by 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"
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
His latest post is dedicated to healthcare workers.
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."
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.
According to Reuters, local media report that more than 1,000 inmates fled from four different prisons ahead of lockdown.
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."
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.
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.
"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.
Find out more about these travel restrictions, here.
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.
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.
Here's an overview over the day's front pages and headlines.
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.
Vietnam has confirmed 61 infections, but no deaths.
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.
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.
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 Facebook that he had spoken to his Malaysian counterpart, who assured him "that the flow of goods, including food supplies, will continue".
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.
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 .
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.
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
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.
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."
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.
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.
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
If you're just tuning into our coverage now, welcome. Here are the top things you need to know:
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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."
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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:
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.
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.
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."
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.
“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.
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.
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.
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
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.
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.
For now, the UK government is currently still advising schools to stay open.
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:
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."
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?
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."
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."
The Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) says in an exceptional travel advisory notice that:
"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 .
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 .
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
"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.
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.
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.
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 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.
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.
"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.
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".
“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.
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.
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.
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.
A Church of England spokesman said weddings and funerals could still go ahead.
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.
- 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 AsherBBC 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 GallagherChange 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 Facebook that 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 - SingaporeMany 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 notice that:
"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.
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.
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