Coronavirus - 15th March

Coronavirus: Some scientists say UK virus strategy is 'risking lives'
By Pallab Ghosh - BBC 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.


Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize


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

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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 .

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 photos of 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.

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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".

US airports in disarray over screening

Enlarge this image Click to see fullsize

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.

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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.