by Summary for 23rd March
- Canada and Australia say they will not send teams to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Earlier, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said an Olympic postponement "may become inevitable"
- UK government thinking "very, very actively" about stricter policies on social distancing
- 81 people with the virus have died in the UK, with 5,683 cases in total
- Passenger flights to Dubai International Airport are to be suspended
- South Korea reports lowest number of new cases in weeks
- Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein tests positive for Covid-19 in prison
- 340,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with nearly 15,000 deaths and almost 100,000 people recovering
These measures will be in place for at least four weeks.
All non-essential services such as pubs and gyms are being closed, and restaurants will now be takeaway only.
As businesses grind to a halt, long queues of people seeking government assistance have formed outside welfare offices.
It's been exacerbated by the website which administers them, My.gov.au, crashing amid massive demand.
Authorities have urged people to persist with online applications.
"Please consider the health and safety of our customers and staff and do not visit our service centres unless there's a critical need for you to be there," a statement by Services Australia says.
Canadian Olympic Committee has called on the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Games for one year, according to a Reuters report.
Team Canada said it would not send its athletes to Tokyo 2020 due to the coronavirus risk - adding that the world is "in the midst of a global health crisis far more significant than sport".
He said the country might have "no option but to consider postponing the games", but added that cancellation was not an option.
This is a dramatic shift from what he had said earlier last week. He had then confidently announced that Japan would "overcome the spread of the infection and host the Olympics without problem".
The Olympics are due to be held in the capital Tokyo this July.
Like several other Asian countries, Singapore managed to control an initial wave of infections but is now seeing a second wave. The government has now imposed strict measures such as banning all tourists and even some work pass holders from returning.
He said his investment would be pumped in over the next weeks and months.
Japan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has for the first time acknowledged that the Tokyo Olympic games may have to be postponed. Speaking this morning in the Japanese parliament Mr Abe said a postponement might have to be considered if the games cannot be held safely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The games are currently due to open on 24 July.
Prime Minister Abe’s statement is an acknowledgement of what has been obvious to many here for some time. The Covid-19 pandemic means the Tokyo games probably cannot be go ahead on time in July. Mr Abe’s statement came hours after the International Olympic Committee said it was making contingency plans including the possibility of postponing the games. But Mr Abe and IOC say no final decision will be made for another month.
That is still too slow for some countries. Canada’s Olympic Committee has now declared it will not send a team to the Tokyo games unless they are postponed by at least a year. Other national Olympic committees may now follow.
For Japan a delay will be bad, but a cancellation would be far worse. Japan is estimated to have spent around $30 billion US dollars to host the games. That is why Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly said he wants to games to be held in full – with all athletes and spectators present.
In a statement, he said he was "aware... a postponement will present a range of new issues... but when the world does come together [the] Games can be a true celebration of sport and humanity".
New Zealand's Olympic Committee President had earlier written an open letter to the country's national team.
In it, Mike Stanley said that athletes needed "a safe and fair playing field to compete and right now, the widespread and evolving impact of Covid-19 is not allowing that to happen".
He urged the IOC to finalise their decision "as soon as possible".
The move will result in 138 SIA and SilkAir planes being grounded - out of a fleet of 147.
Its low-cost carrier Scoot will also suspend most of its network, grounding 47 out of 49 planes.
The group called the outbreak the "greatest challenge [it] has faced in its existence".
The questions it will try to answer later on Monday are: "How will it work? How do I get the money? What will it mean for my business and my staff?"
Many returnees lined up for special taxis at the airport last week to take them home or to facilities to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
Still, with 169 cases and two deaths as of Sunday, Taiwan is doing far better than many countries, especially given its proximity to China and high rate of travel among its population.
Health officials here are now working hard to isolate newly confirmed cases, but also find people they had come in contact with, so they can test, quarantine and stop the disease spreading into the community.
Weinstein, who is currently serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has been placed in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.
A state prison official said two prisoners at the Wende Facility had also tested positive for the virus.
Weinstein, who was found guilty of rape and sexual assault last month, is now being held at the Wende Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
Before arriving at Wende, he had spent time at Rikers Island, a prison in New York City, and a hospital where he was treated for heart problems and chest pains.
The curfew is from 7pm to 6am for 21 days according to state news agency SPA.
Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates has suspended all passenger and transit flights in and out of the country.
All shopping centres will shut and restaurants will only do delivery services.
The carrier said 85% of its passenger planes were not currently in use.
It comes after Turkey banned flights from more than 60 countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement by Turkish Airlines follows similar moves by major airlines around the world.
The article is reportedly seen as a warning to officials - it warned them against seeking privileges, saying the rules applied equally to everyone with no exceptions.
North Korea claims there are no virus cases in the country, though this has been seriously questioned by experts.
Here's what some Asian countries did, and what the West could learn from it.
That includes the capital, Delhi - a city of more than 18 million people, spread across nearly 1,500 sq km (572 sq miles). It has reported 29 active cases so far.
All shops, schools, offices and factories have been closed here until 31 March; public transport, such as buses, metro stations, taxis and auto-rickshaws have all stopped running; and the city has also sealed its borders with neighbouring states.
Only “essential services”, which includes emergency services, groceries, pharmacies, water and power supply, and the media, are allowed to function - and only their employees can use buses or drive their own vehicles.
The city has also invoked a colonial-era law that prohibits a gathering of more than four people.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," the city's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday evening.
But health officials have warned that this is not the time to be complacent and that the country faces a long war against the infection.
The government sent out emergency alerts at the weekend urging people to stay away from places which encourage mass gatherings such as churches, karaoke rooms, nightclubs and gyms. They also asked religious leaders to check the temperature of followers and keep them at least 2m apart during any services they deemed necessary.
In fact a number of churches are now facing legal action after violating such guidelines.
Sixty-four new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the last 24 hours taking the total number of infected patients in the country to 8,961 and 111 people have died.
As it stands, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government says schools are open and students should go, but that it’s ultimately up to parents.
The two most populous states have different positions.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian agrees schools should be open, but is encouraging parents to keep children at home. Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews goes even further, saying schools will be closed from Tuesday – arguing shutting them is inevitable.
You can sense parents' frustration on social media, many slamming leaders for inconsistent and unclear messages.
At a time when clarity is crucial in the country's bid to slow coronavirus, when it comes to schools, many families are just not sure what to do.
Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted they would start distribution on Monday.
Experts have warned that Africa's struggling health infrastructure would not be able to cope if the virus becomes established there.
The region has reported about 1,100 cases spread across 43 countries, with 39 deaths.
Only one parent needs to be a key worker for the exemption to apply.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said sending a child to school should be seen "as a last resort".
"It is likely that more children than expected will turn up at school," he said.
Mary Bousted - join leader of another teachers' group, the National Education Union - urged everyone to "play fair".
"There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents," she said.
Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said hundreds on board the MSC Magnifica had reported "upper respiratory illness" - none of them have yet been confirmed to have Covid-19.
Mr McGowan said that these passengers were from "overseas - Germany, France and Italy".
He said overseas passengers would not be allowed off the ship. There are around 1,700 passengers in total. The cruise liner is due to dock as early as today.
Last week, hundreds of passengers disembarked off the Ruby Princess in downtown Sydney, despite confirmed cases of the virus on board.
At his daily news conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said new, stricter measures may now be introduced.
"I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours," he said.
"We need to think about the kind of measures we've seen elsewhere - other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people's movements altogether."
A police statement said they had arrested 1,754 people for curfew violations. A majority of these, the statement said, had been "aimlessly loitering" on the roads.
Others had been arrested for gathering at playgrounds and drinking, drunk and disorderly behaviour and for opening their shops for trade.
With 87 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Sunday evening, officials are worried that the country's healthcare system will not be able to cope with a full-blown outbreak.
Dubai international airport saw 86.4 million passengers in 2019. It's also home to Emirates - one of the world's biggest airlines. Emirates has now also announced that it will suspend all passenger flights by 25 March.
It comes as all shopping and commercial centres are set to close in the next 48 hours. However stores selling essential goods,including supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain open.
Restaurants will have their service limited to deliveries.
"Considering the recent coronavirus cases in the country and the commitment shown by stakeholders in the health sector", they would suspend their strike, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors said in a statement.
Nigeria confirmed four new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to 30.
Sindh accounts for 352 of the country’s 799 people who have so far tested positive.
Of these, 130 cases are located in Karachi - the country’s largest business and industrial hub with a population of 15 million.
Recent test results have shown that while most coronavirus cases in Sindh originated from cross-border travel to Iran, more than 80 have been found to have been caused by local transmission – that is, among people who had no recent travel history.
All public parks, main markets and public transport have been ordered to shut, though medical and grocery stores will remain open during certain hours while journalists and newspaper hawkers have been allowed free movement to counter what a government official called “the spread of fake news.”
Beginning Tuesday, the province will also shut down its two main airports – at Karachi and Sukkur – for domestic flights. International traffic has already been shut across the country.
These measures are at odds with the federal government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, which is still reluctant to declare a country-wide lockdown.
The city's governor had on Friday declared a state of emergency, announcing that public entertainment spaces like bars, cinemas and restaurants would be shut on Monday until 2 April.
Public transport operators are also limiting their services - with operating hours cut down in a bid to reduce passenger numbers.
But on Monday, a Twitter user posted this photo showing the reality of the situation.
"It is this crowded in the train at 05:52am," says this caption.https://twitter.com/amorabethari/status/1241878098330537984
Later today, however, MPs will debate strengthening these measures with emergency legislation giving them additional powers.
Under the proposed new legislation, airports could shut and police would be able to force people with symptoms of the virus to isolate.
The powers would be time-limited for two years, and it's expected that MPs will approve them.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the government would "very actively" consider tougher anti-virus measures over the following 24 hours.
Mr Zuckerberg said the masks had been bought in case the US wildfires continued, and that it was the company's emergency reserve.
The US has seen a surge in demand for masks as the outbreak continues to grow rapidly across the country.
In a statement on Monday, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said no new trials would start and that ongoing trials would be paused while arrangements were put in place so they can continue safely.
Last week, it was announced that no new trials expected to last three days or more would go ahead amid the deepening coronavirus crisis.
"American leaders are lying" he said in a televised speech. "If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is lift sanctions... then we can deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
"You have blocked Iran's oil exports, you have stopped Iran's banking transactions.. your help offer is the biggest lie in history."
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the US's offer of assistance yesterday.
More than 1,700 people have died of the virus in Iran, and there are more than 21,000 confirmed cases.
Good morning UK, here are some of the key developements (@ 7:38)
Good morning to those joining us in the UK and around the world.There have been numerous developments over the weekend and already today in the UK. Here is a quick summary::
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All bars, pubs and entertainment venues will also be asked to shut, the sources told the news outlet ahead of an expected announcement by the city's leader Carrie Lam later this afternoon.
Hong Kong is already quarantining all people arriving from abroad, and mainland China, for 14 days.
The city's leader Carrie Lam said in a news conference that all foreigners would be banned for the next 14 days.
The new measures will kick in on Wednesday.
"At Costa Coffee our number one priority is the safety of our store teams and customers," it said in a statement, "As the need to support social distancing increases, we have taken the decision to temporarily close our stores."
The company said it would "do its best" to keep Costa stores open in hospitals, where it would continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to NHS workers.
All staff members whose store has closed will be paid their full average weekly pay for eight weeks.
Some stores had already moved to takeaway only. This picture was taken at London Paddington station on Friday.
We're bringing you some of the new lines to emerge. Such as...
He says those who are flouting advice to keep away from others are "very selfish", and that the consequence of their actions "costs lives and it means that for everyone this will go on for longer".
It comes after crowds were pictured at busy markets, beaches and other sites across the UK.
He has defended Prime Minister Boris Johnson from criticism that he had not taken enough action, saying all ministers were working "every day from first thing in the morning to last thing at night... we are doing everything we possibly can to keep people safe".
In a press conference on Monday, the city's leader Carrie Lam said the government would look at changing the law to enable authorities to ban bars and restaurants from selling alcohol, broadcaster RTHK reports.
It comes after at least five people, who later tested positive for the virus, were found to have visited the popular party district of Lan Kwai Fong, said news site South China Morning Post.
The two cases are both men, aged 79 and 63, who returned to Gaza from Pakistan this weekend, travelling via Egypt.
They are now in quarantine in the town of Rafah, on the border with Egypt. Officials said everyone they had come into contact with had also been placed in isolation.
About two million people live in Gaza's overcrowded refugee camps and cities. If the virus spreads, it would be an additional burden on the territory's already-overstretched health system.
Speaking in the West Bank yesterday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh ordered people to stay at home for two weeks from Sunday night, with the exception of essential workers - medical staff, pharmacists, grocers and bakers. Others are only allowed to leave home to buy essentials.
While BBC News is committed to bringing you the very latest developments from around the world, we're also focusing on some of the brilliant demonstrations of community spirit across the UK today.
And we've been hearing about a lot.
From the man who proposed in the aisles of Iceland supermarket rather than on a planned trip abroad, to the free community kitchens popping up across the West Midlands, there are so many positive examples of people helping each other.
Read more about the people making a difference on the ground by joining our alternative live page here .
Countries in the Middle East continue to wrestle with the virus, and many are further escalating their responses.
Here are the main headlines from the region.
A new decree from Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte closing down all businesses deemed non-essential is designed to reduce numbers of people mixing.
Around 100 categories of companies can stay open, ranging from food production to chemicals, energy to paper, car parts to the manufacturing of coffins.
Italians are also now banned from leaving their own town to travel within the country. And in the northern region of Lombardy, the country's worst hit, all outdoor exercise is prohibited.
The government will ask MPs to back the bill later.
However, it will introduced an amendment to ensure the powers must be renewed every six months, our assistant political editor Norman Smith reports.
Some MPs - including former cabinet minister David Davis - had expressed concern that the powers in the bill were so extensive that there should be some sort of time limit to the legislation.
The Coronavirus Bill will be debated in Parliament later. Read more about what it involves here .
But he was caught partying in the capital, Taipei, on Sunday.
Officials called his behaviour “malicious” and charged him with the maximum fine possible.
“Those who are caught going out to places that have big crowds and are not well ventilated will be sent to a centralised epidemic prevention facility and fined NT$1 million,” New Taipei city mayor Hou Yu-ih said.
“I will not be soft-handed,” he added.
Taiwan has been praised for keeping its confirmed cases low, despite its proximity to China. It has reported 195 cases so far and two deaths.
But despite having contained the virus, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong are now facing a second coronavirus wave, fuelled by people entering their borders.
This has prompted Taiwan to ban foreigners from entering and making it mandatory for its nationals returning to the country to self-quarantine for 14 days.
Reduced timetables across the country mean fewer services are operating from Monday. The move has been made because more people are working from home, and in order to free up tracks for freight trains to move products around the country.
The government has just announced that many ticket holders will be entitled to a refund.
Those with an advance ticket will be able to get a refund free of charge, while all season ticket holders can claim a refund "for time unused on their tickets free of administrative charges".
Ticket holders should contact their operator for details, the Department for Transport says.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the refunds were available "to ensure no-one is unfairly out of pocket for doing the right thing".
The aim is to re-open schools in two weeks. Meanwhile, spring has arrived and people are eager to enjoy themselves. The sense of solidarity that this is a battle to be won together is crumbling slightly.
The government is urgently reminding everyone to maintain social distance for the next 15 days. Officials are hoping their stark warnings will encourage people to stay in line.
Doctors, meanwhile, are discussing the next possible steps. The trace, test, treat approach will continue. But what happens when classrooms become infected? Do they isolate the entire school? Shut down all schools again?
The head of the National Medical Committee, Dr Oh Myoung-don, has told reporters that there could be another spike once schools re-open.
The paradox of South Korea’s success is that, having worked so hard to lower infection rates, their medics have to keep going.
It’s a bit like climbing a steep mountain without knowing how far the peak will be. The dire situation in Europe hangs over the country like a warning - that if they slip up just a bit, that could be their fate too.
"My dear, older Muscovites… grannies and grandads," he began, telling them that from Thursday, they should only go to work if their role was absolutely vital and only go outside to the chemist's or to get food.
Sergei Sobyanin said the coronavirus pandemic was "raging" on Russia’s borders, although he still insisted the situation inside the country was "more or less calm" for now.
That kind of messaging has created some confusion, even complacency, in recent weeks.
But the number of confirmed cases is now increasing on a familiar trajectory and is highest in Russia’s capital, at 262.
So Moscow is bracing itself. The streets are far quieter; schools, galleries and gyms are all closed. Many people, including the elderly, have already moved to their dachas, or country houses, where they’re hoping to sit out this crisis.
On Monday, officials in Belgium said Brussels police had issued 288 penalty fines in just 24 hours - the highest number since confinement rules came into force in the country. Those punished included couples eating in parks, people drinking beer outside cafes and bar owners refusing to shut up shop.
Authorities in France have issued thousands of fines, and have deployed drones to enforce the strict lockdown rules. Some charities last week even alleged police had fined homeless people for not self-isolating, although this is unconfirmed.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Sunday a ban on all gatherings of more than two people who aren't family. It came just days after police in the state of Bavaria shut down a number of public "corona parties", organised by young people on social media. Premier Markus Söder called the gatherings "a real threat".
The nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "Most people will know, or are, a 60-year-old man with a heart condition. If that man gets coronavirus, statistically he's going to die. So think about that - do you want to lose your uncle, your dad, or your own life?
"Everyone will end up knowing someone who has either had it or even died from it. This is not a joke."
He also said that while nurses know their career is "going to be stressful" when they go into it, right now it's "a completely unknown entity".
"We can try our best, and we are. But the problem is that we don't know how bad it's going to get - so how can we really say we're prepared when we don't know the extent of the situation?"
If things in the UK get as bad as in Italy, he adds, "no healthcare system can prepare for that".
On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said restaurants and cafes must close on Friday, but exempted takeaway food and drink.
Among those to shut their doors to customers for both eat-in and takeaway are:
Retailers have also been hit as the impact of new measures to tackle the coronavirus are rolled out.
Angel Gurría, OECD secretary general, said the economic shock was already bigger than the financial crisis. He told the BBC it was "wishful thinking" to believe that countries would bounce back quickly.
The OECD has called on governments to rip up spending rules to ensure speedy testing and treatment of the virus.
So far, the numbers are small compared to other parts of the world, as it is at an earlier stage of the pandemic.
Brazil and Ecuador are the most affected in the region so far, with 25 and 14 deaths respectively.
Here are some of the latest announcements:
Here are some of the most significant developments:
The IOC has given itself four weeks to decide on the future of the event.
Options include a delay of several months or - more probably - a year. The IOC says cancellation is "not on the agenda". A "scaled-down" Games will also be considered.
The Olympics are scheduled start in Tokyo on 24 July.
In Spain's Canary Islands, the authorities have launched a campaign to help victims of domestic abuse. Women in danger can go to a pharmacy and say the words Mascarilla-19, or Mask-19 in English, to alert staff that they need
Social media users have praised the scheme, and other local governments across the country have said they want to copy it.
In the last few years Spain has seen a number of high-profile cases of both domestic and sexual abuse, prompting mass protests.
help.
, airports could be shut and people held on public health grounds
[*]Health Secretary Matt Hancock will be speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme shortly after 08:00
[*]His appearance comes after he acknowledged problems in getting of personal protective equipment to NHS staff in England
[*]There were 101 new UK deaths caused by coronavirus announced over the weekend, taking the total number to 281 - including a person aged 18 with an underlying health condition
[*]
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the latest Formula 1 race to be postponed. The street race in Azerbaijan's capital Baku was set to take place on 7 June.
It is the eighth race to be called off at the start of the 2020 World Championship season. The Canadian Grand Prix, on 14 June, is the first race on the schedule that has not been postponed.
India’s government has said no domestic flights will take off from the early hours of Wednesday onwards.
This will bring Indian airports to a standstill as international flights to India have already been cancelled.
The ban on flights coming from abroad came into effect on Sunday and is set to last for one week, but it could be extended.
It’s unclear as yet how long domestic air travel will remain suspended.
Trains across the country have also been cancelled, and several states have shut their borders, severely limiting people’s ability to travel within the country.
The unprecedented measures come as the number of active Covid-19 cases in India reaches 415. Seven deaths have been reported so far.
Ischgl, a ski resort in Austria's Tyrol province, has been linked with hundreds of cases of coronavirus. Now Tyrol's government has asked state prosecutors to investigate whether a business at the resort failed to tell authorities about an infection at the end of February.
Austrian, German and Scandinavian health officials have all traced cases back to the tiny town, but it only shut for business last week.
There are signs Germany's infection curve - reflecting rise in the number of cases - may be becoming less steep, according to the head of the country’s public health institute.
"We are seeing signs that the exponential growth curve is flattening off slightly," Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control, told reporters.
"But I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday. But I am optimistic that the measures are already having an effect, which is very early because they have only been in place for a week."
Efforts to reduce the spread of the virus in the country have included school closures, hygiene measures such as hand-washing and restrictions on public gatherings.
The RKI reported earlier on Monday that the country now had 22,672 cases of Covid-19 - an increase of 4,062 on the previous day - and that 86 people had died so far.
The doors are bolted shut at the compound that hosts al-Aqsa mosque and Jerusalem’s iconic Dome of the Rock.
At midday on Monday, two Muslim worshippers unrolled their prayer mats at one of the closed entrances to the plaza, and prayed on cobbled steps outside.
The holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, and is sacred to both religions.
Worshippers had been unable to enter the mosque itself for days, with prayer allowed only outside on the plaza as part of social distancing measures to counter coronavirus.
But on Sunday night the Waqf, the Islamic religious authority that administers the site, said Muslim worship would be suspended at all parts of the compound.
"We feel bitter at having to take this step but we were compelled to do so in order protect the lives and health of the public and to safeguard humanity, in compliance with the religious rulings in the Islamic world," the council said.
Israeli media reported that entry by Jewish visitors to the contested site would also be halted.
The compound is frequently at the centre of Jerusalem’s crackling tensions and is administered according to a status quo agreement involving Israel, neighbouring Jordan and the Waqf.
Under normal circumstances, any changes concerning access to the site can be politically explosive but the region has witnessed broad acceptance so far of measures to contain the virus' spread.
Empty shelves have been a common sight across British supermarkets of late.
With people being encouraged to stay indoors, many shoppers have looked to stock up - leading to some items temporarily running out of popular items.
Shoppers have been told to "be responsible" and think of others such as NHS workers, such as critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, who posted the video. .
But the supermarkets have been taking action, such as:
In addition, rules have also been relaxed to allow supermarkets to share resources, such delivery vans and staff, and to co-ordinate stock levels across the UK.
And as demand for online orders grows, many of the biggest supermarkets have said they are hiring thousands of staff.
Read more about how the way Britons shop has changed here .
Former Manchester United footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville believe the two hotels where they have invited NHS staff to stay for free during the coronavirus crisis will be full within the "next week or 10 days".
Their GG Hospitality group owns the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester city centre and Hotel Football, which is close to United's Old Trafford stadium. Thirty-five medical professionals have already used the accommodation.
"The Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has a contact point and any NHS worker who needs accommodation, whether at 02:00 or 10:00, can contact them and they message our staff at the hotel," Neville told the BBC. "This member of the medical professional will be given access to a room."
- Canada and Australia say they will not send teams to the 2020 Olympic and Paralympic Games
- Earlier, Japanese PM Shinzo Abe said an Olympic postponement "may become inevitable"
- UK government thinking "very, very actively" about stricter policies on social distancing
- 81 people with the virus have died in the UK, with 5,683 cases in total
- Passenger flights to Dubai International Airport are to be suspended
- South Korea reports lowest number of new cases in weeks
- Disgraced Hollywood producer Harvey Weinstein tests positive for Covid-19 in prison
- 340,000 confirmed cases worldwide, with nearly 15,000 deaths and almost 100,000 people recovering
- Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe says postponement of the Olympics may "become inevitable". It comes after the governor of Tokyo had earlier said that cancellation was "not an option"
- New Zealand has lifted the country's coronavirus alert status to level 3 - and is set to rise to level 4 which means all non-essential services will have to close. The changes will come into effect in around 48 hours
- A nationwide shut down across Australia has kicked in, with pubs, clubs, gyms, cinemas and places of worship shutting down, as the number of confirmed cases continues to rise
- Meanwhile in China, the number of new cases on Sunday has dropped to 39, down from 46 on Saturday
More than 330,000 confirmed cases worldwide
- China: 81,426
- Italy: 59,138
- US: 33,276
- Spain: 28,768
- Germany: 24,873
Almost 15,000 deaths worldwide so far
- Italy: 5,476
- Hubei province, China: 3,153
- Spain: 1,772
- Iran: 1,685
- France: 674
NZ to shut down services
New Zealand is the latest country to step up measures and within 48 hours the coronavirus alert will rise to Level 4. Here's what that means for the country:- Non-essential businesses, including bars, restaurants, cafes - must close
- Schools to close entirely
- Public transport only available for people in essential services
- People instructed to stay home
These measures will be in place for at least four weeks.
Massive Australian queues for welfare support
In the past hour it has ticked over midday in Australia – marking the official beginning of a nationwide shutdown.All non-essential services such as pubs and gyms are being closed, and restaurants will now be takeaway only.
As businesses grind to a halt, long queues of people seeking government assistance have formed outside welfare offices.
It's been exacerbated by the website which administers them, My.gov.au, crashing amid massive demand.
Authorities have urged people to persist with online applications.
"Please consider the health and safety of our customers and staff and do not visit our service centres unless there's a critical need for you to be there," a statement by Services Australia says.
Canada will not send athletes to Tokyo 2020
We've got more Olympics related news coming in.(1:44)Canadian Olympic Committee has called on the IOC to postpone the Tokyo Games for one year, according to a Reuters report.
Team Canada said it would not send its athletes to Tokyo 2020 due to the coronavirus risk - adding that the world is "in the midst of a global health crisis far more significant than sport".
Abe: Olympics could be postponed
Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has said postponing the Olympic Games could become an option if it was not possible to hold it in its "complete form".He said the country might have "no option but to consider postponing the games", but added that cancellation was not an option.
This is a dramatic shift from what he had said earlier last week. He had then confidently announced that Japan would "overcome the spread of the infection and host the Olympics without problem".
The Olympics are due to be held in the capital Tokyo this July.
The scene in Morocco
On Sunday, Morocco sent military vehicles into the streets to order people to stay at home. Police are also enforcing the message. A public health state of emergency went into effect on Friday.Singapore's new infection wave sees many cases from UK
Over the last few days, Singapore's number of "imported cases" - people who caught the virus overseas and entered the country - has begun outstripping cases of local transmission. Most of the imported cases are returning citizens and residents, and many travelled from the UK.Like several other Asian countries, Singapore managed to control an initial wave of infections but is now seeing a second wave. The government has now imposed strict measures such as banning all tourists and even some work pass holders from returning.
Richard Branson to inject $250 million
Virgin mogul Richard Branson will invest $250 million dollars into his business to "protect and save jobs". In a blog post on Sunday, he called the outbreak the "most significant crisis the world has experienced in my lifetime". He said his businesses had been badly affected, that many of his airlines had to ground planes, health clubs and hotels by the chain had closed and that all bookings to their holiday company had stopped.He said his investment would be pumped in over the next weeks and months.
'Japan finally acknowledges what's been obvious'
Rupert Wingfield-Hayes - BBC Tokyo correspondentJapan’s Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has for the first time acknowledged that the Tokyo Olympic games may have to be postponed. Speaking this morning in the Japanese parliament Mr Abe said a postponement might have to be considered if the games cannot be held safely because of the Covid-19 pandemic. The games are currently due to open on 24 July.
Prime Minister Abe’s statement is an acknowledgement of what has been obvious to many here for some time. The Covid-19 pandemic means the Tokyo games probably cannot be go ahead on time in July. Mr Abe’s statement came hours after the International Olympic Committee said it was making contingency plans including the possibility of postponing the games. But Mr Abe and IOC say no final decision will be made for another month.
That is still too slow for some countries. Canada’s Olympic Committee has now declared it will not send a team to the Tokyo games unless they are postponed by at least a year. Other national Olympic committees may now follow.
For Japan a delay will be bad, but a cancellation would be far worse. Japan is estimated to have spent around $30 billion US dollars to host the games. That is why Prime Minister Abe has repeatedly said he wants to games to be held in full – with all athletes and spectators present.
Pressure piles on Olympic decision-makers
To add to the pressure, Australia's Chef de Mission for Tokyo Ian Chesterman has said it is "clear the Games can't be held in July".In a statement, he said he was "aware... a postponement will present a range of new issues... but when the world does come together [the] Games can be a true celebration of sport and humanity".
New Zealand's Olympic Committee President had earlier written an open letter to the country's national team.
In it, Mike Stanley said that athletes needed "a safe and fair playing field to compete and right now, the widespread and evolving impact of Covid-19 is not allowing that to happen".
He urged the IOC to finalise their decision "as soon as possible".
Singapore Airlines cuts 96% of capacity
Singapore Airlines has slashed 96% of its capacity until the end of April, amid an unprecedented crisis in the airline industry.The move will result in 138 SIA and SilkAir planes being grounded - out of a fleet of 147.
Its low-cost carrier Scoot will also suspend most of its network, grounding 47 out of 49 planes.
The group called the outbreak the "greatest challenge [it] has faced in its existence".
Will the UK government rescue package be enough for firms?
The UK government has announced the biggest intervention in private sector business since World War Two to help fight the economic impact of the coronavirus.The questions it will try to answer later on Monday are: "How will it work? How do I get the money? What will it mean for my business and my staff?"
70,000 students coming back to Taiwan raises fears
Tens of thousands of overseas Taiwanese, including an estimated 70,000 students who were studying in Europe, are expected to return in the coming days - indeed many have begun doing so. There are worries they may significantly raise the number of confirmed cases here.Many returnees lined up for special taxis at the airport last week to take them home or to facilities to undergo 14 days of mandatory quarantine.
Still, with 169 cases and two deaths as of Sunday, Taiwan is doing far better than many countries, especially given its proximity to China and high rate of travel among its population.
Health officials here are now working hard to isolate newly confirmed cases, but also find people they had come in contact with, so they can test, quarantine and stop the disease spreading into the community.
Harvey Weinstein tests positive for virus - reports
Disgraced film producer Harvey Weinstein has tested positive for the coronavirus, according to Reuters quoting the head of the state corrections office union.Weinstein, who is currently serving a prison sentence for sexual assault and rape, has been placed in isolation at the Wende Correctional Facility in Alden, New York.
A state prison official said two prisoners at the Wende Facility had also tested positive for the virus.
Weinstein, who was found guilty of rape and sexual assault last month, is now being held at the Wende Correctional Facility in upstate New York.
Before arriving at Wende, he had spent time at Rikers Island, a prison in New York City, and a hospital where he was treated for heart problems and chest pains.
New York has 5% of Covid-19 cases worldwide
The city of New York has more than 15,000 confirmed cases of the coronavirus - accounting for roughly 5% of the cases worldwide.Saudi Arabia to impose nationwide curfew
Saudi Arabia's King Salman has ordered a nationwide curfew starting on Monday after a spike in coronavirus infections.The curfew is from 7pm to 6am for 21 days according to state news agency SPA.
Meanwhile the United Arab Emirates has suspended all passenger and transit flights in and out of the country.
All shopping centres will shut and restaurants will only do delivery services.
Turkish Airlines halts most international flights
We told you about dramatic moves from Singapore Airlines earlier, now Turkish Airlines has said it will halt all its international flights by Friday, except those to Hong Kong, Moscow, Ethiopia, New York and Washington.The carrier said 85% of its passenger planes were not currently in use.
It comes after Turkey banned flights from more than 60 countries due to the coronavirus pandemic.
The announcement by Turkish Airlines follows similar moves by major airlines around the world.
North Korea warns on quarantine
North Korea's state newspaper the Rodong Sinmun has called for "unconditional and absolute" adherence to coronavirus quarantine regulations, reported South Korean news outlet Yonhap.The article is reportedly seen as a warning to officials - it warned them against seeking privileges, saying the rules applied equally to everyone with no exceptions.
North Korea claims there are no virus cases in the country, though this has been seriously questioned by experts.
Lessons for the West, from Asia
For many in Europe, the virus outbreak has been a shocking new development with a rapid rise in cases in the last few weeks. But for many across Asia, the uncertainty and concerns around the coronavirus have been a part of life for almost three months.Here's what some Asian countries did, and what the West could learn from it.
India's capital - a city of 18 million - shuts down
As Covid-19 cases in India soared to 359 over the weekend, Indian cities have begun shutting down.That includes the capital, Delhi - a city of more than 18 million people, spread across nearly 1,500 sq km (572 sq miles). It has reported 29 active cases so far.
All shops, schools, offices and factories have been closed here until 31 March; public transport, such as buses, metro stations, taxis and auto-rickshaws have all stopped running; and the city has also sealed its borders with neighbouring states.
Only “essential services”, which includes emergency services, groceries, pharmacies, water and power supply, and the media, are allowed to function - and only their employees can use buses or drive their own vehicles.
The city has also invoked a colonial-era law that prohibits a gathering of more than four people.
"Extraordinary times call for extraordinary measures," the city's Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal tweeted on Sunday evening.
'Stay away from churches and karaoke rooms'
South Korea has reported the lowest number of new coronavirus cases since infection rates peaked four weeks ago, fuelling hope Asia’s worst outbreak outside China may be abating.But health officials have warned that this is not the time to be complacent and that the country faces a long war against the infection.
The government sent out emergency alerts at the weekend urging people to stay away from places which encourage mass gatherings such as churches, karaoke rooms, nightclubs and gyms. They also asked religious leaders to check the temperature of followers and keep them at least 2m apart during any services they deemed necessary.
In fact a number of churches are now facing legal action after violating such guidelines.
Sixty-four new cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the last 24 hours taking the total number of infected patients in the country to 8,961 and 111 people have died.
Most of China's imported cases come from the UK
Chinese state media Global Times has released figures today breaking down the country's imported virus cases. The UK leads this list, followed by Spain and Iran.Seeking consensus on schools? Don't ask Australia
Should children go to school? If Australian leaders hoped to provide clarity on that question, they have almost done the opposite.As it stands, Prime Minister Scott Morrison's government says schools are open and students should go, but that it’s ultimately up to parents.
The two most populous states have different positions.
New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian agrees schools should be open, but is encouraging parents to keep children at home. Victoria’s Premier Daniel Andrews goes even further, saying schools will be closed from Tuesday – arguing shutting them is inevitable.
You can sense parents' frustration on social media, many slamming leaders for inconsistent and unclear messages.
At a time when clarity is crucial in the country's bid to slow coronavirus, when it comes to schools, many families are just not sure what to do.
What's the situation like across South Asia?
Here's an update from a region which has only recently seen a spike in cases, but where experts have warned outbreaks may be particularly hard to control:- Cases soared in Pakistan to beyond 700, making it the country in South Asia with most cases. Authorities have banned all international flights and the province of Sindh, which has reported the highest number of cases, is under lockdown. Prime Minister Imran Khan: "Lock down yourself because if I lock down the entire country it will create a lot of problems".
- The Indian capital, Delhi, is also under lockdown until the end of March - you can read more about what this means in some of our earlier posts
- Two prison inmates have died in Sri Lanka during protests against curbing visitors as a measure to contain the virus. The island has seen 77 confirmed cases, prompting a temporary curfew.
- In Bangladesh, 25 people have tested positive for Covid-19 and authorities have banned all international flights and shut down schools and colleges.
Are you allowed to go on a walk in the UK?
And other virus related questions you might have, answered here.Chinese billionaire Jack Ma sends aid to Africa
Jack Ma, the man who co-founded e-commerce site Alibaba, has sent medical supplies to Africa.Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed tweeted they would start distribution on Monday.
Experts have warned that Africa's struggling health infrastructure would not be able to cope if the virus becomes established there.
The region has reported about 1,100 cases spread across 43 countries, with 39 deaths.
Sending children to school in UK 'should be last resort'
In the UK, schools are closed - except to the children of key workers, such as medics, police, and those involved in food distribution.Only one parent needs to be a key worker for the exemption to apply.
Geoff Barton, general secretary of the Association of School and College Leaders (ASCL), said sending a child to school should be seen "as a last resort".
"It is likely that more children than expected will turn up at school," he said.
Mary Bousted - join leader of another teachers' group, the National Education Union - urged everyone to "play fair".
"There may have to be some difficult conversations with parents," she said.
Cruise ship with sick passengers heads for Perth
A ship with more than 250 sick people is headed to the Australian city of Perth.Western Australia Premier Mark McGowan said hundreds on board the MSC Magnifica had reported "upper respiratory illness" - none of them have yet been confirmed to have Covid-19.
Mr McGowan said that these passengers were from "overseas - Germany, France and Italy".
He said overseas passengers would not be allowed off the ship. There are around 1,700 passengers in total. The cruise liner is due to dock as early as today.
Last week, hundreds of passengers disembarked off the Ruby Princess in downtown Sydney, despite confirmed cases of the virus on board.
UK thinking 'very actively' about stricter measures
The UK has shut down schools (for most children) and pubs, and has urged people to socially distance. But thousands of people flocked to parks and tourist hotspots over the weekend, drawing criticism online.At his daily news conference on Sunday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said new, stricter measures may now be introduced.
"I don't think you need to use your imagination very much to see where we might have to go, and we will think about this very very actively in the next 24 hours," he said.
"We need to think about the kind of measures we've seen elsewhere - other countries that have been forced to bring in restrictions on people's movements altogether."
Sri Lanka arrests nearly 2,000 people for violating curfew
Police in Sri Lanka have arrested nearly 2,000 people for violating a nationwide curfew that was declared on Friday.A police statement said they had arrested 1,754 people for curfew violations. A majority of these, the statement said, had been "aimlessly loitering" on the roads.
Others had been arrested for gathering at playgrounds and drinking, drunk and disorderly behaviour and for opening their shops for trade.
With 87 confirmed cases of coronavirus as of Sunday evening, officials are worried that the country's healthcare system will not be able to cope with a full-blown outbreak.
UAE to suspend all flights
The United Arab Emirates - home to the world's busiest international airport in Dubai - has announced that it will suspend all passenger and transit flights to and from the country for two weeks, starting from 25 March.Dubai international airport saw 86.4 million passengers in 2019. It's also home to Emirates - one of the world's biggest airlines. Emirates has now also announced that it will suspend all passenger flights by 25 March.
It comes as all shopping and commercial centres are set to close in the next 48 hours. However stores selling essential goods,including supermarkets and pharmacies, will remain open.
Restaurants will have their service limited to deliveries.
Nigeria doctors stop strike for 'humanity's sake'
Doctors who had gone on strike indefinitely in Nigeria after not being paid for months have called it off "for the sake of humanity"."Considering the recent coronavirus cases in the country and the commitment shown by stakeholders in the health sector", they would suspend their strike, the Nigeria Association of Resident Doctors said in a statement.
Nigeria confirmed four new cases of coronavirus on Sunday, bringing the total number of cases to 30.
The situation in Pakistan
Authorities in Pakistan’s southern Sindh province have ordered a 15-day lockdown in a bid to curb the spread of the coronavirus.Sindh accounts for 352 of the country’s 799 people who have so far tested positive.
Of these, 130 cases are located in Karachi - the country’s largest business and industrial hub with a population of 15 million.
Recent test results have shown that while most coronavirus cases in Sindh originated from cross-border travel to Iran, more than 80 have been found to have been caused by local transmission – that is, among people who had no recent travel history.
All public parks, main markets and public transport have been ordered to shut, though medical and grocery stores will remain open during certain hours while journalists and newspaper hawkers have been allowed free movement to counter what a government official called “the spread of fake news.”
Beginning Tuesday, the province will also shut down its two main airports – at Karachi and Sukkur – for domestic flights. International traffic has already been shut across the country.
These measures are at odds with the federal government led by Prime Minister Imran Khan, which is still reluctant to declare a country-wide lockdown.
Jakarta begins shut down
Indonesia's capital Jakarta - a city of more than 10 million people - began implementing shut down measures on Monday.The city's governor had on Friday declared a state of emergency, announcing that public entertainment spaces like bars, cinemas and restaurants would be shut on Monday until 2 April.
Public transport operators are also limiting their services - with operating hours cut down in a bid to reduce passenger numbers.
But on Monday, a Twitter user posted this photo showing the reality of the situation.
"It is this crowded in the train at 05:52am," says this caption.https://twitter.com/amorabethari/status/1241878098330537984
UK MPs to debate emergency powers
The UK is just waking up to another week of isolation and social distancing, brought in to try to stem the spread of the coronavirus.Later today, however, MPs will debate strengthening these measures with emergency legislation giving them additional powers.
Under the proposed new legislation, airports could shut and police would be able to force people with symptoms of the virus to isolate.
The powers would be time-limited for two years, and it's expected that MPs will approve them.
Yesterday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson warned the government would "very actively" consider tougher anti-virus measures over the following 24 hours.
Facebook to donate 720,000 masks
Tech giant Facebook has donated 720,000 masks to US health workers, its CEO Mark Zuckerberg has said.Mr Zuckerberg said the masks had been bought in case the US wildfires continued, and that it was the company's emergency reserve.
The US has seen a surge in demand for masks as the outbreak continues to grow rapidly across the country.
Jury trials on hold in England and Wales
All jury trials in England and Wales are to be put on hold, in response to the spread of the virus.In a statement on Monday, the Lord Chief Justice, Lord Burnett, said no new trials would start and that ongoing trials would be paused while arrangements were put in place so they can continue safely.
Last week, it was announced that no new trials expected to last three days or more would go ahead amid the deepening coronavirus crisis.
Iran tells US: 'Lift sanctions if you want to help'
Iranian President Hassan Rouhani has called US leaders "liars", and has told them to lift sanctions instead of offering aid."American leaders are lying" he said in a televised speech. "If they want to help Iran, all they need to do is lift sanctions... then we can deal with the coronavirus outbreak.
"You have blocked Iran's oil exports, you have stopped Iran's banking transactions.. your help offer is the biggest lie in history."
Ayatollah Ali Khamenei rejected the US's offer of assistance yesterday.
More than 1,700 people have died of the virus in Iran, and there are more than 21,000 confirmed cases.
Good morning UK, here are some of the key developements (@ 7:38)
Good morning to those joining us in the UK and around the world.There have been numerous developments over the weekend and already today in the UK. Here is a quick summary::
- Letters and texts will be sent to 1.5 million people in England who are most at risk of coronavirus to stay at home. If that's you, you can read more about what to expect here
- All new jury trials in England and Wales have been suspended to allow courthouses to put in place measures to aid social distancing
- McDonald's has said it will close all of its restaurants in the UK from 19:00 GMT. Nando's has also announced it has closed its restaurants
- Train operators will be operating a reduced timetable from today
- Teachers unions have followed Boris Johnson in pleading for workers to send their children to school or nursery only if absolutely necessary
- MPs will be asked to pass the Coronavirus Bill later. Some MPs have called for the powers to have a strict time limit
- Under the proposed legislation
[/list]
Hong Kong 'to ban all tourists'
Hong Kong will ban all tourists and transit travellers to the city, the South China Morning Post has reported, quoting sources.All bars, pubs and entertainment venues will also be asked to shut, the sources told the news outlet ahead of an expected announcement by the city's leader Carrie Lam later this afternoon.
Hong Kong is already quarantining all people arriving from abroad, and mainland China, for 14 days.
The city's leader Carrie Lam said in a news conference that all foreigners would be banned for the next 14 days.
The new measures will kick in on Wednesday.
Costa Coffee to close in UK
Costa Coffee is closing its stores in the UK from this evening."At Costa Coffee our number one priority is the safety of our store teams and customers," it said in a statement, "As the need to support social distancing increases, we have taken the decision to temporarily close our stores."
The company said it would "do its best" to keep Costa stores open in hospitals, where it would continue to provide free takeaway coffee for the next two weeks to NHS workers.
All staff members whose store has closed will be paid their full average weekly pay for eight weeks.
Some stores had already moved to takeaway only. This picture was taken at London Paddington station on Friday.
Britons ignoring guidance 'very selfish'
It's a busy morning for Health Secretary Matt Hancock. He has also been speaking on BBC Radio 4's Today programme.We're bringing you some of the new lines to emerge. Such as...
He says those who are flouting advice to keep away from others are "very selfish", and that the consequence of their actions "costs lives and it means that for everyone this will go on for longer".
It comes after crowds were pictured at busy markets, beaches and other sites across the UK.
New helpline for frontline staff without protective equipment
The UK health secretary says the UK has got to keep the NHS's 1.4 million workers safe. Matt Hancock says a shipment of protective equipment has been sent to each hospital in the UK and a new helpline has been set up for frontline workers "so we know where the shortages are".He has defended Prime Minister Boris Johnson from criticism that he had not taken enough action, saying all ministers were working "every day from first thing in the morning to last thing at night... we are doing everything we possibly can to keep people safe".
HK looking to ban sales of alcohol
We've got more news lines coming out of Hong Kong.In a press conference on Monday, the city's leader Carrie Lam said the government would look at changing the law to enable authorities to ban bars and restaurants from selling alcohol, broadcaster RTHK reports.
It comes after at least five people, who later tested positive for the virus, were found to have visited the popular party district of Lan Kwai Fong, said news site South China Morning Post.
First cases reported in Gaza
The first two cases of Covid-19 have been confirmed in the Palestinian territory of Gaza.The two cases are both men, aged 79 and 63, who returned to Gaza from Pakistan this weekend, travelling via Egypt.
They are now in quarantine in the town of Rafah, on the border with Egypt. Officials said everyone they had come into contact with had also been placed in isolation.
About two million people live in Gaza's overcrowded refugee camps and cities. If the virus spreads, it would be an additional burden on the territory's already-overstretched health system.
Speaking in the West Bank yesterday, Palestinian Prime Minister Mohammad Shtayyeh ordered people to stay at home for two weeks from Sunday night, with the exception of essential workers - medical staff, pharmacists, grocers and bakers. Others are only allowed to leave home to buy essentials.
The people making a difference
These are difficult and worrying times for all of us.While BBC News is committed to bringing you the very latest developments from around the world, we're also focusing on some of the brilliant demonstrations of community spirit across the UK today.
And we've been hearing about a lot.
From the man who proposed in the aisles of Iceland supermarket rather than on a planned trip abroad, to the free community kitchens popping up across the West Midlands, there are so many positive examples of people helping each other.
Read more about the people making a difference on the ground by joining our alternative live page here .
What's the latest from the Middle East?
Welcome to our readers across the world - particularly those joining us from self-isolation.Countries in the Middle East continue to wrestle with the virus, and many are further escalating their responses.
Here are the main headlines from the region.
- Saudi Arabia, which has the most cases in the Gulf outside of Iran, will introduce a three-week curfew from 19:00 to 06:00, starting Monday night
- Syria has confirmed its first case - a 20-year-old woman whom the health ministry says came into the country from abroad
- The world's busiest airport, Dubai International, will effectively shut down from 25 March when the UAE suspends all passenger and transit flights
- The Palestinian territory in the Gaza Strip, which is run by Hamas, confirms its first two cases of Covid-19 in two men who had returned from Pakistan via Egypt. It comes amid dire warnings of an outbreak in one of the world's most densely populated areas where the health system is in peril
- Iraq imposes a total lockdown until Saturday as the number of cases and the death toll there grow
- Iran's president dismisses as "one of the biggest lies in history" a US offer to help it fight the virus, and urges Washington to lift sanctions instead
Italy tightens up restrictions
Two weeks since the government imposed a nationwide lockdown, the restrictions are tightening further.A new decree from Prime Minister Giuseppe Conte closing down all businesses deemed non-essential is designed to reduce numbers of people mixing.
Around 100 categories of companies can stay open, ranging from food production to chemicals, energy to paper, car parts to the manufacturing of coffins.
Italians are also now banned from leaving their own town to travel within the country. And in the northern region of Lombardy, the country's worst hit, all outdoor exercise is prohibited.
New UK powers could be reviewed every six months
More now on the Coronavirus Bill which seeks to give the UK government new powers to enforce emergency measures.The government will ask MPs to back the bill later.
However, it will introduced an amendment to ensure the powers must be renewed every six months, our assistant political editor Norman Smith reports.
Some MPs - including former cabinet minister David Davis - had expressed concern that the powers in the bill were so extensive that there should be some sort of time limit to the legislation.
The Coronavirus Bill will be debated in Parliament later. Read more about what it involves here .
Man fined $33,000 for breaking Taiwan quarantine
One man in Taiwan had a particularly expensive night out after authorities fined him $33,000 (£28,480) for violating his quarantine to go clubbing. The man was supposed to be self-isolating at home for two weeks after returning from Southeast Asia, reported the Asia Times news site.But he was caught partying in the capital, Taipei, on Sunday.
Officials called his behaviour “malicious” and charged him with the maximum fine possible.
“Those who are caught going out to places that have big crowds and are not well ventilated will be sent to a centralised epidemic prevention facility and fined NT$1 million,” New Taipei city mayor Hou Yu-ih said.
“I will not be soft-handed,” he added.
Taiwan has been praised for keeping its confirmed cases low, despite its proximity to China. It has reported 195 cases so far and two deaths.
But despite having contained the virus, China, South Korea, Taiwan, Singapore and Hong Kong are now facing a second coronavirus wave, fuelled by people entering their borders.
This has prompted Taiwan to ban foreigners from entering and making it mandatory for its nationals returning to the country to self-quarantine for 14 days.
A look at the latest in Europe
Europe is at the centre of the coronavirus pandemic. Here are some of the latest developments:- Austria: The number of confirmed cases rose to 3,611 on Monday, the health ministry announced - jumping by 367 in a day
- France: At least 674 people have died of the virus in France, including a 67-year-old doctor on Sunday. The national parliament has passed a law declaring a two month health emergency
- Italy: Officials announced the deaths of 651 people in Italy, Europe's worst-hit country, on Sunday - a drop of about a fifth from the record 793 deaths the day before
- Netherlands: The government announced a ban on all flights from Spain for two weeks on Saturday, unless they are carrying Dutch nationals or medical supplies
UK rail users entitled to ticket refunds
Here's an update for rail users in the UK.Reduced timetables across the country mean fewer services are operating from Monday. The move has been made because more people are working from home, and in order to free up tracks for freight trains to move products around the country.
The government has just announced that many ticket holders will be entitled to a refund.
Those with an advance ticket will be able to get a refund free of charge, while all season ticket holders can claim a refund "for time unused on their tickets free of administrative charges".
Ticket holders should contact their operator for details, the Department for Transport says.
Transport Secretary Grant Shapps said the refunds were available "to ensure no-one is unfairly out of pocket for doing the right thing".
What is next for South Korea?
South Korea is at a critical juncture. Its strategy - an aggressive use of technology to trace the virus and the mass testing of all who’ve been in contact with the infection - appears to be working.The aim is to re-open schools in two weeks. Meanwhile, spring has arrived and people are eager to enjoy themselves. The sense of solidarity that this is a battle to be won together is crumbling slightly.
The government is urgently reminding everyone to maintain social distance for the next 15 days. Officials are hoping their stark warnings will encourage people to stay in line.
Doctors, meanwhile, are discussing the next possible steps. The trace, test, treat approach will continue. But what happens when classrooms become infected? Do they isolate the entire school? Shut down all schools again?
The head of the National Medical Committee, Dr Oh Myoung-don, has told reporters that there could be another spike once schools re-open.
The paradox of South Korea’s success is that, having worked so hard to lower infection rates, their medics have to keep going.
It’s a bit like climbing a steep mountain without knowing how far the peak will be. The dire situation in Europe hangs over the country like a warning - that if they slip up just a bit, that could be their fate too.
Spain death toll tops 2,000
The death toll in Spain has reached 2,182, the government has announced, after 462 people passed away in the past 24 hours.Moscow is bracing itself
"You might not like this, but it’s because we care." That’s how Moscow’s mayor, not known for his human touch, began an address to city residents, ordering the over-65s and anyone with serious health conditions to stay at home."My dear, older Muscovites… grannies and grandads," he began, telling them that from Thursday, they should only go to work if their role was absolutely vital and only go outside to the chemist's or to get food.
Sergei Sobyanin said the coronavirus pandemic was "raging" on Russia’s borders, although he still insisted the situation inside the country was "more or less calm" for now.
That kind of messaging has created some confusion, even complacency, in recent weeks.
But the number of confirmed cases is now increasing on a familiar trajectory and is highest in Russia’s capital, at 262.
So Moscow is bracing itself. The streets are far quieter; schools, galleries and gyms are all closed. Many people, including the elderly, have already moved to their dachas, or country houses, where they’re hoping to sit out this crisis.
European countries struggle to enforce social distancing
Over the weekend we saw people in the UK flouting official advice, travelling to tourist hot spots and crowded markets. But nations across Europe have also struggled to enforce tight new restrictions.On Monday, officials in Belgium said Brussels police had issued 288 penalty fines in just 24 hours - the highest number since confinement rules came into force in the country. Those punished included couples eating in parks, people drinking beer outside cafes and bar owners refusing to shut up shop.
Authorities in France have issued thousands of fines, and have deployed drones to enforce the strict lockdown rules. Some charities last week even alleged police had fined homeless people for not self-isolating, although this is unconfirmed.
In Germany, Chancellor Angela Merkel announced on Sunday a ban on all gatherings of more than two people who aren't family. It came just days after police in the state of Bavaria shut down a number of public "corona parties", organised by young people on social media. Premier Markus Söder called the gatherings "a real threat".
'This is not a joke - London intensive care nurse
An intensive care nurse in a London hospital has warned people to stick to social distancing guidelines, after photos were posted online of busy parks in the capital.The nurse, who asked to remain anonymous, told the BBC: "Most people will know, or are, a 60-year-old man with a heart condition. If that man gets coronavirus, statistically he's going to die. So think about that - do you want to lose your uncle, your dad, or your own life?
"Everyone will end up knowing someone who has either had it or even died from it. This is not a joke."
He also said that while nurses know their career is "going to be stressful" when they go into it, right now it's "a completely unknown entity".
"We can try our best, and we are. But the problem is that we don't know how bad it's going to get - so how can we really say we're prepared when we don't know the extent of the situation?"
If things in the UK get as bad as in Italy, he adds, "no healthcare system can prepare for that".
Fast food and coffee chains shutting across UK
Thousands of fast food restaurants are set to close across the UK on Monday.On Friday, Prime Minister Boris Johnson said restaurants and cafes must close on Friday, but exempted takeaway food and drink.
Among those to shut their doors to customers for both eat-in and takeaway are:
- Nando's has announced it has closed all of its restaurants, about 400 locations
- Sandwich shop Subway is to close its 1,700 franchises from 17:00 GMT
- McDonald's says it will close all 1,270 of its restaurants from 19:00 GMT
- Coffee chain Costa will shut its 2,000 shops by the end of Monday
Retailers have also been hit as the impact of new measures to tackle the coronavirus are rolled out.
- Laura Ashley is to permanently close 70 stores, affecting 721 jobs
- Primark's 189 UK stores have closed "until further notice"
- Other High Street retailers, such as John Lewis and Timpson, have already announced closures amid the pandemic
Global economy will suffer for years to come - OECD
The world will take years to recover from the coronavirus pandemic, the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) has warned.Angel Gurría, OECD secretary general, said the economic shock was already bigger than the financial crisis. He told the BBC it was "wishful thinking" to believe that countries would bounce back quickly.
The OECD has called on governments to rip up spending rules to ensure speedy testing and treatment of the virus.
What is happening in Latin America?
Latin America is steeling itself. It's a region with pockets of extreme poverty, which are often concentrated in either densely packed urban areas or very remote regions.So far, the numbers are small compared to other parts of the world, as it is at an earlier stage of the pandemic.
Brazil and Ecuador are the most affected in the region so far, with 25 and 14 deaths respectively.
Here are some of the latest announcements:
- Ecuador introduced a curfew at the weekend, keeping people off the streets from 19:00 to 05:00 local time
- Brazil's President Bolsonaro has been at odds with his country’s regional authorities, telling CNN Brasil he disagrees with their decision to close businesses. He called São Paulo Governor João Doria a “lunatic” for imposing a 15-day shutdown. One of the president’s major influencers, US-based former astrologer Olavo de Carvalho, has been criticised for broadcasting a message online saying the virus is a hoax and there has not been one death from it
- El Salvador has introduced a strict new curfew and is detaining those who don’t comply. The justice minister says 327 arrests were made
- up until 22:30 Sunday night.
- Mexico’s President Andrés Manuel López Obrador has ruled out any curfew or troop deployments, saying they would be too authoritarian. However, in Mexico City, the mayor is closing museums, gyms, bars, theatres and more, from Monday until 19 April. Shopping malls and restaurants will stay open, and gatherings are being limited to 50 people
What is happening with the Olympics?
This year's Olympics Games have been thrown into doubt because of the coronavirus pandemic, with athletes and officials calling for a decision about Tokyo 2020 to be made quickly by the International Olympic Committee (IOC).Here are some of the most significant developments:
- Canada became the first major nation to withdraw from the Games
- Australia's team says it is "clear" the Games cannot go ahead
- Poland has also called for the event to be moved because of "increasingly limited training options" for athletes
- World Athletics president Lord Coe says the Games must be postponed because they cannot be held "at all costs" and the move is "owed" to the athletes
- Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has admitted for the first time that the Games could be postponed
The IOC has given itself four weeks to decide on the future of the event.
Options include a delay of several months or - more probably - a year. The IOC says cancellation is "not on the agenda". A "scaled-down" Games will also be considered.
The Olympics are scheduled start in Tokyo on 24 July.
'Mask-19' campaign for abuse victims
Millions of people around the world are being asked to stay home amid the coronavirus outbreak - but for many home isn't a safe place.In Spain's Canary Islands, the authorities have launched a campaign to help victims of domestic abuse. Women in danger can go to a pharmacy and say the words Mascarilla-19, or Mask-19 in English, to alert staff that they need
Social media users have praised the scheme, and other local governments across the country have said they want to copy it.
In the last few years Spain has seen a number of high-profile cases of both domestic and sexual abuse, prompting mass protests.
help.
, airports could be shut and people held on public health grounds
[*]Health Secretary Matt Hancock will be speaking to BBC Radio 4's Today programme shortly after 08:00
[*]His appearance comes after he acknowledged problems in getting of personal protective equipment to NHS staff in England
[*]There were 101 new UK deaths caused by coronavirus announced over the weekend, taking the total number to 281 - including a person aged 18 with an underlying health condition
[*]
F1 postpones Azerbaijan Grand Prix
The Azerbaijan Grand Prix is the latest Formula 1 race to be postponed. The street race in Azerbaijan's capital Baku was set to take place on 7 June.
It is the eighth race to be called off at the start of the 2020 World Championship season. The Canadian Grand Prix, on 14 June, is the first race on the schedule that has not been postponed.
India grounds all domestic flights
India’s government has said no domestic flights will take off from the early hours of Wednesday onwards.
This will bring Indian airports to a standstill as international flights to India have already been cancelled.
The ban on flights coming from abroad came into effect on Sunday and is set to last for one week, but it could be extended.
It’s unclear as yet how long domestic air travel will remain suspended.
Trains across the country have also been cancelled, and several states have shut their borders, severely limiting people’s ability to travel within the country.
The unprecedented measures come as the number of active Covid-19 cases in India reaches 415. Seven deaths have been reported so far.
Austria probes ski resort
Ischgl, a ski resort in Austria's Tyrol province, has been linked with hundreds of cases of coronavirus. Now Tyrol's government has asked state prosecutors to investigate whether a business at the resort failed to tell authorities about an infection at the end of February.
Austrian, German and Scandinavian health officials have all traced cases back to the tiny town, but it only shut for business last week.
Germany's infection curve may be flattening - health chief
There are signs Germany's infection curve - reflecting rise in the number of cases - may be becoming less steep, according to the head of the country’s public health institute.
"We are seeing signs that the exponential growth curve is flattening off slightly," Lothar Wieler, president of the Robert Koch Institute (RKI) for disease control, told reporters.
"But I will only be able to confirm this trend definitively on Wednesday. But I am optimistic that the measures are already having an effect, which is very early because they have only been in place for a week."
Efforts to reduce the spread of the virus in the country have included school closures, hygiene measures such as hand-washing and restrictions on public gatherings.
The RKI reported earlier on Monday that the country now had 22,672 cases of Covid-19 - an increase of 4,062 on the previous day - and that 86 people had died so far.
Jerusalem holy site shuts down
The doors are bolted shut at the compound that hosts al-Aqsa mosque and Jerusalem’s iconic Dome of the Rock.
At midday on Monday, two Muslim worshippers unrolled their prayer mats at one of the closed entrances to the plaza, and prayed on cobbled steps outside.
The holy site in Jerusalem’s Old City is known to Muslims as Haram al-Sharif and to Jews as Temple Mount, and is sacred to both religions.
Worshippers had been unable to enter the mosque itself for days, with prayer allowed only outside on the plaza as part of social distancing measures to counter coronavirus.
But on Sunday night the Waqf, the Islamic religious authority that administers the site, said Muslim worship would be suspended at all parts of the compound.
"We feel bitter at having to take this step but we were compelled to do so in order protect the lives and health of the public and to safeguard humanity, in compliance with the religious rulings in the Islamic world," the council said.
Israeli media reported that entry by Jewish visitors to the contested site would also be halted.
The compound is frequently at the centre of Jerusalem’s crackling tensions and is administered according to a status quo agreement involving Israel, neighbouring Jordan and the Waqf.
Under normal circumstances, any changes concerning access to the site can be politically explosive but the region has witnessed broad acceptance so far of measures to contain the virus' spread.
How are British supermarkets responding to panic-buying?
Empty shelves have been a common sight across British supermarkets of late.
With people being encouraged to stay indoors, many shoppers have looked to stock up - leading to some items temporarily running out of popular items.
Shoppers have been told to "be responsible" and think of others such as NHS workers, such as critical care nurse Dawn Bilbrough, from York, who posted the video. .
But the supermarkets have been taking action, such as:
- Setting limits on how many of each item people can buy
- Setting aside 'silver hours' most mornings for the most vulnerable shoppers
- Creating an "NHS hour' dedicated to healthcare workers
- Putting aside a proportion of basic items of NHS staff
- Giving NHS staff priority at checkouts
- Relaxing rules around drivers' hours have been eased
- Waiving the 5p plastic bag charge for online orders, to speed up deliveries
In addition, rules have also been relaxed to allow supermarkets to share resources, such delivery vans and staff, and to co-ordinate stock levels across the UK.
And as demand for online orders grows, many of the biggest supermarkets have said they are hiring thousands of staff.
Read more about how the way Britons shop has changed here .
Former Man Utd players explain help to NHS staff
Former Manchester United footballers Ryan Giggs and Gary Neville believe the two hotels where they have invited NHS staff to stay for free during the coronavirus crisis will be full within the "next week or 10 days".
Their GG Hospitality group owns the Stock Exchange Hotel in Manchester city centre and Hotel Football, which is close to United's Old Trafford stadium. Thirty-five medical professionals have already used the accommodation.
"The Manchester University NHS Foundation Trust has a contact point and any NHS worker who needs accommodation, whether at 02:00 or 10:00, can contact them and they message our staff at the hotel," Neville told the BBC. "This member of the medical professional will be given access to a room."
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