by Summary updates for 18th March
- Nevada will shutter all non-essential businesses, including Las Vegas casinos
- WHO says South East Asian countries must "act now" to tackle the virus
- The European Union will ban all travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days
- The Euro 2020 football tournament has been postponed for a year
- More than 185,000 people have contracted the new coronavirus worldwide
- Iran is the worst-affected country, followed by Italy and China
- The US is working on an $850bn stimulus package
"The situation is evolving rapidly. We need to immediately scale up all efforts to prevent the virus from infecting more people," said regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
"More clusters of virus transmission are being confirmed. While this is an indication of an alert and effective surveillance, it also puts the spotlight on the need for more aggressive and whole of society efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19. We clearly need to do more, and urgently."
Eight of the 11 countries in the WHO's SE Asia region have confirmed cases:
Tens of thousands of Malaysians travel into Singapore every day to work, and the small country relies on their labour. Some were rushing home in time, whereas others were rushing into Singapore, where accommodation has been found for them.
Malaysia is also the source of much of Singapore's food, particularly fresh produce. And despite government assurances food would not run out, the lockdown sparked another burst of panic-buying in Singapore.
"As of Wednesday, all employees will be working from home while offices at both Times Square and South Island Place are shut down until further notice for deep cleansing and disinfection," said the newspaper.
Its operations will move online.
Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivered a major update this morning, saying Australia had not seen such a national emergency since the end of World War One.
However he urged the public to remain calm, and announced two new key restrictions on travel and social settings.
"Non-essential" gatherings of more than 100 people are now banned, while Australians have also been told to not travel overseas.
"Do not travel abroad. Do not go overseas. That is very clear that instruction," Mr Morrison said in press conference.
"The biggest risk we have had and the biggest incidents of cases we have had... has been from Australians returning from overseas."
On Sunday, Australia ordered anyone arriving in the nation to self-isolate for 14 days. Last night it also urged its citizens abroad to return home immediately warning that other nations were rapidly closing borders.
“I would plan and assume it is unlikely that many of these schools, few if any, will open before the summer break,” he said in a news conference.
Almost all of the state's schools have closed although there's not yet been a state mandate to do so.
Currently, there are 700 confirmed coronavirus cases in California and 12 deaths. Overall the US has more than 6,000 cases.
The broadcaster is among the leading news channels in the country and for now, the outage will be for 24 hours.
The city’s mayor said residents can go for runs or hikes and many seem to be taking the opportunity to get out and do just that. Though runners passing one another on empty streets are making an effort to keep their distance.
Meanwhile, commercial streets lined with stores and restaurants seem the most abounded. Many restaurants have printed signs declaring they are open for "delivery only".
Many technology companies in the Bay Area have prided themselves on their flexible working policies allowing employees the opportunity to work from home whenever they wanted. Now that all-but-essential workers are being told to stay home, San Franciscans will have the chance to test whether the pleasure of working from the sofa does fade.
To be sure, the medical realities are vastly different now. Although there's still no cure, scientists have mapped the genetic material of the coronavirus, and there's the promise of anti-viral drugs, and a vaccine.
Yet, there appear to be some striking similarities between the two pandemics, separated by a century. And possibly there are some relevant lessons to learn from the flu, and the bungled response to it. Read more
Its website says:
If you now need to change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:
- contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers
- get in touch with your insurance provider
- continue to follow the NHS coronavirus guidance
- Nevada will shutter all non-essential businesses, including Las Vegas casinos
- WHO says South East Asian countries must "act now" to tackle the virus
- The European Union will ban all travellers from outside the bloc for 30 days
- The Euro 2020 football tournament has been postponed for a year
- More than 185,000 people have contracted the new coronavirus worldwide
- Iran is the worst-affected country, followed by Italy and China
- The US is working on an $850bn stimulus package
WHO warns South East Asia
On Tuesday, the World Health Organization issued a stark warning to countries in South East Asia."The situation is evolving rapidly. We need to immediately scale up all efforts to prevent the virus from infecting more people," said regional director Dr Poonam Khetrapal Singh.
"More clusters of virus transmission are being confirmed. While this is an indication of an alert and effective surveillance, it also puts the spotlight on the need for more aggressive and whole of society efforts to prevent further spread of COVID-19. We clearly need to do more, and urgently."
Eight of the 11 countries in the WHO's SE Asia region have confirmed cases:
- Thailand 177
- Indonesia 134
- India 125
- Sri Lanka 19
- Maldives 13
- Bangladesh 5
- Nepal and Bhutan one each
Long queues at Singapore border
In Singapore, there were huge queues at the borders with Malaysia late on Tuesday, ahead of a two-week ban on Malaysians travelling abroad.Tens of thousands of Malaysians travel into Singapore every day to work, and the small country relies on their labour. Some were rushing home in time, whereas others were rushing into Singapore, where accommodation has been found for them.
Malaysia is also the source of much of Singapore's food, particularly fresh produce. And despite government assurances food would not run out, the lockdown sparked another burst of panic-buying in Singapore.
Major Hong Kong newspaper closes offices
The South China Morning Post, one of the most prominent newspapers in the region, has closed its offices in Hong Kong as a precaution, after someone tested positive."As of Wednesday, all employees will be working from home while offices at both Times Square and South Island Place are shut down until further notice for deep cleansing and disinfection," said the newspaper.
Its operations will move online.
Raft of new measures in Australia
Australia has now reported over 450 cases, a doubling of cases in one week.Prime Minister Scott Morrison delivered a major update this morning, saying Australia had not seen such a national emergency since the end of World War One.
However he urged the public to remain calm, and announced two new key restrictions on travel and social settings.
"Non-essential" gatherings of more than 100 people are now banned, while Australians have also been told to not travel overseas.
"Do not travel abroad. Do not go overseas. That is very clear that instruction," Mr Morrison said in press conference.
"The biggest risk we have had and the biggest incidents of cases we have had... has been from Australians returning from overseas."
On Sunday, Australia ordered anyone arriving in the nation to self-isolate for 14 days. Last night it also urged its citizens abroad to return home immediately warning that other nations were rapidly closing borders.
California schools remain shut
Schools in California will likely remain closed for the rest of the school year, Governor Gavin Newsom said on Tuesday.“I would plan and assume it is unlikely that many of these schools, few if any, will open before the summer break,” he said in a news conference.
Almost all of the state's schools have closed although there's not yet been a state mandate to do so.
Currently, there are 700 confirmed coronavirus cases in California and 12 deaths. Overall the US has more than 6,000 cases.
CNN Philippines off air
As many companies are trying to let employees work from home, there are also those where that's not possible. For instance a TV station. In the Philippines, the local CNN channel is off air because of a coronavirus case among its employees.The broadcaster is among the leading news channels in the country and for now, the outage will be for 24 hours.
CNN Philippines temporarily goes off air after an employee within the building tests positive for COVID-19.
We continue to deliver #NewsYouCanTrust through our website, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram pages, as well as our Viber community http://bit.ly/2ITnIed
San Francisco streets 'far quieter'
San Francisco’s streets are far quieter than usual. Most people are obeying the shelter in place order but that doesn’t mean all residents are staying inside.The city’s mayor said residents can go for runs or hikes and many seem to be taking the opportunity to get out and do just that. Though runners passing one another on empty streets are making an effort to keep their distance.
Meanwhile, commercial streets lined with stores and restaurants seem the most abounded. Many restaurants have printed signs declaring they are open for "delivery only".
Many technology companies in the Bay Area have prided themselves on their flexible working policies allowing employees the opportunity to work from home whenever they wanted. Now that all-but-essential workers are being told to stay home, San Franciscans will have the chance to test whether the pleasure of working from the sofa does fade.
What India can learn from 1918 flu
The 1918 influenza epidemic killed between 17 and 18 million Indians, more than all the casualties in World War One. India bore a considerable burden of death - it lost 6% of its people.To be sure, the medical realities are vastly different now. Although there's still no cure, scientists have mapped the genetic material of the coronavirus, and there's the promise of anti-viral drugs, and a vaccine.
Yet, there appear to be some striking similarities between the two pandemics, separated by a century. And possibly there are some relevant lessons to learn from the flu, and the bungled response to it. Read more
UK advises against all non-essential travel
The latest advice to Britons from the UK's Foreign Office is to delay all non-essential travel.Its website says:
If you now need to change or cancel your travel plans, follow these steps:
- contact your airline, travel company, cruise line or other transport and accommodation providers
- get in touch with your insurance provider
- continue to follow the NHS coronavirus guidance
FCO travel advice
UPDATE: We now advise against all non-essential travel overseas.
Australia to keep schools running
Australian Prime Minister Scott Morrison's press conference this morning was his most frank statement yet about how Australia was in this for the long-haul – of at least six months or more.
He said all decisions they announced needed to be sustainable for that period.
One of the key announcements was the ban on gatherings of more than 100 people - that includes places of worship but not schools and universities or “essential” locations which range from hospitals and airports to shopping centres and workplaces.
"They are essential places of where there are essential gatherings. Non-essential is everything else," said Mr Morrison.
The school policy has been controversial - as calls grow for them to be closed and several independent schools shut of their own accord.
However, Mr Morrison said the health advice remained the same - and cited Singapore where schools have remained open and "they have been effective in managing and limiting the transmission of this virus".
He has warned closing schools could cost tens of thousands of jobs and could take 30% of health workers out of the health system.
BBC News to streamline output
The coronavirus is of course also affecting the BBC. Many are working from home and many are getting ready to do so. But TV programmes can only come from a studio (for now) - and the BBC has announced a number of changes to its news output in light of the situation.
"These are unprecedented and difficult days," the BBC's director of news, Fran Unsworth, said.
"Trusted, accurate information is vital in a public health emergency and the BBC has a key role to play."
Programmes including Politics Live and Victoria Derbyshire have been temporarily suspended, allowing the News Channel to focus on "core news".
Question Time, which has political figures and commentators taking questions from the public, will move to a prime time 20:00 slot on BBC One. The show will be without a studio audience though.
Nevada closes casinos, Las Vegas
It's "rien ne va plus" for Las Vegas for now.
The US state of Nevada is ordering the closure of casinos, restaurants and all non-essential businesses.
While a few casinos had already shut down business, the new order will have the glitzy gambling capital of Las Vegas come to an abrupt halt.
The order will come into effect at noon on Wednesday and is currently planned for an entire month.
Governor Steve Sisolak announced the measures in a news conference Tuesday night.
“This [coronavirus] is effecting the lives of our citizens. People are dying. Every day that is delayed here, I'm losing a dozen people on the back end that are going to die as a result of this,”
All non-essential businesses are affected by the shutdown. Restaurants are only allowed to provide takeout or delivery.
Even slot machines in convenience stores will no longer be permitted.
"America's playground", as Las Vegas is known, is usually open 24-hours a day. The last time the casinos had to lock their doors was on the day of John F. Kennedy's funeral in 1963.
Nevada's month-long freeze on gambling will hit Las Vegas hard. The city depends on the glitz of the Vegas strip for its tourism and hospitality-based economy.
The closure - which goes into effect Wednesday at noon - will be part of federal guidelines recommending social distancing. Americans are asked to follow sweeping measures for the next few weeks, including for older residents to stay at home and for people to not gather in groups of more than 10 or go to restaurants and bars.
Travel confusion in the Philippines
In the Philippines the government has reversed its decision to impose a travel ban on international flights scheduled to begin on Friday.
Now all foreign nationals may fly out of the country at any time according to the Inter-Agency Task Force on Emerging Infectious Diseases. Inbound international passengers are also allowed entry, subject to strict immigration and quarantine protocols.
The now overturned ban on international flights had left many foreign tourists, dispersed across the country’s more than 7,000 islands, puzzled as to how they could leave the country.
With domestic flights in and out of the Philippine capital suspended while the main Luzon region is under lockdown, the British embassy in Manila is reporting a “small number” of Britons affected by the travel restrictions.
The government says their “enhanced community quarantine” will stay in place until 12 April.
The government says the country currently has a total of 187 confirmed Covid-19 cases with 14 deaths, but experts are warning that with limited pre-emptive testing the number is likely to be higher.
Australia PM scolds stockpiling shoppers
More on that press conference earlier from Australian PM Scott Morrison.
He saved his strongest words for people who were hoarding and panic-buying food and medicine, telling them simply to “stop it”.
Fights between shoppers have been reported in supermarket aisles, while staples such as toilet paper, rice, pasta and meat mince are still rare commodities on store shelves.
"It has been one of the most disappointing things I have seen in Australian behaviour in response to this crisis," Mr Morrison said.
"This is not who we are."
HK dog dies after quarantine
A 17-year-old dog in Hong Kong which had tested "weak positive" for the coronavirus but was then cleared has died two days after coming out of quarantine.
The dog belonged to a Hong Kong woman who tested positive for Covid-19. It was allowed home after testing negative, but died shortly after.
The case made headlines as a possible first human-to-animal transmission of the virus.
The World Heath Organization says there is no evidence pets can be infected with coronavirus. The dog likely just had the virus in its system, and is not believed to have been killed by it.
China records one new domestic case
Just like for the previous day, China's latest figures have only one single new domestic case of a coronavirus infection.
The data for Tuesday shows one local case but 12 imported ones.
China is where the outbreak started and the new figures brings the country's numbers to:
- 81,000 infections
- almost 70,000 have recovered so far
- 3,241 deaths
Social distancing and isolation
Until a few weeks ago, self-isolating yourself and distancing yourself from other people were seen as unusual, even a sign of being unwell. Now, they've become essential measures to stem the spread of the virus.
The two are not quite the same.
Social distancing involves cutting down on non-essential travel and interactions, staying home if you're unwell, and not visiting social venues.
Self-isolation means cutting yourself off entirely from the outside world.
Each country is issuing their own advice on who needs to do what, but here's the BBC guide on how to exercise social distancing and how to self-isolate.
Britons 'should leave Myanmar'
The UK's Foreign Office is also urging UK citizens to leave Myanmar.
"This is due to potential pressures on medical facilities and the risk of air routes out of Myanmar being cancelled."
Myanmar's government has so far reported not a single case of coronavirus, but there is increasing scepticism about this.
Human Rights Watch has said the claims "defy reality" and "give a false sense of security to the country’s people about the disease and their risks of infection".
How to stop the spread?
The best and easiest thing is: wash your hands!
Coronavirus spreads when an infected person coughs small droplets - packed with the virus - into the air. These can be breathed in, or cause an infection if you touch a surface they have landed on then your eyes, nose or mouth.
So, coughing and sneezing into tissues, not touching your face with unwashed hands, and avoiding close contact with infected people are important for limiting the spread.
Here's our explainer on how to stay safe - and keep others safe in case you are ill.
Australia and NZ cancel Anzac Day events
Australia and New Zealand have scrapped annual Anzac Day commemoration events in Turkey, amid fears over the spread of coronavirus.
Each year traditionally, thousands will travel to to Gallipoli Cove, to mark the countries' participation in World War One.
However the threat of the virus spreading and global travel restrictions have made the event unfeasible.
Crowd attendance at ceremonies on the day of remembrance have also been cancelled. Australia has flagged that it may "live-stream some events".
Airlines trying to hoard cash
Globally airlines are struggling - with all carriers slashing their routes and warning they will be laying off staff.
In Australia, national flag carrier Qantas says it will suspend 90% of international flights and about 60% of domestic journeys.
In an email to customers on Wednesday, it urged passengers not to cancel flights and get refunds.
Instead, the airlines "strongly encourages" people to get a credit voucher for use later. Passengers gain by not paying cancellation fees, but crucially the airline gets to hang on to those cash reserves it desperately needs.
Kyrgyzstan records first coronavirus cases
The central Asian country of Kyrgyzstan has recorded its first cases of the coronavirus, its healthcare minister said on Wednesday according to a Reuters report.
Three citizens who arrived from Saudi Arabia all tested positive for the virus. The country had just a day earlier banned entry to all foreigners as a precautionary measure.
'Ban people without masks from transport'
A microbiologist from the University of Hong Kong has called for people who don't wear face masks to be banned from using public transport, in light of a surge in the number of imported cases of Covid-19.
The head of the university’s Centre for Infection, Dr Ho Pak-leung, described the coming two weeks as a "critical period" in the city’s fight against the new coronavirus and said aggressive measures must be taken to contain its spread.
South Korea tests for virus in "phone booths"
South Korea has been rapidly testing thousands of people in the country for the virus, and has a number of innovative ways to do so, including "drive through" tests. Some other countries are also using this method.
Here's the latest way they've come up with: "phone booth" facilities or small cubicles where members of the public can talk to nurses and get swabbed. Watch how they do it.
All 50 US states affected by virus
The deadly coronavirus has now hit all 50 states in the US as West Virginia reported its first case of the infection on Tuesday.
Announcing its first Covid-19 patient, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice said: "We knew this was coming."
New York City said it was considering a lockdown similar to one in the San Francisco Bay area.
There have so far been 108 deaths in the US from coronavirus and more than 6,300 confirmed cases nationwide.
How a religious gathering led to lockdown
All of Malaysia has now entered a state of lockdown, triggered in part by a religious gathering that was attended by about 16,000 people.
The three-day event in late February was held at the sprawling Jamek Mosque, located on the outskirts of the capital Kuala Lumpur.
Malaysia now has 673 confirmed cases of the virus, of which 400 have been linked to the religious event, local reports say.
On Tuesday, a 34-year-old Malaysian man who attended the event died - the first death linked to the mass gathering.
The country has now closed its borders to all foreigners in an effort to control the coronavirus outbreak.
But it might be a case of too little, too late.
Around 1,500 foreigners who attended the event have already gone back to their countries and several of them have now tested positive for Covid-19 including those from Singapore, Brunei, Cambodia and most recently, Vietnam.
British supermarkets to prioritise elderly
British supermarkets are introducing new measures to help the elderly and those with disabilities as the country was hit with a flurry of panic-buying.
Supermarket chain Sainsbury's is following the lead set by Iceland, which has set aside a few hours for those in these two groups to shop exclusively.
Sainsbury's said that on Thursday, its first hour of opening would be set aside for the elderly and vulnerable. It will also give priority to online orders from those over 70 and those with disabilities.
Panic around the coronavirus has seen shoppers stockpiling, leaving shelves stripped of some items including toilet roll and pasta.
South Koreans asked to cancel travel
Health officials in South Korea are asking the public to postpone or cancel all non-essential overseas travel. All those returning from overseas are being asked to stay at home for two weeks.
'Small clusters' of cases break out in South Korea
South Korea has been seeing a downward trend in the overall number of coronavirus infections, which had raised hopes that the epidemic in the country - the largest in Asia, outside China - might have been abating.
But as the BBC's Seoul correspondent Laura Bicker reports, health officials are now worried about a small clusters of infections that have broken out.
At least 74 people from a hospital in Daegu that specialises in elderly care have been infected, while there have also been confirmed cases at a hospital south of Seoul.
This includes the head of that clinic, who has been in meetings with the country's Vice Health Minister - who will now be placed in isolation and tested.
South Korea has reported 93 new cases of the virus in the last 24 hours, taking the total number of cases in the country to just over 8,400.
French fine for breaking confinement
France is beginning its second day of strict confinement at home for all citizens.
According to French paper Le Monde, the fine for non-compliance is now 135 euros (£123, $149), up from 38 euros on Tuesday.
According to the paper, police had been lenient on the first day and most people didn't have to pay, but if you're on the streets of Paris without a good reason, you do run a risk of having to pay up.
China calls for a 'Health Silk Road'
China has proposed the construction of a "Health Silk Road" to help co-ordinate global efforts to tackle the pandemic.
During a call with the Italian Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte on 16 March, President Xi Jinping said China was available "to work with Italy to contribute to international co-operation in the fight against the epidemic and for the construction of a Health Silk Road", state media reports.
Similarly, during a call with the Italian foreign minister last month, the Chinese foreign minister Wang Yi had expressed hope that the "joint fight against the outbreak" would start a "Silk Road" of health care.
The Silk Road was the ancient trading routes between China and West and more recently, China has launched the Belt and Road Initiative, an ambitious infrastructure project.
China, where the virus first appeared, has been highlighting its humanitarian efforts recently, such as sending medical workers and supplies to other countries hardest-hit.
Vaccine ready by autumn?
A German pharmaceutical company working on a vaccine has suggested it might have a product ready by autumn. The company, Curevac, had been at the centre of a row over the weekend when media reports suggested Washington had tried to offer money in exchange for a vaccine exclusive for the US.
The company though dismissed suggestions they'd received a concrete offer from Washington.
One of the owners of the firm told German paper FAZ that, if things go well, a vaccine might be developed by early summer and could then be approved and ready for rollout by autumn.
First travellers turned away at EU airport
The first people have been turned away from the EU border under the bloc's new travel ban for non-EU citizens.
Passengers on a flight from Turkey were stopped at Germany's largest airport in Frankfurt am Main last night, as the 30-day ban came into effect.
It's not clear how many flights today will be affected.
The German government is also trying to repatriate more than 100,000 Germans who are currently stuck abroad.
And in Poland, local media is reporting that there's a 40km traffic queue at the Polish border as people rush to get home.
Top UK epidemiologist develops symptoms
The scientist who led research that is reported to have influenced changes to the UK's coronavirus policy is self-isolating after developing symptoms of Covid-19.
Prof Neil Ferguson, from London's Imperial College, led a group of experts modelling the effect of policies introduced to curb the virus.
Their latest findings suggest that - without the adoption of harsh "suppresion" tactics that effectively shut down society - hundreds of thousands would die in the UK.
Prof Ferguson told BBC Radio 4's Today programme he developed symptoms on Tuesday and a high fever overnight - hours after attending a Downing Street press conference.
"Central London is really the kind of hotspot in the UK at the moment... still in Westminster, there is a lot," he said. "It is becoming quite a widespread community infection especially in hotspots like London," he added.
Support for UK renters coming 'very shortly'
One of the key measures missing from the UK government's financial response to the coronavirus (announced yesterday) was support for renters.
People who don't own the home they live in are - for the moment - still not exempt from paying rent to landlords , despite the government announcing a policy of mortgage holidays for owners.
Now Business Secretary Alok Sharma has told BBC Radio 4's Today programme the government will announce measures to help renters "very shortly".
"The chancellor said very clearly yesterday at the despatch box... we are looking very actively at this, the housing secretary will be coming forward again very shortly to set out measures of how we will support renters," he said.
India says 276 citizens infected in other countries
More from India now, and the country's foreign ministry says more than 200 of its citizens have contracted Covid-19 in other countries.
This includes a group of 255 Indians who are in Iran, a spokesman told parliament.
Those infected with the coronavirus are not allowed to travel, and so will have to be treated in the countries they are currently in.
India has suspended most visas for foreigners and banned all travel from several countries including the UK, EU and Malaysia in an effort to curb the spread of the virus.
The health ministry says there are 130 active cases of Covid-19 in the country, but public health officials warn the country has tested far too few people.
US papers hit out at Chinese expulsion of journalists
US newspapers have hit out at China's decision to expel at least 13 of their reporters.
The journalists, who are US citizens, carried out in-depth reporting on the coronavirus epidemic in China when it was still in its early stages.
They work for the New York Times, the Washington Post and the Wall Street Journal.
The New York Times said it was a grave mistake for China to cut itself off, while the Wall Street Journal called the expulsion an unprecedented attack on press freedom.
China said they would expel the reporters in response to restrictions placed on Chinese journalists working in the US.
The latest on coronavirus in the Middle East
Iran - which is the country in the region hardest hit so far, with almost 1,000 deaths reported - is considering whether to free Americans detained there “as a humanitarian gesture”, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said on Tuesday. The detainees were at risk of being infected with the Covid-19 virus in Iran’s crowded jails, he warned. He spoke after the British-Iranian charity worker Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe was temporarily released for two weeks.
In Iraq, a seven-day curfew has begun in the capital, Baghdad, as the authorities struggle to contain of the spread of the virus which has claimed nine lives there. However, there were reports on Wednesday morning of groups of Shia Muslim pilgrims walking in the streets in an attempt to reach the shrine of the revered Imam Mousa al-Kadhim, which is in the Kadhimiya area. The lockdown coincides with an annual commemoration of the imam’s death.
The authorities in Israel have reported 427 confirmed cases of Covid-19 - up 27% from Tuesday. This is believed to be because testing has been stepped up. The Magen David Adom ambulance service had planned to open its first 24-hour “drive through” testing station in Tel Aviv on Wednesday morning. However, that has been delayed by a shortage of testing kits and swaps, according to Channel 13 television. People have already been told to stay at home except for essential tasks like buying food and medicine.
Saudi Arabia said on Tuesday night that it would convene a virtual summit next week of the leaders of the G20 group of major economies to discuss the pandemic. The leaders “will put forward a co-ordinated set of policies to protect people and safeguard the global economy".
Tokyo 2020 organisers respond to frustrated athletes
Olympic organisers have warned "no solution will be ideal" in preparing for Tokyo 2020 after being accused of putting athletes "in danger".
The summer showpiece is scheduled to begin on 24 July despite the relentless cancellation of sporting events as a result of the coronavirus outbreak.
Olympic champion Katerina Stefanidi said the International Olympic Committee was "risking our health".
Britain's Katarina Johnson-Thompson said training had become "impossible". More
Here's the latest from Europe @ 10:23
An EU travel ban for non-EU citizens has come into force, and the first travellers - who landed in Frankfurt from Turkey this morning - have been turned away at the border.
- In Poland, there's reportedly a 40km traffic queue at the border as people rush to get back home.
- Ursula von der Leyen, president of the European Commission, has admitted that political leaders initially "underestimated" the virus. In an interview with German newspaper Bild, she also said: "We understand that measures that seemed drastic two or three weeks ago, need to be taken now."
- People in Belgium have been told to stay at home from midday (11:00 GMT) - but are allowed to go to banks, grocery stores, and for runs and bike rides.
- Russian schools are going to have a three-week holiday from Monday, and Swedish high schools have closed.
- German car companies Volkswagen, Opel and Daimler have shut down their plants in response to the virus.
- Italy and France are cracking down on people who violate the lockdowns in their respective countries. France is bringing in fines of up to €375 after thousands were found to have gone out without their required permits.
- Most public transport in Ukraine is shutting down, and only buses and trams are allowed in cities.
- King Felipe VI of Spain is going to address the nation tonight at 21:00 (20:00 GMT).
Huge queues and little food on Polish border
Traffic queues at Poland’s border crossings are stretching for up to 50km with some people having to wait for more than 24 hours following the introduction of checks at midnight on Saturday to try to slow the spread of the coronavirus.
Foreigners are temporarily banned from entering the country and returning Polish citizens must be quarantined for 14 days. Border guards wearing protective suits and face masks are taking the temperature of everyone crossing the border.
Thousands of foreigners are leaving Poland to return home – on Monday, 8,500 left, mostly Ukrainian migrant workers – and thousands of Poles are trying to get back in.
And then there’s the trucks. The borders are still open to goods, but the authorities did not create special lanes for truck drivers to cross, so everyone is stuck in one line. They are now trying to do so following a request from the European Commission.
At the crossing in Jedrzychowice on the German border this morning, people in cars are waiting up to 16 hours and truck drivers up to 30 hours, according to Poland’s Border Guard.
People have been stuck in their vehicles overnight, many with nothing to eat or drink and with no access to toilets. Volunteers have been taking people water, hot drinks, fruit and sandwiches.
Pakistani and Chinese leaders shake hands
Back to China now, and it seems like not every leader is following the no handshake rule, as Chinese President Xi Jinping and his Pakistani counterpart Arif Alvi were pictured shaking hands in Beijing.During their meeting, Mr Alvi said “some forces” were using the outbreak to stigmatise and isolate China, but they would not succeed.
BBC suspends TV soap filming
Filming for popular UK soap operas has been suspended following the latest government measures to curb coronavirus.
The BBC said production on EastEnders, Casualty, Doctors, Holby City, Welsh drama Pobol y Cwm and BBC Scotland's River City will all be halted.
Meanwhile EastEnders' episodes will now just air on Mondays at 8pm and Tuesdays at 7:30pm with immediate effect. This is to make the existing recorded episodes last as long as possible.
'It’s alarming': UK doctors plead for testing
Changes to the way the UK chooses who is tested for coronavirus have been controversial.
A new policy means only those in hospital or in a residential care setting will have access the screening as testing in Britain ramps up.
But doctors within the National Health Service say they are desperate to be tested themselves so that any symptoms they - or those they live with - have can be ruled out as Covid-19.
Iszy Lord, 25, works at a hospital in Grimsby and lives with five other doctors - they are all self-isolating for 14 days after some of them returned from a ski trip and developed symptoms.
She told the BBC: "We’re young and fit whereas our colleagues are much older. We’re just the sort of people who should be working in hospital right now.
“The potential implications for self-isolating people without testing are huge. What’s going to happen if anyone gets anything resembling a cold for the next few months, are we going to have to self-isolate for 14 days each time? It’s alarming.
“The NHS is busy and overstretched. If we are tested and don’t have the virus, we could be back at work in 2-3 days rather than two weeks."
Beer brand BrewDog switches to sanitiser
Many readers in the UK have told us that they haven't been able to find hand sanitiser here in the shops. We've reported on how a gin distillery in Scotland is planning to produce alcohol-based hand sanitiser after it was approached by local care partnerships - and now beer brand BrewDog says it's launched a similar effort.
"To help with the shortages, we have just started working on making hand sanitiser at our distillery in Scotland. We are determined to do everything we can to try and help as many people as possible stay safe.It's time to keep it clean," it wrote on Instagram. BrewDog said it is giving the product to those who need it without charge.
UK MPs concerned over Prime Minister's Questions
Members of the UK Parliament have said they are concerned about the weekly Prime Minister's Questions due to take place at 12:00GMT today.
MPs have told BBC Radio 5 Live's Emma Barnett that the PMQs session - which attracts hundreds in the House of Commons at Westminster - should adapt to social-distancing measures.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson has advised the public to avoid large crowds.
Nick Thomas-Symonds, the shadow minister for security, said: "I have concerns as well, I am not sure how long this can continue. There are ways around this where you can still hold the government to account."
The Scottish National Party said its MPs would try to spread out across the green benches.
Conservative MP Michael Fabricant tweeted to say the party's whips had asked that only those chosen to ask Mr Johnson a question should sit in the chamber:
Further to our earlier post about PMQs, it looks like the concern has now been understood.It seems Westminster is now a major hotspot for covid19UK.
How long before a Cabinet Member goes down with it?
Yesterday, a colleague suddenly sneezed in the House of Commons Chamber before he could catch it in his hands, let alone a tissue.
I’ll watch PMQs from my office!
Now I won't be the only one. The Whips have now wisely asked that in order to ensure that we follow the advice being given to the public, it has been decided that only people on the Order Paper should be in the Chamber for both Northern Ireland and Prime Ministers Questions.
MPs have been told to stay away from the Commons for the half-hour scrutiny session unless they have proposed a question in advance - around 15 or so are listed on the order paper.
Conservative whips - party managers - sent a message to MPs saying the move was to “ensure that we follow advice being given to the public”.
Labour MPs were told the government was “trying to avoid crowding the chamber” and asked those who were attending to “space yourselves out".
Venice canals clearer after lockdown
Residents of Venice are noticing a vast improvement in the quality of the famous canals that run through the city, which are running clear for the first time in years, and fish can even be seen in the usually murky waters.
The coronavirus lockdown has left Venice streets empty, and a drastic drop in water traffic means sediment in the canals has been able to settle.
Total number of cases passes 200,000
The number of coronavirus cases worldwide has now passed 200,000, according to the latest figures from Johns Hopkins University.
The total is now 201,530 confirmed cases, and 8,007 deaths.
China still has the highest number of confirmed cases (81,102), while Italy has the second highest with 31,506.
PM questioned over sick pay during virus outbreak
Jeremy Corbyn asks whether the government will now increase UK statutory sick pay to "European levels" to help people cope with the economic effects of the crisis.
Boris Johnson replies that the government will be bringing forward further measures to support "workers of all kinds" throughout the crisis.
Following up, Mr Corbyn says other countries are doing more and says the current statutory sick pay rate in the UK of £94 per week is not enough. He says all workers should get "enhanced" sick pay.
Mr Johnson says it is right the government does "whatever it takes" to support workers.
Jeremy Corbyn makes a final point on statutory sick pay, saying to tackle it there must be a "recognition of social injustice and inequalities that exist in this country".
He says by not extending it to all workers - especially those on zero-hour contracts working in social care - people will be put at risk.
Mr Corbyn moves onto the issue of private renters, saying the UK chancellor "offered nothing to 20 million people living in rented homes".
He adds: "They are worried, worried sick they can't pay rent if they get ill."
Boris Johnson praises his opposite number for making "a series of powerful points" and promises to "bring forward legislation to protect private renters".
Corbyn: Make NHS worker tests a priority
Mr Corbyn then moves onto the issue of testing NHS workers for the coronavirus.
"NHS staff are on the front line," he says. "However, sadly those workers have no idea if they are actually transmitting the virus themselves.
"Can the prime minister please explain why the government isn't prioritising testing of all healthcare staff?"
But the PM says those workers are a priority, claiming the UK is also ahead of other countries in the amount of testing it is doing.
Mr Johnson also says "we are getting much closer to having a generally available test" to see if people have already had the disease.
Johnson: Further decision on schools 'imminent'
Boris Johnson answers a question on schools by saying more action will be taken "imminently".
More than 849m children out of school globally - UN
More on the issue of school closures - and the UN's cultural and education arm Unesco says more than 100 countries have implemented nationwide school and university closures. These closures mean that 849 million children and young people worldwide are not in their usual classes, according to the agency. China is the worst-hit country with more than 233 million children affected, while Pakistan is in second with more than 44 million.
England to double testing
Testing for coronavirus is to be more than doubled in England. Commercial equipment will be brought in to boost the capacity currently available in the NHS and via Public Health England.
Only last week it was announced that capacity would be raised from 2,000 per day to 10,000 using hospital labs to back up work in public health laboratories.
Here's the latest from Africa
The pandemic does not appear to have affected Africa on the same scale as Asia or Europe but new cases continue to emerge.
- Nigeria has placed a travel ban on people coming from 13 countries worst affected by coronavirus as five new cases are recorded in Africa's most-populous nation
- South African President Cyril Ramaphosa has met leaders of the country's main political parties and has appealed for solidarity in the fight against coronavirus. The country has confirmed 116 cases. Meanwhile, in Cape Town, more than 1,700 people are waiting to learn when they will be allowed to leave a cruise ship, after six people with symptoms of the virus were taken ashore for testing
- Kenya has confirmed three more cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to seven. Health Minister Mutahi Kagwe says all the cases are people who arrived from outside the country.
- Egypt has confirmed that two patients with coronavirus have died, bringing the total death toll to six. Confirmed positive cases now stand at 196. Since the outbreak began, 26 patients in Egypt have recovered from the virus and have been discharged from the isolation hospitals, health officials say
- Tanzania's semi-autonomous archipelago of Zanzibar has confirmed its first case of coronavirus, the East African nation's Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said. Mainland Tanzania has reported three cases
- Tunisia has imposed a curfew 12 hours a day, to try to curb the spread of the coronavirus. The country has confirmed 24 cases of the virus. More than 2,000 recent travellers are in self-quarantine, according to official figures
- Burkina Faso has announced its first death from Covid-19. The authorities say the patient was a diabetic woman aged 62 years. The West African nation has confirmed a total of 26 cases
- The number of confirmed cases of coronavirus in Ghana has increased to seven. The authorities have said that all coronavirus patients are recovering
WHO urges Middle Eastern states to share information about cases
The World Health Organization's Middle East director has appealed to countries there to share more information.
Dr Ahmed al-Mandhari said the agency’s teams had observed “uneven approaches across the region” and that much more should be done.
Wales to shut all schools from Friday
All schools in Wales will be closed from Friday, the Welsh government has announced. Several schools have already closed due to either suspected cases of coronavirus or because of staffing issues.
The Welsh government is the first UK administration to make the decision. School holidays were due to start on 6 April.
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