of that, four new residents who joined the show on 9 March were told not to talk about coronavirus.

Why are UK streets not being disinfected?

Cleaning of offices and public transport has been stepped up but as yet the government is not advising disinfecting streets.
It is unclear how much of a difference this would make in stopping the spread of the virus. A far more important measure is making sure you wash your hands often.

Pakistan Super League cancelled

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has cancelled the semi-finals and final of the hugely popular Pakistan Super League Five, saying the matches will be rescheduled later.
The two semi-finals were to be played in Lahore today while the final was scheduled for tomorrow.
On Friday the PCB decided to ban spectators from stadiums where the matches were being played, citing the need for social distancing. PCB also shortened the schedule, replacing playoff matches with semifinals and bringing up dates of semi-finals and the final.
It also allowed the foreign players to pull out of the matches or leave the country if they so wished. At least 14 foreign players had then decided to quit, rubbing the shine off of the league.

Uber suspends pooled rides in North America

Uber has suspended shared rides in the US and Canada to limit the spread of the coronavirus.
The pooled option allows users to save money by travelling with other passengers.
Uber users seeking solo rides in North America will also now see a message asking them to consider if the journey is essential and to “travel only when necessary.”
At least 83 people have died of the virus in the US.

Anger as London's West End shuts down

Last night, UK Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the public to avoid theatres as part of government plans to slow the spread of coronavirus.
But as the West End of London closed its doors, the theatre industry reacted with anger, as it left their businesses in limbo.
Patrick Gracey, producer of Tom Stoppard's latest play Leopoldstadt, said the PM had "doomed an entire industry" by not ordering the closure, as theatres could miss out on financial protections.
He added: "By not enforcing a shutdown, production insurance will not apply so producers and shows will go bankrupt, and tens of thousands of people will be without pay."

Thailand shuts schools and delays New Year holiday

On Tuesday Thailand decided to shut schools and postpone the Thai New Year celebration, Songkran, which is coming up next month.
Authorities are also discussing whether to close bars, movie theatres, cockfighting areas and all other entertainment venues.
Thailand currently has 147 confirmed coronavirus cases.
The Thai New Year holiday, or Songkran, falls between April 13 to 15 but it's expected that by then the numbers will be a lot higher.
Songkran usually involves a lot of outdoor celebrations and water splashing and is a major tourist draw.

Ukraine halts trains, flights and buses

Attempting to curb the outbreak, Ukraine's government has announced a banon all inter-city rail, air and bus services around the country. Subway services in three cities, including the capital Kiev, have also been closed.
In addition, within city transport services will only be allow to take a maximum of 10 passengers aboard any bus and or tram car service.
The new restrictions will be in place from 18 March until 3 April.
From today, the government has also banned gatherings of more than 10 people, and ordered the closure of restaurants, shopping centres and other large public buildings.
Ukraine has reported seven cases of coronavirus, one of the lowest figures of any European country.

The form the French must fill in to justify leaving home

Under the new French decree to stay at home, coming into effect shortly at 12:00 local time (11:00 GMT) on Tuesday, citizens will need to justify their movements.
A form has been created which they should carry when out and about, and on which the reasons for travel can be ticked. They are:

• Commuting to work where working at home is not possible
  
• Trips to authorised shops for necessities
  
• Travel for health reasons
  
• Travel for urgent family reasons, to help the vulnerable or for childcare
  
• Brief trips close to home for exercise on an individual basis and/or to exercise pets
  

The form can be downloaded from this interior ministry site.
Reasons can also be set out on plain paper, but it will be regarded as a sworn statement.
Interior Minister Christophe Castaner said the fine for transgressors would soon be set at €135 ($150; £123).
Le Monde reports that some 100,000 civil servants and soldiers will be deployed nationwide to carry out checks.

'Rising sense of panic' in UK schools

A lack of advice for schools is creating "chaos and confusion" and placing "intolerable pressure" on staff and families, a UK teachers' union is warning.
The NASUWT, which represents teachers and head teachers, said a lack of "specific information" was creating "a rising sense of panic".
It says it wants a definitive decision on how to protect staff and pupils, and on school closures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson stopped short of announcing school closures as he unveiled unprecedented peacetime measures to try to control the spread of Covid-19 on Monday.

More borders close across Europe

EU leaders meet via videoconference later on Tuesday with plans to stop all non-essential travel within the 27 member states. Europe’s Schengen borders - which are usually border-free - could be closed for 30 days.
Spanish police have begun stopping cars crossing its borders from France and Portugal. Only Spanish nationals, residents and cross-border workers are being allowed in. Train services are also affected.
Spain has just announced a dramatic rise in cases with 491 deaths. Cadena Ser radio reports that contingency plans are being drawn up for a potential closure of air and sea traffic.
A number of EU countries have already closed their borders to non-residents and foreigners:

• Germany has in effect now done that with most of its neighbours and issued a travel warning against all holiday trips abroad
  
• The Czech Republic, Denmark, Poland, Lithuania, and Cyprus have closed their borders to foreigners but Slovakia is allowing in some Poles for work.
  

Outside of the EU, Russia is planning to close its borders to most foreigners from Wednesday until 1 May, and Ukraine has already done so.

Troubled airline Alitalia to be nationalised

Alitalia has been endlessly haemorrhaging money – it’s only had one year of profit since its foundation in 1946 – but the economic turmoil caused by coronavirus has finished off any hope of privatisation.
Governments around the world have banned flights to Italy and the country is in virtual lockdown. And so the flag carrier, once a national pride, is to become a national burden with a rescue package reportedly costing the taxpayer some $670m (£550m).
The global airline industry is being crippled by the pandemic. But Alitalia, with a bloated workforce and years of mismanagement, was already in serious trouble.
Recent attempts to sell the airline to Germany’s Lufthansa, America’s Delta or even the Italian state railway company failed. It has been outpriced by low-cost carriers, its market share even in Italy slipping to just 14%.
And now Alitalia is yet another casualty of an outbreak predicted to plunge this country into deep recession.

UK opposition calls for more help for 'Britain's real economy'

Opposition parties in the UK are calling for more help for individuals and for businesses across the country ahead of new measures expected to be announced by Chancellor Rishi Sunak later today.
Labour's shadow chancellor, John McDonnell, says "there must be no small measures" from the government, urging the chancellor to "get this right".
He adds: "We need an unequivocal statement from the Chancellor today that people’s incomes will be protected and that businesses will be fully supported to prevent any going out of business as result of the virus, and it has to be on a scale sufficient to meet this crisis."
The acting co-leader of the Liberal Democrats, Sir Ed Davey, says the PM's advice for social distancing was correct, but adds: “The government bailed out the banks and the financial sector with hundreds of billions back in 2008.
"The government must now be there for millions of businesses, employees and the self-employed - Britain’s real economy."

'If you want to return home, do so ASAP' - Australian government

Aussies are renowned for their love of travelling the world - but the Australian government has just issued a stark warning: if you want to come home do it as soon as possible.
It had already told people to reconsider the need to travel.
“As more countries close their borders or introduce travel restrictions, overseas travel is becoming more complex and difficult. You may not be able to return to Australia when you had planned to. Consider whether you have access to health care and support systems if you get sick while overseas. If you decide to return to Australia, do so as soon as possible. Commercial options may become less available.”
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade also told those who choose to stay overseas that there might not be any consular assistance available.

Iran temporarily releases 85,000 prisoners

The number of prisoners released temporarily in Iran as the country grapples with the coronavirus outbreak has now reached 85,000, a judiciary spokesman said.
“So far, some 85,000 prisoners have been released ... Also in the jails we have taken precautionary measures to confront the outbreak,” Gholamhossein Esmaili told the Reuters news agency.
Political prisoners were among those freed.
He did not say when those released would have to return to prison.
A total of 853 people have died and 14,991 have been confirmed infected across the country.

UK's pubs and bars plan 'staggeringly reckless'

As we've mentioned, people in the UK are being told to stay away from bars and restaurants, but bars and restaurants are not being ordered to close.
In an earlier post (at 7.40) we explained how the British Beer and Pub Association says this is the worst possible compromise, as it leaves the industry facing an "existential crisis" as they will not be entitled to insurance payouts.
Several high profile figures have this morning been calling for clarity, and for government support for the industry.

UK airports appeal to government for help

Major UK airports have written to the prime minister asking for emergency financial support.
The letter has been signed by bosses at Gatwick, Heathrow, and the Manchester Airports Group.
The airports are asking for more flexibility over protocol for border staff, and that Air Passenger Duty is deferred or suspended.
Meanwhile, the organisation which represents UK airports warned that airports might have to shut down within weeks unless urgent action is taken by government to support the industry.
The Airport Operators Association has asked for emergency financing, that taxes on airports be suspended, financial support so that airport staff can remain employed throughout the crisis and relief on policing costs.
Regional airports, like Southampton, and some airports in Scotland are in a more precarious position because of the recent collapse of Flybe.

Mumbai city stamps hands of those in home quarantine

Mumbai, India's most populous city, has told officials at airports and hospitals to stamp the left hand of those who should be quarantined at home with indelible ink that lasts for 14 days.
The stamp - an image of which has been circulating on social media and WhatsApp since Tuesday afternoon - shows the date until which a person is to be quarantined.
Mumbai is located in Maharashtra state, which has reported the highest number of coronavirus cases so far - 39.
India has confirmed 126 cases, and three deaths until now.
"Those who require self-quarantine but don’t want to stay in hospital or hotels and want to go home, they should have a sense of responsibility. They should not roam around freely. They should follow quarantine strictly,” Maharashtra's chief minister, Uddhav Thackeray told local media.
The ink being used is the same as the one used to mark voters during elections.
The state's health minister said this was a way to ensure that those under home quarantine follow it strictly, and so that others can identify them if they do step out

Do I self-isolate?

Many of you have been getting in touch with questions following measures announced by the UK government on Monday.
Specifically, Juliette wanted to know if she should self-isolate after possible indirect contact with someone who has the virus.
Self-isolation is recommended for anyone who develops symptoms of coronavirus - a high temperature and/or a new persistent cough. Anyone living in the same household as that person should also self-isolate for 14 days.
Additionally, people with high risk or underlying health conditions are being strongly advised to stay at home as much as possible and reduce unnecessary social contact.
People who think they may have been in contact with someone else who has coronavirus but have not yet developed symptoms themselves are not being told to self-isolate, although it would be sensible to avoid close contact with others.
Everyone can do their bit to prevent the spread of coronavirus by stopping non-essential contact with others and unnecessary travel.
People who can work from home should do so and the public should avoid pubs, clubs and theatres.

---

The border town that's a hotbed for Pakistan's outbreak

Taftan, a small town on the border with Iran, is thought to be where most coronavirus cases in Pakistan originated. More than 6,000 people, the majority of them pilgrims who crossed over from Iran, have been identified as high-risk carriers needing to be screened. Many have been quarantined at Taftan in unsanitary conditions which have fuelled the spread of infection. There have been protests, as we reported in live coverage on 10 March.
Most of the 183 coronavirus cases in Pakistan so far have been traced to this so-called quarantine facility. The country has just reported its first suspected coronavirus death - but although the 50-year-old man had been in Iran, he bypassed Taftan, returning by plane to Lahore.

Will UK schools close? Get the latest advice.

Many countries are closing schools as part of their efforts to limit the spread of coronavirus.
For now, the UK government is currently still advising schools to stay open.

Closing UK Parliament would send 'terrible signal at time of national crisis'

As more measures come into place to limit contact in the UK, Parliament is considering making changes to protect its staff.
Visitors have already been banned from the historic building, but business for MPs is, for the moment, carrying on as normal.
The Clerk of the House of Commons has written to the Procedure Committee suggesting a number of possible moves that could come into force in the coming weeks or months.
They include:

• Using video-conferencing
  
• Allowing MPs to ask questions on behalf of others
  
• Deciding votes on voices, not going through voting lobbies
  
• Reducing the number of staff in the Commons
  
• Limiting the number of written questions MPs can submit
  

The BBC's assistant political editor, Norman Smith, says the weekly encounter the PM has with MPs in the Commons - known as PMQs - could be a real test.
"What will be interesting is if they manage to put this in place ahead of Prime Minister's Questions tomorrow, because that is the moment when the chamber is absolutely rammed and is precisely the sort of situation you want to avoid - all the more so given we know alarm bells are ringing much more loudly about the situation in London," he says.
"But what won't happen, I think, is any particular move to close Parliament, because the widespread view on all sides is that would send out a terrible symbol, a really negative message, at a time of national crisis."

Is Latin America prepared to fight coronavirus?

The numbers of coronavirus cases in Latin America has not reached European proportions yet but judging by decisions taken in the last few days, governments here are not taking any chances.
Venezuela’s President Nicolás Maduro announced that the whole country, already suffering from years of economic and political turmoil, would be under quarantine from Tuesday after the number of cases there rose from 16 to 33 in one day.
“We're facing a serious pandemic,” he told the nation in a televised address. “If we don’t stop it in time, cut it off and control it, it could bring us down.”
He was not alone in declaring drastic restrictions. Peru had already declared a national emergency, closed its borders and told everybody to self-quarantine for 14 days while Chile said it would close its borders after cases more than doubled there to 155.
Most of the region is introducing strict measures on movement and schools, shops and flights are shutting down. Yet coronavirus has only just arrived here - so have countries learned lessons from Europe? Or are they acting too soon?

'Vast majority' of UK firms not protected for shut downs - insurers

More now on the issue of whether venues in the UK can claim on insurance if they're not ordered to close by the government.
Pubs, restaurants and theatres in the UK are hitting out at Boris Johnson's advice to the public yesterday - telling them not to visit the venues, without ordering businesses to close.
Many from the entertainment industry say without a direct order from government, they will not be protected by their insurance.
But the Association of British Insurers claims most companies would not be covered anyway, even if there were to be a dictat from Downing Street.
In a statement, the organisation says: "Standard business interruption cover - the type the majority of businesses purchase - does not include forced closure by authorities as it is intended to respond to physical damage at the property which results in the business being unable to continue to trade.
"A small minority of typically larger firms might have purchased an extension to their cover for closure due to any infectious disease. In this instance, an enforced closure could help them make the claim.
"But this will depend on the precise nature of the cover they have purchased, so they should check with their insurer or broker to see if they are covered."

UK advises against non-essential travel anywhere in the world

UK Foreign Secretary Dominic Raab says no UK citizen should travel non-essentially anywhere in the world.
Giving a statement to Parliament on the coronavirus outbreak, he says the outbreak is "the worst public health crisis for a generation and unsettling for families... so there needs to be a united effort to tackle it effectively".
Mr Raab says UK citizens are now facing "widespread international border restrictions and lock downs", and the speed and range of those measures are "unprecedented".
He says these measures, and the moves taken domestically, has led to the advice "with immediate effect against non-essential travel globally for an initial period of 30 days and subject to ongoing review".
Mr Raab adds: "We want to reduce the risk of leaving UK citizens stranded overseas.
"We will keep this under review and amend as soon as responsibility allows."

Foreign Office explains travel advisory

More on our breaking news - that the UK government is advising British people against all non-essential travel worldwide.
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) says in an exceptional travel advisory noticethat:
"The Covid-19 pandemic has led to unprecedented international border closures and other restrictions. All countries may restrict travel without notice."
You can read the latest BBC News story here.

Trump's 'Chinese virus' tweet angers Beijing

President Trump sent a tweet on Monday describing the new coronavirus - which causes the disease Covid-19 - as the “Chinese virus”
China has reacted angrily, with the foreign ministry in Beijing saying it's wrong to stigmatise China and that the US should “take care of its own business”.
The first cases of Covid-19 were recorded in the Chinese city of Wuhan in late 2019.
Last week a Chinese foreign ministry spokesman shared a conspiracy theory, alleging the US Army had brought it to the region.
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo then demanded China stop spreading “disinformation” saying it was trying to "shift blame” for the outbreak.
Read more on this latest war of words, here.

How the world is celebrating St Patrick's Day

Happy St Patrick’s Day.
Traditionally, it is a day of parades, festivities and frivolity, as revellers descend of streets, bars, pubs and parties to celebrate Irish culture.
That’s not possible this year, as the coronavirus pandemic has led to the implementation of sweeping social-distancing measures. Those measures have forced organisers to cancel St Patrick’s Day events worldwide.
In the Republic of Ireland, Taoiseach (Irish PM) Leo Varadkar announced that all parades and festivals in the country would not go ahead this year. His government has advised against parties, too, with pubs and bars asked to close.

• Irish St Patrick's Day parades cancelled
  
• Pubs asked to close by Irish government
  

That includes the capital Dublin, where the streets will be largely empty.
Spirits have been far from dampened, though, as St Patrick’s Day cheer is being spread online instead.
Using the hashtag #StPatricksDayTogether, people have been sharing their St Patrick’s Day experiences on Twitter, posting pictures of parades and festivities from previous years.
RTE, the Republic of Ireland’s state broadcaster, has also encouraged a virtual parade.
Meanwhile, Tourism Ireland said the annual Global Greening project, which sees hundreds of landmarks in more than 50 countries bathed in green light, will still go ahead.

Spain sees steep rise in casualties

Almost 2,000 more cases have been confirmed in the past 24 hours in Spain, with a big increase in the number of deaths - from 342 to 491.
After Italy, Spain is the European country worst hit by the pandemic: it has now seen 11,178 cases and 1,028 of the people involved have now recovered, says emergencies co-ordinator Fernando Simón.
The Madrid region has seen 43% of the infections and, with 355 deaths, the highest fatality rate in the country at 7%. Spain is under lockdown for all but essential travel and shopping and has closed its borders to most foreigners. Unlike France and Italy, people in Spain are not required to carry a permit to go from place to place.
The government in Madrid is planning a new package of economic measures to help workers who lose their jobs and self-employed people who lose their income. Mortgage payments are set to be suspended for anyone affected by the crisis.

'Worried' British tourists unsure when return flights from Morocco will run

Airlines say they will run enough rescue flights to ensure that British holidaymakers in Morocco can get home, after all scheduled flights between Morocco and the UK were suspended.
Easyjet will run four rescue flights today. British airways is also working-out how many flights are needed to ensure that everyone can get home.
Beth Marletta, who has been on holiday in Morocco with her partner for the past week and a half was due to fly back from Marrakech to Heathrow and then on to Edinburgh with British Airways this coming Saturday.
When she got through to British Airways earlier today she was told that the next available flight was in August, however the BBC has been told that British Airways will run rescue flights.
“We’re really worried”, Beth said. “We’re in limbo as we don’t know whether to turn-up to the airport and try and get on a flight.”
The BBC has spoken to another British woman who was supposed to fly with Easyjet back from Morocco. She is has also had trouble booking herself onto a rescue flight and says the situation is very confusing.
The British Ambassador in Morocco tweeted that there will be a number of rescue flights operated by British Airways, Ryanair, Easyjet and Tui over the next three days.
Ambassador Thomas Reilly tweeted that people should contact their airline.

How Royal Mail plans to cope with the virus

Advising people to limit social contact brings a particular challenge to a postal service that relies on people going door to door.
As a result, Royal Mail workers have been told not to give customers hand-held devices to sign for deliveries that need a signature.
Workers delivering post to customers will instead log the name of the person accepting the item, and can sign on their behalf.
In addition, when items are too big to fit through the letterbox, Royal Mail staff have been asked to place them on the doorstep and step back to a safe distance.

Thieves 'steal 50,000 facemasks' in Germany

Thieves in Germany have stolen 50,000 protective face masks intended for medical clinics from a hospital, German news agency DPA reports.
"This is a new grade of theft", a spokeswoman for the hospital in Cologne told DPA.
"We're talking about items that normally have a value measured in cents, but apparently there's a market for them now."
The city's crisis management team took measures to secure and check all stocks after the theft.

Israel announces new restrictions on movement

Israel’s health ministry has announced new restrictions for residents, ordering people not to leave their homes unless they need to get food or medication, seek medical attention, or carry out essential work.
Trips to parks, playgrounds, beaches, pools and libraries are banned.
Meanwhile, the Magen David Adam ambulance service has said it will set up a number of 24-hour “drive-through” facilities to help expand testing of people suspected of having the virus that causes Covid-19.
Overnight, an Israel Railways train was stopped by police searching for a male patient who fled from a hospital in northern Israel, according to the Haaretz newspaper. Police officers wearing protective gear boarded the train, arrested the man and took him to another hospital for examination.
Israel has so far reported 324 confirmed cases of Covid-19, but no related deaths. The Palestinian authorities have reported 41 cases in the occupied West Bank.

How long does the coronavirus last on surfaces?

It has so far been unclear exactly how long SARS-CoV-2, the name of the virus that causes the disease Covid-19, can survive outside the human body.
Neeltje van Doremalen, a virologist at the US National Institutes of Health (NIH), and her colleagues at the Rocky Mountain Laboratories in Hamilton, Montana, have done some of the first tests of how long SARS-CoV-2 can last for on different surfaces.
Their study, which has yet to be published in a scientific journal, suggests that the virus could survive in droplets for up to three hours after being coughed out into the air.
It means that the virus circulating in unfiltered air conditioning systems will only persist for a couple of hours at most. But it survived for longer on cardboard – up to 24 hours – and up to 2-3 days on plastic and stainless-steel surfaces.
The findings suggest the virus might last this long on door handles, plastic-coated or laminated worktops and other hard surfaces. The researchers did find, however, that copper surfaces tended to kill the virus in about four hours.
Click here to find out more.

Dog walkers flout Spain’s lockdown rules

A dog-walking exception to Spain’s national lockdown is reportedly being exploited as an excuse to leave home as the government battles to contain coronavirus.
Spain’s government declared a state of emergency last week, imposing a 15-day long period of restrictions on movement to stem the spread of coronavirus.
Some 47 million Spanish residents have been banned from leaving home, with a few exceptions for emergencies, going to work and essential errands.
Read the full story: Spain announces sweeping restrictions
The Spanish government said walking dogs was one of those errands, but some people are reportedly taking advantage of the exception – taking lengthy strolls, socialising in public or masquerading stuffed animals as real pets.
A video shared by Jupol, a Spanish police union, on Twitter appears to show a man walking through the street with a toy dog on a leash as a police car pulls up alongside him.
In the tweet, Jupol warned people they could be punished if they try to deceive the police.

Brazil reports first death

A person in the Brazilian city of São Paulo is the first person to die from coronavirus in the country.
Brazil has 234 confirmed cases of the virus, in a population of 209 million people. It has not shut its borders, but in Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo, schools and universities have been told to close and public events have been called off.
However, Brazil’s President Jair Bolsonaro has dismissed precautions against coronavirus as “hysteria" and “fantasy".
So far Latin America has not reported significant clusters of the virus in the same way as parts of Asia, Europe and the US.
However some countries are not taking chances. Peru declared a national emergency, closed its borders and told everybody to self-quarantine for 14 days, while Chile said it would close its borders after cases more than doubled there to 155.

Infection rates in UK should come down in 2-3 weeks - UK government adviser

The UK government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance is appearing at the House of Common's health committee.
He tells MPs that the UK should start to see rates of infection come down in two to three weeks.
He says it would be "a good outcome" if the number of coronavirus-related deaths in the UK can be kept to below 20,000.

'UK government knows it must act fast and credibly'

Laura Kuenssberg
"The government is about to involve itself in the lives of millions of people in ways we haven't seen since the war," one senior figure in the UK government said after Cabinet this morning.
You can only imagine the mood around the table as ministers absorb the scale of what we face as a country and the scale of the responsibility they hold.
Whether it is urging people not to travel abroad, providing huge emergency assistance to particular industries, or telling people to stay at home, according to that Cabinet minister, we are living through a massive change in the relationship between government and the public that could last for many months.
What the prime minister said barely two weeks ago, that the UK would "likely face a challenge", has very rapidly turned into the biggest peacetime task any modern government has faced - managing a very serious international health emergency and trying to stave off the worst of a potential economic emergency too.

School closures 'absolutely on the table' - UK chief scientific adviser

Asked about school closures, the UK government's chief scientific adviser Sir Patrick Vallance says it is "absolutely on the table".
However he adds it would create "an enormous problem for the workforce" and specifically for the NHS.
He says that when they looked at the list of measures in order of which would have the biggest impact "school closing was lower down on the list".

Bosnia declares state of emergency

Bosnia has declared a nationwide state of emergency due to the coronavirus outbreak, Prime Minister Zoran Tegeltija said.
“We are focusing in all ways on how to alleviate the consequences of the coronavirus," he told reporters.
A body headed by the security ministry will be launched to deal with the outbreak, he said.
Bosnia has reported 26 cases of the new virus so far, with no fatalities.

Festival-goers stranded in Panama

People attending the Tribal Gathering festival in Panama are not being allowed to leave the event's site after the country's government issued a state of emergency over the coronavirus outbreak.
The festival took place between 29 February and 15 March, and was held on a remote beach on Panama's north coast.
In a post on Instagram, the organisers said the health ministry had taken the "extraordinary step of ordering all guests currently on site to remain in place" until 23 March. It is not clear how many people are there.
There were no confirmed or suspected cases of coronavirus among the guests, according to the organisers. They advised relatives of attendees to contact their respective country's embassy for information.
The UK embassy in Panama said on Twitter it had been informed of the situation at the festival and that it was working with the local authorities.
Panama has confirmed 69 cases of coronavirus and one death.

Non-urgent ops to be postponed in England

NHS England has told hospitals to postpone all non-urgent operations for three months from 15 April.
This will free up 30,000 hospital beds, it says.
Hospitals will also be able to wind down non-urgent work over the next 30 days in an effort to free up more staff and beds for coronavirus patients.

UK total for positive coronavirus test hits 1,950

The UK's Department of Health has confirmed 1,950 people had tested positive for coronavirus as of 09:00 GMT today.
That is a jump of 407 cases since yesterday - the biggest daily increase so far.
However, it was also the biggest number of tests in one day - 6,337 - with a total of 50,442 carried out so far.
That means 48,492 people have tested negative.
The latest confirmed number of deaths will be announced later today.

Church of England suspends public worship

The Archbishop of Canterbury has announced that public worship is "suspended until further notice".
A Church of England spokesman said weddings and funerals could still go ahead.

Euro 2020 football tournament postponed

More now on our earliest post about Euro 2020 being postponed because of the coronavirus pandemic.
European football's governing body Uefa made the decision to hold the tournament in 2021 during an emergency video conference involving major stakeholders on Tuesday.
The tournament, due to take place from 12 June-12 July this summer, will now run from 11 June to 11 July next year.
The postponement provides a chance for European leagues that have been suspended to now be completed.
Uefa said it wanted to avoid "placing any unnecessary pressure on national public services" of its 12 host countries, as well as helping allow domestic competitions to be finished.
Uefa president Aleksander Ceferin said: "We are at the helm of a sport that vast numbers of people live and breathe that has been laid low by this invisible and fast-moving opponent.
"It is at times like these, that the football community needs to show responsibility, unity, solidarity and altruism.